The Scholarship Jacket

What description best fits Martha’s attitude toward school in “The Scholarship Jacket”?

• She works hard but struggles to earn good grades.

• She is a dedicated student and takes her studies seriously.

• She dislikes school and is tired of being compared to her sister.

• She maintains a decent grade point average so that she can play sports.

What does Martha overhear Mr. Schmidt and Mr. Boone arguing about in “The Scholarship Jacket”?

• whether Martha should pay for the scholarship jacket

• whether Martha should be punished for being late to gym class

• whether Martha or another student should be given the scholarship jacket

• whether Martha should be allowed to attend the eighth-grade graduation ceremony

What change in policy regarding the jacket does the principal tell Martha about in “The Scholarship Jacket”?

• The Board is awarding two scholarship jackets this year.

• The Board is charging fifteen dollars for the scholarship jacket.

• The Board is not allowing student athletes to receive the scholarship jacket.

• The Board is no longer offering scholarship jackets to graduating eighth graders.

Which two of the following answers best explain why Martha’s grandfather refuses to pay for the jacket in “The Scholarship Jacket”?

• He thinks Martha should just borrow her sister's jacket.

• He feels that the Board's decision to change the rule is unfair.

• He does not believe that Martha has earned the scholarship jacket.

• He thinks it is not really a scholarship jacket if Martha has to pay for it.

What is the most likely meaning of falsify in the following quotation from “The Scholarship Jacket”? “I refuse to do it! I don’t care who her father is, her grades don’t even begin to compare to Martha’s. I won’t lie or falsify records. Martha has a straight A plus average and you know it.”

• alter in order to damage

• change in order to improve

• alter in order to uncover

• change in order to deceive

What is the most likely meaning of eavesdrop in the following sentences from “The Scholarship Jacket”? I was almost back at my classroom’s door when I heard angry voices and arguing. I stopped. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop; I just hesitated, not knowing what to do.

• make a fuss

• break a rule

• secretly listen

• hide from someone

Based on its context, which meaning of the word vile does the author use in the following lines from “The Scholarship Jacket”? Something bitter and vile tasting was coming up in my mouth; I was afraid I was going to be sick.

• inferior

• wicked

• shameful

• disgusting

What is the underlying message of the following lines from “The Scholarship Jacket”? The pounding in my ears drowned out the rest of the words, only a word here and there filtered through. “. . . Martha is Mexican. . . . resign. . . . won’t do it. . . .”

• Martha sometimes jumps to the wrong conclusion.

• Martha does not trust her teachers to do the right thing.

• Martha should not have been listening in on this conversation.

• Martha may not get the scholarship jacket because of prejudice.

How does the author’s choice to write from a first-person point of view in “The Scholarship Jacket” affect the reader?

• It makes the reader question Martha's choices.

• It causes the reader to notice specific details in the story.

• It gives the reader access to the thoughts and feelings of different characters.

• It allows the reader to connect more deeply to Martha and the conflict she faces.

Which of the following is most clearly a theme of “The Scholarship Jacket”?

• Hard work is required to find success

• It is important to stand up for what is right

• Sometimes circumstances are out of our control.

• Our families do not always know what is best for us.