"Drawing Horses"

Part A

What is the theme of the passage?

• One should consider the effect of one’s words on others before speaking.

• It is best to take pride in one’s own work instead of making comparisons to others.

• One must be willing to ask others for help in order to get better at a skill.

• It is helpful to have a sense of humor when facing a difficult situation.

Part B

Which quotation from the passage best supports the answer to Part A?

• “He also calls me Messy. I prefer Marisa, which is what everyone—except Luke—calls me.” (paragraph 3)

• “I tried again, but the hooves still didn’t seem right, and rather than doing them over and over, I erased them and went on to the head.” (paragraph 6)

• “Drawing horses is easier when they’re right in front of you, and I’ll say this for the ones next door—they hold their poses.” (paragraph 20)

• “It doesn’t look exactly like one of Euphemia’s horses, of course. But I already know that when this drawing is finished, I’ll be signing it Marisa.” (paragraph 22)

Which TWO quotations support the inference that Marisa thought she was less talented than Euphemia?

• “I’d give anything to draw horses the way Euphemia Tucker does.” (paragraph 1)

• “Euphemia’s horses look so real you can almost feel their breath on your face.” (paragraph 2)

• “If I could draw like Euphemia, I’d sign all my pictures Marisa.” (paragraph 3)

• “Nobody messes with Euphemia’s name, not even Luke Anderson.” (paragraph 3)

• “Then I closed my eyes and pictured one of Euphemia’s perfect horses rearing up and pawing the air with its sharp hooves.” (paragraph 4)

Read the sentence from paragraph 1.

"They’re always running wild and free, their manes swirling over the paper like clouds across the sky."

What does the author mean by the phrase “their manes swirling over the paper like clouds across the sky” in the sentence?

• Euphemia’s horses had short manes that seemed to be changing colors.

• Euphemia’s horses had manes that looked messy.

• Euphemia’s horses had lovely manes that moved and waved behind them.

• Euphemia’s horses had manes that were drawn quickly.

Which quotation from the passage BEST describes what is seen in the illustration?

• "I slammed my pencil against the table, hard." (paragraph 13)

• "After I’d helped clear the dishes, I sat down with a stack of typing paper and a freshly sharpened pencil." (paragraph 11)

• "I practiced a few horses' heads, trying to get the ears right." (paragraph 11)

• "Then my mother walked by, carrying a big basket of laundry." (paragraph 11)

What comparison did Marisa make between the neighbors’ horses and Euphemia’s horses?

• The neighbors’ horses had odd ears and legs, but she imagined that Euphemia’s horses had beautiful manes.

• The neighbors’ horses only flicked their tails, but she imagined that Euphemia’s horses reared up and pawed the air.

• The neighbors’ horses mostly stood still, but she imagined that Euphemia’s horses ran by her window.

• The neighbors’ horses showed little interest in people, but she imagined that Euphemia’s horses came right up to her.

What does the word pester mean as it is used in paragraph 11?

• bother

• encourage

• scare

• watch

How do paragraphs 14-18 contribute to the overall structure of the passage?

• They introduce important new characters.

• They demonstrate how the main character solves the problem.

• They show a struggle between characters.

• They illustrate a change in how the main character views a situation.

How does the narrator’s first-person point of view influence how events are described?

• It allows the reader to understand Marisa’s excitement when she discovered new drawing supplies.

• It allows the reader to understand Marisa’s actions and feelings as she worked to perfect her drawing skills.

• It allows the reader to understand Marisa’s thoughts and words about choosing the right types of drawing materials.

• It allows the reader to understand Marisa’s frustration with what other people thought she should be drawing