u5_a4_1

The objective of this activity is to review the main ideas and parts of “Measuring” to test your comprehension of the story.

You will be answering the questions “what” and “why,” but the answers are not written directly in the story. You need to understand the story well in order to answer each question.

Read the questions and choose from the multiple-choice answers provided. You may go back at any time to reread the story if needed by clicking the text icon.

Incorrect
The son has brought groceries but doesn’t leave afterwards.

Try again.

Correct
The son arrives and spends most of his time cooking for his mother, as she is dying.

Incorrect
Although the son does clean, that is not his main purpose in being there. There are stacks of food everywhere in the house, and he must “fill his days with work.”

Try again.

Incorrect
Although winter does occur during the story, there is no description of repairs to the house being done in preparation for winter.

Try again.

Incorrect
There is no mention of the father or of divorce at all. It is not known where the father is.

Try again.

Incorrect
It is possible that the mother is lonely, but it is hard to be sure because the story is not told from her point of view.

Try again.

Correct
The cancer is mentioned, as well as where she has it; in her lungs.

Incorrect
Although the mother appears to have many cold-like symptoms, she has more than just a cold. She is dying of cancer.

Try again.

Correct
The narrator mentions at the end of the story that he or she sees the protagonist for his mother’s funeral.

Incorrect
There is no evidence that the mother gets any better.

Try again.

Incorrect
The son already got six stitches for his cut finger.

Try again.

Incorrect
He tripled the number of cloves of garlic in the pesto and already reeks of garlic.

Try again.

Incorrect
There is no evidence in the story that the son is angry.

Try again.

Incorrect
There is no indication of this. His mother knows he is there all the time and he is just making more noise than he needs to.

Try again.

Incorrect
The son says he’s “intentionally trying to wake her up.”

Try again.

Correct
“The house is quiet again... Even the vacuum cleaner doesn’t make a loud enough noise.” With the mother sick and dying in bed, the son feels compelled to make noise to counter the silence of his mother’s encroaching death.

Incorrect
It’s not that his mother doesn’t like the food; her sickness keeps her from eating certain foods.

Try again.

Incorrect
The son doesn’t like cooking, but he must do it; the cancer needs to be fed properly. However, the food reminds him of how sick his mother is, and he would rather be outside.

Try again.

Correct
There are many references to time, hours, schedules, lists, and things to do. It makes it seem like the son is spending a lot of time taking care of his mother and it occupies most of his thinking.

Incorrect
“He has to fill his days with work.” It takes his mind off what is happening to his mother.

Try again.