By Any Other Name

Which of these inferences about the headmistress is best supported by the first four paragraphs of the essay?

• The headmistress is insensitive toward the Indian pupils.

• The headmistress loves being in India.

• The headmistress thinks giving the children Anglicized names will help them succeed at the school.

• The headmistress is competent.

Tags

TX.110.47.B.5C

TX.110.36.C.4F

Draw a picture to represent what is happening in the story.

Which of these quotes from the excerpt best illustrates children’s needs to fit in at school?

• “The enormous black eyes of the little Indian girl from my class looked at my food longingly...”

• “I sprinted barefoot across the lawns with my favorite playmate, the cook’s son, to the stream at the end of the garden.”

• “The cotton dress should have looked strange, but all I could think of was that I should ask my mother if I couldn’t wear a dress to school, too, instead of my Indian clothes.”

• “In complete silence we left the school grounds and started to walk home.”

Tags

TX.110.36.C.4F

5c

Draw a picture to represent what is happening in this section of the story.

Mother telling Premila to let Santha win because “she is the youngest, and we have to allow for that,” mainly shows that___

• Mother thinks Santha is inferior

• Mother is compassionate, and teaches compassion to her children

• Mother is angry at Premila

• Mother should be teaching her children competitiveness

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TX.110.36.C.8A

Which of these statements best explains what Santha’s home life is like, considering passages such as the ones that describe siestas or lunch in Mother’s room?

• It is full of study.

• It is challenging.

• It is inadequate to prepare Santha for life.

• It is safe, nurturing, and fun.

Tags

TX.110.36.C.4F

5c

Which of these sentences best summarizes the following passage?

When we got home we went straight to Mother’s high, white room to have tea with her, and I immediately climbed onto the bed and bounced gently up and down on the springs. Mother asked how we had liked our first day of school. I was so pleased to be home and to have left that peculiar Cynthia behind that I had nothing whatever to say about school, except to ask what “apple” meant. But Premila told Mother about the classes, and added that in her class they had weekly tests to see if they had learned their lessons well.

I asked, “What’s a test?”

Premila said, “You’re too small to have them. You won’t have them in your class for donkey’s years.”

• Santha feels disconnected from school, and is happy to be back where she feels safe and happy.

• Santha likes bouncing on springs.

• Santha is eager to learn what “apple” means.

• Mother is worried, and wants the children to explain how they are being treated.

Tags

TX.110.36.C.4G

TX.110.36.C.5D

Which of these sentences from the text best supports the following statement, "Santha feels disconnected from school, and is happy to be back where she feels safe and happy."

• “Mother asked how we had liked our first day of school.”

• “I was so pleased to be home and to have left that peculiar Cynthia behind that I had nothing whatever to say about school, except to ask what ‘apple’ meant.”

• “But Premila told Mother about the classes, and added that in her class they had weekly tests to see if they had learned their lessons well.”

• “I asked, ‘What’s a test?’”

Tags

TX.110.47.B.5C

What is most closely the central idea of the passage below?

When we got to our house the ayah was just taking a tray of lunch into Mother’s room. She immediately started a long, worried questioning about what are your children doing back here at this hour of the day.

Mother looked very startled and very concerned, and asked Premila what had happened.

Premila said, “We had our test today, and she made me and the other Indians sit at the back of the room, with a desk between each one.”

Mother said, “Why was that, darling?”

“She said it was because Indians cheat.” Premila added. “So I don’t think we should go back to that school.”

Mother looked very distant, and was silent a long time. At last she said, “Of course not, darling.” She sounded displeased.

• The school treated Indian children unfairly.

• Premila is stubborn.

• Mother is unhappy with Premila.

• Premila wishes she fits in at the school.

Tags

TX.110.36.C.8A

Which of these statements from the text best supports the following statement, "The school treated Indian children unfairly."

• “She immediately started a long, worried questioning about what are your children doing back here at this hour of the day.”

• “Mother looked very startled and very concerned, and asked Premila what had happened.”

• “‘She said it was because Indians cheat.’ Premila added. ‘So I don’t think we should go back to that school.’”

• “Mother looked very distant, and was silent a long time.”

Tags

TX.110.47.B.5C