"How the Brazilian Beetles Got Their Coats" Quiz

What is the main message the author conveys in the story?

• It is impossible to always please everyone

• Everyone should understand his or her limitations

• Rewards can inspire greatness

• Appearances can often be deceiving

What is most likely the author’s purpose for writing the selection?

• To explain why rats are disliked and have a dull, grey color.

• To educate readers about the Brazilian beetle’s beautiful colors

• To demonstrate the problem with judging others based on their appearance

• To insinuate that rats are inherently disgusting and sneaky

What is the most likely reason the author includes the line: “Until this day, even in Brazil where the flowers and birds and beasts and insects have such gorgeous coloring, the rat wears a plain dull grey coat”?

• To suggest that rats have been punished for being arrogant

• To show the lasting consequences of the rat’s poor judgement

• To explain why Brazilian beetles are more beautiful than rats

• To illustrate how the rat fits in with the flora and fauna of Brazil

Which sentence best shows that the rat overestimates his abilities?

• One day a little brown beetle was crawling along a wall when a big grey rat ran out of a hole in the wall and looked down scornfully at the little beetle. (paragraph 2)

• The big grey rat ran to the end of the wall, wheeled around, and came back to the place where the little beetle was slowly crawling along at only a tiny distance from where the rat had left her. (paragraph 3)

• “Why, you talk just as if you thought you had a chance to win the race,” he said, when he could speak. (paragraph 9)

• Then he started to run more slowly but every time his heart beat it said, “Hurry up! Hurry up!” (paragraph 11)

In what way does the rat’s bragging in paragraph two help develop the story's plot?

• It establishes the rat’s overconfidence, which eventually leads to his downfall

• It shows why the parrot dislikes the rat, causing him to award the coat to the beetle.

• It illustrates that the rat is faster than the beetle and parrot

• It demonstrates why the beetle is more deserving of the beautiful coat

In what way does the parrot’s actions in paragraph 6 develop the plot?

• They illustrate the strong bond between the parrot and the beetle because they can both fly

• It creates conflict between the beetle and rat by offering a prize to the winner of the race

• They reveal the parrot’s hidden dislike for the rat because he is dull and arrogant

• They reveal the reason the parrot is able to change the color of another animal and why he is motivated to do so.

In what way do the parrot’s actions in paragraph 6 affect the rising action of the story?

• They give the beetle a reason to want a new coat.

• They present a tempting challenge to the rat and beetle.

• They encourage the rat and the beetle to trust the parrot.

• They indicate that the rat will learn a lesson from the parrot.

Why are the events in paragraph 11 important to the falling action of the story?

• The events foreshadow that the rat will win the race because he does not slow down

• The flashback reveals the beetle’s ability to fly, indicating she will win the race

• The events build suspense by revealing the rat’s doubts regarding his ability to win

• They establish the conflict between the rat and parrot because he is worried he will lose the prize

Part A: What is a major turning point in the selection?

• When the parrot awards the prize to the beetle

• When the rat brags about his speed

• When the beetle reveals she can fly

• When the rat receives his gray coat

Part B: Which of the following lines from the passage best support your answers from Part A?

• “The little brown beetle drew out the tiny wings from her sides. ‘Nobody said anything about having to run to win the race,’ she replied, ‘so I flew instead.’”

• “Until this day, even in Brazil where the flowers and birds and beasts and insects have such gorgeous coloring, the rat wears a plain dull grey coat.”

• “One day a little brown beetle was crawling along a wall when a big grey rat ran out of a hole in the wall and looked down scornfully at the little beetle.”

• “‘I live next door to the tailor bird … and just to make the race exciting I’ll offer a bright colored coat as a prize to the one who wins the race. You may choose for it any color you like, and I’ll have it made to order.’”