Excerpt from Black Beauty: Breaking in a Horse

Breaking in a horse means...

•  preparing it to work for humans

• taking away its spirit

• making it stronger

• teaching it to be gentle

Which of the following is NOT an opinion Black Beauty expresses about being broken in?

• He finds the bit uncomfortable.

• He does not mind his saddle.

• He feels trapped by the harness.

• He feels constricted by the girths.

As used in paragraph 2 of the passage, what is the meaning of the word “fast”?

• cheerfully

• securely

• carefully

• quickly

As used in paragraph 2, which phrase supports the meaning of the word “fast”?

• “cannot think how bad it feels”

• “no way in the world can you get rid of the nasty hard thing”

• “I knew my mother always wore one when she went out”

• “and what with my master’s pats, kind words and gentle ways”

How does the horse feel about wearing riding gear in the passage?

• The horse dislikes wearing the gear and will never get used to wearing it.

• The horse is displeased with wearing the gear but learns to accept it.

• The horse believes the saddle is the worst part of wearing the gear.

•  The horse wishes to be like his mother and enjoy wearing the gear. 

Which TWO statements support the correct answer to PART A?

The horse is displeased with wearing the gear but learns to accept it.

• A bit is placed in the horse’s mouth and is held by a strap over the head.

• The horse’s mother always wore a bit when she went out.

• The horse complained about how uncomfortable the bit felt in his mouth.

• In the story, the master rides the horse around a meadow.

• The horse enjoys the attention he receives from wearing his saddle.

Which paragraph is the best summary of the passage?

• The narrator is upset by having to be broken in. Although he eventually lets his master ride him, he never gets 

  used to the feeling of having to wear a bit and bridle.

• The narrator explains what is involved when breaking in a horse and warns that horses must always follow their 

  master’s wishes. He describes how unpleasant it is to wear a bit and bridle. Eventually, he gets used to being 

  broken in and feels proud to be ridden by his master.

• The narrator describes how nice it is to be broken in and to be led around by a rider. As a treat for wearing a 

  bit and bridle, his master gives him oats to eat. Eventually, the narrator begins looking forward to wearing a saddle 

  and being ridden by his master.

• The narrator is thinking about how he was broken in so that his master can ride him. He explains that he had been used to a halter and harness but now he has to wear a bit and bridle. 

Which sentence should be included in the summary in PART A?

The narrator explains what is involved when breaking in a horse and warns that horses must always follow their 

master’s wishes. He describes how unpleasant it is to wear a bit and bridle. Eventually, he gets used to being 

broken in and feels proud to be ridden by his master.

• The narrator explains that having a bit in his mouth feels bad.

• The narrator speaks of how his mother wore a bit.

• The narrator’s master used to lead him about in the fields.

• The narrator’s master slowly allowed him to get used to wearing a saddle.