Name: ________________________

Date: ______________ Period: ____

Check for Understanding: “Through the Tunnel”

Multiple Choice: Circle the letter that best answers the question.

1. According to the dialogue in the story, the relationship between Jerry and his mother

a. shows how Jerry is resentful of his mother.

b. demonstrates how young boys like to deceive their mothers.

c. is a caring relationship

d. is fragile and shows signs of tension.

2. When Jerry’s mother lets Jerry go to another beach it is because

a. she is determined to be neither possessive nor lacking in devotion.

b. she figures he can’t get into too much trouble.

c. she wants time to herself.

d. she is tired of him pouting to get his own way.

3. Jerry yells out a warning to the boys because

a. he wants attention.

b. he has a nose-bleed.

c. one of the boys is his friend.

d. one of the boys has not surfaced.

4. Jerry acts like a clown because

a. the boys can’t speak English.

b. he failed at finding the tunnel.

c. he always acts that way when nervous.

d. he is imitating how the other boys are acting.

5. Jerry wants the swimming goggles because

a. he wants to find the octopus in the rocks.

b. he wants to see the entrance to the tunnel.

c. he wants to watch where the boys go.

d. the salt in the water irritates his eyes.

6. Jerry’s eventual goal is to

a. swim through the tunnel.

b. prove to the other boys he can be like them.

c. show his mother what he can do on his own.

d. hold his breath for two minutes.

7. Jerry almost gave up on his goal because

a. he was leaving in four days.

b. he hadn’t practiced long enough.

c. he got a nose-bleed and panicked.

d. his mother wanted him to stay with her.

8. Jerry carefully counted the seconds he was underwater, but became stuck on ______________ seconds
and kept repeating the same number over and over.
a. 50

b. 72

c. 100

d. 115

9. When Jerry sees the crack in the tunnel

a. he knows he has done it!

b. he is relieved that he is almost through.

c. realizes that he must swim past the light or drown.

d. thinks he can get some air.

10. At the end of the story Jerry is no longer interested in the boys because

a. he feels they don’t like him.

b. he cannot speak their language.

c. the boys didn’t know he couldn’t swim through the tunnel; they wouldn’t care about his accomplishment.

d. preparing and accomplishing a goal is more important impressing a group of boys.

11. The point of view of this story is

a. third person limited

b. third person omniscient

c. second person

d. first person

12. This story takes place

a. in France on the coast of the English Channel.

b. in the Pacific Ocean in Australia.

c. in the Mediterranean coast of France.

d. at a Beach Resort in South Africa.

13. The symbolism in this story lies in the

a. transition from childhood to adulthood. c. the nose-bleeds Jerry has.

b. the tunnel. d. the goggles.

 Name: _____________________ Period: ___

Write a review for this short story that would appear on the back cover of a book. Your goal is to

make someone want to read this story.

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