Lesson 6 CKLA Why we Play Baseball COMPREHENSION ONLY

What medical condition was Sherman Alexie born with?

• Down syndrome
• A heart condition
• Asthma
• Diabetes

What are some of the themes that Sherman Alexie's writing often explores?

• Family relationships and Native American identity
• Fantasy and magic
• Mystery and crime
• Science and technology

What genre is Sherman Alexie known for in his writing?

• Native American literature
• Science fiction
• Romance novels
• Historical non-fiction

What are some of the things that the players in the poem learn to hate?

• Their fathers and mothers
• The fallen snow and the hoop
• Their clumsy hands and the fountain
• All of the above

How does the poem portray the emotional journey of those who play basketball?

• Start off hating and desperate, end up separating love from hate
• They only experience love while playing.
• They never experience hate while playing.
• They start by hating it and end up quitting.

How does the poem describe the experience of playing basketball for those who take it seriously?

• It is like a playful game.
• It is filled with love and joy.
• It is often desperate and without reason.
• It is a peaceful and relaxing activity.

Where was Sherman Alexie born, and what was his birthdate?

• New York, 1970
• Spokane Indian Reservation, 1966
• Seattle, 1975
• Chicago, 1966

What literary device is used: We learn to From Why We Play Basketball Sherman Alexie 62 hate each other, hate the ball, hate the hoop, hate the fallen snow, hate our clumsy hands, hate our thirsty mouths when we drink from the fountain. We hate our fathers. We hate our mothers. We hate the face in our mirror.

• Simile
• Repetition
• Alliteration
• Rhyming

What do people who cannot play basketball consider it to be, according to the poem?

• A challenge
• A war
• A game
• A hobby

Despite the odds against him, what achievements did Sherman Alexie attain in school?

• He excelled academically and became a famous writer.
• He struggled in school and faced discrimination.
• He became a basketball star and class president.
• He dropped out of school due to health problems.