Literary Analysis Quiz

Read this excerpt: “suppose I die before graduation they will sing sad melodies but finally tell the truth about me” (lines 15-18). What does this description reveal about the narrator's perspective of their peers? (R.1.3)

• The speaker appreciates their peers’ honesty.

• The speaker does not trust their peers’ words or actions.

• The speaker is annoyed by having to wait on their peers.

• The speaker dislikes the way their peers only sing sad songs.

This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B. Part A: What is the author's purpose for using rhetorical questions in the text? (R.3.4)

• to emphasize the speaker’s need to talk to their mom

• to emphasize how nervous the speaker is

Which phrase does the speaker use to emphasize the purpose chosen in Part A? (R.3.4)

• A. “I should have been on Math Team” (line 26)

• B. “will I live long enough / to grow up” (lines 32-33)

• C. “and momma’s in the bedroom / with the door closed.” (lines 21-22)

• D. “I have to learn how to dance / in time for the next party” (lines 12-13)

Which sentence suggests that the speaker is likely to exaggerate and therefore may be unreliable? (R.1.3)

• A. “why do I have to be / the one / wearing braces” (Lines 28-30)

• B. “the boy I cannot live without / still sucks his thumb” (Lines 3-4)

• C. “and momma’s in the bedroom / with the door closed.” (Lines 10-11)

• D. “I should have been on Math Team / my marks were better than his” (Lines 26-27)

How are the themes “adolescence is a challenging time” and “teenagers are insecure” developed similarly in the passage? (R.1.2)

• by using hyperbole to exaggerate the speaker’s concerns

• by using metaphors to compare teenagers’ different problems

• by using repetition to illustrate the biggest struggle teenagers face

• by using rhyme to emphasize the ways the speaker tries to overcome challenges

How does the setting of the Parent-Teacher meeting impact the climax of the story? (R.1.1)

• It allows the narrator to see Charles' behavior in person.

• It allows the narrator to talk to the teacher about Charles.

• It allows the narrator to meet the parents of her son’s friends.

• It allows the narrator to hear her son’s stories about his classmates.

Read this excerpt. “The teacher spanked a boy, though,” Laurie said, addressing his bread and butter. “For being fresh,” he added, with his mouth full. “What did he do?” I asked. “Who was it?” Laurie thought. “It was Charles,” he said. “He was fresh. The teacher spanked him and made him stand in a corner. He was awfully nasty.” (paragraphs 9-11) What does fresh mean in this excerpt? (V.1.3)

• cold and bitter

• new and different

• lively and chipper

• rude and shameless

Read the excerpt then the word parts for the word incredulously. “What happened?” I asked incredulously. (paragraph 32) incredulously in- Latin for “not” credere Latin for “to believe” -ous element making nouns into adjectives Based on the word parts, what does incredulously mean in paragraph 32? (V.1.2)

• truthful

• doubtful

Select a sentence that describes how the setting of the house develops the plot of the passage. (R.1.1)

• It causes Charles to develop as a character as he is punished for his bad behavior.

• It causes Laurie to resolve the conflict with Charles by befriending him and setting a good example.

• It introduces the conflict by providing a place where Laurie’s parents can meet with Charles’ mother.

• It builds to the climax by separating Laurie from his classmates so there is no one to confirm his stories of Charles.

Table Match: Which theme does each detail support in the passage? (R.1.2)

• First theme

• Second theme

• Both themes