Vocabulary
What does "verdant" mean in the sentence: "The garden was verdant, lush with foliage and teeming with life"?
Green, lush, and full of life.
What evidence from the text shows the boy hesitated in "The boy lingered by the door"?
"Lingered by the door" and "his hand hesitating on the handle."
Why does Chopin describe the armchair as "comfortable" and "roomy" in The Story of an Hour?
To symbolize Mrs. Mallard’s sense of newfound freedom and relief.
Identify the figure of speech in "Her laughter was a melody, sweet and intoxicating."
Metaphor.
What is one central idea in the passage: "In the dreary silence of the room, she found solace in her imagination"?
Imagination provides comfort in difficult times.
Define "tumultuous" in the sentence: "The tumultuous crowd surged forward, their collective energy creating an almost palpable atmosphere of anticipation."
Loud, chaotic, or disorderly.
Infer what the boy might be feeling as he steps into the storm. Support your answer with evidence.
The boy feels reluctant but determined. Evidence: "hesitating on the handle" suggests reluctance; "stepped into the storm" shows resolve.
How does the open window in Chopin's story impact the mood?
It creates a sense of opportunity and hope, reflecting Mrs. Mallard’s emotions.
How does the imagery in "lingering in the air like the scent of blooming jasmine" impact the tone?
It creates a tone of warmth and beauty.
Explain how the central ideas of isolation and imagination interact in the passage.
Isolation creates a need for escape, which is fulfilled through imagination.
What does the word "palpable" mean, and what clues help you determine its meaning?
Palpable" means able to be felt or almost tangible. Clues include "creating an almost palpable atmosphere," implying something intensely present.
What part of the passage leaves the reader uncertain about the boy's emotions?
"The shadow of a smile flickering across his face" suggests conflicting emotions.
How do soliloquies in Macbeth reveal inner thoughts and dilemmas?
They expose Macbeth's fears, ambitions, and moral conflicts, such as his hesitation to kill Duncan.
Find a metaphor in Shakespeare's works and explain its effect.
Life’s but a walking shadow" (from Macbeth) conveys the fleeting and insubstantial nature of life.
Write a summary of the passage, including its main ideas.
In a quiet, lonely room, a woman finds peace by imagining vibrant and hopeful worlds beyond her reality
Use context clues to define "cacophony" in a sentence of your creation.
Example: "The cacophony of barking dogs and honking horns made it impossible to concentrate." Context clues: "barking dogs" and "honking horns" imply loud, discordant noise
Provide evidence from the passage that shows he is hesitant yet determined.
"Hesitating on the handle" and "stepped into the storm" contrast hesitation with determination.
Identify a structural element in a Shakespearean scene and explain its effect.
In Macbeth, the use of dramatic irony (e.g., Duncan’s trust in Macbeth) heightens tension and foreboding.
What is the paradox in Macbeth's line "Fair is foul, and foul is fair"?
It suggests the theme of deception, where appearances can be misleading.
Compare how central ideas develop in Macbeth and The Story of an Hour.
In Macbeth, ambition drives the plot, leading to destruction. In The Story of an Hour, freedom and confinement contrast, shaping Mrs. Mallard's emotional arc.
Write a sentence using a complex word and include context clues to reveal its meaning.
Example: "The serene lake reflected the sky, its calmness contrasting with the chaotic city." Context clues: "reflected the sky" and "calmness" reveal "serene" means peaceful.
Create a short passage and a corresponding inference supported by textual evidence.
Example: "She stared at the letter in her hands, her fingers trembling, before placing it gently on the table." Inference: She is anxious about the letter's contents. Evidence: "Fingers trembling" and "stared at the letter."
Analyze how the choice of setting influences the plot in The Story of an Hour or Macbeth.
In The Story of an Hour, the open window symbolizes freedom, reinforcing Mrs. Mallard's emotional journey. In Macbeth, the castle settings underscore themes of ambition and treachery.
Write a sentence using a simile and another using hyperbole, then explain their impact.
Simile: "Her eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky" (creates vivid imagery).
Hyperbole: "I’ve told you a million times!" (emphasizes frustration).
Identify two central ideas in Macbeth and describe their interaction over the course of the play.
Ambition and guilt interact as Macbeth’s unchecked ambition drives his actions, while guilt consumes him and leads to his downf