The Flight of Icarus

Which statement describes a theme of the selection?

• Wisdom grows with time.

• Fear is a strong emotion.

• People should obey their elders.

• People can’t escape their destinies.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

Which statement best explains how the setting impacts the plot of the story?

• Daedalus sees the air as a means of escape.

• Daedalus tries to escape but fails.

• Daedalus is imprisoned in a high tower.

• Daedalus is a gifted inventor.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Daedalus was an ingenious artist and was not discouraged by his failures.

The author’s purpose for using this sentence is to explain that Daedalus is a —

• successful artist but afraid of failure

• smart person who persists

• smart person but afraid of failure

• successful artist who gives up

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

Reread the last sentence of paragraph 3 of the selection. What is the effect of this
description of Icarus playing on the shore?

• It shows that Icarus avoids helping.

• It shows that Icarus is happy to be on the island.

• It shows that Icarus wants to be an artist.

• It shows that Icarus likes to play.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

Icarus, standing in the bright sun, the shining wings dropping gracefully from his shoulders, his golden hair wet with spray, and his eyes bright and dark with excitement, looked like a lovely bird.

The purpose of this comparison is to foreshadow, or provide a hint to, Icarus’s —

• inability to fly

• love for his father

• joy when he flies

• wings coming off

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

The word anxiety comes from the Latin word angere, which means “to choke.” What does anxiety mean in paragraph 8?

• Obsessive anger

• Overwhelming misery

• Consuming fear

• Devouring sadness

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

Which quote from paragraph 7 of the selection shows that Icarus flew too high?

• . . . until he reached the clouds.

• Up and up Icarus soared . . .

• . . . the sun became so hot that the largest feathers dropped off . . .

• He cried out to his father . . .

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RI.6.10

CCSS.RI.7.10

CCSS.RL.6.10

The word exaltation comes from the Latin word exaltare, which means “to raise
or elevate.” What does exaltation mean in paragraph 9?

• Flotation

• Singing 

• Praise

•  Promotion

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

Which two quotes from the text best support the theme that reaching beyond your limits can cause problems?

• Daedalus managed to escape from the tower . . . (paragraph 1)

• “. . . but he does not control the air. . . .” (paragraph 2)

• . . . if you fly too high, the heat will melt the wax . . . (paragraph 5)

• He was bewitched by a sense of freedom and beat his wings frantically. . . (paragraph 7)

• . . . he mourned for the birdlike son who had thrown caution to the winds in the exaltation of his freedom . . . (paragraph 9)

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

Which statement about life or human behavior is emphasized by the setting of this story?

• People can live happily on islands.

• It is freedom that is necessary.

• It is important to gain experience.

• People can learn from nature.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3