The Scarlet Ibis (Paraphrasing & Summarizing)

Read each sentence from The Scarlet Ibis and choose the best paraphrase that keeps the same meaning but uses different words. “Doodle was born when I was six, and everybody thought he was going to die.”

• When I was six, my brother Doodle was born weak and no one expected him to survive.

• Everyone believed Doodle would grow up strong.

• My brother was born after I turned six and everyone was happy.

• Doodle was born healthy and surprised no one.

Answer explanation

The correct choice accurately reflects the original sentence's meaning by stating that Doodle was born weak when the narrator was six, and that there were doubts about his survival, which aligns with the original context.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

“Daddy had the carpenter build a little coffin for him.”

• Father asked someone to make a tiny coffin for the baby.

• Father bought a toy coffin for Doodle.

• Father buried Doodle in a box immediately.

• Father refused to believe Doodle was sick.

Answer explanation

The quote indicates that the father had a carpenter construct a small coffin, implying he requested a coffin for his baby, Doodle, who had passed away. This aligns with the correct answer choice.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

“He was a nice crazy, like someone you meet in your dreams.”

• Doodle was sweet and strange in a gentle, dreamlike way.

• He was angry and cruel.

• He was ordinary and quiet.

• He was serious and boring.

Answer explanation

The phrase describes Doodle as 'nice crazy,' indicating he is sweet and strange in a gentle, dreamlike way, aligning with the correct choice. The other options suggest negative or ordinary traits, which do not fit the description.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.2.6

“I made up my mind to teach him to walk.”

• I decided to help Doodle learn to walk.

• I forced Doodle to run a race.

• I stopped helping him altogether.

• I taught him to talk instead of walk.

Answer explanation

The statement indicates a decision to assist Doodle in learning to walk, making the first answer choice correct. The other options suggest actions that do not align with the intent of teaching him to walk.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.2.6

“When Doodle walked, he was all pride and I was ashamed of mine.”

• Doodle was proud of his achievement, but I felt guilty about my own pride.

• Doodle was angry and I was jealous.

• We were both proud of his walking.

• Doodle didn’t care about walking at all.

Answer explanation

The quote indicates Doodle's pride in walking, contrasting with the speaker's shame about feeling pride. This aligns with the correct choice, highlighting the emotional complexity of their relationship.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

CCSS.RL.6.3

“Pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two vines, life and death.”

• Pride can bring both good and bad results.

• Pride is always evil.

• Pride is a sign of weakness.

• Pride never hurts anyone.

Answer explanation

The quote highlights that pride has dual outcomes, suggesting it can lead to both positive (life) and negative (death) consequences. Thus, the correct choice is that pride can bring both good and bad results.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.2.6

“We were down in Old Woman Swamp, and it was beautiful like a dream.”

• The swamp looked magical and peaceful, as if from a dream.

• The swamp was dark and frightening.

• They hated the swamp and left quickly.

• The swamp was ugly and smelled bad.

Answer explanation

The phrase 'beautiful like a dream' suggests a positive and enchanting view of the swamp, indicating it looked magical and peaceful, which aligns with the correct answer.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.2.6

“Summer was dead but autumn had not yet been born.”

• The story took place at the end of summer, before fall arrived.

• It was the middle of winter.

• It was a rainy day in spring.

• Summer had just started.

Answer explanation

The phrase indicates a transition period, suggesting the story is set at the end of summer, just before autumn begins, confirming that the correct choice is that the story took place at the end of summer, before fall arrived.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RI.11-12.1

“The scarlet ibis lay on the ground like a broken vase of red flowers.”

• The red bird was dead, its body twisted and bright against the earth.

• The bird was sleeping peacefully.

• The bird was alive and flying.

• The bird was eating worms on the ground.

Answer explanation

The phrase compares the scarlet ibis to a broken vase, suggesting it is damaged and lifeless. This indicates the bird is dead, with its bright color contrasting against the earth, confirming the correct choice.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

“Doodle stared down at the fallen bird.”

• He looked sadly at the dead ibis on the ground.

• He laughed at the bird on the tree.

• He turned away without looking.

• He chased the bird into the swamp.

Answer explanation

The phrase "Doodle stared down at the fallen bird" indicates a sense of sadness and focus on the dead ibis, making the correct choice "He looked sadly at the dead ibis on the ground." Other options do not align with this sentiment.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RL.11-12.2