from Little Visits with Great Americans

What conclusions can be drawn about Helen Keller's character from the text?

• Helen Keller was a brilliant and precocious child who excelled in all her studies.

• Helen Keller was a kind and compassionate child who always put others before herself.

• Helen Keller was a shy and timid child who struggled to adapt to her disability.

• Helen Keller was a stubborn and rebellious child who later became patient and eager to learn.

Answer explanation

Helen Keller's early stubbornness and rebelliousness reflect her struggle with her disability. However, her eventual patience and eagerness to learn highlight her growth and determination, making this choice the most accurate.

Which sentence from the text best supports the idea that Helen Keller's education was a challenging but ultimately rewarding experience for both her and her teacher?

• With the awakening of her intellectual abilities, she seemed literally to have been “born again.”

• The stubborn, headstrong, self-willed, almost unmanageable child became patient, gentle and obedient.

• After seven weeks of what she says was the hardest work she had ever done, the faithful teacher received her reward in the sudden dawning of the child’s intelligence.

• So rapid was her progress that, in a few weeks, anyone who knew the manual alphabet could easily communicate with her.

Answer explanation

The correct choice highlights the intense effort over seven weeks, leading to a rewarding moment for the teacher as Helen's intelligence emerged, illustrating the challenges and ultimate success of their educational journey.

What evidence from the text suggests that Helen Keller's intellectual abilities were influenced by her family background?

• Her father was a Confederate captain and her mother was from a prominent Massachusetts family.

• She was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, a place known for its intellectual heritage.

• She was a gifted student who excelled in all her subjects.

• Her teacher, Miss Sullivan, was a highly skilled educator.

Answer explanation

Helen Keller's family background, with her father as a Confederate captain and her mother from a prominent Massachusetts family, suggests a strong intellectual influence, providing her with resources and support for her education.

Which sentence from the text best illustrates the significant impact Miss Sullivan had on Helen Keller's life?

• She used the manual alphabet, and cards bearing in raised letters the names of objects.

• How well this noble and devoted teacher has succeeded in her work is fully evidenced by the brilliancy and thoroughness of her student’s achievements.

• Night and day she was at her side, watching for the first gleam of conscious mind.

• So rapid was her progress that, in a few weeks, anyone who knew the manual alphabet could easily communicate with her.

Answer explanation

The sentence highlights Miss Sullivan's success in teaching Helen Keller, showcasing the profound impact she had on her student's achievements, which is the essence of their transformative relationship.

How did Miss Sullivan's method of instruction influence Helen Keller's learning process?

• Miss Sullivan's strict and demanding approach forced Helen Keller to learn quickly, despite her initial resistance.

• Miss Sullivan's emphasis on memorization and repetition helped Helen Keller learn a large vocabulary, but she struggled to apply her knowledge to real-world situations.

• Miss Sullivan's focus on physical exercises and sensory stimulation helped Helen Keller develop her physical abilities, which in turn improved her cognitive skills.

• Miss Sullivan's use of the manual alphabet and raised letter cards helped Helen Keller understand the connection between words and objects, leading to a breakthrough in her learning.

Answer explanation

Miss Sullivan's use of the manual alphabet and raised letter cards was crucial for Helen Keller. It enabled her to grasp the relationship between words and objects, resulting in a significant breakthrough in her learning process.

What impact did Helen Keller's experience at the Cambridge School for Girls have on her future academic pursuits?

• Helen Keller's time at the Cambridge School for Girls was a social and emotional turning point, helping her overcome her shyness and build confidence.

• Helen Keller's success at the Cambridge School for Girls inspired her to become a teacher and advocate for children with disabilities.

• The Cambridge School for Girls provided Helen Keller with a rigorous academic foundation that prepared her for the challenges of Radcliffe College.

• Helen Keller's experience at the Cambridge School for Girls highlighted the limitations of her education, leading her to pursue alternative learning methods.

Answer explanation

The Cambridge School for Girls provided Helen Keller with a rigorous academic foundation, equipping her with the skills and knowledge necessary to tackle the challenges she would face at Radcliffe College.

How does the author's use of the word "piercing" in paragraph 6 contribute to understanding Miss Sullivan's role in Helen Keller's life?

• It emphasizes the difficulty of Miss Sullivan's task in reaching Helen's mind.

• It suggests that Miss Sullivan was a forceful and demanding teacher.

• It implies that Miss Sullivan was a skilled surgeon who could operate on Helen's brain.

• It highlights the importance of physical contact in Miss Sullivan's teaching methods.

Answer explanation

The word "piercing" emphasizes the difficulty of Miss Sullivan's task in reaching Helen's mind, highlighting the challenges she faced in breaking through Helen's isolation and communicating effectively.

What does the phrase "the veil behind which the intelligence of the little girl lay sleeping" in paragraph 6 suggest about Helen Keller's potential?

• It implies that Helen Keller was a slow learner who needed a lot of time to develop her intelligence.

• It suggests that Helen Keller's intelligence was hidden and needed to be awakened.

• It indicates that Helen Keller was a gifted child who was already highly intelligent.

• It emphasizes the importance of sleep in developing a child's intelligence.

Answer explanation

The phrase suggests that Helen Keller's intelligence was not lost but rather dormant, waiting to be discovered and nurtured. This highlights her potential, indicating that with the right support, her intelligence could be awakened.

How does the author's use of the phrase "the veil behind which the intelligence of the little girl lay sleeping" in paragraph 6 contribute to the overall message of the text?

• It emphasizes the difficulty of Miss Sullivan's task in reaching Helen's mind and suggests that Helen's potential was hidden.

• It implies that Helen was a slow learner who needed a lot of time to develop her intelligence.

• It suggests that Helen was already highly intelligent but lacked the proper environment to thrive.

• It indicates that Helen's intelligence was dormant and needed to be awakened through specific training.

Answer explanation

The phrase highlights the challenge Miss Sullivan faced in accessing Helen's hidden intelligence, suggesting that her potential was obscured and needed to be uncovered, aligning with the overall message of awakening her capabilities.

How does the author's choice of words in paragraph 8, describing Helen's transformation after starting school, reflect their opinion on Miss Sullivan's teaching methods?

• The author uses words like "born again" and "unmanageable" to suggest that Miss Sullivan's methods were harsh and forceful.

• The author uses words like "patient" and "gentle" to suggest that Miss Sullivan's methods were effective and humane.

• The author uses words like "eagerness" and "restrained" to suggest that Miss Sullivan's methods were too strict and stifled Helen's creativity.

• The author uses words like "rapid" and "progress" to suggest that Miss Sullivan's methods were innovative and groundbreaking.

Answer explanation

The author uses words like 'patient' and 'gentle' to suggest that Miss Sullivan's methods were effective and humane, highlighting the positive impact of her teaching on Helen's transformation.