"The Little Postboy"-Benchmark Review

PART A

What is the theme of the passage?

• People can gain wisdom from others regardless of age differences.

• Children should be given chores to complete at home.

• Parents may find it difficult to trust children with important tasks.

• People should wait to travel until the time is just right.

PART B

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

• "He looked at me and smiled, and his mother quickly said 'Lars, is young, but he'll take you safe enough.'" (paragraph 6)

• "He jumped into the sled, which he had filled with fresh soft hay, tucked in the blankets at the sides, and we sat huddled together on the narrow seat." (paragraph 8)

• "I felt so much refreshed that I was for setting out immediately, but Lars remarked that is was not yet possible to find the road." (paragraph 27)

• "Lars was so quiet and cheerful and fearless, that, although I was a man and he was a young boy, I felt that I had learned a lesson from him." (paragraph 29)

How do paragraphs 1-6 contribute to the overall structure of the passage?

• They introduce the characters and the problem.

• They describe how the setting changes as the characters travel.

• They explain how the characters solve their problems by working together.

• They provide background information about the close relationships of the characters.

What does the author mean by the phrase "the dark fir trees roared all around us" in paragraph 8?

• The trees whipped back and forth loudly in the strong wind.

• The trees were full of birds that made a great deal of noise.

• The trees fell all over the road because of the strong wind.

• The trees made threatening shapes in order to scare travelers.

What does the word accomplished mean as it is used in paragraph 21?

• lost focus and concentration

• easily learned a new skill

• successfully completed a task

• gave up and quit

Which two quotations support the inference that Lars had traveled in the snow before?

• "We went for a long time it seemed, Whenever I asked if we were nearly there, he always answered 'A little farther.'" (paragraph 9)

• "Lars peered anxiously from side to side in the darkness. I also looked, but I could see nothing." (paragraph 11)

• "The country is open to the wind, and here the snow drifts worse than anywhere else on the road. If there have been no plows out tonight, we'll have trouble" (paragraph 13)

• "In less than a quarter of an hour, we could see that the horse was sinking in the deep snow. He plugged bravely forward but became so exhausted that he stood quite still." (paragraph 14)

• "It was as he said because another pull brought us through the deep part of the drift, and we reached a place where the snow was quite shallow, but it was not the hard smooth surface of the road." (paragraph 17)

PART A

What does the word refreshed mean as it is used in paragraph 27?

• interested

• uncomfortable

• well-rested

• worn-out

PART B

Which phrase from the passage supports the answer to Part A?

• "...I did not wake up thoroughly during the night." (paragraph 24)

• "...cold wind on my face." (paragraph 25)

• "...was peeping out from under the blankets." (paragraph 25)

• "I think it must be nearly six o'clock." (paragraph 26)

Which choice about Lars and the traveler is true?

• Lars is satisfied, while the traveler is confused.

• Lars is quiet, while the traveler is lively.

• Lars is confident, while the traveler is uncertain.

• Lars is eager, while the traveler is relaxed.

How does the first-person pint of view influence how the events are described?

• It helps the reader understand the travelers thoughts and feelings about his trip with Lars.

• It helps the reader understand that Lars' opinion of how little the traveler knows about traveling in the snow.

• It helps the reader understand the traveler's actions helping Lars take care of the horse.

• It helps the reader understand Lars's positive attitude about taking the traveler on a trip at night.