1. Use the story "The Landlord's Mistake" from Fifty Famous People by James Baldwin to answer the question.

Question

In one short sentence, describe a theme of the excerpt.

2. Use the excerpt from the short story, The Little Mermaid, to complete the activity (The excerpt starts at "in the morning the storm had ceased" and ends at "and where his palace stood.")
In 3 short sentences, write a summary of this excerpt from The Little Mermaid.

3. Use the paragraph to answer the question.
Melanie walked out onto the stage, and her stomach dropped like a free-falling elevator. She kept slowly over to the podium and bent the microphone toward her mouth, like the straw and her pink lemonade. She gathered up all of her courage and began to speak, her voice in imposter as it boomed through the microphone. She flinched at its unfamiliarity Scan the room for her Mothers face.
In three short sentences, identify two examples of figurative language from the passage above and explain what each example of figurative language means.

4. Use the paragraph to answer the question.
My grandmother, whom we affectionately call Nani, is the best baker I know. If Lebron James is the king of the basketball court, then she is the queen of the kitchen. Her soft, warm chocolate chip cookies are better than Mrs. Field's or Rachel Ray's. Her key lime pie is the perfect delicate balance between sweet and savory. Her recipe box is her treasure chest, full of secret recipes handwritten on colorful notecards. Nani mixes and stirs and measures with as much care as a scientist in a lab. Everything tastes better if it's made by Nani, for everything she bakes is made with love.
Analyze the writer's word choice. In 3 short sentences, describe the effect of word choice on the tone of the My grandmother, whom we affectionately call Nani, is the best baker I know. If Lebron James is the king of the basketball court, then she is the queen of the kitchen. Her soft, warm chocolate chip cookies are better than Mrs. Field's or Rachel Ray's. Her key lime pie is the perfect delicate balance between sweet and savory. Her recipe box is her treasure chest, full of secret recipes handwritten on colorful notecards. Nani mixes and stirs and measures with as much care as a scientist in a lab. Everything tastes better if it's made by Nani, for everything she bakes is made with love.
Analyze the writer's word choice. In 3 short sentences describe the word choice on the tone of the paragraph, including any analogies or allusions that were used.

Answer 1

1. A theme of "The Landlord's Mistake" is the idea that appearances can be deceiving and that true worth is often found beneath the surface.

2. In the excerpt from "The Little Mermaid," the morning after the storm reveals a calm sea, allowing the characters to regain their composure. The prince reflects on the beauty of the sea and the unfortunate shipwreck that occurred. As the mermaid observes the prince, she realizes her desire to be part of his world.

3. Two examples of figurative language in the passage are "her stomach dropped like a free-falling elevator" and "her voice in imposter as it boomed through the microphone." The first example simile conveys the intense fear and anxiety Melanie feels before speaking, emphasizing the vulnerability of the moment. The second example describes Melanie's voice as an "imposter," suggesting that she feels unnatural or unworthy in the spotlight, highlighting her struggle with self-confidence as she speaks publicly.

4. The writer's word choice creates a warm and affectionate tone in the paragraph about Nani. By using phrases like "the best baker I know" and comparing Nani to the "queen of the kitchen," the writer emphasizes her exceptional baking skills with admiration and respect. Additionally, the analogy of her recipe box as a "treasure chest" and the comparison of her careful measuring to a "scientist in a lab" evoke a sense of artistry and care in her baking, enhancing the overall heartfelt and nostalgic tone of the description.