Refugee by Alan Gratz

The Refugee by Alan Gratz takes place in which particular location?

• Iraq

• Turkey

• Syria

• Egypt

The Refugee features two brothers, that can best be described as _________________.

• bold and courageous

• withdrawn and guarded

• spoiled and ungrateful

• playful and energetic

That’s when Mahmoud and Khalid had learned how valuable it was to be invisible. Mahmoud stayed in the classroom all day, never going to the bathroom or the playground. Khalid never answered another question in class, not even when the teacher called on him directly. If the bullies didn’t notice you, they didn't hit you. That’s when Mahmoud had realized that together, he and Khalid were bigger targets; alone, it was easier to be invisible. It was nothing they ever said to each other, just something they each came to understand, and within a year they had drifted apart, not even speaking to each other as they passed in the hall.

After reading the passage above, which statement from the following choices best describes Mahmoud and Khalid’s friendship?

• Mahmoud and Khalid realize that their friendship might bring them more harm than good.

• Mahmoud and Khalid are friends because they are both fairly shy.

• Mahmoud and Khalid end their friendship because Khalid is jealous of Mahmoud.

• Mahmoud and Khalid will reconnect as friends again once their bullies have forgotten them.

Mahmoud sat in the middle row of desks in his classroom, where the teacher wouldn’t call on him. The desks were wide enough for three students at each, and Mahmoud sat between two other boys named Ahmed and Nedhal. 

Based on the passage above, what was Mahmoud's purpose for sitting in between Ahmed and Nedhal?

• he wanted to be noticed

• he cared little for his education

• he wanted to sit directly in front of the instructor

• he did not want to draw attention to himself

Which word is a synonym for "revolution"?

• festival

• uprising

• parade

• prayer

Waleed was ten years old and two grades below Mahmoud in school. He too wore his black hair cropped short, but he looked more like their mother, with nar­rower shoulders, thinner eyebrows, a flatter nose, and bigger ears. His teeth looked too big for his head, and when he smiled he looked like a cartoon squirrel. Not that Waleed smiled much anymore. Mahmoud couldn't remember the last time he'd seen his brother laugh, or cry, or show any emotion whatsoever.

In reference to the passage above, which figurative device is utilized in order to paint a mental picture of Waleed?

• imagery

• repeat

• simile

• onomatopeia

It hadn't always been this way. Just four years ago, their home city of Aleppo had been the biggest, brightest, most modern city in Syria. A crown jewel of the Middle East. Mahmoud remembered neon malls, glittering skyscrapers, soccer stadiums, movie theaters, museums. Aleppo had history too—a long history. The Old City, at the heart of Aleppo, was built in the 12th century, and people had lived in the area as early as 8,000 years ago. Aleppo had been an amazing city to grow up in.

Based on the passage above, which statement from the text clearly states Mahmoud's community was NOT ALWAYS so chaotic?

• It hadn't always been this way

• A crown jewel of the Middle East

• lived in the area as early as 8,000 years ago

• both A and B

But Syrians knew protesting in the streets was dangerous. Syria was ruled by Bashar al-Assad, who had twice been “elected” president when no one was allowed to run against him. Assad made people who didn’t like him disappear. Forever. Everyone was afraid of what he would do if the Arab Spring swept through Syria. There was an old Arabic proverb that said, “Close the door that brings the wind and relax,” and that’s exactly what they did; while the rest of the Middle East was rioting, Syrians stayed inside and locked their doors and waited to see what would happen. 

Which of the following statements BELOW would best serve as the main idea for the passage ABOVE?

• Syria was ruled by a kind and considerate man that loved his people.

• Syria was ruled by a tyrant who eliminated his adversaries in order to stay in power.

• Syria was ruled by a bold leader that represented his country proudly and with compassion

• Syria was ruled by an absentee ruler who cared little for the political process.

Mahmoud and Waleed turned down a different rubble -strewn alley than the day before and stopped dead. Just ahead of them, two boys had another boy up against what was left of a wall, about to take the bag of bread he carried. Mahmoud pulled Waleed behind a burned-out car, his heart racing. Incidents like this were common in Aleppo lately. It was getting harder and harder to get food in the city. But for Mahmoud, the scene brought back memories of another time, just after the war had begun.

After reading the passage above, if you were asked to describe what Mahmoud was doing at the end of the passage; you would say he was _________.

• crying

• reflecting

• laughing

• explaining

 Mahmoud had been going to meet his best friend, Khalid. Down a side street just like this one, Mahmoud found Khalid getting beaten up by two older boys. Khalid was a Shia Muslim in a country of mostly Sunni Muslims. Khalid was clever. Smart. Always quick to raise his hand in class, and always with the right answer. He and Mahmoud had known each other for years, and even though Mahmoud was Sunni and Khalid was Shia, that had never mattered to them. They liked to spend their afternoons and weekends reading comic books and watching superhero movies and playing video games. 

Based on the passage above, Refugee's is written from the _______ person point of view.

• 1st

• 2nd

• 3rd

• neither