WorksheetsThrough the Tunnel by Doris Lessing
Total questions: 10
Worksheet time: 21mins
What is the theme, or central idea, of “Through the Tunnel”?
a boy’s rejection of his mother’s opinions
an individual’s struggle to assert his/her own authority
a mother’s failure to guide her son
a child’s vulnerability to destructive peer pressure
Jerry’s mother feels that it is important to:
allow Jerry some independence.
monitor all of Jerry’s activities
spend a lot of time with Jerry.
preserve some time for herself
What feelings motivate Jerry’s resolution to swim through the tunnel?
delight in viewing the undersea world
rebellion against his mother’s strictness
ambition to be a champion swimmer
shame at his childishness and fear
Which of the following details would be most useful in answering questions about Jerry’s motivation in “Through the Tunnel”?
“And yet, as he ran, he looked back over his shoulder at the wild bay; and all morning, as he played on the safe beach, he was thinking of it.”
“The boys were gathering up their bits of clothing and running off along the shore to another promontory. They were leaving to get away from him.”
“He knew he must find his way through that cave, or hole, or tunnel, and out the other side.”
“He took the edges of the hole in his hands and drew himself into it, wriggling his shoulders in sidewise as he remembered he must, kicking himself along with his feet.”
Jerry’s preparations to swim the tunnel are:
determined and carefully planned
sloppy and careless.
impulsive and irrational
timid and hesitant
Before Jerry gets up the nerve to swim the tunnel, he:
swims halfway through the tunnel before turning around.
asks the local boys for advice.
trains himself to hold his breath for two minutes underwater
asks his mother for permission.
At the end of the story, Jerry feels:
disappointed and ashamed.
proud and satisfied.
excited and proud.
defiant and sullen
By the end of the story, Jerry has lost interest in the cave because he:
knows he has attained his goal.
succumbs to his mother’s pressure
understands his efforts were pointless
realizes how dangerous the tunnel is.
An action that demonstrates Jerry’s internal conflict is:
diving off the rocks into the bay
clowning for the local boys.
learning to hold his breath for two minutes.
obeying his mother’s request that he not swim for the day.
Check off two symbols from the story:
The villa = luxury
The safe beach = youth
The sand = time drifting away
The wild bay = adolescence
