Item Sampler

1. 1. What is the central idea of the passage?

• Jim Hawkins believes that Ben Gunn might be crazy.

• Ben Gunn has been all alone on the island for a long time.

• Jim Hawkins unexpectedly discovers a possible source of help.

• Both Ben Gunn and Jim Hawkins have had trouble with pirates.

2. Which sentence would be best to include in a short summary of the passage?

• Ben is a very strange sight, with clothing made of old sail cloth and bits of hardware.

• Jim meets a mysterious man who was marooned on the island years earlier.

• Jim remembers that he has a weapon he can use to defend himself.

• Ben and Jim begin to plot together how they might overcome the pirates.

3. Choose a phrase for the blank to complete the sentence.

The italicized paragraph at the start of the passage is included to ____________________________________ .

• provide background information for the reader and to hint that Jim is in danger.

• explain the characters' motives and to describe Ben Gunn.

• summarize what has happened in the story so far and to tell where the exotic island is.

• describe the characters' personalities and to explain why Jim had to escape.

4. The author develops the narrator’s point of view mainly by

• using Ben’s questions to reveal Jim’s thinking.

• contrasting Jim’s reactions with those of Ben.

• stating Jim’s thoughts and feelings directly.

• having Jim explain his reasoning.

6. To show how Jim’s feelings change as events develop, choose the adjective that best completes each sentence.

No adjective will be used more than once.

#1. At the start of the episode, when he hears the gravel falling, Jim is already feeling __________________.

• astonished

• panicky

• confident

• terrified

• uneasy

6. To show how Jim’s feelings change as events develop, choose the adjective that best completes each sentence.

No adjective will be used more than once.

# 2. When he sees the dark, shaggy figure nearby, Jim feels _____________________.

• astonished

• panicky

• confident

• terrified

• uneasy

6. To show how Jim’s feelings change as events develop, choose the adjective that best completes each sentence.

No adjective will be used more than once.

# 3. Recognizing that he cannot outrun the creature makes Jim feel _______________ at first.

• astonished

• panicky

• confident

• terrified

• uneasy

6. To show how Jim’s feelings change as events develop, choose the adjective that best completes each sentence.

No adjective will be used more than once.

# 4. Remembering that he has a weapon makes Jim feel more _________________.

• astonished

• panicky

• confident

• terrified

• uneasy

6. To show how Jim’s feelings change as events develop, choose the adjective that best completes each sentence.

No adjective will be used more than once.

# 5. When he finally sees Ben Gunn up close, Jim is ___________________.

• astonished

• panicky

• confident

• terrified

• uneasy

7. Select two details from the passage that support the idea that Jim had decided to take his chances with the pirates rather than the unidentified creature in the woods.

• “I was now, it seemed, cut off upon both sides; behind me the pirates, before me this lurking nondescript.” (paragraph 2)

• “And immediately I began to prefer the dangers that I knew to those I knew not.” (paragraph 2)

• “. . . I turned on my heel, and looking sharply behind me over my shoulder, began to retrace my steps in the direction of the boats.” (paragraph 2)

• “. . . I could see it was in vain for me to contend in speed with such an adversary.” (paragraph 3)

• “Yet a man it was, I could no longer be in doubt about that.” (paragraph 3)