“The Drive-In Movies” by Gary Soto

Soto is completing chores because he –

• his mom is too tired to do them herself.

• has to finish them before they go to the movies.

• hopes it will encourage his mom to take them to the movies

• wants to prove that he is more helpful than his siblings

Which of the following is a theme in the story?

• It’s better to earn rewards rather than just to receive them.

• Breaking rules can sometimes make people happy.

• Hard work is not worth it if it makes you too tired to enjoy the results

• There is value in working hard towards one’s goals.

Which quote from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

• Twenty minutes into the movie, I fell asleep with one hand in the popcorn. (paragraph 14)

• She looked around the yard and said, “Pretty good.” She winced at the grille and returned inside the house.” (paragraph 8)

• Finally, she said, “you boys worked so hard.” She turned on the garden hose and washed the car. That night we did go to the drive-in. (paragraph 13)

• We polished and buffed, sweat weeping on our brows. We got scared when we noticed that the gym sock was now blue. The paint was coming off. (paragraph 11)

What does the word “vigorously” mean in paragraph 12?

• using exceptional amounts of strength

• done with anger and violence

• done with force and energy

• done in an ineffective or uncertain way

How is the narrator affected when parts of the car turn white?

• He feels guilty for getting his siblings involved in his own plan

• He is worried that all of his hard work will actually anger his mother

• He feels proud of how hard he and his brother worked on the car.

• He is embarrassed that the family will now be seen in an ugly car

Which quote from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

• I blamed Rick and he blamed me. Debra stood at the window, not wanting to get involved. (paragraph 12)

• But the beauty was evident. The shine, hurting our eyes and glinting like an armful of dimes, brought Mother out. (paragraph 8)

• I promised myself I would remember that scene with the golf tees and promised myself not to work so hard the coming Saturday. (paragraph 13)

• Now, not only would we not go to the movies, but Mom would surely snap a branch from the plum tree and chase us around the yard. (paragraph 12)

Soto’s mother “winced at the grille” in paragraph 8 because –

• it was much too hot and uncomfortable outside, and though she appreciated their work, she wanted to go inside.

• it pained her to see the bad waxing job the boys were doing and she saw how ugly the car looked.

• she could see the bee had stung Gary’s foot, and it hurt her to think about it

• the boys were doing a good job and the chrome grille was almost too shiny to look at

Soto’s mother’s reaction to the boys and the car in paragraph 13 tells the reader that she –

• felt the boys deserved to go to the movies because they did all she asked of them that day

• was frustrated with the boys and decided that she should take care of the car by herself.

• was a kind and loving mother who didn’t get too upset by her children’s mistakes.

• did not understand that the boys had hurt the car by waxing the paint off

Did the narrator’s response to events in the plot change throughout the short story?

• The narrator did not respond to the events in the plot at all.
• No, the narrator's response remained the same throughout the story.
• The narrator's response changed only at the beginning of the story.
• Yes, the narrator’s response to events in the plot changed throughout the short story.