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Langston Hughes Thank You Ma'am

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 26mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What does Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones mean when she says, "shoes come by devilish like that will burn your feet?"

a)

She means getting shoes that way will hurt your feet and that Roger should find another way to get the shoes.

b)

She means getting things through dishonest means will have equally as bad consequences.

c)

She means Roger will get in trouble for what he has done.

2.

How does Roger's perspective about life and people change after his encounter with Mrs. Jones?

a)

Roger learns that it's wrong to steal and probably never steals again.

b)

Roger's outlook was negative. It became more positive after meeting Mrs. Jones. Before, he probably thought life was hard and people were uncaring. Afterwards, he learned that life is more complex.

c)

Roger's outlook was negative. It became more positive after meeting Mrs. Jones. The encounter made him view life as an opportunity to use people like unfeeling pawns to help him get to the next level in life.

3.

Make an Inference: Why does Roger want to go to the store for Mrs. Jones?

a)

Roger wants to use it as an opportunity to finally escape.

b)

Roger wants to repay her kindness by doing something nice.

c)

Roger wants to take the money and buy some shoes.

4.

Recall: What happens when Roger tries to steal Mrs. Jones's purse?

a)

Mrs. Jones shakes him until his teeth begin to rattle.

b)

Roger gets away and runs into the cops on the next block.

c)

The strap breaks from the tug Roger gives it and he falls to the ground holding it.

5.
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
6.
Which of the following words best describes Mrs. Jones's reaction to being surprised by Roger?
a)
delight
b)
confusion
c)
fear
d)
anger
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.
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.
9.
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.
10.
What does Mrs. Jones do when the boy struggles to get away?
a)
She jerks him around in front of her, wrestles him with one arm, and drags him up the street.
b)
She shouts very loudly for help, frightening the boy into staying at her side.
c)
She warns him that she will call the police and that they will track him down.
d)
She hits him over the head and knocks him to the ground.
11.
After Mrs. Jones tells Roger that he could simply have asked for the shoes, "the boy looked at her. There was a long 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.
12.
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.
13.
Which of the following best captures the theme of "Thank You, M'am"?
a)
Old people are so lonely that they will seek company even from those that try to harm them.
b)
Kindness and goodwill are stronger than fear and mistrust.
c)
If you're going to steal, don't get caught.
d)
The city streets are full of dangers for young and old alike.
14.
In "Thank You, M'am", which of the following words best completes this sentence?  After he took a shower and combed his hair, he looked much more _________ .
a)
scrubbed
b)
presentable
c)
tired
d)
pale
15.
If the street is barren, it is
a)
empty.
b)
full.
c)
misplace.
d)
straight.
16.
At the end of "Thank You, M'am", when Mrs. Jones bids Roger goodnight, how does Roger probably feel?
a)
lucky to have gotten away with his attempted crime
b)
sorry that he'd met Mrs. Jones that night
c)
angry at Mrs. Jones for making him leave
d)
grateful to her for her kindness and teaching
17.
Who penned "Thank You, M'am"?
a)
Edgar Allan Poe
b)
Ray Bradbury
c)
Shirley Jackson
d)
Langston Hughes
18.
Which sentence best shows that the woman has seen her share of struggles?
a)
She was a large woman with a large purse that had everything in it but a hammer and nails
b)
Then she picked up the boy by his shirt front and shook him until his teeth rattled.
c)
The woman was sitting on the day-bed. After a while she said, “I were young once and wanted things I could not get.”
d)
She heated some lima beans and ham she had in the icebox, made the cocoa, and set the table.
19.
Where does Mrs. Jones take Roger?
a)
to the police
b)
to her apartment
c)
to the shoe store
d)
to his house
20.
What does Mrs. Jones ask Roger to do at her house?
a)
Wash his face. 
b)
Make dinner.
c)
Clean the kitchen. 
d)
Take off his shoes.