Traveling

Question 1

What usually happens when the bus stops in Washington?

Answer 1

Black people who are seated at the front move to the back of the bus.

Question 2

Why does the bus driver in “Traveling” tell the narrator’s mother and sister to move?

Answer 2

They are sitting in the part of the bus reserved for black people

Question 3

What happens when the narrator in “Traveling” offers her seat to a young black woman who is holding a baby?

Answer 3

The woman turns down the seat but lets the narrator hold her baby

Question 4

Which words best describe the narrator of “Traveling”?

Answer 4

Brave and unwavering

Question 5

The author’s point of view changes over the course of “Traveling.” What is the point of view at the end of the story?

Answer 5

She writes from the point of view of an elderly woman recalling stories and experiences.

Question 6

Read this quotation from “Traveling.”

Then last year, my sister, casting the net of old age . . . brought up that old story. First I was angry. How come you never told me about your bus ride with Mama? I mean, really, so many years ago.

If standard punctuation were used, how would quotation marks be used to set off the dialogue?

Answer 6

First I was angry. “How come you never told me about your bus ride with Mama? I mean, really, so many years ago.”

Question 7

The word confront comes from the Latin prefix com-, which means “together,” plus the Latin root -frons-, which means “forehead” or “front.” Given this etymology, what is the most likely meaning of confront?

Answer 7

to turn away
to lower one’s head
to cover one’s forehead
to stand face to face with