The lost campers sweltered in the heat of the desert sun.

What does "sweltered" most likely mean?

It was the bottom of the ninth inning. The Cougars were due to bat with the score tied at three apiece. I couldn't believe we had advanced this far in the playoffs. Right off the bat, the starting pitcher walked the first two players. I was due up next. As I practiced my swing in the on-deck circle, the butterflies in my stomach wouldn't settle down. The Cougars needed a solid hit to score the runner from second and win the game. I wanted to be the hero; I wanted it so badly I could taste it.

What is the meaning of right off the bat?

What is the difference between THEME and MAIN IDEA?

Define topic:

Is this a topic, main idea, or theme?

It doesn’t matter what type of clothes you wear or the kind of music you listen to. What matters most is who you are inside.

Is this a topic, main idea, or theme?

Love

Is this a topic, main idea, or theme?

Even though it had been a terrible day, Joey came home in a pleasant mood, hoping to have a good night.

Macey's mom noticed that she was squinting as she read her book, which was only a few inches away from her face. She scheduled a doctor's appointment for the next week, and when the doctor said Macey needed glasses, she tried on every single pair in the office. After spending an hour looking at glasses, mom suggested that perhaps she should sleep on it and come back and decide in the morning. Macey agreed, but she kept talking about the pros and cons of each pair all night long. 

What can you infer about Macey?

Which best describes what "objective" means?

I look out my window to observe the torrential downpour. The weather reflects my mood. I can't believe that Cora humiliated me like that. She could've just checked "no" and returned the note to me. She didn't have to stand on top of a table and announce to the whole world that she would never date me. Girls are so cruel. My life is completely ruined. My head is still ringing with the disdainful laughs of the entire student body. There is no way I can go to school tomorrow.

What word below best describes the tone of this passage?

King Midas and the Golden Touch (Greek myth)

King Midas wants more and more gold and is finally granted his wish: Everything he touches will turn to gold. The Midas touch! He is ecstatic, as even the flowers become gold under his powerful touch. Unfortunately, when King Midas touches his daughter, she turns into a gold statue, and it is at that moment he realizes that all the gold in the world does not compare to his daughter or her love.

Which sentence or phrase from the passage reflects the theme that it is important not to be blinded by greed?

Maya and her family were headed to the beach one sunny, summer afternoon. When they arrived, Maya noticed a family seemed to be having a sort of garage sale which was a curious sight to see in the beach parking lot. They were selling used personal items that you would normally find in one's house like pots, pans, dishes, a CD player, and various other items. There appeared to be a mother, father and two children, a boy and a girl about Maya's age. Maya could tell that the family was not there to enjoy the beach as they were not dressed for the beach. Their clothes were far too warm for the beautiful day and were tattered, torn and quite dingy. Suddenly, Maya remembered that she had a twenty dollar bill in her pocket that she had received for her birthday.

What do Maya's actions reveal about her character?

Once a man was sitting with his wife before their front door. They had a roasted chicken which they were about to eat together. Then the man saw that his aged father was approaching, and he hastily took the chicken and hid it, for he did not want to share it with him. The old man came, had a drink, and went away. Now the son wanted to put the roasted chicken back onto the table, but when he reached for it, it had turned into a large toad, which jumped into his face and sat there and never went away again. If anyone tried to remove it, it looked venomously at him as though it would jump into his face, so that no one dared to touch it. And the ungrateful son was forced to feed the toad every day, or else it would eat from his face. And thus he went to and fro in the world without rest.

How would the act of hiding the chicken ultimately impact the man?

Joseph hurried out of the exam hall as soon as the bell rang. The exams were over, and he could not contain his excitement at summer vacation starting. He had managed to convince his parents to allow him to join a soccer training camp at school. He would have the opportunity to train with some great coaches, and he would also get the chance to meet his favorite soccer player. His best friend Andy would also be with him at the camp. As he walked back home from school, he thought of the things he had to buy before the start of camp.

Which is the best summary of the paragraph?

Figurative Language: Giving inanimate objects human characteristics

Which figurative language uses "like" or "as" to compare two unlike things?