Name: Date: Period:
Jackie Robinson
By: Henry Aaron (p. 744-746)
Evaluating an Argument: After reading the article, respond to the following questions.
Define the following key terms:
1. intent:
2. purpose:
3. tone:
4. loaded words:
5. facts:
6. anecdote:
7. evaluation:
Multiple Choice: Circle the best answer.
1. Henry Aaron’s intent, or purpose, in writing this article is to---
a. praise Jackie Robinson
b. describe segregation in baseball
c. explain the importance of being
d. explain why he became a ballplayer
2. Which of the following words best describes the tone of this article?
a. critical
b. mournful
c. admiring
d. regretful
3. Which of the following statements uses loaded words?
a. “I was fourteen years old when I first saw Jackie Robinson.”
b. “I didn’t hear a word that came out of his mouth.”
c. “For three years he would have to turn the other cheek and silently suffer all the
vile things that would come his way.”
d. “Jackie’s character was much more important than his batting average…”
4. All of the following statements are facts except---
a. “He campaigned for baseball to hire a black third-base coach…”
b. “With Jackie in the infield, the Dodgers won six National League pennants.”
c. “I believe every black person in America had a piece of those pennants.”
d. “He retired in 1956 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1962…”
5. Aaron uses the anecdote about Robinson risking a court-martial to show that Robinson---
a. did not respect laws
b. was a proud person who fought for respect
c. could not control his temper
d. did not like being a soldier
6. Which of the following statements is the most accurate evaluation of Aaron’s argument?
a. It relies almost entirely on emotional appeals.
b. Facts, statistics, and other objective evidence make up the argument’s main
support.
c. It uses a mix of facts and emotional appeals to convince the reader.
d. Aaron includes little support in his argument.
7. Constructed Response: According to Aaron, why did Jackie Robinson have to be
“bigger than life?” Explain your answer using details from the text. Spelling and basic
grammar conventions count!
Vocabulary Skills: Choose the best synonyms for the underlined word in each sentence.
1. Odysseus overcame great adversity on his long, hard journey homeward.
a. doubt
b. hardship
c. fear
d. disappointment
2. The beautiful song of the sirens was haunting and filled with ardor.
a. passion
b. promise
c. sorrow
d. terror
3. Because Odysseus appeared as a poor old man, the suitors were disdainful of him.
a. suspicious
b. respectful
c. ignorant
d. scornful
4. The monster Scylla yapped abominably, frightening Odysseus’s crew.
a. cheerfully
b. loudly
c. disgustingly
d. constantly
5. A brilliant general and a clever statesman, Odysseus was formidable in war and peace.
a. helpful
b. impressive
c. untrustworthy
d. beloved
6. They Cyclops was a fearsome adversary, but Odysseus tricked the one-eyed monster and
escaped from his cave.
a. burden
b. giant
c. opponent
d. fighter
7. Odysseus only glowered at the suitors when they pleaded for their lives.
a. stared
b. laughed
c. glanced
d. screamed
8. Penelope was aloof to Odysseus until he proved his true identity by telling the secret of
their bed.
a. affectionate
b. threatening
c. distant
d. disloyal
9. When Odysseus’s men killed Helios’s cattle, the god insisted that he should receive
restitution.
a. aid
b. repayment
c. sympathy
d. forgiveness