Michaela DePrince: The War Orphan Who Became a Ballerina

In “Michaela DePrince: The War Orphan Who Became a Ballerina,” how did Mabinty become number 27?

• The name Mabinty means “last.”

• She was the last child to arrive at the orphanage.

• She was the least favorite child at the orphanage.

• The Aunties numbered the children as they arrived.

In “Michaela DePrince: The War Orphan Who Became a Ballerina,” why did the Aunties dislike DePrince?

• She was sickly.

• She misbehaved.

• She was left-handed.

• She had a skin condition.

In “Michaela DePrince: The War Orphan Who Became a Ballerina,” what does DePrince credit with inspiring her to become a ballerina?

• the influence of her adoptive mother

• a picture in a discarded magazine

• being orphaned at a young age

• the civil war in Sierra Leone

In “Michaela DePrince: The War Orphan Who Became a Ballerina,” how did DePrince feel at first when she learns of her mat-mate’s planned adoption?

• happy for her friend’s good fortune

• upset by thoughts of being left behind

• jealous that her friend would live in America

• scared that her friend’s adoptive parents would be mean

In “Michaela DePrince: The War Orphan Who Became a Ballerina,” how has DePrince realized her dream? Choose two options.

• with the help of her adoptive mother

• with the support of the Aunties

• through hard work and practice

• as a result of luck and good timing

• by remaining shy and self-conscious

What is the meaning of antagonism in the following sentence?

"Jared dealt with the bully’s antagonism by ignoring her."

• foolish jokes

• hostile opposition

• friendly disagreement

• unexplained behavior

If a person can correctly be called a refugee, which of the following must be true?

• The person has no close family.

• The person has applied for citizenship.

• The person has enrolled in a new school.

• The person has fled from an unsafe country.

Which of the following would be most likely to make a person feel distraught?

• winning a game

• preparing for a test

• losing a prized possession

• trying out for a sports team

Compare these excerpts from the beginning and end of “Michaela DePrince: The War Orphan Who Became a Ballerina.”

"A professional stage debut is a huge event in the life of any ballerina, but Michaela DePrince’s recent tour of South Africa also marked the end of an extraordinary journey from her childhood as a war orphan in Sierra Leone."

“Now I’ve grown up and I’m so happy with the way things are turning out.”

Why does the author most likely begin and end by describing DePrince’s success and her feelings of satisfaction? Choose two options.

• to emphasize DePrince’s triumph despite surviving horrors

• to introduce DePrince as an important talent in American ballet

• to suggest that DePrince has more struggles ahead of her in life

• to organize the article in the time sequence of DePrince’s real life

• to characterize DePrince as a successful dancer and grateful survivor

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B.

Part A In “Michaela DePrince: The War Orphan Who Became a Ballerina,” what did the magazine photograph of the ballerina represent to DePrince?

• friendship, kindness, and hard work

• discipline, athleticism, and strength

• riches, fame, and glamour

• beauty, love, and hope