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Comprehension Questions on the Band's Performance

Total questions: 30

Worksheet time: 15mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What did Miss Thomas do after the performance ended?

a)

She did a curtsey bow.

b)

She left the room.

c)

She started singing.

d)

She played an instrument.

2.

Why did the narrator clap loudly after the performance?

a)

He wanted to show his appreciation for the band.

b)

He was trying to get someone's attention.

c)

He was angry at the band.

d)

He was signaling the end of the show.

3.

How does the band spend their time when not playing music, according to the narrator?

a)

Teasing each other and talking about Herman E. Calloway.

b)

Practicing new songs.

c)

Cooking meals together.

d)

Writing letters home.

4.

What did the narrator do while waiting for Herman E. Calloway to come out?

a)

He took a nap in the car.

b)

He loaded instruments into the Packard and practiced his recorder.

c)

He went for a walk around the building.

d)

He talked with Mr. Miller.

5.

What did the narrator notice about the rocks Mr. C. picked?

a)

They were all shiny and colorful.

b)

They were perfect for throwing.

c)

They were shaped like animals.

d)

They were very heavy.

6.

Based on the passage, what can you infer about Mr. C.'s attitude toward the rock?

a)

He thought it was valuable and treated it carefully.

b)

He didn't care about it and threw it away.

c)

He kept it without showing any special interest.

d)

He explained its importance to the narrator.

7.

Why was the narrator surprised that Mr. C. wanted an old rock?

a)

He thought Mr. C. only liked new things.

b)

He believed rocks were useless.

c)

He didn't expect Mr. C. to collect something so ordinary.

d)

He thought Mr. C. was going to sell it.

8.

Why did the narrator keep his own rocks hidden in his hand after retrieving them from his sax case?

a)

He wanted Mr. C. to ask before seeing them

b)

He was afraid they would get lost

c)

He thought they were too valuable to show

d)

He forgot he was holding them

9.

How did Mr. Jimmy react when he saw Herman E. Calloway upset?

a)

He ignored him

b)

He stood between the narrator and Mr. C. and asked what was wrong

c)

He took the rocks away

d)

He left the room

10.

Where did Bud say he got the rocks from?

a)

He found them on the street

b)

He stole them from someone

c)

He got them from his momma

d)

He bought them at a store

11.

What did Miss Thomas do before looking at the picture from the envelope?

a)

She put on her glasses and held the picture far from her eyes.

b)

She immediately recognized the picture.

c)

She gave the picture to Mr. Jimmy.

d)

She asked the narrator to explain the picture.

12.

(DoK Level 3) Why do you think Mr. C. was described as "weeping" and compared to "the real Waterworks Willie"?

a)

Because he was showing deep emotion and vulnerability.

b)

Because he was angry at Bud.

c)

Because he was laughing uncontrollably.

d)

Because he was pretending to cry for attention.

13.

Why did Bud say he was not sleeping in a dead girl's room?

a)

Because it was his mother's room

b)

Because it was his own room

c)

Because it was a guest room

d)

Because it was Miss Thomas's room

14.

According to Mr. Jimmy, what advice did he give Herman E. Calloway about treating Bud's mother?

a)

To slack off some on the girl and go easy

b)

To be stricter with her

c)

To ignore her

d)

To send her away

15.

Why does Mr. Jimmy say life is especially hard for a Negro woman?

a)

Because it is a hard world

b)

Because they have more opportunities

c)

Because they are always happy

d)

Because they are always protected

16.

Why did Bud's mother leave, according to Miss Thomas?

a)

She was pushed too hard by her father and wanted to choose her own path.

b)

She wanted to travel the world.

c)

She was offered a job in another city.

d)

She didn't get along with her mother.

17.

What did Miss Thomas show Bud about the picture of his mother?

a)

That her eyes seemed to follow him no matter where the picture was moved

b)

That the picture could play music

c)

That the frame was made of gold

d)

That there was a secret message on the back

18.

What does Miss Thomas mean when she says, "it looks to me like he's finally shown up"?

a)

She believes Bud is the rightful owner of the picture

b)

She is waiting for someone else to arrive

c)

She is talking about a lost pet

d)

She is referring to a missing book

19.

Why does Miss Thomas say she needs Bud's help with a problem?

a)

She does not specify the problem yet, but she asks for Bud's help

b)

She needs help finding a lost item

c)

She wants Bud to clean the house

d)

She needs help cooking dinner

20.

According to Miss Thomas, what does Herman do at every show?

a)

He ignores the audience.

b)

He looks out into the audience hoping to see someone.

c)

He refuses to perform.

d)

He always leaves early.

21.

Why did Herman collect "wocks" from different cities?

a)

He wanted to build a house.

b)

He was told to bring one back for his daughter from every city.

c)

He liked collecting rare items.

d)

He wanted to sell them.

22.

What does Miss Thomas ask Bud to do for Herman after the sad news?

a)

Ignore him.

b)

Be patient and help him.

c)

Leave him alone.

d)

Argue with him.

23.

Why does Bud find it hard to believe that Herman could love his mother as much as he does?

a)

Because Herman is always angry.

b)

Because Bud never met Herman before.

c)

Because it didn't seem like Herman could love anyone at all.

d)

Because Bud doesn't believe in love.

24.

What did Miss Thomas do when she came around to the narrator's side of the table?

a)

She gave the narrator a hug and asked if they were OK.

b)

She gave the narrator a present.

c)

She started crying.

d)

She left the house.

25.

Why did the narrator not want to embarrass anyone when asked where everyone was?

a)

Because all the grown folks were sitting all over the house sobbing their eyes out.

b)

Because everyone was outside.

c)

Because everyone was at work.

d)

Because everyone was eating dinner.

26.

What did Steady say about the suitcase he put on the table?

a)

It was a sacrifice to buy it with the money they got from the peanuts.

b)

It was brand new and expensive.

c)

It belonged to his father.

d)

It was found in the attic.

27.

What did Eddie slide over to the narrator at the beginning of the passage?

a)

A shiny new saxophone

b)

A cardboard suitcase

c)

A paper bag

d)

A box of newspapers

28.

Why did Steady Eddie say, "it's what's inside that's interesting"?

a)

Because the suitcase was very expensive

b)

Because the outside of the suitcase was plain, but the inside had a special gift

c)

Because the suitcase was locked

d)

Because the suitcase was empty

29.

How did the narrator feel when he saw the gift inside the suitcase?

a)

Disappointed

b)

Angry

c)

Excited and couldn't believe his eyes

d)

Confused

30.

Why did the narrator ask, "Can I be excused?"

a)

He was nervous and wanted to leave

b)

He wanted to play the saxophone immediately

c)

He was hungry

d)

He needed to get his drumsticks