I think I taught this kid...

From this excerpt from the book Hoot by Carl Hiaasen 

Garret was a D student, but he was popular in school because he goofed around in class and made fart noises whenever a teacher called him out. Garret was the king of fart noises at Trace Middle. He was most famous for farting the first line of the Pledge of Allegiance during homeroom. And Garret's mother was a guidance counselor at Trace.

Which figurative of speech is it using?

A) Simile 

B) Personification 

C) Irony

D) Metaphor 

Scroll down for the answer.

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The answer is c. Irony because Garret was famous at his school for being uncivil and inappropriate, but his mother is a counselor at his school, and her position was to make sure students act civilized and appropriate.

Thanks to Lin for the question!  She is a bright and wonderful student who would never, EVER fart out the Pledge because she is quite proper.

As an added bonus, I'm betting the author of this book chose to use owls for the center of his environmental novel because as a child he was subjected to the Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute ad campaign of the late 1970s.  Warning - watch at your own risk.  When you see the quality programming my generation had as kids, you'll understand why we always went outside to play instead of staying indoors all the time like you kids do.

I Hate Scary Movies

Read the following passage:

We were watching this horror movie and saw the killer climb into the house through an open window, pick up a huge knife laying on the kitchen counter, and go into the closet of the little kids' room.  Later, the babysitter and her boyfriend (who is NOT supposed to be over) send the kids to bed.  Right as they are about to do things that should not be done by unwed teenagers, the little kids start crying that there is a monster in the closet.  The babysitter is frustrated and goes up to their room to make them go to sleep.  She says, there is no such thing as monsters.  To prove it, she went to the closet and opened the door.  Of course the killer leaped out and stabbed her to death.  It was very scary.

What is the purpose of showing the killer enter the closet before the killings?

a. to provide specific details
b. to create enriching imagery
c. to create suspense
d. to develop the rising action





Scroll down for the answer.








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c. is the correct answer.  This is called dramatic irony (we know something the characters do not know).  Since we know he is there, the suspense builds up waiting for the killer to attack.

~

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.

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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.


















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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.

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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.















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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.

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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!