The Scholarship Jacket

Martha does not have

• fifteen dollars.

• a loving family.

• a good work ethic.

• any athletic ability.

• a single pair of shoes.

When Martha learns she must pay for the jacket, she

• doesn’t care.

• is very upset.

• begins to laugh.

• refuses to believe it.

• goes to see Mr. Schmidt.

Martha talks to her grandfather

• on the bus.

• in the bean field.

• at the dinner table.

• in the principal’s office.

• in front of the whole school.

Why does the math teacher want to give the scholarship jacket to Joann?

• to embarrass Martha

• to anger Mr. Schmidt

• to save the school money

• to make Joann’s father happy

• to get revenge on Martha’s grandfather

Read the following sentence from the story. Then answer the question below. We couldn’t participate in sports at school because there were registration fees, uniform costs, and trips out of town; so even though we were quite agile and athletic, there would never be a sports school jacket for us. The context clues suggest that the word agile means

• eager to finish.

• not cooperative.

• from a good home.

• afraid of the water.

• able to move quickly.

Mr. Schmidt appears to have

• many friends.

• great integrity.

• an odd personality.

• conflicted emotions.

• a good sense of humor.

Martha is most proud of her

• athletic ability.

• physical beauty.

• Mexican heritage.

• grandfather’s principles.

• academic accomplishments.

Which of the following words best describes the ending of this story?

• abrupt

• hopeful

• fanciful

• peculiar

• bittersweet

The author’s message supports which of the following statements?

• No policy can be fair to everyone.

• People should not compromise their principles.

• The best way to get ahead is by bending the rules.

• Injustice is felt more keenly by young people than by old people.

• In difficult situations, someone always wins and someone always loses.

In this passage, the narrator

I was almost back at my classroom’s door when I heard angry voices and arguing. I stopped. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop; I just hesitated, not knowing what to do. I needed those shorts and I was going to be late, but I didn’t want to interrupt an argument between my teachers. I recognized the voices: Mr. Schmidt, my history teacher, and Mr. Boone, my math teacher. They seemed to be arguing about me. I couldn’t believe it. I still remember the shock that rooted me flat against the wall as if I were trying to blend in with the graffiti written there.

• makes a bad decision.

• is caught in a dilemma.

• goes against her instincts.

• stays true to her basic values.

• tries to avoid facing the truth.