Question
It was the second week of school at Northside High, and the buzz in the hallways was already in full swing. Students dapped each other up, showed off new kicks, and shared clips from TikTok and the latest football game. Nobody really noticed the girl standing by the main office with a folded schedule in one hand and a worn-out backpack slung over her shoulder. Her name was Zariah. She had just moved from Memphis, and this was her third school in two years. She glanced down at her schedule again. “Room 203 – English II,” she whispered to herself. As she rounded the corner, she collided with someone, and her papers scattered across the floor. “Dang! My bad!” the boy said, stooping to help her. “It’s cool,” Zariah replied, kneeling to gather her things. “I haven’t seen you before. You new?” Zariah nodded. “Just moved here. I’m Zariah.” “I’m Dre. You got English with Ms. Bell? That’s where I’m headed too.” They walked side by side down the hallway. “You nervous?” Dre asked. Zariah shrugged. “A little. People don’t usually notice the new girl unless they’re laughing at her.” “Trust me,” Dre said, chuckling, “Ms. Bell’s class is chill. Just don’t fall asleep during warm-ups.” As they walked in, Ms. Bell was already writing the bellringer on the board. “Look who’s finally graced us with his presence,” she said to Dre, raising an eyebrow. “I brought a guest,” Dre smiled, nodding at Zariah. Ms. Bell looked over her glasses. “Zariah, right? We’ve been expecting you. Grab a seat.” Zariah sat behind Dre, taking in the room—walls covered in Black authors, quotes from Baldwin and Maya Angelou, and a huge poster that read, “Tell Your Story Before Someone Tells It for You.” As class started, Ms. Bell had everyone write a quick reflection: What’s something people assume about you that isn’t true? Zariah thought about it for a second, then began to write. After class, Dre waited for her by the door. “You write?” he asked. “A little.” “You should pull up to the writing club. We meet on Thursdays after school. We just vibe, write poems, and sometimes perform at open mic night.” Zariah raised her eyebrows. “For real?” “Yeah. You got a voice. Might as well use it.” That Thursday, she showed up. Nervous at first, but the room was filled with students who looked like her, who understood the weight of being new, being different, or being underestimated. When it was her turn to share, Zariah stood up slowly and read what she wrote in Ms. Bell’s class: "They think I’m quiet 'cause I’m scared. Truth is, I’ve seen more in 16 years than most grown folks admit. I don’t talk much, but I notice everything. Silence don’t mean weakness—it means I’m watching who’s real." By the time she finished, the room was still. Then came the snaps. Then the claps. Then Dre saying, “I told you.” Zariah smiled. Maybe this year was going to be different. .
1. Why is Zariah nervous about her first day at Northside High? Click or tap here to enter text.
2. How does Dre help Zariah feel more comfortable? Click or tap here to enter text.
3. What do the posters and quotes in Ms. Bell’s classroom suggest about the type of teacher she is? Click or tap here to enter text.
4. What writing prompt does Ms. Bell give the class, and why is it significant for Zariah? Click or tap here to enter text.
5. Why do the students in the writing club snap after Zariah shares her poem? Click or tap here to enter text.
6. Identify three adjectives that describe Zariah’s feelings or appearance. Click or tap here to enter text.
7. Find two adverbs in the story and explain how they describe action. Click or tap here to enter text.
8. List three strong verbs used in the story. Strong verbs are specific, powerful action words that make writing more vivid and engaging. Instead of using a basic verb like went, said, or looked, a strong verb shows exactly how something happened. Click or tap here to enter text.
9. Give two nouns that represent important parts of Zariah’s experience. Click or tap here to enter text.
10. In the line: “Silence don’t mean weakness—it means I’m watching who’s real,” what part of speech is the word “real”? Click or tap here to enter text.
1. Why is Zariah nervous about her first day at Northside High? Click or tap here to enter text.
2. How does Dre help Zariah feel more comfortable? Click or tap here to enter text.
3. What do the posters and quotes in Ms. Bell’s classroom suggest about the type of teacher she is? Click or tap here to enter text.
4. What writing prompt does Ms. Bell give the class, and why is it significant for Zariah? Click or tap here to enter text.
5. Why do the students in the writing club snap after Zariah shares her poem? Click or tap here to enter text.
6. Identify three adjectives that describe Zariah’s feelings or appearance. Click or tap here to enter text.
7. Find two adverbs in the story and explain how they describe action. Click or tap here to enter text.
8. List three strong verbs used in the story. Strong verbs are specific, powerful action words that make writing more vivid and engaging. Instead of using a basic verb like went, said, or looked, a strong verb shows exactly how something happened. Click or tap here to enter text.
9. Give two nouns that represent important parts of Zariah’s experience. Click or tap here to enter text.
10. In the line: “Silence don’t mean weakness—it means I’m watching who’s real,” what part of speech is the word “real”? Click or tap here to enter text.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
1. **Why is Zariah nervous about her first day at Northside High?**
Zariah is nervous because she is new to the school and has had experiences in her previous schools where people didn’t notice her unless they were making fun of her. The fear of being laughed at or not fitting in adds to her anxiety.
2. **How does Dre help Zariah feel more comfortable?**
Dre helps Zariah feel more comfortable by introducing himself, walking with her to class, and providing reassurance about Ms. Bell's class. He also invites her to the writing club, encouraging her to express herself and use her voice.
3. **What do the posters and quotes in Ms. Bell’s classroom suggest about the type of teacher she is?**
The posters and quotes suggest that Ms. Bell is an encouraging and supportive teacher who values individuality, creativity, and the importance of storytelling. She emphasizes that every student's voice matters and promotes a welcoming environment.
4. **What writing prompt does Ms. Bell give the class, and why is it significant for Zariah?**
Ms. Bell asks the class to write about something people assume about them that isn’t true. This prompt is significant for Zariah because it allows her to reflect on her identity and the misconceptions others may have about her, giving her an opportunity to share her true self.
5. **Why do the students in the writing club snap after Zariah shares her poem?**
The students snap after Zariah shares her poem as a form of appreciation and acknowledgment of her talent. This gesture creates a supportive atmosphere and shows that they resonate with her words and the emotions she expressed.
6. **Identify three adjectives that describe Zariah’s feelings or appearance.**
Nervous, quiet, observant.
7. **Find two adverbs in the story and explain how they describe action.**
- "Finally" (in "who has finally graced us with his presence"): It indicates the timing and suggests that Dre's arrival is long-awaited.
- "Slowly" (in "stood up slowly"): It describes how Zariah stands up to share her poem, conveying her hesitation and nervousness.
8. **List three strong verbs used in the story.**
- Collided
- Stoop
- Graced
9. **Give two nouns that represent important parts of Zariah’s experience.**
- Voice
- Identity
10. **In the line: “Silence don’t mean weakness—it means I’m watching who’s real,” what part of speech is the word “real”?**
The word "real" is an adjective, describing the authenticity of the people Zariah is observing.
Zariah is nervous because she is new to the school and has had experiences in her previous schools where people didn’t notice her unless they were making fun of her. The fear of being laughed at or not fitting in adds to her anxiety.
2. **How does Dre help Zariah feel more comfortable?**
Dre helps Zariah feel more comfortable by introducing himself, walking with her to class, and providing reassurance about Ms. Bell's class. He also invites her to the writing club, encouraging her to express herself and use her voice.
3. **What do the posters and quotes in Ms. Bell’s classroom suggest about the type of teacher she is?**
The posters and quotes suggest that Ms. Bell is an encouraging and supportive teacher who values individuality, creativity, and the importance of storytelling. She emphasizes that every student's voice matters and promotes a welcoming environment.
4. **What writing prompt does Ms. Bell give the class, and why is it significant for Zariah?**
Ms. Bell asks the class to write about something people assume about them that isn’t true. This prompt is significant for Zariah because it allows her to reflect on her identity and the misconceptions others may have about her, giving her an opportunity to share her true self.
5. **Why do the students in the writing club snap after Zariah shares her poem?**
The students snap after Zariah shares her poem as a form of appreciation and acknowledgment of her talent. This gesture creates a supportive atmosphere and shows that they resonate with her words and the emotions she expressed.
6. **Identify three adjectives that describe Zariah’s feelings or appearance.**
Nervous, quiet, observant.
7. **Find two adverbs in the story and explain how they describe action.**
- "Finally" (in "who has finally graced us with his presence"): It indicates the timing and suggests that Dre's arrival is long-awaited.
- "Slowly" (in "stood up slowly"): It describes how Zariah stands up to share her poem, conveying her hesitation and nervousness.
8. **List three strong verbs used in the story.**
- Collided
- Stoop
- Graced
9. **Give two nouns that represent important parts of Zariah’s experience.**
- Voice
- Identity
10. **In the line: “Silence don’t mean weakness—it means I’m watching who’s real,” what part of speech is the word “real”?**
The word "real" is an adjective, describing the authenticity of the people Zariah is observing.