GRADE 8 ENGLISH

Unit 4
A Mystery of Heroism

WALT: Analyze key details in the text to build connections between the pieces of information
provided and the real world.
Instructions: Choose the best answer from the choices given in each question.

1. Which statement below seems like the MOST likely theme?

a. There are no heroes in war.
b. Every soldier who fights is a hero.
c. Heroes are born with exceptional qualities.

2. What is the greatest motivation that drives Collins to get the water?
a. He wants to help the wounded officer.
b. He helps the other men regain their fighting spirit.
c. He does not want to be teased by the other soldiers.

3. Which of the following statements is TRUE about Collins's mission?

a. The captain orders Collins to go.
b. Collins is taking an unnecessary risk.
c. The men are depending on Collins.

4. A genial person would be a good _____.

a. soldier
b. writer
c. friend

5. What sound is most likely to be ‘incessant’?

a. explosions
b. whispers
c. waves
 6. Among the following, which one is NOT described by the narrator?
a. A soldier with no shoes cuts his feet on sharp rocks while running away from battle.
b. A rider loses control of his horse team when one of them is injured.
c. An officer rides past his men while holding his detached right arm in his left hand.

7. Which BEST explains what the author includes in the following sentence?
"He saw that, in this matter of the well, the canteens, the shells, he was an intruder in the
land of fine deeds."
a. Simile b. Metaphor c. Hyperbole d. Alliteration

8. What is ironic about how the story ends?

a. The officer that Collins helped was fighting for the other side.
b. The other soldiers doubted Collins but he succeeded.
c. Collins didn't feel like a hero, but he did a heroic thing.

9. Which event happens LAST?

a. Collins fills up the bucket.
b. Collins speaks with the Captain.
c. Collins helps the wounded officer.

10. Which BEST explains why the author includes the following sentence?
"Sometimes they of the infantry looked down at a fair little meadow which spread at their
feet. Its long, green grass was rippling gently in a breeze."
a. He is foreshadowing how all of the infantry will be buried in this field.
b. He is trying to create a calm mood that is appropriate for the conflict.
c. He is contrasting the horror of war with the beauty of nature.

Instructions: Answer any three questions.

Vocabulary Analysis, Textual Evidence
1. How does Crane's word choice create a frightening mood? Support your answer with specific
textual evidence.

Character Analysis, Textual Evidence

2. Is Collins a "real" hero? Why or why not? Use the text to support your response.

Inference
3. What heroic act does Collins want to perform? Based on Collins's actions, what can you infer
about his motivations for the heroic act?
 Symbolism Interpretation
4. What does ‘the water’ symbolically represent?

Quote Interpretation
5. Explain this quote: “He was an intruder in the land of fine deeds.”

Contextual Understanding
6. Why does Collins seek permission to get water from the well?