The Country of the Blind - Comprehension Questions

According to the introductory paragraphs of “The Country of the Blind,” how did the mysterious mountain valley first become cut off from the rest of civilization?

• A landslide blocked it in.

• Disease kept people away.

• Avalanches built a snow barrier.

• The inhabitants walled themselves off.

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.1

CCSS.RL.1.1

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.3.1

In “The Country of the Blind,” how does Nunez manage to end up in the Country of the Blind?

• He is searching for the fabled land with a group of mountaineers.

• He meets a purblind mountaineer from the lost valley.

• He accidentally falls down a mountain into a ravine.

• He loses his way during a journey to Quito.

How does author H. G. Wells use this old proverb in the story? "In the Country of the Blind, the one-eyed man is King"

• to reveal to Nunez the glories of the valley vistas

• to explain to Nunez what the valley residents believe

• to remind Nunez that there is a world outside the valley

• to suggest to Nunez his superiority to the valley-dwellers

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

What are two failed attempts that Nunez makes to prove that he can see in “The Country of the Blind”? Choose two options.

• He tells the people what colors their doors are painted.

• He tries to predict when Pedro will come down the path.

• He carefully describes the cavernous roof of the universe.

• He offers to explain what is happening among the houses.

• He reads aloud the book that he brought with him in his pack.

Why does Nunez agree to the eye operation in “The Country of the Blind”?

• He wants to be more like his fellow villagers.

• He has learned to rely on his other senses.

• He wishes to marry Medina-saroté.

• He hopes to regain his sanity.

What is the most likely meaning of delusions in the following sentence? Chris has never taken ballet lessons, but she still has delusions about getting a leading role in this year’s performance of The Nutcracker.

• false beliefs

• definite plans

• strong doubts

• uncertain opinions

Tags

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

Which word best expresses the meaning of incoherent in the following sentence? The shock of the accident left David incoherent, and it was several minutes before we could understand what he was saying.

• unintelligible

• astounded

• wounded

• alert

Tags

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

If a teacher experiences perplexity when a student asks a question, which of the following is most likely true? Base your answer on the meaning of perplexity.

• The teacher is eager to give the student an answer.

• The teacher is puzzled about how to respond to the student.

• The teacher is upset that the student has interrupted the lesson.

• The teacher is worried because the student does not understand.

Tags

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

In “The Country of the Blind,” what is the main reason that the people of the valley do not believe Nunez when he tries to explain the world of sighted humans?

• It is clear to them that Nunez is trying to trick them into giving him what he needs.

• Nunez has an unconvincing way of presenting his ideas about the world to them.

• Their leaders have provided them with a different interpretation of the world.

• They refuse to think that anything in the outside world can help them.

CLOSE READ: Analyze the Text Identify the choice that best answers the question. Part B Which excerpt from “The Country of the Blind” best supports the answer to Part A?

• They guided the sightless youngsters hither and thither until they knew the whole Valley marvelously, and when at last sight died out among them the race lived on.

• All the old stories of the lost valley and the Country of the Blind had come back to his mind, and through his thoughts ran this old proverb, as if it were a refrain— “In the Country of the Blind the One-eyed Man is King.”

• Blind men of genius had arisen among them and questioned the shreds of belief and tradition they had brought with them from their seeing days, and had dismissed all these things as idle fancies, and replaced them with new and saner explanations.

• He said Nunez must have been specially created to learn and serve the wisdom they had acquired, and that for all his mental incoherency and stumbling behavior he must have courage, and do his best to learn, and at that all the people in the doorway murmured encouragingly.