A Quick Note on Getting Better at Difficult Things

What is the main purpose of the text "A Quick Note on Getting Better at Difficult Things" by Ta-Nehisi Coates?

• To discuss the political issues in America

• To share personal struggles and insights on learning new skills

• To provide a biography of Ta-Nehisi Coates

• To teach French language techniques

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.6.6

What does Ta-Nehisi Coates admit about his ability to use French tenses?

• He uses them correctly

• He confuses vowels and cannot really use the subjunctive

• He believes fluency in tenses is essential

• He has mastered them over the years

How does Ta-Nehisi Coates describe his progress in learning new skills?

• He feels he has mastered them completely

• He feels like he is getting better at stumbling through them

• He believes he has not made any progress

• He thinks it is unnecessary to learn new skills

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.1

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.6.3

CCSS.RI.6.6

What does the author mean by "Hopelessness feeds the fatigue" in the context of studying a language?

• Learning a language is not tiring.

• Feeling hopeless makes the process of learning feel more exhausting.

• Studying languages is always easy.

• Hopelessness makes one energetic.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.4A

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

According to the text, what is essential for managing long-term emotional health while studying?

• Ignoring feelings of despair.

• Giving oneself the opportunity to get better at difficult things.

• Avoiding challenging tasks.

• Focusing only on easy subjects.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.1

CCSS.RI.6.2

What analogy does the author use to describe studying French?

• Climbing a mountain.

• Sailing across the ocean.

• Sitting in a canoe from California to China.

• Running a marathon.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.5A

CCSS.RL.6.4

What does the author suggest is the norm when facing struggles according to the text?

• Constant success.

• Frequent feelings of hopelessness.

• Rare moments of difficulty.

• Never feeling low.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.6.6

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RL.6.2

What idea is developed by the comparison of studying French to “setting in a canoe from California to China” in paragraph 6?

• You need to travel to learn new languages.

• Working too hard can cause a person to give up.

• Difficult tasks can feel rewarding and discouraging.

• People often worry too much about tasks that are far ahead.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.5A

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.4

Which statement best describes Coates’ relationship with learning French?

• Coates is giving up on French because he doesn’t use it much.

• Coates views learning French as a good struggle.

• Coates finds French to be a beautiful language.

• Coates is learning French to honor his mother.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.W.6.9A

Which piece of evidence best captures the central idea of the text?

• “I did not always ‘feel’ I could effectively study a foreign language.” (Paragraph 1)

• “I didn’t feel it this summer at Middlebury, despite the difference in my entrance and exit scores.” (Paragraph 3)

• “That is why I ignore all the research about children and their language advantage.” (Paragraph 4)

• “The laws are the norm. The Struggle is the norm. May it ever be thus.” (Paragraph 6)

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.1

CCSS.RI.6.2