Out of the Dust

Name: ___________________________________________________ Date: ______________________

WINTER 1934

Section 1: Beginning: August 1920 through Birthday for F.D.R.

1. What were the circumstances of Billie Jo Kelby’s birth?

2. Why was the heroin named Billie Jo?

3. What are Mr. Noble and Mr. Romney arguing about in Rabbit Battles?

4. In what way does Billie Jo “lose” Livie Killian?

5. Who did Arley Wanderdale ask to play at the Palace before he asked Billie Jo?

6. How does Billie Jo get her mother’s permission to play the piano at the Palace?

7. What does Billie Jo say that playing piano can be in On Stage?

8. Where does the money collected at the ball in Birthday for F.D.R. go?

Vocabulary - Out of the Dust

Section 1 Part I: Using Prior Knowledge and Contextual Clues

Below are the sentences in which the vocabulary words appear in the text. Read the sentence. Use any clues you can find in the sentence combined with your prior knowledge, and write what you think the words in bold mean.

1. Ma crouched, barefoot, bare bottomed over the swept boards, because that’s where Daddy said it’d be

    best.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

2. I came too fast for the doctor, bawling as soon as Daddy wiped his hand around inside my mouth.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

3. They pledged revenge on the rabbit population; wagering who could kill more.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

4. They scowl as they pass on the street.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

5. She always gets testy about my playing, even though she’s the one who truly taught me.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

6. …but anyhow, she was distracted enough, I was determined enough, this time I got just what I wanted.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Part II: Determining the Meaning: Match the vocabulary words to their dictionary definitions.

___ 1. crouched                       A. sidetracked; diverted

___ 2. bawling                         B. punishment in return for insult or injury

___ 3. revenge                         C. irritable; touchy

___ 4. scowl                            D. stooped

___ 5. testy                              E. crying out loud

___ 6. distracted                      F. frown