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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When it is clear that the training plan is harming Doodle, why does Brother continue?
(a) He secretly wants to hurt Doodle.
(b) His own pride.
(c) He promised Aunt Nicey.
(d) He is young and excited.

2. Who gives Doodle his nickname?
(a) Mama.
(b) Daddy.
(c) Brother.
(d) Aunt Nicey.

3. Who is the author of "The Scarlet Ibis"?
(a) James Hurst.
(b) Sara Teasdale.
(c) William Armstrong.
(d) Robert Graves.

4. In the first sentence of the story, what meaning does "clove" have in "It was in the clove of seasons" (1)?
(a) One section of a bulb of garlic.
(b) The space between the two parts of an animal's hoof.
(c) A dried flower bud that is also a spice.
(d) The past tense of "cleave."

5. When Brother picks Doodle up, trying to teach him to walk, and Doodle falls to the ground, what does Doodle say?
(a) "I can do it."
(b) "Don't hurt me, Brother."
(c) "I'll tell Mama."
(d) "I told you so."

6. In the place name "Horsehead Landing," what does the word "landing" mean?
(a) A dock or other place for boats to transfer people and cargo to land.
(b) A place where planes touch down.
(c) A flat place between two flights of stairs.
(d) The annual size of a catch of fish from a particular body of water.

7. On page 8, when Brother warns Doodle that he will be different from the other boys at school, what is Doodle's reply?
(a) "Everyone is different, somehow."
(b) "Does it make any difference?"
(c) "I won't go to school, then."
(d) "I will still have you."

8. Why does Brother cry when everyone hugs him for teaching Doodle to walk?
(a) He rarely gets the family's attention.
(b) He is afraid he might have hurt Doodle and they will find out.
(c) He knows that he did it for the wrong reasons.
(d) He is so relieved that everything went just right.

9. Just before they notice the ibis, what does Daddy say he is expecting?
(a) A storm.
(b) A letter from a neighbor who is fighting in the war.
(c) A larger cotton crop than usual.
(d) A delicious dessert.

10. What does Brother know is covering the casket that he makes Doodle touch?
(a) Poison.
(b) Cockroaches.
(c) Spiderwebs.
(d) Bird droppings.

11. Where is the ibis perched?
(a) On the roof of the house.
(b) On the grindstone.
(c) In the bleeding tree.
(d) In the loft of the barn.

12. What causes Brother to say that Doodle is a "burden in many ways" (3)?
(a) Brother's friends make fun of Doodle.
(b) Doodle is getting too heavy for Brother to pull in the cart.
(c) Doodle talks almost all the time.
(d) The doctor has made a long list of rules for taking care of Doodle.

13. How does Brother respond to Doodle's love for natural beauty?
(a) He gets Doodle art supplies so that he can paint flowers.
(b) He decides to teach Doodle to swim.
(c) He takes Doodle to Old Woman Swamp over and over.
(d) He gets Doodle a book full of pictures of flowers.

14. What does Mama notice about the ibis?
(a) It seems focused on Doodle.
(b) It seems to have a broken wing.
(c) It is clearly dying.
(d) It is not frightened of the family.

15. Why does Doodle cry when Brother takes him to see the "only beauty" Brother knows (3)?
(a) Because he loves Brother.
(b) Because it is pretty.
(c) Because he has never seen flowers before.
(d) Because his life is too hard.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where do Doodle and Brother imagine living when they are older?

2. When the family sees Doodle struggling to bury the ibis, what is their response?

3. Who claims that dead birds are bad luck?

4. At what time of year is Doodle finally ready to show the family that he can walk?

5. Why does Brother treat Doodle roughly when he first starts taking him outside in his cart?

(see the answer keys)

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