I Beat the Odds: From Homelessness, to The Blind Side, and Beyond

Reading Check and Short Answer Questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

PROLOGUE-CHAPTER 3

Reading Check

1. The Prologue opens with Oher visiting the Department of Children’s Services in which city?

2. What is the name of the low-income housing project where Oher lives from age 11 until he enters high school?

3. Oher’s mother suffered from an addiction to what illicit substance?

4. Oher’s maternal grandmother was cruel to all but one of Oher’s siblings. Which sibling?

5. What is the name of the particularly persistent social worker who is assigned to the Oher family’s case?

6. How old are Oher’s younger sisters Denise and Tara?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why was the first of each month often a joyful time for Oher’s family?

2. How was “trouble” the biggest source of entertainment for Oher and his brothers, as described in Chapter 2?

3. What role did Oher’s younger sisters Denise and Tara play in Child Protective Services’ decision to take the children into custody?

Paired Resource

“Amid Dispute Over Being ‘Blindsided,’ Michael Oher Tells His True Story from Orphan to Overcomer”