2.05 Stray

Which word best describes Mrs. Lacey's manner when she lets Doris feed the dog at the beginning of the story?

• grudgingly

• hopefully

• angrily

• cheerfully

Why does Mr. Lacey return with the dog?

• He feels sorry for Doris.

• The pound is unpleasant and gives an animal only six days to live.

• His wife asks him to bring the dog home.

• He decides he can afford the extra money for food.

Read the sentences from "Stray." 

The puppy had been abandoned, and it made its way down the road toward the Laceys' small house, its ears tucked, its tail between its legs, shivering.

Which word identifies the tone of the passage?

• hopeful

• happy

• upbeat

• lonely

Read the passage from "Stray". 

But she rose up heavily.

Her parents were sitting at the table, dinner over, drinking coffee. They looked at her when she came in, but she kept her head down. No one spoke.

Doris made herself a glass of powdered milk and drank it all down. Then she picked up a cold biscuit and started out of the room.

"You'd better feed that mutt before it dies of starvation," Mr. Lacey said.

Doris turned around.

"What?"

"I said, you'd better feed your dog. I figure it's looking for you."

Describe the tone of the passage?

• At the beginning, the tone is distant; then it becomes heavy with sadness. 

• At the beginning the tone is heavy with sadness; then it becomes confused, then joyful.

• At the beginning, the tone is resigned; then it becomes distant and painful.

• At the beginning, the tone is quiet and mournful; then it becomes confused, then angry.

Why doesn't Doris name the stray dog, even after a week of taking care of it?

• She knows its new owners will want to name her.

• She thinks stray dogs don't deserve to have names. 

• She doesn't want to develop strong feelings for the dog.

• She wants to let her parents decide on a good name. 

What describes the conflict in the story?

• Doris can't shovel all of the snow away.

• Mrs. Lacey wants to keep the dog but Doris doesn't

• Doris wants to keep the puppy, but her parents won't let her.

• The snow was so heavy that Doris couldn't go to school.

Which answer best describes the type of conflict in "Stray?"

• individual versus nature

• individual versus individual

• individual versus society

• individual versus self

Does Doris change in a fundamental way over the course of the story? 

• No, Doris keeps crying herself to sleep every night. 

• Yes, because Doris does not get to keep the dog.

• No, Doris stays obedient and warm-hearted throughout the story. 

• Yes, because Doris accepts that her family cannot afford the dog.

Which of these answers is the best summary of "Stray"?

• Doris finds a stray dog and eventually her parents agree to let her keep it.

• 
  Doris finds a dog in her yard, but is unable to convince her family that she should keep it.

• Dogs can bring people closer together.

• Doris is afraid of the stray dog she finds, but her parents decide that they want the dog.

Who is the author of this story?

• Mrs. Lacey

• Mr. Lacey

• Cynthia Rylant

• Doris Lacey