Southpaw Comprehension Questions

1. Through what format is the story told?

• a. Through emails

• b. Through text messages

• c. Through letters

• d. Through phone conversations

2. The author’s choice of this format helps the reader—

• a. understand the conversation between the two characters better

• b. understand the setting better

• c. predict what will happen next

• d. None of the above

3. What does Janet want Richard to give back?

• a. Her Disneyworld sweat shirt

• b. Her Universal Studios sweat shirt

• c. Her Disneyland sweat shirt

• d. None of the above

4. Read the following lines from the story:

Why don’t you forget all about baseball and learn something nice like knitting?

What can the reader reasonably infer about Richard based on these lines?

• a. He needs a sweater knitted for him

• b. He wants a girlfriend that knows how to knit

• c. He thinks girls can’t or shouldn’t play baseball

• d. None of the above

5. Read the following lines from the story:

Wait until Wednesday.

What type of figurative language is being used?

• a. Personification

• b. Metaphor

• c. Simile

• d. Alliteration

6. What is the most probable reason that Janet mentions the losses of Richard’s team?

• a. To embarrass him in front of his friends

• b. To point out that she may help them win

• c. To make Richard feel like he can’t coach baseball

• d. To make sure that Richard knows that she is spying on him

7. In paragraph 6, the author uses the phrase “kick a man when he’s down” to mean —

• a. verbally attack him at his weakest moment

• b. report him for doing something bad

• c. physically attack and injure him

• d. hurt his feelings

8. What does Janet most likely mean when she says that she was “kicking back”?

• a. That Richard is the violent one

• b. That Richard betrayed her first

• c. That Baseball is for losers

• d. That she will actually kick Richard next time she sees him

9. What baseball position does Janet insist on having?

• a. Outfield

• b. Pitcher

• c. 1st base

• d. 3rd base

10. What sentence expresses a turning point in the story?

• a. Don’t invite me to your birthday party because I’m not coming.

• b. I want them back.

• c. I don’t think I want it anymore

• d. We might be able to let you catch next week.