Name_________________________________Period______Date____________
“BARGAIN”
By: A.B. Guthrie
VOCABULARY
1.rattled:
2.prodded:
3.drop:
4.slouch:
5.smoothed:
6.scream:
7.thump:
8.hustle:
9.justice:
10.revenge:
Predicting Questions
1.What part do you suppose Slade will play in this story?
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2.What kind of a person is Mr. Baumer? How is he different from Slade?
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3.What do you think will happen between Mr. Baumer and Slade?
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4.What do you guess Baumer is thinking? Why do you think this writer keeps
mentioning his chin?
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5.What clues suggest that Baumer will not give up? How could he get even with
Slade?
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6.Why do you suppose Baumer has hired Slade again?
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7.What happened to Slade?
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Postreading questions
Please answer the following statements TRUE or FALSE.
1.Mr. Baumer learned to read and write English when he immigrated to this
country at sixteen years of age. _____
2.Slade was gentle with his horses. _____
3.Slade read the Moon Dance newspaper every day. _____
4.Slade never paid any of his debts. _____
5.It was normal for freighters to steal a little bit of whiskey from the shipment of
goods. _____
6.Slade paid his bill the second time Mr. Baumer gave it to him. _____
Reading Check
1.Why is Baumer angry with Slade?
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2.What happends to Baumer when he runs into Slade the first time?
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3.Why does Al tell Baumer to forget about Slade?
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4.How does Al feel when he learns that Baumer has hired Slade?
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5.How does Slade die?
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6.Would you say this story is about justice or revenge? Explain.
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7.When Al suggests that Mr. Baumer forgets Slade’s bill, Mr. Baumer says that it
isn’t the money anymore; it is “the thing.” What do you think Mr. Baumer means
by “the thing”?
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8.Why does Baumer say at the end “Is good to know to read”?
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9.Who do you think is responsible for Slade’s death- Mr. Baumer or Slade
himself? Give reasons to support your view.
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10.If you were in Al’s situation, would you keep silent about the likely cause of
Slade’s death? Why or why not?
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11.What do you think of what Baumer does to Slade? Does he do the right thing?
Why or why not?
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12.What do you think the theme of “Bargain is?
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