Except from Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

The excerpt of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry begins:

"When supper was ready, I eagerly grabbed the iron bell before Christopher-John or Little Man could claim it, and ran onto the back porch to summon Papa, Mr. Morrison, and Stacey from the fields. As the three of them washed up on the back porch, Mama went to the end of the porch where Papa stood alone. “What did Mr. Jamison want?” she asked, her voice barely audible."

Who is the narrator of the novel?

• daughter, Cassie Logan

• son, Stacey Logan

• friend, T.J. Avery

• mom, Mama

What are traits?

• the struggles in the plot of a story

• descriptive adjectives that tell you what a character is like

• all of the events that happen in a story

• the places where a story happens

Mama went to the end of the porch where Papa stood alone. “What did Mr. Jamison want?” she asked, her voice barely audible. (Paragraph 1)

What can be reasonably inferred about Mama and this situation?

• Mama doesn’t want her and Papa to be overheard.

• Mama is angry with Papa.

• Mama has a secret to share with Papa.

• Mama is really excited to talk to Papa.

When Mildred Taylor writes:

Mama sighed and stared out across the plowed field to the sloping pasture land. "I'm feeling scared, David," she said.

This is an example of

• the author telling you directly what a character is like

• the author telling you indirectly what a character is like

In the novel, Cassie’s teacher gives her black students the old tattered books the white students had thrown out. Cassie then tells Miss Crocker how bad this makes her feel, even though she knows she can get whipped for talking back. Cassie says, “See, Miz Crocker, see what it says. They give us these ole books when they didn’t want ’em no more.” When Miss Crocker can’t understand Cassie’s pain, Cassie refuses to accept the textbook: “Miz Crocker,” she says, “I don’t want my book neither.”

Based on this evidence, a trait that describes Cassie is…

• Confused about how to use her books.

• Self-confident and not afraid to speak her mind

• Excited about school.

• Ashamed about her situation.

Cassie's father is hardworking, brave, and wise. To earn the money the family needs to keep their land, Papa works for much of the year on the railroad. Papa’s wisdom and caring are shown when he brings Mr. Morrison to live with the Logans when Mr. Morrison loses his job. Papa also stands up for himself and his family. He show this bravery and self-respect when Papa risks his life to stop people from shopping at the Wallace store. He does this because Mr. Wallace burned a black man to death.

What is the author using to show Papa’s trait?

• His feelings

• His actions

• His thoughts

• Other people’s reactions to Papa

Which sentence from the following passage best supports the idea that the family is upset by Mr. Avery’s news (paragraphs 24-26)?

Mr. Avery cleared his throat nervously. “It’s—it’s that list I come ’bout, David. . . . I don’t want them things no more.”

The porch grew silent.

When no one said anything, Mr. Avery glanced at Mr. Lanier, and Mr. Lanier shook his head and continued. “Mr. Granger making it hard on us, David. Said we gonna have to give him sixty percent of the cotton, ’stead of fifty . . . now that the cotton’s planted and it’s too late to plant more. . . . Don’t s’pose though that it makes much difference. The way cotton sells these days, seems the more we plant, the less money we gets anyways—”

• A. “Mr. Avery cleared his throat nervously.”

• B. “The porch grew silent.”

• C. “’Mr. Granger making it hard on us, David.’”

• D. “’Don’t s’pose though that it makes much difference.’”

Mr. Avery cleared his throat nervously. “It’s—it’s that list I come ’bout, David. . . . I don’t want them things no more.”

The porch grew silent.

When no one said anything, Mr. Avery glanced at Mr. Lanier, and Mr. Lanier shook his head and continued. “Mr. Granger making it hard on us, David. Said we gonna have to give him sixty percent of the cotton, ’stead of fifty . . . now that the cotton’s planted and it’s too late to plant more. . . . Don’t s’pose though that it makes much difference. The way cotton sells these days, seems the more we plant, the less money we gets anyways—”

What is the author using to show that the family is upset by Mr. Avery’s news (paragraphs 24-26)?

• Their feelings

• Their thoughts

• Their actions

• Their reactions to Mr. Avery’

What is the name of the town where the Logans go shopping while they are boycotting the Wallace store?

Papa looked down at her. “Nothing to worry ’bout, honey ....just seems that Thurston Wallace been in town talking ’bout how he’s not gonna let a few smart colored folks ruin his business. Says he’s gonna put a stop to this shopping in Vicksburg. That’s all.”

• Thurston

• Vicksburg

• Birmingham

• Wallace Town

In the final paragraph, which theme/ message/ lesson learned in the text is mainly expressed?

Papa looked down at me and brought me closer, then waved his hand toward the drive. “You see that fig tree over yonder, Cassie? Them other trees all around . . . that oak and walnut, they’re a lot bigger and they take up more room and give so much shade they almost overshadow that little ole fig. But that fig tree’s got roots that run deep, and it belongs in that yard as much as that oak and walnut. It keeps on blooming, bearing good fruit year after year, knowing all the time it’ll never get as big as them other trees. Just keeps on growing and doing what it gotta do. It don’t give up. It give up, it’ll die. There’s a lesson to be learned from that little tree, Cassie girl, ’cause we’re like it. We keep doing what we gotta, and we don’t give up. We can’t.”

• A. People must keep trying so they can succeed.

• B. Lessons can be learned in the most unusual places.

• C. Nature creates trees with many different functions.

• D. Family has the ability to provide security and comfort.