Character Development

Complete the following passage with the correct transition words.

As mother had told them, little Mabel sat at her desk doing her homework. _____________, her brother, John, went out to play instead of doing his homework. _________ their mother returned, John ran inside and pretended to be busy at work. Mother saw that Mabel had finished her work, ________ John was sweaty from playing.

• Meanwhile; When; while

• Erstwhile; Where; so

• Meanwhile; Where; while

• Erstwhile; When; so

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.10

CCSS.RI.7.10

CCSS.RI.8.10

CCSS.RL.6.10

CCSS.RL.7.10

Which lines in this story represent its climax?

The Traveling Musicians by the Brothers Grimm

There were once a group of animals traveling to the city to play music. They had to cross a forest on their way and, as it was late, they had to spend the night there. They saw a house occupied by robbers and decided to drive them away by frightening them. This worked out well and the robbers ran into the forest. Then the animals ate a good meal and soon fell asleep.

Around midnight the robbers saw that the lights were out and the boldest of them went to see what was going on. Everything was still when he marched into the kitchen. He found a match and thought the glittering fiery eyes of the cat were live coals, and held the match to them to light it. The cat, not understanding this, sprang at his face, and spat and scratched at him. Frightened, he ran to the back door; but there the dog jumped up and bit him in the leg; and as he was crossing over the yard the donkey kicked him; and the cock, who had been awakened by the noise, crowed with all his might.

Then the robber ran back to his comrades, and told the captain how a horrid witch had got into the house. She had spat at him and scratched his face with her long bony fingers. Then a man with a knife in his hand had hidden himself behind the door, and stabbed him in the leg. [Meanwhile], a black monster stood in the yard and struck him with a club, and the devil had sat upon the top of the house and cried out, “Throw the rascal up here!”

After this the robbers never dared to go back to the house; but the musicians were so pleased with their quarters that they took up their abode there.

• There were once a group of animals traveling to the city to play music. They had to cross a forest on their way and, as it was late, they had to spend the night there. They saw a house occupied by robbers and decided to drive them away by frightening them. This worked out well and the robbers ran into the forest. Then the animals ate a good meal and soon fell asleep.

• He found a match and thought the glittering fiery eyes of the cat were live coals, and held the match to them to light it. The cat, not understanding this, sprang at his face, and spat and scratched at him. Frightened, he ran to the back door; but there the dog jumped up and bit him in the leg; and as he was crossing over the yard the donkey kicked him; and the cock, who had been awakened by the noise, crowed with all his might.

• Then the robber ran back to his comrades, and told the captain how a horrid witch had got into the house. She had spat at him and scratched his face with her long bony fingers. Then a man with a knife in his hand had hidden himself behind the door, and stabbed him in the leg. [Meanwhile], a black monster stood in the yard and struck him with a club, and the devil had sat upon the top of the house and cried out, “Throw the rascal up here!”

• After this the robbers never dared to go back to the house; but the musicians were so pleased with their quarters that they took up their abode there.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

Which lines in the story show the impact of the climax on the robbers?

The Traveling Musicians by the Brothers Grimm

There were once a group of animals traveling to the city to play music. They had to cross a forest on their way and as it was late, they had to spend the night there. They saw a house occupied by robbers and decided to drive them away by frightening them. This worked out well and the robbers ran into the forest. Then the animals ate a good meal and soon fell asleep.

Around midnight the robbers saw that the lights were out and the boldest of them went to see what was going on. Everything was still when he marched into the kitchen. He found a match and thought the glittering fiery eyes of the cat were live coals, and held the match to them to light it. The cat, not understanding this, sprang at his face, and spat, and scratched at him. Frightened, he ran to the back door; but there the dog jumped up and bit him in the leg; and as he was crossing over the yard the donkey kicked him; and the cock, who had been awakened by the noise, crowed with all his might.

Then the robber ran back to his comrades, and told the captain how a horrid witch had got into the house. She had spat at him and scratched his face with her long bony fingers. Then a man with a knife in his hand had hidden himself behind the door, and stabbed him in the leg. Meanwhile, a black monster stood in the yard and struck him with a club, and the devil had sat upon the top of the house and cried out, “Throw the rascal up here!”

After this the robbers never dared to go back to the house; but the musicians were so pleased with their quarters that they took up their abode there.

• There were once a group of animals traveling to the city to play music. They had to cross a forest on their way and as it was late, they had to spend the night there. They saw a house occupied by robbers and decided to drive them away by frightening them. This worked out well and the robbers ran into the forest. Then the animals ate a good meal and soon fell asleep.

• Around midnight the robbers saw that the lights were out and the boldest of them went to see what was going on. Everything was still when he marched into the kitchen. He found a match and thought the glittering fiery eyes of the cat were live coals, and held the match to them to light it. The cat, not understanding this, sprang at his face, and spat, and scratched at him. Frightened, he ran to the back door; but there the dog jumped up and bit him in the leg; and as he was crossing over the yard the donkey kicked him; and the cock, who had been awakened by the noise, crowed with all his might.

• Then the robber ran back to his comrades, and told the captain how a horrid witch had got into the house. She had spat at him and scratched his face with her long bony fingers. Then a man with a knife in his hand had hidden himself behind the door, and stabbed him in the leg. Meanwhile, a black monster stood in the yard and struck him with a club, and the devil had sat upon the top of the house and cried out, “Throw the rascal up here!”

• After this the robbers never dared to go back to the house; but the musicians were so pleased with their quarters that they took up their abode there.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.5.5

What does the bright light symbolize in this passage?

She knocked on the door. When no one answered, she lit a candle, opened the door, and walked into the room. Her grumpy brother was sitting in a corner of the darkened room. He was consumed by his anger and hate. She stayed in the room despite his foul mood. Then, slowly but surely, his mood improved. They spoke for hours after he opened up to her. A while later, he realized how well his room was lit. Despite its tiny flame, the candle had pushed out the darkness, just as his sister had managed to drive out the darkness in him.

• lonliness

• kindness

• conscience

• anger

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

What is the correct definition of the climax in a story?

• the conflict that develops between two opposing forces

• the highest point of interest in the story

• an object with a literal and figurative meaning

• a device that helps move the plot along

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RL.6.9

What does the wolf in this story from Aesop’s Fables symbolize?

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

There was once a young Shepherd Boy who tended his sheep at the foot of a mountain near a dark forest. It was rather lonely for him all day, so he thought upon a plan by which he could get a little company and some excitement. He rushed down towards the village calling out "Wolf, Wolf." The villagers came out to meet him, and some of them stopped with him for a considerable time. This pleased the boy so much that a few days afterwards he tried the same trick, and again the villagers came to his help. But shortly after this a Wolf actually did come out from the forest, and began to worry the sheep, and the boy of course cried out "Wolf, Wolf," still louder than before. But this time the villagers, who had been fooled twice before, thought the boy was again deceiving them, and nobody stirred to come to his help. So the Wolf made a good meal off the boy's flock, and when the boy complained, the wise man of the village said: "A liar will not be believed, even when he speaks the truth."

• greed

• innocence

• dishonesty

• hopelessness

Tags

CCSS.RL.1.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.K.5

What does the allusion to an Achilles heel mean in this passage?

Sara looked at the dozen bags of clothes and shoes at her feet. She had promised herself that she would just get a pair of sunglasses. But shopping had always been her Achilles heel.

• Sara's curiosity

• Sara's choice

• Sara's weakness

• Sara's reward

Tags

CCSS.RF.3.3B

CCSS.RF.3.3C

CCSS.RF.3.3D

CCSS.RF.4.3A

CCSS.RF.5.3A

What is the theme of this passage?

Mabel always did her work with dedication. Her brother, John, never did his work and always bullied Mabel into helping him. One day, their mother got tired of John’s behavior and decided it was time for him to learn a lesson. So she told them that she would be going to Aunt Meg’s place to bake a pie. She told them that they must each finish their homework if they wanted a piece of pie. Now, John loved pie more than any other food in the world.

Little Mabel sat at her desk doing her homework. In the meantime, John went out to play instead of doing his homework. John thought, “Mother won’t be home until later. I have enough time to play.” But John lost track of time. He spent all day chasing their neighbor's cat until he saw his mother returning. John ran inside and pretended to be busy at work. Mother saw that Mabel had finished her work, while John was sweaty from playing. Mother told John that he had been naughty and that he would get a piece of pie only after he had finished his homework. John had to stay up late to finish his homework and got only a small piece of pie.

• Children should study regularly.

• It doesn’t pay to put things off.

• The future cannot be trusted.

• All work and no play makes us dull.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.5.9

What is the main theme in this story from Aesop’s Fables?

The Fox and the Crow

A Fox saw a Crow fly off with a piece of cheese in its beak and settle on a branch of a tree.

"That's for me, as I am a Fox," said Master Reynard, and he walked up to the foot of the tree.

"Good-day, Mistress Crow," he cried. "How well you are looking to-day: how glossy your feathers; how bright your eye. I feel sure your voice must surpass that of other birds, just as your figure does; let me hear but one song from you that I may greet you as the Queen of Birds."

The Crow lifted up her head and began to caw her best, but the moment she opened her mouth the piece of cheese fell to the ground, only to be snapped up by Master Fox.

"That will do," said he. "That was all I wanted."

• Any excuse will serve a poor leader.

• Do not trust those who flatter you.

• Gratitude and greed go together.

• A good act deserves to be rewarded.

Tags

CCSS.RL.1.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.K.5

Which theme is central to this story from Aesop’s Fables?

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

There was once a young Shepherd Boy who tended his sheep at the foot of a mountain near a dark forest. It was rather lonely for him all day, so he thought upon a plan by which he could get a little company and some excitement. He rushed down towards the village calling out "Wolf, Wolf." The villagers came out to meet him, and some of them stopped with him for a considerable time. This pleased the boy so much that a few days afterwards he tried the same trick, and again the villagers came to his help. But shortly after this a wolf actually did come out from the forest, and began to worry the sheep, and the boy of course cried out "Wolf, Wolf," still louder than before. But this time the villagers, who had been fooled twice before, thought the boy was again deceiving them, and nobody stirred to come to his help. So the Wolf made a good meal of the boy's flock.

• The same trick will not always work on the same people.

• We cannot always rely on others to help us.

• It is unwise to trust those who rely on flattery.

• A liar will not be believed, even when he speaks the truth.

Tags

CCSS.RL.1.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.K.5