The Story of Medusa and Athena

In paragraph #1, the word maiden means?

Once upon a time, a long time ago there lived a beautiful maiden named Medusa. Medusa lived in the city of Athens in a country named Greece -- and although there were many pretty girls in the city, Medusa was considered the most lovely.

• a young girl who helps clean a home

• a girl or a young unmarried woman

• A tree in the first year of growth

• a monster with snakes as hair

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Which sentences from paragraph #3 help the reader understand the meaning of boasted?

On Sunday, Medusa bragged to the miller that her skin was more beautiful than fresh fallen snow. On Monday, she told the cobbler that her hair glowed brighter than the sun. On Tuesday, she commented to the blacksmith’s son that her eyes were greener than the Aegean Sea. On Wednesday, she boasted to everyone at the public gardens that her lips were redder than the reddest rose.

• She commented to the blacksmith’s son that her eyes were greener than the Aegean Sea

• She told the cobbler that her hair glowed brighter than the sun.

• All sentences help the reader understand the meaning of boasted.

• Medusa bragged to the miller that her skin was more beautiful than fresh fallen snow

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She admired herself in her darkened window for an hour each evening as she got ready for bed. She even stopped to admire herself in the well each afternoon as she drew water for her father's horses -- often forgetting to fetch the water in her distraction.

Read the following dictionary entry.

DREW: 1. To produce a picture or diagram 2. To pull or drag something 3. extract (an object, especially a weapon from a container 4.take or obtain (liquid) from a container or receptacle

The definition most closely matches the meaning of drew as it is used in paragraph #4 is......

• Definition 1

• Definition 2

• Definition 3

• Definition 4

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On and on Medusa went about her beauty to anyone and everyone who stopped long enough to hear her until one day when she made her first visit to the Parthenon with her friends. The Parthenon was the largest temple to the goddess Athena in all the land. It was decorated with amazing sculptures and paintings. Everyone who entered was awed by the beauty of the place and couldn’t help but think of how grateful they were to Athena, goddess of wisdom, for inspiring them and for watching over their city of Athens. Everyone, that is, except Medusa.

The historical context of paragraph 5 emphasizes the idea that people often valued .....

• Friendships

• Temples and Gods

• Beautiful women

• Their city

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When Medusa saw the sculptures, she whispered that she would have made a much better subject for the sculptor than Athena had. When Medusa saw the artwork, she commented that the artist had done a fine job considering the goddess's thick eyebrows -- but imagine how much more wonderful the painting would be if it was of someone as delicate as Medusa.

What sentence in paragraph 6 show Medusa’s thoughts that she is vain?

• Medusa was not vain

• She commented that the artist had done a fine job considering the goddess's thick eyebrows

• Medusa saw the sculptures

• She whispered that she would have made a much better subject for the sculptor than Athena

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And when Medusa reached the altar she sighed happily and said, “My this is a beautiful temple. It is a shame it was wasted on Athena for I am so much prettier than she is – perhaps some day people will build an even grander temple to my beauty.

Which sentence from the story best expresses Medusa’s feelings about the Parthenon and Athena?

• Medusa thought Athena was the most beautiful Goddess

• Medusa thought the Parthenon was a beautiful temple

• I am so much prettier than she is – perhaps some day people will build an even grander temple to my beauty.

• She thought the temple was very poorly made

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Medusa’s friends grew pale. The priestesses who overheard Medusa gasped. Whispers ran through all the people in the temple who quickly began to leave -- for everyone knew that Athena enjoyed watching over the people of Athens and feared what might happen if the goddess had overheard Medusa’s rash remarks.

Based on Medusa’s conversations, the reader can conclude that Medusa’s friends were …..

• Her friends became afraid because of what Medusa was saying about the Goddess Athena

• Her friends were proud of Medusa because of what she was saying about the Goddess Athena

• Her friends didn't care about what Medusa was saying about the Goddess Athena

• Her friends didn't understand what Medusa was saying about the Goddess Athena

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Before long the temple was empty of everyone except Medusa, who was so busy gazing proudly at her reflection in the large bronze doors that she hadn't noticed the swift departure of everyone else. The image she was gazing at wavered and suddenly, instead of her own features, it was the face of Athena that Medusa saw reflected back at her.

Which line from the story best demonstrates the moment when Medusa realizes why the temple was empty?

• Before long the temple was empty of everyone except Medusa, who was so busy gazing proudly at her reflection.

• She hadn't noticed the swift departure of everyone else.

• The image she was gazing at wavered and suddenly, instead of her own features, it was the face of Athena that Medusa saw reflected back at her.

• Medusa's friends told her they were leaving

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“Nonsense,” Athena retorted, “Beauty fades swiftly in all mortals. It does not comfort the sick, teach the unskilled or feed the hungry. And by my powers, your loveliness shall be stripped away completely. Your fate shall serve as a reminder to others to control their pride

Based on paragraph 12, what can the reader conclude about Athena’s message on beauty towards Medusa?

• Medusa's beauty is everlasting

• Medusa's beauty will not always last

• Medusa's beauty is only meant for the Gods

• Medusa was never beautiful to Athena

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Based on the story, what can the reader conclude about Athena’s message on beauty towards Medusa?

• To serve as a reminder that there is more to life than beauty alone

• Medusa’s face changed to that of a hideous monster.

• Your face is now so terrible to behold that the mere sight of it will turn a man to stone

• Being beautiful is the most important thing in life

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