Unit 6: He Lion, Why the Tortoise Shell & The Stone

Question 1

Before you read a text, you should set a purpose for reading. What does setting a purpose for reading “He Lion, Bruh Bear, and Bruh Rabbit” help you do?

A. It helps you focus your reading.
B. It helps you know what books to take home.
C. It helps you finish reading the story.
D. It helps you understand why some stories are better than others.

Answer 1

A. It helps you focus your reading.

Question 2

In “He Lion . . . ,” the animal characters are personified. That means that the animals have human qualities. What kind of person would you say he Lion is most like?

A. someone who is cruel but smart
B. someone who is gentle and kind
C. someone who is conceited and boastful
D. someone who is everybody’s friend

Answer 2

C. someone who is conceited and boastful

Question 3

In “He Lion . . . ,” why is Bruh Rabbit not afraid of he Lion?

A. Bruh Rabbit has a gun.
B. Bruh Rabbit has more friends.
C. Bruh Rabbit knows how to handle he Lion.
D. Bruh Rabbit is meaner than he Lion.

Answer 3

C. Bruh Rabbit knows how to handle he Lion.

Question 4

In “He Lion . . . ,” how do all the animals think and behave?

A. like dangerous wild animals
B. like different kinds of people
C. like house pets
D. like criminals

Answer 4

B. like different kinds of people

Question 5

In “He Lion . . . ,” previewing the text helps set a purpose for reading. You pre- view before you read to get an idea about the story you will read. What is one way to preview the text?

A. Read it quickly to younger students. Then ask them how they liked it.
B. Ask the teacher what it’s about. Take notes on what he or she says.
C. Read the last paragraph of the story. See if you can guess what happened
before it.
D. Look at the title. See what ideas and feelings you get about the story from the title.

Answer 5

D. Look at the title. See what ideas and feelings you get about the story from the title.

Question 6

In “He Lion . . . ,” what human characteristic does Bruh Rabbit show?

A. cleverness
B. nervousness
C. bossiness
D. gentleness

Answer 6

A. cleverness

Question 7

In “He Lion . . . ,” when he Lion meets Man, what happens?

A. He Lion attacks and kills Man.
B. He Lion scares away Man.
C. He Lion roars and Man shoots him.
D. He Lion and Man become friends.

Answer 7

C. He Lion roars and Man shoots him.

Question 8

As a result of what happens in “He Lion . . . ,” what does he Lion learn to be?

A. more clever and careful
B. more cruel and patient
C. more modest and humble
D. more generous and friendly

Answer 8

C. more modest and humble

Question 9

In “He Lion . . . ,” what does Bruh Bear learn by the end of the story?

A. how to climb a tree
B. where he Lion’s lair is
C. how to handle he Lion
D. what Man looks like

Answer 9

D. what Man looks like

Question 10

Why might storytellers have handed down the story of “He Lion . . . ”?

A. to warn people to stay out of the forest
B. to prove that the rabbit is king of the forest
C. to amuse people while teaching that being too proud is dangerous
D. to show people that it’s important to shoot lions before they attack

Answer 10

C. to amuse people while teaching that being too proud is dangerous

Question 11

When you look at the title of “He Lion, Bruh Bear, and Bruh Rabbit” before you begin to read the story, you are

A. previewing the text.
B. focusing on your experience.
C. deciding if you want to read more.
D. guessing who the author might be.

Answer 11

A. previewing the text.

Question 12

Which quotation from “He Lion . . .” shows the characters’ human and animal qualities?

A. “Scare all the little animals so they were afraid to come outside in the sunshine.”
B. “So they went to Bruh Bear and Bruh Rabbit.”
C. “He’d seen enough not to be afraid of an old he lion.”
D. “Kept their distance. He watchin them and they watchin him. Everybody actin cordial.”

Answer 12

D. “Kept their distance. He watchin them and they watchin him. Everybody actin cordial.”

Question 13

In “He Lion . . . ,” the human quality that he Lion best represents is

A. cruelty.
B. conceit.
C. trickery.
D. fear.

Answer 13

B. conceit.

Question 14

In “He Lion . . . ,” Bruh Rabbit is not afraid of he Lion because

A. he has a secret weapon.
B. he has friends who will help him.
C. he knows how to handle him.
D. he knows that he Lion is not mean.

Answer 14

C. he knows how to handle him.

Question 15

In “He Lion . . . ,” he Lion wants to find Man because

A. Bruh Rabbit says Man is king of the forest.
B. Bruh Bear tells him Man is weak.
C. he wants to meet someone more intelligent.
D. he has never seen Man.

Answer 15

A. Bruh Rabbit says Man is king of the forest.

Question 16

In “He Lion . . . ,” Bruh Rabbit thinks that Man is the real king of the forest because Man is

A. more powerful than he Lion.
B. smarter than he Lion.
C. bigger than he Lion.
D. kinder than he Lion.

Answer 16

A. more powerful than he Lion.

Question 17

The animals in “He Lion . . .” behave mostly

A. like real animals.
B. like people.
C. in wild, uncivilized ways.
D. in unpredictable ways.

Answer 17

B. like people.

Question 18

In “He Lion . . . ,” Bruh Rabbit’s most outstanding human characteristic is

A. cleverness.
B. eagerness.
C. bossiness.
D. gentleness.

Answer 18

A. cleverness.

Question 19

Bruh Rabbit lets he Lion meet Man face to face because

A. he is hoping that Man will kill he Lion.
B. he thinks that is the best way to teach he Lion a lesson he won’t forget.
C. there is not enough space in the thicket for he Lion to hide with them.
D. he Lion is not as afraid of Man as he and Bear are.

Answer 19

B. he thinks that is the best way to teach he Lion a lesson he won’t forget.

Question 20

In “He Lion . . . ,” what happens when he Lion meets Man?

A. He Lion attacks and eats the man.
B. He Lion roars and scares away the man.
C. He Lion roars and the man shoots him with a gun.
D. He Lion runs and hides in some bushes.

Answer 20

C. He Lion roars and the man shoots him with a gun.

Question 21

In“HeLion…,”the Lion learns to be more

A. modest.
B. cautious.
C. thrifty.
D. generous.

Answer 21

A. modest.

Question 22

The reason why storytellers handed down “He Lion . . . ” was to

A. warn people about the dangers of living in the forest.
B. show people that the lion is king of the forest.
C. amuse people while teaching them that pride can be dangerous.
D. show people that it’s important to shoot lions before they can attack.

Answer 22

C. amuse people while teaching them that pride can be dangerous.

Question 23

The word that best describes the overall feeling of “He Lion . . .” is

A. sad.
B. amusing.
C. mysterious.
D. realistic.

Answer 23

B. amusing.

Question 24

In “He Lion . . . ,” the human qualities that are valued and admired are

A. pride and strength.
B. fair play and patience.
C. athletic ability and good looks.
D. intelligence and modesty.

Answer 24

D. intelligence and modesty.

Question 25

Previewing “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth” helps you set a purpose for reading. When do you preview a story?

A. after you read it
B. before you read it
C. after you set a purpose for reading
D. before you take a test

Answer 25

B. before you read it

Question 26

Setting a purpose for reading “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth” helps you do what?

A. focus your thoughts about what you will read
B. know what questions will be asked about the story
C. finish reading the story by giving you clues about how it will end
D. understand why some stories are better than others

Answer 26

A. focus your thoughts about what you will read

Question 27

What role does Ekwefi play in “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth”?

A. She is the wife of Tortoise.
B. She gives the feast in the sky.
C. She teaches Tortoise how to fly.
D. She is the storyteller.

Answer 27

D. She is the storyteller.

Question 28

In “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth ”Chinua Achebe gives human qualities, such as personality and feelings, to ani- mal characters. What do you call this?

A. tradition
B. exaggeration
C. personification
D. conflict

Answer 28

C. personification

Question 29

In “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth

Why do the birds believe Tortoise’s lies?

A. They think he has changed and that he is no longer a bad person.
B. He has always told the truth before, and they think he is telling the truth now.
C. They have never known anyone who tells lies.
D. They feel sorry for him because he’s so hungry, and they want to help him.

Answer 29

A. They think he has changed and that he is no longer a bad person.

Question 30

In “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth

Tortoise asks the birds to call him All of You. That name turns out to be very convenient for him at the feast. Based on what happens at the feast, what human quality is Tortoise showing when he takes that name?

A. cleverness
B. politeness
C. pride
D. foolishness

Answer 30

A. cleverness

Question 31

In “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth

Why do the birds become angry at Tortoise?

A. He takes a feather from each bird.
B. He steals their eggs.
C. He tricks them into making him king.
D. He eats most of the food at the feast.

Answer 31

D. He eats most of the food at the feast.

Question 32

In “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth

Why does Tortoise jump from the sky?

A. He feels sick from eating too much.
B. He has practiced flying.
C. He thinks his wife has made a soft landing.
D. He thinks it is not too far to fall.

Answer 32

C. He thinks his wife has made a soft landing.

Question 33

In “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth

What human trait does Parrot show in “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth”?

A. loyalty
B. anger
C. jealousy
D. friendship

Answer 33

B. anger

Question 34

“Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth” is a folk tale that teaches a lesson. Which of these sentences best states the lesson in the story?

A. A trickster may end up paying for his tricks.
B. Hard work and patience are always rewarded.
C. Never judge a person by his or her appearance.
D. Everyone respects a person who is a smooth talker.

Answer 34

A. A trickster may end up paying for his tricks.

Question 35

The title and pictures in “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth” suggest that the text is

A. a mystery story.
B. a scientific article.
C. a true story.
D. a folk tale.

Answer 35

D. a folk tale.

Question 36

Reading the title of “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth” is part of what process?

A. identifying where the text came from
B. previewing the text
C. deciding if the text is poetry or prose
D. reviewing the text

Answer 36

B. previewing the text

Question 37

Before you read “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth,” the purpose you set for reading is

A. to learn facts about turtles.
B. to find out what you can do to protect an endangered species.
C. to read for enjoyment.
D. to understand the importance of speaking skills.

Answer 37

C. to read for enjoyment.

Question 38

Which beginning of a paragraph from “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth” gives you the best idea about the kind of story it will be?

A. Low voices, broken now and again by singing, reached Okonkwo. . . .
B. “Once upon a time,” she began, “all the birds were invited to a feast in the sky.”
C. “You do not know me,” said Tortoise. “I am a changed man.”
D. He began to eat and the birds grumbled angrily.

Answer 38

B. “Once upon a time,” she began, “all the birds were invited to a feast in the sky.”

Question 39

In“Why the Tortoise’s ShellIs Not Smooth,” the animals are given human qualities. This strategy is called

A. fictionalization.
B. personification.
C. imagination.
D. tradition.

Answer 39

B. personification.

Question 40

In “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth,”

Which detail suggests Tortoise’s mastery of speaking skills?

A. Nothing that happened in the world of the animals ever escaped his notice. . . .
B. . . . he went to the birds and asked to be allowed to go with them.
C. His body rattled like a piece of dry stick in his empty shell.
D. Tortoise had a sweet tongue. . . .

Answer 40

D. Tortoise had a sweet tongue. . . .

Question 41

In “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth,”

The birds believe Tortoise’s lies because

A. they are too trusting.
B. he has always told the truth before.
C. they don’t know anyone who lies.
D. they feel sorry for him.

Answer 41

A. they are too trusting.

Question 42

In “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth,”

Tortoise asks the birds to call him All of You. Based on what happens at the feast, you know that Tortoise is showing the human trait of

A. cleverness.
B. courtesy.
C. arrogance.
D. foolishness.

Answer 42

A. cleverness.

Question 43

In “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth,”

The birds become angry at Tortoise because

A. he says he is more beautiful than they are.
B. he steals their eggs.
C. he tricks them into crowning him king.
D. he eats most of the food at the feast.

Answer 43

D. he eats most of the food at the feast.

Question 44

In “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth,”

The characters in “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth” act like humans, but they are still animals. Which quotation shows both human and animal qualities combined in one character?

A. Some of them were too angry to eat.
B. He asked the birds to take a message for his wife, but they all refused.
C. Parrot promised to deliver the message, and then flew away.
D. And then like the sound of his cannon he crashed on the compound.

Answer 44

C. Parrot promised to deliver the message, and then flew away.

Question 45

In “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth,”

Tortoise jumps out of the sky because

A. he has eaten enough and is ready to go home.
B. he thinks that the birds have taught him to fly.
C. he thinks his wife has created a soft landing for him.
D. he has wings made of one feather from each bird.

Answer 45

C. he thinks his wife has created a soft landing for him.

Question 46

In “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth,”

What human traits does Parrot show in “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth”?

A. responsibility and patience
B. loyalty and friendship
C. intelligence and envy
D. anger and deception

Answer 46

D. anger and deception

Question 47

In “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth,”

Which sentence best describes the lesson in “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth”?

A. A trickster may get tricked in return.
B. Hard work is often rewarded.
C. No one likes a smooth talker.
D. Never judge a book by its cover.

Answer 47

A. A trickster may get tricked in return.

Question 48

In “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth,”

“Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth” is a part of oral tradition. Which of these also is oral tradition?

A. a play based on a popular detective story
B. a novel written in the 1800s
C. a jump-rope rhyme chanted by children
D. a cartoon in today’s newspaper

Answer 48

C. a jump-rope rhyme chanted by children

Question 49

In “Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth,”

The story of Tortoise and the birds explains

A. how people should treat animals.
B. one small part of nature.
C. a scientific matter.
D. the relationship between animals.

Answer 49

B. one small part of nature.

Question 50

In “The Stone,” Maibon often disagrees with his wife. At the beginning of the story, Maibon seems to be lazy and foolish. Which two words best describe his wife?

A. lazy and foolish
B. weak and nagging
C. practical and clever
D. mean and dishonest

Answer 50

C. practical and clever

Question 51

At the beginning of “The Stone,” what does Maibon fear most?

A. being bored
B. losing his farm
C. losing his wife
D. growing old

Answer 51

D. growing old

Question 52

In “The Stone” Maibon helps Doli the dwarf and earns a reward. Maibon can ask for anything. What does he ask for?

A. a magic stone
B. three wishes
C. a bigger cottage
D. a magic cook pot

Answer 52

A. a magic stone

Question 53

In “The Stone,” which word would Doli the dwarf use to describe humans?

A. funny
B. greedy
C. clever
D. scary

Answer 53

B. greedy

Question 54

Imagine that you could stay the same age for the rest of your life. When you think about that as you read “The Stone,” which reading skill are you using?

A. using context clues to determine meaning
B. making connections between the text and real life
C. distinguishing between fact and opinion
D. comparing and contrasting fantasy and realism

Answer 54

B. making connections between the text and real life

Question 55

In “The Stone,” what unexpected power does the stone have?

A. It kills everything Maibon dislikes.
B. It causes Maibon’s children to be older than Maibon.
C. It stops everything on the farm from growing.
D. It makes changes happen so quickly that life gets confusing.

Answer 55

C. It stops everything on the farm from growing.

Question 56

In “The Stone,” Maibon refuses to get rid of the stone even though it is harming his family and his farm. Which word best describes Maibon’s refusal?

A. angry
B. headstrong
C. weak
D. selfish

Answer 56

D. selfish

Question 57

One purpose for reading is to connect what you read to real life. Which of the following statements connects events or ideas in “The Stone” to life in today’s world?

A. Many ads show how great it is to look, feel, and be young.
B. Fantastic events can still happen if you wish hard enough.
C. Anyone today would be happy to have a magic stone.
D. You can sometimes help people who are having problems.

Answer 57

A. Many ads show how great it is to look, feel, and be young.

Question 58

A universal theme is a message about life that is expressed regularly in many different cultures and time periods. One way to find the universal theme in “The Stone” is to focus on how the main character changes. At the end of the story, Maibon has changed in several ways. What is the biggest change in Maibon at the end of the story?

A. He loves his wife.
B. He is happy about growing old.
C. He and Doli are friends.
D. He has lost the stone.

Answer 58

B. He is happy about growing old.

Question 59

Which of the following best states the universal theme of “The Stone”?

A. The Fair Folk cannot be trusted.
B. No one fears getting old.
C. Human beings are ungrateful.
D. Change is an important part of life.

Answer 59

D. Change is an important part of life.

Question 60

In “The Stone,” what do the disagreements between Maibon and Modrona show?

A. They do not appreciate each other’s strengths.
B. They have opposite ideas about what is important.
C. Modrona is wiser and more practical than her husband.
D. Modrona is tired of the foolish decisions Maibon makes.

Answer 60

C. Modrona is wiser and more practical than her husband.

Question 61

In “The Stone,” Maibon wishes to remain young forever because

A. he is afraid of growing old and weak.
B. he is afraid of death.
C. he has so many things he wants to do.
D. he believes that is the best wish.

Answer 61

A. he is afraid of growing old and weak.

Question 62

In “The Stone,” Doli hesitates to give Maibon the magic stone because

A. he thinks Maibon should ask for a practical kind of reward.
B. he knows that Maibon will have a problem with it.
C. he thinks it will not work and that Maibon will blame him.
D. he is angry that human beings always ask for gifts.

Answer 62

B. he knows that Maibon will have a problem with it.

Question 63

In “The Stone,” Doli seems to believe that humans are

A. greedy.
B. comical.
C. judicious.
D. overbearing.

Answer 63

A. greedy.

Question 64

In “The Stone,” how does the stone affect humans, crops, and animals?

A. by speeding up birth and growth
B. by making everything sick or diseased
C. by preventing growth and change
D. by making everything younger

Answer 64

C. by preventing growth and change

Question 65

When you read “The Stone” and think about staying your age forever, you are

A. making connections between the text and your own life.
B. wasting time thinking about something that would be impossible.
C. comparing the differences between fantasy and real life.
D. enjoying a fantastic story where anything could happen.

Answer 65

A. making connections between the text and your own life.

Question 66

In “The Stone,”

Maibon refuses to get rid of the stone even though he realizes that the stone is harming his farm and family. How would you characterize his refusal?

A. vicious
B. headstrong
C. weak
D. selfish

Answer 66

D. selfish

Question 67

In “The Stone,”

You can conclude that the stone keeps coming back to Maibon because

A. a magic stone must stay with its owner.
B. someone is playing a trick on him.
C. he has not accepted the need for change.
D. Doli wants to teach Maibon a lesson.

Answer 67

C. he has not accepted the need for change.

Question 68

In “The Stone,”

How does Maibon know the stone is truly gone?

A. He becomes old instantly.
B. Doli the dwarf disappears.
C. His wife tells him it is gone.
D. The fields and trees are suddenly full.

Answer 68

D. The fields and trees are suddenly full.

Question 69

In “The Stone,”

Think about how Maibon feels in the story. You can relate the text to your own life when

A. you have mixed feelings about keeping something or getting rid of it.
B. you think that adults don’t understand you and your friends.
C. you think that life is unfair and you are not getting what you deserve.
D. you are able to help another person who is having problems.

Answer 69

A. you have mixed feelings about keeping something or getting rid of it.

Question 70

In “The Stone,” the universal theme is revealed mostly through

A. Maibon’s relationship to Modrona.
B. the way Maibon changes in the story.
C. Maibon’s attitude toward work.
D. the humor in the story.

Answer 70

B. the way Maibon changes in the story.

Question 71

In “The Stone,” Maibon likes his gift until he realizes

A. he does not know what the future may hold for him.
B. only the elderly can acquire wisdom from experience.
C. his wife and children are getting older without him.
D. his life has become boring and without purpose.

Answer 71

D. his life has become boring and without purpose.

Question 72

Which of the following is the best description of what happens in “The Stone”?

A. Maibon and his wife quarrel, and she turns out to be right about everything.
B. Maibon gets his wish to stay young, but he learns that change is necessary.
C. Maibon’s magic stone brings him bad luck, and he learns not to trust the
Fair Folk.
D. Maibon does not change, and his children are soon older than their father.

Answer 72

B. Maibon gets his wish to stay young, but he learns that change is necessary.

Question 73

In “The Stone,” how does the farm setting help emphasize the theme?

A. The animals and crops are important to Maibon.
B. Events in a city would be more distracting.
C. Farms are filled with things that grow and change.
D. Maibon and his wife live on a farm.

Answer 73

C. Farms are filled with things that grow and change.

Question 74

In “The Stone,”

Which is the biggest change in Maibon from the beginning to the end of the story?

A. how he feels about his wife
B. how he feels about growing older
C. how he feels about the Fair Folk
D. how he feels about magic

Answer 74

B. how he feels about growing older

Question 75

Which of the following is the best statement of the universal theme of “The Stone”?

A. Wishes can be dangerous.
B. Everyone fears getting old.
C. Human beings are ungrateful.
D. Change is a natural part of life.

Answer 75

D. Change is a natural part of life.