The Boatman’s Flute/The Mouse Bride Selection Test

Which sentence about “The Boatman’s Flute” uses correct punctuation?

• The beautiful girl’s overprotective father said, You cannot leave this mansion for I fear for your safety.

• “The beautiful girl’s overprotective father said,” You cannot leave this mansion for I fear for your safety.

• The beautiful girl’s overprotective father said “You cannot leave this mansion for I fear for your safety”.

• The beautiful girl’s overprotective father said, “You cannot leave this mansion for I fear for your safety.”

What does the omniscient point of view achieve in “The Boatman’s Flute”?

• It gives the reader the ability to know the thoughts and feeling of all the characters.

• It allows the reader to fully understand the perspective of one character.

• It makes the reader an active participant in the story by addressing the reader directly.

• It keeps the reader guessing throughout the story by withholding information.

How is the conflict resolved in “The Boatman’s Flute”?

• The girl gets better, but she rejects the boatman because of his appearance.

• The boatman forgives the girl, and she hears his songs through the jade goblet.

• The girl cries a tear of regret into the goblet, setting the spirit of the boatman free.

• The boatman plays his beautiful music, hoping to bring the girl back to health.

This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B. Part A What can you infer about the girl in the “The Boatman’s Flute”?

• She is eager to experience life outside the mansion.

• She believes that true love is only possible in dreams.

• She wishes that she had been taught how to play the flute.

• She questions whether she will make a good wife for any suitor.

Part B Which excerpt from the selection best supports the answer to Part A?

• But never had the beautiful girl walked barefoot on the dewy green grass . . . nor run along the banks of the river, flying kites and laughing like other children. (paragraph 3)

• In her dream they drifted along the peaceful river by the light of a full moon. (paragraph 7)

• Since he had left, no one, not even the most handsome suitors in the land, had made her feel such warmth and happiness. (paragraph 31)

• The sound of a flute blended with the sound of the night bird’s song, but this time the tune was full of joy. (paragraph 33)

Read these sentences from paragraph 2 of “The Boatman’s Flute.” Servants brought her the most delicious dishes, and talented seamstresses sewed her the finest gowns of silk. Musicians and poets sang to her the ballads of old. Which two words help you understand the meaning of seamstresses?

• delicious

• dishes

• sewed

• gowns

• ballads

Read this sentence from paragraph 1 of “The Mouse Bride.” The two older sons took pleasure in teasing their youngest brother, who was so kindhearted he could not even sweep a spider from the cobwebs in the corner. The author most likely includes this detail about the youngest brother to help readers —

• understand why he is able to fall in love with a mouse

• realize that he is smarter than his cruel older brothers

• discover why he is in search of a sweetheart to marry

• see how he is always willing to take a chance in life

Which is the theme of “The Mouse Bride”?

• Love is revealed through music and song.

• Relatives do not always see eye to eye.

• Siblings often compete with one another.

• It is important to look beyond the surface.

Based on your knowledge of the prefix re- and context, what is the meaning of renewed in paragraph 26?

• almost new

• more than new

• the opposite of new

• new again

In “The Boatman’s Flute” and “The Mouse Bride,” both main characters work through their conflicts by —

• coming to a realization that leads to a resolution

• resolving their concerns by changing themselves

• making further mistakes that worsen their problems

• overcoming a challenge cthat leads to recognition from others