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.

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!

We Should All Love Our Mothers

In the play, “Oedipus Rex,” the king is visited by an elderly Messenger from a distant land with important news.

Oedipus- “Never, I will never go near my parents.”
Messenger- “My boy, it is clear, you don’t know what you’re doing.”


Why does the Messenger refer to Oedipus as “my boy?”

A. The messenger knows that Oedipus is male
B. Oedipus is actually a child
C. The messenger thinks that Oedipus is naïve like a child
D. The messenger knows that Oedipus is a Momma’s boy

Scroll down for the answer.

_________________________________________

Answer- C- Based upon how familiar the Messenger seems to be with the king, the Messenger holds knowledge that the king does not have.


A is irrelevant. B. Typically non-royals do not address Kings in a condescending or familiar manner, unless they have just cause to do so.
D is simply wrong. On multiple levels. Forgive me.



Thanks to Jaxon, Daniel, and Daniel, three guys who love their mothers (not like Oedipus, though...  Ewww!)

Shameless Plug: Teaching ACES

 Never fear, fellow teacher - your question of the day is just a scroll below!

Teaching ACES step-by-step

You are using these questions to help prepare your kids for the reading comprehension multiple choice questions, but do you have a solid plan for getting them to answer the constructed response section?  If not, consider below:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/XET-Teaching-ACES-for-Constructed-Responses-12163122

ACES provides a formula for students to think about when formatting a constructed response or short answer question. It is the basic structure for organized writing and is often used to set students up for larger works that will require thesis statements and paragraphs. It is also often used on state testing.

The poem "Ozymandias" is used to break down each component in each lesson.

Teaching this basic structure can be time consuming and irritating for both student and teacher. This pack aims to alleviate some of that stress on both by scaffolding the process and having students practice one element at a time, building upon previous lessons until all elements are mastered.  It can be done in a series of four days or less, if needed, but I prefer to teach this one day a week over four weeks.

After going through the example, students get a chance to practice each part ( lesson one is only A, lesson two is A and C, lesson three is A, C, and E, and the final lesson is A, C, E, and S.

The primary text is "Ozymandias" by Shelley and students will practice on each section using passages from "Fire and Ice" by Frost, The Four Loves by C. S. Lewis, Dune by Herbert, and Invisible Man by Ellison.

Each lesson has a student worksheet to let them practice with a small reading passage.

I created this last year for use with my inclusion class and it worked wonders.  It made it where they could grasp what we were asking for and by breaking it down into chunks, they were not overwhelmed.  I have an honors class this semester and will be using it with them as well.

Mother's Day Takes on a Whole New Meaning...

In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus runs away from home after hearing a prophecy that he will do some crazy stuff with his parents.  However, he doesn't know he is adopted and runs straight to his real parents.  Of course he marries his mother unknowingly. What is this an example of?

A. Epic Failure on the level of creation
B. Sarcasm
C. Verbal irony
D. Dramatic irony







Scroll down for the answer.

________________________

Answer- A. Seriously. This must be the inspiration for every Jerry Springer/Maury reality, talk show


D- is the correct answer. The Greek audience knew because of their story-telling traditions who Oedipus was and his “intimate” family connections. They know the plotline, while Oedipus blindly continues his quest for the truth. (Forgive the pun…)

Thanks Aaron, Zane, and Brittany for this question and we'll forgive Mrs. Stamey for the sheep pun (it was baaaaaaad).

You Get My Meaning

Read the following:

The Bundle of Sticks



An old man on the point of death summoned his sons around him to give them some parting advice. He ordered his servants to bring in a bundle of sticks, and said to his eldest son: "Break it." The son strained and strained, but with all his efforts was unable to break the bundle. The other sons also tried, but none of them was successful. "Untie the bundle," said the father, "and each of you take a stick." When they had done so, he called out to them: "Now, break," and each stick was easily broken. "You see my meaning," said their father.


What is his meaning?
a. together you are stronger
b. you will all die like me one day no matter how strong you are
c. life stinks
d. it is a shame to break good things








Scroll down for the answer.










____________________
a. is the correct answer

Take a shot at this one

 Look at the following image:

This is an example of which literary term?

a. pun
b. situational irony
c. metaphor
d. alliteration







Scroll down for the answer.







________________
The correct answer is:
   a. pun



See teachers, this is why you should consider creating some questions yourself or having your students do it as a project and send them to me.  Otherwise, you're in for a lot of these corny ones.  Fair warning.