Lapin Plays Possum

Match the cause with the effect below.

Lapin grows sweet potatoes, the bottom part of a crop.

• Lapin gives Bouki the vines of sweet potatoes as payment. Bouki gets angry so he makes a deal for the bottom parts of the crops.

• Bouki calls Lapin a cheater and makes a deal with Lapin for the tops and bottoms of the crops.

• Bouki picks his own cotton and sells it in town. Bouki buys a kettle of gumbo and heads home.

• Bouki leaves his cart to see if the rabbit on the side of road is Lapin.

Match the cause with the effect below.

Lapin grows rice and takes the grain heads, the top of the crop.

• Lapin gives Bouki the vines of sweet potatoes as payment. Bouki gets angry so he makes a deal for the bottom parts of the crops.

• Bouki cannot find his mule and cart so Lapin invites him over for gumbo.

• Bouki calls Lapin a cheater and makes a deal with Lapin for the tops and bottoms of the crops.

• Bouki leaves his cart to see if the rabbit on the side of road is Lapin.

Match the cause with the effect below.

Lapin plants corn and gives Bouki the unwanted tops and bottoms.

• Bouki leaves his cart to see if the rabbit on the side of road is Lapin.

• Bouki picks his own cotton and sells it in town. Bouki buys a kettle of gumbo and heads home.

• Bouki calls Lapin a cheater and makes a deal with Lapin for the tops and bottoms of the crops.

• Bouki cannot find his mule and cart so Lapin invites him over for gumbo.

Match the cause with the effect below.

Lapin plays dead on the side of the road.

• • 
    
    Bouki cannot find his mule and cart so Lapin invites him over for gumbo.

• Bouki calls Lapin a cheater and makes a deal with Lapin for the tops and bottoms of the crops.

• Lapin gives Bouki the vines of sweet potatoes as payment. Bouki gets angry so he makes a deal for the bottom parts of the crops.

• Bouki leaves his cart to see if the rabbit on the side of road is Lapin.

Match the cause with the effect below.

Lapin takes Bouki’s mule and cart home. 

• Bouki cannot find his mule and cart so Lapin invites him over for gumbo.

• Bouki calls Lapin a cheater and makes a deal with Lapin for the tops and bottoms of the crops.

• Lapin gives Bouki the vines of sweet potatoes as payment. Bouki gets angry so he makes a deal for the bottom parts of the crops.

What is the lesson of “Lapin Plays Possum”?

•  Getting tricked can lead to new friends. 

• Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

• Be careful what you ask for.

• Accept help when it is offered. 

Which line from the text best supports the central message of "Lapin Plays Possum"

•  “. . . Lapin showed up come planting time talking about making another deal . . .”

•  “‘You’re just in time neighbor,’ said Lapin . . . ‘We just finished picking all that good-for-nothing corn . . . I left you just what you wanted—some nice fat tassels and some big strong roots.’”

• "Bouki vowed to have nothing to do with Lapin, not ever again.”

• “'I’m right glad to see you,’ said Lapin. ‘I done harvested the grain heads off my rice crop.’”

Match the Cajun expression to the meaning below.

blowing off steam like a locamotive

• Bouki is very angry.

• There were so many sweet potatoes that Lapin had enough food for awhile.

• Bouki had a lot of cash to spend, and he was very hungry.

Match the Cajun expression to the meaning below.

"..all that money was burning a hole in Bouki's pocket just about the time that hunger started knocking on his belly."

• Bouki is very angry.

• There were so many sweet potatoes that Lapin had enough food for awhile.

• Bouki had a lot of cash to spend, and he was very hungry.

What does the excerpt below tell you about Bouki’s character? 

“Bouki vowed to have nothing to do with Lapin, not ever again. So the next year, Bouki farmed his land all by his lonesome. He plowed and he planted, he weeded and he hoed. Every once in a while, Lapin would drop by . . . ‘Need some help?’ he’d ask. ‘Not from you,’ Bouki answered.” 

• He is mean.

• He is lazy.

• He is lonley.

• He is determined.