The Spelling Test

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.

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?

• Definition 1

• Definition 2

• Definition 3

• Definition 4

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