from Mississippi Solo

What element reveals that this selection is a memoir?

• figurative language

• sequence of events

• first-person pronouns

• sentence fragments

What evidence in the text supports inferences about the author’s past?

• “Too many marvelous days in a row and you begin to get used to it.”

• “I guess I’d had enough hard days to last me for a while.”

• “Each change had something to say, and I listened to the river.”

• “Nothing else mattered then. Going someplace or not.”

The author regards the river as...

• a friend.

• an obstacle.

• an inspiration.

• a threat.

How did the author first know that a storm was approaching?

• The river was changing colors

• The river whispered to him, “Get ready.”

• He felt the river dip down and up.

• He passed through a pocket of thin dry air.

Which of the following is an example of the author’s use of simile?

• “The river kept me company and kept me satisfied. Nothing else mattered.”

• “I passed through the far curtain of the insulated air.”

• “The tips of the trees bent way over . . . like fishing rods hooked on a big one.”

• “The trees swooshed loudly as the leaves and branches brushed hard together.”

As the storm approached, the author intended to head for shore. Why did he turn into the trees instead?

• He thought that the trees would provide better shelter.

• He was afraid there would not be time to reach the shore.

• The river “spoke” to him and grabbed the end of his canoe.

• The shoreline had been pushed back through the trees.

A "stern" is...

• frustrated behavior

• the back of a boat

• a bracelet

• yelling at someone

Which of the following could be described as "puce"?

• A flower

• Muddy water

• A piece of candy

• A rainbow

Which definition best fits the word "scant"?

• abundance

• using proper language

• working hard

• a tiny amount

Which of the following sentences shows the proper use of the word "don".

• He decided to don his best suit when he went out to dinner.

• The 7th grader was considering how she would don the test so her parents would not find out her grade.

• Ms. Gordon was the first one to don new lessons and activities in class.

• Ms. Hadley was excited to don her new car on the way to work.