Dame Cricket's Story

Part A At the beginning of the story, how do the little crickets feel about having to wake up?

• A. The little crickets are excited about joining their cousins.

• B. The little crickets would rather sleep than chirp all night.

• C. The little crickets want to get up and listen to a story.

• D. The little crickets want to show that they are good.

Part B Which quotation from the story supports the answer to Part A?

• A. “‘Some of our cousins are already singing, and it will soon be dark.’” (paragraph 3)

• B. “‘Oh dear! Why do we have to get up?’” (paragraph 4)

• C. “‘Oh, mother, is it a story?’” (paragraph 6)

• D. “‘We are good little crickets, aren’t we, mother?’” (paragraph 22)

Choose two words that best describe Dame Cricket.

• A. angry

• B. caring

• C. noisy

• D. patient

• E. tired

Read the sentence from paragraph 2.

But the little crickets snuggled under the bedclothes just as if they did not hear their mother’s words.

What can the reader infer about the little crickets?

• A. The little crickets did not wake up on time.

• B. The little crickets were ready to get out of bed.

• C. The little crickets did not want to get out of bed.

• D. The little crickets were snuggled under the bedclothes.

Read the sentence from paragraph 10. “You all have fine-looking throats, as fine as ever crickets had, and yet our singing is very faint ; there is not as much volume to it as in the old days.”

Which word means the same as faint as it is used in the sentence?

• A. clear

• B. loud

• C. quiet

• D. strong

Read the sentence from paragraph 6.

“Oh, mother, is it a story?” asked all the little crickets, jumping out of bed with a bound and gathering about their mother.

What does the phrase jumping out of bed with a bound tell the reader about how the crickets got out of bed?

• A. The little crickets got out of bed quickly and with excitement.

• B. The little crickets got out of bed quietly and with caution.

• C. The little crickets got out of bed curiously and with fear.

• D. The little crickets got out of bed slowly and with care.

Which word describes a trait of the little crickets in the story?

• A. angry

• B. different

• C. frustrated

• D. respectful

Which sentence should be included in a summary of the story?

• A. The little crickets dressed quietly.

• B. The little crickets’ cousins were already outside singing.

• C. The little crickets had to put on little backpacks and little brown suits.

• D. The little crickets realized the importance of getting up when they were called.

Which statement describes a theme of the story?

• A. Resting is best done at night.

• B. Being young is better than being old.

• C. Doing what one is told brings rewards.

• D. Learning from the past leads to good decisions.