"The Man in the Well" (Commonlit Qs)

Which of the following best describes a main theme of the text?

• Children help others only when they feel fear or embarrassment.

• People can act in cruel ways when they hold power over others.

• Anyone can be a hero, but it is a choice people have to make.

• Distrust of strangers has caused modern society to become less caring.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

How does the narrator's point of view influence how the events are described in the passage?

• The narrator is ashamed of what happened and portrays the others as more deserving of blame.

• The narrator is no longer ashamed of what happened and recounts the events with confidence.

• The narrator feels shame about what happened but still tries to tell the story in a truthful way.

• The narrator is an adult now and does not remember all of the details of what happened years ago.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

How do the children respond to the man's initial cry for help?

• Some of the children want to play tricks on the man, and the others go along with it.

• They make their decision without talking, but why they choose not to help the man is left unclear.

• They are unable to come to an agreement about how to help, so they decide not to help at all.

• They want to help him, but so much time passes that they fear he will punish them if he ever gets out.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Which statement best describes the relationship between the children and the man in the well at the end of the story?

• The children hoped that the man would be honest with them.

• The children were embarrassed that they had treated the man poorly.

• The children were sad they never got to know the man before he died.

• The children became annoyed with the man when he started to question their actions.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

How do the children's interactions with the man in the well reveal the theme of the text?

• The children's curiosity and initial willingness to help the man reveal the theme of innocence and empathy, but their gradual shift to ignoring his pleas shows a loss of innocence and a move towards cruelty and indifference.

• The children's decision to lie about getting help for the man demonstrates the theme of power and control, highlighting how people can exploit others' vulnerabilities when they feel empowered

• The children's refusal to reveal their names to the man emphasizes the theme of anonymity and the moral implications of actions taken without personal accountability.

• The children's ultimate abandonment of the man in the well underscores the theme of societal neglect and the ease with which people can dehumanize those who are unseen and unheard.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2