Available Answers

1. 1.

   Complete the following sentences with words and phrases from the passage.

   1. Tom had a _________________ of _______________ and a ______________ _____________ to paint the fence.
   2. Tom offered ________________ a white _____________ as a bribe.
   3. Billy Fisher gave Tom a _____________, while Johnny Miller brought him a ______________.
   4. In order to make a person ____________________ a thing, it is necessary to make it difficult to ____________________.
   5. The fence got ____________________ coats of ____________________ on it.
2. 2.

   Sighing, he dipped his brush and passed it along the topmost plank; did it again; compared the insignificant whitewashed streak with the far-reaching unwhitewashed fence and sat down on a tree box, discouraged.

   1. Why did Tom feel discouraged after a couple of strokes of whitewashing?
   2. Who came along just then? What was he doing?
3. 3.

   Why did Tom feel discouraged after a couple of strokes of whitewashing?

4. 4.

   Who came along just then? What was he doing?

5. 5.

   What character traits of Tom are evident from the passage?

6. 6.

   What attracted the boys to such an ordinary task as whitewashing a fence?