Multiple Themes

Read the following passage. Then, answer the questions.

Helen and Mary arrived in France in 1918, World War 1 raging all around the young nurses. "What have I gotten myself into?" Helen thought to herself. She and Mary had finished their nursing program and then immediately joined the Army Nurse Corps. The first week was hard. "I don't think our training prepared us for this," Helen whispered to Mary as they tried to sleep for a few hours in the nurse's quarters. The sounds of battle, not that far away, thundered continually. "I've hardly had a minute to pause and think," Mary agreed. Every second was claimed: They dressed injuries, removed old bandages, administered oxygen, and comforted the wounded.

It didn't get easier, but the women got stronger. One night, hundreds of soldiers came in on stretchers, and still others limped or were carried in. It was hours before dawn, and all the nurses were called to actions. Where Helen and Mary were once weary and overwhelmed, now they felt alert and confident. The filth and the bloodshed no longer frightened them; they had an important job to do. "Boil a tub of water," Helen ordered a junior nurse, "And I need thirty doses of aspirin." Mary dashed between the rows of beds, taking temperatures and pulses. She managed to say a word to each of the men, who bore their wounds so bravely. "We'll take good care of you," she soothed.

Select all important details below about the time and place in which the excerpt happens.

• France 1918

• World War 1

• Nurses Quarters in an Army hospital

• rows of beds

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Read the following passage. Then, answer the questions.

Helen and Mary arrived in France in 1918, World War 1 raging all around the young nurses. "What have I gotten myself into?" Helen thought to herself. She and Mary had finished their nursing program and then immediately joined the Army Nurse Corps. The first week was hard. "I don't think our training prepared us for this," Helen whispered to Mary as they tried to sleep for a few hours in the nurse's quarters. The sounds of battle, not that far away, thundered continually. "I've hardly had a minute to pause and think," Mary agreed. Every second was claimed: They dressed injuries, removed old bandages, administered oxygen, and comforted the wounded.

It didn't get easier, but the women got stronger. One night, hundreds of soldiers came in on stretchers, and still others limped or were carried in. It was hours before dawn, and all the nurses were called to actions. Where Helen and Mary were once weary and overwhelmed, now they felt alert and confident. The filth and the bloodshed no longer frightened them; they had an important job to do. "Boil a tub of water," Helen ordered a junior nurse, "And I need thirty doses of aspirin." Mary dashed between the rows of beds, taking temperatures and pulses. She managed to say a word to each of the men, who bore their wounds so bravely. "We'll take good care of you," she soothed.

Select two cultural or historical aspects of the setting that affect the characters.

• wounded soldiers

• France

• hot water

• doses of aspirin

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Read the following passage. Then, answer the questions.

Helen and Mary arrived in France in 1918, World War 1 raging all around the young nurses. "What have I gotten myself into?" Helen thought to herself. She and Mary had finished their nursing program and then immediately joined the Army Nurse Corps. The first week was hard. "I don't think our training prepared us for this," Helen whispered to Mary as they tried to sleep for a few hours in the nurse's quarters. The sounds of battle, not that far away, thundered continually. "I've hardly had a minute to pause and think," Mary agreed. Every second was claimed: They dressed injuries, removed old bandages, administered oxygen, and comforted the wounded.

It didn't get easier, but the women got stronger. One night, hundreds of soldiers came in on stretchers, and still others limped or were carried in. It was hours before dawn, and all the nurses were called to actions. Where Helen and Mary were once weary and overwhelmed, now they felt alert and confident. The filth and the bloodshed no longer frightened them; they had an important job to do. "Boil a tub of water," Helen ordered a junior nurse, "And I need thirty doses of aspirin." Mary dashed between the rows of beds, taking temperatures and pulses. She managed to say a word to each of the men, who bore their wounds so bravely. "We'll take good care of you," she soothed.

How did the characters respond to their situation?

• Calmly and confidently from beginning to end; they were trained by the Red Cross and Knew exactly what to do.

• Once Mary and Helen figured out how to boil water and where the aspirin was, all went smoothly.

• At first, they felt overwhelmed and unprepared; then, they grew stronger and more confident and less afraid of the things they saw.

• None of the above.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Read the following passage. Then, answer the questions.

Helen and Mary arrived in France in 1918, World War 1 raging all around the young nurses. "What have I gotten myself into?" Helen thought to herself. She and Mary had finished their nursing program and then immediately joined the Army Nurse Corps. The first week was hard. "I don't think our training prepared us for this," Helen whispered to Mary as they tried to sleep for a few hours in the nurse's quarters. The sounds of battle, not that far away, thundered continually. "I've hardly had a minute to pause and think," Mary agreed. Every second was claimed: They dressed injuries, removed old bandages, administered oxygen, and comforted the wounded.

It didn't get easier, but the women got stronger. One night, hundreds of soldiers came in on stretchers, and still others limped or were carried in. It was hours before dawn, and all the nurses were called to actions. Where Helen and Mary were once weary and overwhelmed, now they felt alert and confident. The filth and the bloodshed no longer frightened them; they had an important job to do. "Boil a tub of water," Helen ordered a junior nurse, "And I need thirty doses of aspirin." Mary dashed between the rows of beds, taking temperatures and pulses. She managed to say a word to each of the men, who bore their wounds so bravely. "We'll take good care of you," she soothed.

Choose the option below that best states a possible theme for this passage:

• Overcoming challenges becomes easier with time.

• Big gifts come in small packages.

• A little love can go a long way, even if you never see the outcome.

• Slow and steady wins the race...even if your second place.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

Read the following passage. Then, answer the questions.

Helen and Mary arrived in France in 1918, World War 1 raging all around the young nurses. "What have I gotten myself into?" Helen thought to herself. She and Mary had finished their nursing program and then immediately joined the Army Nurse Corps. The first week was hard. "I don't think our training prepared us for this," Helen whispered to Mary as they tried to sleep for a few hours in the nurse's quarters. The sounds of battle, not that far away, thundered continually. "I've hardly had a minute to pause and think," Mary agreed. Every second was claimed: They dressed injuries, removed old bandages, administered oxygen, and comforted the wounded.

It didn't get easier, but the women got stronger. One night, hundreds of soldiers came in on stretchers, and still others limped or were carried in. It was hours before dawn, and all the nurses were called to actions. Where Helen and Mary were once weary and overwhelmed, now they felt alert and confident. The filth and the bloodshed no longer frightened them; they had an important job to do. "Boil a tub of water," Helen ordered a junior nurse, "And I need thirty doses of aspirin." Mary dashed between the rows of beds, taking temperatures and pulses. She managed to say a word to each of the men, who bore their wounds so bravely. "We'll take good care of you," she soothed.

Identify two details below that support this theme: "Overcoming challenges becomes easier with time."

• Helen had the authority to order junior nurses to boil water and retrieve aspirin.

• The women grew stronger and more confident and got used to their surroundings.

• Helen and Mary gained more experience, became less afraid, and overcame the shock of their living conditions.

• Mary was known for her talent to multi-task, taking temperature, pulses, and chatting with the suffering soldiers all at the same time.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

Directions: Read the following passage. Then, answer the question that follows it.

They reached Independence, Missouri, on July 4, 1843. Pa said that it was the best place to stock up on provisions, so they set up camp and waited for the general store to open in the morning. Ben surveyed the shelves of cured meats, bacon, flour, coffee, and rice as Ma and Pa chose their supplies. Unlike many groups headed west on the Oregon Trail, they already had a trained team of oxen. Ben was in charge of minding his younger twin sisters, Sarah and Martha. "I'd rather be in charge of hunting," Ben muttered under his breath.

Finally, the wagon was loaded, and it was time to ferry across the Missouri River. Pa grumbled about the five-dollar fee and the three-day wait, but they had time to rest before the ride, which went smoothly. However, two days later, when they reached the Kansas River, the skies darkened ominously. This river was wide, but not very deep. Pa said they would ford the river in the wagon. "Maybe we should just wait for a ferry again," Ma suggested.

"There are storms coming," Pa said. "We don't have time to lose." It was already windy, and the lead ox's hoof got stuck in the mud at the bottom of the river. As the two front oxen went down, Ben felt the wagon tip in the river's strong current. His sisters screamed.

"I have you both!" Ben reassured them as he hooked an arm protectively around each girl. He held them tightly as the wagon lurched onto its side. The family was safe, but Ben watched as their barrels of food slid out of the wagon and quickly washed downriver. "It looks like I might be hunting after all," Ben said sadly and softly.

All of the following deal with the SETTING (the time and place that the story occurs) of the story EXCEPT

• Independence, Missouri

• July 4, 1843

• Oregon Trail

• The general store

• The Missouri River and Kansas River

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Directions: Read the following passage. Then, answer the question that follows it.

They reached Independence, Missouri, on July 4, 1843. Pa said that it was the best place to stock up on provisions, so they set up camp and waited for the general store to open in the morning. Ben surveyed the shelves of cured meats, bacon, flour, coffee, and rice as Ma and Pa chose their supplies. Unlike many groups headed west on the Oregon Trail, they already had a trained team of oxen. Ben was in charge of minding his younger twin sisters, Sarah and Martha. "I'd rather be in charge of hunting," Ben muttered under his breath.

Finally, the wagon was loaded, and it was time to ferry across the Missouri River. Pa grumbled about the five-dollar fee and the three-day wait, but they had time to rest before the ride, which went smoothly. However, two days later, when they reached the Kansas River, the skies darkened ominously. This river was wide, but not very deep. Pa said they would ford the river in the wagon. "Maybe we should just wait for a ferry again," Ma suggested.

"There are storms coming," Pa said. "We don't have time to lose." It was already windy, and the lead ox's hoof got stuck in the mud at the bottom of the river. As the two front oxen went down, Ben felt the wagon tip in the river's strong current. His sisters screamed.

"I have you both!" Ben reassured them as he hooked an arm protectively around each girl. He held them tightly as the wagon lurched onto its side. The family was safe, but Ben watched as their barrels of food slid out of the wagon and quickly washed downriver. "It looks like I might be hunting after all," Ben said sadly and softly.

Which details about the story's setting cause problems for the family? Choose ALL that apply.

• They are on a difficult journey.

• A storm is coming.

• There is no time to wait for a ferry.

• Their wagon tips over in the river.

• They lose barrels of food.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Directions: Read the following passage. Then, answer the question that follows it.

They reached Independence, Missouri, on July 4, 1843. Pa said that it was the best place to stock up on provisions, so they set up camp and waited for the general store to open in the morning. Ben surveyed the shelves of cured meats, bacon, flour, coffee, and rice as Ma and Pa chose their supplies. Unlike many groups headed west on the Oregon Trail, they already had a trained team of oxen. Ben was in charge of minding his younger twin sisters, Sarah and Martha. "I'd rather be in charge of hunting," Ben muttered under his breath.

Finally, the wagon was loaded, and it was time to ferry across the Missouri River. Pa grumbled about the five-dollar fee and the three-day wait, but they had time to rest before the ride, which went smoothly. However, two days later, when they reached the Kansas River, the skies darkened ominously. This river was wide, but not very deep. Pa said they would ford the river in the wagon. "Maybe we should just wait for a ferry again," Ma suggested.

"There are storms coming," Pa said. "We don't have time to lose." It was already windy, and the lead ox's hoof got stuck in the mud at the bottom of the river. As the two front oxen went down, Ben felt the wagon tip in the river's strong current. His sisters screamed.

"I have you both!" Ben reassured them as he hooked an arm protectively around each girl. He held them tightly as the wagon lurched onto its side. The family was safe, but Ben watched as their barrels of food slid out of the wagon and quickly washed downriver. "It looks like I might be hunting after all," Ben said sadly and softly.

Which of the following would NOT be a cultural or historical aspect of the setting to affect the characters?

• Wagons and ferries for transportation

• World War 1

• Westward expansion

• The Oregon Trail

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Directions: Read the following passage. Then, answer the question that follows it.

They reached Independence, Missouri, on July 4, 1843. Pa said that it was the best place to stock up on provisions, so they set up camp and waited for the general store to open in the morning. Ben surveyed the shelves of cured meats, bacon, flour, coffee, and rice as Ma and Pa chose their supplies. Unlike many groups headed west on the Oregon Trail, they already had a trained team of oxen. Ben was in charge of minding his younger twin sisters, Sarah and Martha. "I'd rather be in charge of hunting," Ben muttered under his breath.

Finally, the wagon was loaded, and it was time to ferry across the Missouri River. Pa grumbled about the five-dollar fee and the three-day wait, but they had time to rest before the ride, which went smoothly. However, two days later, when they reached the Kansas River, the skies darkened ominously. This river was wide, but not very deep. Pa said they would ford the river in the wagon. "Maybe we should just wait for a ferry again," Ma suggested.

"There are storms coming," Pa said. "We don't have time to lose." It was already windy, and the lead ox's hoof got stuck in the mud at the bottom of the river. As the two front oxen went down, Ben felt the wagon tip in the river's strong current. His sisters screamed.

"I have you both!" Ben reassured them as he hooked an arm protectively around each girl. He held them tightly as the wagon lurched onto its side. The family was safe, but Ben watched as their barrels of food slid out of the wagon and quickly washed downriver. "It looks like I might be hunting after all," Ben said sadly and softly.

How is Ben's attitude different at the end of the story compared to the beginning?

• In the end, Ben doesn't want to care for his sisters because they take time away from his hunting.

• In the end, Ben protects his sisters and saves them when the wagon tips, as he realizes he may have to hunt since their food was lost.

• In the end, Ben was secretly happy about the accident because he would finally get his one wish - to hunt.

• None of the above.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Directions: Read the following passage. Then, answer the question that follows it.

They reached Independence, Missouri, on July 4, 1843. Pa said that it was the best place to stock up on provisions, so they set up camp and waited for the general store to open in the morning. Ben surveyed the shelves of cured meats, bacon, flour, coffee, and rice as Ma and Pa chose their supplies. Unlike many groups headed west on the Oregon Trail, they already had a trained team of oxen. Ben was in charge of minding his younger twin sisters, Sarah and Martha. "I'd rather be in charge of hunting," Ben muttered under his breath.

Finally, the wagon was loaded, and it was time to ferry across the Missouri River. Pa grumbled about the five-dollar fee and the three-day wait, but they had time to rest before the ride, which went smoothly. However, two days later, when they reached the Kansas River, the skies darkened ominously. This river was wide, but not very deep. Pa said they would ford the river in the wagon. "Maybe we should just wait for a ferry again," Ma suggested.

"There are storms coming," Pa said. "We don't have time to lose." It was already windy, and the lead ox's hoof got stuck in the mud at the bottom of the river. As the two front oxen went down, Ben felt the wagon tip in the river's strong current. His sisters screamed.

"I have you both!" Ben reassured them as he hooked an arm protectively around each girl. He held them tightly as the wagon lurched onto its side. The family was safe, but Ben watched as their barrels of food slid out of the wagon and quickly washed downriver. "It looks like I might be hunting after all," Ben said sadly and softly.

What are several possible THEMES for this passage? Choose ALL that apply.

• It's important to be prepared.

• Sometimes it is best to wait.

• Be careful what you wish for.

• Never talk to strangers.

• Don't judge a book by its cover.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.9-10.2