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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does the boy say he will do if the woman lets go of him?
(a) Go home.
(b) Run away.
(c) Turn himself in.
(d) Walk her home.

2. Who is the author of "Thank You, Ma'am"?
(a) Richard Wright.
(b) James Baldwin.
(c) Langston Hughes.
(d) Ernest Hemingway.

3. Who tries to steal the woman's purse at the start of "Thank You, Ma'am"?
(a) A young boy.
(b) An old man.
(c) An old woman.
(d) A young girl.

4. What is the first thing the woman says to the purse thief?
(a) "I'm calling the cops!"
(b) "Pick up my pocketbook!"
(c) "You little rat!"
(d) "Get away from me!"

5. What does the author say the woman does not have in her purse in paragraph one of "Thank You, Ma'am"?
(a) Her dinner.
(b) Hammer and nails.
(c) The kitchen sink.
(d) Money and credit cards.

6. With whom is the woman walking home at the start of "Thank You, Ma'am"?
(a) Nobody.
(b) Her coworker.
(c) Her sister.
(d) Her boyfriend.

7. What do passersby do when they see the boy and the woman?
(a) Yell at the woman.
(b) Pass by or stop and watch.
(c) Get the police.
(d) Yell at the boy.

8. What does the boy say when the woman asks if he is hungry?
(a) He says he is not hungry and just wants her to let him go.
(b) He says he just ate a hamburger and some fries.
(c) He says his mother would be mad at him if he ate the woman's food.
(d) He says he is starving and would be thankful if she fed him.

9. What adjective is used to describe the woman's purse in the first paragraph of "Thank You, Ma'am"?
(a) Heavy.
(b) Large.
(c) Lightweight.
(d) Small.

10. What does the woman tell the boy she is going to do for him that evening?
(a) Wash his face.
(b) Take him home.
(c) Buy him shoes.
(d) Walk him to jail.

11. What does the woman do to the purse thief in paragraph one after trying to steal her purse?
(a) She whacks him on the head with her purse.
(b) She has him arrested.
(c) She kicks him.
(d) She yells at him to come back.

12. What does the boy call the woman when he apologizes to her?
(a) Ma'am.
(b) Lady.
(c) Miss.
(d) Granny.

13. What happens to the purse thief after trying to snatch the purse?
(a) He runs off with the purse.
(b) He feels bad and apologizes.
(c) An officer grabs him.
(d) He falls to the ground.

14. What question does the woman ask the boy after he tries to steal her purse?
(a) "Do you know who I am?"
(b) "Who do you think you are?"
(c) "Ain't you got a mother?"
(d) "Ain't you ashamed of yourself?"

15. What adjective is used to describe the woman in the first paragraph of "Thank You, Ma'am"?
(a) Shabby.
(b) Large.
(c) Elegant.
(d) Petite.

Short Answer Questions

1. About how old is the boy who tries to steal the woman's purse?

2. What time is it at the start of "Thank You, Ma'am"?

3. What does the boy say when the woman asks if he has anyone at home to wash his face?

4. How does the woman respond to the boy's explanation for why he wanted to steal her purse?

5. How does the woman reply to the boy's apology?

(see the answer keys)

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