6th Improvising Together MAAP

Which detail from the passage best supports the inference that the narrator tries to be as independent as possible?

• A.

  “Mom used to make chili all the time, but I can't remember what she did; I'll have to improvise.” (paragraph 1)

• B.

  “I coach myself with my usual reminders: don’t cause trouble at school, don’t be late, do your homework, and clean up after yourself.” (paragraph 5)

• C.

  “Dad pulls out a chair, settling down at the table, and I bring us both bowls of my experiment of a meal, if you could call it that.” (paragraph 10)

• D.

  “Later, after we’ve washed up from dinner, we hunker down at the table with my math notebook open to the treacherous word problems that I cannot solve.” (paragraph 12)

Select the two phrases from paragraph 1 which support the inference that the story takes place during winter.

• I get off the school bus

• into the icy wind

• house if rigid and dark

• My stomach rumbles loudly,

Select two details that support the idea that the narrator’s father has been struggling since her mother has been gone.

• “I wonder if, even then, she was preparing me for a time when she wouldn’t be here to take care of Dad and me.” (paragraph 4)

• “Dad will be home soon, and I want him to have a warm house and an adequate meal ready when he gets here.” (paragraph 5)

• “By any means necessary, I just want to lighten the weight he seems to carry like lead around his feet.” (paragraph 5)

• “I’m happy to see that his appetite has returned; he had virtually stopped eating for awhile there.” (paragraph 11)

My thoughts suddenly jerk to a screeching pause. I wonder if, even then, she was preparing me for a time when she wouldn’t be here to take care of Dad and me. I wonder if she knew. . . . Could she have known?

What new idea about the narrator is introduced in this paragraph?

• A.

  The narrator is conflicted about which parent to trust more since her mother left.

• B.

  The narrator is surprised that her father expects her to take care of them.

• C.

  The narrator is angry with her mother for leaving the family to fend for themselves.

• D.

  The narrator is suspicious that her mother knew she wouldn’t be around for much longer.

The noises I hear are a soundtrack on repeat, the same every day: door closing, keys and loose change hitting the countertop, coat buttons clanking against the coatrack, steel-toed boots sliding off. His routine is a perfectly wound clock, and I think we both take some solace in his predictability.

Which of the following best describes how the narrator uses figurative language in these sentences?

• A.

  The narrator uses irony to reveal her father’s motivation for his daily routine.

• B.

  The narrator uses hyperbole to exaggerate how boring her father’s routines are.

• C.

  The narrator uses metaphors to describe how predictable her father’s routines are

• D.

  The narrator uses personification to describe the items her father carries every day.

What does paragraph 13 tell the reader about the narrator’s father?

• A.

  He is well-versed in the subject his daughter is learning.

• B.

  He is willing to help his daughter even if it does not come easily to him.

• C.

  He desires to achieve a higher level of education so that he can help his daughter.

• D.

  He has a well-developed sense of humor and likes to joke around with his daughter.

Which of the following is a central idea of the passage?

• Academic problems can be overcome with persistent effort.

• Working hard is more important than possessing natural talent.

• Families can lean on each other in order to cope with difficulties.

• Food can be healthy and delicious, even if only simple ingredients are used.

Which quote best supports the central message?

• “I remove it and discover a can of diced tomatoes in the cupboard. Mom used to make chili all the time, but I can't remember what she did; I'll have to improvise.” (paragraph 1)

• “An artist in the kitchen, she expertly turned dried beans or canned vegetables into an entirely new creation as I watched, bewildered.” (paragraph 2)

• “I force the lingering questions aside and absently stir my concoction more rigorously than needed.” (paragraph 5)

• “‘Well, this isn’t exactly the kind of math I learned in trade school,’ he confesses, ‘but I bet we can figure it out as we go. Together.’” (paragraph 13)

It was never anything remotely complicated or fancy–even then I recognized that we couldn’t afford much. In fact, I was nearly ten years old when I first experienced dining in a restaurant, and even that was just hospital food.

What can the reader infer based on these sentences?

• A.

  The narrator enjoys eating at fancy restaurants.

• B.

  The narrator has spent some time at a hospital.

• C.

  The narrator dislikes the food prepared at her home.

• D.

  The narrator dislikes the fact that her family is not wealthy.

In paragraph 6, the narrator describes Dad as tired but warm. Which two phrases from paragraph 7 further support this description?

• “five-o’clock shadow”

• “bags under his once shimmering eyes”

• “learn anything good”

• “cold can of Coca-Cola”