Short Stories 1
In "Lather and Nothing Else," what moral dilemma does the barber face, and what consequences does his choice have?
The barber faces the dilemma of whether to kill Captain Torres, a man he despises, or spare his life. The consequence of his choice is that he decides not to kill Torres, despite the opportunity, which preserves his own moral integrity.
Identify the speaker and context of this quote: "I would have given anything for the nerve to ask for a single glass of water."
The quote is from "One of These Days" by Gabriel García Márquez, spoken by the dentist who wishes he had the courage to stand up to the mayor
Identify and correct the grammatical error in the following sentence: "He don't know the answer to the question."
He doesn't know the answer to the question.
Choose the correct homophone to complete the sentence: "I saw ___ dog in ___ yard."
a) their; their
b) their; there
c) they're; their
a) their; their
Add the necessary comma to the following sentence: "After school we'll go to the mall."
After school, we'll go to the mall.
"One of These Days" by Gabriel García Márquez explores the theme of power dynamics. Describe a situation from the story that illustrates this theme.
Answers may vary. In the story, the dentist defies the mayor by refusing to treat him until the mayor acknowledges the dentist's pain. This demonstrates the power shift where the dentist, typically in a subservient role, asserts control over the mayor.
Who is the protagonist of "Charles" by Shirley Jackson, and what mischievous behavior does he attribute to "Charles"?
The protagonist is Laurie. Laurie attributes mischievous behavior, including hitting the teacher, to a boy named Charles, who he talks about daily.
Find and fix the error in the following sentence: "She is often late to class because, she oversleeps.
She is often late to class because she oversleeps.
Choose the correct homophone to complete the sentence: "The ___ of the new movie was very exciting." Options: (a) tail, (b) tale
b) tale
Where should a comma be placed in this sentence?
"Before we leave the house we need to feed the dog."
Before we leave the house, we need to feed the dog.
Shirley Jackson's "Charles" focuses on deception. How does Laurie's deception affect the story's outcome, and what does it reveal about human nature?
Answers may vary. Laurie's deception about "Charles" influences his parents' perception of their son's behavior. It reveals how easily parents can be deceived by their children and reflects the mischievous nature of childhood.
Explain the significance of the following quote from "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe: "I must not suffer as a result of my revenge. A wrong is not made right in that manner. "
Tis quote highlights the theme of revenge and that it may not bring true justice or resolution, as seen in Montresor's scheme to punish Fortunato for his perceived insults.
Correct the error in this sentence. If there is no mistake, say "no error": "They're going to the movies tomorrow night."
No error
Fill in the blank with the appropriate homophone: "He couldn't ___ the difference between the two paintings." Options: (a) bare, (b) bear, (c) bair
b) bear
Where should a comma be placed in this sentence? If it doesn't require a comma, say "no comma."
The boy received a trophy for winning the race.
No comma
Aesop's Fable "The Thief and His Mother" deals with betrayal within family relationships. Describe a specific instance of betrayal in the story and discuss its significance.
The betrayal occurs when the thief's mother, fearing for her own safety, weeps openly for her son as he's dragged off to be executed. This betrayal highlights the complex dynamics of family relationships and the lengths individuals may go to in order to protect themselves.
Describe the significance of the following excerpt from "The Thief and His Mother" of Aesop’s Fables: "If you had beaten me when I first stole and brought you that lesson book, I should not have come to this."
The thief is suggesting that his mother is to blame for the very behavior for which he is being tried and executed.
Locate and correct the grammatical mistake. If there is no mistake, say "no error":
"The cat, who is black, sat on the windowsill."
The cat, which is black, sat on the windowsill.
Fill in the blank with the correct homophone: "She had to ___ in her excitement about the upcoming trip."
Options: (a) reign, (b) rein, (c) rain
c) rein
Insert the missing comma(s) in this sentence. If no comma is required, say 'no comma':
"The novel which was written by a famous author won numerous awards."
The novel, which was written by a famous author, won numerous awards.
Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" delves into themes of guilt and paranoia. How does the protagonist's guilt manifest throughout the story, and what does it reveal about the human mind?
The protagonist's guilt manifests in his obsession with the old man's eye and his subsequent confession of the murder to the police. This reveals the torment caused by guilt and the fragility of the human psyche.
Analyze the themes of guilt and paranoia in "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe and "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe.
Answers may vary. Both stories delve into the psychological turmoil of the protagonists, with "The Tell-Tale Heart" focusing on the protagonist's guilt-driven paranoia after committing murder, while "The Cask of Amontillado" explores the themes of revenge and the descent into madness.
Identify and rectify the error or errors in the following sentence. If there is no mistake, say "no error":
"Mary do you like to read, write and paint?"
Mary, do you like to read, write, and paint?
Choose the correct homophone to complete the sentence: "His ___ of chocolate desserts was unparalleled." Options: (a) suite, (b) sweet
a) suite
Add commas where needed in the following sentence. If none are necessary, say "no comma":
"Before we embark on our journey we must gather supplies plan our route and notify our families."
Before we embark on our journey, we must gather supplies, plan our route, and notify our families.