Michaela De Prince: The War Orphan Who Became a Ballerina

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B. Part A How does the Aunties’ view of Michaela help the reader to better understand her?

• The Aunties don’t like Michaela, so the reader understands why Michaela never gets adopted.

• The Aunties believe Michaela is talented, so the reader understands why Michaela becomes a dancer.

• The Aunties are superstitious about Michaela, so the reader understands why Michaela feels unloved.

• The Aunties believe Michaela is special, so the reader understands why Michaela receives more attention than the other children.

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Part B Which quotation from DePrince in the article best supports the answer to Part A? Reminder of Part A: How does the Aunties’ view of Michaela help the reader to better understand her? The Aunties are superstitious about Michaela, so the reader understands why Michaela feels unloved.

• “One was the favorite child of the orphanage and 27 was the least favorite.”

• “They told me every day how I wasn’t going to get adopted, because nobody would want a devil’s child….”

• “I could just see the beauty in [the ballerina] and the hope and the love and just everything that I didn’t have.”

• “That was all I would think about when I was on stage. I had trouble looking at myself in the mirror,” ….

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In “Michaela DePrince: The War Orphan Who Became a Ballerina,” how did Mabinty become number 27? Identify the choice that best answers the question.

• The name Mabinty means “last.”

• She was the last child to arrive at the orphanage.

• She was the least favorite child at the orphanage.

• The Aunties numbered the children as they arrived.

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In “Michaela DePrince: The War Orphan Who Became a Ballerina,” why did the Aunties dislike DePrince? Identify the choice that best answers the question.

• She was sickly.

• She misbehaved.

• She was left-handed.

• She had a skin condition.

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In “Michaela DePrince: The War Orphan Who Became a Ballerina,” what does DePrince credit with inspiring her to become a ballerina? Identify the choice that best answers the question.

• the influence of her adoptive mother

• a picture in a discarded magazine

• being orphaned at a young age

• the civil war in Sierra Leone

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In “Michaela DePrince: The War Orphan Who Became a Ballerina,” how did DePrince feel at first when she learns of her mat-mate’s planned adoption? Identify the choice that best answers the question.

• happy for her friend’s good fortune

• upset by thoughts of being left behind

• jealous that her friend would live in America

• scared that her friend’s adoptive parents would be mean

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In “Michaela DePrince: The War Orphan Who Became a Ballerina,” how has DePrince realized her dream? Choose two options.

• with the help of her adoptive mother

• with the support of the Aunties

• through hard work and practice

• as a result of luck and good timing

• by remaining shy and self-conscious

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Compare these excerpts from the beginning and end of “Michaela DePrince: The War Orphan Who Became a Ballerina.” A professional stage debut is a huge event in the life of any ballerina, but Michaela DePrince’s recent tour of South Africa also marked the end of an extraordinary journey from her childhood as a war orphan in Sierra Leone. “Now I’ve grown up and I’m so happy with the way things are turning out.” Why does the author most likely begin and end by describing DePrince’s success and her feelings of satisfaction? Choose two options.

• to emphasize DePrince’s triumph despite surviving horrors

• to introduce DePrince as an important talent in American ballet

• to suggest that DePrince has more struggles ahead of her in life

• to organize the article in the time sequence of DePrince’s real life

• to characterize DePrince as a successful dancer and grateful survivor

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In “Michaela DePrince: The War Orphan Who Became a Ballerina,” what did the magazine photograph of the ballerina represent to DePrince?

• friendship, kindness, and hard work

• discipline, athleticism, and strength

• riches, fame, and glamour

• beauty, love, and hope

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Which features of “Michaela DePrince: The War Orphan Who Became a Ballerina” indicate that it is biographical writing? Choose three options.

• DePrince is a real person.

• DePrince’s story is one of success.

• DePrince’s story takes place in more than one country.

• The author includes DePrince’s thoughts and exact words.

• The author includes facts about how DePrince was adopted.

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