Year of the Rat

Which sentence from the story helps the reader understand that the story is told from the first-person point of view?

• The weather seemed to turn cold in a snap. (paragraph 2)

• The radio said that there’s not school. (paragraph 3)

• The cold wind bit my face, and the inside of my nose stung as if icicles suddenly formed there. (paragraph 3)

• It was like a surprise vacation. (paragraph 3)

Which sentence best supports the idea that Pacy has decided to pursue her dream of becoming an author and illustrator?

• We were watching the boys play football in the snow. (paragraph 28)

• I wouldn’t be afraid anymore. (paragraph 32)

• Are you sure you don’t want to be a third partner? (paragraph 28)

• Then you would have done all that practicing for nothing. (paragraph 31)

Pacy’s conversations with Becky and Charlotte at the end of the story show that Pacy went from feeling-

• angry to feeling calm

• tired to feeling rested

• unsure to feeling confident

• hopeful to feeling discouraged

What does Dad most likely mean in the beginning of the story when he says he will turn into a snowman on his way to work?

• He will wear many layers of clothing to stay warm.

• He will not be able to move because he is so cold.

• He will play in the snow with Pacy.

• He will hide in snow.

What does the word talent most likely mean as it is used in the story?

• hope

• idea

• plan

• skill

Why does Dad most likely tell Pacy the story about the philosophers and the orange fish?

• to teach her how to make good choices

• to warn her about the difficulty she will face in life

• to explain that she knows herself better than anyone else

• to show her how there can be different opinions about the same topic

How does Pacy show that she is strong like a tiger?

• • 
    

    She corrects the way Becky says the name of a classmate.

• She works with Becky and Charlotte on the panda project.

• She makes plans for when her friend Melody comes to visit.

• She does not know if she wants to be an author and illustrator.

What is a main theme (BIG IDEA) of the story?

• You can never escape a cold door.

• It is not difficult to choose a career.

• Being brave takes strength and courage.

• You can never know how someone else feels.

Match the following words to the correct meaning

• things feel tense and uncomfortable

• doubts

• very old

• ancient

• you aren’t sure about something

• clumsy

• it happens in a careless way

• awkward

• trusting or depending on a person

• relying