The Letter

What is the main theme of this passage?

• Long journeys may involve much misfortune.

• Do not always believe everything that you read.

• Young people should be protected from danger.

• Sometimes you have to take risks to achieve a goal.

Read the following sentence from the passage.

Some had died while crossing raging rivers that swept people away like leaves.

What does the phrase "swept people away like leaves" most likely mean?

• The people crossed rivers clogged with fallen leaves.

• The people floated on the surface of the water.

• The people saw leaves piled on the riverbanks in the fall.

• The people were powerless against the current in the rivers.

Who is the narrator of this passage?

• John Sparks, the son of Pa and Ma Sparks

• Pa Sparks, the father of John, Matt, and David

• Bo Brown, the Sparks family's neighbor

• someone who is not involved in the passage

How would this story have been different if Pa's brother, Travis, had narrated it from his point of view? Choose the TWO best answers.

• The reader would understand more about Pa Sparks's thoughts and feelings and less about the other characters' thoughts and feelings.

• The reader would know and understand more about Travis's thoughts and feelings and less about the other characters' thoughts and feelings.

• The author would use words such as "I" and "me" to indicate Pa was speaking.

• The author would use words such as "I" and "me" to indicate Travis was speaking.

• The reader would know the thoughts and feelings of all characters in the story.

Read the following sentence from the passage.

Their wagon train had experienced its share of misfortune, including many people who had become ill or injured.  

Using what you know about prefixes and base words, what is the meaning of the word "misfortune" as it is used in this sentence?

• bad luck

• too much luck 

• without money

• extra money

Imagine you are leading a small group discussion about this passage. Which TWO questions would be the best to ask to ensure that all the group members understood the passage?

• How does the Sparks's neighbor, Bo Brown, feel about the risks involved with traveling on the Oregon Trail?

• If the passage continued, what would most likely happen in the future?

• How did Travis's family survive during the attacks by the Sioux and the Cheyenne?

• Why was Bo Brown traveling by horse rather than in a prairie schooner?

• Why was Ma so concerned about the safety of her boys?

Imagine you are giving a presentation about this passage. You make the claim that Travis's family shouldn't have taken the risk to travel along the Oregon Trail because it was too dangerous. Select the TWO pieces of evidence from the passage that best support your claim.

• Pa looked at the envelope, worn and tired from having passed through so many hands.

• The letter told about the six-month 2,000-mile journey that Travis's family had made along the Oregon Trail.

• Some had died while crossing raging rivers that swept people away like leaves.

• A few others were killed in attacks by the Sioux and the Cheyenne.

• Ma exclaimed, "I most certainly will not subject my boys to such dangers!

Which research question below is the most open-ended and would likely lead to additional information about what travel was like along the Oregon Trail?

• How long is the Oregon Trail?

• What difficulties did travelers face while on the Oregon Trail? 

• Which states did the Oregon Trail pass through?

• Why did people travel along the Oregon Trail?

Which sentence BEST explains the similarities or differences in Ma and Pa Sparks' reactions to the idea of moving to Oregon Country?

• Both Ma and Pa Sparks thought that the trip to Oregon Country would take too long.

• Ma Sparks thought it would be hard to grow crops in Oregon Country, but Pa Sparks was concerned about selling their farm equipment. 

• Both Ma and Pa Sparks thought it would be better to wait until their sons were older to travel to Oregon Country.

• Ma Sparks thought it was too risky, but Pa Sparks was excited for the chance to improve the family's life. 

The following excerpt contains an interjection.

Ugh! I can’t believe you! I told you to keep that a secret.

Which of the following statements tells the purpose of the interjection?

• It supports the idea that secrets are fun.

• It helps the reader understand the importance of having friends.

• It helps the reader understand that the speaker is upset about the secret being told.

• It supports the idea that it is rude to keep secrets.