Didn't You Read Percy Jackson?

 Watch the commercial:

Based on the allusion presented in the commercial, we can assume that a rival for Mercedes is:

a. Mercury
b. BMW
c. Lexus
d. Cadillac











Scroll down for the answer.







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a. is the correct answer.  This should be pretty easy allusion to get.  The state test will often shy away from allusions because it relies on you knowing something outside of the text.  However, allusions to mythology are fair game, as it is expected that everyone is familiar with basic classical mythology.

Night - Chapter 7

 Read the quote from chapter 7 of Elie Wiesel's Night:

  
“I went to look for him. Yet at the same time a thought crept into my mind. If only I didn't find him! If only I were relieved of this responsibility, I could use all my strength to fight for my own survival, to take care only of myself…. Instantly, I felt ashamed, ashamed of myself forever”


The __________ helps to convey Elie Wiesel's characterization:

a. simile

b. internal conflict

c. verbal irony

d. hyperbole

Scroll down for the answer 

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The struggle going on here is a type of character vs. self conflict.  Conflict comes in two forms - external conflict and internal conflict.  Character vs. Self happens in the characters mind, heart, or soul - so that makes it internal.  The correct answer is B.

Thanks to Ms. Willis - that awesome teacher from Manteo High School for this question.  You rock, Ms. Willis!

Minikins Are Just Freaky...

Read the following passage from Dean Koontz's Tick Tock:

"A whirl of dead melalenca leaves like hundreds of tiny knives spun over him, whispering and buzzing against one another..."

In this sentence, what two literary devices does the author use?

a. simile and personification
b. simile and metaphor
c. irony and internal conflict
d. symbolism and indirect characterization

Scroll down for the answer.

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a. this is correct. the leaves are compared to knives using like, and the leaves cannot whisper, so they have been personified.
b. simile is correct, but the author does not use metaphor in this sentence.
c. There is mild external conflict but no expressed internal conflict
d. Based on this sentence alone, you cannot conclude that there is any symbolism, nor can you conclude that there is any indirect characterization.

Thanks to Zak and Dave from Mrs. Stamey's class for this question.  The question makes them seem to be super smart students, but I'm betting that they used Tick Tock because they didn't read All Quiet on the Western Front like they were supposed to.

Look Closely

Look at the following logo:

This is an example of:

a. archetype
b. hyperbole
c. allusion
d. alliteration








Scroll down for the answer.








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c. is correct.  The winged foot in the middle is a reference to Hermes, Greek god of messengers.  He is really, really fast and so it Goodyear.

~

Night

Read the passage from chapter 2 of Elie Wiesel's Night:


We looked at the flames in the darkness. There was an abominable odor floating in the air. Suddenly, our doors opened. Some odd-looking characters, dressed in striped shirts and black trousers, leapt into the wagon. They held electric torches and truncheons. They began to strike out to the right and left shouting “Everybody get out! Everyone get out of the wagon!”

This quote helps to convey:

a. characterization of the guards
b. personification of the prisoners
c. anxious mood for the reader
d. internal conflict for Elie Wiesel

Scroll down for the answer

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The correct answer is C - mood and tone are often asked on the EOC and students often get them confused.  Tone is how the author feels about something (think about someone's tone of voice conveying more meaning).  Mood is how the reader is made to feel.  Here we have words like "flames", "darkness", and "abominable odor".  Add to that the shouting and physical violence, it makes the reader anxious for what is happening as well.

Thanks to Ms. Willis from Manteo for the question!  All of her students should be thanking her daily for being graced with an absolute awesome teacher!

Freebie - Ace the State Test

 Hello teachers!  Never fear, your daily question is just a downwards scroll away, but I wanted to give you a chance to grab the Last Minute EOC Tips presentation.  You can get it by going to https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Extreme-English-Teacher and grabbing the Free Download (should see it at the top right, but if not, just scroll the products until you see it).  I hope it helps!  If it does, please consider leaving a review.

Say What You Will, but the Guy Did Love His Mother

Read the passage from Oedipus Rex by Sophocles

“A blight on the fresh crops, and the rich pastures, cattle sicken and die, and the women die in labor, children stillborn, and the plague, the fiery god of fever hurls down on the city, his lightning slashing through us- raging plague in all its vengeance, devastating the house of Cadmus!”

What word could replace blight in the passage?

A. Prosperity
B. Disease
C. Blessing
D. Purity










Scroll down for the answer.

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b. is the correct answer - Disease….in the passage everything is negative and dying; therefore, you should look for the one word that has a negative connotation. (A connotation is how you FEEL about a word, not necessarily what it means.)

Thanks Lydia and Kris from Ms. Stamey's class!  You know what else is a blight?  State's basketball program, but you guys probably already knew that since you seem really smart.