Finally Home / Thumbprint Paired Passage

In paragraph 16, the word nonchalantly means —

• happily

• slightly

• casually

• thoughtfully

Cassie’s thoughts in paragraph 14 show that she —

• wants to take a risk to make new friends

• is trying too hard to impress the others

• has a false sense of pride

• is reluctant to let people get to know her

The story reaches its climax when —

• Cassie hears the sound of an electric guitar

• Matt asks whether Cassie plays drums

• Matt recognizes Cassie as a girl from his class

• Cassie sits against the wall and listens to the band

Which sentence from the story provides the best evidence that Cassie feels insecure?

• Overwhelmed with curiosity, I followed the sound down a narrow cobblestone walkway.

• I slid my hands into my pockets and attempted to smile confidently.

• A green wooden door was slightly ajar, and I peeked inside.

• I glanced at Janis, who was quietly studying me.

The repetition of the words “my” and “my own” emphasizes the speaker’s desire to —

• show appreciation for something that is personal and unique

• express opinions that challenge accepted wisdom

• argue that people share some similar characteristics

• make a distinction between scientific facts and personal beliefs

The poet chose an irregular and unpredictable rhyme scheme most likely to —

• highlight the speaker’s actions

• provide a sense of playfulness

• emphasize the poem’s message

• suggest that the speaker is confused

What does line 6 suggest about the “whorls,” “whirls,” and “wheels” on the pad of the

speaker’s thumb?

• They are evidence of her intelligence and emotional depth.

• They represent more than physical identity.

• They reveal her genetic characteristics.

• They symbolize a link to the past.

The last two lines of the poem suggest that the thumbprint referred to in the title is a symbol

for —

• a person’s individuality

• an important clue to life’s timeless mysteries

• a prediction about the future

• an anticipation of change

Read these lines from the poem.

"What a treasure to own!

My own flesh, my own feelings."

Which sentence from the story relates a similar idea?

• Janis had seemed so confident, but she was just as self-conscious as me.

• This was because I had never been part of any particular group.

• Behind my drum set was the one place I felt completely like myself.

• It was the perfect place to practice my drumming without anyone bothering me or judging

  me.

Unlike the speaker in “Thumbprint,” Cassie in “Finally Home” expresses —

• pride in her physical appearance

• a desire for personal change

• a strong sense of self-worth

• a fear of being judged