Reading Club – Level 4

Passage from Lord of the Flies by William Golding

 

Lexile Level: 770L

Instructional Level Books: (1) Lord of the Flies, (2) To Kill a Mockingbird

Within the diamond haze of the beach something dark was fumbling along. Ralph saw it first, and watched till the intentness of his gaze drew all eyes that way. Then the creature stepped from mirage onto clear sand, and they saw that the darkness was not all shadow but mostly clothing. The creature was a party of boys, marching approximately in step in two parallel lines and dressed in strangely eccentric clothing. (A)

Shorts, shirts, and different garments they carried in their hands; but each boy wore a square black cap with a silver badge on it. Their bodies, from throat to ankle, were hidden by black cloaks which bore a long silver cross on the left breast and each neck was finished off with a ham-bone frill. (B) The heat of the tropics, the descent, the search for food, and now this sweaty march along the blazing beach had given them the complexions of newly washed plums. The boy who controlled them was dressed the same way though his cap badge was golden. When his party was about ten yards from the platform he shouted an order and they halted, gasping, sweating, swaying in the fierce light. (C) The boy himself came forward, vaulted on to the platform with his cloak flying, and peered into what to him was almost complete darkness. (D)

 

1. The word “eccentric“ is closest in meaning to

a. plain

b. heavy

c. unusual

d. torn

 

2. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

a. The marching boys are disciplined.

b. The marching boys have always lived on the island.

c. The marching boys are the enemy.

d. The marching boys are planning to hurt Ralph.

 

3. According to the passage, all of the following statements are true except

a. The marching boys are hot and

b. The marching boys belong to the same group.

c. The marching boys have a leader.

d. The marching boys belong to army.

 

4. Paragraph 2 supports which of the following statements in paragraph 1 about . . .

a.  lack of fruit on the island

b. Ralph’s leadership

c. the natives of the island

d. eccentric clothing

 

5. Which of the sentences below expresses the essential information in the following sentence?

Sentence: The heat of the tropics, the descent, the search for food, and now this sweaty march along the blazing beach had given them the complexions of newly washed plums.

a. The faces of the boys were red from being hot and tired.

b. The boys were hot and tired from climbing the hill.

c. The boys were hot and sweaty because the beach was on fire.

d. The marching boys found and ate plums on the beach.

 

6. According to the passage Ralph saw . . .

a. boys in black hats marching in two lines

b. a creature on the beach

c. a mirage of boys

d. silver crosses on black hats

 

7. Look at the letters (A, B, C, and D) that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage

Sentence: Suddenly, it was clear to Ralph that they were not alone on the island. Where would the sentence fit best?

a. Option A

b.  Option B

c.   Option C

d.  Option D

 

An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE (3) answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage.

Introductory Sentence: Ralph sees something approaching in the distance.

8.       

9.       

10.      

a. The boys stop marching when their leader gives a command.

b.  Ralph gives food to the marching boys as a peace offering.

c. The boys halt to attack Ralph and his friends.

d. Ralph can tell that it is a group of boys wearing black h

e. Ralph sees a dark shadow on the beach.