The House of Stairs

In paragraph 31, Martin "managed not to cry" in front of his father. From this action, the reader can conclude that Martin is --

• furious that his father didn't believe there was a creepy lady on the elevator

• envious that his father is so brave

• timid about confronting the creepy lady on the elevator

• heartbroken that his father is continually disappointed in him

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

Which statement best expresses the suspenseful tone of the selection?

• Maybe it was simply the dimensions of the contraption that bothered him, so small that it felt uncomfortably crowded even when there was only one other person in it.
• When the elevator stopped on his floor, she barely moved out of the way. 
• Luckily, on the unlit flight on which he fell was between sixteen and seventeen.
• She moved in quickly; he was too slow, too unsteady on his crutches to work his way past her in time.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Read the sentences from paragraph 6.
"She wore a threadbare green coat that ballooned around her; her ankles bulged above dirty sneakers."

These sentences show that the lady on the elevator has --

• taken pride in her appearance
• spent little money to care for herself
• decided to scare Martin with her appearance
• hurried onto the elevator because she is late

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

The author included questions such as "What was she doing?" "Had she been waiting for him?" "Was she riding with him on purpose?" throughout the story to --

• explain why Martin is fearful of the lady on the elevator

• demonstate Martin's uneasiness about the elevator

• show the reader the lady on the elevator is acting strangely

• emphasize and build up the growing suspense developed by Martin's inner fears

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Which event incites the external conflict in the selection?

• Martin's dad asks why he doesn't take the elevator
• Martin feels uncomfortable in the elevator
• The lady in the green coat gets on the elevator and stares at Martin
• Martin falls on the stairs between the fifteenth and sixteenth floor.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Which line from the story conveys the narrator's sense of fear?

• "She nodded, her flesh quivering, and stepped on."
• "He felt her eyes on him as he stared at the numbers slowly blinking on and off - slower than usual, it seemed to him."
• "He knew she had gotten on at fourteen this morning."
• "'Did you ever notice a strange fat lady on the elevator?' He asked his father that evening."

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

Which statement best expresses the internal conflict in the selection?

• Martin is an impressionable young man who is very uncomfortable with riding in a cramped elevator with others
• Martin is a shy boy who has difficulty interacting with others, especially his father
• Martin is a timid boy who is easily frightened by common things in life
• Martin is a skittish young man who refuses to confront his fears

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

The author writes about Martin considering the stairs to --

• emphasize the degree of fear that Martin is experiencing 
• suggests that Martin is attempting to overcome his fears
• imply that Martin believes that his fears are silly
• reveal Martin's hatred for his classmates

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

The reader can conclude when Martin arrives winded and gasping at the seventeenth floor, he is --

• so afraid of the elevator that he is willing to work hard to avoid riding on it
• out of shape and needs to exercise more
• ashamed of how his father will treat him if he rides the elevator
• almost as afraid of the stairs as he is of the elevator

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Which statement best expresses the theme of the selection?

• It is best to avoid problems rather than to try to face them.
• It is important for children to accept their parent's advice.
• You never know where you can meet great people.
• Fear is a powerful force that can trap you.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2