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Worksheets

The Medicine Bag and Apache Girl's Rite of Passage

Total questions: 21

Worksheet time: 11mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

In “The Medicine Bag,” how does Grandpa arrive at the narrator’s home?

a)

He is driving an old, dust-covered car.

b)

He is riding in the back of an old pickup truck.

c)

He is traveling to the narrator's home in a police car.

d)

He is walking down the street with dogs following him.

2.

In “The Medicine Bag,” why does Grandpa say he has arrived for a surprise

visit with the family?

a)

He wants to see where his only existing descendants live, and he wants to

give Martin the medicine bag.

b)

He feels that death is now very near, and he wants to be buried where his

only existing relatives live.

c)

He wants to teach his grandchildren lessons that will help them respect

the old ways.

d)

He wants to see his family in person to discuss the resentment he has felt

for years.

3.

In “The Medicine Bag,” why does Grandpa collapse after arriving at the house?

a)

He has been injured in an attack by dogs.

b)

He is shocked by life in the suburbs.

c)

He is overcome with grief.

d)

He has heat exhaustion.

4.

As Grandpa explains in “The Medicine Bag,” how is the medicine bag to be

passed down from generation to generation?

a)

only through chiefs

b)

only through males

c)

only through femailes

d)

only through firstborn children

5.

In “The Medicine Bag,” why is the pouch referred to as a medicine bag?

a)

It holds rocks that carry magical energy.

b)

It holds leaves that can overcome sickness.

c)

It holds items that protect and guide the wearer.

d)

It holds powders needed in the work of a Lakota shaman.

6.

Which of the following words gives the most likely meaning of wearily as it is

used in this sentence?

a)

sadly

b)

tiredly

c)

playfully

d)

carefully

7.

If Kris asks a question sheepishly, how does she ask it?

a)

in a bold way

b)

in a clever way

c)

in an annoying way

d)

in an embarrassed way

8.

Which person best demonstrates the meaning of frail?

a)

a famous athlete signing autographs

b)

a sickly person being helped up the stairs

c)

a shopper complaining about poor service in a store

d)

a middle-school student taking high-school math classes

9.

In “The Medicine Bag,” before Grandpa comes to visit, how does the

narrator feel about talking to his friends about his Lakota grandfather?

a)

He makes fun of how Grandpa dresses and where he lives to amuse his

friends.

b)

He becomes angry when the other children make fun of Grandpa’s heritage.

c)

He likes the fact that his stories about Grandpa appeal to the other kids.

d)

He never reveals to his friends that Grandpa is a Lakota.

10.

Which statement most clearly describes Martin in the early part of

“The Medicine Bag”?

a)

Martin worries about his friends’ opinions.

b)

Martin is cruel and insensitive toward others.

c)

Martin appreciates and respects Grandpa’s behavior.

d)

He never reveals to his friends that Grandpa is a Lakota.

11.

Which quotation from “The Medicine Bag” shows most clearly that Cheryl’s

reaction to Grandpa’s visit differs from Martin’s?

a)

My kid sister, Cheryl, and I always bragged about our Lakota grandpa, Joe

Iron Shell.

b)

As we supported him up the steps, the door banged open and Cheryl came

bursting out of the house.

c)

So even after she married my dad, who’s not an Indian, and after Cheryl

and I were born, Mom made sure that every summer we spent a week with

Grandpa.

d)

Nothing bothered Cheryl about bringing her friends to see Grandpa.

12.

Near the end of “The Medicine Bag,” Grandpa gives Martin the medicine bag

and says, “[You] need not wear it.” What do these words show most clearly

about Grandpa’s thinking?

a)

Grandpa knows that the medicine bag has power even if Martin does not

wear it.

b)

Grandpa realizes that the medicine bag will be more meaningful at a later

time.

c)

Grandpa feels sad that Martin does not want to wear the medicine bag.

d)

Grandpa understands that Martin is uncomfortable about his heritage.

13.

At the end of “The Medicine Bag,” for which of the following is the medicine

bag most clearly a symbol? Choose two options.

a)

Martin’s desire to please his friends

b)

Martin’s respect for his grandfather

c)

Martin’s dislike for his Lakota heritage

d)

Martin’s acceptance of his family heritage

e)

Martin’s feelings of embarrassment about Grandpa

14.

In “The Medicine Bag,” Grandpa describes a piece of iron his father

once found. What does the piece of iron most likely symbolize?

a)

his father’s purpose in life

b)

his father’s death in a coming war

c)

his father’s distrust of white people

d)

his father’s refusal to learn from his elders

15.

Given the context clues in this sentence, and your understanding of how a bear

might behave, which is the best choice for the meaning of bearish?

When we interrupted Mr. Lee, he glared at us and uttered a bearish “Wait until I’m

finished.”

a)

sudden or unexpected

b)

rough or grumpy

c)

deeply angry

d)

very hungry

16.

The Latin word porcus means “hog or pig.” What kind of behavior would most

likely be described as porcine?

a)

speaking in a loud voice

b)

eating greedily and sloppily

c)

acting superior to other people

d)

showing feat at signs of danger

17.

Which sentence shows the use of the passive voice?

a)

Pablo accepted his uncle’s gift.

b)

The story was told by the tribal elders.

c)

The young man set out on a vision quest.

d)

It is important that we care for aging relatives.

18.

Which sentence shows the use of the active voice?

a)

We dressed in traditional clothes for the party.

b)

Sara’s robe and headband were made by her aunt.

c)

Miranda’s outfit was purchased at an outdoor market.

d)

My own clothes were given to me by my mother.

19.

19. What is the best way to rewrite this sentence using the active voice?

My grandfather was given an award by a local college for his book on Lakota

history.

a)

Lakota history was the subject of a book my grandfather wrote.

b)

A local college gave my grandfather an award for his book on Lakota

history.

c)

My grandfather wanted to be given an award by a local college and so

wrote a book.

d)

The award my grandfather was given came from a college and was about

Lakota history.

20.

Which topic do both the short story “The Medicine Bag” and the documentary

video “Apache Girl’s Rite of Passage” present?

a)

rites of passage from the Lakota culture

b)

a boy’s growing respect for his heritage and traditions

c)

traditions from American Indian culture

d)

a girl’s transition from childhood to adulthood

21.

Which of the following statements best explains why video may be a more

effective medium for “Apache Girl’s Rite of Passage” than it would be for

“The Medicine Bag”?

a)

Video communicates beliefs and traditions of a community, but text

focuses on one person at a time.

b)

Video shows differences in characters’ thoughts, but text shows

differences in characters’ appearances.

c)

“Apache Girl’s Rite of Passage” uses poetic language, but “The Medicine

Bag” uses straightforward words and phrases.

d)

“Apache Girl’s Rite of Passage” emphasizes outward actions, but “The

Medicine Bag” emphasizes inner feelings and attitudes.