by Mary Mapes Dodge
Midway between a certain blue lake and a deep forest there once stood a cottage, called by its owner “The Rookery.”
The forest shut out the sunlight and scowled upon the ground, breaking with shadows every ray that fell, until only a few little pieces lay scattered about. But the broad lake invited all the rays to come and rest upon her, so that sometimes she shone from shore to shore, and the sun winked and blinked above her, as though dazzled by his own reflection. The cottage, which was very small, had sunny windows and dark windows. Only from the roof could you see the mountains beyond, where the light crept up in the morning and down in the evening, turning all the brooks into living silver as it passed.
But something brighter than sunshine used often to look from the cottage into the forest, and something even more gloomy than shadows often glowered from its windows upon the sunny lake. One was the face of little Ruky Lynn; and the other was his sister’s when she felt angry or ill-tempered.
They were orphans, Cora and Ruky, living alone in the cottage with an old uncle. Cora—or “Cor,” as Ruky called her—was nearly sixteen years old, but her brother had seen the forest turn yellow only four times. She was, therefore, almost mother and sister in one. The little fellow was her companion night and day. Together they ate and slept, and—when Cora was not at work in the cottage—together they rambled in the wood, or floated in their little skiff upon the lake.
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Question
Use the story to answer the question.
Which details are essential to include in an objective summary of the story?
Select the two correct answers.
(1 point)
Responses
an opinion on the mistake the main character makes
an opinion on the mistake the main character makes
a brief description of the two main characters
a brief description of the two main characters
the lesson the main character learns
the lesson the main character learns
an analysis of the relationship between the siblings
an analysis of the relationship between the siblings
the genre to which the story belongs/
3 answers
The two correct answers for an objective summary of the story are:
These details are essential for providing a clear and concise overview of the narrative without including personal opinions or analyses.
Here’s how you can arrange the sentences into the correct order for the summary:
Summary: Cora and Ruky are orphan siblings who take care of each other. Cora is the older sibling and has been like a mother to little Ruky.
Response area: Sometimes, Ruky wears on Cora’s limited patience.
Response area: One day, Ruky frustrates Cora, and she makes a wish that instead of being crow-like, Ruky were really a crow. The wish appears to come true.
Response area: Ruky turns into a crow and flies away to live with the other birds.
Response area: Cora spends what feels to her like days and days trying to fix the situation while stewing in her regret.
Response area: Finally, Cora wakes up and discovers that Ruky is fine and human.
Response area: Cora learns to avoid letting her emotions cause her to say things she doesn’t mean.
Response area: Ruky and Cora stop being mad at each other and take comfort in things returning to normal.
This sequence captures the main events and character development in the story.
