RL 8.3: Analyzing Dialogue and Incidents in Stories

Dustin’s tooth had been bothering him for weeks. Every time he took a bite of food, drank something cold, or even spoke, a throbbing pain would shoot through his lower jaw and up into his skull. He had been silently living with the pain for so long because he did not want to have to go to the dentist. It was not that he was afraid of the pain. That did not really bother him. He knew that the dentist would tell him that his tooth was hurting because he was not brushing his teeth regularly or taking care of his gums. The dentist could not really do much about that, but he could tell Dustin’s mom.

Dustin could not remember the last time he brushed his teeth or used mouthwash, but he could remember that he told his mother that he did both the night before, and the night before that, and the night before that. If she found out that he had been lying about brushing his teeth and using mouthwash for months, if not longer, she would fly into an uncontrollable rage.

Dustin knew he had to think of a plan. He could not tell his mom that his tooth had been hurting for weeks because then she would ask him why he waited so long to tell her. How would he explain that? Also, he could not casually bring up going to the dentist because that would make his mother suspicious. What 11-year-old boy asks to go to the dentist? No, neither of those would work. He had to think of something that was equal parts sneaky and honest.

After hours of work, he came up with a plan that was neither. He knew that his mom was cooking chicken that night, so he decided to pretend that he broke his tooth on a chicken bone. He was convinced that his plan was foolproof. So, as he ate supper that night, he waited to catch his mother looking at him as he was putting a piece of chicken in his mouth.

Upon finding the perfect opportunity, he crunched down on the chicken bone and began screaming, "Ow, my tooth! My tooth! I think I broke it. Oh, I broke it. I broke it on the chicken bone that was just in my mouth a second ago. Oh, I broke my tooth on a chicken bone!"

Dustin then looked over at his mother, expecting to see a look of concern, expecting to see her running towards him, but he saw neither. Instead, he saw her sitting calmly and then heard her say, "That’s odd. I’ve never seen a person have pain during the weeks leading up to breaking his tooth. I guess strange things happen when you go a whole year without brushing your teeth!"

In the final paragraph, Dustin's mother sits calmly because

• A. she does not care about her son's well-being.

• B. she knows Dustin did not break his tooth.

• C. she knows Dustin's tooth does not hurt.

• D. she has not been paying attention to Dustin.

Hit and Miss

Duncan drew a deep breath and tightened his grip around the bat as the ball shot toward him. Oh no, I think I'm going to miss this one too, he thought to himself. He swung his bat as hard as he could . . . and he missed. He was in the backyard with his friend Mario, who was helping him practice for the baseball tryouts at school the next day.

"I don't think I should even try, Mario, because I'm clearly not getting any better at this, and I don't want to make a fool of myself in front of a whole bunch of people tomorrow."

"I'm sure you'll do better with more practice, and if you want, I can stay for a while longer and help you."

"No, you should go home, Mario, but thanks for trying to help me."

After Mario left, Duncan went inside his house, looking miserable. His older brother Dwayne was sitting at the kitchen table, and when he saw Duncan's face, he asked what was wrong.

"The baseball team at school is having tryouts tomorrow and I really want to get in, but there's just one tiny problem: I'm terrible at baseball."

"Hey, that's not true and you know it. I've seen you swing the bat and you've got good skills, little brother. Come on, let's go back outside and I'll help you."

Reluctantly, Duncan followed Dwayne outside, but when Dwayne threw the ball, Duncan missed once again.

"You're overthinking this, Duncan, and I can see that in your face. Even before the ball reaches you, you're already assuming you're going to miss. Stop doubting yourself and swing with confidence."

Dwayne threw the ball again, and this time, Duncan managed to hit the ball, though he did not hit it hard enough.

"Well done, but let's try again, and this time, I want you to focus and clear your head. Don't think about anything except the ball that's coming toward you, okay?"

This time, Duncan swung his bat and sent the ball flying across the yard. He cheered and punched the air, as Dwayne looked on, laughing. They practiced for a while longer, and Duncan did not miss a single ball.

"Forget the school tryouts! I think I should just join one of the state baseball teams now," Duncan said to Dwayne, with a twinkle in his eye.

"That's the spirit, little brother!" Dwayne replied, patting Duncan on the back.

How does Dwayne contribute to the plot of the story?

• A. He promises Duncan that he would accompany him to the tryouts.

• B. He helps Duncan get selected in the school's baseball team.

• C. He encourages Duncan to focus on the game and believe in himself.

• D. He convinces Duncan to join one of the state baseball teams.

Fun at the Camp

Markus, Tiara, and Zain were the best of friends and enjoyed hanging out with each other. One evening, while playing at the park, Zain asked his friends, "Guys, did you see this flyer about a camping trip in the Grand Canyon region for teenagers? I think we should enroll ourselves and go on this trip."

"That's a wonderful idea," Markus exclaimed.

"No! It's a boring idea. What are we going to do in a forest? Sorry, friends, I won't be coming with you on this trip," said Tiara.

"A camping trip can be a great outdoor experience. Why don't you give it a try, Tiara? How can you call it boring without even trying it once? I'm sure we'll have a great time," Markus tried to persuade her.

"OK, I'll come," she finally replied.

On the day of the camping trip, the three were hiking back to the campsite with the rest of the camping group, admiring the view of the majestic canyon on their way. The group had spent a fabulous night under the stars, and had set out for the campsite after breakfast. They reached their camp after a long hike, and soon, it was lunchtime and everyone was hungry.

Although the camp organizers had made provisions for food, they needed some volunteers to assemble and serve the food.

"Hey, Markus, Why don't you help us make burgers? We all know you love cooking and your friends can assist you," shouted Arthur, the leader of the group.

"Kyla, you can help serve these fruits," he said to a fellow camper.

Markus asked Zain and Tiara to help him prepare the burgers, but they were hesitant.

"But we've never cooked food before," protested Zain.

"And what if we create a mess? We are not experts like you, Markus. Besides, it's so boring," said Tiara.

"Cooking is neither boring nor challenging. Just follow my instructions, watch me cook, and I promise, you'll enjoy the experience," said Markus, looking at Zain and Tiara.

Zain and Tiara glanced at each other, and reluctantly agreed with Markus.

"Alright, Markus, tell us where to begin," they said.

"That's the spirit. OK, Zain, you can grill these burger buns, Tiara, you can assemble the burgers, and I'll grill the patties."

The three of them worked together and managed to get lunch ready in half an hour.

"Wow! I never realized cooking was so much fun. I must go home and try out something," said Tiara.

"See, I told you it's not boring," said Markus.

"Gee! I can't believe I helped put out a meal for so many people. It wasn't so challenging, after all," remarked Zain.

"Zain, stepping out of your comfort zone may seem scary, but the experience of doing something new is wonderful," remarked Markus.

"I agree, Chef Markus," joked Zain.

Which character has the most influence on the events in the story?

• A. Arthur, because he is the leader of the group who coordinates volunteers.

• B. Tiara, because she assembles the burgers for the group's lunch.

• C. Zain, because he discovers the flyer for the teenage camping trip.

• D. Markus, because he encourages friends who are resistant to new experiences.

The Two Sisters

CHARACTERS:

PERCY, an eighth grade student and Ruth's elder sister

RUTH, a second grade student and Percy's younger sister

MOM, Percy and Ruth's mother

Scene 1:

Stage Set: A room with pink wallpaper. Ruth is sitting on the bed and turning the pages of a book, with an expression of awe on her face.

PERCY:(shouting angrily) Ruth, what are you doing in my room? Haven't I told you umpteen times to not touch my books?

RUTH:(tearfully) I was only looking at the pictures in your book because they are so colorful and pretty.

PERCY:Well, now that you have seen them, out you go! And next time, don't touch my belongings without asking me. (Ruth leaves with a hurt expression on her face.)

Scene 2:

Stage Set: A shoe shop in a busy street, where Percy and Ruth have come to shop with their mom.

MOM:Only one of you can buy a pair of shoes this month, as all the shoes in this shop are way more expensive than I had thought. (Takes Percy to a corner and speaks to her softly.) Percy, since you're the older one, I think you should let your baby sister buy a pair this time. You can buy your favorite shoes next month, can't you, darling?

RUTH:(hears their conversation) No, Mom, let Percy buy these shoes now, so she can wear them to the party next week, and I'll buy a pair for myself next month.

PERCY:(hugging Ruth) Well, you are the best sister in the world!. I realize I have been so mean to you, and I am truly sorry for my behavior. I'll try to be a better sister to you. (Ruth smiles broadly, hugging her sister back.)

At the end of the story, what does the dialogue reveal about Ruth's character?

• A. Ruth is nice to Percy, even though Percy was mean to her.

• B. Ruth is pretending to be nice to Percy as an ulterior motive.

• C. Ruth wants to buy better shoes from another shop.

• D. Ruth thinks buying shoes later will make Percy like her more.

The Two Sisters

CHARACTERS:

PERCY, an eighth grade student and Ruth's elder sister

RUTH, a second grade student and Percy's younger sister

MOM, Percy and Ruth's mother

Scene 1:

Stage Set: A room with pink wallpaper. Ruth is sitting on the bed and turning the pages of a book, with an expression of awe on her face.

PERCY:(shouting angrily) Ruth, what are you doing in my room? Haven't I told you umpteen times to not touch my books?

RUTH:(tearfully) I was only looking at the pictures in your book because they are so colorful and pretty.

PERCY:Well, now that you have seen them, out you go! And next time, don't touch my belongings without asking me. (Ruth leaves with a hurt expression on her face.)

Scene 2:

Stage Set: A shoe shop in a busy street, where Percy and Ruth have come to shop with their mom.

MOM:Only one of you can buy a pair of shoes this month, as all the shoes in this shop are way more expensive than I had thought. (Takes Percy to a corner and speaks to her softly.) Percy, since you're the older one, I think you should let your baby sister buy a pair this time. You can buy your favorite shoes next month, can't you, darling?

RUTH:(hears their conversation) No, Mom, let Percy buy these shoes now, so she can wear them to the party next week, and I'll buy a pair for myself next month.

PERCY:(hugging Ruth) Well, you are the best sister in the world!. I realize I have been so mean to you, and I am truly sorry for my behavior. I'll try to be a better sister to you. (Ruth smiles broadly, hugging her sister back.)

How does the dialogue contribute to the plot of the story?

• A. It explains the relationship that Percy and Ruth have with their Mom.

• B. It shows Ruth's emotions as she is repeatedly hurt.

• C. It shows the gradual change in Percy's attitude toward Ruth.

• D. It describes Percy's interest in reading and collecting books.

Cheryl sat in the kitchen, eating her cereal and reading the newspaper. Meanwhile, her father, who was supposed to be the mature one in the family, danced around the kitchen in his robe shouting, "Flash is fast, Flash is cool" over and over again.

"Dad," said Cheryl, "the ‘Flash is fast, Flash is cool’ part of the song was over, like, three minutes ago, why do you keep repeating it?"

"Do you even know who Flash is? Do you even know who is performing this song?" asked her dad.

"No, and I don’t care," Cheryl responded.

"That’s a shame," said her father. "They just don’t make music like they used to."

That is the point in the conversation where Cheryl always checked out. She knew what was coming next. Her dad started with a song, and next thing she knew, he was forcing her to relive a time before distressed jeans, one-hundred dollar sneakers, MP3s, and the Internet.

A year or two earlier, Cheryl began keeping a list of things that "they" no longer make like they "used to" but soon gave up. Not only was she overwhelmed by the number of contemporary products and people with which her father was not satisfied, she could never figure out who “they” were.

She was happy with her life and the time in which she lived it. The music made more sense than the stuff her father listened to, and the clothes were more fashionable than what her father wore as a teenager and continued to wear. She could not imagine wishing that the world was like it "used to be." She often worried that her dad was frozen in time. She knew that becoming a single father at a very young age had a major impact on his life. Just as his friends were starting to explore the world apart from their parents, he was becoming a parent. In some ways, he never stopped being a teenager.

She thought that, but she never said anything. She knew that her father would go off on another rant about how much better things used to be, or worse, that he would tell her that he was not satisfied with his life.

Which of the following sentences suggests that Cheryl and her father have different ways of looking at life?

• A. "Do you even know who Flash is? Do you even know who is performing this song?"

• B. Cheryl sat in the kitchen, eating her cereal and reading the newspaper.

• C. She could not imagine wishing that the world was like it "used to be."

• D. That is the point in the conversation where Cheryl always checked out.

Ski Lift

"Be careful up there!" Deborah's father yelled out as she made her way up the steep slope, sharing the ski lift with her brother to the top of the daunting mountain.

"Are you nervous?" William asked as Deborah stared at her feet.

"I think I'll be okay," Deborah replied. "It's just . . . are you sure I've had enough practice to be ready for the real thing?"

"Sure, you have! What practice is better than the practice you get from an older, experienced, and charming mentor?" William assured her with a glowing smile of pride and confidence.

"True. You are definitely the best skier in the world," Deborah said sarcastically. Her brother's confidence, however conceited it was, made her feel just a little better about her abilities.

As she looked back behind her, Deborah could no longer see the speck that resembled her father. She closed her eyes, inhaled slowly and intentionally, and then exhaled quickly.

"Maybe we should just go back," suggested William jokingly, knowing Deborah would not back down.

"No. Let's do this," she said just as the lift reached the summit.

William looked at her and grinned, happy that his little sister was facing her fears.

"I'll be right behind you. I'll be there the whole way," William said.

Deborah shook her head and smiled, appreciative of her brother's assistance.

"Show him how it's done," William said, gesturing toward the bottom where their father was anticipating his daughter's courageous performance.

"I'll show you how it's done," Deborah replied, jumping forward with a bold and unexpected fearlessness.

After coming down the mountain, Deborah ran to her father with joy. "It really isn't that scary at all. I'm going again!" Deborah exclaimed.

Which statement from the passage shows how experienced Deborah is with skiing?

• A. "It really isn't that scary at all."

• B. "I'll show you how it's done."

• C. "I think I'll be okay. . ."

• D. ". . . are you sure I’ve had enough practice. . ."

Nothing was going Rusty's way today. First, he slept through his alarm clock, which he had never done before. Then, he did not have time to eat breakfast before catching the bus. Of course, because he slept through his alarm, he was also late for the bus. He had to chase it down for almost two blocks before the bus driver stopped to let him on.

As if Rusty was not already having a bad day, he got a surprise pop quiz in math. Rusty was not a great math student, but he tried really hard. Usually, Rusty did okay on quizzes because he had time to study beforehand. Not this time, though. Rusty flubbed his way through the quiz, knowing he was going to fail.

At lunch, Rusty caught up with his friend Danny. "Can you believe that pop quiz?" Rusty said. "I thought I was looking at some alien language. That thing was impossible!"

"It wasn't so bad," Danny said. Of course, Danny was good at math. The teacher could have given him calculus, and Danny would have figured out the right answers. Rusty hated that.

"It was horrible," Rusty said. "Just what I needed today. I am already struggling in there. This is just the worst day ever."

"At least we don't have to run in gym today," Danny said. "It's raining, so we will probably play dodgeball or volleyball. You always do well when we play those games."

By the time the boys got to gym class, the rain had stopped. The gym coach, Mr. Lannigan, was was tough, and he had no problem making the kids run outside in the mud. Rusty could not believe his awful luck! The day could not possibly get any worse than this!

Rusty raced home after classes. He was tired, angry, dirty, and ready to finish up this day. He slammed the door closed as he walked into his house.

"Rusty!" his mother called. "You have some mail. I left it on the counter for you."

"Great," Rusty muttered. "Knowing my luck today, it's probably something bad."

Rusty plodded into the kitchen and slowly opened the package sitting on the counter. He was dreading what was coming. Then, he grinned.

"Mom!" Rusty shouted as loud as he could. "I won! I won the radio contest! I got the video game! Legions of Doom 3000!"

Rusty was thrilled. Maybe this day wasn't so bad, after all.

What is one effect of the rain stopping during the day?

• A. Danny tells Rusty to walk home instead of taking the bus.

• B. Rusty does not have to worry about forgetting his umbrella.

• C. The video game that Rusty got is ruined from all the rain.

• D. The gym teacher makes Rusty and the other students run outside.

adapted from Heidi

by Johanna Spyri

They started climbing joyfully. Heidi went running here and there and shouting with delight, for here were whole patches of delicate red primroses and there, the blue gleam of the lovely gentian flowers. Above them, the tender-leaved golden cistus flowers all laughed and nodded. Delighted with this waving field of brightly-colored flowers in the valley, Heidi forgot about Peter and the goats. She ran on in front and then off to the side, tempted first one way and then the other, as she caught sight of some bright spot of glowing red or yellow. All the while she was plucking whole handfuls of the flowers, which she put into her little apron. She wanted to take them all home and stick them in the vase so that she might make her bedroom look just like the meadows and valleys outside. Peter had to, therefore, be on the alert, and his round eyes, which did not move very quickly, had more work than they could well manage because he had to keep an eye on all the goats. The goats were as lively as Heidi and they ran in all directions. Peter had to follow whistling and calling to get all the runaway goats as well as Heidi together again.

What impact does the setting have on Heidi?

• A. It makes her cheerful and excited.

• B. It makes her feel hurried.

• C. It makes her feel relaxed.

• D. It makes her sad and gloomy.

Mrs. Peal's Roof

As soon as Mrs. Peal asked the question, Jack felt the knot in his stomach. He felt that knot because he knew he had been caught. He had gotten onto her roof from the elm tree in his backyard and had broken one of her roof tiles when he had landed. Mrs. Peal wasn't home at the time, but the damage was obvious when she pulled into the driveway.

Jack had already gotten in trouble for climbing on his own roof. Mrs. Peal knew that because she had called his mother when she'd seen him playing on the roof one day.

Jack liked the adventure of being up high where he could get a bird's-eye view of the world. He felt invisible. He knew he wasn't supposed to, but he was always careful, and the trees in the yard gave him such an easy way to get to the roof.

But here was Mrs. Peal: "Jack, did you get on my roof?"

"No, ma'am, I didn't get near your roof," he lied.

"Then tell me how you think that roof tile up there got broken," she said, pointing to the spot. "It's right under the branch of your favorite elm tree."

"I don't know, Mrs. Peal, maybe a squirrel fell or maybe something fell out of an airplane," he said. His stomach was really churning, and all he could think of was getting away from his neighbor.

Mrs. Peal laughed and shook her head. "When was the last time you saw an airplane flying over my house?"

"Sometimes airplanes fly so high you can't see them," Jack said.

"Don't make it worse for yourself by lying to me, Jack," she said. "You look me right in the eyes and tell me you didn't break the tile when you jumped out of the tree." She took his shoulders in both hands and looked Jack right in his eyes.

Jack knew he'd been caught and exhaled deeply. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Peal. I didn't mean to break your tile. I can just see so much farther from your roof than my roof."

"Jack, you're not supposed to be on the roof, period," Mrs. Peal said. "You know your parents have told you to stay off the roof."

"Are you going to tell my parents?" Jack asked.

"Yes, because they've asked you not to climb on it, but I'll also tell them how much fun you have, how careful you are, and that it isn't very far from the ground." Mrs. Peal replied. "You should talk to them about it, too."

Jack felt the knot in his stomach loosen, knowing that Mrs. Peal might help him change his parents' thoughts about climbing.

How does Mrs. Peal resolve the conflict?

• A. She laughs at the silly explanation that he offers.

• B. She gets Jack's parents to pay for repairing her roof.

• C. She threatens to tell Jack's parents if he doesn't confess.

• D. She makes Jack look her in the eyes and tell her the truth.