"A Mouthful"

From the beginning of the story, the narrator reveals the main conflict of:

• person v. nature because Doona the cat does not obey her.

• person v. fate because she doesn't feel in control of her life.

• person v. person because her dad often embarrasses her.

• person v. society because the narrator's classmates do not enjoy her company.

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CCSS.RL.5.3

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CCSS.RL.7.3

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CCSS.RL.9-10.3

The dad in the short story is characterized as:

• a jokester.

• stern and serious.

• easily embarrassed.

• rude.

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The inciting incident of the story is:

• the narrator's dad pretending to eat cat poo in front of Anna.

• the narrator's dad playing jokes on the narrator's other friends when they come over.

• the narrator inviting Cynthia over to the house.

• the narrator's switching out the plastic cat poo.

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CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

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In this short story, the protagonist is:

• Anna.

• the narrator's father.

• the narrator.

• Cynthia.

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CCSS.RL.2.10

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The antagonist of the short story is:

• Anna.

• Cynthia.

• the narrator's father.

• the narrator.

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CCSS.RL.2.10

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“Aargh,” screams Anna. She rushes over to the window and throws up chips, sauce and Diet Coke. Then she looks at Dad in disgust.

The purpose of this imagery is to:

• emphasize the negative effect of the dad's joke on the narrator's friend.

• reveal that the narrator's friend enjoys her dad's jokes.

• suggest that the narrator's friend will stop being her friend.

• show how much the narrator detests her dad's jokes.

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The motivation of the narrator's dad seems to be:

• protecting his daughter from embarrassment.

• ensuring that the narrator's friends think he is especially intelligent.

• listening to his daughter's emotional needs.

• getting a strong reaction from the narrator and her friends.

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CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Which of the following are characteristics of the story's setting? Select all that apply.

• modern times.

• the narrator's home.

• the narrator's school.

• the value of practical jokes.

• care to not embarrass family.

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CCSS.RL.11-12.3

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The rising action of the story is:

• the narrator switches out the plastic cat poo.

• the narrator tells the reader that parents are embarrassing.

• the narrator's dad continues to play practical jokes on several of the narrator's friends.

• the narrator's dad throws up.

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CCSS.RL.6.3

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The narrator's motivation seems to be all of the following EXCEPT:

• she wishes that her dad were "normal" like other parents.

• she hopes to teach her dad a lesson about his behavior.

• she wants her friends to accept her.

• she needs her friends to think that she is as hilarious as her dad.

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