Understanding Textual Evidence and Analysis

Read the passage provided in the additional instructions. What is the central idea of the passage?

• The passage describes the narrator's admiration for the high-class Negroes in Small's.

• The passage highlights the narrator's surprise at the confidence and respectability of the Negroes in Small's.

• The passage focuses on the narrator's desire to become part of Harlem society.

• The passage emphasizes the narrator's disdain for the conservative clothes of the Negroes in Small's.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

Based on the passage, which piece of evidence best supports the claim that the narrator is impressed by the Negroes in Small's?

• "I had never seen such a collection as was in Small’s."

• "Their manner of speaking, their confidence, and their conservative clothes were something new to me."

• "These were Negroes who felt that they had arrived."

• "In the world I had known, this was completely different."

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

Analyze how the central idea of the passage develops over the course of the text. Which statement best describes this development?

• The narrator initially feels out of place but gradually becomes more comfortable.

• The narrator starts with admiration and ends with a sense of belonging.

• The narrator begins with surprise and ends with an understanding of the Negroes' achievements.

• The narrator starts with skepticism and ends with acceptance.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

Why is the narrator's observation of the Negroes' confidence significant?

• It shows that the narrator is judgmental of others.

• It highlights a shift in societal norms and the progress of the Negro community.

• It indicates that the narrator is envious of their success.

• It suggests that the narrator is unfamiliar with Harlem society.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Which of the following is an objective summary of the passage?

• The narrator describes a group of high-class Negroes in Small's, noting their confidence and respectability, which is different from what the narrator has known before.

• The narrator criticizes the conservative clothes of the Negroes in Small's, feeling out of place in their presence.

• The narrator expresses a desire to join the high-class Negroes in Small's and become part of Harlem society.

• The narrator feels disdain for the high-class Negroes in Small's due to their manner of speaking.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

What inference can be drawn about the narrator's previous experiences based on the passage?

• The narrator has always been part of high-class society.

• The narrator is unfamiliar with confident and respected Negroes.

• The narrator has a history of attending high-class events.

• The narrator is used to being admired in society.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

How does the narrator's description of the Negroes' attire contribute to the central idea of the passage?

• It emphasizes the narrator's disapproval of their fashion choices.

• It highlights the contrast between the narrator's expectations and reality.

• It shows the narrator's envy of their wealth.

• It suggests that the narrator is focused on superficial details.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

What planning or reasoning might the narrator use to understand the significance of the Negroes' achievements in the passage?

• The narrator might consider the historical context of racial progress.

• The narrator might focus on their own feelings of inadequacy.

• The narrator might plan to emulate the Negroes' behavior.

• The narrator might reason that their own experiences are more valid.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

"Even though I had been around some pretty “high-class” Negroes before, I had never seen such a collection as was in Small’s. Their manner of speaking, their confidence, and their conservative clothes were something new to me. These were Negroes who felt that they had arrived—they were respected, and some were even admired, in Harlem society. I could tell that they had worked hard to get where they were, and they carried themselves as though they belonged there. In the world I had known, this was completely different."

Write a short answer response 3-5 sentences to the following prompt:

Determine the central idea of this passage. Support your response with text evidence.

Sentence Starters:

• Malcolm X describes the people at Small’s Paradise as ____________, which emphasizes ____________.

• This passage highlights how Harlem society was different from ____________ and suggests ____________.

• By contrasting these individuals with the world he had known, Malcolm X reveals ____________.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2