Contents of a Dead Man's Pocket

At the beginning of the story, what seems to be the most important thing in Tom Benecke’s life?

• Opening the window that always sticks
• Going to the movies with his wife
• Getting paid at the end of the week
• Getting a promotion at work

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CCSS.RL.2.10

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Which of the following events happened first in “Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket”?

• Tom thought about what the police would find in his pockets.
• Tom dropped coins from his pockets to the street below.
• Tom watched his wife get ready to go out alone
• Tom smashed his fist through the window.

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CCSS.RL.8.3

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Which of the following events causes Tom to go out on the ledge?

• Tom does research on store displays.
• Clare goes to the movies alone.
• Tom’s paper flies out the window.
• Tom puts on his coat.

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CCSS.RL.8.3

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Which event in “Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket” causes Tom to panic?

• His wife goes to the movies.
• He sees the street below him.
• He thinks about the contents of his pockets.
• He sees a man reading a newspaper across the street.

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CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

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Which of the following is a moment of high suspense in the story?

• Clare leaves.
• Tom looks down and panics.
• Tom stares through the window into his living room.
• Tom sees the yellow paper fly out the window a second time.

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CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

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Why doesn’t Tom simply wait for his wife to come home and help him?

• He thinks she probably would not notice him on the ledge.
• She will become very angry if she comes home and finds him on the ledge.
• She had left early to see the second feature and would not be home for hours.
• He wants to get off the ledge and join her at the movies.

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Why does Tom change his attitude toward life?

• His wife goes to the movies alone.
• He almost falls off the ledge and dies.
• He smashes his fist through the window.
• The paper flies out the window again.

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CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

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CCSS.RL.4.4

Often, a seemingly minor detail mentioned early in a short story becomes very important later. Which of the following details later becomes important to Tom’s efforts to get back into his apartment?

• The window is hard to open.
• It is hot in the apartment.
• Clare is slender and pretty.
• Tom puts on his jacket.

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CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

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Which of the following is an example of internal conflict in “contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket”?

• Tom’s efforts to open the window.
• Tom’s struggle to stay on the ledge.
• Tom’s attempts to get someone’s attention.
• Tom’s struggle to overcome his fear.

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CCSS.RL.8.3

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What does Tom decide the contents of his pockets would say about him if he were to fall and die?

• His life had been wasted.
• He did not love his wife.
• He should have gotten a promotion.
• He was a selfish and foolish man.

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CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.7