by B. McSwain
I don't like keeping secrets. I would never betray a friend's confidence, but keeping secrets—even noble ones—seems to maneuver me to disaster every time. And this week's secret keeping resulted in no small catastrophe that I'm certain my friends will still be rehearsing even at graduation three years from now. It all started when Garrison and Ty had the bright idea to throw a surprise retirement party for our English teacher, who has been teaching English since "judgment" was spelled "judgement," I'm pretty sure. I told them not to drag me into the secret, but they needed me to keep Mr. Grayson out of the room long enough to set everything up. On the appointed day, I ventured into the hallway outside the teachers' lounge so I could ambush Mr. Grayson with questions the guys provided me. Mr. Grayson looks a lot like Einstein with white hair that sticks out everywhere like a cartoon character after he incurs an electrical shock. I can depend on him having a stack of hardback "classics" under his arm, which serendipitously came in handy when I accidentally bumped into him as he exited the lounge. Suddenly, the floor was tiled in a mosaic of classics, and this was a good thing because I couldn't remember one question I was supposed to ask him. As I helped him pick up the books, it occurred to me to ask about his favorite reads.
"Oh, Cayden, my boy," he began, "these are not just good reads, they are good friends who should be read again and again." He began to hand me one book after another as we walked to class. "Stand with Scout on Boo's porch and learn to see things from someone else's perspective. Laugh and grieve and laugh again with Anne Shirley at Green Gables. Accompany Tom along his mischievous and dangerous escapades as his Aunt Polly worries."
By the time we entered the classroom and everyone yelled "Surprise!", I was loaded with six hefty novels to read. What started as a mere diversion to surprise a beloved teacher resulted in a long, but enjoyable, summer reading program for me!
3
Read the sentence from the passage.
And this week's secret keeping resulted in no small catastrophe that I'm certain my friends will still be rehearsing even at graduation three years from now.
Which definition best defines the author's use of the word catastrophe?
catastrophe \kə-ˈtas-trə-(ˌ)fē \
a momentous tragic event
utter failure; a fiasco
a violent, destructive natural event
the final event of a drama, especially a tragedy
A.
1
B.
3
C.
4
D.
2
1 answer
The best definition of the author's use of the word "catastrophe" in the sentence is:
D. 2 - utter failure; a fiasco.
In the context of the passage, the author is referring to the embarrassing and disastrous outcome of keeping the retirement party a secret, which aligns with the notion of a failure or a fiasco rather than a tragic event or a natural disaster.
1 answer
1 answer
1 answer
3 answers