“Stray” Open-Book Test - MRS. HENRY

1 Name Date stray by cynthia rylant Open-Book Test Short Answer Write your responses to the questions in this section on the lines provided. 1. In stray , the puppy wags its tail timidly. How does Doris behave timidly when her father sees the dog? 2. The author of stray writes, Mrs. Lacey grudgingly let Doris feed it table scraps.. Explain how the word grudgingly reveals Mrs. Lacey's feelings about the dog. 3. Use your prior knowledge about how children feel about their pets. Explain how this knowledge helps you predict how Doris will feel about the stray . 4. In stray , why do Doris's parents ignore her when she points out how good the dog is? 5. Mrs. Lacey tells Doris to act more grown-up when the puppy has to leave. What does Mrs. Lacey want Doris to do? Unit 1 Resources: Fiction and Nonfiction Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 39. Name Date 6. In the plot diagram, write two events that are part of the rising action of stray .

2 Then, on the lines below, explain how each event helps to increase tension in the story. Climax Event Event Fa l l i ng n tio Ac Event Event Ac tio n ing Ris Exposition Resolution 7. When Doris cries herself to sleep in stray , what prediction do Doris and the reader make about the dog's fate? Give two examples from the story that support this prediction. \. 8. The falling action of stray shows a different side of Doris's father. How is he different? Why does the author wait for the falling action to show this side of him? Explain your answer. Unit 1 Resources: Fiction and Nonfiction Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 40. Name Date 9. Near the end of stray , Mrs. Lacey smiles at her husband and shakes her head as if she would never, ever, understand him. Explain her reaction. 10. Think about what the story suggests will happen to the stray . Then consider what really happens. Why does the resolution come as a surprise?

3 Use details from the story to support your answer. Essay STOP AT #10! DO NOT DO #11-15! Write an extended response to the question of your choice or to the question or questions your teacher assigns you. 11. Think about Doris's relationship with her parents in stray . How do they treat her? How does she get along with them? Also consider how the story ends. In a brief essay, describe Doris's relationship with her parents. Use examples from the story to support your answer. 12. At the beginning of stray , Doris's parents want her to learn to make sensible choices in life. What do they wind up learning themselves by the end of the story? Use examples from the story to support your answer. 13. Near the end of stray , Doris walks into the kitchen to fix herself some dinner. Why do her parents choose not to tell her right away that they kept the dog? Use details from the story to support your response. 14. Thinking About the Big Question: How do we decide what is true?

4 At the beginning of stray , Doris decides that her parents will not let her keep the dog. Write an essay in which you discuss how Doris comes to this conclusion and why it turns out not to be true. Support your ideas with examples from the story. Oral Response 15. Go back to question 4, 6, 8, or 10 or to the question your teacher assigns to you. Take a few minutes to expand your answer and prepare an oral response. Find additional details in stray that support your points. If necessary, make notes to guide your response. Unit 1 Resources: Fiction and Nonfiction Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 41.