To understand the events and conflict in a story, pay attention to

the dialogue. Remember that every time the speaker changes, a

new paragraph begins.

▶ When did Robert decide not to tell his mother about the tumor?
(1) before talking to Kate
(2) after discussing the issue with Kate

(1) is correct. Robert has already decided what to do when he calls Kate.
▶ Which of the following identifies a conflict in this excerpt?
(1) Kate tells Robert she will fly there tomorrow.
(2) Robert tells Kate that she must do as he says.

(2) is correct. Robert challenges Kate. That creates tension.

Practice 1
Questions 1 through 4 refer to the following excerpt from a short story.

EXCERPTED FROM “THE PIECE OF STRING”

1 The countryman looked at the Mayor in astonishment, already

terrified by this suspicion resting on him without his knowing why.
2 “Me? Me? I picked up the pocketbook?”
3 “Yes, you, yourself.”
4 “On my word of honor, I never heard of it.”
5 “But you were seen.”
6 “I was seen, me? Who says he saw me?”
7 “Monsieur Malandain, the harness-maker.”
8 The old man remembered, understood, and flushed with anger.
9 “Ah, he saw me, the clodhopper, he saw me pick up this string,
here, Mayor.” And rummaging in his pocket he drew out the little
 piece of string.
10 But the Mayor, incredulous, shook his head.
11 “You will not make me believe, Maître Hauchecorne, that Monsieur
Malandain, who is a man we can believe, mistook this cord for a
pocket-­book.”
12 The peasant, furious, lifted his hand, spat at one side to attest his
honor, repeating:
13 “It is nevertheless God’s own truth, the sacred truth. I repeat it on
my soul and my salvation.”
14 The Mayor resumed:
15 “After picking up the object, you stood like a stilt, looking a long
while in the mud to see if any piece of money had fallen out.”
16 The old fellow choked with indignation and fear. . . .
17 He was confronted with Monsieur Malandain, who repeated and
maintained his affirmation. They abused each other for an hour. At his
own request, Maître Hauchecorne was searched. Nothing was found
on him.
18 Finally the Mayor, very much perplexed, discharged him with the
warning that he would consult the Public Prosecutor and ask for
further orders.
From Collected Novels and Stories by Guy de Maupassant, translated by Ernest Boyd,
copyright 1922 and renewed 1950 by Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc.
Used by permission of Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc.

1. What was the peasant doing when he “lifted his hand, spat at one side to
attest his honor” (paragraph 12)?
A. thinking of striking the Mayor
B. swearing that he was telling the truth
C. pleading to the Mayor for mercy
D. performing a peasant ritual

2. How did the peasant react when confronted with Malandain, the harness-
maker?
He
 A. became choked with fear and indignation
B. tried to explain what had actually happened
C. became respectful and subdued
D. confronted him and then asked to be searched

3. Which of the following statements best describes the conflict in this

excerpt?
A. A town mayor is abusing his authority.
B. A peasant leads a harsh life and is often at odds with others.
C. A peasant is accused of taking a pocketbook.
D. Someone has lost a pocketbook with a
great deal of money in it.

4. Place the numbers next to the actions to indicate the order in which the
actions occurred in the excerpt.

The peasant and the harness-maker argue.

The peasant explains that he picked up a piece of string, not a
pocketbook.
The mayor issues a warning to the peasant.
The mayor states that the harness-maker witnessed the peasant stealing
the pocketbook.

1.
2.
3.
4.

Answers and explanations start on page 649.