The Story of My Life

Which of the following inferences best describes what Helen felt after learning what “water” means?

• A. Helen was proud of herself for finally understanding what “water” meant.

• B. Helen was angry that she didn’t realize what “water” meant sooner.

• C. Helen was joyful because she realized the objects around her had names and meaning.

• D. Helen was jealous that many people knew more words than her.

Paragraphs 2-9 of “The Story of My Life” are told in the __________ tense, from a __________ point of view.

• A. past; third-person

• B. present; first-person

• C. present; third-person

• D. past; first-person

Which sentence most strongly expresses Helen’s feelings before she could understand language?

• A. “Anger and bitterness had preyed upon me continually for weeks and a deep languor had succeeded this passionate struggle.”

• B. “As we returned to the house every object which I touched seemed to quiver with life.”

• C. “The most important day in all my life is the one on which my teacher, Anne Mansfield Sullivan, came to me.”

• D. “I did not know what the future held of marvel or surprise for me.”

Which of the following inferences best describes Anne Sullivan?

• A. Anne Sullivan was an effective teacher because she was outgoing.

• B. Anne Sullivan was dedicated to helping Helen learn language.

• C. Anne Sullivan was frustrated when Helen broke the new doll.

• D. Anne Sullivan was strict about making Helen quickly learn new words.

Which of the following statements best explains why Helen felt happy at the end of this excerpt?

• A. She was going out into the warm sunshine.

• B. She learned the meaning of the word “doll.”

• C. The language she was learning helped her make sense of the world.

• D. She didn’t like the big rag doll and she was glad it was broken.

Which sentence from the text most strongly supports the correct answer to Question 5?

• A. “I learned a great many new words that day.”

• B. “I do not remember what they all were; but I do know that mother, father, sister, teacher were among them—words that were to make the world blossom for me, like ‘Aaron’s rod, with flowers.’”

• C. “This thought, if a wordless sensation may be called a thought, made me hop and skip with pleasure.”

• D. “Then my eyes filled with tears; for I realized what I had done, and for the first time I felt repentance and sorrow.”

What is mainly the significance of water in the excerpt?

• A. Water represents the bitter relationship between Helen and Miss Sullivan.

• B. The word “water” confuses Helen.

• C. Helen is thirsty, so her teacher helps her get water from the well-house.

• D. Water is the first thing that teaches Helen that everything has a name.

Which sentence from the text most strongly supports the correct answer to Question 7?

• A. “Some one was drawing water and my teacher placed my hand under the spout.”

• B. “I stood still, my whole attention fixed upon the motions of her fingers.”

• C. “Suddenly I felt a misty consciousness of something forgotten—a thrill of returning thought, and somehow the mystery of language was revealed to me.”

• D. “Miss Sullivan had continued to impress upon me that ‘m-u-g’ is mug and that ‘w-a-t-e-r’ is water but I persisted in confounding the two.”