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The Scarlet Ibis

Total questions: 23

Worksheet time: 26mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

In "The Scarlet Ibis," why does the narrator rename his brother Doodle?

a)

People expect too much of someone named William Armstrong.

b)

The little boy does not like to be called William Armstrong.

c)

The little boy crawls backward like a doodle-bug

d)

Doodle is an old family nickname.

2.

What prompts the narrator to show Doodle the coffin?

a)

The narrator thinks that Doodle will find it amusing.

b)

He intends to shut Doodle up inside the coffin as a joke.

c)

He has a cruel streak that surfaces occasionally.

d)

He wants to impress on Doodle how surprised they all were that Doodle survived.

3.

Which passage from "The Scarlet Ibis" best illustrates a feeling of triumph?

a)

". . . I put him on his feet at least a hundred times each afternoon."

b)

"And before I'll help you down from the loft, you're going to have to touch it."

c)

"Finally I could see I was licked. Doodle was my brother and he was going to cling to me forever."

d)

"There wasn't a sound as Doodle walked slowly across the room and sat down at his place at the table."

4.

Who or what is the main symbol in "The Scarlet Ibis"?

a)

Doodle

b)

Death

c)

The Scarlet Ibis

d)

The seasons

5.

Which line most clearly indicates what the scarlet Ibis symbolizes?

a)

"At that moment the bird began to flutter, but the wings were uncoordinated . . ."

b)

"Its long, graceful neck jerked twice into an S, then it straightened out, and the bird was still."

c)

"Even death did not mar its grace, for it lay on the earth like a broken vase of red flowers . . ."

d)

"For a long time, it seemed forever, I lay there crying, sheltering my fallen scarlet ibis from the heresy of rain."

6.

In "The Scarlet Ibis," how does the weather contribute to the atmosphere, or mood?

a)

The weather creates a mood of confinement.

b)

The weather seems reliable and reassuring.

c)

The weather seems threatening and unpredictable.

d)

The weather creates a feeling of lightheartedness.

7.

Which passage from "The Scarlet Ibis" conveys a feeling of optimism?

a)

"Hope no longer hid in the dark palmetto thicket but perched like a cardinal in the lacy toothbrush tree, brilliantly visible."

b)

"Then when the slanted rays of the sun burned orange in the tops of the pines, we'd drop our jewels into the stream and watch them float away toward the sea."

c)

"But sometimes (like right now), as I sit in the cool, green-draped parlor, the grindstone begins to turn, and time with all its changes is ground away . . ."

d)

". . . The peacock spread his magnificent tail, enfolding the boy gently like a closing go-to-sleep flower, burying him in the gloriously iridescent, rustling vortex."

8.

What is the main lesson of the relationship of the two brothers in "The Scarlet Ibis"?

a)

To appreciate a brother or sister for who they are.

b)

To teach someone how to do something.

c)

To tease a brother or sister.

d)

To be cruel when you get upset.

9.
The storm that brings in the scarlet ibis represents
a)
increasing conflict to come later in the story. 
b)
the bad weather in North Carolina, where the story takes place. 
c)
that hurricane season is quickly approaching. 
d)
how exotic birds often flock according to the seasons. 
10.
The narrator's desire to help Doodle walk are driven by all of the following EXCEPT
a)
insecurity. 
b)
pride. 
c)
safety. 
d)
family. 
11.
What do the graveyard flowers at the beginning of the story communicate? 
a)
The cemetery hired a new florist. 
b)
There will most likely be a death. 
c)
It is the best time of the year to plant a garden. 
d)
The narrator loved to grow things. 
12.
What birth name was given to Doodle?
a)
Robert Armstrong
b)
William Armstrong
c)
George Armstrong
d)
Alfred Armstrong
13.
The narrator wanted a brother because he wanted to 
a)
be able to show off
b)
have a companion
c)
have someone to boss around
d)
prove that be could be responsible
14.
What did Brother force Doodle to do in order to leave the barn loft?
a)
Touch the coffin
b)
Jump into a pile of hay
c)
Lick the poison
d)
Climb the blood tree
15.
Why does Doodle bury the scarlet ibis?
a)
Dad tells him to do it
b)
the narrator makes him do it
c)
he can't eat cobbler until the bird is buried
d)
he feels compassion toward the bird
16.
The scarlet ibis symbolizes Doodle in that both the child and the bird are...
a)
able to move very quickly
b)
trying to learn to fly
c)
rare, beautiful and fragile
d)
very fond of being outside
17.
What was peculiar about the way Doodle crawled?
a)
he never learned to crawl
b)
he rolled instead of crawled
c)
he crawled backwards
d)
he started crawling before he was one
18.
The inciting incident of the story happens when
a)
Doodle is named William Armstrong.
b)
Doodle crawls backwards.
c)
Aunt Nicey says Doodle will live.
d)
Brother realizes Doodle is born with physical challenges and he is ashamed of him.
19.
The internal conflict comes from Brother's...
a)
cruelty.
b)
pride.
c)
guilt.
d)
All of these are correct
20.
Examples of symbols in the story include:
a)
the coffin (death)
b)
the storm (inner "storm" or turmoil)
c)
the scarlet ibis (Doodle)
d)
All of these are correct
21.
All of these are "take-aways" from the story, but which is the best THEME STATEMENT (it's deep!)?
a)
Don't push people too hard.
b)
Loving someone isn't always easy.
c)
It's important to be nice to your sibling.
d)
Pride can cause people to be cruel even to those they love.
22.

How does the author emphasize the beauty of the setting?

a)

Alliteration - "We were down in Old Woman Swamp and it was spring and the sick-sweet smell of bay flowers hung everywhere like a mournful song."

b)

Simile-"Keeping a nice secret is very hard to do, like holding your breath."

c)

Hyperbole- "We danced together quite well until she came down on my big toe with her brogans, hurting me so badly, I thought I was crippled for life."

d)

Oxymoron- "I did not know then that pride is a wonderful, terrible thing"

23.
Why did the narrator cry at Doodle's birthday, when Doodle showed everyone how he could walk? 
a)
He was overcome with joy, like the rest of his family. 
b)
He had a rough day at school that morning. 
c)
He was jealous that Doodle was getting more attention than he was. 
d)
He felt guilty for teaching Doodle to walk for his own personal gain.