Building the Bend Quiz

The author includes a map of Texas to —

• highlight the area that inspired a tall tale
• illustrate the distance between cities
• show the route the cowboy was following
• identify the major natural landmarks

Based on lines 8 and 10, what can the reader conclude about Cowboy?

• He knows a lot about growing turnips.
• He works for the husband and wife.
• He is familiar with the land around him.
• He has long known the husband and wife.

Why are lines 26 and 27 important to the plot of the play?

• They explain how the problem is discovered.
• They describe the cause of the problem.
• They explain why the problem might happen again.
• They describe how the problem is solved.

How does the turnip farm setting contribute to the plot of the play?

• The main characters love eating turnips.
• The turnip farm shows the season of the year.
• The main problem happens because turnips need water.
• The narrator has long worked on the turnip farm.

This play is divided into three scenes to —

• describe the thoughts of three different characters
• include dialogue, conflict, and plot
• show three different places
• tell the beginning, middle, and end of a story

This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.

Part A: Which characteristic of the play best identifies it as a tall tale?

• It has a setting that is unrealistic.
• It has events that are hard to believe.
• It has characters who try to do something.
• It has a narrator who tells the story.

Part B: Which line from the play best supports the answer to Part A?

• COWBOY: I don’t see any turnips. And I don’t see any water, either. (line 6)
• WIFE: Move our farm? What a crazy idea. We like it here! (line 11)
• COWBOY: . . . Well, howdy, again. What are you folks doing now? (line 23)
• NARRATOR: . . . Okay, maybe it wasn’t the whole truth. (line 29)

What is the theme of the play?

• Teamwork can lead to amazing things.
• Change can take a long time to accept.
• Curiosity can lead to unexpected discoveries.
• New skills can be learned at any age.

What is the relationship between Husband and Wife like in the play?

• They each want different things.
• They enjoy doing things for each other.
• They make decisions together.
• They like to complain about each other.

The word irrigate in paragraph 7 means to —

• grow into plants
• soak with water
• dig for seeds
• swim in