The Horned Toad

According to the narrator, where do the neighborhood kids often play in "The Horned Toad"?

• at the ranch

• in the oil patch

• in the vacant lot

• at the stores in town

In "The Horned Toad," why does Grandma move in with the narrator's family?

• She fell down and injured her hip.

• She had a fight with Uncle Manuel and Aunt Toni.

• She got sick with typhoid and could not take care of herself anymore.

• She is moving from house to house within the family to find the place she likes best.

What happens after the small horned toad dies in "The Horned Toad"? Choose two answers.

• Grandma gives the narrator a piece of candy.

• The narrator's father helps him find a new toad for a pet.

• The narrator feels upset and guilty about what happened.

• Grandma helps the narrator bury the toad in the vacant lot.

• The narrator's mother scolds him for taking the toad away from his home.

What does the narrator argue about with his aunts and uncles at the end of "The Horned Toad"?

• whether or not they should continue living in Oildale

• whether Grandma should be buried at her old ranch or in the city

• whether or not he should be punished for the death of the horned toad

• whether or not Grandma should move back in with Uncle Manuel and Aunt Toni

If Valerie's town has an abundance of wildlife, how might the town be described?

• It has a great deal of wildlife.

• It has relatively little wildlife.

• It has unusual kinds of wildlife.

• It has strictly controlled wildlife.

Which of the following best shows the meaning of verdancy?

• a peaceful home

• a bustling office

• a thriving garden

• a thundering storm

If a building is vacant, what is true about it?

• The building is empty.

• The building is modern.

• The building is full of occupants.

• The building is in need of repairs.

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B. Part A Which of the following best describes the way the relationship between Grandma and the narrator's father, Charlie, changes over the course of "The Horned Toad"?

• Grandma and Charlie have always been close, and they bond further as she grows older.

• Grandma and Charlie are close at first, but they grow apart after a misunderstanding.

• While Grandma and Charlie have a tense relationship at first, they become close over time.

• Grandma and Charlie tolerate each other, but they sometimes have loud disagreements.

Which of the following lines from "The Horned Toad" most clearly support the answer to Part A?

• It was difficult for [Daddy] to show affection and I guess the openness of Mom's family made him uneasy.

• Later, just before they left, I heard Uncle Manuel tell my dad, "Good luck, Charlie. That old lady's dynamite."

• I wasn't afraid of my great-grandmother any longer and, once I began spending time with her on the porch, I realized that my father had also begun directing increased attention to the old woman.

• That following week, when Daddy brought her home from the hospital, she seemed to have shrunken.

Which of the following lines from "The Horned Toad" best shows one of the central themes of the story?

• The tone of her voice told me that the discussion had ended, so I released the little reptile where I'd captured him.

• It was difficult for him to show affection and I guess the openness of Mom's family made him uneasy.

• In truth, we had more room, and my dad made more money in the oil patch than almost anyone else in the family.

• Daddy squeezed her, hesitated as if to clear his throat, then answered, "When you're family, you take care of your own."