Time Warriors

"Mom, I'm going outside!" Alex shouted up the stairs. Even though he put it like a statement, he was really asking her for permission. His mother replied, "OK, Alex, but you have to bring Mikey." Alex didn't want to bring his little brother Mikey, who sucked on his fingers and got Alex's toys covered with drool, but he did want to go outside. He sighed and then pleaded, "But Mom, I'm going to the woods with A.J." His mother replied in a practiced manner, "A.J. or not, you will bring Mikey with you or you will not go." Alex huffed and then got out Mikey's coat.

As the brothers walked down the empty street on the cool autumn day, the younger brother extended his hand to the older and said, "Hold my hand, Alex." Alex sneered at Mikey and said, "Your hand is covered with spit and holding hands is for babies." Mikey wiped his hand on his pants and shot back, "Is not. Mom and Dad hold hands and they aren't babies." Alex considered his brother's words for a moment and then decided to step up the debate, "Look, don't do this baby stuff when we get to Alex's. Just keep your mouth shut and mind your business and I won't clobber you." 

When they got to A.J.'s house, the three boys dispensed with the introductions and ran immediately to the woods. A.J. carried a thin stick as though it were a sword, and he swiped off the tops of weeds as they ran through the trails. Alex held a stick as though it were a machine gun, and he shot imaginary round after round deep into the woods with great bravado. Mikey held his hand in his mouth as though it were a pacifier, and he struggled to keep up with the other boys. 

Taking his hand from his mouth Mikey shouted, "Wait up, Alex," but Alex did not wait. Alex and A.J. were fighting a battle to save the universe, which required them to pass over creeks and logs, jump deep trenches, and climb over thick brush. Alex was having so much fun playing time warriors with A.J. that he had forgotten about Mikey. The two boys played until A.J. defeated Alex in a dramatic duel on a log. After suffering this crushing defeat, Alex called for his brother, whom he thought that he could beat in a duel, but there was no response to his call. Alex scanned around the forest for Mikey. "Mikey???" he shouted again. Alex’s heart dropped as he realized that Mikey was gone. 

Panic swept over Alex's face. He shared the problem with A.J., who confirmed his worst fears by saying, "Uh-oh… My dad says that there are wolves in these woods," and the two boys began a frantic search through the forest, backtracking and shouting for Mikey while imaging a roving pack of grey wolves waiting around every turn. Alex thought back to all of the good times and that he had shared with his brother. He realized that he loved him and he wanted nothing more than for Mikey to come back. 

The boys looked by the thick brush, the deep trenches, and creeks and logs, but there was no sign of Mikey, so Alex and A.J. decided that it was time to tell an adult. As the boys approached the back door of A.J.'s house, they heard a scuttle coming from behind the shed. Much to their surprise, Mikey came rolling out and poked Alex in the belly with a stick. In the joy of the moment, Alex did not mind that he had lost another duel, or that he had been poked with a spit covered stick. He was just happy to see his brother again. Alex laughed as he picked up Mikey and gave him a great big. Alex would go back to beating on his little brother Mikey and calling him “slobber paw” the next day, but for the rest of that day Alex treated Mikey like a king.											 
1. Which of the following is best described as the inciting incident of the story?

A. Mikey loses Alex in the woods			B. Alex loses a duel to A.J
C. Mom makes Alex take Mikey with him		D. All three boys run into the woods

2. Which of the following is best described as part of the climax of the story?

A. Mikey pokes Alex with the stick			B. Alex realizes that he lost Mikey
C. Alex goes back to being mean to Mikey		D. Mom makes Alex take Mikey with him	

3. Which of the following is best described as part of the exposition of the story?

A. Alex tells Mom that he’s going outside		B. Alex realizes that he lost Mikey
C. Alex loses a duel to A.J				D. Alex goes back to being mean to Mikey

4. Which of the following is best described as part of the rising action of the story?

A. Mikey struggles to keep up with Alex		B. Alex and A.J. look for Mikey
C. Mikey pokes Alex with the stick			D. Alex goes back to being mean to Mikey	

5. Which of the following is best described as part of the resolution of the story?

A. Alex loses a duel to A.J				B. Alex and A.J. look for Mikey
C. Mom makes Alex take Mikey with him		D. Alex goes back to being mean to Mikey

6. Which of the following is best described as part of the falling action of the story?

A. Mom makes Alex take Mikey with him		B. Alex and A.J. look for Mikey
C. Mikey struggles to keep up with Alex		D. Alex loses a duel to A.J	

7. At the beginning of the story, how does Alex feel about his brother Mikey?

A. Alex finds him to be annoying			B. Alex thinks that he is cool
C. Alex wants to be just like him			D. Alex is indifferent

8. During the falling action of the story, how does Alex feel about his brother Mikey?

A. Alex ignores him					B. Alex thinks that he is annoying
C. Alex loves and appreciates him			D. Alex wants to be just like Mikey

9. Which term best describes the following: modern day, on an empty road, and in the woods?

A. direct trait		B. indirect trait	C. motivation	 D. conflict	 E. setting

10. Which term best describes the following: boy is forced to hang out with his younger brother?

A. direct trait		B. indirect trait	C. climax	 D. conflict	 E. setting

11. The turning point in the story

12. Events after the climax

13. How the story ends

14. Events before the climax

15. The moment the conflict is introduced	A. Rising action

B. Falling action

C. Resolution

D. Inciting incident

E. Climax