CAASPP Success - Grade 11 Reading Comprehension - Narrative #1
Read the passage and answer the questions.
Ruby's [1] Ruby's Downhome Diner was an institution. If you only spent one night in Franklin, Texas, someone would inevitably direct you right off Highway 79 and Pink Oak Road to Ruby's Downhome Diner. Ruby’s, or The Downhome; whatever name the locals gave you, there was always something there that you would enjoy. [2] Ruby’s was named after Ruby Sanders, my grandmother. She had opened the diner with money she saved from cleaning houses and with personal loans from friends. By the time I was born, Ruby’s did enough business to pay off all debts and obligations. It didn’t take long before my grandmother was a person of considerable stature in and around Robertson County, just like the restaurant that bore her name. [3] Ever since I was knee-high, I spent each sweltering summer with my grandmother. This, truth be told, meant that for all practical purposes I lived at Ruby’s Downhome. Time familiarized me with all nuances within the diner; there were five steps and four ingredients that separated peach preserves from peach cobbler filling; Deputy Sheriff Walter Mayes preferred his eggs, always cooked over-easy, to finish cooking on the top of his ham before it was transferred to his plate; Mr. Arnold delivered the milk and the buttermilk on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; and there were days when I would need to go to the general store to pick up whatever was in short supply. By the time I entered high school, I could have run the diner from open to close if my Grandmother were absent, but she never was. [4] Perhaps the single greatest contributing factor to the success of Ruby’s Diner was the omnipresent personality of its namesake. Even the most hopelessly spun-around visitor who happened inside those doors would know who Ms. Ruby was. There were no sick days, vacations, or holidays. Between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m., you knew where Ruby Sanders could be found. If there were a sort of cell, then my grandmother was its nucleus; without the nucleus, the cell would surely perish. [5] The people who worked at Ruby’s were as dedicated as Ruby herself. There were the regulars: Del (short for Delmont) did double duty as a short-order cook and janitor, while Marlene and Deborah waited tables. Extra help would be hired from time to time depending on the season and individual need. No matter how long those extra helpers stayed, they and everyone else who worked at the Downhome were family, and no one ever fell out of touch. [6] Ruby’s did the things you’d expect a diner to do, as well as the things you wouldn’t. You could stop in and get yourself a nice cold drink for the road. Or you could pull up a stool at the counter and grab a steaming hot bowl of red pepper chili with a slice of corn pone or a dish of chilled and creamy homemade ice cream. Or better still, you could grab a booth and try any number of full-plate entrees made to order. But you could also order a wedding cake a week in advance, take a weekend course in food preparation, or, when the time came, have your whole catered event dignified by one of Ruby’s Downhome signature dishes. [7] When I was very young, I would spend most of my time exploring every inch of Ruby’s until the entire layout was printed indelibly in my mind. I could walk blindfolded from the basement where the dry goods were kept, up to the kitchen with the walk-in refrigerator chocked full of perishables, over to the main restaurant with row after row of booths and chairs and stools, well-worn but always cleaned after each patron had finished, and finally to the front porch, with its old wooden swing. I can see my grandmother moving from her station near the door to the kitchen, over to the counter and tables, and then back to the front again. Even now, I can see Del speedily making a double order of hash, Deborah picking up a generous tip, and Marlene topping off a customer’s sweet tea. Every summer sunset from that porch seemed to be more magnificent than the last. [8] As I got older, I took on more responsibility. There were fewer sunsets to watch and more work to be done. It was hard but never dull work. The company kept me coming back despite the increasing allure of summer football leagues and idle moments with friends or girls. After all, the woman who built Ruby’s was strong enough to make me forget those things, if only for the summer. I didn’t know that I would never return after my sophomore year of college, and for that, I am glad—I could not have asked for a better end to my long history at Ruby’s. It warms my heart when I think of the last memory of Ruby Sanders: tying her silver hair into a tight bun, hands vigorously wiping down tables with a rag, enjoying a story and a laugh as we closed for the night.
Tristan Ivory
Question 1
What is Ruby's Downhome Diner most notably known for in Franklin, Texas?
Its elegant decor
Its fast service
The diverse offerings and personalized service
Special discounts on holidays
Question 2
Which word best describes Ruby Sanders as portrayed in the text?
Timid
Diligent
Unreliable
Indifferent
Question 3
What role did the narrator play at Ruby’s Downhome Diner over the years?
Occasional customer
Short-term employee
Dedicated helper
Silent observer
Question 4
Which paragraph best encapsulates the narrator's understanding of the diner’s operation?
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 4
Question 5
What is the primary reason for Ruby’s Diner’s success according to the narrator?
The exceptional food quality
Ruby's constant presence and hard work
A prime location near the highway
The affordable prices
Question 6
How does the narrator’s perception of the diner change over time?
From dislike to acceptance
From indifference to adoration
From a playground to a place of responsibility
From helpfulness to disinterest
Question 7
Why does the narrator feel glad about his last summer spent at Ruby’s Downhome?
Because it wasn't as busy as previous summers
Because he knew it was his last chance to work there
Because it ended on a good note with his grandmother
Because he had finally mastered all the recipes
Question 8
What does the detailed description of Ruby's diner in paragraph 7 illustrate?
The logistical challenges the diners faced
The narrator's intimate knowledge of the diner
Ruby’s reluctance to modernize her diner
The daily special menu items
Question 9
What was unique about Ruby's service offerings compared to typical diners?
They only served breakfasts
They specialized in international cuisines
They offered services like wedding cake orders and cooking classes
They were open 24/7
Question 10
How does the author develop the idea of community surrounding Ruby’s Downhome Diner?
By illustrating Ruby’s relationships with her customers and staff
By detailing the various dishes served at the diner
By describing the financial aspects of running the diner
By highlighting the diner’s interior decor and layout
Question 11
Which detail from the text best supports the narrator’s close relationship with his grandmother?
Knowing the exact schedule of the dairy deliveries
Describing Ruby’s hair and attire as she cleaned tables
Helping with the food preparation and cleaning
Spending less time with friends to work at the diner
Question 12
Which of the following best describes the function of paragraph 3 within the text?
To introduce secondary characters
To detail Ruby’s personal history
To illustrate the narrator’s growth and responsibilities
To describe the physical attributes of the diner
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