"The First Day" by Edward P. Jones

Why is the mother determinate to enroll her daughter in the first school?

• The mother heard rumors that the new school didn't have a good education system.

• The mother wanted her daughter to go to an established and dignified school.

• Leaving the neighborhood illustrates the mother's lack of confidence in the neighborhood school.

• Her mother wants her daughter to go to the school across from church because she works there.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

What theme is most evident through the mother's actions and decisions in "The First Day"?

• The importance of education

• The struggle with identity

• The impact of poverty

• The challenge of single parenthood

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What might the author's purpose be in detailing the mother's meticulous preparations for her daughter's first day of school?

• To emphasize the socioeconomic divide

• To showcase the mother's attention to detail

• To highlight the significance of education in their lives

• To criticize the education system

Tags

CCSS.RI.9-10.2

CCSS.RI.9-10.6

Which example of figurative language is used to describe the mother's feelings towards her daughter's first day of school?

• "Her heart was a closed book filled with stories untold."

• "She was a fortress, impenetrable and tall."

• "Her excitement bubbled like a pot on the stove."

• "She was a ship setting sail on a vast, unknown ocean."

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

How do the characters of the mother and the daughter compare and contrast in their approach to the first day of school?

• Both are equally nervous and unsure.

• The mother is anxious, while the daughter is excited and curious.

• The daughter is hesitant, while the mother is confident and prepared.

• Both are excited but for different reasons.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

What type of conflict is primarily depicted in "The First Day"?

• Man vs. Man

• Man vs. Society

• Man vs. Nature

• Man vs. Self

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

How does the narrator sharing details about the setting of "The First Day" contribute to the overall mood of the story?

• It creates a sense of nostalgia.

• It adds to the tension and anxiety of the characters.

• It provides a backdrop of calm and serenity.

• It is indifferent to the characters' experiences.

What is the closest point to the climax of "The First Day"?

• When the mother and daughter prepare for the first day of school.

• When the mother and daughter arrive at Seaton and meet the magazine perfect greeter.

• When the mother argues with the administration at Seaton Elementary.

• When the daughter is finally enrolled in Walker-Jones.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

Which of the following best describes the resolution of "The First Day"?

• The mother's acceptance of her limitations.

• The daughter's excitement about school diminishes.

• The mother leaves after the successful enrollment of the daughter in school

• The mother's decision to return to school herself.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Identify a key detail that signifies the mother's pride in her daughter's first day of school.

• The mother's meticulous choices of the daughter's outfit and hair.

• The mother's reluctance to leave Seaton Elementary.

• The daughter's eagerness to learn to read because her mother cannot.

• The interaction with the school's principal when the mother is told she cannot enroll her daugther.