A Simple Act

How do Laura and Maurice first meet?

• Maurice is playing music in a corner

• Maurice is begging on a street.

• Maurice bumps into Laura

• Maurice lives in an adjacent block to Laura's

Answer explanation

A young boy—all of eleven years old and dressed in scruffy clothes—asked for some change for something to eat.

The word from "A Simple Act" that means "a connection between two people."

• the course of a person’s life

• An Important family tie

• the invisible thread

Answer explanation

But something drew Laura back to the boy. She still doesn’t know what it was, but she calls it an “invisible thread.” There’s an old Chinese proverb that says that an invisible thread connects two people who are destined to meet and influence each other.

Who else, besides Laura, believes in Maurice?

• his mom

• his dad

• Laura's sister

• Maurice's teacher

Answer explanation

Maurice’s teacher was perhaps the only other person who believed in him, and she made Laura take a long hard look at what she was doing. Was she helping Maurice just as a way of helping herself? Could she commit to being there for Maurice even when she didn’t feel like it? What kind of damage might it cause Maurice if she were to abandon him after becoming so important to him? Laura thought it through, and came to a decision.

What happens after Laura's friends tell her she should write a book about her experience with Maurice?

• she writes it immediately.

• she eventually writes it, and it becomes a best seller.

• she writes a short article instead.

• she writes the book, but decides not to publish it.

Answer explanation

Laura’s friends suggested that she write a book telling the whole story. It was 10 years before she began writing—and another three years before she found a co-writer and started seriously getting down to business. The result of their work, An Invisible Thread,reached number one on the New York Times best sellers list

The relationship with Laura added ________. __________ and __________ to Maurice's life

• hope

• security

• new experience

• all of them

Establishes a relationship is the definition of ___________

• connects

• influence

• encourage

Affecting someone is ________

• connection

• influence

• encouragement

Cheering and clapping for your friend is _______

• connection

• influence

• encouragement

Sharing food represents ________ to Maurice

• wealth

• pity

• family bond

• unusual idea

Answer explanation

But what amazed him the most was the large dining room table where they all sat down and talked and ate together. He declared that he wanted a table like that when he had a family of his own.

Which is the best description of Laura's relationship with Maurice NOW?

• they rarely speak anymore

• she is like a relative

• they started a business together

• she is only an inspiration

Answer explanation

Today, Maurice works in construction. He is the first person in his family to earn a pay check. He has a family of his own, and his children are all very fond of their “Aunt Laurie.”