Bellwork #25: MCT2 Practice

Read the following excerpt from The Lost Boy by Dave Pelzer.

“How do you think it makes me feel to have a son of mine at a place like that…or a place like this?” Father’s eyes seemed so cold as they pierced through me. “Arson. They’re charging you with arson! Do you know how many firemen die because of arsonists? Hell, maybe she’s right. Maybe you are incorrigible.”

Based upon the context in the excerpt, which choice will the reader infer as the meaning of incorrigible? {1.d} [DOK 2] (Proficient)A. RestrainedB. MoralC. UnrulyD. Disinterested

Bellwork #26: MCT2 Practice

Read the following excerpt from The Lost Boy by Dave Pelzer.

One of them, Stephen, nudged me, claiming that a girl from the other table kept looking at me. ‘So?’ I asked. ‘What’s the big deal?’ ‘If you like a girl, you call ‘em a horror,’ Stephen explained. I tilted my head to one side. While I thought about the word Stephen wanted me to say, the other boys nodded with approval. After extensive coaching from my new friends, I tried to be cool as I bent over to the girl and whispered, ‘You’re the best-looking horror I’ve ever seen.’

Based upon the excerpt, what can we infer about Dave’s character? {2.b} [DOK 3] (Proficient)A. Dave shows a mastery of vocabulary.B. Dave is very judgmental. C. Dave shares Stephen’s sense of humor.D. Dave is too unsuspecting of people.

Bellwork #27: MCT2 Practice

Read the following excerpt from The Lost Boy by Dave Pelzer.‘Well, where’s he going to sleep?’ Harold asked in a stern tone. After a small squabble, Alice decided I would share a room with Michelle, a 17-year old foster child who worked at night. Harold continued to protest, claiming that sharing a room with a young lady was not proper. Trying to make a good first impression, I marched up to him, looked him straight in the eye and shrieked, ‘Oh, it’s okay! I don’t mind!’ As the words spilled out, I knew I was in trouble. For the next four nights, I curled up beneath a set of old wool blankets on the living-room couch. I didn’t know why I had made Harold so upset, but at least I had a place to stay. For that, I was thankful.

Based upon the excerpt, what can we infer about Dave’s character? {2.b} [DOK 3] (Proficient)A. Dave is a perverted teenager.B. Dave is desperate for a place to stay, so he will say anything to gain sympathy.C. Dave did not have a sister, so he is intrigued.D. Dave’s naïveté overcomes his desire to impress.

Bellwork #28: MCT2 Practice

Read the following excerpt from The Lost Boy by Dave Pelzer.

Without hesitating I gave Alice a kiss. Then I thought about her last statement and gave her a frown. ‘You mean Harold wants me to stay, too?’ Alice laughed, ‘Just because Harold doesn’t talk that much to you doesn’t mean he doesn’t like you. He just has a hard time understanding you. Frankly, I’m sure a lot of people would. But take my word, if Harold didn’t want you, you wouldn’t be here.’ Her big hands wrapped around my skinny fingers. ‘Ol’ Leo likes you more than you know.’ Alice’s explanation of Harold meant the world to me.

Using your knowledge of both A Child Called “It” and The Lost Boy what inference can be made about the importance of Alice’s explanation of Harold? {2.d} [DOK 3] (Proficient)A. Dave yearns for a foster family, and he is so excited to finally have a true family.B. After all of the years of mistreatment, Dave finally has someone to talk to.C. Dave realizes the possibility of Harold as a father figure.D. Dave has trouble understanding some language, and he appreciate Alice’s patience in

explaining things to him.

Bellwork #29: MCT2 PracticeRead the following excerpt from The Lost Boy by Dave Pelzer.

I gently shook my childhood superhero from his slumber. Father’s coughing seemed to awaken him. His stench was so bad that I held my breath until I could help him stumble from the bar. The outside air seemed to clear his head. In the sunlight Father looked worse than I ever imagined. I deliberately did not look at his face. I wanted to remember my father for the man he once was—the tall, rugged, strong firefighter with gleaming white teeth, who placed himself in danger to help a fellow fireman or rescue a child from a burning building. Father and I walked for several blocks without saying a word. I knew better than to question him on his drinking or his lifestyle. But Uncle Lee’s warning about doing something, anything, to help Father echoed in my mind. Without thinking, I closed my eyes, spun around and held out my hand, stopping him. ‘What happened, dad?’ Father stopped and let out a hacking cough. His hands trembled as he struggled to light a cigarette. ‘You’d be better off forgetting all about it, the whole thing—your mother, the house, everything. It never happened.’ Father took a deep drag. I tried to look into his eyes, but he kept dodging my glance. ‘It’s your mother. She’s crazy….You’d be better off forgetting the whole thing,’ he ordered with a wave of his hand, as if sweeping the family secret under the carpet for the final time.

Based upon the excerpt, what inference can you make as to why the author entitled this chapter Break Away? {2.d} [DOK 3] (Proficient)A. Dave has remained out of juvenile hall for a while now, so he has broken the chains of misbehavior.B. Father’s ultimate wish for Dave is to break away from the chains of The Family and make a fresh start.C. Father’s alcoholism has caused him to no longer be employed with the San Francisco Fire Department; this has

caused Father to break away from the reality of life through drinking.D. Father is unable to accept the harsh reality of the family secret; he cannot break the chains of abuse.

Examples of Dave’s Naïveté

• He calls the girl a “horror”.• He looks up Connie’s skirt

to see her long legs.

Dave has no clue how to act around girls.

• He gets busted stealing from Walgreens by his “friend’s” father.

• He takes the blame for starting the fire at the school for John.

Dave is too trusting of others. • His artwork as a 12 year

old is like that of a kindergartner.

• His vocabulary is lacking & often gets him into trouble.

Dave is socially delayed from the years of isolation & abuse.