The Straw, the Coal, and the Bean

Select one sentence from the passage that tells why the straw wants to escape.

• In a village lived a poor old woman, who had gathered

  some beans and wanted to cook them.

• So she made a fire on

  her hearth.

• To make the fire burn more quickly, the old woman

  used a handful of straw.

• While she was emptying the beans into a pan, one

  dropped without her realizing it and lay on the ground beside a

  straw. (paragraphs 1–2)

Read this sentence from the passage. "To make the fire burn more quickly, the old woman used a handful of straw." (paragraph 1) What is the meaning of handful as it is used in this sentence?

• empty handed

• an amount to fill a hand

• holding something again

• the act of holding something

Part A: What do the straw's actions at the brook show about her perspective?

• The straw does not like heights.

• The straw does not trust the bean.

• The straw wants to help her friends.

• The straw wants her friends to stop her.

Part B: Which detail from the passage shows the straw's perspective?

• "While she was emptying the beans into a pan, one dropped without her realizing it and lay on the ground beside a straw." (paragraph 2)

• "The straw explained, 'The old woman used all my friends to make the fire.'" (paragraph 6)

• "At last the straw said, 'I will lay myself across so you can walk over me as on a bridge.'" (paragraph 10)

• "The straw began burning from the coal and broke into two pieces." (paragraph 12)

What do paragraphs 12 and 13 add to the passage?

• They explain why the bean wants to run away.

• They show what happens to each of the three main characters.

• They describe how the bean and the straw solve their problems.

• They provide details about the friendship between the coal and the bean.

What is the theme of the passage?

• Nature can be unforgiving.

• Be careful who you trust.

• Take every opportunity given to you.

• Do not laugh at the misfortune of others.