Denee Benton

What is the meaning of the word ADVOCATE as it is used in paragraph 9 of the text Denee Benton: Broadway Princess?

• To recommend or support

• A person who pleads a case in a court of law

• A champion, proponent or backer

• To reject or criticize

Which lines from paragraph 9 best supports the correct answer in number 1?

• Benton also had a guidance counselor, Lester Johnson, who became instrumental in her budding career, encouraging her to never give up.

• As a seventh grader, Benton’s Broadway dreams intensified when her parents took her to New York to see the award-winning musical Wicked.

• She idolized Whitney Houston after seeing the Grammy-award winning star play the Fairy Godmother in the 1997 Disney film Cinderella.

• You just never know who you’re going to meet and what wisdom they have to share.

What is the author’s purpose for quoting Denee’s advice,”you are exactly enough as what you are and there is a story for you to tell.”

• To inform a wide audience about the history of Denee’s stage career

• 1. To persuade high school students to pursue a career in the arts 

• 1. To entertain the fans of fictional texts with a short story of about a dancer 

• 1. To inspire young student readers to follow their dreams. 

Which detail from Denee Benton: Broadway Princess best contributes to the story in a similar way?

• “I have my college list. I’m going to school for theater.’ And my counselor, Mr. Johnson, was amazing. He was on the few black teachers at my school and he really was just an advocate of mine.”

• “Get good training and when and if you can afford to go to a conservatory, go.”

• “They’re not going to be looking for me.”

• I went to a college prep school so it was really rigorous academically.”

Which of these inferences is best supported by the text?

• Colorblind casting is a controversial practice.

• Young black girls like Renee Benton are not always used to seeing themselves represented as royalty.

• Some audiences didn’t understand why a young black woman was cast as a Russian aristocrat. 

• 1. Denee Benton’s role as Natasha was the first time she’d ever acted on stage.

What is the primary theme of Denee Benton's career as described in the text?

• Perseverance and determination

• Luck and chance

• Talent and skill

• Networking and connections

Which literary device is most evident in Denee Benton's story?

• Metaphor

• Irony

• Alliteration

• Symbolism

What role did Lester Johnson play in Denee Benton's life according to the text?

• He was her first acting coach

• He was her guidance counselor

• He was her Broadway director

• He was her vocal trainer

What is the meaning of the word 'instrumental' as used in the context of Denee Benton's career?

• Musical

• Essential

• Minor

• Optional

Which sentence best describes Denee Benton's impact on young audiences?

• She discourages them from pursuing arts.

• She inspires them to follow their dreams.

• She advises them to focus on academics.

• She entertains them with fictional stories.