The Pedestrian

1. Problems begin for Leonard Mead one evening when he. .

• A. starts whispering to the houses he passes

• B. has an argument with his wife

• C. goes out for a walk

• D. runs from the police

2. How does the mood shift, or change, from paragraph one to paragraph two?

• A. dreary to encouraging

• B. innocently friendly to suddenly eerie

• C. oddly familiar to confusing

• D. exciting to boring

3. Why does the author refer to the people in their homes as “gray phantoms?”

• A. he’s implying that they are full of life

• B. he’s implying that they are lifeless

• C. he’s implying that they are curious

• D. he’s implying that they are scared

4. The main difference between Mr. Mead and the rest of society is. . . .

• A. he doesn’t work

• B. he doesn’t like to watch television

• C. he is a criminal

• D. he is alone

5. “The light held him fixed, like a museum specimen, needle thrust through chest.”

• A. The author is using a metaphor to compare Mead to a specimen because Mead’s behavior is so odd he should be examined.

• B. The author is using a simile to compare Mead to a specimen because Mead’s behavior is so odd he should be examined.

• C. The author is using personification to compare Mead to a specimen because Mead’s behavior is so odd he should be examined.

• D. The author is suggesting that Mead is worthless and doesn’t serve any purpose in that society.

6. Why does the police car respond “No profession” when Mead says that he is a writer.

• A. He doesn’t make enough money for it to be considered a career.

• B. He isn’t a well-known author.

• C. Reading and writing isn’t valued in their society.

• D. The police car didn’t hear his response.

7. Identify the figurative language in this sentence: “It was not unequal to walking through a graveyard.”

• alliteration

• personification

• simile

• metaphor

8. Which of the following does NOT have a positive connotation as it is used in the text?

• A. “he would stride off” (line 12)

• B. “made the lungs blaze like a Christmas tree” (line 38)

• C. “A metallic voice called to him” (line 87)

• D. “whistled a cold quiet whistle” (line 42-43)

9. Based on this story, how do you think the author feels about society’s progression with the advances of technology?

• A. Ray Bradbury is hopeful that the advances in technology will continue to improve society.

• B. Ray Bradbury is concerned that technology will turn people into “cold police cars” rather than “warm, human Mr. Meads.”

• C. Ray Bradbury is concerned that people won’t read anymore.

• D. Ray Bradbury is excited that technology will provide more extracurricular activities for people to enjoy.

10. Which of the following statements would NOT be considered a theme of this story?

• A. Technology destroys human thought, feelings, and individuality.

• B. Technology distracts people from experiencing the world around them.

• C. Technology deadens feelings, knowledge, and life in people.

• D. Technology decreases crime and makes a society feel safer.