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Raymonds Run, from Toni Cade Bambaras collection Gorilla, My Love, is an exuberant story, salted with the streetwise

idiom of urban kids and enlivened by its feisty narrator, a little girl with skinny arms and a squeaky voice who can outrun anyone in the neighborhood. Squeakys sole responsibility is to take care of her brother, Raymond, who is not quite right. She is his guardian and defender, eagerly facing down any kids who dare to tease him. Shes equally quick to defend her own status as yearly winner of the 50-yard dash. This years race proves to be transformative for Squeaky, changing her relationship to her archrival, her view of her brother and her ambitions for herself. Readers will likely chuckle at the dialogue and identify with the young narrators efforts to find both personal triumph and genuine human connection.

Name: ________________________ Class: ___________________ Date: __________ ID: A

Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
____ 1. In Raymonds Run, Squeaky got her nickname because she has a squeaky voice. Why is she also called Mercury? a. because shes the swiftest thing in the neighborhood b. because shes a little girl with skinny arms c. because she lives on Mercury Street d. because she competes in track races ____ 2. How does Squeaky feel about the fact that she has to take care of Raymond in Raymonds Run? a. She wishes he would pay attention sometimes. b. She is glad to do it because it gives her a sense of importance. c. She doesnt mind because he really takes care of himself. d. He sometimes gets in her way when she is trying to practice running. ____ 3. Which of the following best describes how to identify a major character in a story? a. A major character is the narrator of a story. b. A major character teaches a minor character lessons.

c. A major character changes in a significant way as the story unfolds. d. A major character has more dialogue than a minor character. ____ 4. In Raymonds Run, when Squeaky says that Raymond is not quite right, she probably means that a. he is wrong about an argument they have had b. he likes to play practical jokes c. he has a quick temper d. he is mentally challenged ____ 5. In Raymonds Run, on their walks through the city, Squeaky keeps Raymond on the inside close to the buildings because he a. is subject to fits of fantasy c. looks so odd b. tends to lose his balance d. needs to know who is boss ____ 6. In Raymonds Run, Squeakys main objection to Mary Louise is that she is a. insecure c. dishonest b. ungrateful d. too loud ____ 7. In Raymonds Run, when Squeaky sees Gretchen and her friends walking down the street, she is concerned that they will a. make fun of Raymond c. challenge her to a race b. make fun of her d. challenge her to a fight ____ 8. Which is the best restatement of this passage from Raymonds Run? Gretchen smiles but its not a smile and Im thinking that girls never really smile at each other because they dont know how and dont want to know how and theres probably no one to teach us how cause grown-up girls dont know either. a. Girls at this age are usually quite serious and find it hard to smile. b. Girls usually reserve their real smiles for boys. c. Girls are so competitive that they find it hard to be truly pleasant to one another. d. Girls in general do not smile as easily as boys do.

____ 9. In Raymonds Run, when Mary Louise asks Raymond what grade he is in, her tone is a. friendly c. puzzled b. loving d. mocking ____ 10. Which of the following best defines Gretchens role in Raymonds Run? a. A minor character with whom Squeaky competes. b. A minor character who fights with Squeaky. c. A major character who stands up for Squeaky. d. A major character who teaches Squeaky a lesson. ____ 11. What can you tell about Squeakys attitude from this passage in Raymonds Run? Youd think shed be glad her daughter aint out there prancing around a May Pole getting the new clothes all dirty and sweaty and trying to act like a fairy or a flower . . . a. She thinks its a shame to ruin expensive clothes. b. She is envious of girls who dance around the May Pole. c. She thinks the May Pole is a silly waste of time. d. She thinks it is unladylike to get sweaty. ____ 12. In Raymonds Run, which of the following best indicates that Mary Louise is a minor character? a. She has the courage to stand up to Squeaky. b. She used to be Squeakys friend but is a friend no longer. c. She is just one of a group of girls who hang out with Gretchen. d. Her character does not change in the course of the story. ____ 13. Which of the following is a reasonable prediction to make based on this passage in Raymonds Run? But once I spread my fingers in the dirt and crouch over the Get on Your Mark, the dream goes and I am solid again and am telling myself, Squeaky you must win, you must win, you are the fastest thing in the world, you can even beat your father up Amsterdam if you really try. a. Squeaky will be distracted by memories of other races. b. Squeaky will be relaxed and confident during the race. c. Squeaky will be too tense to race well. d. Squeaky will be racing her best to please her father.

____ 14. Which event in Raymonds Run is most likely to prompt readers to try to predict the outcome? a. the May Day race b. Squeakys walk with Raymond c. Squeakys meeting with Gretchen and her friends d. the spelling bee ____ 15. In Raymonds Run, why is Squeaky in doubt about the outcome of the May Day race? a. The finish is so close. b. She is thinking about Raymond. c. She is thinking about the spelling bee. d. The crowd is so noisy she cant hear the announcer. ____ 16. In Raymonds Run, which of the following best summarizes Squeakys realization that coaching Raymond is more important than who won the race? a. You cant be good at everything at once. b. Raymond is a burden from which she will never be free. c. Generosity is more important than pride. d. Shes got to have a good excuse in case she didnt win the race. ____ 17. Which of the following words is closest in meaning to signify? a. testify c. mean b. signal d. mix ____ 18. Which word is a preposition in this sentence? Everybody except Rosie expected Squeaky to win the race. a. except c. to b. expected d. everybody ____ 19. Which of the following is a preposition in this sentence? Im the swiftest thing in the neighborhood. a. swiftest c. in b. thing d. the ____ 20. Which of the following words is not spelled correctly? a. apologey c. effigy b. psychology d. strategy

Short Answer 21. Is Raymond a minor or major character in Bambaras story? Use details from Raymonds Run to support your viewpoint. 22. In Raymonds Run, when reading that the judges are debating who won the May Day race, what reasonable prediction can the reader make? Explain your answer. a. Gretchen will insist on a rematch, and the judges will refuse. b. The judges will decide to disqualify both Gretchen and Squeaky. c. Both girls will be declared winners, sharing the first-place medal. d. The judges will delay choosing a winner until after the last race. 23. Which word group contains words that best describe Squeaky? List a detail or two from Raymonds Run to support your answer. a. fast, tough, smart, imaginative c. trusting, kind, dimwitted, careful b. scared, mean, spiteful, unfriendly d. angry, dishonest, cool, adventurous 24. Squeaky refers to Cynthia Procter as a prodigy in Raymonds Run. Review the definition of prodigy. Find another character who might be considered a prodigy, and explain your reasoning. 25. In Raymonds Run, Squeaky notes that at the start of a race,

I dream Im flying over a sandy beach in the early morning sun, kissing the leaves of the trees as I fly by. What do these words demonstrate about her personality? Explain your answer. a. Before a race, she gets very sleepy and begins to dream of winning. b. She wishes she lived in the country, where she could run everyday. c. The start of a race makes her feel like her body is separate from her mind. d. She knows that she does her best running in the early morning hours.

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