"Ball Hawk" by Joseph Bruchac

Which phrase from paragraph 2 helps the reader to understand the meaning of the word cryptic as it is used in the paragraph?

• what Uncle Tommy Fox said on the day

• quit the Long Pond High School team

• to throw in my glove

• it started me thinking

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

Which two characteristics best identify this selection as realistic fiction?

• Animals are important characters in the story.

• The characters behave in believable ways.

• The events of the story are true.

• The setting could not exist in the real world.

• The dialogue uses everyday language.

Read the dictionary entry below.

blank \blank\ adj 1. Lacking variety 2. Without writing 3. Having no expression 4. Unable to remember

Which definition most closely matches the way the word blank is used in paragraph 14?

• Definition 1

• Definition 2

• Definition 3

• Definition 4

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

How does the setting of the baseball field contribute to Mitchell’s conflict in the story?

• It makes him feel insecure about his athletic abilities.

• It requires him to spend more time with the opposing team.

• It flusters him to be on the field knowing his father cannot see him play.

• It forces him to consider his role batting on the baseball team.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

Based on paragraphs 19 and 20, what can the reader infer about Uncle Tommy?

• He likes baseball better than the other sports Mitchell plays.

• He went to the game because Mitchell asked him to.

• He is dedicated to watching and helping Mitchell.

• He is trying to learn more about Mitchell and his mom.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

The reader can tell this story is realistic fiction because it —

• is designed to teach a lesson.

• is written in chronological order.

• is told from an omniscient point of view.

• is about events that could happen in real life.

Which sentence from the selection is an example of foreshadowing?

• Instead of the usual heavy feeling of hopeless despair, I was feeling sick to my stomach.

• Whenever I threw up in the locker room before I went out on the mat to wrestle, I usually ended up doing good.

• Robbie almost cracked my ribs when he came running out from shortstop to hug me.

• I swear I could even see that there was a smudge of green from the turf on the ball’s lacing as it rotated toward me.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

Read the sentences from paragraph 35.

Okay, so I’m good at running bases. Better than most, I guess.

How should the last sentence be changed?

• Change than to then.

• Remove the comma after most.

• Change the period to a question mark.

• The sentence should not be changed.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.2.6

Which two sentences explain how the hawks contribute to the plot?

• They help Mitchell practice baseball.

• They represent the memories of Mitchell’s home run.

• They catch Mitchell’s ball during the baseball game.

• They interfere with Mitchell’s training plans.

• They show how Mitchell learns about his roots.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

What change in Mitchell leads to the story’s resolution?

• He realizes baseball is important to him because it helps him make friends.

• He realizes baseball is important to him because it helps him connect to his father.

• He realizes he wants to quit the baseball team because he does not enjoy playing.

• He realizes he wants to become a better baseball player to make his mom happy.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.7.3