We Beat The Street

Which of these inferences about George is best supported by the text?

• George wants to go to a school that isn’t in the “inner city.”

• George wishes he could be more like his older brother, Garland.

• George has learned a lot about life and culture in Miss Johnson’s class.

• George and his older brother, Garland, attend different schools.

Answer explanation

The excerpt explains how George is exposed to a variety of cultural experiences in Miss Johnson’s class.

What information mainly does this passage convey (paragraph 22)?

The class listened, fascinated and entranced with her stories, which taught them history, literature, math, and science without them even being aware of it. She passed out a children’s version of Hamlet, full of pictures and explanations, and let them read the play and act out the fight scenes.

• Miss Johnson’s students enjoy going on field trips.

• Miss Johnson wants to get through teaching her class about Shakespeare as quickly as possible.

• Miss Johnson tries to make learning different subjects as interesting as possible.

• Shakespeare can be taught to classes in many different ways.

Answer explanation

. This passage suggests that Miss Johnson makes an effort to keep her students engaged.

“Miss Johnson made every day an adventure, and George hated to miss school, even on days when he was sick.” THIS PASSAGE EXPLAINS:

• why George likes to hang out with his brother

• why George likes Miss Johnson's class

• why George hated his city and school

• why George wanted to never be sick

Answer explanation

This passage clearly states why George likes Miss Johnson’s class: because every day in class was an “adventure.”

How does this part of the story add to the development?

“What private school do you children attend?” the woman asked.

Miss Johnson walked over to the woman and said proudly, “These are students from Louise Spencer Elementary, a public school in the Central Ward.”

“But they’re so well behaved,” the woman said with surprise. “Isn’t that school in the ghetto?”

• it suggests that children cannot behave themselves at a concert

• it proves that old people don’t know what they are talking about

• it shows that certain people think that kids from the inner city are trouble

• showing why that Louise Spencer Elementary is the best school in the city

Answer explanation

These lines show that some people have assumptions about schools and schoolchildren based solely on where they are from.

With which of the following statements would Miss Johnson most likely agree?

• Getting bad grades in school is a sign of laziness.

• William Shakespeare could not have written all of his thirty-seven plays without some help.

• Schools should remain in session all year long.

• Doing well in school can provide a path to a better future.

Answer explanation

Miss Johnson stresses the importance of education to a person’s future success.

Which quote from Miss Johnson best supports: Doing well in school can provide a path to a better future.

• “‘Today,’ she began, ‘we’re going to continue talking about the writer named Shakespeare. How long ago did he live?’ she asked the class.”

• “‘Just do your best, keep your nose out of trouble, and one day the doors will open for you.’”

• “‘These are students from Louise Spencer Elementary, a public school in the Central Ward.’”

• “‘There will always be people like that, you know,’ Miss Johnson explained.

Answer explanation

Miss Johnson’s advice to George proves that she believes that education can provide a path to a better life.

Which of the following selections best explains the purpose of Miss Johnson’s talk with George?

• She wants George to think about his future.

• She wants George not to trust any strangers.

• She wants George to have more friends at school.

• She wants George to stand up for himself.

Answer explanation

Miss Johnson urges George to remain focused on his studies so that he can one day attend college.

“‘It takes four years to complete the first part of college,’ she explained. ‘At the end of that time, you’ll be four years older whether you go to college or not, so you might as well go and get as much knowledge in your head as you can.’”

THIS EXPLAINS :

• why Miss Johnson thinks George should go to into politics

• why Miss Johnson thinks George should move out of the inner city and fast

• why Miss Johnson wants George to think about his future

• why Miss Johnson has spent her whole life teaching

Answer explanation

Miss Johnson explains college to George in order to get him to think about his future.

Reorder the following events in the story!

• An old woman in a mink coat criticizes Louise Spencer Elementary.

• George talks to his brother Garland.

• Miss Johnson tells George he should go to college.

• George learns about life during Shakespeare’s time.

Match the following dialogue to the person who says it.

• Garland

• “Sounds like yo’ daddy!”

• Ritchie

• “It’s hard to fit in with your boys if your grades are too good.”

• George

• “That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard!”

• Miss Johnson

• “Hey, now, look at that one— two bounces and a smash!”