Planning, Building, and New Beginnings

Excerpt from Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.

As I followed, Jeremy touched my arm timidly. "C-Cassie, you didn't have to do that. That—that ole Lillian Jean, she ain't worth it."

I stared at Jeremy, trying to understand him. But he shied away from me and ran down the road after his sister.

-Which statement best describes and explains a character's actions?

• Cassie challenges Jeremy because she does not value his opinion.

• Cassie questions Jeremy’s actions because they do not make sense to her.

• Jeremy comforts Cassie because he knows she is afraid of Lillian Jean.

• Jeremy assists Cassie because he sees her efforts to support Lillian Jean.

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Read the excerpt from Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.

When we were alone, [Lillian Jean] confided her secrets to me: the boy she had passionately loved for the past year and the things she had done to attract his attention (with no success, I might add); the secrets of the girls she couldn't stand as well as those she could; and even a tidbit or two about her elder brothers' romantic adventures. All I had to do to prime the gossip pump was smile nicely and whisper a "Miz Lillian Jean" every now and then.

-What motivates Lillian Jean to tell Cassie all her secrets?

• her feeling of superiority over Cassie

• her feeling that Cassie cannot be trusted

• her need to trick Cassie into liking her

• her need to make Cassie feel jealous

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-What feeling motivates T.J. to cheat on his tests in Chapter 8 of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry?

• fear

• jealousy

• anger

• indifference

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Read the excerpt from Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.

As I followed, Jeremy touched my arm timidly. "C-Cassie, you didn't have to do that. That—that ole Lillian Jean, she ain't worth it."

I stared at Jeremy, trying to understand him. But he shied away from me and ran down the road after his sister.

-What need motivates Jeremy to say what he does to Cassie?

• a need for respect

• a need for justice

• a need for safety

• a need for revenge

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-Which is one way that Taylor connects readers to the past in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry?

• She places historical events in a modern setting.

• She reports only true events from the time period.

• She uses dialogue that is true to the time period.

• She places historical events in an imaginary setting.

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-How does Taylor’s use of setting in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry connect readers to the past?

• Taylor compares the South of today to the South of the 1930s.

• Taylor gives an accurate description of the South in the 1930s.

• Taylor creates an imaginary version of the South in the 1930s.

• Taylor exaggerates characteristics of the South in the 1930s.

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“Now, there ain't no sense in going around being mad. You clear your head so you can think sensibly. Then I want you to think real hard on whether or not Lillian Jean's worth taking a stand about, but keep in mind that Lillian Jean probably won't be the last white person to treat you this way." He turned toward me so that he looked me full in the face, and the seriousness of his eyes startled me. He held my chin up with the wide flat of his hard hand. "This here's an important decision, Cassie, very important—I want you to understand that—but I think you can handle it.”

-What does the excerpt show about the historical time period of the story?

• It shows that African Americans in the South experienced unjust treatment by white people that was dangerous to confront.

• It shows that African Americans and white people in the South faced similar types of difficult decisions in order to survive.

• It shows that African Americans in the South maintained the same level of community respect and power as their white neighbors.

• It shows that African Americans and white people in the South worked together to solve disagreements that took place between families.

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For the month of January I was Lillian Jean's slave and she thoroughly enjoyed it. She even took to waiting for me in the morning with Jeremy so that I could carry her books. When friends of hers walked with us, she bragged about her little colored friend and almost hugged herself with pleasure when I called her "Miz" Lillian Jean.

-What does the excerpt show about the historical time period of the story?

• It shows that there were African American citizens who treated white citizens in unjust and humiliating ways.

• It shows that white children treated African American children as equals even if white adults in the community did not.

• It shows that African American children and white children easily developed friendships in spite of racial injustice.

• It shows that there were white citizens who treated African American citizens in unjust and humiliating ways.

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Read the excerpt from Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.

When we reached the crossroads, I waved good-bye to Lillian Jean and waited for the others. Before they reached me, Little Man exclaimed, "Owwww, I'm gonna tell Mama! Carrying that ole dumb Lillian Jean's books!"

"Cassie, whatja do that for?" questioned Christopher-John, his round face pained.

"Ah, shoot," laughed T.J. "Ole Cassie jus' learned she better do what's good for her if she don't want no more of Mr. Simms's back hand."

I clinched my fists behind me, and narrowed my eyes in the Logan gaze, but managed to hold my tongue.

-What does the excerpt show about the historical time period of the story?

• It shows that racial injustice occurred between adults in the South but not between the children.

• It shows that racial injustice was losing its power to influence people’s thoughts and actions.

• It shows that racial injustice was not something that African Americans were used to experiencing.

• It shows that racial injustice made it dangerous for African Americans to stick up for themselves.

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Read the excerpt from Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.

“Ah, man, leave me be! All y'all Logans think y'all so doggone much with y'all's new coats and books and shiny new Packards!" He swirled around, glaring down at Christopher-John, Little Man, and me. "I'm sick of all y'all. Your mama and your papa, too!" Then he turned and fled angrily up the road.

-Which sentence or phrase gives the reader a clue to the story’s time period?

• . . . glaring down at Christopher-John, Little Man, and me.

• Then he turned and fled angrily up the road.

• Ah, man, leave me be!

• . . . y'all's new coats and books and shiny new Packards!

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