Black Sunday Diction and Syntax

How does the author’s description of the storm’s speed contribute to the reader's understanding of its impact?

• It highlights the sheer force and unpredictability of the storm, suggesting it arrived suddenly and with overwhelming power.

• It suggests the storm was more of a gradual, building phenomenon, giving readers a sense of its long duration.

• It emphasizes the damage the storm caused in terms of how much ground it covered in a short time.

• It implies that the storm was not as intense because it moved quickly, suggesting it was over before much harm could be done.

How does the author’s use of the term "Black Sunday" contribute to the tone of the passage?

• It adds a casual, almost detached label to the event, softening the emotional impact of the storm.

• It suggests the day was marked by unremarkable events, leading the reader to believe the storm was a routine occurrence.

• It evokes a sense of hopelessness and darkness, setting the stage for the devastating events that followed.

• It suggests the storm was a sudden, unexpected event, creating a sense of surprise and urgency in the reader.

What purpose does the author achieve by describing the storm as "coal black"?

• It contrasts the darkness of the storm with the brightness of the day.

• It helps to emphasize the destructive and ominous nature of the storm.

• It conveys the beauty of the storm’s appearance.

• It highlights the effects of light on the storm.

How does the author use imagery of animals to enhance the description of the storm?

• It shows that animals’ instinctual responses were a way to communicate the storm’s severity to humans.

• It contrasts the chaos of the storm with animals’ calmness, suggesting that nature was unaffected by the storm’s fury.

• It highlights the confusion and panic, showing how the storm disturbed not only humans but animals as well.

• It emphasizes the unusual calmness of animals in the storm, suggesting that the storm was not as frightening as it seemed.

Why does the author use the phrase "black blizzard" to describe the storm?

• To show the storm was harmless.

• To enhance the sense of destruction and fear.

• To describe the storm's strong winds.

• To describe the snowstorm that accompanied the dust.

How does the author’s choice of the word “demoralized” help convey the farmers' emotional state?

• It shows that the farmers were excited about the storm.

• It emphasizes that the farmers were in a state of hopelessness and despair.

• It indicates that the farmers were financially successful after the storm.

• It describes the farmers’ happiness about the changes.

What role does the description of the storm’s aftermath play in the passage?

• It suggests that the destruction was immediate but not long-lasting, implying that recovery was quick and easy.

• It contrasts the devastation with the possibility of rebuilding, offering a hopeful outlook on the future.

• It illustrates the enduring effects on the land and people, highlighting the long-term struggle caused by the storm.

• It downplays the storm’s damage, focusing on the personal stories of survivors rather than the physical destruction.

What is the purpose of the author’s use of the words “achingly familiar” in the description of life in the Dust Bowl?

• To emphasize the newness and unfamiliarity of the situation.

• To convey how the harshness of the situation was a regular, painful reality for the farmers.

• To suggest that the farmers were eager for change.

• To show how the farmers had grown accustomed to success.

How does the comparison of the storm to “the Red Sea closing in on the Israel children” affect the reader’s perception?

• It suggests the storm is part of a grand, divine plan, leading to a sense of redemption for the survivors.

• It implies that the storm represents a struggle that could lead to a victorious or redemptive outcome.

• It emphasizes the inescapable nature of the storm, highlighting how it engulfed everything in its path without mercy.

• It downplays the destructive nature of the storm, instead focusing on the possibility of eventual salvation.

What effect does the phrase "We loaded our jalopies and piled our families in" have on the reader’s understanding of the situation?

• It shows that the farmers were ready to celebrate the storm.

• It highlights the desperation and the difficult choice to leave their homes.

• It implies that the farmers were eager to rebuild after the storm.

• It suggests that the farmers were unprepared for the storm.