The Scarlet Ibis

Doodle cried the first time he saw Old Woman Swamp because

• he was afraid of the animals that lived there

• the swamp was dark and overgrown

• the swamp was such a beautiful place

• he thought his brother was going to leave him there alone

After showing Doodle the coffin in the barn, the narrator was sad because

• he recognized that he had been cruel to Doodle.

• an owl had flown up and scared Doodle.

• the coffin made him think that Doodle would soon die.

• he had left Doodle alone in the loft.

The changing of seasons in “The Scarlet Ibis” serves as a symbol that (choose two answers)

• something important is about to begin or end.

• life is a series of changes.

• time never ends.

• nature is always renewing itself.

After the lighting struck, why did the narrator run ahead on his own?

• He was afraid of another lightning strike.

• He was angry and disappointed.

• He wanted to get help for Doodle.

• He wanted to show he could run faster than Doodle.

The “pot of gold” that the narrator wanted to reach in 1918 was success in

• helping his family keep its farm.

• teaching Doodle to stand up.

• teaching Doodle to run, swim, climb trees, and fight.

• finding friends for Doodle.

To the narrator’s family the “rain frog” was a symbol that

• rain had ended a drought.

• rain was coming.

• a damaging storm was on the way.

• bad luck was about to strike

The scarlet ibis can be seen as a symbol for

• the bounty of nature.

• soldiers who died during World War I.

• Doodle.

• the sin of pride.

A theme of this story is

• brothers are natural allies against the world.

• family relations are more important than relations between friends.

• people sometimes cause harm even to those they love and try to help.

• nature plays mean tricks on humans.

What detail helps to explain why the narrator originally considered Doodle to be a burden?

• Doodle crawled backward.

• Doodle tattled when his go-cart turned over.

• Doodle cried all the time.

• The narrator had to be Doodle’s constant babysitter.

What detail about Doodle’s death links it to the death of the scarlet ibis?

• He died near a tree that had been struck by lightning.

• His neck was twisted awkwardly and was stained red.

• He was hunched over with his face buried in his arms.

• Rain was pelting down on his body.