Aaron’s Gift – Test Questions 2012-2013
1. What was the author’s purpose in including this description of Aaron’s grandmother’s hobby?
“Aaron wasn’t quite certain what his mother would say about his newfound pet, but he was pretty sure he knew what his grandmother would think. His grandmother had lived with them ever since his grandfather had died three years ago. And she fed the sparrows and jays and crows and robins on the back fire escape with every spare crumb she could find.”
a. to help us visualize Aaron’s grandmother
b. to foreshadow how Aaron’s grandmother will feel about him bringing home Pidge
c. for the reader to understand Aaron’s grandmother’s love for birds
d. to show how caring Aaron’s family is by letting his grandmother live with them
2. Which of the following best represents the sequence of events in the story?
a. Aaron finds a pigeon, Aaron tells his friends about the pigeon, Aaron trains the pigeon
b. Aaron helps the pigeon learn to carry messages, Aaron shows the pigeon to his grandmother, Aaron saves the pigeon from a group of boys who are trying to harm the bird
c. Aaron finds a pigeon, Aaron helps the pigeon heal its broken wing, Aaron trains the pigeon to be a carrier pigeon
d. Aaron finds a pigeon, Aaron heals the pigeon’s broken wing, Aaron sets the pigeon free
3. Which of the following best represents the cause of Aaron agreeing to meet Carl at the empty lot?
a. Aaron wanted to fit in with Carl’s friends.
b. Aaron wanted to show off Pidge’s skills as a carrier pigeon.
c. Aaron wanted to show his grandmother that he could stand up to Carl and his gang.
d. Carl told Aaron that he could be a part of the gang if he allowed Pidge to be the gang’s mascot and offered Aaron a membership badge.
4. Which of the following quotes shows details about the cultural and historical setting of the text?
a. “Though few children had bicycles in those days, almost every child owned a pair of roller skates.”
b. “His grandmother had lived with them ever since his grandfather had died three years ago.”
c. “And Pidge grew fat and contented on all the popcorn and crumbs and corn and crackers and Aaron’s grandmother’s breakfast rolls.”
d. “And so Pidge would replace that goat of long ago.”
5. Which of the following best represents the cause of Carl and Aaron’s fight at the end of the selection?
a. “A new kinda membership badge with a secret code on the back.”
b. “We’re going to throw him into the fire. And when we do, we’re going to swear an oath of loyalty to-“
c. “Gently, gently her removed the bandages and the splints and put them in his pocket in case he should need them again.”
d. “But Alexander the Second was assassinated, and Alexander the third b, whom Aaron pictures as an ugly man in a black cape, became the czar. And the Jewish people of the Ukraine had no peace anymore.”
6. Which setting detail in Aaron’s Gift is similar to Crispin’s early life?
A. “Grandmother would talk about the old days long ago in the Ukraine
B. “ Grandmother lived in a village near Kishinev with hundreds of other poor peasant
families like her own”
C. “ Grandma had lived with Aaron since his Grandpa had died three years ago”
D. “ A pigeon on Second Avenue would replace Grandma’s goat from long ago”
7. Which statement best supports how the setting impacted a decision made by Aaron in the exposition?
A. “ All the family from Brooklyn and the East Side were coming to Grandma’s sixtieth
birthday party”
B. “ Skyscrapers overlooked the city streets”
C. “The streets near 2nd Avenue were too crowded with children and peddlers and old ladies and baby buggies”
D. “Grandma told stories of when she was a little girl in the Ukraine”
8. Which example of figurative language best describes Aaron using his imagination?
A. “Aaron ran home his heart pounding as fast as the pigeons”
B. “Aaron skated back and forth around the pylons which were actually lampposts”
C. “Then suddenly Aaron plunged and both hands came down like a torn parachute”
D. “Two popsicle sticks served as splinters”
9. Which of the following best represents what the pigeon might symbolize to Grandma?
A. A messenger to take messages to her doctor
B. A new friend to ease her loneliness
C. The flight to freedom and overcoming the “Cossacks “at last
D. a gift from Aaron
10. Which character possesses a similar character trait as Cerdic in Crispin?
A. Carl B. Al C. Noreen D. Aaron
11. Which line best supports that Dad has not liked surprises in the past?
A. “Ten years old and it’s better than Dr. Pelasco could do.
B. “Aaron waited for his father to arrive home and waited for the expected storm”
C. “Who did this?” Asked Mr. Kandel. “Me”, said Aaron
D. None of the Above
12. Which line best supports that Aaron is intelligent?
A. “ Aaron was a Class A, triple fantastic roller skater”
B. “Aaron immediately raced home to get Pidge with the intention of taking it to the club”
C. “Then Aaron would sit Pidge down at one end of the living room and put some popcorn at the other end”
D. “Aaron felt under the shirt, and gently took hold of the wounded pigeon”
13. Which of the following best expresses the theme of the selection?
A. Don’t get involved with gangs; they will only lead you to trouble.
B. Memories of the past can be forgiven, but never forgotten.
C. Something positive can come out of something negative if your heart is in the right place.
D. Parents should let their children care for injured animals.
14. Which word best describes the mood of this passage? “One day, a thundering of horses was heard coming toward the village from the direction of Kishinev”. “The Cossacks! The Cossacks!” someone had shouted. Quickly, quickly, everyone in Aaron’s grandmother’s family climbed down to the cellar through a little trap door”.
A. Disappointed B. Intense C. Weary D. Selfish
15. He broke a cookie into small crumbs and tossed some toward the pigeon. “Here pidge, here pidge,” he called.
The previous quote describes the main character’s personality as-
A- nervous, because he wanted the pigeon to live
B- cheerful, because he could keep the pigeon as a pet
C- caring, because he wants to help the pigeon
D- persuading, because he tries to lure the pigeon to him with food
16. Then Aaron would set Pidge down at one end of the living room a put some popcorn at the other end.
Aaron’s dedication and training to make Pidge into a carrier pigeon shows that Aaron’s character is best described as-
A- Trustworthy C. determined
B- Helpful D. ridiculous
17. The symbolic reason behind Aaron wanting to give Pidge to his grandmother for her 60th birthday best represents how Aaron’s character is-
A- Respectful to this grandmother’s difficult childhood C. Caring to all of his family memories
B- Reminiscent of his own childhood D. Judged easily by others
18. But his mother told Aaron to stay away from those boys or else. Aaron’s mother’s tone would best be described as-
A- Harsh C. angry
B- Stern D. mean
19. ““Oh sure, don’t worry,” said Carl.” At that moment in time, Aaron probably felt that Carl’s tone was-
A- Serious C- Sincere
B- Sarcastic D- direct
20. “Her goat has escaped from the Cossacks at last, Aaron thought, half dreaming And he fell asleep with a smile.” The author’s tone at the end of this selection can best be described as-
A- Content C- upset
B- Worried D- excited
21. Which line best provides details that are included within the exposition of the selection?
A. “But a few days later, Aaron met Carl in the street again. And Carl told Aaron that there was going to be a meeting that afternoon…”
B. “When Aaron reached home, he tried to go past the kitchen quickly so his mother wouldn’t see his bloody face and torn clothing.”
C. “In a flash Aaron knew what to give her: Pidge!”
D. Aaron Kandel had come to Tompkins Square to roller skate, for the streets near Second Avenue were always too crowded with children…”
22. “But they had been lucky. For other houses had been burned to the ground. And everywhere, not goats alone, nor sheep, but men and women, and children lay quietly on the ground” (Levoy pg. 253). The following quote is a flashback from Aaron’s grandmothers’ childhood; which type of conflict is this quote referring to?
a. Man vs Man C. Man vs Nature
b. Man vs Self D. Man vs Society
23. Which quote best supports the climax of the selection?
A. “Often, in the evening, Aaron’s grandmother would talk about the old days in the Ukraine…”
B. “When he reached the empty lot, Aaron walked up to the shack, then hesitated. Four bigger guys were there. After a moment, Carl came out and commanded Aaron to hand Pidge over”
C. “No! No! Shouted Aaron, moving towards Carl... But Aaron had leaped right across the fire at Carl, taking him completely by surprise”
D. ““What present?” Asked Aaron, trying to stop the series of sobs. And his grandmother opened her pocketbook and handed Aaron her mirror, and asked him to look”
24. Which comparison best describes the transition of Aaron’s feelings towards the gang from the exposition to the resolution?
A. Hatred of members :: Amusement with members
B. Curiosity of activity :: Acceptance of activities
C. Desire membership :: Deny Membership
D. Want to be accepted :: Willingness to Join
25. Which line best provides a resolution to the conflict and plot of the selection?
A. “Later that night, just before he fell asleep, Aaron tried to imagine what his grandmother might have done with the pigeon”
B. “And he fell asleep with a smile”
C. “Yes, of course Pidge’s flight to freedom must have been the gift that had made his grandmother so happy. Her goat had escaped from the Cossacks at last, Aaron thought, half dreaming”
D. “Her goat had escaped from the Cossacks at last, Aaron thought, half dreaming. And he fell asleep with a smile.”