Popular Prose on Page and Stage

Part A: Which statement best expresses the main idea of paragraph 2?

• Don Quixote was written by Miguel de Cervantes.

• Miguel de Cervantes was kidnapped by pirates.

• Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes is widely read in many countries.

• Literature was important to the Renaissance.

Part B: In paragraph 3, highlight the sentence that provides the best evidence for the answer to Part A.

In paragraph 1 on page two, the author says, “When a soldier with a distinguished war record returned from battle, he could usually get a good job with a nobleman.” What is a synonym for distinguished?

• Unimportant

• Ridiculous

• Outstanding

• Wealthy

What are two reasons the author gives to support the point that Miguel de Cervantes had struggled after his military service?

• Near the end of his life, Cervantes found a patron.

• Cervantes couldn’t get a job with a nobleman at the age of 33.

• Cervantes wrote an entire novel in four days.

• Cervantes was put in jail after losing the tax money he collected.

• Cervantes published The History of Don Quixote de la Mancha in 1605 CE

Read the following sentence from “What’s So Great About Don Quixote?”: For one thing, much of the book is very funny. Which point is the author supporting by including this sentence in the selection?

• That Don Quixote is a beloved book.

• That the king of Spain once saw someone laughing.

• That Miguel de Cervantes was down on his luck.

• That Don Quixote was a man obsessed with chivalry.

What evidence supports the point that William Shakespeare’s family was well-off?

• Shakespeare didn’t enjoy school

• Shakespear was the third of eight children.

• His father was a bailiff, glove maker, and leather merchant.

• Well-off boys learned Latin and Greek in England.