Mama Bear & the Rattlesnake

Question 1: Read these lines from paragraphs 3 and 4. OSA: [Looking straight ahead.] Leave me alone. I'm busy. MARTY: [To the audience.] Every day she does this. Sits on the porch at the top of the stairs-acting the watch dog. Boooring. The playwright includes these lines to suggest that Osa -

• A. likes to sit at the top of the stairs being lazy
• B. takes guarding the house seriously
• C,C is angry with Marty
• D. thinks she is better than Marty

Question 2: What does the word taunt mean in paragraph 22?

• F. tease insultingly
• G. frighten badly
• H. ignore deliberately
• J. worry constantly

Question 3: In Scene 1, the dialogue between Osa and Viper reveals that Osa -

• A. does not believe that Viper will try to hurt Anna
• B. is confident and determined to protect Anna
• C. is intimidated by Viper's threats
• D. D thinks that her size is a disadvantage

Question 4: Which of the following does the playwright include to show that Osa experiences some self-doubt?

• F. I'm fast, too, and meaner than a rattlesnake when somebody threatens my people.
• G. Hey, look. It's the big, bad snake.
• H, Maybe Marty's right. Who do I think I am?
• J. Did you know that my name is the Spanish word far "bear"?

Question 5: The Latin root vigil, meaning "on the watch," helps the reader understand that the word vigilant in paragraph 24 means -

• A. distracted
• B. bored
• C. angry
• D. watchful

Question 6: The playwright uses the stage directions in paragraph 43 to show that -

• F. Marty has changed his mind about Osa
• G. Osa is tired but relaxed after winning her struggle with Viper
• H. Anna and Mr. Fell are very grateful to Osa for protecting them
• J. Viper will return to take his revenge one day

Question 7: Read the following lines from Scene 3 of the play. ANNA: She's always looking out for us, isn't she? Not that there's anything to worry about. It's so peaceful here. What is ironic about Anna's belief that there is nothing to worry about?

• A. Anna is grateful to Osa for saving her.
• B. Anna is overreacting to the situation.
• C. Anna should be more careful when she goes outside.
• D. Anna does not realize that she was in danger.

Question 8: Paragraph 44 is important to the play because it shows that Osa is -

• F. confident that Viper will not be coming back
• G. exhausted after her struggle with Viper
• H. bored by her duties as a guard dog
• J. unwilling to protect such ungrateful people

Constructed Response: After reading scene 2, how would you describe Osa? Support your answer with evidence from the selection.