We Beat the Street (Ch. 5-9)

Twelve year old Rameck is now in the public school’s gifted-and-talented program, rather than the Catholic school's ​__________ program. He asks his grandmother for an expensive favor to make it big in the ​__________ world. When money is tight at home, he must make a choice between his dream and ​ __________ .

• Religious Ed

  rapping

  electricity

• tutoring

  sporting

  fresh food

• Special Ed

  acting

  electricity

• Kung-Fu

  acting

  drugs

George gets measured for​ ________ and discovers a career path that will help keep his life on the straight and narrow. ​ ________ sensed George's fascination and took the time to teach and ​________ him.

• braces

  Dr. Thomas

  encourage

• braces

  The technician

  discourage

• Nikes

  Miss Johnson

  inspire

• Nikes

  His mother

  discipline

After being played by Eddie, Sampson gets let out of jail and witnesses a deadly ​ ______ accident. Sampson hides ​______ from classmates and doesn’t want to transfer to the rigorous University High School. However, he reluctantly takes the admittance test beside his future best friend, a boy with braces named ______. At his new school, Rameck kills it on stage as ​ ______, but back in the neighborhood he throws a punch that almost gets him killed.

• airplane

  good grades

  Razor

  Rikki-Tikki-Tavi

• subway

  snacks

  George

  Annabel Lee

• train

  poor grades

  Rameck

  Shakespeare

• car

  good grades

  George

  Scrooge

Rameck's mother was not only raising two children by herself in a “single-family household,” but she was also struggling with drug addiction. What did his mother most likely do with the money?

• She most likely spent the $150 on drugs.

• She probably spent the $150 on lottery tickets to fuel her drug problem.

• She most likely spent the $150 on expensive shoes.

• She probably spent the $150 on books to satisfy her reading addiction.

Rameck's mother explained that she didn't have the money to get the electricity turned back on. She signed with glazed and dull eyes and asked plaintively, "What am I going to do?"

Based on the context clues, what is the best definition for plaintively?

• critically

• joyfully

• hopefully

• sorrowfully

What eventually happened to Eddie?

• While Eddie’s life improved, Sampson's steadily went in the opposite direction.

• While Sampson’s life improved, Eddie’s steadily went in the opposite direction.

What did Ma mean when she said this to Rameck about his mother?

“She wants what’s best for you. But sometimes life gets bigger than she is.”

• Rameck's mother loves him, but she is struggling with obesity.

• Rameck's mother wants to buy him everything, but doesn't want to spoil him.

• Rameck's mother wants him to leave Newark and explore all that the big world has to offer.

• Rameck's mother loves him, but often struggles just to get by.

What does George mean when he asks if the dentist is Godzilla or King Kong?

• George is wondering if Dr. Thomas found medical or dental school more challenging.

• George is wondering if Dr. Thomas prefers Godzilla or King Kong movies.

• George is wondering which profession will make him happier in life -- medical doctor or dentist?

• George is wondering which profession is more prestigious and powerful: medical doctor or dentist?

What is the theme of chapter 6?

HINT: 11-year old George’s trip to the dentist

• dentistry is fun

• follow your dreams

• know your own limitations

• tackling difficult situations build character

Sampson, age 11, learns an important life lesson from Reggie, a Kung Fu teacher.

What does Reggie mean when he said, “I’m going to teach you how to live”?

• He will teach them where to go for training to make a good living.

• He will teach them to know when to use their brains instead of their fists.

• He is going to teach the boys how to live on a fixed income.

• He is going to teach the boys how to fight so they will always win.