"It's not the way it used to be," Old Man Warner said clearly. "People ain't the way they used to be." "All right," Mr. Summers said. "Open the papers. Harry, you open little Dave's." Mr. Graves opened the slip of paper and there was a general sigh through the crowd as he held it up and everyone could see that it was blank. Nancy and Bill, Jr., opened theirs at the same time, and both beamed and laughed, turning around to the crowd and holding their slips of paper above their heads. "Tessie," Mr. Summers said. There was a pause, and then Mr. Summers looked at Bill Hutchinson, and Bill unfolded his paper and showed it. It was blank. "It's Tessie," Mr. Summers said, and his voice was hushed. "Show us her paper, Bill." Bill Hutchinson went over to his wife and forced the slip of paper out of her hand. It had a black spot on it, the black spot Mr. Summers had made the night before with the heavy pencil in the coal-company office. Bill Hutchinson held it up, and there was a stir in the crowd. "All right, folks," Mr. Summers said. "Let's finish quickly."

Question

Which statement best describes the value of reading this text aloud more than once to improve fluency?

What tells the reader that the passage includes dialogue?

How can your reading show the characters' different voices?

What affects the tone as you read this excerpt?

Answer 1

Here’s a breakdown of the questions regarding the given text excerpt:

1. Which statement best describes the value of reading this text aloud more than once to improve fluency?

   • Reading the text aloud multiple times allows readers to become more familiar with the rhythm, pacing, and emotional nuances of the dialogue. This repetition helps improve pronunciation and overall fluency, making it easier to convey the underlying tensions and dynamics among the characters.

2. What tells the reader that the passage includes dialogue?

   • The use of quotation marks around the characters' spoken words indicates that these sections of the text are dialogue. Additionally, the utilization of dialogue tags (such as "Mr. Summers said" and "Old Man Warner said clearly") helps to clarify who is speaking.

3. How can your reading show the characters' different voices?

   • To convey the characters’ distinct voices, a reader can use varying intonations, pitch, and pacing for each character. For example, Old Man Warner's voice might be read with a weary tone, while Mr. Summers could be read more briskly or authoritatively. Additionally, emphasizing certain words or phrases can highlight the emotions or attitudes of the characters.

4. What affects the tone as you read this excerpt?

   • The tone is influenced by the characters' emotions, the context of the gathering, and the tension of the lottery's outcome. For instance, the stark contrast between the seemingly mundane nature of the lottery and the grim reality of its purpose creates a chilling tone. Pausing strategically or altering the volume can further reflect the somber and unsettling mood that permeates the excerpt.