Question
Read the Excerpt from Chapter 10 of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee. Then answer the questions.
When he gave us our air-rifles Atticus wouldn’t teach us to shoot. Uncle Jack instructed us in the rudiments thereof; he said Atticus wasn’t interested in guns. Atticus said to Jem one day, “I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it.
“Your father’s right,” she said. “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
his question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
Part A
Which answer BEST explains the symbolism behind what Miss Maudie means when she agrees with Atticus and says, “It’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”?
HINT: When a question asks “Which answer BEST explains…”, that means more than one answer might be partly true. But only one is the most complete, most accurate, and most clearly connected to the text or idea.
Take your time—read every option carefully and look for the one that explains it deeply and correctly, not just the one that sounds good at first glance.
Standard: ELA.8.R.3.1 – Analyze how figurative language contributes to meaning and explain examples of symbolism in texts.
Responses
Miss Maudie thinks kids should be careful not to waste bullets on animals that don’t matter much. She believes Atticus wants Scout and Jem to focus on their aim instead of what they hit.
Miss Maudie thinks kids should be careful not to waste bullets on animals that don’t matter much. She believes Atticus wants Scout and Jem to focus on their aim instead of what they hit. EndFragment
Miss Maudie means mockingbirds are rare and should be protected like endangered animals. Because people don’t see them often, they deserve extra care and attention.
Miss Maudie means mockingbirds are rare and should be protected like endangered animals. Because people don’t see them often, they deserve extra care and attention. EndFragment
Miss Maudie believes mockingbirds are like pets, so hurting them would be like hurting something you love. Since mockingbirds don’t cause trouble, she thinks they should be treated like part of the family.
Miss Maudie believes mockingbirds are like pets, so hurting them would be like hurting something you love. Since mockingbirds don’t cause trouble, she thinks they should be treated like part of the family. EndFragment
Miss Maudie uses the mockingbird as a symbol for innocent beings who do no harm and bring only good into the world. Since mockingbirds cannot defend themselves, hurting them is cruel and unjust.
Miss Maudie uses the mockingbird as a symbol for innocent beings who do no harm and bring only good into the world. Since mockingbirds cannot defend themselves, hurting them is cruel and unjust. EndFragment
Question 2
Part B
Based on your answer to Part A, which character best represents the symbolic meaning of the mockingbird?”
Responses
Dill
Dill
Miss Maudie
Miss Maudie
Tim Johnson
Tim Johnson
Boo Radley
When he gave us our air-rifles Atticus wouldn’t teach us to shoot. Uncle Jack instructed us in the rudiments thereof; he said Atticus wasn’t interested in guns. Atticus said to Jem one day, “I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it.
“Your father’s right,” she said. “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
his question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
Part A
Which answer BEST explains the symbolism behind what Miss Maudie means when she agrees with Atticus and says, “It’s a sin to kill a mockingbird”?
HINT: When a question asks “Which answer BEST explains…”, that means more than one answer might be partly true. But only one is the most complete, most accurate, and most clearly connected to the text or idea.
Take your time—read every option carefully and look for the one that explains it deeply and correctly, not just the one that sounds good at first glance.
Standard: ELA.8.R.3.1 – Analyze how figurative language contributes to meaning and explain examples of symbolism in texts.
Responses
Miss Maudie thinks kids should be careful not to waste bullets on animals that don’t matter much. She believes Atticus wants Scout and Jem to focus on their aim instead of what they hit.
Miss Maudie thinks kids should be careful not to waste bullets on animals that don’t matter much. She believes Atticus wants Scout and Jem to focus on their aim instead of what they hit. EndFragment
Miss Maudie means mockingbirds are rare and should be protected like endangered animals. Because people don’t see them often, they deserve extra care and attention.
Miss Maudie means mockingbirds are rare and should be protected like endangered animals. Because people don’t see them often, they deserve extra care and attention. EndFragment
Miss Maudie believes mockingbirds are like pets, so hurting them would be like hurting something you love. Since mockingbirds don’t cause trouble, she thinks they should be treated like part of the family.
Miss Maudie believes mockingbirds are like pets, so hurting them would be like hurting something you love. Since mockingbirds don’t cause trouble, she thinks they should be treated like part of the family. EndFragment
Miss Maudie uses the mockingbird as a symbol for innocent beings who do no harm and bring only good into the world. Since mockingbirds cannot defend themselves, hurting them is cruel and unjust.
Miss Maudie uses the mockingbird as a symbol for innocent beings who do no harm and bring only good into the world. Since mockingbirds cannot defend themselves, hurting them is cruel and unjust. EndFragment
Question 2
Part B
Based on your answer to Part A, which character best represents the symbolic meaning of the mockingbird?”
Responses
Dill
Dill
Miss Maudie
Miss Maudie
Tim Johnson
Tim Johnson
Boo Radley
Answers
GPT-4o mini
**Part A**
The answer that BEST explains the symbolism behind what Miss Maudie means when she agrees with Atticus and says, “It’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” is:
**Miss Maudie uses the mockingbird as a symbol for innocent beings who do no harm and bring only good into the world. Since mockingbirds cannot defend themselves, hurting them is cruel and unjust.**
This option captures the essence of the symbolism that Harper Lee employs through the metaphor of the mockingbird, representing innocence and the idea of protecting those who do no wrong.
---
**Part B**
Based on the answer to Part A, the character that best represents the symbolic meaning of the mockingbird is:
**Boo Radley**
Boo Radley is portrayed as an innocent character who, despite being misunderstood and judged, ultimately brings goodness to the lives of Scout and Jem. He embodies the qualities of a mockingbird—someone who does no harm and should be protected.
The answer that BEST explains the symbolism behind what Miss Maudie means when she agrees with Atticus and says, “It’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” is:
**Miss Maudie uses the mockingbird as a symbol for innocent beings who do no harm and bring only good into the world. Since mockingbirds cannot defend themselves, hurting them is cruel and unjust.**
This option captures the essence of the symbolism that Harper Lee employs through the metaphor of the mockingbird, representing innocence and the idea of protecting those who do no wrong.
---
**Part B**
Based on the answer to Part A, the character that best represents the symbolic meaning of the mockingbird is:
**Boo Radley**
Boo Radley is portrayed as an innocent character who, despite being misunderstood and judged, ultimately brings goodness to the lives of Scout and Jem. He embodies the qualities of a mockingbird—someone who does no harm and should be protected.