Book Quiz: Search For Safety By John Langan!
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Search for Safety by John Langan is a very captivating book that tells us the story of Ben Mc Kee, who has to navigate through life as a sophomore and living with a stepfather who doesn’t make their home feel like home. Have you had time to read the book? If so, take up the quiz below and get to review it thoroughly.
- 1.
In the following excerpt, what does the word scowled mean? He [Larry] never said he was sorry about anything. Aunt Fay knew it too. She scowled and shook her head.
- A.
Smiled
- B.
Chuckled
- C.
Frowned
- D.
Sobbed
Correct Answer
C. FrownedExplanation
In the given excerpt, the word "scowled" means to frown. This can be inferred from the sentence that follows, where Aunt Fay scowled and shook her head, indicating disapproval or displeasure.Rate this question:
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- 2.
In the following excerpt, what does the word assured mean? “You don’t have to hurry, Ben,” he [Mr. Graham] assured me as soon as she left. “Like I told my daughter Alice this morning, people today rush everything.”
- A.
Spoke angrily
- B.
Told with confidence
- C.
Challenged
- D.
Questioned
Correct Answer
B. Told with confidenceExplanation
The word "assured" in this context means to tell someone something with confidence and certainty. Mr. Graham is reassuring Ben that he does not need to hurry, emphasizing his confidence in this statement by mentioning that he also told his daughter the same thing earlier.Rate this question:
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- 3.
What is the main idea of the excerpt below? One of my favorites when I was a kid was Street Knight. He guarded neighborhoods at night, taking out thugs and bullies with his bare hands. Maybe it was the heat or that I was starving, but the next thing I knew, I started picturing myself facing Shamar and Rodney again. Only this time I had Street Knight’s power.
- A.
Ben used to enjoy Street Knight as a kid.
- B.
Ben is hot and very hungry.
- C.
Ben wishes he could face Shamar and Rodney with Street Knight's power.
- D.
Ben is a superhero when no one is around.
Correct Answer
C. Ben wishes he could face Shamar and Rodney with Street Knight's power.Explanation
The main idea of the excerpt is that Ben is imagining himself confronting Shamar and Rodney with the power of Street Knight. This is suggested by the statement that Ben started picturing himself facing them again, but this time with Street Knight's power. There is no mention of Ben being a superhero when no one is around or his enjoyment of Street Knight as a kid, so those options can be ruled out. The mention of Ben being hot and hungry is not directly related to the main idea of the excerpt.Rate this question:
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- 4.
What is the main idea of the excerpt below? When I looked in the bathroom mirror before getting into the shower, I noticed my cheek was still a bit swollen, and there was a bruise beneath my right eye. But it didn’t look as bad as the day before. I hoped no one would notice.
- A.
Ben is self-conscious about his bruised and swollen face.
- B.
Ben’s face doesn’t look as bad now as it did the day before.
- C.
Ben’s cheek is swollen and his face is bruised.
- D.
Ben wants everyone to see his bruised and swollen face.
Correct Answer
A. Ben is self-conscious about his bruised and swollen face.Explanation
The excerpt suggests that Ben is self-conscious about his bruised and swollen face. He looks at himself in the mirror before getting into the shower and notices that his cheek is still swollen and there is a bruise beneath his right eye. However, he feels relieved that it doesn't look as bad as it did the day before and hopes that no one will notice. This indicates that Ben is concerned about how his face looks and doesn't want others to see his bruised and swollen face.Rate this question:
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- 5.
What is the main idea of the excerpt below? The halls were full of students as we walked to class. At one point, we were crammed together, and my shoulder gently bumped Cindy’s. I apologized, and she flashed me the same smile that lit up the hallways over the summer. I couldn’t help but notice the curves of her body in her jeans and tank top. She looked good.
- A.
Ben couldn’t help bumping Cindy.
- B.
Cindy wears tight-fitting clothes.
- C.
There are too many students at Bluford.
- D.
Ben finds Cindy attractive.
Correct Answer
D. Ben finds Cindy attractive.Explanation
Ben finds Cindy attractive because the excerpt mentions that Ben noticed the curves of her body and thought she looked good.Rate this question:
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- 6.
What can you conclude from the following excerpt? If you didn’t know better, you’d think we lived in a perfect house. But it wasn’t real. At one point, I noticed Mom limping. “Yeah, I’m fine,” she said with a forced smile. “I just twisted something at work the other day, that’s all. Don’t tell Aunt Fay. It’s hard enough for her to leave as it is. Let’s not give her something else to worry about.”
- A.
Ben thinks his mom is a very hard worker.
- B.
Larry probably caused Mom’s limp.
- C.
Mom often injures herself.Mom often injures herself.
- D.
Aunt Fay knows Mom is clumsy.
Correct Answer
B. Larry probably caused Mom’s limp.Explanation
From the given excerpt, it can be concluded that Larry probably caused Mom's limp. This can be inferred from the statement "I just twisted something at work the other day, that's all." which suggests that Mom's injury was caused by an incident at work, and Larry is mentioned in the previous sentence.Rate this question:
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- 7.
What can you conclude from the following excerpt? Most kids couldn’t even pronounce it [“Mesopotamia”], but I knew because Aunt Fay taught me. It’s one of the first places people settled, and it’s in Iraq where everyone is fighting. Aunt Fay taught me even older settlements were in Africa—that all the world’s people came from there originally. I started to say this when I noticed kids looking at me. At Lincoln, my friends were used to me speaking up about things I knew, but at Bluford I was too new for that. All I got were stares, so I shut up.
- A.
Ben doesn’t care what the other students think of him.
- B.
Ben usually knows everything.
- C.
Ben likes to show off his knowledge.
- D.
Although he’s intelligent, Ben doesn’t want to be seen as a show-off.
Correct Answer
D. Although he’s intelligent, Ben doesn’t want to be seen as a show-off.Explanation
The excerpt suggests that Ben is knowledgeable about certain topics, such as the origins of civilization and the current situation in Iraq. However, when he starts to share this knowledge with his new classmates, he notices that they are looking at him and he receives stares. This indicates that Ben is aware of how he is being perceived by others and doesn't want to be seen as a show-off. Therefore, the correct answer is "Although he’s intelligent, Ben doesn’t want to be seen as a show-off."Rate this question:
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- 8.
In the following excerpt, what does the word surging mean? I closed my door and felt the surging flames smack against it.
- A.
Suddenly increasing
- B.
Colorful
- C.
Quickly retreating
- D.
Foul smelling
Correct Answer
A. Suddenly increasingExplanation
The word "surging" in this context means that the flames are suddenly increasing in intensity or strength. The use of the word "smack" suggests that the flames are forcefully hitting the door, indicating a sudden and strong surge in their size or power.Rate this question:
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- 9.
In the following excerpt, what does the word defiant mean? She [Aunt Fay] jutted her jaw at him and put her hands on her hips, standing there defiant in her suit.
- A.
Fearful
- B.
Hesitant
- C.
Boldly resistant
- D.
Kindly encouraging
Correct Answer
C. Boldly resistantExplanation
The word "defiant" means to boldly resist or challenge authority or rules. In the given excerpt, Aunt Fay is described as standing in a defiant manner, with her jaw jutting out and her hands on her hips, indicating that she is not afraid or hesitant, but rather boldly resisting or challenging someone or something.Rate this question:
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- 10.
What is the main idea of the excerpt below? “It’s not all his fault, Ben!” Mom said, her voice cracking. “It’s hard on a man’s pride to be out of work. And then he gets to drinking to try to make himself feel better, and he just loses control sometimes. Honestly, he feels as bad about it as you do.”
- A.
Larry loses control sometimes because he’s out of work.
- B.
Mom tries to explain the reasons for Larry’s violence.
- C.
Drinking makes Larry feel better about things.
- D.
Mom wants Ben to feel sorry for Larry.
Correct Answer
B. Mom tries to explain the reasons for Larry’s violence.Explanation
The excerpt suggests that Mom is trying to explain the reasons for Larry's violence. She mentions that it's hard on a man's pride to be out of work and that Larry turns to drinking to make himself feel better. This implies that Larry's violence may be a result of his frustration and loss of control due to his unemployment. Mom also emphasizes that Larry feels bad about his actions, indicating that she wants Ben to understand and empathize with Larry's situation.Rate this question:
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- 11.
What is the main idea of the excerpt below? One man told me he was Dez’s uncle, a police officer from another district. “Ben,” he said, “can you tell us any more about what happened? We’re real upset about this. Mr. Graham is like everyone’s grandfather. His store’s one of the last places left in this neighborhood where folks can still get real food around here. It’s a shame this happened to him, of all people.” Everyone nodded as he spoke. They shared his anger.
- A.
Because they respect Mr. Graham, everyone wants to see his attacker brought to justice.
- B.
Mr. Graham’s store is one of the last groceries in the neighborhood.
- C.
Dez’s uncle is a police officer from another district.
- D.
Ben knows who robbed Mr. Graham.
Correct Answer
A. Because they respect Mr. Graham, everyone wants to see his attacker brought to justice.Explanation
The main idea of the excerpt is that everyone wants to see Mr. Graham's attacker brought to justice because they respect and care about him. This is evident from the statement made by one man who refers to Mr. Graham as "everyone's grandfather" and expresses anger and sadness over what happened to him. The fact that they shared his anger further emphasizes their desire for justice.Rate this question:
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- 12.
What is the main idea of the excerpt below? He [Larry] started hitting me then, his fists slamming into my chest and stomach. One punch landed deep in my gut, knocking the air right out of my lungs. Another shot crashed into my ribs. I heard a crunching sound and felt a stab of pain shoot into my side. I put my hands over my head, but I couldn’t stop the rain of punches.
- A.
Larry may have broken one or more of Ben’s ribs.
- B.
Larry is a skillful fighter.
- C.
Ben wants to fight back and knows exactly what to do.
- D.
Ben can’t defend himself against Larry’s blows.
Correct Answer
D. Ben can’t defend himself against Larry’s blows.Explanation
The main idea of the excerpt is that Ben is unable to defend himself against Larry's blows. This is evident from the description of Larry hitting him repeatedly and Ben's inability to stop the punches despite trying to cover his head. The details of the punches landing on his chest, stomach, and ribs further emphasize Ben's inability to defend himself effectively. The mention of a crunching sound and a stab of pain suggests that Larry may have caused some serious injury, indicating Ben's inability to defend against the force of the blows.Rate this question:
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- 13.
What can you can conclude from the following excerpt? Cindy looked confused for a second. Then I saw her get it. Her jaw dropped. Her eyes opened wide. The smile melted away. “Ohhh,” she said, stepping back. “Uh . . . I . . . gotta go, Ben.” Her face changed then. She stopped looking at me. “See you later,” she said and then hurried off. I felt like a zombie as I walked into the cafeteria and got my tray of scrambled eggs. As hungry as I was, I suddenly lost my appetite.
- A.
Ben is embarrassed because Cindy realizes he has come for a free breakfast.
- B.
The scrambled egg breakfast is not worth eating.
- C.
Cindy plans to join Ben for breakfast at a later time.
- D.
Cindy doesn't talk to people who eat free breakfast.
Correct Answer
A. Ben is embarrassed because Cindy realizes he has come for a free breakfast.Explanation
The excerpt suggests that Cindy's reaction causes Ben to feel embarrassed. This is indicated by phrases such as "Cindy looked confused for a second", "Her jaw dropped", and "Her face changed then". Additionally, Cindy's abrupt departure and change in demeanor imply that she has realized something negative about Ben, most likely that he has come for a free breakfast. Therefore, the correct answer is that Ben is embarrassed because Cindy realizes he has come for a free breakfast.Rate this question:
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- 14.
What can you conclude from the following excerpt? Larry turned on her [Aunt Fay] with an ugly sneer. “Woman, you got no sense. I told you to stay outta my business, but you wouldn’t listen. You deserve what’s coming to you.” He moved toward her, but Aunt Fay didn’t flinch. She stepped directly up to him, her eyes blazing. “Yeah, go on! Hit a woman, you coward! Hit me and add ten more years to your jail time.”
- A.
Larry will refuse to hit Aunt Fay because she is a woman.
- B.
Aunt Fay really wants Larry to hit her.
- C.
Aunt Fay likes to fight with men.
- D.
Aunt Fay is not afraid of Larry.
Correct Answer
D. Aunt Fay is not afraid of Larry.Explanation
From the given excerpt, it can be concluded that Aunt Fay is not afraid of Larry. This can be inferred from the fact that she does not flinch when he moves towards her and instead confronts him, challenging him to hit her. Her boldness and defiance suggest that she is not intimidated by Larry and is willing to stand up to him.Rate this question:
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- 15.
One of the lessons Ben learns by the end of the story is that
- A.
Teenagers can’t expect older people to help them out.
- B.
Women are the weaker sex.
- C.
He needs to toughen up so that he can handle himself against bullies like Larry.
- D.
It takes more than one person to handle certain situations.
Correct Answer
D. It takes more than one person to handle certain situations.Explanation
In the story, Ben learns that he cannot handle certain situations alone and that it is important to have the support and help of others. This suggests that it takes more than one person to handle these situations effectively.Rate this question:
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- 16.
Ben accuses Cindy of treating him like a charity case after she
- A.
Invites her to accompany him to Jamee’s party.
- B.
Gives him a book entitled Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.
- C.
Offers to buy him new sneakers.
- D.
Tells him that she has noticed that he’s losing weight.
Correct Answer
A. Invites her to accompany him to Jamee’s party. -
- 17.
Ben’s “dangerous game” is to
- A.
Hide Larry’s beer bottles.
- B.
Attack Larry when he was too drunk to fight back.
- C.
Threaten Larry that he might tell the cops who robbed Graham’s store.
- D.
Steal Larry’s old Dodge and drive it to the police station.
Correct Answer
C. Threaten Larry that he might tell the cops who robbed Graham’s store.Explanation
Ben's "dangerous game" is to threaten Larry that he might tell the cops who robbed Graham's store.Rate this question:
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- 18.
Based upon what Mr. Graham tells Ben in the hospital, we can conclude that Mr. Graham
- A.
Knows that he doesn’t have much longer to live.
- B.
Feels that Ben has been too critical of his stepfather, Larry.
- C.
Knows that Ben is being abused at home and wants him to report the abuse.
- D.
Believes that Ben will become lazy without someone around to supervise him.
Correct Answer
C. Knows that Ben is being abused at home and wants him to report the abuse.Explanation
Based on the information provided, Mr. Graham's knowledge about Ben being abused at home and his desire for Ben to report the abuse can be inferred from what he tells Ben in the hospital.Rate this question:
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- 19.
By the end of the book, you can conclude that
- A.
Ben and Mom will again be close to Aunt Fay.
- B.
Ben will drop out of school to work full-time for Mr. Graham.
- C.
Mom will refuse to testify in court against Larry.
- D.
Aunt Fay will go back to live in North Carolina.
Correct Answer
A. Ben and Mom will again be close to Aunt Fay.Explanation
Based on the information given in the question, it can be concluded that Ben and Mom will again be close to Aunt Fay. The other options do not have any supporting evidence or information provided in the question.Rate this question:
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- 20.
Why is Mr. Graham reluctant to hire Ben to work for him at his store? Who does Ben remind Mr. Graham of, and why?
- 21.
In Chapter 4, how do Dez Hodden and his brother Cooper stick up for Ben?
- 22.
What happens to Ben and his mother on the Monday after the Labor Day party? Afterward, what does Mom refuse to let him do? What reasons does she give for refusing?
- 23.
What positive things happen to Ben on his first day of school at Bluford High?
- 24.
What bad news does Mom tell Ben about Larry’s job? How does Ben react to this news?
- 25.
What does Larry do one Friday night to get money? What does he spend the money on? How does this affect Ben and his mom?
- 26.
What does Mr. Graham invite Ben to do after work on Saturday? How is this a change for Ben?
- 27.
On Monday morning, Ben decides to do something that he’s never done before. What does he do? Who sees him doing it? What is Ben’s reaction to being seen by these people?
- 28.
What happens at the store on the day that Ben works an extra hour? How does Ben react to what happens?
- 29.
What two things prompt Aunt Fay to return from North Carolina? What does she do when she again sees Ben?
- 30.
Write a paragraph in which you provide supporting evidence to back up the following point: Point: In Search for Safety, Ben McKee receives help and encouragement from three new friends.
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Mar 20, 2023Quiz Edited by
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May 17, 2011Quiz Created by
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