Dark They Were and Golden Eyed

How does the exposition in paragraphs 1 - 13 contribute to the development of the plot?

(RL.7.3)

• It establishes that Mr. Bittering is uncomfortable on Mars because he feels as if his new home is going to affect who he is in some way.

• It establishes that Mars is beautiful planet that will allow the Bittering family to have a chance at real happiness.

• It shows that Mars is very different than Earth, and it will take a while for the Bittering family to get used to their new home.

• It shows that Mr. Bittering is a grumpy man who always sees the negative and will therefore not give his new home a chance .

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.3

Reread paragraphs.

Alone, thought Bittering. Only a thousand of us here. No way back. No way. No way. Sweat poured from his face and his hands and his body; he was drenched in the hotness of his fear. He wanted to strike Laura, cry, 'No, you're lying! The rockets will come back!' Instead, he stroked Laura's head against him and said, 'The rockets will get through, some day.'

How does the description of Mr. Bittering’s reaction to the news about Earth contribute to the reader’s understanding of Mr. Bittering’’s character? (RL.7.6)

• The description shows the reader that Mr. Bittering is willing to put aside his feelings to help his child.

• The description helps to highlight for the reader Mr. Bittering’s need to always be right. .

• The description proves to the reader that Mr. Bittering always loses his temper at Laura’s dramatic fits.

• The description emphasizes to the reader how Mr. Bittering has a close relationship with Laura.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.6

What is Harry Bittering’s main emotion in the first half of “Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed”?

• He is curious about the fate of the Martians.

• He is angry at his wife for wanting to stay on Mars.

• He is afraid of being changed by the Martian environment.

• He is annoyed by the other Earth people in the town on Mars.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.W.7.9A

Which event in “Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed” is most important in preventing the family’s return to Earth?

• The family is happy living on a farm in the new settlement.

• The return ticket to Earth costs more than the family has.

• A rocket that Harry builds does not function.

• An atomic world war breaks out on Earth.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.W.7.9A

In “Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed,” what is Mr. Bittering’s first clue that his world is changing?

• His children want to adopt Martian names.

• His garden grows green roses and purple grass.

• His wife and children’s eyes turn a golden color.

• His neighbors calmly accept all the changes around them.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.1

At the end of “Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed,” whom does the lieutenant from Earth encounter in the hills?

• He finds the original Earth colonists, who have fully transformed

  into Martians.

• He finds the original Martians, who have destroyed the Earth

  colonists.

• He finds refugees who fled to Mars from the Earth during the

  nuclear war.

• He finds an alien race that lives in the ruins of the original

  Martians’ settlement.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.W.7.9A

Which of the following best states a major theme in “Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed”?

• Since we have limited resources on Earth, governments should

  look to other planets to meet our needs.

• Humans are generally open minded and peaceful in their

  encounters with the unknown.

• Though people often fear and resist it, change is unavoidable in

  the end.

• Far-off worlds can be anything people imagine them to be.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

Read the following sentence from “Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed.”

And the lawn in front of their house very quietly and slowly was coloring itself like spring violets. Seed from Earth but growing up a soft purple.

What comparison does the simile in the sentence make and how does this language contribute to the mood of the story?

• It compares the house with a coloring book and adds a playful mood.

• It compares the lawn with a seed and contributes to a positive mood.

• It compares the house with spring violets and contributes to a positive mood.

• It compares the lawn with spring violets and contributes to an eerie, unearthly mood.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.5A

CCSS.L.7.5D

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.4

Read the following paragraphs.

‘'We must get away,' said Bittering. 'We'll eat this stuff and then we'll change -who knows to what. I can't let it happen. There's only one thing to do. Burn this food!''It's not poisoned.''But it is. Subtly, very subtly. A little bit. A very little bit. We mustn't touch it.'He looked with dismay at their house. 'Even the house. The wind's done something to it. The air's burned it. The fog at night. The boards, all warped out of shape. It's not an Earthman's house any more.''Oh, your imagination!'.

What do the paragraphs above reveal about Mr. Bittering’s perspective?

(RL.7.6)

• The paragraphs illustrate how Mr. Bittering feels that they should have planted different food and built a different kind of house.

• The paragraphs emphasize how important Mrs. Bittering’s opinion is to Mrs. Bittering.

• The paragraphs show how glad Mr. Bittering is to be on Mars with his family.

• The paragraphs that Mr. Bittering thinks that the planet will cause them harm by changing them in some way.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.6

How does the setting affect the plot of the story? (RL.7.3)

• The setting does not affect the story in any way because only what Mr. Bittering does allows the reader to understand the plot.

• The setting causes the Bittering family to realize that they had a wonderful home back on Earth, and they do everything they can to get back home.

• The setting causes Mr Bittering to be fearful of what will happen to him and his family, and his fears eventually come true as he adapts to life on Mars.

• The setting causes the Bittering family to resist adapting to their new life on Mars because they do not want to give up their true selves.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.3