Finals Review: "The Leap"

Which future event is most clearly hinted at in this excerpt describing smoke and heat as the narrator sews?

• The narrator’s return to her childhood home

• The mother's fading eyesight

• The memory of the fire that nearly killed the narrator

• The mother’s long recovery in the hospital

How does the description of the weather before the circus accident contribute to the story’s suspense?

• It shows how unpredictable danger can strike suddenly

• It reveals people’s tendency to ignore weather warnings

• It explains the setting’s symbolic meaning

• It hints that the peaceful moment will soon be shattered

What is the main effect of the changing pace in this passage where the mother climbs toward the house?

• The shifting pace heightens suspense and tension

• The long sentences make the action confusing

• The slow details create a mood of despair

• The quick rhythm turns it into a comedic moment

Which of the following best expresses a major theme in “The Leap”?

• Success often comes from taking emotional shortcuts

• Love can inspire acts of extraordinary courage

• Childhood memories are unreliable

• Dreams should be pursued at any cost

What does the image of “the leap” symbolize throughout the story?

• The desire to return to youth

• Emotional and physical risks taken out of love

• A fear of falling or failing

• The passage of time and regret

Which part of the plot introduces the main characters and hints at the central conflict?

• The fire rescue scene

• The narrator’s reflection on her mother saving her three times

• The description of the mother’s hospital stay

• The final paragraph of the story

Which event serves as the climax of the story?

• The narrator meeting her mother’s doctor

• The circus tent collapse

• The mother leaping to the burning house to save her daughter

• The narrator sewing in the rebuilt house

How does the story resolve its central conflict by the end?

• The narrator runs away from home

• The mother reveals a deep secret

• The narrator expresses gratitude and admiration for her mother’s sacrifices

• The mother returns to performing on the trapeze

Which theme is most strongly developed in “The Leap”?

• The need for public recognition

• The dangers of performing arts

• A mother’s selfless love and courage

• The importance of fame

The mother’s three “leaps” are symbolic of—

• Her desire to escape responsibility

• Her fear of settling down

• Emotional and physical acts of survival and love

• The power of athletic talent