Analyzing Literary Text #5

1.       Dear Annika,

 

You should do everything in your power to come visit this summer.  We have a new town center with an outdoor pool and theatre.  We can swim all day and watch movies and plays in the evening.  A new pottery-making shop opened in town too.  We can actually make our own pottery there.  Fun is just a few weeks away!

 

Your favorite cousin,

 

Ingrid

 

What does Ingrid want Annika to agree with?

• Making things yourself is better.

• Swimming is better outdoors.

• Visiting her cousin Ingrid will be fun.

Sweet potatoes are without doubt the world’s greatest food.  Packed with massive amounts of vitamins and minerals, sweet potatoes are also an amazing powerhouse of fiber.  These gorgeous, orange root vegetables are the most prized part of a balanced diet.  Sweet potatoes are a dream to prepare and can be readily substituted for less healthy options.  And, of course, compared to other foods, the taste is absolutely unparalleled.  So when you are planning your next meal, think orange!

What is the purpose of the exaggeration in the passage?

• To encourage questioning of the claims made about the health benefits of sweet potatoes

• To create a light tone in order to entertain readers with interesting stories about vegetables

• To emphasize the value of sweet potatoes in order to persuade readers to eat sweet potatoes.

Angie dragged the canoe onto the gravel shore of the island and helped her granddaughter disembark.

Angie’s own grandmother had first taken Angie to stay at the cottage here decades ago.  The two had spent flawless days, picnicking and exploring the forested areas.  Angie’s grandmother had identified every wildflower, and with her coaching, Angie had memorized their names too.

Now, I’m holding her granddaughter’s small hand in her own, Angie pointed out a particularly beautiful orchid.  “This is called a pink lady’s slipper,” Angie told her.

What is the effect of the flashback in this passage?

• It creates a sense of foreboding about what might happen on the island.

• It adds emotional depth to Angie’s interactions with her granddaughter.

• It provides details about the challenges Angie has overcome in the past.

Julius studied the photographs he and Kalinda had assembled for their parents’ anniversary gift.  Kalinda complained that Julius was making too many adjustments in his quest to make it perfect.  Julius, however, felt something still wasn’t right.  He just needed to make a few changes before his parents arrived.  He glanced at the clock and saw he had enough time to accomplish his goal.

Which supports the idea that Julius will make further adjustments?

• He checks the time and has nothing else to do while he waits for his parents.

• He thinks about his sister’s complaints and understands why she makes them.

• He doesn’t think the display is perfect yet and sees he has time to fix it.

Like most of the inhabitants of her village in northern Siberia, Sonia was used to the bitterly cold winter.  The ground remained frozen throughout the winter, which at least kept the paths and roads passage.  When the temperature rose above the freezing point in the springtime, the ground no longer seemed solid.  Mud oozed and tiny rivers of melted snow ran in every direction.  Springtime could be difficult.

If this story continues, why will the setting be important in the plot?

• The harsh conditions greatly affect life in Sonia’s village.

• Springtime is a symbol of renewable for people in Sonia’s village.

• Sonia’s village is so beautiful that many people visit it.

Phil first read all of the facts about each model plane in the show.  Then he looked for the model of the Voyager.  It was the first plane to fly around the world without stopping.  Phil was eager to examine the model.

Who is telling this story?

• Someone not in the story

• The pilot of the voyager

• Phil in his own voice

Owen can do many tricks with his new yo-yo.  He can make it spin in place or go in a big circle.  One of his best tricks is called “walking the dog.”  Many of the tricks take a lot of practice.  Owen doesn’t mind, though, because he thinks it’s fun.

Which is a summary of this paragraph?

• Owen knows how to make his yo-yo spin in place.

• One of Owen’s best tricks is called “walking the dog.”

• After practicing them, Owen does tricks with his yo-yo.

Mary watched the penguins slide across the Antarctic ice.  She laughed as two of the birds dove into the cold water.  Her amusement took her back to when she was five years old laughing at penguins in the zoo.  Back then, Mary had no idea she would someday be observing penguins in their natural environment.  She turned her attention to writing observation notes in her research journal.

What is an example of flashback in this story?

• Mary remembers being five years old.

• Mary is writing in her research journal.

• Mary is studying penguins in Antarctica.

Kayo laced up her roller skates, put on her helmet, and joined her sisters.  They skated down the path in a single file.  Kayo was first, with Aya at the tail end, and Mei sandwiched between them.  The girls zipped along until Mei’s skate hit a bump in the path, causing her to stumble.  She waved her arms wildly until her balance returned.

What might the story mention if it were told from Mei’s point of view?

• Why kayo thinks she should go first in line

• What Mei thinks and feels when she hits the bump

• What Aya does when she sees Mei lose her balance

Kenji and Lydia were the last two in gym class to be paired up for square dancing. They gave each other a tentative smile before taking their places in their group. When the music started and a voice called the moves, Kenji and Lydia stumbled clumsily through the first dance. By the end of the class, though, Kenji and Lydia could get through a whole dance smoothly.

What do you think Kenji and Lydia will do in the class next time?

• Continue to struggle with square dancing

• Not want to be dance partners again

• Have fun learning to square-dance with each other