"The Treasure of Lemon Brown" Homework

Which of the following is the best summary of the story? 

• 1. Greg wants to play basketball, but his father won’t let him. So, Greg runs away to get back at him.

• 1.  Greg wants to play basketball, but his father wants him to improve his grades. Lemon Brown’s story helps Greg better understand his dad. 

• 2. Greg’s father thinks Greg is lazy and he wants him to get a job.

• 1. Greg wants to be on the school basketball team, but he doesn’t play well enough. So, after talking to Lemon Brown, he decides to work harder. 

How does the setting of the streets of Harlem develop a critical event in the story?

• The highly populated neighborhood causes Lemon to drop his treasure on a crowded street.

• The setting of an abandoned tenement building in Harlem allows Lemon to safely hide his treasure where no one will find it.

• The violent thugs who live in the neighborhood cause Lemon Brown to defend himself and his treasure.

• The poor neighborhood causes Lemon to be angry at everyone for losing his career.

What does the following excerpt reveal about the conflict between Greg and his father? “Greg Ridley’s mood as he sat on the stoop of his building. His father’s voice came to him again, first reading the letter the principal had sent to the house, then lecturing endlessly about his poor efforts in math. ‘I had to leave school when I was thirteen,’ his father had said, ‘that’s a year younger than you are now. If I’d had half the chances you have, I’d...’ Greg sat in the small, pale green kitchen listening, knowing the lecture would end with his father saying he couldn’t play ball with the Scorpions.”

• It reveals that Mr. Ridley, Greg’s father, did not have the same opportunities for education and success as Greg, and he wants his son to do better than he did.

• It reveals that Mr. Ridley, Greg’s father, hates the principal for sending the letter to the house and ruining his evening.

• It reveals that Greg really wants to improve his grades in math and make his father proud of him.

• It reveals that Mr. Ridley, Greg’s father, really thinks his son is a talented athlete and he wants him to play on the Scorpions.

Reread the paragraph below. How do Greg's inner thoughts help to identify a central conflict in the story? “He went to the couch. The side that wasn’t broken was comfortable enough, though a little creaky. From the spot, he could see the blinking neon sign over the bodega on the corner. He sat awhile, watching the sign blink first green then red, allowing his mind to drift to the Scorpions, then to his father. His father had been a postal worker for all Greg’s life and was proud of it, often telling Greg how hard he had worked to pass the test. Greg had heard the story too many times to be interested now.”

• Greg’s inner thoughts reveal the complicated relationship between father and son.

• Greg’s thoughts show that he is uncertain about his life and wonders what he should do in the future.

• Greg’s thoughts suggest that he is trying to actively improve himself.

• Greg’s inner thoughts demonstrate that he does not like living in such a harsh environment.

What does the personification of hard times in the following line mainly suggest about Lemon Brown? “Hard times, boy. Hard times always after a poor man. One day I got tired, sat down to rest a spell and felt a tap on my shoulder. Hard times caught up with me.”

• Lemon has lived a life of ease and never had to face anything difficult.

• Lemon has an active imagination.

• Music was the most important thing in Lemon’s life.

• After his musical career ended, Lemon experienced many painful events in his life.

How does the author mainly develop his point of view in the story?

• by exaggerating the events in the story

• by using elements of humor to enhance the theme

• by using the dialogue between Lemon and Greg to support the theme in the text

• by using conflict to show that the main character, Greg, feels sorry for himself.

The author uses dialogue to develop a special relationship between Lemon and Greg throughout the story. Which of these lines shows that they trust one another?

• Nothing that ain’t been hurt before,” Lemon Brown said. “When you get as old as me all you say when something hurts is, ‘Howdy, Mr. Pain, sees you back again.’ Then when Mr. Pain see he can’t worry you none, he go on mess with somebody else.

• What I tell you? Didn’t I tell you every man got a treasure?” Lemon Brown said.

• You OK for a youngster,” the old man said as he tied the strings around his leg, “better than those scalawags what come here looking for my treasure. That’s for sure.

• Lemon Brown got up after patting his rags in place and looked out the window again. “Looks like they’re gone. You get on out of here and get yourself home. I’ll be watching from the window, so you’ll be all right.

How does the author develop an overall theme on the last page of the story?

• The reader infers that Lemon and Greg have parted ways as friends.

• The author reveals to the reader that Greg will leave school and find full-time work.

• The reader can infer that at the end of the story Greg didn’t take Lemon’s advice.

• The author creates a positive mood, and Lemon has shown Greg the importance of family relationships.

What happened to Lemon Brown's son Jesse?

• He got sick and died.

• He died in the war.

• He refused to speak with Lemon anymore.

• He ran away from home.

The children have become more _________________ about their own learning because they study their notes every night.  ​ (a)   ​ ​ ​

• conscientious
• sage
• dismal
• remiss