The Phantom Tollbooth, Act II

In the script of a play, stage directions describe how actors are to speak and move. What else do stage directions do?

• give the lines of dialogue that the characters say

• give instructions about sound, lighting, and scenery

• provide a summary of the action in the scene

• give the origin of certain words

Read this passage from Act II of The Phantom Tollbooth.

Insincerity. [Stamping his foot.] Well, all right for you! Most people listen to what I say, but if that's the way you feel, then I'll just go home. [Exits in a huff.]

How do the stage directions in this passage most clearly develop Insincerity's character?

• They show that Insincerity usually feels hopeful.

• They show that Insincerity prefers to be left alone.

• They show that Insincerity gets offended and angry easily.

• They show that Insincerity is suspicious of other characters.

Which of the following stage directions most clearly shows that a character is feeling discouraged?

• [Ryan walks in, head down, eyes to the floor. Mom approaches; Ryan waves her away. With a sigh, he sits at the kitchen table and stares at the wall.]

• [That evening. The gym is decorate, and dance music plays. Suddenly, Elise enters and stomps across the stage, with Thomas running behind her.]

• [McKayla hugs Jordan. Together, they walk to the front of the stage; the spotlight follows them. They stop, bow, and give each other a high five.]

• [Sound of cheering offstage. Three runners jog in and stop, panting for breath. Kim sits on a bench and takes a swig from a water bottle.]

What are puns, and how are they used in The Phantom Tollbooth?

• They are unusual expressions that make the play more imaginative.

• They are clues about the events in the play and help to hold the reader's attention.

• They are details about characters that make the characters seem realistic.

• They are plays on words that create a humorous or silly mood within a text.

Read this passage from Act II of The Phantom Tollbooth.

Milo. Well . . . can you show me the biggest number there is?

Mathemagician. Why I'd be delighted. [Opens a closet door.] We keep it right here. It took four miners to dig it out. [He shows them a huge "3" twice as high as the Mathemagician.]

Which of following best explains the pun in this passage?

• Here sounds like hear but has a different meaning.

• Biggest in biggest number has multiple meanings.

• The number is a 3, but four miners were needed to dig it out.

• Although 3 is small number, it is much taller than the Mathemagician.

In The Phantom Tollbooth, Act II, why does the Mathemagician call his pencil a "magic staff"?

• It shines like a flashlight.

• It gives him the power to be king.

• It can be used to solve problems.

• It can cause demons to disappear.

In Act II of The Phantom Tollbooth, which item helps Milo rescue the princesses from the Castle-in-the-Air?

• the car

• the tollbooth

• the magic pencil

• the package of letter

What is true about both King Azaz and the Mathemagician at the end of The Phantom Tollbooth, Act II?

• They both want Rhyme and Reason to reign again.

• They both want numbers to be most important.

• They both want words to be most important.

• The both want Milo to be punished.

According to King Azaz and the Mathemagician, why is Milo able to do the impossible in Act II of The Phantom Tollbooth?

• He has Tock and Humbug to help him.

• He does not know that the task is impossible.

• He has learned a lot about math and numbers.

• He is dreaming, and anything can happen in a dream.

Which sentence best explains how Milo has changed by the end of Act II?

• He has learned to make friends more easily.

• He has become afraid of making mistakes.

• He has become bored and tired.

• He has learned to value time.