The author used words like jabbed and pounded to create an angry tone.
Use the paragraph to answer the question.
Mati skidded into the door and jabbed a combination into the keypad. The door stubbornly remained locked. Mati pounded it with his fist. He couldn’t fathom how his calculations could be wrong. He snatched the paper from his pocket and frantically checked his math. The clock over the escape room door continued to tick mockingly closer to zero.
How did the author use word choice to affect tone?
(1 point)
Responses
The author used words like jabbed and pounded to create an angry tone.
The author used words like jabbed and pounded to create an angry tone.
The author used words like stubbornly and mockingly to create a bitter tone.
The author used words like stubbornly and mockingly to create a bitter tone.
The author used words like locked and escape to create an adventurous tone.
The author used words like locked and escape to create an adventurous tone.
The author used words like skidded and snatched to create an urgent tone.
11 answers
by Mary Mapes Dodge
Midway between a certain blue lake and a deep forest there once stood a cottage, called by its owner “The Rookery.”
The forest shut out the sunlight and scowled upon the ground, breaking with shadows every ray that fell, until only a few little pieces lay scattered about. But the broad lake invited all the rays to come and rest upon her, so that sometimes she shone from shore to shore, and the sun winked and blinked above her, as though dazzled by his own reflection. The cottage, which was very small, had sunny windows and dark windows. Only from the roof could you see the mountains beyond, where the light crept up in the morning and down in the evening, turning all the brooks into living silver as it passed.
But something brighter than sunshine used often to look from the cottage into the forest, and something even more gloomy than shadows often glowered from its windows upon the sunny lake. One was the face of little Ruky Lynn; and the other was his sister’s when she felt angry or ill-tempered.
They were orphans, Cora and Ruky, living alone in the cottage with an old uncle. Cora—or “Cor,” as Ruky called her—was nearly sixteen years old, but her brother had seen the forest turn yellow only four times. She was, therefore, almost mother and sister in one. The little fellow was her companion night and day. Together they ate and slept, and—when Cora was not at work in the cottage—together they rambled in the wood, or floated in their little skiff upon the lake.
1 of 16
Question
Use the story to answer the question.
What plot device refines the story’s theme?
(1 point)
Responses
a resolution allows a character to find happiness
a resolution allows a character to find happiness
a second chance allows a character to rethink a decision
a second chance allows a character to rethink a decision
a dream teaches a character about their own feelings
a dream teaches a character about their own feelings
a magic event forces a character to accept responsibility
The plot device that refines the story’s theme is: a magic event forces a character to accept responsibility.
A story begins with a character trying to make a major life decision. The character goes to sleep, and the next day the storyline splits in two. One thread of scenes follows the character showing their life if they had decided the big choice one way. The other follows the character showing their life if they had decided the big choice another way. Both paths involve unexpected downsides and upsides. Near the end of the story, the character hits their head in both storylines. For a moment, the character fully understands both realities and must choose which reality to return to.
Which subplot would add tension to the story?
(1 point)
Responses
one in which there are small hints that the character was dealing with a head injury the whole time
one in which there are small hints that the character was dealing with a head injury the whole time
one in which the character’s decision has dramatically different effects on a dear friend in each reality
one in which the character’s decision has dramatically different effects on a dear friend in each reality
one in which the character ends up with a different pet in each reality
one in which the character ends up with a different pet in each reality
one in which the character uncovers a series of clues to discover what made them dislike making big decisions
The subplot that would add tension to the story is: one in which the character’s decision has dramatically different effects on a dear friend in each reality.
Which setting would best support a main character’s terrible, angry mood?(1 point)
Responses
a shack during a thunderstorm
a shack during a thunderstorm
a park bench on a sunny afternoon
a park bench on a sunny afternoon
a waterpark
a waterpark
a coffee shop on a fall morning
The setting that would best support a main character’s terrible, angry mood is: a shack during a thunderstorm.
by Mary Mapes Dodge
Midway between a certain blue lake and a deep forest there once stood a cottage, called by its owner “The Rookery.”
The forest shut out the sunlight and scowled upon the ground, breaking with shadows every ray that fell, until only a few little pieces lay scattered about. But the broad lake invited all the rays to come and rest upon her, so that sometimes she shone from shore to shore, and the sun winked and blinked above her, as though dazzled by his own reflection. The cottage, which was very small, had sunny windows and dark windows. Only from the roof could you see the mountains beyond, where the light crept up in the morning and down in the evening, turning all the brooks into living silver as it passed.
But something brighter than sunshine used often to look from the cottage into the forest, and something even more gloomy than shadows often glowered from its windows upon the sunny lake. One was the face of little Ruky Lynn; and the other was his sister’s when she felt angry or ill-tempered.
They were orphans, Cora and Ruky, living alone in the cottage with an old uncle. Cora—or “Cor,” as Ruky called her—was nearly sixteen years old, but her brother had seen the forest turn yellow only four times. She was, therefore, almost mother and sister in one. The little fellow was her companion night and day. Together they ate and slept, and—when Cora was not at work in the cottage—together they rambled in the wood, or floated in their little skiff upon the lake.
1 of 16
Question
Use the story to answer the question.
What motivates Cora to forgive Roky? Select the two correct answers.
(1 point)
Responses
hope that her forgiveness will help her brother grow and change
hope that her forgiveness will help her brother grow and change
her love for her brother
her love for her brother
the fear of her uncle’s anger
the fear of her uncle’s anger
guilt she feels after events cause her to examine her actions
guilt she feels after events cause her to examine her actions
the fact that she is a complex character
The two correct answers that motivate Cora to forgive Roky are:
- hope that her forgiveness will help her brother grow and change
- her love for her brother
“When you told me you were a pet detective, I’ll be honest,” Joan said, “I thought you were a few sandwiches short of a picnic.”
I smiled, giving her cat Scruffy a quick scratch behind the ears. “I get that a lot.”
“But you did it,” Joan said. “You brought Scruffy back! How did you find her?”
I paused, my smile frozen in place. The real story was long, a bit gross, and definitely not something my neighbor Joan would enjoy. After some quick mental calculations, I landed on a version of the tale that only involved a few minor mistruths.
“It’s funny you ask…” I began.
How does using the euphemism “a few sandwiches short of a picnic” affect the narrative?
(1 point)
Responses
It tells the reader more about both characters.
It tells the reader more about both characters.
It creates tension between Joan and the narrator.
It creates tension between Joan and the narrator.
It gives the conversation a more casual tone.
It gives the conversation a more casual tone.
It makes Joan’s statement seem less insulting.
Using the euphemism “a few sandwiches short of a picnic” affects the narrative by: It makes Joan’s statement seem less insulting.