Free Printable The Breadwinner

Worksheets

The Breadwinner

Total questions: 17

Worksheet time: 51mins

Name

Class

Date

Why is Parvana worried about dressing in boys’ clothes and cutting her hair?

She thinks that she will be teased.

She believes what she is doing is wrong.

She is afraid that she will be recognized.

She is nervous about doing her sister’s job.

Which statement best expresses a theme of the selection?

The enduring love of family makes anything seem possible.

It can be difficult to have courage in the face of challenges.

People often use food to show their love for each other.

Supporting the community is as important as supporting family.

This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B. Part A What inference can the reader make about Parvana based on paragraphs 21–24?

She likes her hair more than any of her other features.

She wants her sister to be the one to cut her hair.

Being allowed to make her own choice helps her say yes.

Being forced into the decision makes her unwilling to cooperate.

In paragraph 30, why does Mother most likely ask Parvana if she wants to watch while she cuts her hair?

To punish Parvana for resisting the idea

To force Parvana to demonstrate her obedience

To help Parvana to accept the idea

To reassure Parvana that the haircut will look nice

The description of Mother’s behavior while she cuts Parvana’s hair helps the reader understand that Mother —

favors Nooria over Parvana

can not understand Nooria’s position

does not understand Parvana’s resistance

cares about how Parvana feels

In the last paragraph of the story, why does Mother say, “Go to sleep, Hossain . . . Go to sleep, my son”?

She misses Hossain and confuses Ali with him.

She is tired and wishes the day would end.

She is worrying about all her children.

She is accepting Parvana’s new role.

Read these sentences from paragraph 64. Now, with her face open to the sunshine, she was invisible in another way. She was just one more boy on the street. She was nothing worth paying attention to. Which two choices best describe how the setting in these sentences makes Parvana feel?

Confused

Grateful

Hidden

Lonely

Relieved

In the story, Parvana’s haircut represents —

happier times

new responsibilities

abandoned beliefs

cultural traditions

Which statement best explains the cause-and-effect relationship in paragraphs 66–72?

Cause: Parvana has confidence in her disguise. Effect: The grocer treats Parvana like a normal customer.

Cause: The grocer treats Parvana like a normal customer. Effect: Parvana gains confidence in her disguise.

Cause: Parvana pretends to be wealthy. Effect: The grocer becomes suspicious of her.

Cause: Parvana refuses to talk. Effect: The grocer ignores her completely.

10.

How do Parvana’s feelings change after she goes to the store for the first time?

She becomes more frightened because the grocer yelled at her, so she decides she will never shop again.

She feels embarrassed because she believes everyone knows she is pretending to be a boy.

She becomes proud and more confident because she successfully bought groceries and no one bothered her.

She becomes angry because she thinks her family forced her to do something impossible.

11.

Read these sentences about the selection. Parvana dresses up as a boy and pretends to be a cousin from jalalabad. Her mother and sister tell people she has gone to stay with an aunt in kunduz. Which sentence uses correct capitalization?

Parvana dresses up as a boy and pretends to be a cousin from Jalalabad. Her Mother and Sister tell people she has gone to stay with an Aunt in Kunduz.

Parvana dresses up as a boy and pretends to be a cousin from Jalalabad. Her mother and sister tell people she has gone to stay with an aunt in Kunduz.

Parvana dresses up as a boy and pretends to be a Cousin from jalalabad. Her Mother and Sister tell people she has gone to stay with an Aunt in kunduz.

Parvana dresses up as a boy and pretends to be a Cousin from Jalalabad. Her Mother and Sister tell people she has gone to stay with an Aunt in Kunduz.

12.

Read the dictionary entry. hold v 1. to contain 2. to maintain control n 3. the act of grasping 4. complete control Which part of speech is the word hold as it is used in paragraph 46?

Verb

Noun

Adverb

Adjective

13.

Select the sentence that shows the problem the family is trying to solve.

"As a boy, you'll be able to move in and out of the market, buy what we need, and no one will stop you,' Mother said." (0aragraph 2)

"None of her friends had seen her since the Taliban closed the schools." (paragraph 8)

"Her relatives were scattered to different parts of the country, even to different countries." (paragraph 8)

"It was impossible to be nice to Nooria!" (paragraph 90)

14.

Select two sentences that show that Parvana's changing appearance is beginning to affect her outlook.

"As more and more hair fell away, Parvana began to feel like a different person." (paragraph 37)

"What was left of her hair was short and shaggy." (paragraph 37)

"Her ears seemed to stick out from her head." (paragraph 38)

"I have a nice face, she decided." (paragraph 40)

"Mother rubbed her hands brusquely over Parvan's head to rub away any stray hairs." (paragraph 41)

15.

Which of the following ideas is true?

The family forces Parvana to disguise herself as a boy.

Parvana treasures her long hair after Mother cuts it off.

Parvana feels proud that she bought food at the market.

Mother is delighted that Parvana reminds her of Hossain.

16.

How does the author use elements of both culture and setting in paragraphs 64–72 to help further the plot?

The author focuses on Parvana’s excitement about traveling to new countries and shows how Kabul is becoming more modern, which helps move the story forward.

The author develops the plot by describing Parvana’s thoughts and fears about appearing in public as a boy and by showing what it is like to shop in Kabul, including the foods her family uses.

The author slows the plot by describing unrelated details about Kabul’s buildings and by explaining how Parvana dreams of living somewhere far from her culture.

The author uses setting mostly to describe the weather in Kabul and uses culture only to show how Parvana dislikes the traditional foods her family prepares.

17.

How does Parvana change from the beginning of the excerpt (paragraphs 1–16) to near the end (paragraphs 85–88), and how do these changes affect the plot?

Parvana becomes more interested in exploring new cities, and this causes her to focus on leaving Kabul rather than helping her family.

Parvana starts out excited to cut her hair and dress like a boy, and later she becomes frightened again, which makes the plot slow down as she avoids her responsibilities.

Parvana begins unwilling to cut her hair or appear as a boy and is afraid to go to the market, but by the end she has shopped, is no longer scared, and takes responsibility as she notices Nooria’s tiredness.

Parvana remains the same throughout the excerpt, showing no fear at the start and taking no responsibility later, which keeps the plot from changing in any important way.

100 %

The Breadwinner

Total questions: 17

Worksheet time: 51mins

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