Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na Batman!

 Read the description of this book as found on the back cover:

They are the world's greatest super heroes, fighting endlessly against corruption and injustice. Each of them alone is a formidable opponent of evil, but banded together their powers are unmatched. Ever ready, they stand united as the JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA. Ancient pyramids awakened by the blood of a treacherous murder have unleashed death and destruction over Gotham. The harder the Superheroes try to fight the pyramids the more the neolithic stones react like a negative battery, draining the heroes of their powers and descending them into their own personal hell, to that which they fear most. Batman is the only one who manages to escape this wrath. As he strives to save his friends and Gotham, he embarks on a journey filled with black magic, shamans, and ancient rituals of terror and sacrifice. With a triumphant and explosive ending, this is a book that anyone who enjoys a great tale of sorcery will enjoy.

Based on the above passage, what is the best definition for the word "neolithic"?

a. electrified

b. very old

c. futuristic

d. radioactive

Scroll down for the answer.

____________________________

This could be tricky since the prefix neo (which means new) might lead you to think futuristic and the power draining effect they have might lead you to think radioactive.  However, the references to the pyramids was the hint that "neolithic" means one of the stone ages, so the best answer is b. very old.

Nothing Good Happens after 11:00 Anyway

Read the following passage:


I was late coming home and missed my curfew only by about 30 minutes or so.  My mother was so angry.  She had stayed up to wait for me to come home.  When I got in, she didn't ask if I was O.K. or if there was a wreck.  Instead she yelled, "I've told you a million times not to be late!"  I guess she was worried about me, but I still hate being yelled at.




What is the purpose of the hyperbole in the above statement?


a. to set the scene and introduce the characters
b. to make the point that the narrator should have known better
c. to contrast between the irritation of the narrator and the exasperation of the mother
d. to provide an ironic twist to the story
























Scroll down for the answer.


















___________________________
A hyperbole is an exaggeration used to make a point.  In this case, it's the being told "a million times."  The mother really wouldn't have asked that a million times, but is exaggerating to show that she has expressed this rule enough for the narrator to know what was expected.  The answer is B.

Missing this question? That's a paddling.

Read the following quote from Anthem:

"The first blow of the lash felt as if our spine had been cut in two."

What is the quote and example of?


A: alliteration
B: metaphor
C: hyperbole
D: simile












Scroll down for the answer.

______________________________________
You can make a case for two answers here:
C: because the comparison could be construed as an exaggeration to show how much the lash hurt -or-
D: because he uses like or as to describe something that is something else.




Thanks to Meredith, Roslyn, Jarvis, and Aaron from Ms. Brooks class for this question!  I'm sure you guys never had to worry about a whipping, but it took quite a few of those to for me.  I had several teachers that had paddles in their room ready to apply the "Board of Education" to any student in need of learning.

Sun on the Daisssssies (Bonus points if you get the allusion)

Look at the statement below:

The sun kissed the flowers
Before the clouds closed its eye.

This is an example of:

a. personification
b. allusion
c. hyperbole
d. irony












Scroll down for the answer.















_________________________________
a. is the correct answer.  Personification means to give something not human some human characteristics.  Here the sun is kissing, which, being a ball of firey gases, it cannot do.


The allusion in the title is to Gollum in chapter five of The Hobbit.  They left it out of the movie.  :(



~

Never...Where?

 Read this passage from Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman and answer the question.

"It's a bit small," said the woman.

"Compact," corrected the camel-hair coat, smoothly. "Easy to take care of."

Based on context clues provided in the passage, which word best describes the meaning of the word compact?

a. spacious

b. decorous

c. tight

d. abundant

Scroll down for the answer.

_______________

Correct Answer: C. 

Thanks to Ms. Parsons for this question!  I have it on good authority from one of her students whose first name starts with the letter S that Ms. Parsons is the best teacher in all of East Duplin High!

Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Does Whatever a Spider Can!

Look at this Spider-Man cover:

No multiple choice today, just the simple question:

What month of the year was this comic published?









Scroll down for the answer.








__________________________

The correct answer is October.  How are you supposed to know that?  Well, the vampire on the front cover is our only hint, which should lead to a prediction of October, which, of course, is when Halloween occurs.

~

Abra Cadabra!

Look at this movie poster:

If you look carefully, you'll see that the title is not Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, but instead, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.  This is the original title by the book's author, J. K. Rowling.  When this book was published in England, the title was kept.  When the book was published in the United States, the title was changed to the Sorcerer's Stone.  What is the best reason why this change was made?


Answer choices are not needed here.  Think it out and come up with an explanation.













Scroll down for the answer.












________________________

The correct answer is: the book publishers thought American kids would not be familiar with the philosopher's stone, would think it is a boring title, and therefore would not buy it.  

What is more important that getting this question right or wrong is the process that you used to figure out the answer.  Many high school students accept that they just do not know something and do not try to guess at an answer.  You cannot take the approach on the EOC and expect to pass it.  You WILL run into questions that you do not know the answer to.  Also, as in the constructed response questions, your answer is more based on your rationale rather than your being correct.






~