Spelling Test Passage - Retake

What lesson does Herbie learn in this play?

• Finding humor in a difficult task makes it more enjoyable.

• Depending on help from others is often challenging.

• Performing well all the time is impossible.

• Success is possible through hard work.

Annabelle asks Miss Pinkham about the grades immediately after the test because Annabelle —

• thinks everyone in the class should know she did well on the test

• believes that she made a perfect score on the test

• wants Miss Pinkham to recognize how much she studied for the test

• knows that her address is the most difficult to spell

The word cinch in paragraph 25 refers to something that is-

• easy

• unusual

• similar

• interesting

The stage directions in paragraphs 42 and 43 are included to help —

• make the play humorous

• create suspense

• show a new problem

• introduce a new character

Herbie’s reaction when he learns about Olivia’s study method shows that he is —

• certain that Olivia is making fun of the way he studies

• jealous that Olivia always makes better grades than he does

• surprised to learn that the plan is very simple

• eager to demonstrate some of his own study habits

Why does the playwright include a narrator in this play?

• To make the main character’s conflict seem more suspenseful

• To help the audience understand what the characters are thinking

• To assist the main characters in figuring out how to solve a problem

• To give the audience details about the characters’ actions in the scene

Read the dictionary entry for the word keep. Which definition best fits the way the word keeping is used in paragraph 31?

• To take care of

• To save

• To hold back

• To control

The narrator’s lines in paragraph 9 are important to the play because they —

• show that Herbie is serious about studying for his spelling test

• describe Herbie’s favorite method of studying for spelling tests

• explain why Olivia is surprised to see Herbie studying for a spelling test

• show that Olivia wants to help Herbie do well on his spelling test

Which paragraph helps you to understand cinch is used in paragraph 25?

25 ANNABELLE: I didn’t even have to study—these words are a cinch.

26 MISS PINKHAM: Boys and girls, those of you who want to try for the spelling bonus may do so now. Write your full name, address, town, state and zip code.

27 NARRATOR: Very carefully, Herbie printed his street address. When he came to his zip code, Herbie was in trouble.

28 HERBIE: 0 . . . 6 . . . 7 . . . 9 . . . What is that last number of my zip code?

29 MISS PINKHAM: Pass your papers in, please. Reading Page 9

30 HERBIE: What is that number?

31 MISS PINKHAM: Herbie! You are keeping the entire class.

32 HERBIE: 0...6...7...9...?

33 MISS PINKHAM: Herbie Jones, if you don’t hand me your paper by the time I count to three...

34 HERBIE: THREE! That’s it!

35 NARRATOR: Annabelle raised her hand.

36 ANNABELLE: Miss Pinkham, I can’t wait to get my postcard in the mail tomorrow. Can’t you tell us now who got one hundred percent?

37 MISS PINKHAM: Looking through this stack of papers, I wonder if anyone got one hundred percent.

• 26 MISS PINKHAM: Boys and girls, those of you who want to try for the spelling bonus may do so now. Write your full name, address, town, state and zip code.

• 31 MISS PINKHAM: Herbie! You are keeping the entire class.

• 36 ANNABELLE: Miss Pinkham, I can’t wait to get my postcard in the mail tomorrow. Can’t you tell us now who got one hundred percent?