Old Joe and the Handyman

Why did Old Joe think the calf belonged to him?

• The calf resembled one that had been given to him

• The calf had wandered on to his property

• The calf looked like all of his other calves

• The calf had markings similar to one of his other cows

In the last paragraph, what does the handyman mean when he says, "I have other bridges to build" ?

• He constructs only bridges wherever he works

• He had to get to work for other people who hired him

• He had to help other people resolve their disagreements

• He was going to build another bridge along the creek that separated Old Joe and his neighbor

In paragraph 3, the word stomped is used to communicate a feeling of --

• anxiety

• frustration

• delight

• excitement

How is the remote, rural setting important to the story?

• It explains why Old Joe and his neighbor needed help from an outsider

• It explains why Old Joe and his neighbor argued over a boundary

• It explains why Old Joe and his neighbor didn't live with other family members

• It explains why Old Joe and his neighbor relied on each other so much

In this story, what does the bridge represent?

• The handyman's effort to reunite Old Joe and his friend

• The handyman's refusal to build the fence Old Joe requested

• Old Joe's forgiveness of his neighbor for digging the creek

• His neighbor's willingness to apologize to Old Joe

By the end of the story, readers can conclude that Old Joe and his neighbor --

• believe that high fences make good neighbors

• learn that an argument should never come between a friendship

• agree that good friends never disagree

• think that strangers often make the best companions

Why is the last paragraph significant to the story's plot?

• It explains why the handyman could not stay longer

• It surprises the reader with an unexpected turn of events

• It informs the reader about the real purpose of the handyman's visit

• It describes how the handyman appeared as he walked down the road

Read this sentence from the story.

Old Joe lived in the rural countryside, far from most of civilization.

The root of the word civilization is --

• civilian

• civil

• civilize

• civility