Tucket's Travels L21 Comprehension

Read this sentence from the passage.

Then Francis picked Billy up and carried him piggyback, mile after mile, then yard after yard, and finally, step after step.

What is the effect of the author's shift in nouns from mile to yard to step after step?

• It shows that the task of carrying Billy is getting harder.

• It helps the reader understand how old Billy is.

• It signals that the author is about to flash back in time.

• It provides an accurate measure of the distance Francis travels.

Which sentence from the passage uses adjectives to create the feeling that danger surrounds Francis, Lottie, and Billy?

• "Unlike Francis and Jason Grimes, the one-armed mountain man."

• "The Comancheros were an outlaw band, ruthless, terrifying, inhumanely tough."

• "Francis knew that brushing out the tracks would only work in the pitch dark of night."

• "It was a decent plan-it was their only plan-and it seemed to be working."

Billy falls sound asleep

• while Francis carries him.

• after Francis puts him down.

• during the storm.

• riding on horseback.

What do Francis and the children do after the bolt of lightning hits close to them?

• They run for the shelter of the trees.

• They drink lots of water.

• They take cover under a ledge.

• They wake Billy up.

After Francis tells Lottie to dig, Lottie

• digs and finds nothing.

• sees a mirage.

• digs and finds water.

• sees the dust from the Comancheros.

Read this sentence from the passage.

"If we don't keep moving they'll be on us like dogs, won't they, Francis?"

What is the meaning of the phrase they'll be on us like dogs?

• They will attack us immediately.

• They will insult us terribly.

• They will make a loud noise.

• They will make us part of their pack.

Francis is relieved after the heavy rainfall because

• Lottie and Billy are safe.

• their footprints are gone.

• they are all safe.

• the Comancheros are lost.

Lottie would explain every little detail of every little part of every little thing she was talking about so that not a single aspect of it was missed, and she sometimes drove Francis over the edge.

What is the meaning of the phrase drove Francis over the edge?

• put Francis in danger

• took Francis to a cliff

• asked Francis for help

• irritated Francis greatly

There hadn't been a breath of wind to blow the dust over the brush marks he'd left...

What kind of language is the phrase breath of wind?

• adage

• alliteration

• personification

• simile

Which sentence from the passage uses verbs to create a feeling of swift action?

• "He had never seen such rain."

• "The streambed filled in the heavy downpour."

• "He pushed against Billy, who slammed into Lottie."

• "He straightened slowly, working the pain out of his legs."