Through the Tunnel by Doris Lessing

What is the theme, or central idea, of “Through the Tunnel”?

• a boy’s rejection of his mother’s opinions

• an individual’s struggle to assert his/her own authority

• a mother’s failure to guide her son

• a child’s vulnerability to destructive peer pressure

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Jerry’s mother feels that it is important to:

• allow Jerry some independence.

• monitor all of Jerry’s activities

• spend a lot of time with Jerry.

• preserve some time for herself

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What feelings motivate Jerry’s resolution to swim through the tunnel?

• delight in viewing the undersea world

• rebellion against his mother’s strictness

• ambition to be a champion swimmer

• shame at his childishness and fear

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Which of the following details would be most useful in answering questions about Jerry’s motivation in “Through the Tunnel”?

• “And yet, as he ran, he looked back over his shoulder at the wild bay; and all morning, as he played on the safe beach, he was thinking of it.”

• “The boys were gathering up their bits of clothing and running off along the shore to another promontory. They were leaving to get away from him.”

• “He knew he must find his way through that cave, or hole, or tunnel, and out the other side.”

• “He took the edges of the hole in his hands and drew himself into it, wriggling his shoulders in sidewise as he remembered he must, kicking himself along with his feet.”

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Jerry’s preparations to swim the tunnel are:

• determined and carefully planned

• sloppy and careless.

• impulsive and irrational

• timid and hesitant

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Before Jerry gets up the nerve to swim the tunnel, he:

• swims halfway through the tunnel before turning around.

• asks the local boys for advice.

• trains himself to hold his breath for two minutes underwater

• asks his mother for permission.

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At the end of the story, Jerry feels:

• disappointed and ashamed.

• proud and satisfied.

• excited and proud.

• defiant and sullen

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By the end of the story, Jerry has lost interest in the cave because he:

• knows he has attained his goal.

• succumbs to his mother’s pressure

• understands his efforts were pointless

• realizes how dangerous the tunnel is.

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An action that demonstrates Jerry’s internal conflict is:

• diving off the rocks into the bay

• clowning for the local boys.

• learning to hold his breath for two minutes.

• obeying his mother’s request that he not swim for the day.

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Check off two symbols from the story:

• The villa = luxury

• The safe beach = youth

• The sand = time drifting away

• The wild bay = adolescence

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