The Grapes of Wrath (with “The Dust Bowl”)

In the excerpt from The Grapes of Wrath, what are the characters selling? Choose two options.

• belongings they cannot carry on their journey

• the house they no longer plan to live in

• extra food they have in their pantry

• assistance for people moving away

• horses they hope to get cash for

In the excerpt from The Grapes of Wrath, how does the narrator mainly feel toward those he interacts with in town?

• bitter

• grateful

• satisfied

• indifferent

According to the excerpt from The Grapes of Wrath, where is the narrator planning to travel?

• the St. Louis Fair

• the East Coast

• his hometown

• California

In the excerpt from The Grapes of Wrath, why do the characters decide to move away?

• They want to live closer to their extended family.

• They can no longer survive on their dry farmlands.

• They know that they can make more money elsewhere.

• They heard rumors that a destructive storm is approaching.

What do the characters in the excerpt from The Grapes of Wrath do with the belongings that they cannot sell or take with them?

• drop them by the road

• leave them for others

• give them away

• burn them

Which of these people would most likely be described as ruthless? Base your answer on the meaning of ruthless.

• a dictator who treats his subjects cruelly

• a teacher who knows little about instruction

• a politician who raises money for a campaign

• an employer who always encourages her workers

Which of the following situations best illustrates the word toil?

• The spring runoff made the narrow river unusually high, whirling, and murky.

• Unless you have exact change, you will need a special card to drive over the bridge.

• We bought a new shower curtain and mat to liven up the dark, dingy bathroom.

• All day long, the landscapers dug holes, planted bushes, and scattered mulch.

If a woman digs through her purse frantically, which of the following is most likely true? Base your answer on the meaning of frantically.

• She behaves in a way meant to amuse her companions.

• She suggests that the purse does not really belong to her.

• She searches for her belongings in a slow, careful way.

• She panics when she does not find what she seeks.

When the narrator of the selection from The Grapes of Wrath says, “You’re not buying only junk, you’re buying junked lives,” what does he mean?

• Those who buy others’ junk have little meaning in their lives.

• The people who owned the junk have lives that now seem worthless.

• Only people with bad taste would accumulate and sell such rubbish.

• The value of junk is only clear to those who learn to appreciate it.

What does this passage from the excerpt from The Grapes of Wrath most likely reveal about the cultural context of the story?

• People hoped they could find a better life.

• People preferred the safety of staying put.

• People made suggestions but never acted.

• People loved embarking on new adventures.