Rocking-Horse Winner (pg. 1130) teacher master . Student copy mirrors this test and may be edited.
1. How does Paul’s mother feel about her children?
a. / They make the center of her heart grow warm.b. / She wants to correct the faults they see in her.
c. / Their eyes tell her she needs more money.
d. / She thinks they will be unlucky people.
ANS: B
2. Where does Paul demand his rocking-horse take him?
a. / away from the house’s whispersb. / out of childhood in the nursery
c. / to all the races in England
d. / to wherever there is luck
ANS: D
3. You may conclude that Paul’s conception of luck is based on each person’s personal luck when he
a. / gives his mother all the money he winsb. / leaves the nursery to keep his horse safe
c. / asks Uncle Oscar to keep their bets secret
d. / refuses to let Bassett bet money on the same races
ANS: C
4. When do Paul and Bassett lose money at the horse races?
a. / after Paul’s rocking-horse gets moved upstairsb. / whenever the house’s whispers are very loud
c. / when Paul feels less than sure of the winner
d. / before Uncle Oscar becomes their partner
ANS: C
5. The word rocking-horse in the story’s title helps develop the theme because it highlights the idea that
a. / Paul is too young to have adult experiencesb. / love is the most powerful force that exists
c. / Paul is the only one with any luck
d. / children are luckier than adults
ANS: A STA: AZ.AZGLA.RLA.R.03.12.2.1.PO1.a
6. Paul’s parents create problems for themselves because they
a. / refuse to work hardb. / spend little time together
c. / live outside their income
d. / comply with their children’s demands
ANS: C
7. What does Paul claim about himself that makes him different from his parents?
a. / Money means nothing to him.b. / The house whispers to him.
c. / He is able to love others.
d. / He is a lucky person.
ANS: D STA: AZ.AZGLA.RLA.R.03.12.2.1.PO1.c
8. Consider Paul’s satisfaction when he rides his rocking-horse. You may conclude that Paul believes
a. / the rocking-horse is lucky because money provided itb. / he can control or grow his luck through his own actions
c. / luck can only come when he drowns out the bad whispers
d. / everyone has the ability to gain luck from other people
ANS: B
9. One of Basset’s character traits is that he takes racing very seriously. What theme does this trait most likely help develop?
a. / Luck is the only way to succeed.b. / People succeed if they love what they do.
c. / The attitudes of adults can influence children.
d. / All aspects of life must be taken seriously.
ANS: C STA: AZ.AZGLA.RLA.R.03.12.2.1.PO1.c
10. Paul says he started to try to win money on horses to
a. / earn money to leave home for schoolb. / laugh behind other people’s backs
c. / stop the house from whispering
d. / encourage his parents to spend more
ANS: C
11. To materialize means to
a. / take formb. / win something
c. / make purchases
d. / combine thoroughly
ANS: A
12. To career is to
a. / turn sharplyb. / rush wildly
c. / answer instantly
d. / change rapidly
ANS: B
13. What does uncanny mean?
a. / physically painful to someoneb. / difficult to understand
c. / possible in the imagination
d. / strange in an eerie way
ANS: D
14. Iridescent means
a. / shiny with rainbow colorsb. / having a diamond-like sparkle
c. / glowing in the dark
d. / smooth as a mirror
ANS: A
15. What is a seizure?
a. / a powerful emotionb. / an unhappy surprise
c. / a sudden attack
d. / an unlucky event
ANS: C
16. Why does Paul’s mother say it is better to be lucky than to be rich?
ANS:
The rich might lose the money they have, but lucky people will always be able to get money (lines 62–64).
STA: AZ.AZGLA.RLA.R.03.12.2.1.PO1.c
17. Why does Paul trust Uncle Oscar to be part of the betting partnership?
ANS:
Paul’s winning begins when he bets ten shillings that Uncle Oscar gave him, so Paul thinks Uncle Oscar is lucky (lines 164–165 and 210–211).
18. Why does Paul become very tense and worried after he gives his mother the money for her birthday?
ANS:
The house’s whispers become even louder after Paul’s mother uses all the money for five years at once; also, he begins being unable to predict the winners of important races (lines 335–343).
STA: AZ.AZGLA.RLA.R.03.12.2.1.PO1.c
19. What does Uncle Oscar say about Paul after he dies?
ANS:
Uncle Oscar says Paul is better off out of a life in which he has to ride a rocking-horse like that to find a winner (lines 475–476).
20. How does Paul take the role of an adult in his family? Support your answer with three details from the story.
ANS:
Responses will vary. Students may use any three of the following details to show how Paul takes on the role of an adult in his family:
a. Paul hears the whispers and understands his family’s need of money (lines 30–32). Paul, a child, should not need to worry about money, which is normally an adult responsibility.
b. Paul’s mother admits her unhappiness and disappointments to Paul (lines 65–67 and 72–75). She confides her adult emotions in Paul, a child, and her actions show the adult role Paul has.
c. Because Bassett is a servant and Paul knows the winners, Paul runs the betting partnership he shares with an adult (lines 234–235 and 239–240).
d. Paul wins money because of his mother’s needs, having an adult awareness of the writs she has received and of their need for money; also, Paul tells Uncle Oscar the house’s whispers about money are like being laughed at (lines 269–280). These comments suggest that Paul has an adult sense of unpaid bills as humiliating.
e. Uncle Oscar lets Paul decide about giving his mother the whole five thousand dollars, which he decides to do, making this adult financial decision (lines 322–324).
f. Paul successfully argues his mother out of sending him away before the Derby (lines 353 and 362–363). This disagreement with her shows that he sees himself as her equal and not as her child.
g. Paul makes his family wealthy (lines 463–466). Gaining wealth is traditionally a role for adults and parents, rather than the responsibility of a child.
STA: AZ.AZGLA.RLA.R.03.12.2.1.PO1.c
21. Does Paul’s mother have bad luck, or does she make bad choices in her life? Support your opinion with details from the story.
ANS:
Responses will vary. Students who think Paul’s mother has bad luck may use any of the following details to support their responses:
a. The love ended in Paul’s parents’ marriage (line 2). Although this situation is unfortunate, it is not necessarily all Paul’s mother’s fault.
b. Paul’s mother’s hard-heartedness with her children, based on her inability to love, is unfortunate (lines 3–10). Her guilt about her feelings and her attempts to counteract them indicate that she is not choosing these feelings.
c. Paul’s father is not as successful in business as he had hoped (lines 19–20). This part of the family’s financial misfortune is not in Paul’s mother’s control.
d. Paul’s mother does try to work to help the family’s financial situation, but is not successful (lines 22–24). This could be seen as bad luck and not her choice.
e. Paul’s mother has the terrible misfortune to lose a child (lines 469–472). She did not know enough about the betting situation that was responsible for Paul’s death to have made choices concerning it.
Students who think Paul’s mother makes bad choices in life may use any of the following details to support their responses:
a. Paul’s mother may not have chosen to lose love in her marriage, but she did choose the man she married (line 2).
b. Paul’s mother chooses to feel superior to the neighbors and to spend money to ensure that superiority (lines 14–18).
c. Paul’s mother chooses to keep her expensive tastes when there is not enough money to pay for them (lines 28–29).
d. It is Paul’s mother’s choice to obtain and spend the five thousand dollars all at once, which causes the house to whisper louder (lines 328–337).
e. Paul’s mother chooses to give in to Paul and not send him away before the Derby, although she can clearly see his poor health (lines 372–374).
f. Despite her anxiety, Paul’s mother chooses not to send the nanny to check on him, which might have prevented Paul’s death (lines 395 and 408–409).
STA: AZ.AZGLA.RLA.R.03.12.2.1.PO1.c
22. How does Paul learn the great importance of money? Support your answer with details from the story.
ANS:
Responses will vary. Students should say Paul learns the great importance of money from the behavior of the adults around him. Students may use any of the following details to support their responses:
a. Paul hears the whisper about needing more money while he sees his parents spend lavishly anyway (lines 16–38). His parents’ actions suggest to him that spending money is worth any anxiety that not having money causes.
b. Paul’s mother tells him luck is the cause of having money (lines 61–62). Her comments suggest to Paul that money is the only sign of a lucky life.
c. Paul’s mother allows him to see her negative feelings about her lack of money and luck (lines 78–79). Her revealing of her thoughts to Paul that luck and money are the cause of happiness show him the importance of money.
d. Paul’s ability to win money at races is something Bassett treats as very important (lines 217–219).
e. Although Uncle Oscar admits that Paul’s winning makes him nervous, he still goes into partnership with Paul (lines 266–267). This action lets Paul know that the money is more important than his uncle’s feelings.
f. When Paul’s mother learns of her annual gift, she tries to get all the money at once (lines 319–321). Her behavior shows Paul how important it is to have money.
g. After Paul’s mother’s spending, the house whispers go mad for more money (lines 329–330). His parents’ need for more money tells Paul that money is endlessly important.