from Smiles to Go

1 What is the narrator’s primary motivation for continuing to visit Jim?

• A He wants Jim to ask him to help with the experiments.

• B He enjoys watching Jim manage several tasks at once.

• C He thinks spending time with Jim will make him smarter.

• D He likes witnessing the moments when Jim is surprised.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

2 Why is Jim’s demonstration with the jawbreaker important to the plot?

• F It shows the narrator that many scientific concepts are not complicated.

• G It allows the narrator to experience a moment of understanding.

• H It encourages the narrator to develop his own scientific theory about protons.

• J It gives the narrator an opportunity to help Jim with one of his projects.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

Read the dictionary entry below.

digest \dī-jest\ v

1. to convert food into absorbable form

2. to think over in order to absorb 3. to

arrange in a methodical order; classify

4. to reduce to a summary

• A Definition 1

• B Definition 2

• C Definition 3

• D Definition 4

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

Read this sentence from paragraph 4.

And he would explain it to me, and though I

couldn’t really understand, still I would feel

something, a cool fizzing behind my ears,

because I was feeding off his astonishment.

The sensory language in this sentence highlights the narrator’s —

• F optimism

• G confusion

• H excitement

• J discomfort

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

What does the simile in paragraph 3 suggest about Jim?

• A He wishes he knew someone who shared his passion.

• B He approaches his work with intense focus.

• C He is interested in both science and sports.

• D He usually makes up experiments as they occur to him.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

The setting is important to the plot because it is where the narrator —

• F realizes he is good at scientific investigation

• G can study with minimal interruptions

• H has interesting discussions with Jim

• J works with Jim to solve problems

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Which of these is an important idea expressed in the excerpt?

• A People must start working toward their goals at a young age to achieve their dreams.

• B Honesty and openness allow deep friendships to develop.

• C True understanding can take place only through quiet reflection.

• D Some people influence the lives of others by introducing them to new ideas.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2