Teacher Guide for FAST-R Passage: The Guest - Boston Plan for ...

Teacher Guide for FAST-R Passage:
FAST-R: Formative Assessments of Student Thinking in Reading
At a Glance
Approximate
Grade Range: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Genre:
Topic:
Folktale
Wise Mullah Nasreddin teaches some rich men a lesson
about judging a person by their appearance.
Author: retold by Uma Krishnaswami
Source: HIghlights for Children (2001)
Special Note: used on G4 MCAS 2004
The Guest
Folktale
Difficulty Index: Considerate . . . . . . . . . . . . Challenging
Structure:
Purpose:
Richness:
Relationships:
Vocabulary:
Style:
Lexile Measure: 580L
Have you ever heard the phrase “Don’t judge a book by its cover”
Read what happens to a rich man who had not learned that lesson.
Answer the questions that follow.
The Guest
Retold by Uma Krishnaswami
Nasreddin is a legendary character who appears in many
Asian folktales. He solves life’s problems with a mixture of
foolishness and wisdom.
1 Mullah Nasreddin was a wise man. When he spoke, people
listened. And so he chose his words and actions as carefully as
kings choose their generals.
2 One day a rich man invited the Mullah to a feast at his
house. “I would be honored, Mullah sahib,”* said he, “if you
would grace us with your presence. Tomorrow night”
3 “I will come,” agreed Mullah Nasreddin, “tomorrow night.”
4 The following night, the Mullah threw on his shabbiest and
most comfortable clothes. “It is a bit chilly,” he said, and added
an old black coat. The edges of its sleeves were frayed. The holes
in its elbows were patched with swatches torn from old flour
sacks.
5 On his feet, Mullah Nasreddin slipped a pair of ragged
sandals.
6 When darkness fell he arrived at the rich man’s doorstep.
A servant opened the door. “What do you want, old man” the
servant demanded.
7 “Your master has invited me to his feast,” said the Mullah.
8 The servant peered suspiciously at him. “Wait here,” he
said. “I’ll be back in a moment.”
9 The servant went in. His whispers carried to the door. “An
old beggarman, O my master . . . says he is your guest. . . .”
10 The rich man came to the courtyard to take a look. Seeing
the old man in his ragged clothes, he waved a hand to the servant,
then went back to join his elegant guests.
11 The servant returned to the door. “My master does not
know you,” he said.
Purpose: As suggested in the introductory blurb, this
tale teaches readers not to judge people based on
appearance alone.
See especially: Questions 8, 9, 10
Richness: This italicized introduction gives the reader
information about Mullah Nasreddin that helps explain
his surprising behavior in the story. The “spotlight” adds
additional background on the Nasreddin character.
See especially: Questions 1, 2
Relationships: Paragraphs 1 and 2 provide evidence
that Nasreddin was well-respected, particularly by the
rich man. The conclusion states that the rich man never
judged people by their appearance again, giving proof
that “when [Nasreddin] spoke, people listened.”
See especially: Question 3
Vocabulary: Some of these descriptive words may be
unfamiliar to students, but as the story unfolds, there are
enough clues to help readers compose a mental image of
Nasreddin’s appearance.
Other challenging vocabulary is scattered throughout.
See especially: Questions 5, 7; underlined words
Continued on next page
FAST-R: Formative Assessments in Student Thinking in Reading. The passage text by Uma Krishnaswami is from Highlights for Children (2001). Copyright © 2001 by Highlights for
Children, Inc. Some questions were drawn or adapted from the G4 MCAS Spring 2004 test. All other materials are Copyright 2007 by the Boston Plan for Excellence.

12 “He invited me to his feast,” insisted the Mullah.
13 The servant laughed. “Nonsense! Invited you A ragged
old beggar My master’s friends are noblemen and kings. Be off
before I take a stick to you!”
14 So Mullah Nasreddin went home. He changed into his finest
silk garments. He wore a black woolen vest with silver trim.
He put his best cap on his head and added a handsome highcollared
coat. He sprinkled rose water on his face and hands. He
combed his beard.
15 Smiling to himself, he made his way back to the rich man’s
house and knocked at the door.
Structure: Nasreddin’s second set of preparations and
second trip to the rich man’s house begin here. Readers
should note the contrast in his choice of clothing and
reception by the servant and the rich man.
See especially: Questions 4, 6
16 Once again, the servant opened it. Once again, the Mullah
said, “Your master has invited me to his feast.”
17 This time the servant bowed respectfully and ushered him
in.
18 “Welcome, welcome, Mullah sahib.” And the rich man
himself showed the Mullah to his special seat at the feast.
19 “At last, Mullah sahib,” said the guests. “We have all been
waiting for you.”
20 The food arrived. “Serve Mullah Nasreddin first,” said the
rich man. The Mullah smiled at everyone. Then he began to get
busy with his food.
21 But he did not eat.
22 “Hai hai!” cried the guests.
23 “Mullah sahib! What are you doing” cried the rich man.
24 For Mullah Nasreddin had begun to spoon the soup over his
best cap. He crumbled the bread and sprinkled the crumbs over
the shoulders of his handsome highcollared coat. He took apart
the shish kebab and fed it lovingly to his sleeves.
25 The rich man’s voice trembled. “Mullah sahib, do you not
like the food”
Style: This tale uses a typical “storytelling voice,” using
rich descriptive vocabulary to paint a scene but leaving
characters’ thoughts and motivations implicit until the
end so the reader experiences the lesson just as the
characters do.
26 In reply, Mullah Nasreddin dribbled the delicate yogurt and
cream sauces over his fine silk garments and best black woolen
vest with silver trim. Then he sat back and beamed at everyone.
27 There was a shocked silence. Then the rich man said, “O
most respected Mullah Nasreddin, you never do anything without
a reason. Has someone offended you”
28 The Mullah replied, “When I arrived in rags, you turned me
away. Now that I am dressed in finery, you treat me with honor.
Clearly it is my clothes you are welcoming and not me. So it is
only fitting that they should eat this delightful food you have
prepared for them.”
29 The rich man hung his head in shame. He said, “Mullah
sahib, forgive me. I was blind. I saw only your clothes and could
not recognize the wearer. I will never again judge people by how
they look or by the clothes they wear.” And, in truth, he never
did.
Copyright © 2001 by Highlights for Children, Inc., Columbus, Ohio.
Spotlight On: Mullah Nasreddin
Mullah Nasreddin was a real person, a Muslim cleric
who lived in Turkey in the Middle Ages. He was known
for being both wise and humorous. During his lifetime,
he often used humor to point out when people—even
rich and powerful people—needed to learn a lesson.
Today, people throughout the Middle East and Asia
tell Nasreddin stories and jokes because his lessons,
like the one the rich man in “The Guest” learns, are as
valuable today as they were hundreds of years ago.
*Sahib — a respectful title or term of respect
FAST-R: Formative Assessments in Student Thinking in Reading. The passage text by Uma Krishnaswami is from Highlights for Children (2001). Copyright © 2001 by Highlights for
Children, Inc. Some questions were drawn or adapted from the G4 MCAS Spring 2004 test. All other materials are Copyright 2007 by the Boston Plan for Excellence.

Teacher Guide for FAST-R Passage:
FAST-R: Formative Assessments of Student Thinking in Reading
The Guest
Folktale
The annotated answer key below highlights common reasons why students might choose each answer, and the sidebar gives
more insight into the question types, to help you understand patterns of student responses. Always make time to follow up with
students in conferences or small groups to probe their thinking, teach in response to patterns, and help them apply effective reading
and thinking strategies to their everyday reading.
Note: You may find it helpful to refer to the “Types and Levels of Thinking Assessed on FAST-R” sheet from your teacher
resource folder as you examine your students’ responses. The icon in the right-hand column, below, corresponds to that sheet’s
more detailed explanations of the kinds of thinking each type of question asks of readers.
1. What is the MAIN purpose of paragraph 1
A. to describe the setting of the story (OOB)
B. to explain why the Mullah is like a king (OOP2)
C. to explain why kings choose their generals (OOP1)
D. to describe an important character trait of the Mullah
2. In paragraph 1, the comparison between the care with which Mullah
chooses his words and actions and a king chooses his generals is an
example of
A. a fairy tale. (OOP2)
B. a simile.
C. a metaphor. (OOP1)
D. a theme. (OOP2)
3. Why does the rich man in the story MOST LIKELY invite the Mullah to the
feast
A. The rich man needs advice. (OOP1)
B. The rich man admires the Mullah.
C. The rich man wants everyone in the village to come. (OOP2)
D. The rich man needs help preparing delightful food. (OOB)
4. Who is the “ragged old beggar” in paragraph 13
A. the rich man (OOP2)
B. Mullah Nasreddin
C. the servant (OOP2)
D. the narrator (OOB)
5. Reread the following sentence from paragraph 24.
He took apart the shish kebab and fed it lovingly to his sleeves.
MI2: Determine a single
implicit meaning from
the total of a particular
paragraph
MI5: Determine meaning
by using an understanding of
literary concepts
MI1: Determine implicit
meaning from words in
context
FE2: Recognize the explicit
meaning from varied
wording in the text
FE2: Recognize the explicit
meaning from varied
wording in the text
According to the sentence above, Mullah Nasreddin is
A. eating his dinner feast. (OOP2)
B. feeding his pets with the food. (OOB)
C. putting his food on his clothes.
D. giving his food to the servants. (OOP2)
FAST-R: Formative Assessments in Student Thinking in Reading. The passage text by Uma Krishnaswami is from Highlights for Children (2001). Copyright © 2001 by Highlights for
Children, Inc. Some questions were drawn or adapted from the G4 MCAS Spring 2004 test. All other materials are Copyright 2007 by the Boston Plan for Excellence.

Grades 4-5 • Folktale • “The Guest”
6. Which detail is the FIRST clue that Mullah Nasreddin planned to teach the
rich man a lesson
A. He told the servant, “Your master invited me to his feast.” (OOP1)
B. He combed his beard. (OOP1)
C. He smiled to himself as he returned to the man’s house in his fancy
clothes.
D. He spooned soup over his best cap. (OOP1)
7. In paragraph 28, the word “finery” means
A. stolen goods. (OOB)
B. very nice clothes.
C. excellent food. (OOP2)
D. judge’s robes. (OOP2)
8. In paragraph 28, what does the Mullah mean when he says, “Clearly it is my
clothes you are welcoming and not me”
A. He means that the rich man likes to wear fine clothes. (OOB)
B. He means that the rich man accepts him only in his finest silk garments
but not when he is dressed in his shabbiest and most comfortable
clothes.
C. He means that the guests like to dress nicely. (OOB)
D. He means that the guests are very rude to him. (OOP2)
9. What does the rich man mean in paragraph 29 when he says he was
“blind”
A. He has lost the ability to see. (OOP2)
B. He recently got glasses. (OOB)
C. He had not recognized Mullah Nasreddin.
D. He had not seen the man in rags. (OOP2)
10. What is the MOST important lesson the rich man learns in this story
A. Clumsiness should be avoided. (OOB)
B. Servants should be told to be kind. (OOP2)
C. Do not be rude to a wise man. (OOP1)
D. Do not judge people on their appearance alone.
MI3: Determine implicit
meaning by understanding
the organization of
information in the text
MI1: Determine implicit
meaning from words in
context
FE2: Recognize the explicit
meaning from varied
wording in the text
MI1: Determine implicit
meaning from words in
context
MI1: Determine implicit
meaning from words in
context
FAST-R: Formative Assessments in Student Thinking in Reading. The passage text by Uma Krishnaswami is from Highlights for Children (2001). Copyright © 2001 by Highlights for
Children, Inc. Some questions were drawn or adapted from the G4 MCAS Spring 2004 test. All other materials are Copyright 2007 by the Boston Plan for Excellence.

FAST-R
+
Formative Assessments of Student Thinking in Reading
Name
“The Guest” • Folktale
Date
Teacher/Class
Have you ever heard the phrase “Don’t judge a book by its cover” Read what happens to a rich man
who had not learned that lesson. Answer the questions that follow.
Nasreddin is a legendary character
who appears in many Asian folktales. He solves
life’s problems with a mixture of foolishness and
wisdom.
1 Mullah Nasreddin was a wiseman.
When he spoke, people listened. And so he
chose his words and actions as carefully as
kings choose their generals.
2 One day a rich man invited the Mullah
to a feast at his house. “I would be
honored, Mullah sahib,”* said he, “if you
would grace us with your presence. Tomorrow
night”
3 “I will come,” agreed Mullah Nasreddin,
“tomorrow night.”
4 The following night, the Mullah threw
on his shabbiest and most comfortable
clothes. “It is a bit chilly,” he said, and
added an old black coat. The edges of its
sleeves were frayed. The holes in its elbows
were patched with
swatches torn from old
flour sacks.
5 On his feet, Mullah
Nasreddin slipped a pair
of ragged sandals.
6 When darkness fell
he arrived at the rich
man’s doorstep. A servant
opened the door. “What
do you want, old man”
the servant demanded.
*sahib — a respectful title or term of respect
The Guest
Retold by Uma Krishnaswami
Spotlight On: Mullah Nasreddin
Mullah Nasreddin was a real person, a
Muslim cleric who lived in Turkey in the Middle
Ages. He was known for being both wise and
humorous. During his lifetime, he often used
humor to point out when people—even rich and
powerful people—needed to learn a lesson.
Today, people throughout the Middle East
and Asia tell Nasreddin stories and jokes
because his lessons, like the one of the rich
man in “The Guest” learns, are as valuable
today as they were hundreds of years ago.
7 “Your master has invited me to his
feast,” said the Mullah.
8 The servant peered suspiciously at him.
“Wait here,” he said. “I’ll be back in a moment.”
9 The servant went in. His whispers carried
to the door. “An old beggarman, O my
master . . . says he is your guest. . . .”
10 The rich man came to the courtyard
to take a look. Seeing the old man in his
ragged clothes, he waved a hand to the
servant, then went back to join his elegant
guests.
11 The servant returned to the door. “My
master does not know you,” he said.
12 “He invited me to his feast,” insisted the
Mullah.
13 The servant laughed. “Nonsense! Invited
you A ragged old beggar My master’s
friends are noblemen and
kings. Be off before I take a
stick to you!”
14 So Mullah Nasreddin
went home. He changed into
his finest silk garments. He
wore a black woolen vest
with silver trim. He put his
best cap on his head and
added a handsome high-collared
coat. He sprinkled rose
Continued on the next page
FAST-R: Formative Assessments in Student Thinking in Reading. The passage text by Uma Krishnaswami is from Highlights for Children (2001). Copyright © 2001 by Highlights for
Children, Inc. Some questions were drawn or adapted from the G4 MCAS Spring 2004 test. All other materials are Copyright 2007 by the Boston Plan for Excellence.

water on his face and hands. He combed
his beard.
15 Smiling to himself, he made his way
back to the rich man’s house and knocked
at the door.
16 Once again, the servant opened it.
Once again, the Mullah said, “Your master
has invited me to his feast.”
17 This time the servant bowed respectfully
and ushered him in.
18 “Welcome, welcome, Mullah sahib.”
And the rich man himself showed the Mullah
to his special seat at the feast.
19 “At last, Mullah sahib,” said the
guests. “We have all been waiting for
you.”
20 The food arrived. “Serve Mullah
Nasreddin first,” said the rich man. The
Mullah smiled at everyone. Then he began
to get busy with his food.
21 But he did not eat.
22 “Hai hai!” cried the guests.
23 “Mullah sahib! What are you doing”
cried the rich man.
24 For Mullah Nasreddin had begun to
spoon the soup over his best cap. He crumbled
the bread and sprinkled the crumbs
over the shoulders of his handsome highcollared
coat. He took apart the shish
kebab and fed it lovingly to his sleeves.
25 The rich man’s voice trembled. “Mullah
sahib, do you not like the food”
26 In reply, Mullah Nasreddin dribbled the
delicate yogurt and cream sauces over his
fine silk garments and best black woolen
vest with silver trim. Then he sat back and
beamed at everyone.
27 There was a shocked silence. Then the
rich man said, “O most respected Mullah
Nasreddin, you never do anything without a
reason. Has someone offended you”
28 The Mullah replied, “When I arrived in
rags, you turned me away. Now that I am
dressed in finery, you treat me with honor.
Clearly it is my clothes you are welcoming
and not me. So it is only fitting that they
should eat this delightful food you have prepared
for them.”
29 The rich man hung his head in shame.
He said, “Mullah sahib, forgive me. I was
blind. I saw only your clothes and could
not recognize the wearer. I will never again
judge people by how they look or by the
clothes they wear.” And, in truth, he never
did.
FAST-R: Formative Assessments in Student Thinking in Reading. The passage text by Uma Krishnaswami is from Highlights for Children (2001). Copyright © 2001 by Highlights for
Children, Inc. Some questions were drawn or adapted from the G4 MCAS Spring 2004 test. All other materials are Copyright 2007 by the Boston Plan for Excellence.

FAST-R
+
Formative Assessments of Student Thinking in Reading
Name
“The Guest” • Folktale
Date
Teacher/Class
Directions: Answer these questions by filling in the circle for the best answer on your answer sheet.
1. What is the MAIN purpose of paragraph 1
A. to describe the setting of the story
B. to explain why the Mullah is like a king
C. to explain why kings choose their generals
D. to describe an important character trait of the Mullah
2. In paragraph 1, the comparison between the care with which Mullah chooses his words and actions
and a king chooses his generals is an example of
A. a fairy tale.
B. a simile.
C. a metaphor.
D. a theme.
3. Why does the rich man in the story MOST LIKELY invite the Mullah to the feast
A. The rich man needs advice.
B. The rich man admires the Mullah.
C. The rich man wants everyone in the village to come.
D. The rich man needs help preparing delightful food.
4. Who is the “ragged old beggar” in paragraph 13
A. the rich man
B. Mullah Nasreddin
C. the servant
D. the narrator
5. Reread the following sentence from paragraph 24.
He took apart the shish kebab and fed it lovingly to his sleeves.
According to the sentence above, Mullah Nasreddin is
A. eating his dinner feast.
B. feeding his pets with the food.
C. putting his food on his clothes.
D. giving his food to the servants.
FAST-R: Formative Assessments in Student Thinking in Reading. The passage text by Uma Krishnaswami is from Highlights for Children (2001). Copyright © 2001 by Highlights for
Children, Inc. Some questions were drawn or adapted from the G4 MCAS Spring 2004 test. All other materials are Copyright 2007 by the Boston Plan for Excellence.

Name
Date
School
Teacher/Class
6. Which detail is the FIRST clue that Mullah Nasreddin planned to teach the rich man a lesson
A. He told the servant, “Your master invited me to his feast.”
B. He combed his beard.
C. He smiled to himself as he returned to the man’s house in his fancy clothes.
D. He spooned soup over his best cap.
7. In paragraph 28, the word “finery” means
A. stolen goods.
B. very nice clothes.
C. excellent food.
D. judge’s robes.
8. In paragraph 28, what does the Mullah mean when he says, “Clearly it is my clothes you are
welcoming and not me”
A. He means that the rich man likes to wear fine clothes.
B. He means that the rich man does not accept him in old clothes.
C. He means that the guests like to dress nicely.
D. He means that the guests are very rude to him.
9. What does the rich man mean in paragraph 29 when he says he was “blind”
A. He has lost the ability to see.
B. He recently got glasses.
C. He had not recognized Mullah Nasreddin.
D. He had not seen the man in rags.
10. What is the MOST important lesson the rich man learns in this story
A. Clumsiness should be avoided.
B. Servants should be told to be kind.
C. Do not be rude to a wise man.
D. Do not judge people on their appearance alone.
FAST-R: Formative Assessments in Student Thinking in Reading. The passage text by Uma Krishnaswami is from Highlights for Children (2001). Copyright © 2001 by Highlights for
Children, Inc. Some questions were drawn or adapted from the G4 MCAS Spring 2004 test. All other materials are Copyright 2007 by the Boston Plan for Excellence.

Teachers: Please duplicate and use this answer sheet only for students for whom you did not receive a pre-printed answer sheet!
FAST-R Answer Sheet
Name
School
Date Grade Class
Passage Title
Completely fill the circle
for the correct answer.
Teacher Name
Write your answer to the open response prompt in the lined space below
if your teacher directs you to do so.
1. A B C D
2. A B C D
3. A B C D
4. A B C D
5. A B C D
6. A B C D
7. A B C D
8. A B C D
9. A B C D
10. A B C D
OFFICE USE ONLY
RESEARCH: Y N
OPEN RESPONSE: 1 2 3 4