wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Thank you Ma'am and Mother to Son

Total questions: 22

Worksheet time: 19mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
When Roger looks from the open door to Mrs. Jones and back to the open door, you can infer that he is 
a)
A. thinking about what is for dinner
b)
B. deciding if he should close the door
c)
C. wondering if he should try to escape
d)
D. getting ready to wash his face
2.
What does Mrs. Jones admit to Roger?
a)
A. She works late hours in a hotel beauty shop.
b)
B. Her own adolescence contained its share of mistakes.
c)
C. She thinks that it takes a lot of courage to apologize.
d)
D. Her belief is that everybody deserves a second chance.
3.
Why does Roger offer to go to the store for Mrs. Jones? 
a)
A. He knows she wants the sweetened milk.
b)
B. His escape will be easier once he gains her trust.
c)
C. He wants to show Mrs. Jones that he can be trusted.
d)
D. His surprise at her actions leads him to fear she will call the police.
4.
 At the end of the story, you can infer that Roger 
a)
A. is excited about being able to buy his new shoes
b)
C. resents the attitude that Mrs. Jones displayed toward him
c)
B. will probably try to pay the ten dollars back to Mrs. Jones
d)
D. will never forget the kindness Mrs. Jones showed him
5.

How does Mrs. Jones feel about the boy taking her bag?

a)

happy

b)

sad

c)

disappointed

d)

ashamed

6.
Why doesn't Luella ask Roger about his family?
a)
She doesn't want to embarrass him.
b)
She doesn't care.
c)
She knows all about Roger.
d)
She wants to talk about herself.
7.
Roger wants to thank Luella for...
a)
not embarrassing him.
b)
not calling the police.
c)
telling him about her life.
d)
caring about him.
8.
In the "Mother to Son", the mother compares her life to a _____ 
a)
river
b)
road
c)
staircase
d)
journey
9.
The mother's tone is best described as ...
a)
harsh
b)
fearful
c)
kind and firm
d)
indifferent
10.
Which is the main type of figurative language used in the poem?
a)
simile
b)
metaphor
c)
personification
d)
hyperbole
11.
Why do you think the author began and finished the piece with, "Life for me ain't been no crystal stair"?
a)
To emphasize an important idea.
b)
To show the passage of time.
c)
To show that the author is forgetful.
d)
To describe the stair.
12.
The author says that "Life for me ain't been no crystal stair." Used in this poem, what does "crystal" mean?
a)
transparent and slippery
b)
rough
c)
beautiful and dangerous
d)
clear and smooth
13.

The extended metaphor of life being compared to a staircase helps the reader--

a)

feel sorry for the struggling mother.

b)

want a better life for the speaker’s son.

c)

understand that the speaker’s life has been a constant struggle.

d)

realize that the speaker feels as if her life will never get any better.

14.

Which lines from the poem best suggest that the speaker is persistent?

a)

It’s had tacks in it,/And splinters,

b)

And boards torn up,/And places with no carpet on the floor-

c)

For I’se still goin’ honey,/I’se still climbin’,

d)

‘Cause you finds it’s kinder hard./Don’t you fall now-

15.

Which line from the poem reflects a lesson the speaker wants her son to learn?

a)

Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair

b)

And places with no carpet on the floor

c)

So boy, don’t you turn back

d)

I’se still climbin’

16.

The 1st person POV helps the reader --

a)

understand the struggles faced by the mom

b)

empathize with the son

c)

reflect on why the son is struggling

d)

the mother and son's relationship

17.

Which best explains the connotative meaning of the words, ‘tacks’ and ‘splinters’?


Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.

It’s had tacks in it,

And splinters

a)

Tacks and splinters are meant to represent choices in life.

b)

Tacks and splinters are meant to represent obstacles and painful experiences.

c)

Tacks and splinters are meant to represent physical injuries.

d)

Tacks and splinters are literal, sharp objects.

18.

Which answer best explains the significance of the following example of repetition:


It’s had tacks in it,

And splinters,

And boards torn up,

And places with no carpet on the floor-

Bare.

a)

The repetition of “And” emphasizes that there are many difficulties in life.

b)

The repetition of “And” is used for transitions.

c)

The repetition of “And” is needed to create lists in poems.

d)

The repetition of “And” helps to lengthen the mother’s advice to her son.

19.
Which sentence most clearly and completely states the central idea of "Thank You Ma'am"?
a)
A young boy is taken home to wash his face, eat dinner, and buy some shoes.
b)
A young boy snatches a lady's purse and has to wash his face.
c)
A young boy robs and old woman and never sees her again.
d)
A young boy is lost in life, but his path is straightened when he attempts to rob and old woman, whom teaches him a life lesson.
20.

What is the theme of the poem?

a)

Listen to your mother even when you disagree.

b)

It is okay to give up when you are overwhelmed.

c)

Having nice things requires more work.

d)

Life is not always easy but you must persevere.

21.

Who wrote "Thank You Ma'am" and "Mother to Son"?

a)

Lindson Everrett

b)

Robert Irving

c)

Langston Hughes

22.

Compare the structure of the story and the poem. How do the different structures affect the style of each poem?

a)

Thank You Ma'am is optimistic and hopeful while Mother to Son is resilient and gritty.

b)

Thank You Ma'am is complex and serious while Mother to Son is carefree and humorous.

c)

Thank You Ma'am is controlling while Mother to Son is imaginative.

d)

Thank You Ma'am is formal while Mother to Son is light-hearted.

Similar Resources on Wayground

Quiz No. 69

20 questions

Quiz No. 69

quiz

Worksheet

•

KG - Professional Dev...

test unit 4 - english 9

18 questions

test unit 4 - english 9

quiz

Worksheet

•

8th - 9th Grade

DIAGNOSTIC II, 2°

20 questions

DIAGNOSTIC II, 2°

quiz

Worksheet

•

8th Grade

Review Unit 4 future matters

20 questions

Review Unit 4 future matters

quiz

Worksheet

•

8th Grade

Rhyming and Smiley Face Tricks

20 questions

Rhyming and Smiley Face Tricks

quiz

Worksheet

•

6th - 8th Grade

Past simple and past continuous

20 questions

Past simple and past continuous

quiz

Worksheet

•

7th - 12th Grade

Activity #4 - 7th Grade

20 questions

Activity #4 - 7th Grade

quiz

Worksheet

•

7th Grade

南一B2L3 單字1-18

18 questions

南一B2L3 單字1-18

quiz

Worksheet

•

7th Grade