Little Boy with a Slingshot

 Reading

A. Comprehension (07 points)

Little Boy with a Slingshot

Once upon a time Sammy and his sister Marie visited their grandparents at their farm, Sammy picked up a slingshot to play outside in the woods.  He practiced in the woods but he could never hit the target.  Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for lunch.  As he was walking back he saw Grandma’s pet duck. §1

Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly which hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved. In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the pile of woods.  Marie had seen it all from the window but she said nothing. After lunch, the next day Grandma said, “Marie, let’s wash the dishes.”  Marie said, “But Grandma, Sammy told me he wanted to help in the kitchen.” §2

Then she whispered to Sammy, “Remember the duck?” Sammy got nervous knowing his sister knew about the duck and if he doesn’t obey, she may tell his grandparents about it.  So without saying anything, he did the dishes. §3

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing but Grandma said, “I’m sorry but I need Marie to help make supper.”  Marie just smiled and said, “Well that’s all right because Sammy told me he wanted to help.” §4

She whispered again to Sammy, “Remember the duck?”  So Marie went fishing and Sammy stayed to help.  After several days of Marie taking advantage of Sammy, he finally couldn’t stand it any longer.  He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck. §5

Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, “Sweetheart, I know. I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing but because I love you, I forgave you.  I was just wondering how long you would let Marie take advantage of you.” §6

(Adapted from https://www.moralstories.org/little-boy-slingshot/).

1. Identify the type of the text.

The text is a…. 

a. news item b. descriptive c. narrative

c. narrative

2. Answer the following questions according to the text.

a- What did Sammy feel when he didn't catch any target? He's got a little discouraged.

b- Why did Sammy hide the dead ducks in the woodpile? Because he panicked.

c- What task did Marie get away with because she took advantage of Sammy's mistake? Give two examples. 

1. not doing dishes.

2. not making supper.

3. Identify the paragraphs in which the following ideas are mentioned.

a- Marie took advantage of Sammy's mistake. §3 and §5.

b- Great grandmother's soul to forgive Sammy. §6.

4. Choose the general idea of the text.

a- Marie took advantage of Sammy's mistake. §3 and §5.

b- Great grandmother's soul to forgive Sammy. §6.

B. Text exploration (8 points)

1. Find words, phrases or expressions in the text whose definitions follow:

a- spoke confidentially (§3) whispered.

b- dinner (§4) supper.

c- making use of (§5) taking advantage of.

2. Divide the following words into roots and affixes:

• finally - discouraged - longer

Prefix	Root	Suffix

Prefix	Root	Suffix
X	final	ly
dis	courage	ed
X	long	er

3. Complete sentence (b) so that it means the same as sentence (a).

1. a- Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing.

b- Grandpa asked the children: “…………………………….”

Grandpa asked the children: ”Do you want to go fishing?”

2. a- Even though he tried hard, he could never hit the target.

b- In spite of ………………………………………

In spite of his hard try, he could never hit the target.

4. Reorder the following sentences to get a coherent passage.

1. Marie took advantage of Sammy's situation.

2. Due to his carelessness, Sammy got grandma's duck killed.

3. Sammy admitted his guilt.

4. Sammy and his sister Marie visited their grandparents at the farm.

4-2-1-3

 

 

A Life Lesson

Reading

A. Comprehension (7 points)

A Life Lesson

By Anonymous

I lost my father when I was only nine years old. This was the biggest loss I have had. He was everything to me, his only daughter. We were so close. I did not lose him to death though. I lost him in a much harder way: I lost my father to drugs. He got addicted and started to ignore my brother and me. §1

One cool Summer night, my brother, a couple of our friends, and I were watching Scary Movie 3 in the living room. Around 9:30 pm, when I looked toward the kitchen, I saw orange and yellow flames reflecting off the door’s window. It was a mess explosion caused by his careless actions under the influence of drugs. §2

After the fire was out, I saw my dad run around to the backyard and jump into the pool. I knew then that he had gotten burned. He ended up confined in the hospital. After he got better, they put him in jail for a month under drug charges. I was so mad and hurt, and suffered from severe depression. It destroyed my health and my social life. §3

One day, one of my teachers stopped me in the hall to ask if I was okay. She asked if she could help me, if l would tell her what was going on. So I did. She helped save me and lift me back up. After a while, I started to feel and do better. She is now one of my greatest friends and mentors, and we talk daily. I could never repay her for everything she has done for me. §4

Through my experiences, I learned never to do anything without thinking of how it will impact the people around me. §5

(Adapted from “A Life Lesson” by Anonymous. Teen ink)

1. Say whether the following statements are true or false.

a- The writer’s father was heavily addicted to drugs. T

b- The writer’s father destroyed his own health and social life. F

c- The writer recovered from her difficult situation by talking to her teacher. T

2. Identify the paragraphs in which the following ideas are mentioned.

a- How the writer solved her problem. §4

b- The cause of the writer’s father got burned. §2

3. Answer the following questions according to the text.

a- What did the writer's father do after the fire was extinguished? He ran around to the backyard and jumped into the pool.

b- How long was the writer's father in prison? a month.

c- What did the writer learn from her problem? Never do anything without thinking.

4. Find what or who the underlined words in the text refer to.

a- We (§1) the writer and her father

b- he (§3) the writer’s dad.

c- her (§4) the teacher

 

B. Text exploration (8 points)

5. Find in the text words or phrases that are closest in meaning to the following.

a- began (§1) started

b- noticed (§2) saw.

c- daily (§3) everyday.

6. Divide the following words into roots and affixes.

• explosion - careless - repay

Prefix	Root	Suffix

Prefix	Root	Suffix
-	explode	sion
-	care	less
re	pay	-

7. Complete sentence (b) so that it means the same as sentence (a).

1. a- There was a mess explosion, that's why the  writer's father got burned.

b- Because of ……………………………………….

Because of the mess explosion, the writer's father got burned.

2. a- The police imprisoned him for one month. 

b- He ……………………………………….

He was imprisoned by them.

 

8. Fill in each gap with the appropriate word from the list given.

• sharing - ruined - brain

My life was (1) …… when dad started doing drugs. He even almost lost his life because the addiction impacted his (2) ……. My life got better after (3) …… my problem to my teacher. 

My life was ruined when dad started doing drugs. He even almost lost his life because the addiction impacted his brain. My life got better after sharing my problem to my teacher.