Hanging with the Cool Kids

What pact did Terrance and Donovan make before Donovan left for Florida?

• They will both skip class every week so they can make new friends more easily.

• They will both go to the same middle school even though they live far away from each other.

• They will both play basketball every day with new people so they get better at the sport.

• They will both get good grades so they can get into Morehouse together after high school.

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How does Donovan describe Reggie?

• as a quiet, lonely student who sits by himself

• as a new kid in school who wants to go to Morehouse

• as a confident, cool guy who is the center of attention

• as a guy who dislikes sports like basketball

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Read the following sentences from the text.

“Soon, their ball got loose and rolled towards my feet. I felt a sudden spark of courage—so, in one fluid motion, I picked it up and made a shot. Score!

‘Whew, that was smooth!’ Reggie exclaimed. He and his friends rushed over, congratulating me on the spontaneous shot. I could feel my cheeks working hard, barely holding in a grin as they hyped me up.

‘Wanna play?’ Reggie asked, adding, ‘You gotta be on my team!’

“Y-yea…sure,” I stammered, and joined them on the court.

Ten minutes into the game, I was beaming. I finally made friends!”

What conclusion can you draw from this evidence?

• Donovan feels happy and excited to have made friends after playing basketball with Reggie.

• This was Donovan’s first time playing basketball and he wants to practice more when he goes back home.

• Reggie doesn’t want Donovan to play basketball with him because Donovan is new to the school

• After joining the game, Donovan is unsure about whether he wants to be friends with Reggie and his friends

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How does Donovan’s pact with Terrance help him decide whether or not to skip class?

• Donovan thinks Terrance is also moving to Florida with his family and may be in his class that day.

• Donovan decides that the pact doesn’t matter anymore because he’s in a new middle school.

• Donovan knows skipping class may lower his chances of getting to go to Morehouse with Terrance.

• Donovan decides to skip class because he believes Terrance would do the same thing.

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What is one main theme of this story?

• It is easier to learn and remember facts from class if you teach someone else those facts.

• It is important to stay true to yourself and your values, even when there is pressure to fit in.

• The best way to make new friends in a new school is to play a sport like basketball with them.

• To get into a good middle school, you have to study every day, even on the weekends.

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Why does the author compare middle school to a jungle?

• to show how Donovan isn’t comfortable in the new and unfamiliar environment

• to show how everything stays the same each day in middle school

• to show how Donovan easily navigates the calm hallways in his new school

• to show how Florida has a lot more wild animals than New Jersey

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Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.

_______ skipping class with Reggie, Donovan decides to go back to class and begins working on a school project with Jamie

• Before

• As a result of

• Instead of

• Finally

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