Maya Angelou said, "Self-pity in its early stage is as snug as a feather mattress. Only when it hardens does it become uncomfortable."What is the purpose of this simile?

The moon winked at me through the clouds as if to say I should venture forward.'
What object is being personified in the sentence?

"When Adele walked through the store, each shiny pair of high heels called out to her."
What is being personified?

I am so hungry I could eat TWO horses... and some ice cream and a salad and chicken nuggets and maybe some watermelon and definitely cucumbers... I think I will need two spoons!

He was a ray of sunshine-- full of energy and charisma for days. But he was also really fair-skinned compared to the rest of his family. The poor child wore sunscreen all year and a hat was definitely in season!What point of view?

It was bad enough that her little brother had to come to the awards ceremony to begin with, but now Mykala was stuck here with this crazy boy pretending to be Spider-Man. Worse, she thought to herself, "People actually think he is cute! Doesn't he know he is embarrassing me?"What point of view is being used?

Mary has a new pet.  Her pet is a baby kitten.  It is soft and cuddly.  The kitten likes to sleep a lot.  Mary put a soft blanket in a box for its bed.  Mary plays with her kitten when it is awake.  She never forgets to feed her kitten.
What is the main idea?

Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer.  Soccer players learn how to dribble and pass the ball.  They also learn how to control the ball so they can eventually score.  Most importantly, soccer players learn how to work together with their teammates.
What is the main idea?

The reader should determine the main idea BEFORE reading the passage.

What is the main difference between THEME and MAIN IDEA. 

In the High and Far-Off Times the Elephant, O Best Beloved, had no trunk. He had only a blackish, bulgy nose, as big as a boot, that he could wriggle about from side to side; but he couldn't pick up things with it. But there was one Elephant--a new Elephant--an Elephant's Child--who was full of insatiable curiosity, and that means he asked ever so many questions. And he lived in Africa, and he filled all Africa with his insatiable curiosities. He asked his tall aunt, the Ostrich, why her tail-feathers grew just so, and his tall aunt the Ostrich spanked him with her hard, hard claw. He asked his tall uncle, the Giraffe, what made his skin spotty, and his tall uncle, the Giraffe, spanked him with his hard, hard hoof. And still he was full of insatiable curiosity! He asked his broad aunt, the Hippopotamus, why her eyes were red, and his broad aunt, the Hippopotamus, spanked him with her broad, broad hoof; and he asked his hairy uncle, the Baboon, why melons tasted just so, and his hairy uncle, the Baboon, spanked him with his hairy, hairy paw. And still he was full of insatiable curiosity! He asked questions about everything that he saw, or heard, or felt, or smelt, or touched, and all his uncles and his aunts spanked him. And still he was full of insatiable curiosity! One fine morning in the middle of the Precession of the Equinoxes this insatiable Elephant's Child asked a new fine question that he had never asked before. He asked, 'What does the Crocodile have for dinner?' Then everybody said, 'Hush!' in a loud and fretful tone, and they spanked him immediately and directly, without stopping, for a long time. The remainder of this story is most likely—

In the High and Far-Off Times the Elephant, O Best Beloved, had no trunk. He had only a blackish, bulgy nose, as big as a boot, that he could wriggle about from side to side; but he couldn't pick up things with it. But there was one Elephant--a new Elephant--an Elephant's Child--who was full of insatiable curiosity, and that means he asked ever so many questions. And he lived in Africa, and he filled all Africa with his insatiable curiosities. He asked his tall aunt, the Ostrich, why her tail-feathers grew just so, and his tall aunt the Ostrich spanked him with her hard, hard claw. He asked his tall uncle, the Giraffe, what made his skin spotty, and his tall uncle, the Giraffe, spanked him with his hard, hard hoof. And still he was full of insatiable curiosity! He asked his broad aunt, the Hippopotamus, why her eyes were red, and his broad aunt, the Hippopotamus, spanked him with her broad, broad hoof; and he asked his hairy uncle, the Baboon, why melons tasted just so, and his hairy uncle, the Baboon, spanked him with his hairy, hairy paw. And still he was full of insatiable curiosity! He asked questions about everything that he saw, or heard, or felt, or smelt, or touched, and all his uncles and his aunts spanked him. And still he was full of insatiable curiosity! One fine morning in the middle of the Precession of the Equinoxes this insatiable Elephant's Child asked a new fine question that he had never asked before. He asked, 'What does the Crocodile have for dinner?' Then everybody said, 'Hush!' in a loud and fretful tone, and they spanked him immediately and directly, without stopping, for a long time.Infer: why did the adults spank the Elephant’s Child when he asked about Crocodile?

Benjamin Franklin loved to write.  When he was twenty-two, he set up his own printing shop and started a newspaper.  He also printed a book called Poor Richard’s Almanac.  It had funny stories, information about the weather, and wise sayings.What is the main idea?

In the High and Far-Off Times the Elephant, O Best Beloved, had no trunk. He had only a blackish, bulgy nose, as big as a boot, that he could wriggle about from side to side; but he couldn't pick up things with it. But there was one Elephant--a new Elephant--an Elephant's Child--who was full of insatiable curiosity, and that means he asked ever so many questions. And he lived in Africa, and he filled all Africa with his insatiable curiosities. He asked his tall aunt, the Ostrich, why her tail-feathers grew just so, and his tall aunt the Ostrich spanked him with her hard, hard claw. He asked his tall uncle, the Giraffe, what made his skin spotty, and his tall uncle, the Giraffe, spanked him with his hard, hard hoof. And still he was full of insatiable curiosity! He asked his broad aunt, the Hippopotamus, why her eyes were red, and his broad aunt, the Hippopotamus, spanked him with her broad, broad hoof; and he asked his hairy uncle, the Baboon, why melons tasted just so, and his hairy uncle, the Baboon, spanked him with his hairy, hairy paw. And still he was full of insatiable curiosity! He asked questions about everything that he saw, or heard, or felt, or smelt, or touched, and all his uncles and his aunts spanked him. And still he was full of insatiable curiosity! One fine morning in the middle of the Precession of the Equinoxes this insatiable Elephant's Child asked a new fine question that he had never asked before. He asked, 'What does the Crocodile have for dinner?' Then everybody said, 'Hush!' in a loud and fretful tone, and they spanked him immediately and directly, without stopping, for a long time.Mark a synonym for insatiable.

What word would you use to describe the tone of this passage?

What word would you use to describe the tone of this passage?

The con man bamboozled the customers by making false promises. Define BAMBOOZLE.

I'm in a quandary about which friend's birthday party to attend this weekend.  Define QUANDARY.

I vacillated between going on a family vacation or going to summer camp; it was so hard to choose.  Define vacillate.

Celebrity chef Bobby Flay is a virtuoso in the kitchen.  Define virtuoso.

The huge crowd waiting in line at the new store was an auspicious sign of future success.  Define auspicious.

The spy traveled incognito into enemy territory.  Define incognito.

The loquacious barber always told long, drawn-out stories while cutting a customer's hair. 

The successful man earned his millions through deceit and chicanery.  Define chicanery.

Although Spud Webb is diminutive in height, he was a remarkable player in the NBA. 

I am most lucid right when I wake up in the morning, so I always keep a piece of paper at my bedside in case any ideas come to me at that time. 

Porpoises live in the earth's oceans and sometimes in bays and rivers near oceans. Porpoises are mammals. Their babies get their food from their mother's body. These animals live in the water, but they must come up for air. Porpoises are very interesting animals.
What is the main idea?

Hummingbirds love pink or red flowers. They guard their favorite flowers and try to keep other birds away. They fight one another for food. Their wings make a whirring sound when they hover over flowers to sip nectar. The tiny birds fly long distances to go to a warmer climate for the winter. They make their tiny nests in shrubs or trees. 
What is the main idea?

Juan loves to play games. His favorite game is chess because it requires a great deal of thought. Juan also likes to play less demanding board games that are based mostly on luck. He prefers Monopoly because it requires luck and skill. If he's alone, Juan likes to play action video games as long as they aren't too violent. 
What is the main idea? 

"Hello from the other side
I must have called a thousand times."
Is an example of...

"So let the light guide your way, yeah
Hold every memory as you go
And every road you take
Will always lead you home, home."
Is an example of...

"Your words cut deeper than a knife
Now I need someone to breathe me back to life." Is an example of...

"And now that I'm without your kisses
I'll be needing stitches."

What is the "mood" of a story?

Alex shut the lid to his laptop with a loud clap.  Some of the people sitting at the tables near him looked up from their books and gave him annoyed looks.  Alex realized that he had disturbed them and held up his hand apologetically.  The librarian turned toward him and shushed him loudly, perhaps louder than the noise that he had made.  Alex put the laptop in his bag and began walking toward the door.  He held his head down low.
Which of the following choices is evidence that the setting is a library?

"We have some important news for you Mr. President.  We have discovered a terrorist plot against the United States" said the CIA agent.  The President closed the book, set it on the desk, and leaned forward, his eyes fixed straight ahead.  "Tell me everything you know." 
What is the tone of the dialogue?

What is the tone of the following text?
"I will not!" she shouted.  "I will not be left at the mercy of our enemies while you run away and hide, you coward!" 

The city had been destroyed. Shopkeepers had been robbed and beaten, their businesses destroyed.  Each day became harder and harder for the poor, ravaged members of the community who managed to survive.  
What is the mood of the passage?

Mrs. Poff wants you to do your best on the SOL test--

It is important to READ everything for the reading SOL test.

There will be a reward for your hard work on the reading SOL test.