The Lions of Little Rock
Kristin Levine
Name:________________
Block:___
Chapters 11-15
(p.52-75)
Directions: Use the context – or the words surrounding the underlined word – to try to
determine its meaning. Then, look the word up in a dictionary and compare your definition to
the dictionary definition.
1. “What are you doing?” I asked. “Looking for a talisman.” “A what?” “A talisman. A good
luck charm.” (p.54)
I think talisman means ______________________________________________________.
The dictionary says a talisman is ______________________________________________.
2. The rock crusher was an old abandoned quarry. The open mine sometimes filled with
rainwater, making a small pond, but mostly it was just hills and trees and lots of rocks.
(p.56)
I think quarry means ______________________________________________________.
The dictionary says a quarry is ______________________________________________.
3. I’d done it. I’d spoken aloud in class at school. But I didn’t feel powerful. I didn’t feel
triumphant. I felt like I was getting the flu. (p.67)
I think triumphant means ____________________________________________________.
The dictionary says triumphant means _________________________________________.
4. …[I]f I said I hadn’t done the presentation, that I’d chickened out, she’d console me and tell
me that it was okay, and I could not handle that now, because everything was definitely not
okay. (p.69)
I think console means _______________________________________________________.
The dictionary says console means _____________________________________________.
5. “She lied to Marlee and everyone else at school. That’s not what I call the behavior of a nice
girl. Marlee’s probably feeling betrayed and---“ (p.71)
I think betrayed means ______________________________________________________.
The dictionary says betrayed means ____________________________________________.
The Lions of Little Rock
Kristin Levine
Name:________________
Block:___
Questions: Read each of the questions below. Answer each question in complete sentences
with correct grammar and spelling to the best of your ability. Make sure that you support your
answers with evidence from the novel.
1. Answer BOTH questions:
a. How has Liz taught Marlee to relax?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
b. How do you help yourself relax when you are nervous?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. Why does Liz give Marlee a talisman?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
3. Symbolism – A symbol is something (an object, place, or person) that stands for something
else. Authors often use symbols to communicate a deeper meaning. Answer BOTH
questions:
a. What do you think the feather symbolizes to Marlee?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
b. Crows and crow feathers sometimes symbolize omens or bad luck. What omen(s) might
the author be foreshadowing for Marlee? (predict)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
4. What solution has been found for closing schools?
__________________________________________________________________________
5. Why does Marlee compare classes to lions?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
The Lions of Little Rock
Kristin Levine
Name:________________
Block:___
6. Answer BOTH questions:
a. Why does Marlee ride the horse?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
b. What does this event reveal about how she is changing?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
7. Why type of figurative language is used in this sentence, "I was a balloon that had been
blown into a cactus"? (p.65) ___________________________________________________
8. What type of figurative language is used in this sentence, "...he looked up at me with shining
eyes, as if I'd given him a diamond"? (p.66) ______________________________________
9. Why does Marlee choose Jimmy instead of JT during her presentation?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
10. Mood – the general feeling in a novel (or in part of a novel, like a chapter). Some examples
of mood words are anxious, fearful, sad, light-hearted, serious, or suspenseful. An author
usually conveys various mood throughout a novel or chapter.
a. Describe the mood at the beginning of chapter 13. Cite one passage from the text that
the author uses to create this mood.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
b. Describe the mood at the end of chapter 13. Cite one passage from the text that the
author uses to create this mood.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
11. What is "passing"?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
The Lions of Little Rock
Kristin Levine
Name:________________
Block:___
12. What happens when someone is caught trying to "pass" according to Betty Jean?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
13. What does Daddy mean when he says "She (Liz) was your friend. Now she's someone else"?
(p.73)
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Analyzing Primary Sources A primary source is a firsthand testimony or piece of evidence
from an event. Primary sources can be letters, newspaper articles, images, songs, or artifacts.
Primary sources are particularly valuable because they offer firsthand accounts of a particular
period. Read the following excerpts from Chief Justice Earl Warren's majority opinion in Brown
v. Board of Education, a landmark unanimous Supreme Court decision that led to the integration
of schools.
1. What is the purpose of Chief Justice Warren's opinion? Why did he write it?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
2. According to Chief Justice Warren, is education a right or a privilege? Explain.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
The Lions of Little Rock
Kristin Levine
Name:________________
Block:___
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
3. What does the phrase "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal" mean?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
4. Write a paragraph summarizing this landmark decision. Include a topic sentence where you
introduce the case. Add 2 or more sentences with relevant facts, details, or quotes from the
decision. Conclude with a sentence describing the importance of this decision.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
The Lions of Little Rock
Kristin Levine
Name:________________
Block:___
Chapters 16-20
(p.76-102)
The Lions of Little Rock
Kristin Levine
Name:________________
Block:___
Questions: Read each of the questions below. Answer each question in complete sentences
with correct grammar and spelling to the best of your ability. Make sure that you support your
answers with evidence from the novel.
1. Why does Marlee go to the Baptist church?
__________________________________________________________________________
2. Answer BOTH questions:
a. What type of figurative language is used in the sentence, "you're walking on eggshells"?
(p.85) __________________________________________________________________
b. What does this commonly used phrase mean?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. What does Mother reveal during dinner in chapter 18?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
4. Answer BOTH questions:
a. What figurative language is used in the sentence, "I would take the high road"? (p.87)
_______________________________________________________________________
b. What does this commonly used phrase mean?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
5. An analogy is a comparison of two things or two ideas. Similes and metaphors are two
kinds of analogies. Though similes are short and usually confined to one sentence, some
analogies are extended, meaning they can stretch into many sentences, or even paragraphs.
In this chapter, the story of Pretty Boy serves as an analogy. Explain Daddy's analogy using
Pretty Boy on page 88. What is Daddy trying to say?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
6. Answer BOTH questions:
a. What type of figurative language is "birds of a feather flock together"? (p.92)
________________________________________________________________________
The Lions of Little Rock
Kristin Levine
Name:________________
Block:___
b. What does this common saying mean?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
7. What does Marlee realize for the first time on page 93?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
8. How is Liz treated now that the truth is out?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
9. What plans do Liz and Marlee make so that they can remain friends?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
10. Answer BOTH questions:
a. How does the reading of Peter and the Golden Rule affect Marlee?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
b. What might the author be foreshadowing with the inclusion of this Bible verse? (predict)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
11. Briefly summarize the events of chapters 1-5. Your summary should be between 5 and 10
sentences long.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
The Lions of Little Rock
Kristin Levine
Name:________________
Block:___
12. There are several similes in these chapters. Conduct a simile scavenger hunt and copy down
FIVE similes and the page number where you found it.
1. ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Choose ONE of the following activities. Complete your chosen activity ON YOUR OWN
PAPER and attach to this worksheet.
Prompt #1: Do you believe that sending Judy to Granny's house so she can attend school is the
right decision? Write a persuasive paragraph from Marlee's point of view and take a position on
this question. Your paragraph should include the following:
• A strong topic sentence where you take a clear position on the question
• 3-5 sentences which support your position. Include relevant reasons, examples, and
evidence to support your claim.
• A concluding sentences that restates your position in different words than your topic
sentence.
Prompt #2: How do you think Liz feels about the situation at her old and new schools? Write a
diary entry from the point of view of Liz and include the following:
• A reflection about how Liz felt with Sally's mother discovered her secret
• A description of how Liz is being treated at Dunbar Middle School
• A list of things Liz hopes for the future