Thank You Ma'am 6.3 Skills Test

1. Who is the protagonist (main character) of the story?

• a. Roger
• b. Mrs. Jones
• c. the narrator
• d. neither of these

2. Read these statements about the setting. Which statement is true?

• a. The story takes place at dinner time around 5:00.
• b. The story is set in the year 1892.
• c. The story is set late at night.
• d. The story takes place in the future.

3. Roger attempts to steal Mrs. Jones’s purse. This is the…

• a. climax.
• b. falling action.
• c. resolution.
• d. inciting incident (in the rising action).

4. What complication (problem) arises after Roger breaks the strap on Mrs. Jones’s purse?

• a. Mrs. Jones threatens to call the police and take him to jail.
• b. Roger tells Mrs. Jones that he has not had anything to eat.
• c. Roger runs away from Mrs. Jones.
• d. none of these

5. Which character traits best describe Mrs. Jones in the story?

• a. foolish and impulsive
• b. observant and compassionate
• c. sharp and indecisive
• d. accomplished and skillful

6. Why doesn’t Mrs. Jones watch Roger and her purse while she cooks?

• a. She has locked the door so that Roger can’t leave.
• b. She wants to show Roger that she trusts him now.
• c. Roger knows that she has no money or valuables in her purse.
• d. Mrs. Jones wants Roger to go to the store for her.

7. Which excerpt from the story first shows that Roger’s attitude towards Mrs. Jones is changing?

• a. “I just want you to turn me loose.”
• b. “You gonna take me to jail?” asked the boy, bending over the sink.
• c. "But the boy took care to sit on the far side of the room where he thought she could easily see him out of the corner of her eye, if she wanted to."
• d. "The she cut him a half of her ten cent cake."

8. Which statement is a main theme of “Thank You Ma’am”?

• a. It is dangerous to walk alone in the city at night.
• b. A little bit of kindness can go a long way.
• c. No crime should go unpunished.
• d. Every action has consequences.

9. Which excerpt from the story best supports the answer to #8?

• a. “I wanted a pair of blue suede shoes,” said the boy.
• b. "The door was open. He could make a dash for it down the hall. He could run, run, run, run, run!"
• c. Pause. Silence. “I have done things, too, which I would not tell you son—neither tell God, if he didn’t already know.
• d. "So you set down while I fix us something to eat. You might run that comb through your hair so you will look presentable."

10. What point of view is the story told from?

• a. first person (I, me, my)
• b. second person (you, your)
• c. third person (he, she, his, her, character names)