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Worksheets

"Thank - You, Ma'am"

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 40mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
In "Thank you, Ma'm", how does Mrs. Jones meet Roger?
a)
at school career day
b)
at a church social
c)
when she tries to break up a street fight between Roger and his friend
d)
when he tries to steal her purse
2.
Which of the following words best describes Mrs. Jones's reaction to being surprised by Roger?
a)
delight
b)
confusion
c)
fear
d)
anger
3.

What does the woman do after the boy attempts to rob her?

a)

She feeds the boy and gives him money for new shoes

b)

She calls the police

c)

She attacks the boy

d)

She runs away

4.

In including the scene where the boy attempts to rob the woman, what is Hughes saying about the setting of the story?

a)

That the story takes place in a poor urban area

b)

That the story takes place in an affluent and luxurious town

c)

That the story takes place in East Europe

d)

That the story takes place in North Dakota

5.
What do these lines show about Roger? "Ain't you got nobody to tell you to wash your face?" "No'm," said the boy.
a)
He is shy.
b)
He is neglected at home.
c)
He has trouble telling the truth.
d)
He has a good sense of humor.
6.
What do these lines indicate about Mrs. Jones? Then it [Roger's face] will get washed this evening, said the large woman starting up the street, dragging the boy behind her.
a)
She is a stickler for cleanliness.
b)
She is a bossy woman.
c)
She is concerned about Roger.
d)
She is a professional psychic.
7.
What reason does Roger give for his action?
a)
He is out for kicks.
b)
He wants a new bicycle.
c)
He wants a new pair of blue suede shoes.
d)
He needs lunch money for school.
8.

When Roger looks from the open door to Mrs. Jones and back to the open door, you can infer that he is

a)

thinking about what is for dinner

b)

deciding if he should close the door

c)

wondering if he should try to escape

d)

getting ready to wash his face

9.

What is the meaning of this line from "Thank You, M'am"?


"He did not trust the woman not to trust him."

a)

Roger knows he has hurt Mrs. Jones and feels unworthy of her trust.

b)

Roger hopes that Mrs. will trust him so he can take advantage of her.

c)

Roger hopes that Mrs. Jones does not trust him.

d)

Roger has grown to trust Mrs. Jones and hopes that she trusts him, too.

10.
A frail person is 
a)
 A. weak 
b)
B. bitter 
c)
C. afraid 
d)
D. calm
11.

Where does the woman work?

a)

A bakery

b)

A bank

c)

A beauty shop

d)

She is unemployed

12.
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.
13.
Why does Mrs. Jones make a point of telling Roger about the bad things she did when she was young?
a)
She is hoping to join Roger in a life of crime.
b)
She is very lonely and needs someone to talk to.
c)
She believes that sharing that part of her past will help Roger to trust her.
d)
Feeling that Roger has lied to her, she tells him a lie in return.
14.

Why does Roger offer to go to the store for Mrs. Jones?

a)

He knows she wants the sweetened milk.

b)

His escape will be easier once he gains her trust.

c)

He wants to show Mrs. Jones that he can be trusted.

d)

His surprise at her actions leads him to fear she will call the police.

15.

How much money did Mrs. Jones give Roger for his new shoes?

a)

$20

b)

$100

c)

$10

d)

$5

16.

What does Mrs. Jones mean when she tells Roger that


"shoes got by devilish ways will burn your feet."

a)

Devilish shoes burn your feet.

b)

People who buy shoes with stolen money will be punished.

c)

If you buy shoes that don't fit, they will hurt so much that it will feel as if your feet are burning.

d)

If you buy shoes with stolen money, your sense of guilt will make you feel as if the shoes are burning your feet.

17.

After Mrs. Jones tells Roger that he could have simply asked her for the shoes,


"the boy looked at her. There was a pause. A very long pause."

What does this pause show about Roger?

a)

He is surprised, touched, and confused by her offer.

b)

He is growing ever more suspicious of her.

c)

He is so unused to washing his face that he forgets to dry it.

d)

He is waiting for the right moment to run out of the house.

18.

Which of the following best summarizes the meaning of this passage?


The boy wanted to say something other than, Thank you, ma'am, to Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, but he couldn't do so as he turned at the barren stoop and looked back at the large woman in the door.

a)

Roger realized how inadequate a mere thank you was for all Mrs. Jones had done for him.

b)

Roger wanted to say something nasty to Mrs. Jones, but he restrained himself.

c)

Roger did not really want to thank Mrs. Jones because he felt that she forced him to go with her.

d)

Roger had planned to say something, but it completely escaped his mind.

19.

At the end of the story, you can infer that Roger

a)

is excited about being able to buy his new shoes

b)

resents the attitude that Mrs. Jones displayed toward him

c)

will probably try to pay the ten dollars back to Mrs. Jones

d)

will never forget the kindness Mrs. Jones showed him

20.

Why did the woman most likely treat the boy so well?

a)

She is delusional

b)

She forgets what the boy has done

c)

She seeks to poison the boy

d)

She realizes it is better to help people than punish them