"Thank You, M'am" Quiz

What can you infer about Roger from this exchange with Mrs. Jones in “Thank You, M'am”?

“Your face is dirty. I got a great mind to wash your face for you. Ain't you got nobody home to tell you to wash your face?”
“No'm,” said the boy.

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  He is neglected at home.

• He is shy.

• He has trouble telling the truth.

• He has a good sense of humor.

In “Thank You, M'am,” why does Roger try to steal the purse?

• to get money for blue suede shoes

• to get money for food

• to get back at Mrs. Jones for stealing from his father

• to show he is tough

In “Thank You, M'am,” how does Mrs. Jones show she trusts Roger? 

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  She leaves her purse near him when she prepares food.

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  She makes him wash his face.

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  She makes sure neighbors keep their doors open.

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  She tells him her full name.

In “Thank You, M'am,” what does Mrs. Jones do when Roger struggles to get away?

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  She jerks him in front of her, wrestles him with one arm, and drags him up the street.

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  She shouts very loudly for help, frightening the boy into staying at her side.

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  She warns him that she will call the police and that they will track him down.

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  She hits him over the head with her purse and knocks him to the ground.

According to Mrs. Jones in “Thank You, M'am,” what lesson has Roger not been taught?

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  the difference between right and wrong

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  why "early to bed and early to rise" is true

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  how to apologize

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  how to steal without getting caught

In “Thank You, M'am,” why does Roger sit on the far side of the room when Mrs. Jones goes behind the screen?

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  He wants her to see that he is not taking anything from her purse.

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  He is frightened that she is phoning the police and wants to see what she is doing

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  He does not want to smell the food she is cooking because it will make his stomach growl.

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  He wants to be where she cannot see him so that he can take money from her purse

In “Thank You, M'am,” how does Mrs. Jones's admission that she did bad things when young reveal a theme of the story?

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  She wants to be the adult whom Roger trusts to understand and help him.

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  She wants to prove to Roger that all teenagers are delinquents.

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  She brags about her youthful adventures so that Roger will be humble in her presence.

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  She is older and lonely and needs to confide in someone younger.

Which statement is a main theme of “Thank You, M'am”? 

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  Kindness and goodwill are stronger than fear and mistrust.

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  Lonely, older people seek company even from those who harm them.

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  If you are going to steal, do not get caught.

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  City streets are full of dangers for young and old alike.

Which of the following is an example of DIRECT characterization of Roger?

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  "He [was] about fourteen or fifteen."

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  "The boy's weight, and the weight of the purse, caused him to lose his balance."

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  "She dragged the boy inside, down a hall, and into a large kitchenette-furnished room at the rear of the house."

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  "'You gonna take me to jail?' asked the boy."

Which of the following is an example of INDIRECT characterization of Roger?

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  "The boy took care to sit on the far side of the room where he thought she could easily see him out of the corner of her eye."

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  "The woman did not watch the boy to see if he was going to run."

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  "The woman was sitting on the day bed."

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  "The boy fell."