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Central ideas and text summaries

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 17mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which of the following best describes one central idea of the text?

a)

Living like an insect can make you feel like one.

b)

The daily grind of earning a living can eliminate one’s humanity.

c)

We are as we perceive ourselves to be.

d)

Allowing others to take advantage of one’s generosity can lead to tragedy.

2.
"You can do it!" shouted her father, as he pushed Chloe and let go.  She was going on her own, but suddenly fell.  She cried, but said, "Again, daddy!" This time she went farther but fell into the ditch.  A few moments later, she was riding down the street, smiling from ear to ear.
a)
you should sacrifice for others
b)
your family will do anything for you
c)
when you are greedy, you will fall down
d)
you should never give up
3.
What is theme?
a)
A synonym for conflict 
b)
A lesson that is being taken away by the reader or the character in the story
c)
The ending of the story
d)
A name of a character
4.
An important theme of 'The Letter' is:
a)
Illiteracy
b)
Social divide
c)
Political protest
d)
Ignorance
5.

What are some lessons we can learn from this story?

a)

When your parents give directions, follow them.

b)

Don't listen to strangers.

c)

Wolves can't hurt us.

d)

We should pick flowers for our grandma.

6.

Which of the following is NOT one of the essential elements of satire?

a)

Making fun of an idea, person, or institution

b)

Use of irony

c)

Making a boarder point about society, culture, politics, etc.

d)

All of the above are essential elements of satire

7.

What was the main idea of the story? (10 pts)

a)

Della has too much money and is not sure what to buy with it.

b)

Della can not find a store that is selling the gift she would like to purchase for Jim.

c)

Della wants to buy a gold chain for her husband but she does not have enough money.

d)

Della wants to buy her husband a gift but she does know what to buy him.

8.
During a baseball game, Tanner tried to tag a player leaving first base. When the umpire called the player out, Tanner immediately informed the umpire that he in fact did not tag the runner. Two weeks later, the very same umpire was at another one of Tanner’s baseball games. Tanner was playing short stop and tagged a runner as they approached third base. When the umpire called the player safe, Tanner didn’t say a word, but the umpire noticed the surprised look on Tanner’s face. “Did you tag the runner?” she asked Tanner. When Tanner told her that he did tag the runner, the umpire changed her decision and called the player out. The coaches and parents were furious, but the umpire stood by her decision.
What is the theme?
a)
You should cheat to win.
b)
Always work hard.
c)
It pays to be honest.
d)
Teamwork is best.
9.

It's important to always put family first

a)

Main Idea

b)

Theme

10.

Money Mark was born rich. He never had to work a day in his life and he got everything handed to him on a silver platter. When he was six, Money Mark wanted to go to a basketball game. His father paid the starting five of the Bulls and Celtics to play a private game of Nerf-ball in Money Mark’s bedroom. When Money Mark turned thirteen, he wanted to start a band. His father hired the Rolling Stones to play with him every Saturday at the family’s private concert hall, though his family was never there. By the time he was twenty-one, Money Mark was bored with life. He was surrounded by a bunch of possessions that he didn’t appreciate and Money Mark could find nothing new or exciting in his life. Despite his vast wealth, Money Mark never found happiness. Penny Petal was born poor. Her family hardly had anything to eat, but they loved each other. Penny Petal appreciated everything she got. When she was six, her father walked her around the United Center before the Bulls played the Celtics. She was excited by the crazy fans and feeling in the air. She looked forward to the day that she could see a real game. When she was thirteen, she learned to play the buckets. She was an extremely talented musician, a natural percussionist, and everyone on the block loved the rhythms that poured from her palms. By the time she was twenty-one, Penny was a successful businesswoman. Now she had everything that she had ever dreamed of and she truly loved to share her wealth and happiness with her family who supported her through all of the hard times.


What can the reader infer the theme of the passage is?

a)

Money is the key to being successful in life.

b)

Money can buy you happiness as long as you earned it.

c)

Mark had a lot more money than Penny.

d)

In order to truly appreciate what you have, you need to work for it.

11.

What does 'theme' refer to in a literary text?

a)

The main conflict in the story

b)

The underlying meaning or subject

c)

The sequence of events

d)

The setting of the story

12.

Look at this poem, what do you think the topic is?

a)

A little star is in the sky.

b)

A Christmas star is in the sky.

c)

In my opinion this question wasn't needed. (I agree)

13.
One summer's day, a merry Grasshopper was dancing, singing and playing his violin with all his heart. He saw an Ant passing by working hard to store food for the winter. “Come and sing with me instead of working so hard,” said the Grasshopper “Let’s have fun together.” “I must store food for the winter,” said the Ant,“ and I advise you to do the same.” “Don’t worry about winter, it’s still very far away,” said the Grasshopper, laughing at him. But the Ant wouldn’t listen and continued to work. When winter came, the starving Grasshopper went to the Ant’s house and humbly begged for something to eat. “If you had listened to my advice in the summer you would not now be in need,” said the Ant. “I’m afraid you will have to go without supper,” and he closed the door.
What is the theme?
a)
share with your neighbor
b)
work before you play
c)
be respectful
d)
don't be greedy
14.

A Raven, which you know is black as coal, was envious of the Swan, because her feathers were as white as the purest snow. The foolish bird got the idea that if he lived like the Swan, swimming and diving all day long and eating the weeds and plants that grow in the water, his feathers would turn white like the Swan's.


So he left his home in the woods and fields and flew down to live on the lakes and in the marshes. But though he washed and washed all day long, almost drowning himself at it, his feathers remained as black as ever. And as the water weeds he ate did not agree with him, he got thinner and thinner, and at last he died.

What is the theme?

a)

Pretending is fun for birds.

b)

We can change our actions, but we can not change who we are.

c)

Some ravens can be swans, but only all of them can be safe.

d)

To truly become a beautiful swan, you have to live like one in the woods.

15.

What theme is most evident through the mother's actions and decisions in "The First Day"?

a)

The importance of education

b)

The struggle with identity

c)

The impact of poverty

d)

The challenge of single parenthood

16.

Which word rhymes with 'red' in the poem Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf?

a)

jump

b)

said

c)

chance

d)

sing

17.
What is the theme of this story?  
a)
Eat your vegetables.
b)
Don't brag. Be modest. 
c)
Don't talk to strangers. 
d)
What does the fox say?
18.
"True love can conquer anything" is an example of a story's what?
a)
Main Idea
b)
Motto
c)
Summary
d)
Theme
19.

What the author is revealing to the reader about life is called a poem's:

a)

theme

b)

metaphor

c)

structure

20.

What 2 things must be true for something to be a symbol?

a)

It has to be a color.

b)

It's repeated/emphasized in a meaningful way

c)

It represents an idea or theme

d)

it has to be a character