Week 20: Mute Dancers/The Hummingbird the Lived Through Winter

According to “Mute Dancers,” hummingbirds are the ________ birds on the planet.

• oldest

• smartest

• smallest

• most colorful

• least aggressive

According to “Mute Dancers,” which of the following is an antonym for the word colossal in the phrase “colossal amounts of energy”?

• tiny

• precise

• shocking

• enormous

• predictable

In “The Hummingbird That Lived Through Winter,” one way old Dikran warms the hummingbird is by

• blowing on it.

• putting a blanket over it.

• wrapping it in newspaper.

• setting it in a sunny window.

• holding it over a steaming kettle.

According to “The Hummingbird That Lived Through Winter,” hummingbirds are not usually

• restless.

• attracted to honey.

• seen in the summer.

• able to fly through open windows.

• found in Fresno, California, in the winter.

Both William Saroyan’s story and Diane Ackerman’s essay present hummingbirds as

• tiny creatures to be pitied.

• amazing creatures to be valued.

• scientific specimens worthy of study.

• complex creatures that are not yet understood.

• shimmering creatures that can be very dangerous.

As described in “Mute Dancers,” Ackerman’s most vivid sensory impression during her encounters with hummingbirds in the rain forest involved which sense?

• taste

• sight

• touch

• smell

• sound

In “The Hummingbird That Lived Through Winter,” the description of Dikran’s big, rough hand provides a sharp contrast to the description of

• the harsh, cold winter.

• the clear, sparkling air.

• the simple, tidy house.

• the bird’s tiny, fragile body.

• the narrator’s strong, young body.

Which of the following words best describes Ackerman’s attitude toward hummingbirds?

• irritation

• confusion

• frustration

• admiration

• indifference

Ackerman’s essay suggests that most animal behaviors

• serve a specific purpose.

• have no purpose.

• vary from season to season.

• can never be fully understood.

• are the result of human interference.

Which of these statements most accurately sums up the old man’s beliefs in “The Hummingbird That Lived Through Winter”?

• You should always follow your heart.

• You should be kind to all living things.

• In the long run, you get what you deserve.

• It is not wise to put all your hopes on one thing.

• You cannot prevent all the death and destruction in the world.