"A Mouthful"

From the beginning of the story, the narrator reveals the main conflict of:

• person v. nature because Doona the cat does not obey her.

• person v. fate because she doesn't feel in control of her life.

• person v. person because her dad often embarrasses her.

• person v. society because the narrator's classmates do not enjoy her company.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

The dad in the short story is characterized as:

• a jokester.

• stern and serious.

• easily embarrassed.

• rude.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

The inciting incident of the story is:

• the narrator's dad pretending to eat cat poo in front of Anna.

• the narrator's dad playing jokes on the narrator's other friends when they come over.

• the narrator inviting Cynthia over to the house.

• the narrator's switching out the plastic cat poo.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

In this short story, the protagonist is:

• Anna.

• the narrator's father.

• the narrator.

• Cynthia.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

The antagonist of the short story is:

• Anna.

• Cynthia.

• the narrator's father.

• the narrator.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

“Aargh,” screams Anna. She rushes over to the window and throws up chips, sauce and Diet Coke. Then she looks at Dad in disgust.

The purpose of this imagery is to:

• emphasize the negative effect of the dad's joke on the narrator's friend.

• reveal that the narrator's friend enjoys her dad's jokes.

• suggest that the narrator's friend will stop being her friend.

• show how much the narrator detests her dad's jokes.

Tags

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

The motivation of the narrator's dad seems to be:

• protecting his daughter from embarrassment.

• ensuring that the narrator's friends think he is especially intelligent.

• listening to his daughter's emotional needs.

• getting a strong reaction from the narrator and her friends.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

Which of the following are characteristics of the story's setting? Select all that apply.

• modern times.

• the narrator's home.

• the narrator's school.

• the value of practical jokes.

• care to not embarrass family.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

The rising action of the story is:

• the narrator switches out the plastic cat poo.

• the narrator tells the reader that parents are embarrassing.

• the narrator's dad continues to play practical jokes on several of the narrator's friends.

• the narrator's dad throws up.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

The narrator's motivation seems to be all of the following EXCEPT:

• she wishes that her dad were "normal" like other parents.

• she hopes to teach her dad a lesson about his behavior.

• she wants her friends to accept her.

• she needs her friends to think that she is as hilarious as her dad.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6