Flight of Icarus

Which statement describes a theme of the selection?

• Wisdom grows with time.

• Fear is a strong emotion.

• People should throw caution to the wind.

• Take caution when performing any activity.

Which statement best explains how the setting impacts the plot of the story?

• Daedalus sees the air as a means of escape.

• Daedalus tries to escape but fails.

• Daedalus is imprisoned in a high tower.

• Daedalus is a gifted inventor.

Read the sentence from paragraph 2 of the myth.

Daedalus was an ingenious artist and was not discouraged by his failures.

The author’s purpose for using this sentence is to explain that Daedalus is a —

• successful artist but afraid of failure

• smart person who persists

• smart person but afraid of failure

• successful artist who gives up

Reread the last sentence of paragraph 3 of the selection. What does this description say about Icarus's character?

• It shows that Icarus avoids helping.

• It shows that Icarus is happy to be on the island.

• It shows that Icarus wants to be an artist.

• It shows that Icarus likes to play.

Read this sentence from paragraph 6 of the selection.

Icarus, standing in the bright sun, the shining wings dropping gracefully from his shoulders, his golden hair wet with spray, and his eyes bright and dark with excitement, looked like a lovely bird.

The purpose of this comparison is to describe Icarus’s —

• inability to fly

• love for his father

• joy when he flies

• wings coming off

The word anxiety comes from the Latin word angere, which means “to choke.” What does anxiety mean in paragraph 8?

• Obsessive anger

• Overwhelming misery

• Consuming fear

• Devouring sadness

Which quote from paragraph 7 of the selection shows that Icarus flew too high?

• . . . until he reached the clouds.

• Up and up Icarus soared . . .

• . . . the sun became so hot that the largest feathers dropped off . . .

• He cried out to his father . . .

The word exaltation comes from the Latin word exaltare, which means “to raise
or elevate.” What does exaltation mean in paragraph 9?

• Flotation

• Praise

• Singing

• Promotion

Which two quotes from the text best support the theme that reaching beyond your limits can cause problems?

• Daedalus managed to escape from the tower . . . (paragraph 1)

• “. . . but he does not control the air. . . .” (paragraph 2)

• . . . if you fly too high, the heat will melt the wax . . . (paragraph 5)

• He was bewitched by a sense of freedom and beat his wings frantically. . . (paragraph 7)

• . . . he mourned for the birdlike son who had thrown caution to the winds in the exaltation of his freedom . . . (paragraph 9)

Which statement about life or human behavior is emphasized by the setting of this story?

• People can learn from nature.

• It is freedom that is necessary.

• It is important to gain experience.

• People can live happily on islands.