Growing Up on Alcatraz

Which sentence from "Growing Up on Alcatraz" shows that Jolene Babyak lived in an unusual place?

• Early on the morning of June 12, 1962, 15-year-old Jolene Babyak was deep asleep in her bed.

• An inmate had escaped from Alcatraz, the prison less than 300 feet from her bed.

• Jolene was 7—and she fell in love with her new home right away.

• Kids would just meet up and play with whoever was there.

In the 1930s, why did officials turn Alcatraz into a prison? Choose TWO.

• Crime in America was on the rise.

• The island became home to a fort.

• They wanted Americans to feel safe.

• San Francisco had become a busy city.

In the sentence "But living right next to the country’s most notorious prison had some downsides," what does notorious mean?

• not interesting

• escape-proof

• difficult to reach

• known for something bad

According to "Life on Alcatraz Up Close," what was a unique aspect of going to school for kids living on Alcatraz?

• They had to study criminal justice as part of their curriculum.

• They were often interviewed by reporters.

• They had to take a boat to reach their school on the mainland.

• They received special protection from the guards.

Based on what you learn in the text "Life on Alcatraz Up Close," reporters waited for kids from Alcatraz to come off the ferry so the reporters could ________.

• take the kids to school

• protect them from prisoners

• ask questions about their lives

• get a pass to explore the island

Which sentence supports the correct answer in question 5?

• The only way on and off Alcatraz was by boat.

• On stormy days . . . the warden would declare a school holiday.

• Only about 60 families lived on Alcatraz at a time . . .

• The American public was fascinated by Alcatraz and loved to read about the prison . . .

Based on both articles, kids on Alcatraz were not allowed to _______.

• leave the island

• talk to prisoners

• play with other kids

• have pet cats or dogs

What does the phrase "notorious prison" imply about Alcatraz in the context of the text?

• It was famous for its strict rules.

• It was well-known for being inescapable.

• It had a reputation for housing dangerous criminals.

• It was unpopular among the local community.

How did the children of Alcatraz likely feel about their home, based on the text "Growing Up on Alcatraz"?

• Scared of the prisoners nearby.

• Excited about their unique living situation.

• Isolated from the rest of the world.

• Unhappy about the constant media attention.