The Black Stallion Comprehension

Where do the events of this story take place?

• on a tiny raft in the ocean

• on a farm with many horses

• on a ship during a terrible storm

• on a deserted island after a shipwreck

Which sentence from the story best reveals the setting?

• "Then they were in the air, sailing over a blackhole."

• "Alec jumped to the side, tripped on a stone, and fell to the ground."

• "He stepped up the side of the sand dune, his left hand was in the horse's mane."

• "His action shifted, and his huge strides seemed to make him fly through the air."

Which of these best describes the point of the highest tension in the story?

• Alec improving his horsemanship

• Alec gathering caragheen on the beach

• the Black answering Alec's beckoning whistle

• the Black taking off at a gallop with Alec on his back

Did he dare attempt to ride the Black? Should he wait a few more days?

Go ahead - tomorrow? Don't do it! Go ahead?

What do the sentences above show about Alec?

• He is afraid he will hurt the Black.

• He is experiencing an inner struggle.

• He is not interested in riding the Black.

• He is confident he will succed at riding the Black.

What do Alec, and the Black have in common?

• a desire for companionship

• a fear of drowning in the sea

• a difficult past that scarred them

• a distrust of humans and other animals

The reader learns about Alec and the Black mostly through...

• dialogue

• physical actions

• thought's in Alec's journal

• observations from other characters

Which statement best describes the theme (the message) of the story?

• Humans are meant to tame animals.

• Gentleness and love go far to earn trust.

• The ocean is nature's most powerful force.

• It is impossible for a human to survive alone.

Which sentence from the story best reveals the theme (the message)?

• "He had conquered this wild, unbroken stallion with kindness."

• "When he reached the top of the hill, he saw the Black at one end of the beach."

• "Then his hands gripped the mane tighter and he threw himself on the Black's back.

• "The flame's shadow reached out and cast eerie ghostlike patterns on the Black's body."

Use "The Black Stallion" and the article "Horse Power" to answer

Numbers 9 and 10.

The story and the article both contain a message that...

• horses and people form special bonds

• snakes and horses are natural enemies

• people with disabilities benefit from horses

• horses are better guide animals than dogs are

How is the article Horse Power different from the story?

• The article is supposed to be read aloud, while the story is to be read silently

• The article presents horses as wild and savage, while the story presents horses as very tame.

• The article contains informal, poetic language, while the story contains more formal language.

• The main purpose of the article is to inform, while the story is to entertain readers.