WorksheetsELA 9 1-1,2 A Chance in the World+ Is Survival Selfish Practice
Total questions: 35
Worksheet time: 23mins
Select two strategies Steve uses to cope with his situation.
sneaking food
running away
reading
taking walks
staying with the Levin’s
The author justifies deception and stealing by —
explaining that he used dishonest methods to cope with the Robinsons’
a. suggesting that his young age excused him from responsibility for his actions
a. saying that it was the only way to attract the Robinsons’ attention
a. emphasizing how carefully he thought through his schemes
The Robinsons’ rules for the author during this period of his life cause him to —
a. rebel against all kinds of authority
a. equate reading with painful memories
a. value books because they are forbidden
a. report the Robinsons to the authorities
Read the excerpt from paragraph 10.
I loved the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves of the large oak, the smell of freshly cut grass brought on by neighborhood lawn mowers, the cacophony of birds that twittered as they flew by, the bumblebees that hovered by my head before moving on to more interesting things.
What is the effect of the use of sensory details in this excerpt?
a. It distracts the reader from unpleasant experiences the author describes.
a. It allows the reader to imagine the setting the author is describing.
a. It foreshadows future significant events in the author’s life.
a. It emphasizes how much time the author spends outside.
Read the excerpt from paragraph 32.
My books became my shelter, protecting me as the Robinsons’ slings and arrows
rained overhead.
Which idea is the author conveying through this use of metaphor?
a. Reading makes living with the Robinsons bearable.
a. He builds forts in the cellar where he hides and reads.
a. The books give him the strength to stand up for himself.
a. He uses the books as a shield when the Robinsons attack.
How do Mrs. Levin’s books provide Steve with the “chance” the babysitter and others said he didn’t have?
a. They show him how different his life is from most people’s.
a. They allow him to use his imagination for the first time in his life.
a. They give him hope and provide a way to deal with his current situation.
a. They inspire him to become an author and write about his experiences.
1. Which two strategies help the author survive the part of his life described in the selection?
a. Learning to forgive the Robinsons
a. Reaching out for help from Mrs. Levin
a. Scrounging and stealing food to stay fed
a. Telling social workers about the cellar and lack of food
a. Reading stories that help him understand his experiences
1. Reflecting on it years later, the author views Mrs. Levin’s gift of books as —
a. an important turning point in his life
a. simply a kind gesture from a neighbor
a. a way to get back at the Robinsons
a. something the Robinsons allowed out of kindness
1. Which two statements explain the significance of the references to Watership Down at the beginning and end of the selection?
a. They show the impact that reading has on the author’s life.
a. They reveal the similarities between human and animal experiences.
a. They prove to the reader that reading is the best pastime for children.
a. They emphasize parallels between the author’s life and that of the characters in the book.
a. They remind readers of the importance of seeing their experiences described in literature.’
The author uses language, details and direct statements to express his admiration for his younger self.
True
False
to comprehend.
fathom
thwart
cacophony
sanctuary
baffle
to prevent the occurrence of.
fathom
thwart
cacophony
sanctuary
baffle
jarring, discordant sound.
fathom
thwart
cacophony
sanctuary
baffle
a sacred place.
fathom
thwart
cacophony
sanctuary
baffle
to confuse or perplex.
fathom
thwart
cacophony
sanctuary
baffle
The author says that J. Bruce Ismay “was savaged by the media and the general public for climbing into a lifeboat and saving himself.” She uses the word savaged to convey
Ismay's luck at being saved.
Ismay's selfishness in taking a spot in the lifeboat.
the tragedy of the sinking of the Titanic.
the fierceness of the media attack.
The author's overall purpose is to argue that
survival is selfish.
saving others is always the right thing to do.
many factors influence a person's behavior in a crisis.
those who survive a disaster should not be criticized.
In lines 22–37, the author describes how people reacted to an explosion near Grand Central Station. Her description supports her point that
people's instinct for self-preservation does not always take over.
dangerous situations can occur anytime and anywhere.
people are attracted to scenes of disaster.
a person must be determined to get to safety.
According to the survival training expert cited in lines 39–40, what is the reason that some people do not survive life-threatening situations?
They are in poor physical shape.
They lose their ability to think clearly.
They do not have survival training.
They believe fate will determine the outcome.
What does the author believe is the basis for survivor guilt?
knowledge of others' suffering
post-traumatic stress
society's double standards
fear of media criticism
With which statement would the author most likely agree?
It is easier to judge the wisdom of a person's actions after the fact.
In a crisis, everyone makes deliberate decisions about what to do.
Survivors are usually those who have been in similar situations before.
Those who do not survive often lack the will to live.
The author's tone in this selection is
critical.
passionate.
thoughtful.
biased.
To berate means to
argue.
scold.
compliment.
adjust.
If a spectacle is guaranteed to transfix viewers, it will
disgust them.
be new to them.
require their participation.
hold their attention.
To laud an actor's performance means to
mimic it.
criticize it.
watch it.
praise it.
True or False. Ismay died helping women and children survivors from the Titanic.
True
False
What was the controversy surrounding Ismay?
he died helping people
he climbed into a lifeboat even though there were still women and children on board
he assaulted a person to get into the lifeboat
he pretended to be disabled to get a spot on the lifeboat
What "protocol" was strong about 100 years ago?
"Save someone's life"
"Save yourself first"
"Women and children first"
"Every man for themself"
What is an “instinct”?
hunger
sleeping
self-preservation
sharing friends
What was “the one thing” that would increase everyone’s chances of survival?
running to help people
calling 911
staying still and not moving
moving away from the area
What is a claim?
The main argument or opinion that the author is trying to prove
A fact to support the paper
The persuasive technique
What the author plans to do
What does the author use as their "hook" for the essay?
A rhetorical question
A fact
A quote
An anecdote
"If survival is an instinct, it seems to me that there must be something equally instinctive that drives us, sometimes, to run into danger instead of away from it". Does this statement confirm or contradict the author's argument about how people behave in a crisis?
Confirm
Contradict
A safe place or place of worship.
Baffle
Cacophony
Fathom
Sanctuary
To comprehend or understand.
Baffle
Fathom
Cacophony
Sanctuary
