8th Grade Check-in #5

To infer is to...

• to determine something not stated directly by using reasoning and evidence from the text

• the central idea or message of a work of literature, often expressed as a general statement about life

• the subject of a text, usually expressed as a single word or phrase in the form of a noun

• To guess what you think might happen without any textual evidence

The theme is...

• to determine something not stated directly by using reasoning and evidence from the text

• the central idea or message of a work of literature, often expressed as a general statement about life

• the subject of a text, usually expressed as a single word or phrase in the form of a noun

• what happens in a story from the beginning to the end

The topic is...

• to determine something not stated directly by using reasoning and evidence from the text

• the central idea or message of a work of literature, often expressed as a general statement about life

• the subject of a text, usually expressed as a single word or phrase in the form of a noun

• To use context clues to find the meaning of a word

4 The lottery was conducted—as were the square dances, the teen club, the Halloween program—by Mr. Summers, who had time and energy to devote to civic activities. He was a round-faced, jovial man and he ran the coal business, and people were sorry for him because he had no children and his wife was a scold. When he arrived in the square, carrying the black wooden box, there was a murmur of conversation among the villagers, and he waved and called, "Little late today, folks." The postmaster, Mr. Graves, followed him, carrying a three- legged stool, and the stool was put in the center of the square and Mr. Summers set the black box down on it. The villagers kept their distance, leaving a space between themselves and the stool, and when Mr. Summers said, "Some of you fellows want to give me a hand?" there was a hesitation before two men, Mr. Martin and his oldest son, Baxter, came forward to hold the box steady on the stool while Mr. Summers stirred up the papers inside it.

1. In paragraph 4, which of the following could be a theme or event that the black box is referencing?

• 1. A. The black box is most likely an allusion to one year when crops did not grow.

• 1. The black box is most likely an allusion to a theme about fear because all of the villagers want to stay away from it.

• 1. The black box is most likely an allusion to a ceremonial object, so it could be a reference to a theme about tradition.

• 1. The black box is most likely an allusion to a theme about preserving natural resources because Mr. Summers also runs a coal business, and the box is made out of wood.

5 The original paraphernalia for the lottery had been lost long ago, and the black box now resting on the stool had been put into use even before Old Man Warner, the oldest man in town, was born. Mr. Summers spoke frequently to the villagers about making a new box, but no one liked to upset even as much tradition as was represented by the black box. There was a story that the present box had been made with some pieces of the box that had preceded it, the one that had been constructed when the first people settled down to make a village here. Every year, after the lottery, Mr. Summers began talking again about a new box, but every year the subject was allowed to fade off without anything's being done. The black box grew shabbier each year: by now it was no longer completely black but splintered badly along one side to show the original wood color, and in some places faded or stained.

1. The condition of the black box is described in paragraph 5. What does its condition reveal to readers about the state of this village tradition?

• 1. The black box has lost many of its original qualities, and this village tradition has also lost many of the original practices.

• 1. The black box has been carefully preserved since it was first used, and this village tradition has also been carefully preserved over time.

• 1. In this village, each generation adds new material to this black box, and each generation adds a new practice to this village tradition.

• 1. The black box is fading, and it is evident that the yearly observance of this tradition will fade over time as well.

Use context clues to determine the meaning of the word lottery: "The whole lottery took less than two hours."

• an event in which the result is determined my chance

• a concert

• a game you attend

• a game where you need no luck

Use context clues to determine the meaning of the word paraphernalia: "The orginal paraphernalia for the lottery had been lost long ago."

• to run out, to end

• an inherited pattern of thought or action

• objects used for a particular purpose or activity

• done in a hurry

Use context clues to determine the meaning of the word tradition: "But no one liked to upset even as much tradition as was represented by the black box."

• to gather together

• to run out

• done in a hurry

• an inherited pattern of thought or action

Use context clues to determine the meaning of the word perfunctory: "There was a perfunctory tuneless chant that had been rattled off duty."

• done in a hurry and as a matter of routine

• to run out, end

• used for a purpose

• to put something together

Use context clues to determine the meaning of the word lapse: "Part of the ritual had been allowed to lapse."

• used for a particular purpose

• something that takes a long time

• to run out, to end

• done in a hurry