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WorksheetsAutobiography vs Fictional Adaptation
Total questions: 40
Worksheet time: 24mins
Why is Baker's mother bothered by his reading?
Because he is a terrible reader.
He isn't reading what she wants him to read.
It makes him inactive.
In "No Gumption", Uncle Allen buys a magazine every week because he wants Baker to be an awesome salesman.
True
False
In "No Gumption", Most likely Uncle Allen feels sorry for Baker when he sees him trying to sell magazines.
True
False
In "No Gumption", Baker's mother wants him to grow up and have what kind of job?
an ordinary job
a job that is better than his father's
she wants him to join the military
a job that is better than his Uncle Allen's
In "No Gumption", Baker is very resentful that his sister helps him sell magazines.
True
False, he is very jealous
False, he is very grateful
False, he is very mad
What is the best summary of "Playing Time"?
Manny quits cross country and joins football after finding out how good he is at it.
Manny plays for one play, gets angry, and runs faster than everyone on his team, later joining cross country.
Manny plays one play, gets angry, and later talks to his coach about joining track.
DiMarco quits football and joins cross country after being played only once.
Read this excerpt from the last paragraph of "Playing Time":
The coach nodded. "I'll try to remember that," he said.
"I hope so."
Coach gave him a stare, but then softened his expression. He pointed a finger at Manny. "Don't get smart," he said. "But keep up the hustle, I was watching that last play. There'll be more chances, believe me."
What does the author mean by "softened his expression"?
He glared at Manny
He looked confused
He relaxed his expression
His expression became annoyed
What can the reader infer about the coach in "Playing Time"?
He's going to stop playing Manny in the games
He's going to transfer Manny to cross country
He's annoyed that Manny outran all his teammates
He's going to play Manny more often in the games
In the context of the sentence "In late August we have our first scrimmage" we interpret "scrimmage to mean:
a new type of cabbage
a practice game against our teammates
a longer practice
a card game using poker chips
In "Eat Dirt," why does the author describe himself as not "particularly well suited" to be a football player?
He is very small.
He has no uniform.
He dislikes football.
He was trained as a soccer player.
In "Eat Dirt," why do so many boys, even those who are not "particularly well suited" to play football, want to join the team?
The games are played at night, under tehlights, and thousands of people come to watch.
The games are played in Hoboken, a nearby city that has a huge stadium.
The coach was once a professional football player, and everyone wants to meet him.
The football team is larger than the soccer team, so more people have a chance to play.
Which of the following statements could come from an autobiography?
Dr. Allen joined the Army when he was 18 years old.
When we entered the office after school had ended, an eerie light poured out of Mrs.Thomas's office.
It was then I realized how lucky it was that no one had ever noticed me, the fly on the wall of Mr. Farrington's office.
I was very nervous when I was called into Officer Hernandez's office.
During the game in "Eat Dirt," the author says, "only two or three of us still have clean uniforms." Why?
The parents of the other team did not provide clean uniforms for teh game.
The dirt and mud are on the other side of the field.
He gets knocked down and is face down in the dirt.
These players have not yet played in the game.
During the game, the author says he ends up "eating dirt" What does he mean?
Because he forgets to put his mouth guard on, he gets a lot of dirt in his mouth.
The other players make fun of him because he failed to catch the quarterback.
He gets knocked down and is face down in the dirt.
He is embarrassed and is forced to apologize to the coach.
What is the most likely reason the author in "Eat Dirt" switches to running cross-country in high school?
He is angry at the football coach and wants to avoid playing for him.
His ability to run fast makes him better suited to this sport than football.
He is confident that being on the track team will prevent him from getting injured.
He grows much taller and becomes a better athlete.
Which statement is true about "Eat Dirt" and "Playing Time"?
"Eat Dirt" is an autobiography, and "Playing Time is a fictional adaptation.
"Eat Dirt" is a fictional adaptation of Wallace's autobiography, "Playing Time."
Because the both contain dialogue, they are fictional adaptations of an autobiography.
Because both are both told in first-person point of view
Why is Manny angry at the Opening of "Playing Time"?
The game has been going on for over an hour.
Vinnie DiMarco almost slams into Manny when he is tackled near the bench.
Manny is jealous because Vinnie DiMarco is playing quarterback instead of him.
His teammate Anthony Martin yawns when Manny compliments him.
What is the most likely reason that Manny is determined to be the first runner to complete the five-lap run?
He is angry and he want to prove to the coaches that he has strengths and abilities.
He is angry,and he wants to beat DiMarco so that he can become the quarterback.
In the huddle, the coaches told the players that whoever wins the race will get a prize.
He wants to prove to the coaches that he would be an excellent cross-country runner.
What convinces the coach that Manny will have more chances to play during future games?
He actually was watching when Manny caught and tackled DiMarco.
Manny's angry words persuade him to change his mind.
Manny proves that he is responsible by picking up the football after the play.
Manny says that if the coach gives him a chance to play, the team will win.
What does Russell Baker's mother despise?
comic books
dirty dishes
inactivity
The Saturday Evening Post
What is Russell Baker's first job?
collecting garbage
selling magazines
writing
baby-sitting
What prevents Russell Baker from succeeding as a salesman?
He is not good at math.
He spends the nickels he earns on candy.
He doesn't enjoy selling things.
His mother doesn't approve of the job of salesman.
Why do you think Russell baker chose to write about his first job?
to compare his interests and talents to those of his sisters
to explain why he became a writer
to come to grips with a painful memory
to make readers feel sorry for him
Which is the most likely way in which a fictional adaptation of "No Gumption" would be different from this autobiography?
It would be told in the first-person point of view.
The mother would have a much larger role, and Doris would not appear.
It would include some events or lines of dialogue that the writer invented.
It would contain humor.
What is the most likely reason that Russell's mother suggests that maybe he could be a writer?
She is determined to get Russell involved in a career that will make him successful.
She looks forward to reading Russell's stories in the The Saturday Evening Post.
She is determined to that Russell will be more successful than Doris.
She hopes that Russell will someday work for the Curtis Publishing Company.
What would be a good profession for someone with an aptitude for science?
magician
football player
biology teacher
poet
Which of the following is something a pauper lacks?
friends
enthusiasm
dreams
money
What would someone who lacks gumption be missing?
drive
pride
humor
writing
How important is a crucial decision?
very
somewhat
not very
not at all
In "Eat Dirt", the author says that as he sits on the bench, he is "seething-glaring at the head coach through my facemask." What are his feelings, and why?
He is proud to be a member of the team, but does not like the coach.
He is feeling nervous because he wants to do well in the game.
He feels hot and dehydrated while wearing the uncomfortable facemask.
He is angry because the coach has not let him play in the game.
In your opinion, in "Eat Dirt," why does the coach decide to put the author on the on the kick-off team and let him run for touchdowns?
The coach doesn't like his players to feel angry.
The coach is impressed by how fast the author ran the five-lap run.
The coach is worried that the author might quit football and join the cross-country team.
The player who usually plays that position has moved to Hoboken.
Before Manny joins the game, he can "feel his heart pumping harder." What causes this to happen?
He is excited about finally getting a chance to play.
He feels dehydrated and sick because of the hot August sun.
He is angry at the coach.
His teammate Anthony martin almost knocks him off the bench during a tackle.
How does Manny feel after he tackles DiMarco?
concerned because DiMarco seems hurt and disoriented
proud that he saved a touchdown, but disappointed because the coaches didn't notice
proud that he ran faster than DiMarco, and determined to do better in the next game
confused because he was convinced that DiMarco would pass the ball
What are the coach's thoughts and actions at the end of the story?
Impressed with Manny's speed, he says that Manny will have more chances to play.
Surprised by Manny's angry tone, he suggests that Manny switch to cross-country.
Disappointed by DiMarco failure to score, he promotes Manny to quarterback.
Angry at Manny for being "smart," he tells Manny to run another five laps.
What does Russell Baker's mother mean when she says, "You've got no more gumption than a bump on a log"?
that Russell has no enthusiasm for selling magazines and will probably fail
that Russell will prove that he has no grit and a never-say-quit spirit
that Russell is not motivated to set goals or work to improve himself
that Russell is not trustworthy
Which sentence best describes Russell's sister Doris?
She has little interest in doing new things and is happy to stay at home with her mother.
She is not as shy as Russell and has a lot more energy and courage.
She is unkind to Russell and often criticizes his attempt to be a writer.
She has a lot more energy than Russell, but she tends to waste money on treats.
How does Russell's mother try to help him succeed as a salesman?
She convinces her neighbors to buy all the magazines that he was unable to sell.
She repeats maxims, such as "If at first you don't succeed,try, try again."
She tries to build up his confidence by reminding him of his aptitude for writing.
She tells him stories about how successful his father and grandfather were as salesmen.
Which of the following is NOT one of the reasons that Russell Baker wants to be a writer?
He thinks that writers can make a lot of money.
He knows that writers don't have to ring doorbells.
He thinks that making up stories would be almost as much fun as reading them.
He knows that writers don't have to sell things from canvas bags.
During a family trip to a shopping mall, what would stragglers be most likely to do?
leave the family group and wander off
tell everyone to meet at a certain place for lunch
demand that everyone follow them to a certain store
volunteer to buy everyone lunch
