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WorksheetsSpellbinder: The life of Harry Houdini
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 36mins
Based on the context of paragraph 3 (page 852), what is the meaning of the quote "Even recent immigrants could understand and afford these shows."
the Dime museums were expensive and few people could go
the Dime Museums could be enjoyed by everyone because they were cheaper
P.T. Barnum's Museums had a lot of acts
How does paragraph 5 (line 21-25) contribute to the overall passage?
It shows Houdini didn't perform very often
It shows Houdini worked hard to get better
It introduces Houdini as the main character
What did Houdini think of the stories about him that appeared in big-city newspapers?
They caused his salary to decrease
They were good advertising
Reporters explained too many tricks
What inference can be made about Houdini based on the passage?
Houdini liked to perform upside down
Houdini never gave up on a good idea
Houdini performed magic to make money
Select 2 pieces of text evidence that support the inference that Houdini never gave up on a good idea.
In April 1900, again ( unclothed), he took just 3 minutes to escape.."
" Bess restrained Houdini in the jacket 7 times before he devised a technique for escaping.."
Now Houdini played only 2 shows a day, not 12"
If audiences didn't like an escape Houdini liked, he tried to improve the presentation."
Why is Houdini's encounter with martin beck in the spring of 1899 significant?
Beck gave Houdini $60 a week to work in the top vaudeville theatres.
Beck didn't like the card, billiard ball, or paper-tearing tricks.
Beck liked Metamorphosis and the handcuff escape
Houdini was once accused of
stealing jackets
making too much money
using keys to open handcuffs
What detail supports the main idea that Houdini was confident of his talent?
He let the police handcuff him
He performed in Dime Museums
He dropped his card tricks from the act
This biography describes vaudeville, the premier family entertainment at the end of the 19th century. What best describes vaudeville?
a circus that came to town each year
a variety of shows used to entertain people
a radio show with magic, tricks, and singers
The selection is written in what type of nonfiction organization?
flashback
chronological order
problem and solution
Select 2 pieces of text evidence that support the type of nonfiction organization that you picked
"But in 1894, the husband and wide team of Bess and Harry Houdini were far from prime-time players."
"The problem with Houdini's act was that he hadn't yet discovered the real Houdini."
"Houdini with 6 sets of handcuffs and locked in a room, escaped in 18 seconds"
"When playing a Minneapolis hall in the spring of 1899, lightening struck Houdini's floundering career."
Which statement tells you this biography is told in 3rd person?
"There were several tiers of vaudeville theaters."
"Performers did from 12-20 shows a day"
"He constantly improved Metamorphosis"
Who would be considered most important in developing Houdini's career?
Bess, his wide
Houdini, himself
lightening, igniting his career
Which detail best supports the main idea that Houdini achieved success through hard work and determination?
He performed 12-20 shows a day
He was the King of Cards
He swallowed a ball of sewing thread
What type of figurative language is "Like a jewel under a bright light, Houdini responded to attention by revealing brilliant new facets."
metaphor
hyperbole
similie
What type of figurative language is "The engine was Houdini's mind"
similie
metaphor
personification
Finish the sentence with the correct answer based on the vocab word's definition: When you commence a project, you
are almost done
you are just starting
you never begin
Finish the sentence with the correct answer based on the vocab word's definition: If someone can certify a claim, you
should believe it
should have it checked again
should ask your friend
Finish the sentence with the correct answer based on the vocab word's definition: An obstacle is something that:
makes things easier
helps you achieve a task
gets in the way of accomplishing something
Finish the sentence with the correct answer based on the vocab word's definition: When Houdini devised a trick he
copied one from a book
made a plan for how it would work
asked Martin beck for help
