Reading Club – Level 6
Passage from Call of the Wild by Jack London
Lexile Level: 1000 L
Instructional Level Books: (1) The Joy Luck Club, (2) Classic American Short Stories 1840-1930, (3) Modern American Short Stories 1930-2000, and (4) Call of the Wild
Buck’s first day on the Dyea beach was like a nightmare. Every hour was filled with shock and surprise. He had been suddenly jerked from the heart of civilization and flung into the heart of things primordial. (A) No lazy, sun-kissed life was this, with nothing to do but loaf and be bored. Here was neither peace, nor rest, nor a moment’s safety. All was confusion and action, and every moment life and limb were in peril. There was imperative need to be constantly alert; for these dogs and men were not town dogs and men. They were savages, all of them, who knew no law but the law of club and fang.
Before he had recovered from the shock caused by the tragic passing of Curly, he received another shock. Francois fastened upon him an arrangement of straps and buckles. It was a harness, such as he had seen the grooms put on the horses at home. (B) And as he had seen horses work, so he was set to work, hauling Francois on a sled to the forest that fringed the valley, and returning with a load of firewood. (C) Though his dignity was sorely hurt by thus being made a draught animal, he was too wise to rebel. He buckled down with a will and did his best, though it was all new and strange. Francois was stem, demanding instant obedience, and by virtue of his whip receiving instant obedience; while Dave, who was an experienced wheeler, nipped Buck’s hind quarters whenever he was in error. Spitz was the leader, likewise experienced, and while he could not always get at Buck, he growled sharp reproof now and again, or cunningly threw his weight in the traces to jerk Buck into the way he should go. Buck learned easily, and under the combined tuition of his two mates and Francois made remarkable progress. (D) Ere they returned to camp he knew enough to stop at “ho,” to go ahead at “mush,” to swing wide on the bends, and to keep clear of the wheeler when the loaded sled shot downhill at their heels.
1. The word “draught“ is closest in meaning to
a. wild
b. ferocious
c. tame
d. pulling
2. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
a. Buck learned many dog sledding skills.
b. Dave was a mean man that hurt Buck.
c. Buck would not follow Francois’ commands.
d. Buck was proud to pull a sled
3. According to the passage, all of the following statements are true EXCEPT
a. Spitz controlled the actions of Buck.
b. Dave was the leader of the pack.
c. Buck was in a harness.
d. The dogs hauled a load of
4. Paragraph 2 supports which of the following statements in paragraph 1 about . . .
a. Buck’s new friends
b. Buck’s shock
c. Buck’s quiet life
d. dreaming on Dyea Beach
5. Which of the sentences below expresses the essential information in the following sentence?
Sentence: Francois was stem, demanding instant obedience, and by virtue of his whip receiving instant obedience.
a. Francois patiently waited for the dogs to follow the rules.
b. Francois was a virtuous man.
c. Francois whipped the dogs to make them follow his commands.
d. Francois received a whip.
6. According to the passage Dave and Spitz . . .
a. were dogs that knew how to pull a sled.
b. did not understand “ho” and “mush.”
c. did not fear the whip.
d. used to be pets living in a hou
7. Look at the letters (A, B, C, and D) that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage
Sentence: Buck knew he had to learn fast to avoid punishment from Francois, Dave, and Spitz.
Where would the sentence fit best?
e. Option A
f. Option B
g. Option C
h. 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: Buck went from an easy life to a dangerous life as a sled dog.
8.
9.
10.
a. Buck had to make changes to survive.
b. Buck could learn quickly.
c. Buck and Francois were friends.
d. Sled dogs have to learn many skills
e. A sled dog has an easy life.