Thank You Ma'am

In including the scene where the boy attempts to rob the woman, what is Hughes saying about the setting of the story?

• That the story takes place in a poor urban area

• That the story takes place in an affluent and luxurious town

• That the story takes place in East Europe

• That the story takes place in North Dakota

What do these lines show about Roger? "Ain't you got nobody to tell you to wash your face?" "No'm," said the boy.

• He is shy.
• He is neglected at home.
• He has trouble telling the truth.
• He has a good sense of humor.

What do these lines indicate about Mrs. Jones? Then it [Roger's face] will get washed this evening, said the large woman starting up the street, dragging the boy behind her.

• She is a stickler for cleanliness.
• She is a bossy woman.
• She is concerned about Roger.
• She is a professional psychic.

When Roger looks from the open door to Mrs. Jones and back to the open door, you can infer that he is

• thinking about what is for dinner

• deciding if he should close the door

• wondering if he should try to escape

• getting ready to wash his face

What is the meaning of this line from "Thank You, M'am"?

"He did not trust the woman not to trust him."

• Roger knows he has hurt Mrs. Jones and feels unworthy of her trust.

• Roger hopes that Mrs. will trust him so he can take advantage of her.

• Roger hopes that Mrs. Jones does not trust him.

• Roger has grown to trust Mrs. Jones and hopes that she trusts him, too.

What does Mrs. Jones admit to Roger?

• A. She works late hours in a hotel beauty shop.
• B. Her own adolescence contained its share of mistakes.
• C. She thinks that it takes a lot of courage to apologize.
• D. Her belief is that everybody deserves a second chance.

Why does Mrs. Jones make a point of telling Roger about the bad things she did when she was young?

• She is hoping to join Roger in a life of crime.
• She is very lonely and needs someone to talk to.
• She believes that sharing that part of her past will help Roger to trust her.
• Feeling that Roger has lied to her, she tells him a lie in return.

Why does Roger offer to go to the store for Mrs. Jones?

• He knows she wants the sweetened milk.

• His escape will be easier once he gains her trust.

• He wants to show Mrs. Jones that he can be trusted.

• His surprise at her actions leads him to fear she will call the police.

What does Mrs. Jones mean when she tells Roger that

"shoes got by devilish ways will burn your feet."

• Devilish shoes burn your feet.

• People who buy shoes with stolen money will be punished.

• If you buy shoes that don't fit, they will hurt so much that it will feel as if your feet are burning.

• If you buy shoes with stolen money, your sense of guilt will make you feel as if the shoes are burning your feet.

After Mrs. Jones tells Roger that he could have simply asked her for the shoes,

"the boy looked at her. There was a pause. A very long pause."

What does this pause show about Roger?

• He is surprised, touched, and confused by her offer.

• He is growing ever more suspicious of her.

• He is so unused to washing his face that he forgets to dry it.

• He is waiting for the right moment to run out of the house.