The Dust Bowl and "The Grapes of Wrath" (Simplified)

In the excerpt from The Grapes of Wrath, what are the characters selling? Choose two options.

• belongings they cannot carry on their journey

• the house they no longer plan to live in

• assistance for people moving away

• horses they hope to get cash for

• extra food they have in their pantry

In the excerpt from The Grapes of Wrath, how does the narrator mainly feel toward those he interacts with in town?

• bitter

• grateful

• satisfied

• indifferent

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

According to the excerpt from The Grapes of Wrath, where is the narrator planning to travel?

• the St. Louis Fair

• the east coast

• his hometown

• California

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

In the excerpt from The Grapes of Wrath, why do the characters decide to move away?

• They want to live closer to their extended family.

• They can no longer survive on their dry farmlands

• They know that they can make more money elsewhere

• They heard rumors that a destructive storm is approaching.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Which of these people would most likely be described as ruthless? Base your answer on the meaning of ruthless.

• a dictator who treats his subjects cruelly

• a teacher who knows little about instruction

• a politician who raises money for a campaign

• an employer who always encourages her workers

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CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

Which of the following situations best illustrates the word toil?

• The spring runoff made the narrow river unusually high, whirling, and

  murky.

• Unless you have exact change, you will need a special card to drive over

  the bridge.

• We bought a new shower curtain and mat to liven up the dark, dingy

  bathroom.

• All day long, the landscapers dug holes, planted bushes, and scattered

  mulch.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

If a woman digs through her purse frantically, which of the following is most likely true? Base your answer on the meaning of frantically.

• She behaves in a way meant to amuse her companions.

• She suggests that the purse does not really belong to her.

• She searches for her belongings in a slow, careful way.

• She panics when she does not find what she seeks.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

When the narrator of the selection from The Grapes of Wrath says, “You’re not buying only junk, you’re buying junked lives,” what does he mean?

• Those who buy others’ junk have little meaning in their lives.

• The people who owned the junk have lives that now seem worthless.

• Only people with bad taste would accumulate and sell such rubbish.

• The value of junk is only clear to those who learn to appreciate it.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Part A In the excerpt from The Grapes of Wrath, how does the narrator feel about his upcoming journey?

• calm

• thrilled

• discouraged

• unconcerned

Tags

CCSS.RL.1.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

Which quote from the text best shows that the narrator is discouraged about his family's future?

• In the little houses the tenant people sifted their belongings and the

  belongings of their fathers and of their grandfathers.

• This land, this red land, is us; and the flood years and the dust years and

  the drought years are us. We can’t start again.

• Right up the sides of the trailer, and the kids can set in the trailer, and

  granma on a mattress.

• And the children—if Sam takes his Indian bow an’ his long roun’ stick, I

  get to take two things.