A New Twist on Things

Read paragraph 1 from the story.

How does this paragraph contribute to the development of the setting

• A Describing the house as "big and tall" creates a sense of awe.

• B Mentioning the "tall weeds and scraggly grass" creates a sense of mystery.

• C Describing the yards helps the reader picture the relationship between the narrator and Miz Lottis.

• Mentioning that the house was set back from the street helps the reader understand why Miz Lottis is alone

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CCSS.RL.5.3

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2. 2. In paragraph 5, how does the narrator feel about visiting Miz Lottis?

• A excited

• B resistant

• C sad

• D worried

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3 Which detail from paragraph 5 best supports the answer to question 2?

• A All that tragedy made Miz Lottis a "poor old soul" in my mom's eyes...

• B Mrs. Finley was surprised she let the three of us in...

• C ...when Mom dragged my older brother, Gordon, and me over there.

• D A monkey, that is!

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CCSS.RI.6.3

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4 Read this sentence from paragraph 7.

There was quite a skirmish before Gordon trapped the animal in a corner of the room.

What does the word skirmish mean in this sentence?

• A accident

• B argument

• C fight

• D search

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CCSS.RI.6.4

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5 Which excerpts show that the narrator is a character in the story?

Select TWO correct answers.

• A The Lottis house was big and tall and sat way back away from the street. Our backyard bordered her front yard, and we got chased off with a broom if a ball fell into her tall weeds and scraggly grass (pg.1)

• B No one in the neighborhood called her Miz Lottis or had anything to do with her. And hardly anyone ever came to her house (pg. 3)

• C A couple months after that her son drowned in the irrigation canal at the edge of town. Then her little girl, the only comfort left to her, died in the influenza epidemic that swept the world in 1918. (pg. 4)

• D Mom and I visited several times after that. I stuck it out with Mom because I thought we might change the woman's crabby disposition. We didn't. (pg. 17)

• E "I had beautiful hair then, down to my waist," she said wistfully. She threw her head back, gathered her white hair up, and dug a comb in (pg. 21)

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CCSS.RL.1.6

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6 Read this sentence from paragraph 44.

It downpoured until we felt like we lived in the bottom of a bucket.

What is the effect of this description?

• A It adds humor to a serious or dangerous situation.

• B It adds information about the effect of bad weather on the land.

• C It helps readers know that some characters enjoyed playing in the rain.

• D It helps readers understand how the characters felt trapped and unable to get dry.

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7 Read Paragraph 50.

"The combs!" Mom exclaimed, staring at the bejeweled combs hanging in a tangle from Soyeux's long hair. The she looked sternly over at Miz Lottis. "Did you know that monkey of yours took them?" Mom demanded.

The words ___________ and _____________ give an upset tone to Mom's words and actions.

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CCSS.RL.5.4

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8 Read paragraph 52 from the story.

Mom looked like she was about to call her Old Lady Lottis herself when Gordon spoke up. "She didn't, Mom. We found the monkey up in the attic admiring himself in a mirror." He started to laugh. "It was so funny, wasn't it, Miz Lottis?"

How does this paragraph help develop the plot?

• A It shows that Gordon has forgiven Miz Lottis.

• B It shows that Mom's feelings about Miz Lottis were wrong.

• C It shows that Miz Lottis realizes Gordon didn't take the combs.

• D It shows that Mom's feelings about Gordon's guilt have changed.

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9 Which excerpts from the story show a change in the narrator's point of view regarding Miz Lottis?

Select TWO correct answers.

• A Gordon had sworn off the poor-old-Miz-Lottis project and taken to calling her Old Lady Lottis, just like the other kids in the neighborhood. (pg. 25)

• B "But before the week was over, my brother was in the Odessa County jail, thanks to Old Lady Lottis. (pg. 32)

• C We shouted for joy when they came pounding at our cellar door and tumbled in on top of us. (pg. 47)

• D Miz Lottis looked dumbstruck. She shook her whole body vigorously. (pg. 51)

• E What about that poor old soul, Miz Lottis? Well, about half her house was gone, but she rebuilt it, and made up her mind to be happy about the part that was left untouched. (pg. 56)

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10 How does the author's choice of words to describe Miz Lottis show a change in this character from the beginning of the story to the end? Support your answer with evidence from the story.

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