Barracoon

Which statement best summarizes the information Kossula provides about his family in Africa?

• Kossula makes it clear that he will not lie and say that his people were rich but says his grandfather was a great man who could have become a little chief and may have become rich.

• His people were not wealthy, nor rulers, but his grandfather was an officer to the king, who took good care of his grandfather and gave him land and livestock.

• His people were not wealthy, nor had high blood, but his grandfather was a

  proud man, and Kossula looked up to him and loved him even though he was not African royalty.

• His people were not wealthy, and they were not rulers; they, however, did have an elephant and ivory, and Kossula’s grandfather worked for the king.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Which statement provides the most objective summary of why Kossula starts the story of his life by telling about his grandfather?

• Kossula says that a child in a house is a little mouse and that on the soil of Africa

  you tell about a son, then the father. He asks if the author understands that you

  would not speak about a son before speaking about the father and the man

  who is the father of the father.

• Kossula says that a child in a house is not the leader and that in Africa you

  would not speak about the son before speaking about the father. So he can’t

  speak about himself or his father until he speaks about his grandfather.

• Kossula says that he is a mouse, which is not true as his life is as important as his grandfather’s life, so he should tell his story and then talk about his

  grandfather.

• The mouse is the child and cannot be a leader in a house. Children should not talk about themselves before talking about those who came before them. Kossula’s understanding of this shows his respect for his father and grandfather as well as for African tradition.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Which statement best explains why the sequence text structure in paragraphs 11–14 is effective?

• The text structure describes in detail Kossula’s life in Africa and his voyage to

  America.

• The text structure reveals the strength of Kossula’s religious views.

• The text structure shows the steps in the process Hurston follows to encourage

  Kossula to reveal his story.

• The text structure reveals that Kossula came to America so that his family would

  have religious freedom.

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CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

What is the impact of this text structure on the reader?

• The reader is able to understand key dates and details concerning Kossula’s life.

• The reader is able to understand Hurston’s perspective on religion

• The reader is able to learn about Kossula’s story in his own words and on his

  own terms.

• The reader is able to learn about Hurston’s story in her own words.

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CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

How does the use of vernacular help the author better convey Kossula’s story?

• Hurston’s use of vernacular proves that she is an expert interviewer and listener.

• Hurston’s use of vernacular allows the reader to better imagine Kossula’s life and experience, making the reader more invested in what he has to say.

• Hurston’s use of vernacular makes the reader pay closer attention to the text, keeping them focused.

• Hurston’s use of vernacular is meant to show how sad a life Kossula has lived.

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CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Which of these inferences about Kossula’s family is best supported by the passage below (paragraph 21)?

“My people, you unnerstand me, dey ain’ got no ivory by de door. When it ivory from de elephant stand by de door, den dat a king, a ruler, you unnerstand me. My father neither his father don’t rule nobody. De ole folks dat live two hud’ed year befo’ I born don’t tell me de father (remote ancestor) rule nobody.”

• Kossula’s family was a part of a feudal system in which there were kings.

• Kossula’s family was not of high social standing.

• There is no clear existing history of Kossula’s family.

• Kossula’s family were mostly farmers.

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CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.9-10.1

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

The following passage (paragraphs 13–14) mainly shows that _______.

“But didn’t you have a God back in Africa?” I asked him. His head dropped between his hands and the tears sprung fresh. Seeing the anguish in his face, I regretted that I had come to worry this captive in a strange land. He read my face and said “Excusee me I cry. I can’t help it when I hear de name call. Oh, Lor’. I no see Afficky soil no mo’!”

• Hurston’s mentioning of Africa makes Kossula very emotional.

• Kossula is confused easily.

• Kossula wishes he could return to Africa.

• Hurston is not afraid to ask difficult questions.

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CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

How does the author mainly show her closeness with Kossula?

• She describes Kossula’s house in detail and how she knows whether or not he is home.

• She calls him by his birth name, Kossula.

• She asks Kossula very personal questions.

• Kossula recognizes her immediately.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RI.11-12.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What is most closely the central idea of the passage below (paragraphs 23–25)?

“My father’s father, you unnerstand me, he a officer of de king. He don’t live in de compound wid us. Wherever de king go, he go, you unnerstand me. De king give him plenty land, and got plenty cows and goats and sheep. Now, dass right. Maybe after while he be a little chief, I doan know. But he die when I was a lil boy. Whut he gointer be later on, dat doan reachee me. “My grandpa, he a great man. I tellee how he go.”

I was afraid that Cudjo might go off on a tangent, so I cut in with, “But Kossula, I want to hear about you and how you lived in Africa.”

• Kossula has a lot to say about Africa and his story is going in an unexpected direction.

• Hurston is trying to stay in control of Kossula’s story.

• Kossula loved his grandfather.

• Kossula’s father died when Kossula was young.

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CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Which of the following inferences is best supported by the passage below (paragraphs 6–8)?

“Yeah, I got to have somebody stay wid me. I been sick in de bed de five month. I needa somebody hand me some water. So I take dis man and he sleep here and take keer of Cudjo. But I gitee well now.” In spite of the recent illness and the fact that his well had fallen in, I found Cudjo Lewis full of gleaming, good will. His garden was planted. There was deep shade under his China-berry tree and all was well. He wanted to know a few things about New York and when I had answered him, he sat silently smoking. Finally, I told him I had come to talk with him. He removed his pipe from his mouth and smiled.

• Despite Kossula’s hardships, he lives a seemingly satisfying life.

• Kossula really enjoys gardening.

• The author has been to Kossula’s house before.

• Kossula is trying to quit smoking.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

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