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Helen on 86th Street

Total questions: 40

Worksheet time: 40mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which is the best description of Vita's mother?

a)

Disappointed, but trying to go on with her life.

b)

Merry and outgoing, always looking for fun.

c)

So bitter that she is unable to help her own daughter.

d)

Totally focused on her work and career.

2.
"Helen on 86th Street" is about a ----
a)

Greek goddess who appears on a NYC sidewalk

b)

woman who believes she is Helen of Troy

c)

girl in a school play about Helen of Troy

d)

war between the Greeks and the Trojans

3.
Where is Vita's father while the events of the story are taking place?
a)
living in the apartment
b)
traveling to unknown places
c)
married to his second wife
d)
directing the school play
4.
What do the dog Argus, the cat Marlowe, the birds John and John, and the sixth-grader Helen have in common?
a)
Vita calls them animals.
b)
They all suffer disappointment.
c)
They are annoying.
d)
Their names are allusions to literary figures.
5.
Mr. Dodd thinks that, as an actress, Vita--
a)
is the worst actress in the 6th grade.
b)
is worthy of stardom.
c)
should be in the horse.
d)
should give up on her dream.
6.
What is Old Farfel's relationship to Vita's mother?
a)
She knows  him because he is Vita's school principal.
b)
He works with her and wants to become her boyfriend.
c)
He has been pestering her despite her protests.
d)
The poor man is trying to free himself from her clutches.
7.
How is a restaurant takeout cup made into a mythological allusion in the story?
a)
The cup is blue, and so is Vita's mood.
b)
The cup becomes a prop for the class play.
c)
Ancient Greeks invented the paper cup.
d)
The cup has a picture of an ancient Greek temple on it.
8.
Vita burns the letters because she--
a)
wants to make a sacrifice in order to get three wishes.
b)
wants Helen to act in the play.
c)
suffers from an unhealthy desire to start fires.
d)
wants to keep her mother from reading them.
9.
When Vita's mother says, "No more burnt offerings when I'm not home," readers learn that she--
a)
is clueless about Vita's life.
b)
probably made burnt offerings at Vita's age.
c)
knows more than Vita thought she did.
d)
worries about leaving Vita home alone.
10.
By the end of the story, Vita has NOT--
a)
gotten two of her wishes.
b)
shown she is a gifted actress.
c)
learned that her mother and Mr. Farfel have parted company.
d)
seen her father return.
11.
Turning point in story; moment of greatest suspense; conflict at most intense or dramatic moment
a)
rising action
b)
resolution
c)
falling action
d)
climax
12.
Reveals the story's final outcome; ties up all loose ends
a)
rising action
b)
resolution
c)
falling action
d)
exposition
13.
Characters and setting are introduced. Reveals or sets the stage for the conflict
a)
rising action
b)
exposition
c)
climax
d)
resolution
14.
What is the definition of climax? 
a)
the turning point of the story
b)
the struggle between two characters
c)
the beginning of the story
d)
the point when the conflict is resolved
15.
The sequence of events in a story or novel is called the ________. 
a)
action
b)
conflict 
c)
setting
d)
plot 
16.
Which element of plot structure is described as being the "spark" that gets the story started...when the problem is revealed?
a)
exposition
b)
conflict
c)
inciting incident
d)
introduction
17.
The story's time and place is
a)
tone
b)
plot
c)
setting
d)
voice
18.

conveys the impression of, represents

a)

odyssey

b)

litany

c)

embodies

d)

incantation

19.

extended journey marked by wandering, adventure, and changes of fortune

a)

odyssey

b)

litany

c)

scourge

d)

stifled

20.

repetitive prayer or recitation

a)

scourge

b)

polytheism

c)

supplication

d)

litany

21.

chant of words or phrases that is meant to produce a magical result

a)

embodies

b)

odyssey

c)

incantation

d)

stifled

22.

smothered

a)

ramparts

b)

supplication

c)

incantation

d)

stifled

23.

cause of serious trouble or great suffering

a)

scourge

b)

enunciate

c)

supplication

d)

ramparts

24.

belief in more than one god

a)

supplication

b)

enunciate

c)

stifled

d)

polytheism

25.

broad embankments surrounding a castle, fort or city for defense

a)

odyssey

b)

embodies

c)

ramparts

d)

stifled

26.

humble plea or request

a)

supplication

b)

litany

c)

polytheism

d)

scourge

27.

pronounce, articulate

a)

enunciate

b)

supplication

c)

polytheism

d)

litany

28.

personality, values, likes or dislikes

a)

character traits

b)

social media

c)

ramparts

d)

hart

29.

What is an Allusion?

a)

dreams

b)

references to features of a culture, to literature and history

c)

represents, to stand for, symbol

d)

figurative language

30.
Which is the best description of Vita's mother?
a)
Disappointed, but trying to go on with her life.
b)
Merry and outgoing, always looking for fun.
c)
So bitter that she is unable to help her own daughter.
d)
Totally focused on her work and career.
31.

Where is Vita’s father while the events of the story are taking place?

a)

Living in the apartment

b)

Traveling to unknown places

c)

Married to his second wife

d)

Directing the school play

32.

What do the dog Argus, the cat Marlowe, the birds John and John, and the sixth-grader Helen all have in common?

a)

Vita calls them animals.

b)

They all suffer disappointment.

c)

They are annoying.

d)

Their names are allusions to literary figures.

33.

Mr. Dodd thinks that, as an actress, Vita —

a)

is the best actress in the sixth grade

b)

is worthy of stardom

c)

has little or no talent

d)

needs training to develop her gifts

34.

Vita burns the letters because she —

a)

wants to make a sacrifice in order to get three wishes

b)

doesn’t want Helen to act in the play

c)

suffers from an unhealthy desire to start fires

d)

wants to keep her mother from reading them

35.

To best describe Vita’s traits, you might say that she —

a)

is athletic and musical

b)

makes the best of every situation

c)

is imaginative and emotional

d)

is confident about her appearance

36.

Vita describes the letter she wants to write to her father. Then she describes the letter she actually does write. What inference can you make?

a)

The letter she writes is a lie, intended to make her look good.

b)

The things she wants to say are too painful to actually write.

c)

She is ashamed of her writing skills.

d)

She wants to fool her mother.

37.

What can you infer from Vita’s description of her final line?

a)

Mr. Dodd is angry with her for disobeying his directions.

b)

She has forgotten the exact words but is able to fake it.

c)

She freezes and cannot say the line.

d)

She is deeply moved by her own interpretation of the line.

38.

What can you infer from Vita’s description of her final line?

a)

Mr. Dodd is angry with her for disobeying his directions.

b)

She has forgotten the exact words but is able to fake it.

c)

She freezes and cannot say the line.

d)

She is deeply moved by her own interpretation of the line.

39.

Where is Vita’s father while the events of the story are taking place?

a)

Living in the apartment

b)

Traveling to unknown places

c)

Married to his second wife

d)

Directing the school play

40.
What is Old Farfel's relationship to Vita's mother?
a)
She knows  him because he is Vita's school principal.
b)
He works with her and wants to become her boyfriend.
c)
He has been pestering her despite her protests.
d)
The poor man is trying to free himself from her clutches.

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