The Medicine Bag Quiz

In “The Medicine Bag,” how does Grandpa arrive at the narrator’s home? Identify the choice that best answers the question.

• He is driving an old, dust-covered car.

• He is riding in the back of an old pickup truck.

• He is traveling to the narrator’s home in a police car.

• He is walking down the street with dogs following him.

Answer explanation

In "The Medicine Bag," Grandpa arrives at the narrator's home by walking down the street with dogs following him. This detail highlights his humble and natural approach, contrasting with other options that suggest vehicles.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

In “The Medicine Bag,” why does Grandpa say he has arrived for a surprise visit with the family? Identify the choice that best answers the question.

• He wants to see where his only existing descendants live, and he wants to give Martin the medicine bag.

• He feels that death is now very near, and he wants to be buried where his only existing relatives live.

• He wants to teach his grandchildren lessons that will help them respect the old ways.

• He wants to see his family in person to discuss the resentment he has felt for years.

Answer explanation

Grandpa visits to connect with his only descendants and to pass on the medicine bag to Martin, symbolizing family heritage and continuity.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

In “The Medicine Bag,” why does Grandpa collapse after arriving at the house? Identify the choice that best answers the question.

• He has been injured in an attack by dogs.

• He is shocked by life in the suburbs.

• He is overcome with grief.

• He has heat exhaustion.

Answer explanation

Grandpa collapses after arriving at the house due to heat exhaustion, which indicates he is physically overwhelmed by the heat, rather than being shocked by suburban life or experiencing grief.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

As Grandpa explains in “The Medicine Bag,” how is the medicine bag to be passed down from generation to generation? Identify the choice that best answers the question.

• only through chiefs

• only through males

Answer explanation

In "The Medicine Bag," Grandpa states that the medicine bag is to be passed down only through males, emphasizing the importance of male lineage in the family's traditions and heritage.

In “The Medicine Bag,” why is the pouch referred to as a medicine bag?

• It holds rocks that carry magical energy.

• It holds leaves that can overcome sickness.

• It holds items that protect and guide the wearer.

• It holds powders needed in the work of a Lakota shaman.

Answer explanation

The pouch is called a medicine bag because it holds items that protect and guide the wearer, reflecting its significance in Native American culture as a source of spiritual strength and guidance.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.10

CCSS.RI.8.10

CCSS.RI.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

Which of the following words gives the most likely meaning of wearily as it is used in this sentence? After a ten-mile hike, we ate an early dinner and then climbed wearily into our tents.

• sadly

• tiredly

• playfully

• carefully

Answer explanation

In the sentence, 'climbed wearily into our tents' suggests exhaustion after a long hike. The word 'wearily' implies a sense of tiredness, making 'tiredly' the most appropriate choice, while 'sadly', 'playfully', and 'carefully' do not fit.

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CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

If Kris asks a question sheepishly, how does she ask it?

• in a bold way

• in a clever way

• in an annoying way

• in an embarrassed way

Answer explanation

When someone asks a question sheepishly, it indicates they are feeling shy or self-conscious. Therefore, Kris would ask her question in an embarrassed way, rather than boldly, cleverly, or annoyingly.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Which person best demonstrates the meaning of frail?

• a famous athlete signing autographs

• a sickly person being helped up the stairs

• a shopper complaining about poor service in a store

• a middle-school student taking high-school math classes

Answer explanation

The term 'frail' refers to being weak or delicate. A sickly person being helped up the stairs best illustrates this meaning, as it shows vulnerability and the need for assistance, unlike the other options.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B. Part A: In “The Medicine Bag,” before Grandpa comes to visit, how does the narrator feel about talking to his friends about his Lakota grandfather?

• He makes fun of how Grandpa dresses and where he lives to amuse his friends.

• He becomes angry when the other children make fun of Grandpa’s heritage.

• He likes the fact that his stories about Grandpa appeal to the other kids.

• He never reveals to his friends that Grandpa is a Lakota.

Answer explanation

In "The Medicine Bag," the narrator enjoys sharing stories about his Lakota grandfather, as it captivates his friends. This indicates he takes pride in his heritage and appreciates their interest, making the correct choice: he likes the fact that his stories about Grandpa appeal to the other kids.

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CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

Part B: Which quotation from “The Medicine Bag” best supports the answer to Part A?

• He was my great-grandfather, and he didn’t live in a tipi; he lived all by himself in a part log, part tar-paper shack on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota.

• Our friends, who had always lived in the city and only knew about Indians from movies and TV, were impressed by our stories.

• He taught me a Lakota chant to sing while I beat the drum with a leather-covered stick that had a feather on the end.

• We never showed our friends Grandpa’s picture.

Answer explanation

The correct quotation highlights how the narrator's friends, unfamiliar with real Native American culture, were captivated by their stories, emphasizing the contrast between their perceptions and the narrator's experiences.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3