Figurative Language
Main Idea
Definitions
Author's Purpose
Potpourri
100
Finish the phrase that means someone is really special to you: You are _____ ______ ____ ____ ______.
"The apple of my eye"
100
What does the single click represent in "It's About Time?"
The start of standard time in the United States. "A single click signaled the beginning of standard time in the United States."
100
In "It's About Time," what does the word "dilemma" mean in paragraph 9?
problem
100
Is "Blues for Bob E. Brown" is fiction or non-fiction?
Fiction
100
Why did Mary form the letter T? (Blues for Bob E. Brown)
To signal that it was his last song.
200
Name the idiom that is named after a greek war hero who was shot by an arrow. This idiom refers to someone's weakness.
Achilles Heel
200
In "It's About Time" explain why Railroad Time was created. Then, explain why it was replaced with another system. (Worth double points!)
Reason Railroad Time was created: To reduce the confusion created by several hundred local time zones by creating 100 official Railroad Time zones. People needed to know the precise time to catch the train. Reason Railroad Time was replaced: “Travelers had to know both the local time and the time system of the railroad they were traveling on.” It confused people. It created communication problems by jeopardizing the reliable transmission and receipt of messages. It was so inefficient that it inspired people to create standard time.
200
In "It's About Time," it says - “Before the middle and late 1800s, most people really didn’t care about precise time.” In the last sentence above, what does the word precise mean?
exact The word “precise” means “exact.” In the quotation above, the author is stating that people didn’t care about an exact measurement of time.
200
Is "It's About Time" a fiction or non-fiction passage?
Non-Fiction
200
In "It's About Time," how does the author organize the passage? A. by stating the different effects of a major social change B. by discussing an issue and contrasting various viewpoints C. by comparing life before and after a historical turning point D. by presenting a problem and describing efforts to find a solution
D. by presenting a problem and describing efforts to find a solution In this passage the author presents a problem: the country needed to standardize its time system. Then, the author describes how various individuals helped solve this problem by creating standard time zones.
300
In "Blues for Bob E. Brown" it says “I swallowed a lump in my throat the size of a baseball and got onstage to some indifferent applause.” What effect does the phrase “the size of a baseball” have in the sentence above?
It emphasizes Bob Brown's nervousness.
300
Which sentence summarizes paragraph 10 in "Blues for Bob E. Brown?" A. Bob E. Brown realizes that the audience is watching him. B. Bob E. Brown grows more comfortable as he relaxes and enjoys performing. C. Bob E. Brown begins to play and does so without looking down at his guitar. D. Bob E. Brown manages to get through two songs despite forgetting exactly how to play them.
B. Bob E. Brown grows more comfortable as he relaxes and enjoys performing.
300
(Blues for Bob E. Brown) “Then we really started to cook.” What does cook mean in the sentence above?
play very well together In this sentence “cook” means “to perform with energy and enthusiasm.” Once the Milt Lewis Trio begins to play with the narrator, they all begin to “cook,” or play well together. This allows them to play both solo (alone) and collaboratively (together).
300
In "It's About Time," what is the purpose for reading this passage? A. to learn about the development of uniform timekeeping in the United States B. to research a paper on the mechanics and operation of timepieces C. to draw a map of the different times zones in the United States D. to determine distances between locations in the United States
A. to learn about the development of uniform timekeeping in the United States The passage explains the development of standardized time. It begins by showing how each city having its own time zone was problematic, then explains the plans proposed to fix this issue.
300
(It's About Time) What was one result of using sundials to set time? A. People found it difficult to be on time for their trains. B. The railroad network was able to expand nationwide. C. People found it exciting to travel from place to place. D. Sundials and other timepieces became more popular.
A. People found it difficult to be on time for their trains. The passage states that sundials were imprecise: “A problem with this system was that noon, based on the sun’s position, took place in one town a couple of minutes earlier than it did in a town 25 miles to the west.” Due to this difference in time, people found it difficult to be on time for their trains.
400
Identify a simile used in "Blues for Bob E. Brown"
Halfway through, I realized I was making as much impression as a snowball on a brick wall.
400
In "It's About Time," what made it important to know the exact time? A. the creation of the sundial B. the development of uniform time zones C. the growth of railroad and telegraph services D. the protest at the Metrological Society’s annual convention
C. the growth of railroad and telegraph services The development of railroad and telegraph services made it clear that the different time zones were very confusing. Railroad and telegraph services relied on the “exactness of time,” so the need for a standard system became apparent (clear).
400
(It's About Time) “It was enthusiastically accepted, and Sunday, 18 November 1883, was the day chosen to embrace the new standard time zones across the country.” In the sentence above, what does the word embrace mean?
adopt To “embrace” means “to adopt.” One definition of “adopt” is “to accept or act in accordance with a plan.” The phrase “enthusiastically accepted” provides context clues to the word “embrace” and shows that the General Time Convention had already accepted Allen’s proposal for a new time system and decided to put it into effect.
400
What is one way that the narrator conveys how Bob E. Brown’s feelings change in the passage? A. He tells how the Milt Lewis Trio comes onto the stage with him. B. He explains how he begins sweating and how his palms dry out. C. He describes the sound of the audience clapping after each song. D. He relates a story about playing during assemblies at his school.
B. He explains how he begins sweating and how his palms dry out. At the beginning of the passage Bob E. Brown begins to sweat because he is nervous. Later, as he becomes more comfortable on the stage, his palms “dry out.” This figurative language is used to explain that he is no longer sweating because he is relaxed and enjoying playing music.
400
Predict how Bob E. Brown will feel the next time he has a professional performance. Then, explain your prediction with information from the passage. (Worth double points)
One accurate prediction is that the next time Bob E. Brown has a performance, he will be more confident in himself/less nervous/calm. Explanations: Bob E. Brown knows that other musicians, such as the Milt Lewis trio, appreciate his music / Bob E. Brown knows that a jazz/blues club audience enjoys his performance. / Mary tells the audience to remember his name. / Bob E. Brown will not care what the audience thinks. / Bob E. Brown learned to play from the heart. Another accurate prediction is that the next time Bob E. Brown has a performance, he will feel the same way he does on this first night, nervous and unsure. For this prediction, explanations could include: Although by the end of the passage Bob E. Brown is a bit more confident, this is his first performance. He probably will still be nervous the next time he performs. He might not have the Milt Lewis Trio to help him perform the next time so he might be more nervous. Finally, another accurate prediction is that the next time Bob E. Brown has a performance, he will be excited. This prediction could be supported by an explanation such as that Bob E. Brown knows the audience liked his performance.
500
What did the narrator mean in "Blues for Bob E. Brown" mean when he uses the word "blur" in paragraph 10.
He meant the next two songs went really fast.
500
In "Blues for Bob E. Brown," between which two paragraphs did the mood change among the crowd?
Paragraphs 6 and 9 - they started turning their heads: "Every now and then when I looked up, I could see heads turning and faces looking at me.
500
(Blues for Bob E. Brown) “Halfway through, I realized I was making as much impression as a snowball on a brick wall.” What does he mean by impression?
Effect or influence. In this sentence, the narrator is using the word “impression” to show that he is having little “effect,” or influence, on his audience.
500
In "It's About Time," which viewpoint does the passage support? A. Railroad Time provided people with a useful and complex system. B. Life before standard time was a lot more exciting than it is today. C. The U.S. Naval Observatory should set the time around the world. D. Several people contributed to the creation of standard time.
D. Several people contributed to the creation of standard time. The author mentions multiple individuals who provided solutions to the time discrepancy (difference). By explaining how various people proposed new systems to measure time, the author shows that many people contributed to the creation of standard time.
500
In "It's About Time," who submitted a plan at the General Time Convention in October 1883 for standard time zones?
William F. Allen
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