Worksheets"The Flying Machine"- Ray Bradbury
Total questions: 15
Worksheet time: 2hrs 45mins
Which group of words from paragraph 1 best helps the reader understand the meaning of the word dominion?
Peace, happy, sad
Throne, China, people
Green, rain, harvest
Year, neither, nor
Read the following dictionary entry for the word content:
- Agreeable with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else.
Based on this definition, which expression from paragraph 1 means content?
“readying itself toward the harvest”
“In the year A.D. 400”
“held his throne”
“neither too happy nor too sad”
According to information found in paragraphs 1 - 7, Emperor Yuan can best be described as
Satisfied
Anxious
Unintelligent
Annoyed
Emperor Yuan’s reaction to the servant’s news (paragraphs 9 - 15) suggests that
The emperor was sleepy from his dream
The servant did not do a good job of explaining himself
The servant had probably lied to the emperor before
The emperor did not think the news was noteworthy
In paragraph 17, the phrase, “[H]e was soaring all about like the largest bird in a universe of birds, like a new dragon in a land of ancient dragons” contains examples of what literary device?
Simile
Metaphor
Personification
Onomatopoeia
The details about the Great Wall of China in paragraph 20 are significant to the plot because
They establish the role that the Great Wall has played in China’s history
They discuss the beautiful architectural design of the Wall
They suggest that the Wall, as it moves across the land, resembles a snake
They suggest that the Wall is old but still in good condition
Which line from page 2 best supports the idea that the Emperor has become worried after seeing the flying man?
“The Emperor looked into the sky.”
“He saw the town, nestled to itself by a river and a road and a hill, beginning to waken.”
“‘Tell me,’ he said to his servant, ‘has anyone seen this flying man?’”
“The man called down to them from high in the cool winds of morning.”
Which of the following definitions of the word apparatus best matches the meaning of this word as used in paragraphs 30 and 57?
a collection of notes, readings, and other matter accompanying a printed text
the technical equipment or machinery needed for a particular activity or purpose
the machinery of government
the organization of a political party or an underground movement
The emperor’s response, “‘Well for her, then,’” (paragraph 38) when told that the flying man’s wife does not know about the machine, suggests that…
The Emperor will have her imprisoned
The Emperor will leave her alone
The Emperor will have her killed
The Emperor will make her his servant
The most likely reason for the executioner wearing a “serene white mask” is
To follow a law made by the Emperor
Because the servant told him to wear it
So that his (the executioner’s) identity remains hidden
Because all executioners wear masks
The most likely reason for the emperor instructing the servants to “burn the kite” is…
To limit the chance that someone else can duplicate the machine
To limit the chance that the emperor will be questioned about the location of the kite
To intimidate his countrymen by displaying the power he can wield
To prove to his servants that he can act swiftly when necessary
Which sentence best reflects a primary theme of the selection?
"I know it must be true. For I felt my heart move with you in the air.”
"Hold your tongue. It was all a dream, a most sorrowful and beautiful dream.”
"I have done a similar thing! I have found beauty. I have flown on the morning wind. I have looked down on all the sleeping houses and gardens.”
“[T]here are times," said the Emperor, more sadly still, “when one must lose a little beauty if one is to keep what little beauty one already has.”
The flying man’s mood changes over the course of the story. The primary change is from…
Excitement to confusion
Fear to sorrow
Happiness to shame
Confusion to fear
What is the emperor’s primary conflict?
With the flying man: because the flying man invented a machine that the emperor did not approve of
With himself: because he struggles with the decisions necessary to maintain a peaceful kingdom
With his servant: because he’s worried that the servant may share information about the the flying man and his machine with other people
With the flying man: because the flying man does not understand why he must be executed
Which of these is an example of irony in the story?
When the emperor’s machine is set in motion and his creations are set “flying, flying, flying in that small sky.”
When the emperor tells the servant to "Burn the kite and the inventor's body and bury their ashes together.”
When the emperor demanded of the flying man, "What have you done?"
When the emperor says to his servant, "And this tea is good for my health, surely that is a miracle."
