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The Ch'i-lin Purse

Total questions: 12

Worksheet time: 6mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which statement best compares and contrasts the two girls waiting in the pavilion?

a)

Both are rich; one has a beautiful hua-chiao while the other does not.

b)

Both are poor; one is on her way to her new home while the other is not.

c)

Both are on their way to their new homes; one is rich while the other is not.

d)

Both are on their way to see their mothers; one is traveling in a

hua-chiao while the other is walking

2.

Which detail from the passage does not support this statement?

a)

“It was shabby, with holes in the drapes.”

b)

“leaving . . . the home she had lived in”

c)

“that she was lucky to have so many things”

d)

"The wedding procession came to a halt.”

3.

In the passage, Hsiang-ling is spoiled and hard to please. What keeps her from being a character that readers dislike?

a)

She is annoyed by the crying girl.

b)

She is eager to leave home.

c)

She mistreats the servants.

d)

She is generous to a stranger.

4.

Which detail from the passage supports your answer to Part A?

a)

“‘The colors of the ch’i-lin are too dark, take it back!’”

b)

“‘Give this to the girl, but don’t mention my name.’”

c)

“It was the day Hsiang-ling had longed for.”

d)

“A person crying on her wedding day could bring bad luck.”

5.

What inference can you draw about the color red and Chinese culture?

a)

It is worn only by wealthy people

b)

It is believed to bring good luck.

c)

It is used for all Ch’i-lin Purses.

d)

It is used to cover all sedan chairs

6.

Which detail from the passage supports this inference?

a)

“the symbol of a promising male offspring”

b)

“the colors of the ch’i-lin are too dark”

c)

“wore a red silk dress and a red silk veil”

d)

“crying on her wedding day could bring bad luck”

7.

The Latin prefix “pro-” means “forward.” The Latin word “cedere” means “to go.” Use these meanings to figure out the meaning of the word “procession” in the following paragraph.

“She took the purse and laid it on her lap. A few minutes later, four footmen came. Picking up the hua-chiao, they placed it on their shoulders, and the wedding procession began.”

a)

people sitting at the front

b)

people playing on a team

c)

people marching or riding

d)

people in a particular job

8.

Which words from the passage also helped you figure out the meaning of the word?

a)

picking and placed

b)

took and laid

c)

returned and ordered

d)

began and halt

9.

Which meaning of the homograph “scales” is used in the following sentence?

“The ch’i-lin had scales all over its body and a single horn on its head.”

a)

series of tones that go up or down in pitch

b)

thin plates that form an outer covering on some animals

c)

tools with marks at regular distances, used for measuring

d)

balance with two pans or dishes, used for weighing

10.

Which words from the passage are the best clue to the meaning of the homograph?

a)

old Chinese tradition

b)

from ancient times

c)

all over its body

d)

on its head

11.

What is the meaning of the idiom “broke down” in the following sentence?

“This time the servant broke down in tears. . . .”

a)

began to cry

b)

stopped working

c)

failed

d)

divided into parts

12.

Which context clue helped you figure out the meaning of the idiom?

a)

servant

b)

take back

c)

another

d)

in tears