The Sound of Summer Running Flashcards
During which month of the year does “The Sound of Summer Running” take place?
A. June
B. August
C. September
D. December
A. June
In “The Sound of Summer Running,” what catches Douglas’s eye while he is walking home from a movie with his family?
A. an ad showing a pair of sneakers
B. a new pair of sneakers on a boy who passes by
C. a pair of sneakers in a store window
D. a help-wanted sign on a shoe store window
C. a pair of sneakers in a store window
Which phrase best describes Mr. Sanderson, the owner of the shoe store, at the end of “The Sound of Summer Running”?
A. regretting his deal with Douglas
B. unhappy about his business
C. having dreamy memories
D. happy with Douglas’s offer to work
C. having dreamy memories
Which of the following tells what the new sneakers are a symbol for in “The Sound of Summer Running”?
A. Douglas’s anger at his father
B. last year’s shoes
C. the comforts of home
D. summer freedom
D. summer freedom
Why do the authors of “The Sound of Summer Running” and “Eleven” use symbols?
A. to persuade readers to buy new clothing
B. to help express the characters’ feelings
C. to convey a message about old age
D. to inform readers about the seasons
B. to help express the characters’ feelings
In “The Sound of Summer Running” and “Eleven,” there is a moment when the main character puts on something for the first time. In a short essay, tell what each char- acter puts on and how the character feels at that moment. How are the experiences different for these characters? How are they similar?
In “The Sound of Summer Running,” Douglas puts on the Litefoot tennis shoes. At that moment, he feels light and free and powerful. In “Eleven,” Rachel puts on the red sweater. She feels horrified and embarrassed. The experiences are different because Douglas has positive feelings and Rachel has negative feelings. They are similar because the worn objects have power over each character.
Think about the words and actions of Douglas in “The Sound of Summer Running” and Rachel in “Eleven.” In your opinion, which character seems to behave more like a real person? Write a short essay explaining why.
Some students will find Douglas more real, because
they will identify with his love of summer and new tennis shoes. Other students will find Rachel more real, because like many eleven-year-olds she has a difficult time communicating with adults, is easily embarrassed, and dislikes certain classmates.
In “The Sound of Summer Running” what does Douglas’s father tell him when Douglas asks for new sneakers?
A. They don’t have enough money for new sneakers.
B. He will buy Douglas the sneakers the next day.
C. Douglas should save his own money for the sneakers.
D. Douglas should forget about the new sneakers.
C. Douglas should save his own money for the sneakers.
Look at each group of words below. Which group contains items that all represent images and ideas presented in “The Sound of Summer Running”?
A. tennis shoes, summer, youth
B. fields of wheat, farmers, harvest
C. Litefoot, low-cal soda, sugarless candy D. June, magic, socks
A. tennis shoes, summer, youth
In “The Sound of Summer Running,” what is one thing that the new sneakers symbolize?
A. freedom
B. loss
C. successful business
D. resentment
A. freedom
In “The Sound of Summer Running,” what do last year’s sneakers symbolize for Douglas?
A. long, cold winters
B. going barefoot
C. the end of summer
D. a job at the shoe store
C. the end of summer
Which sentence best expresses how the authors use symbols in “The Sound of Summer Running” and “Eleven”?
A. They use symbols to persuade the reader to buy new clothing.
B. They use symbols to represent the characters’ feelings.
C. They use symbols to express messages about old age.
D. They use symbols to stand for forces of nature.
B. They use symbols to represent the characters’ feelings.
How are Rachel in “Eleven” and Douglas in “The Sound of Summer Running” alike?
A. They both make a plan and follow through with it.
B. They both have birthdays in the summer.
C. They are both misunderstood by an adult.
D. They both want to be older than they are.
C. They are both misunderstood by an adult.
How are the main symbols in “The Sound of Summer Running” and “Eleven” alike?
A. They are both items that you can wear.
B. They are both times of the year.
C. They are both attractive to the main characters.
D. They both belong to the main characters.
A. They are both items that you can wear.
What message about youth is conveyed in both “The Sound of Summer Running” and “Eleven”?
A. Youth is a painful part of life.
B. Shoes are important to eleven-year-olds.
C. Some people spend their youth wishing they were older.
D. Youth can be a time of very strong feelings.
D. Youth can be a time of very strong feelings.
