Sometimes a Dream Needs a Push

How does Jim Blair react to his son losing the ability to walk?

• He becomes angry and explosive.

• He feels guilty and grows quiet.

• He grows afraid of the world.

• He feels positive about the future.

How do Jim and his son feel about the wheelchair basketball game?

• Jim is uninterested in the game, while Chris wants to play.

• Jim wants Chris to play, but Chris is unsure.

• Jim is afraid to let Chris play, but Chris wants to play.

• Both Jim and Chris are interested in the game.

Why does Chris' dad call Mr. Evans?

• He wants to talk about the Madison team.

• He doesn't want Chris playing wheelchair basketball.

• He wants to help Mr. Evans coach the team.

• He wants to ask for advice on coaching Chris.

Which of the following best describes Chris' dad's attitude towards his son's team?

• He thinks he can help them get better.

• He thinks they do not listen to the coach.

• He gets frustrated with his son's team.

• He thinks he can turn them into champions.

How does Chris feel at halftime?

• He is proud of how the team is playing.

• He feels bad that they're losing.

• He is just happy to be on the court.

• He feels confident that they'll catch up.

What happens after the game against Madison?

• Chris' dad loses interest in wheelchair basketball.

• Chris no longer needs to be coached by his dad.

• Chris decides he doesn't want to play wheelchair basketball.

• Chris' dad continues to attend Chris' games and practices.

PART A: Which of the following identifies the theme of the text?

• Obstacles arise in life, but that doesn't mean a person should give up on what they want.

• When a tragedy occurs, we should allow people to grieve in different ways.

• Overcoming life's difficulties will always make a person stronger.

• Children cannot succeed without the support of their family.

PART B: Which detail from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

• "There were surgeries and weeks in the hospital, but the important thing was that I wasn't going to be walking again." (Paragraph 2)

• "He was there. He sat in the stands and watched us go through our drills and a minigame. I was so nervous, I couldn't do anything right." (Paragraph 31)

• "Okay, so most of the guys are pretty good wheeling their chairs up and down the court. But our baseline plays looked more like a collision derby." (Paragraph 50)

• "Afterward, the team voted, and the Hartsdale Posse all agreed that we wanted to play in the league." (Paragraph 62)

What does Chris' mother mean when she tells Chris that his dad is "chewing up his words to see how they taste before he lets them out"? (Paragraph 7).

• That Chris' dad wants to make sure he is clear.

• That Chris' dad is trying not to be mean.

• That Chris' dad is deciding what to say.

• That Chris' dad doesn't like what he's about to say.

How does the scene where Jim uses a wheelchair contribute to the text (Paragraph 39)?

• He realizes he isn't as good of a basketball player from the wheelchair.

• He understands Chris' frustration playing basketball in a wheelchair.

• He feels guilty for not working with Chris' basketball team sooner.

• He is able to better understand Chris' experience in a wheelchair.