Henry G. Izatt

Grade 7 English Language Arts

Exam Review

June 2012

Mr. Erb

Name:

Grade Seven 2012 ELA Exam Review

The English Language Arts exam will be divided into four parts:

Part I : Literature Response Part I I : Expository Text Reading Response Part I I I : Writing Mechanics Part IV: Poetry

Part I: Literature Response Students wil l read a short story and wil l complete a writing activity where they wil l be asked to discuss the literary elements.

Part II: Expository Text Reading Response Students read an expository text and complete a SQ3R note-taking frame.

Part III: Writing Mechanics Students wil l be asked to edit paragraphs for punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and grammar.

Part IV: Poetry Students wil l be asked to respond to poetry and demonstrate their knowledge of the different poetic elements and terms taught this year.

Note: This booklet has a collection of activities that will help you prepare for the final exam.

Elements of a Short Story

I. What is a short story? The short story is a fictional narrative written in prose. A fictional

short story wil l reveal some t ruth about human life or human nature. Narrative is another word for story and prose is the ordinary language of speaking and writing as opposed to the language used in poetry.

A short story has certain recognizable characteristics such as: 1. fairly short in length 2. only a few characters 3. clear and simple conflict and plot 4. centered on one main incident, situation, or character 5. climax develops from main situation 6. primarily entertaining 7. usually fictitious 8. must be possible - realistic

Story Structure A. Introduction: This introduces the theme, tells where and when

the story takes place, introduces the main characters, and establishes mood.

B. Body: The main actions and complications of the plot are worked out in the body of the story.

C. Conclusion: this explains everything that hasn't been explained, and ties the story together by resolving the complications of the plot.

II. Plot The plot is the arrangement of events so they build up suspense

and are linked together. The plot may be diagrammed as follows:

A. The plot: arrangement of the events described: 1- Exposition: tells where, when, and who. 2. Rising action: is made up of all the main events in the plot

before the climax. The problems or complications are introduced in this section.

3. Climax: the most exciting part of the story and includes the part in which the problem is solved.

4. Falling Action: explains things the reader doesn't know. It answers any questions left.

5. Resolution: rounds off the story and satisfies the reader as to what is going to happen. (Ex. The live happily ever after.)

B. Conflict in Plot a. Protagonist: The main character in the story has a problem

to solve or a goal to achieve. When this is achieved, i t is called the climax. Any interference that the protagonist meets in attempting to reach his or her goal or to solve the problem is called conflict. The conflict may be between individual characters, circumstances, or conflicting tendencies or traits within the protagonist's character.

b. Antagonist: (not necessarily a person). The problem facing the protagonist can be called the antagonist, and rises out of certain conflicts such as:

HI. Setting The setting is the background against which the action of the story

takes place. It should be realistic in order to increase the credibility or truthfulness of the story. The setting must f i t or influence the actions and the characters. The elements which make up the setting include:

1. Geographic location 2. The time period 3. Occupation and daily manner of living of the character 4. General environment (mood and atmosphere)

IV. Theme The theme is the main or central purpose of the story, the

controlling idea that the author is really trying to get across. It wil l be a unifying generalization about life stated or implied in the story. All details in the story contribute towards the development of the theme. There can be many themes in a story. Examples of themes are:

1. Humanity vs. Nature 2. Old Age 3. Good vs. Evil 4. Grace Under Pressure 5. Friendship & Love 6. Peer Pressure 7. Sibling Rivalry

-wo/man vs. man animal vs. animal wo / man vs. fate wo/ man vs. circumstance

-wo/man vs. woman -wo/man vs. animal -wo/man vs. nature

Broken Chain

by Gary Soto

Al fonso sat o n t h e porch t r y i n g t o push his c rooked t e e t h t o w h e r e he t h o u g h t t hey be longed . He ha ted

t h e w a y he l ooked . Last w e e k he d id f i f t y s i t -ups a day, t h i n k i n g t h a t he w o u l d bu rn those a l ready

a p p a r e n t r ipples o n his s t omach t o even deeper r ipples, dark ones, so w h e n he w e n t s w i m m i n g at t h e

canal next s u m m e r , gir ls in cu t -o f f s w o u l d no t ice . And t h e guys w o u l d t h i nk he was t o u g h , s o m e o n e w h o

cou ld take a punch and give i t back. He w a n t e d " c u t s " l ike those he had seen on a ca lendar o f an Aztec

w a r r i o r s tand ing on a py ram id w i t h a w o m a n in his a rms. (Even she had cuts he cou ld see benea th her

t h i n dress.) The ca lendar hung above t h e cash register at La Plaza. Orsua, t h e o w n e r , said A l fonso cou ld

have t h e ca lendar at t h e end o f t h e yea r if t h e wa i t ress , Yo landa, d i d n ' t t ake i t f i rs t .

A l fonso s tud ied t h e magaz ine p ic tu res o f rock stars f o r a hai rs ty le. He l iked t h e way Prince l o o k e d — a n d

t h e bass p layer f r o m Los Lobos. A l fonso t h o u g h t he w o u l d look cool w i t h his hair razored in to a V in t h e

back and s t reaked pu rp le . But he k n e w his m o t h e r w o u l d n ' t go f o r i t . And his fa ther , w h o was pu re

Mex i cano , w o u l d sit in his chair a f t e r w o r k , sul len as a t o a d , and call h im "sissy."

A l fonso d i d n ' t dare co lo r his hair. But one day he had had it bu t ched on t h e t o p , l ike in t h e magazines.

His f a the r had c o m e h o m e t h a t even ing f r o m a Softbal l game , happy t h a t his t e a m had dr i l led f o u r

h o m e r s in a t h i r t een - t o - f i ve bashing o f Color Ti le. He 'd swaggered in to t h e l iv ing r o o m bu t had s topped

co ld w h e n he saw A l fonso and asked, n o t j ok ing b u t w i t h real conce rn , "D id y o u hu r t y o u r head at

school? dQue paso?"

A l fonso had p r e t e n d e d n o t t o hear his f a t he r and had gone t o his r o o m , w h e r e he s tud ied his hair f r o m

all angles in t h e m i r r o r . He l iked w h a t he saw unt i l he smi led and real ized f o r t h e f i rs t t i m e t h a t his t e e t h

w e r e c rooked , like a pi le o f w r e c k e d cars. He g r e w depressed and t u r n e d away f r o m the m i r ro r . He sat

o n his bed and leafed t h r o u g h t h e rock magaz ine unt i l he came t o t h e rock star w i t h t h e bu t ched t o p .

His m o u t h was c losed, bu t A l fonso was sure his t e e t h w e r e n ' t c r o o k e d .

A l fonso d i d n ' t w a n t t o be t h e h a n d s o m e s t kid at schoo l , b u t he was d e t e r m i n e d t o be be t t e r l ook ing

t h a n average. The next day he spen t his l a w n - m o w i n g m o n e y on a n e w sh i r t and , w i t h a pocke tkn i fe ,

scooped t h e m o o n s of d i r t f r o m unde r his f ingerna i ls .

He spen t hours in f r o n t o f t he m i r r o r t r y i n g t o herd his t e e t h i n to place w i t h his t h u m b . He asked his

m o t h e r if he cou ld have braces, l ike Frankie M o l i n a , her godson , b u t he asked at t h e w r o n g t i m e . She

was at t h e k i tchen tab le l icking t h e enve lope t o t h e house paymen t . She g lared up at h i m . " D o y o u th ink

m o n e y g rows on t r ees? "

His m o t h e r c l ipped coupons f r o m magazines and newspapers , kep t a vege tab le ga rden in t h e s u m m e r ,

and shopped a t Penney's and K-Mar t . The i r fami l y a te a lo t of f r i jo les , w h i c h was OK because no th i ng

else tas ted so g o o d , t h o u g h one t i m e A l fonso had had Chinese po t st ickers and t h o u g h t t h e y w e r e t h e

nex t best f o o d in t h e w o r l d .

He d i d n ' t ask his m o t h e r f o r braces again , even w h e n she was in a b e t t e r m o o d . He dec ided t o f ix his

t e e t h by push ing on t h e m w i t h his t h u m b s . A f t e r breakfas t t h a t Saturday he w e n t t o his r o o m , c losed

t h e d o o r qu ie t l y , t u r n e d t h e rad io o n , and pushed f o r t h r e e hours s t ra ight .

He pushed fo r t en m inu tes , res ted f o r f ive , and every ha l f hour , d u r i n g a rad io c o m m e r c i a l , checked t o

see if his smi le had i m p r o v e d . It hadn ' t .

Eventual ly he g rew bo red and w e n t ou ts ide w i t h an o ld g y m sock t o w i p e d o w n his b ike , a ten -speed

f r o m M o n t g o m e r y W a r d . His t h u m b s w e r e t i red and w r i n k l e d and p ink, t he w a y t h e y go t w h e n he

s tayed in t he b a t h t u b t o o long.

A l fonso 's o lder b ro the r , Ernie, r ode up on his M o n t g o m e r y W a r d bicycle look ing depressed . He parked

his bike against t h e peach t ree and sat on t h e back steps, keep ing his head d o w n and s tepp ing on ants

t h a t came t o o close.

A l f onso knew be t t e r t h a n t o say any th ing w h e n Ernie l ooked m a d . He t u r n e d his b ike over, ba lanc ing i t

o n the handlebars and seat, and f lossed t h e spokes w i t h t h e sock. W h e n he was f i n i shed , he pressed a

knuck le t o his t e e t h un t i l t hey t i ng led .

Ernie g roaned and said, " A h , m a n . "

A l f o n s o w a i t e d a f e w m inu tes be fo re asking, " W h a t ' s t h e m a t t e r ? " He p r e t e n d e d n o t t o be t o o

i n te res ted . He picked up a w a d o f steel w o o l and con t i nued c lean ing t h e spokes.

Ern ie hes i ta ted , n o t sure if A l fonso w o u l d laugh. But i t came o u t . "Those gir ls d i d n ' t show up. And you

b e t t e r no t laugh. "

" W h a t g i r ls?"

T h e n A l fonso r e m e m b e r e d his b r o t h e r bragging a b o u t h o w he and Frost ie m e t t w o gir ls f r o m Kings

Canyon Junior High last w e e k o n Ha l loween n ight . They w e r e dressed as Gypsies, t h e cos tume fo r all

p o o r Ch icanas—they j us t had t o b o r r o w scarves and gaudy red l ipst ick f r o m t h e i r abue l i tas .

A l f o n s o wa l ked ove r t o his b ro the r . He c o m p a r e d t he i r t w o bikes: His g leamed l ike a hand fu l o f d imes,

w h i l e Ernie's looked d i r t y .

" T h e y said w e w e r e supposed t o w a i t at t h e corner . But t h e y d i d n ' t s h o w up. M e and Frost ie w a i t e d and

w a i t e d . . . . They w e r e p lay ing games w i t h us."

A l f o n s o t h o u g h t t h a t was a p r e t t y d i r t y t r i ck b u t sor t o f f u n n y t o o . He w o u l d have t o t r y t h a t someday.

" W e r e t hey cu te? " A l fonso asked.

" I guess so. "

" D o y o u t h i nk you cou ld recognize t h e m ? "

" I f t h e y w e r e w e a r i n g red l ipst ick, m a y b e . "

Al fonso sat w i t h his b r o t h e r in s i lence, b o t h o f t h e m smear ing ants w i t h t he i r f l oppy high tops . Girls

cou ld sure act w e i r d , especial ly t h e ones you m e e t on H a l l o w e e n .

Later t ha t day, A l fonso sat on t h e porch pressing on his t e e t h . Press, relax; press, relax. His po r tab le

rad io was o n , b u t no t loud enough t o make M r . Rojas c o m e d o w n t h e steps and w a v e his cane at h i m .

A l fonso 's f a t h e r d rove up . A l fonso cou ld te l l by t he w a y he sat in his t ruck , a Datsun w i t h a d i f f e ren t -

co lo red f r o n t fender , t h a t his t e a m had lost t he i r so f tba l l g a m e . A l fonso go t o f f t h e porch in a hu r ry

because he knew his f a t he r w o u l d be in a bad m o o d . He w e n t t o t h e back y a r d , w h e r e he un locked his

b ike , sat on i t w i t h t h e k ickstand d o w n , and pressed on his t e e t h . He punched h imse l f in t he s t o m a c h ,

a n d g r o w l e d , "Cu ts . " Then he p a t t e d his hair and w h i s p e r e d , " F r e s h . "

A f t e r a wh i le A l fonso peda led up t h e s t reet , hands in his pocke ts , t o w a r d Foster 's Freeze, w h e r e he was

chased by a ra t l i ke Ch ihuahua. A t his o ld schoo l , John Bur roughs E lementary , he f o u n d a kid hanging

ups ide d o w n o n t h e t o p o f a b a r b e d - w i r e fence w i t h a gir l l ook ing up at h i m . A l fonso sk idded t o a s top

and he lped t h e kid un tang le his pants f r o m t h e barbed w i r e . The k id was g ra te fu l . He had been af ra id he

w o u l d have t o stay up t h e r e all n igh t . His sister, w h o was A l fonso 's age, was also g ra te fu l . If she had t o

go h o m e and te l l her m o t h e r t h a t Frankie was s tuck on a fence and cou ldn ' t get d o w n , she w o u l d get

sco lded .

"Thanks , " she said. " W h a t ' s y o u r n a m e ? "

A l f onso r e m e m b e r e d her f r o m his school and no t i ced t h a t she was k ind o f cu te , w i t h ponyta i ls and

s t ra igh t t e e t h . "A l f onso . You go t o m y schoo l , h u h ? "

"Yeah . I've seen y o u a r o u n d . You l ive nea rby? "

" O v e r on M a d i s o n . "

" M y uncle used t o l ive on t h a t s t ree t , b u t he m o v e d t o S tock ton . "

"S tock ton ' s near Sac ramen to , isn ' t i t ? "

" Y o u been t h e r e ? "

" N o . " A l fonso l ooked d o w n at his shoes. He w a n t e d t o say s o m e t h i n g c lever t he w a y peop le do on TV.

B u t t h e on ly t h i n g he cou ld t h i nk t o say was t h a t t h e g o v e r n o r l ived in Sacramento . As soon as he shared

t h i s obse rva t i on , he w i n c e d ins ide.

A l f o n s o w a l k e d w i t h t he gir l and t h e boy as t h e y s ta r ted f o r h o m e . They d i d n ' t ta lk m u c h . Every f e w

s teps , t he g i r l , w h o s e name was Sandra, w o u l d look at h i m o u t o f t h e co rne r o f her eye, and A l fonso

w o u l d look away . He learned t h a t she was in seven th g rade , jus t l ike h i m , and t h a t she had a pe t te r r ie r

n a m e d Queen ie . Her f a t he r was a mechan ic at Rudy's Speedy Repair, and her m o t h e r was a teacher 's

a ide at Jef ferson E lementary .

W h e n they came t o t he s t ree t , A l fonso and Sandra s t o p p e d at her corner , b u t her b r o t h e r ran h o m e .

A l fonso w a t c h e d h im s top in t h e f r o n t yard t o ta lk t o a lady he guessed was t h e i r m o t h e r . She was rak ing

leaves in to a p i le.

" I l ive over t h e r e , " she said, po in t i ng .

A l fonso looked ove r her shou lde r f o r a long t i m e , t r y i ng t o m u s t e r enough nerve t o ask her if she 'd l ike

t o go bike r id ing t o m o r r o w .

Shyly, he asked, "You w a n n a go bike r id ing?"

" M a y b e . " She p layed w i t h a pony ta i l and crossed one leg in f r o n t o f t he o the r . " B u t m y bike has a f l a t . "

" I can get my b ro the r ' s b ike. He w o n ' t m i n d . "

She t h o u g h t a m o m e n t be fo re she said, "OK. But n o t t o m o r r o w . I have t o go t o m y aun t ' s . "

" H o w abou t a f te r school on M o n d a y ? "

" I have t o take care o f m y b r o t h e r un t i l my m o m comes h o m e f r o m w o r k . H o w ' b o u t f o u r - t h i r t y ? "

"OK , " he sa id. " F o u r - t h i r t y . " Instead o f par t ing immed ia te l y , t hey ta lked fo r a wh i l e , asking ques t ions l ike

" W h o ' s you r f avo r i t e g r o u p ? " "Have you ever been on t h e Big D ipper at Santa Cruz?" and "Have you

e v e r tas ted p o t s t ickers?" But t h e ques t i on -and -answer pe r i od ended w h e n Sandra's m o t h e r cal led her

h o m e .

A l f o n s o t o o k o f f as fast as he cou ld o n his bike, j u m p e d t h e curb , and , cool as he cou ld be, raced away

w i t h his hands s tu f f ed in his pockets . But w h e n he looked back over his shou lder , t h e w i n d rak ing

t h r o u g h his hair , Sandra w a s n ' t even look ing. She was a l ready on her l awn , head ing f o r t h e po rch .

T h a t n ight he t o o k a b a t h , p a m p e r e d his hair i n to place, and d id m o r e t han his usual set o f exercises. In

b e d , in b e t w e e n t h e push-and- res t on his t e e t h , he pes te red his b r o t h e r t o let h im b o r r o w his b ike.

" C o m e o n , Ern ie , " he w h i n e d . "Just f o r an hou r . "

" I m i g h t w a n t t o use i t . "

" C o m e o n , m a n , I'll let y o u have m y t r i ck -o r - t rea t candy . "

" W h a t you g o t ? "

"Three baby Mi lky Ways and some Ski t t les. "

" W h o ' s go ing t o use i t ? "

A l fonso hes i ta ted , t h e n r isked t h e t r u t h . " I m e t th is g i r l . She doesn ' t l ive t o o far . "

Ernie ro l led over on his s t omach and s tared at t h e ou t l i ne o f his b r o t h e r , w h o s e head was res t ing on his

e l bow . "You got a g i r l f r i end?"

"She a in ' t my g i r l f r i end , j us t a g i r l . "

" W h a t does she look l ike?"

"L ike a g i r l . "

" C o m e o n , w h a t does she look l ike?"

"She's go t ponyta i ls and a l i t t le b ro the r . "

"Pony ta i l s ! Those gir ls w h o messed w i t h Frost ie and m e had pony ta i l s . Is she coo l? "

" I t h i n k so. "

Ern ie sat up in bed . " I be t y o u tha t ' s her . "

A l f o n s o fe l t his s t o m a c h kno t up. "She's go ing t o be my g i r l f r i end , n o t y o u r s ! "

" I ' m go ing t o get even w i t h he r ! "

" Y o u be t te r no t t o u c h her , " A l fonso snar led , t h r o w i n g a w a d d e d Kleenex at h i m . " I ' l l run you over w i t h

m y b ike . "

For t h e nex t hour , un t i l t h e i r m o t h e r t h r e a t e n e d t h e m f r o m t h e l iv ing r o o m t o be qu ie t o r else, t hey

a r g u e d w h e t h e r i t was t h e same gir l w h o had s tood Ernie up . A l fonso said ove r and ove r t h a t she was

t o o nice t o pul l a s t u n t l ike t h a t . But Ernie a rgued t h a t she l ived on ly t w o blocks f r o m w h e r e those girls

h a d t o l d t h e m t o wa i t , t h a t she was in t h e same grade, a n d , t h e c l incher , t h a t she had pony ta i l s .

Secre t ly , however , Ernie was jea lous t h a t his b ro the r , t w o years y o u n g e r t h a n h imsel f , m i g h t have f o u n d

a g i r l f r i end .

S u n d a y m o r n i n g , Ernie and A l fonso s tayed away f r o m each o the r , t h o u g h ove r breakfast t hey f o u g h t

o v e r t he last to r t i l l a . The i r m o t h e r , sew ing at t h e k i t chen tab le , w a r n e d t h e m t o knock it o f f . A t church

t h e y made faces a t one a n o t h e r w h e n t h e pr iest , Father Jerry, w a s n ' t look ing . Ernie punched A l fonso in

t h e a r m , and A l fonso , his eyes w i d e w i t h anger , p u n c h e d back.

M o n d a y m o r n i n g t h e y hur r ied t o school on t h e i r bikes, ne i t he r saying a w o r d , t h o u g h t hey rode side by

s ide. In f i rs t pe r i od , A l fonso w o r r i e d h imse l f sick. H o w w o u l d he b o r r o w a bike fo r her? He cons idered

asking his best f r i e n d , Raul, f o r his b ike. But A l fonso k n e w Raul, a pape rboy w i t h do l la r signs in his eyes,

w o u l d charge h i m , and he had less t h a n sixty cents , c o u n t i n g t h e soda bo t t les he cou ld cash.

Be tween h is tory and m a t h , A l fonso saw Sandra and her g i r l f r i end hudd l i ng at the i r lockers. He hur r ied

by w i t h o u t be ing seen.

Dur ing lunch A l fonso h id in meta l shop so he w o u l d n ' t run i n to Sandra. W h a t w o u l d he say t o her? If he

w e r e n ' t m a d at his b ro the r , he cou ld ask Ernie w h a t girls and guys ta lk abou t . But he was m a d , and

anyway , Ernie was p i t ch ing nickels w i t h his f r iends .

A l fonso hu r r i ed h o m e a f t e r schoo l . He d id t h e m o r n i n g dishes as his m o t h e r had asked and raked t h e

leaves. A f t e r f in ish ing his chores, he d id a h u n d r e d s i t -ups, pushed on his t e e t h unt i l t hey hur t ,

s h o w e r e d , and c o m b e d his hair. He t h e n s tepped o u t t o t h e pa t io t o c lean his b ike. On an impulse, he

r e m o v e d t h e chain t o w i p e o f f t h e g r i t t y o i l . But wh i l e he was u n h o o k i n g i t f r o m t h e back sprocket , it

snapped . The chain lay in his hand l ike a dead snake.

A l f onso c o u l d n ' t be l ieve his luck. N o w , n o t on ly d id he n o t have an ext ra bike fo r Sandra, he had no bike

f o r h imsel f . F rus t ra ted and on t h e verge o f tears , he f l ung t h e chain as fa r as he cou ld . It landed w i t h a

h a r d slap against t h e back fence and spooked his s leep ing cat , Benny. Benny looked a r o u n d , b l ink ing his

s o f t gray eyes, and w e n t back t o s leep.

A l f onso re t r i eved t h e cha in , w h i c h was hopeless ly b roken . He cursed h imsel f f o r be ing s tup id , ye l led at

his bike f o r be ing cheap, and s l a m m e d t h e chain o n t o t h e c e m e n t . The chain snapped in ano the r place

a n d hi t h i m w h e n i t p o p p e d up, sl ic ing his hand l ike a snake's fang .

" O w ! " he c r ied , his m o u t h i m m e d i a t e l y go ing t o his hand t o suck on t h e w o u n d .

A f t e r a dab o f i od ine , w h i c h on ly m a d e his cu t h u r t m o r e , and a lo t o f t h o u g h t , he w e n t t o the b e d r o o m

t o p lead w i t h Ernie, w h o was chang ing t o his a f te r -schoo l c lo thes .

" C o m e o n , m a n , le t m e use i t , " A l fonso p leaded . "Please, Ernie, I'll do any th i ng . "

A l t h o u g h Ernie cou ld see A l fonso 's despe ra t i on , he had plans w i t h his f r i end Raymundo . They w e r e

g o i n g t o catch f rogs at t h e May fa i r canal . He fe l t sor ry f o r his b r o t h e r and gave h im a st ick o f g u m t o

m a k e h im fee l be t t e r , b u t t h e r e was n o t h i n g he cou ld do . The canal was t h r e e mi les away , and t h e frogs

w e r e wa i t i ng .

A l f o n s o t o o k t h e st ick o f g u m , p laced i t in his sh i r t pocket , and le f t t h e b e d r o o m w i t h his head d o w n . He

w e n t ou ts ide , s l a m m i n g t h e screen d o o r beh ind h i m , and sat in t h e al ley beh ind his house. A spa r row

l a n d e d in t h e w e e d s , and w h e n i t t r i ed t o c o m e close, A l fonso sc reamed f o r i t t o sc ram. The spar row

r e s p o n d e d w i t h a squeaky ch i rp and f l e w away.

A t f o u r he dec ided t o ge t i t ove r w i t h and s ta r t ed wa l k i ng t o Sandra's house, t r udg ing s lowly , as if he

w e r e wa i s t -deep in wa te r . Shame co lo red his face. How cou ld he d i sappo in t his f i rs t da te? She w o u l d

p robab ly laugh.

He s topped a t t h e co rne r w h e r e t hey w e r e supposed t o m e e t and w a t c h e d her house. But t h e r e was no

o n e ou ts ide , on ly a rake leaning against t h e steps.

W h y d id he have t o take t h e chain o f f? He sco lded h imsel f . He a lways messed th ings up w h e n he t r i ed t o

t ake t h e m apar t , l ike t h e t i m e he t r i ed t o repad his basebal l m i t t . He had un laced t h e m i t t and f i l led t he

pocke t w i t h c o t t o n bal ls. But w h e n he t r i ed t o pu t i t back t oge the r , he had f o r g o t t e n h o w i t laced up.

Every th ing became tang led l ike k i te s t r ing . W h e n he s h o w e d t h e mess t o his m o t h e r , w h o was a t t h e

s tove cook ing d inner , she sco lded h im bu t pu t i t back t o g e t h e r and d i d n ' t te l l his f a t he r w h a t a d u m b

t h i n g he had d o n e .

N o w he had t o face Sandra and say, " I b roke my b ike, and m y st ingy b r o t h e r t o o k o f f on h is . "

He w a i t e d at t h e co rne r a f e w m inu tes , h id ing beh ind a hedge f o r w h a t seemed l ike fo rever . Just as he

was s tar t ing t o t h i n k a b o u t go ing h o m e , he heard f oo t s teps and knew it was t o o la te. His hands, mo is t

f r o m w o r r y , hung a t his sides and a t h read o f swea t raced d o w n his a rmp i t .

He peeked t h r o u g h t h e hedge. She was wea r i ng a swea te r w i t h a checkerboard p a t t e r n . A red purse was

s lung over her shou lder . He cou ld see her look ing f o r h i m , s tand ing o n t i p - t o e t o see if he was c o m i n g

a r o u n d t h e corner .

W h a t have I done? A l fonso t h o u g h t . He bi t his l ip and p o u n d e d his pa lm against his f o r e h e a d . Someone

s lapped t h e back o f his head. He t u r n e d a round and saw Ernie.

" W e go t t h e f rogs, A l f onso , " he said, ho ld ing up a w igg l ing plast ic bag. " I ' l l show y o u la ter . "

Ernie looked t h r o u g h t h e hedge, w i t h one eye c losed, a t t h e g i r l . "She's n o t t h e one w h o messed w i t h

Frost ie and m e , " he said f ina l ly . "You st i l l wanna b o r r o w m y b ike?"

A l fonso c o u l d n ' t be l ieve his luck. W h a t a b r o t h e r ! W h a t a pa l ! He p rom ised t o take Ernie's t u r n nex t

t i m e i t was his t u r n t o do t h e dishes. Ernie h o p p e d on Raymundo 's hand lebars and said he w o u l d

r e m e m b e r t h a t p rom ise . Then he was gone as t hey t o o k o f f w i t h o u t look ing back.

Free o f w o r r y n o w t h a t his b r o t h e r had c o m e t h r o u g h , A l fonso e m e r g e d f r o m beh ind t h e hedge w i t h

Ernie's b ike, w h i c h was mud-sp lashed b u t b e t t e r t h a n n o t h i n g . Sandra w a v e d .

" H i , " she said.

" H i , " he said back.

She looked cheer fu l . A l fonso t o l d her his b ike was b roken and asked if she w a n t e d t o r ide w i t h h i m .

"Sounds g o o d , " she said, and j u m p e d on t h e crossbar.

It t o o k all o f A l fonso 's s t reng th t o s teady t h e b ike. He s ta r ted o f f s lowly , g r i t t i ng his t e e t h , because she

was heav ier t h a n he t h o u g h t . But once he go t go ing , it g o t easier. He peda led smoo th l y , s o m e t i m e s w i t h

on ly one hand on t h e hand lebars , as t h e y sped up one s t ree t and d o w n ano the r . W h e n e v e r he ran over

a po tho le , w h i c h was o f t e n , she sc reamed w i t h de l igh t , and once, w h e n i t l ooked l ike t h e y w e r e go ing t o

crash, she p laced her hand over his, and it f e l t l ike love.

Broken Chain by Gary Soto

Comprehension Questions 1. Based on details from the story what inference can you make

about Alfonso's family's financial situation?

2. How do Alfonso and Sandra meet?

3. Why do Alfonso and Ernie quarrel about Sandra?

4. What conflict does Alfonso face when his bicycle chain breaks?

5. At the end of the story, why does Ernie let Alfonso borrow his bike?

Understanding the Literary Elements

1. What is the setting of this story (place and time)?

2. Who is the protagonist in the story? Explain.

3. Who or what is the antagonist in the story? Explain.

4. At what point does the climax occur? Describe it .

5. What is the central conflict?

6. What is the resolution?

7. What is the theme of this story?

8. Sketch a plot line for this story.

9. Write a reading response for the story. Be sure to include a summary paragraph, as well as paragraphs about your text-to-self, text-to-world, and text-to-text connections.

N a m e Date Period

Story Plot Graph Directions: List the events of the story in the correct boxes.

Freeoloav.com - Free Teachinq Resources

INTERNATIONAL

HOPE BLOSSOMS IN BURMA

For the first time in many years, there is a feeling of hope in the Southeast Asian nation of Burma. Why? Real political change may finally be underway - and it's about time. For the past 50 years, the nation has been repressed by one of the world's harshest dictatorships.

H A R S H M I L I T A R Y R U L E

Between 1962 and 2011, a junta controlled Burma. It wielded absolute power. Any opposition to the ruling generals was swiftly crushed.

During an uprising in 1988, for example, hundreds of thousands of people marched to demand a change of government. Instead, army troops moved in. They killed at least 3,000 citizens.

Another uprising in 2007 was brutally crushed as well. And over the years, the government has been accused of routinely committing other terrible human rights abuses against its people.

T H E R I S E O F T H E N L D

For a time in 1990, it looked like democracy might blossom in Burma when new junta leaders allowed the country to hold its first free elections in 30 years. The National League for Democracy (NLD), a party that opposed the junta, won by a landslide. But the military refused to hand over power. Instead, the NLD's leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, was put under house arrest.

Aung San Suu Kyi, 66, is the daughter of Aung San. He played a key role in bringing about Burma's independence from British rule before he was killed by a rival in 1947.

Ms. Suu Kyi lived in India and the United Kingdom as a young adult. She returned to Burma in 1988 when her mother became i l l , and felt she had no choice but to help her people in their struggles against the government. " I could not, as my father's daughter, remain indifferent," she said.

In 1991, she was awarded the Nobel Prize for peace. One judge called her "an outstanding example of the power of the powerless." She is also an honorary Canadian citizen.

J U N T A : military officers who rule after seizing power H U M A N R I G H T S : basic rights such as the right to life, liberty, freedom of expression and religion

N O B E L P R I Z E : an international award for excellence in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, economics and the promotion of peace R E P R E S S E D : controlled by force

INTERNATIONAL

HOPE BLOSSOMS IN BURMA A P O L I T I C A L P R I S O N E R

The government kept Ms. Suu Kyi imprisoned for most of the next 20 years. Under house arrest, she couldn't travel, meet with her supporters or use the Internet. What's more, her allies and all those working for democracy and human rights were often harassed and jailed. Many people lived in fear.

SlCNS O F C H A N C E

Over the past decade, however, the situation has slowly begun to improve.

The first sign that change was coming was in 2003. That year, the country's leaders announced a seven-step 'roadmap to democracy'

A major step along that road involved holding a general election - and that took place in November, 2010.

O N E S T E P B A C K ,

O N E A H E A D

In some ways, the vote was a setback. The NLD refused to participate because the government said Ms. Suu Kyi couldn't run for office. Another problem? Many people said the vote was tainted by widespread fraud.

But in other ways, the election was a huge step forward. As

a result of the vote, power shifted from the military to a civilian group called the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). And this new government has made some remarkable changes.

DID YOU KNOW? Burma is known within its borders as the Union of Myanmar.

P O S I T I V E

D E V E L O P M E N T S

First, just a week after the vote, President Them Sein freed Ms. Suu Kyi from house arrest. Then, he met with her and lifted the ban on her right to travel within Burma. Even more remarkably, he signed a law allowing people to conduct peaceful demonstrations. Meanwhile, throughout 2011, the Burmese government freed thousands of other political prisoners.

But the most hopeful sign occurred in early April. That was when the NLD won 43 of 45 vacant seats in by-elections - and the government accepted the party's victory.

T H E W O R L D A P P R O V E S

These actions have won the Western world's cautious approval. By mid-April many

countries had announced that they were removing or easing sanctions they had placed on Burma in recent years.

Canada was the first nation to impose penalties on Burma as a way to pressure the junta into listening to its people. Back in 1988, our government banned most trade and other transactions with the country of 60 million. But on April 24, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said the ban would be lifted.

"We looked at the progress over the past year," he stated. "We were all stunned by the huge change and excited by the apparent success of the by-elections. Obviously we're all incredibly pleased."

T H A N K Y O U

For her part, Ms. Suu Kyi said she was grateful to Canada for taking action to help the Burmese people.

"Canada has helped us greatly [in] our movement toward democracy," she said. "[But] don't be too optimistic. Don't be too pessimistic. Try to see things as they are. That is how you wil l learn whether or not we are making any progress under the new government." *

B Y - E L E C T I O N S : elections held to fi l l vacant seats F R A U D : criminal deception resulting in personal gain

S A N C T I O N S : penalties imposed by nations on other nations that break international laws

PAGE 14 M A Y 2 0 1 2

INTERNATIONAL

HOPE BLOSSOMS IN BURMA O N T H E L I N E S

Answer the following in complete sentences:

1. Explain what a junta is.

2. During which time period did a military junta rule Burma?

3. How did the ruling generals handle any opposition during these years?

4. Which party won the 1990 general election?

5. How did the junta respond to this outcome?

6. List at least two positive political developments that have occurred in Burma since the 2010 election.

7. What kind of elections were held in Burma in early April and what was the result of this vote?

8. How have many countries responded to these steps toward democracy?

SQR3 Reading Method

Name: Topic:

SKIM/SURVEY (Read and record impor tan t t i t les, subt i t les, pictures, maps, etc... f r o m tex t )

QUESTIONS (Wr i te " W h o , Wha t , W h e n , Where , and W h y " quest ions f r o m main top ic .

READ (Wr i te the answers to t he quest ions f r om above)

RECITE (Record key facts and phrases as needed fo r each quest ion)

W E E K so: World-History Dates

• Hyphen, Using the Right Word, Run-On Sentence

Buy around 750, one third of the people in the world had excepted the

religion of Islam they were called Muslims.

• Comma (Interjections and To Separate Phrases and Clauses), Numbers, Verb (Irregular)

Well in 1032 Benedict IX becomed pope when he was only eleven years

old!

• Using the Right Word, Comma (Nonrestrictive Phrases and Clauses), Dash

The Leaning Tower of Pisa who is maid of marble took 200 years to build

from 1173 to 1372.

• Capitalization, Pronoun (Reflexive), Semicolon, End Punctuation

in 1279, kublai khan conquered china he made him the emperor?

• Using the Right Word, Comma (To Separate Phrases and Clauses), Verb (Irregular)

In the late 1200's Marco Polo taked a trip to China who lasted 24 years.

© Gfflal Source. Afl rights retsrved. (6)

W E E K 3 1 : Another Look at World History

• Using the Right Word, Numbers, Colon, Spelling

Glasses made to correct week eyesite were invented a long time ago in

twelve ninety.

• Using the Right Word, Plurals, Comma (To Separate Phrases and Clauses)

In medieval Japan fashionable womans died there tooths black.

• Capitalization, Subject-Verb Agreement

In the middle ages, animals was tried as witches and publicly executed.

• Using the Right Word, Comma (Dialogue), Period, Capitalization, Quotation Marks

richard I I I killed his too nephews in 1483 in order to bee king said

mr bartz.

• Capitalization, Interjection

Beware The bubonic plague (known as the Black Death in europe between

1347 and 1350) could be used in Germ Warfare today.

C Great Source. All rights reserved. (6)

W E E K 3 2 : The Sixteenth Century

• Capitalization, Verb (Tense), Comma (To Separate Phrases and Clauses), Using the Right Word

in the sixteenth Century the Average Person lives too bee 35 years old.

• Comma (Addresses), Using the Right Word, Subject-Verb Agreement

In 1518, at a banquet in Venice Italy forks was used fore the first time.

• Verb (Tense), Comma (Nonrestrictive Phrases and Clauses)

When Henry VIII became king in 1509, he marries Catherine of Aragon

who was the wife of the last king of England.

• Numbers, Comma Splice, Spelling

Henry VII I had 6 wives, one outlived him, the rest he either divorced or

exacuted.

• Verb (Irregular), Apostrophe (Possessives), Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement, Comma (Appositives)

Anne Boleyn Henry VIIIs second wife had a sixth finger on one hand and

continuously weared a glove to hide them.

© Graat Source, Aff refits reserved. (8)

W E E K 3 3 : More World History Facts

• Using the Right Word, Comma (Numbers and Between Independent Clauses), Rambling Sentence

Queen Elizabeth I always wore a wig and she owned 3000 dresses and

she had red hare and she had pale eyes like her father.

• Using the Right Word, Comma (Nonrestrictive Phrases and Clauses), Spelling

Elizabeth I of England which became queen in 1558 was the dauter of

Henry VTII and Anne Boleyn.

• Using the Right Word, Capitalization, Subject-Verb Agreement

during the 1600's in japan, the punishment fore trying to immigrate from

the country were death.

• Using the Right Word, Numbers, Nonstandard Language, Spelling

Mozart must of recieved many complements fore writing his first

symphony at the age of 9.

• Numbers, Run-On Sentence, Hyphen (Single-Thought Adjectives)

10 million people died during a deadly year long flu epidemic it struck

the United States and Europe in 1918.

© Great Source. Ail rights reserved. (6)

Poetic Devices Poetry is the kind of thing poets write. — Robert Frost

Man, if you gotta ask, you'll never know. — Louis Armstrong

The SOUNDS of words Words or portions of words can be clustered to achieve specific kinds of

effects when we hear them. The sounds that result can strike us as clever and pleasing, even soothing. Others we dislike and strive to avoid. These various deliberate arrangements of words have been identified.

Alliteration: Repeated consonant sounds at the beginning of words placed near each other, usually on the same or adjacent lines. A somewhat looser definition is that it is the use of the same consonant in any part of adjacent words.

Example: fast and furious

Example: Peter and Andrew patted the pony

In the second definition, both Pand Tin the example are alliteration. It is noted that this is a very obvious device and needs to be handled with great restraint, except in specialty forms such as limerick, cinquain, and humorous verse.

Onomatopoeia: Words that sound like their meanings. In Hear the steady tick of the old hall clock, the word tick sounds like the action of the clock.

Example: boom, buzz, crackle, gurgle, hiss, pop, sizzle, snap, swoosh, whir, zip

Repetition: The purposeful re-use of words and phrases for an effect.

Example: I was glad; so very, very glad.

Rhyme: This is the one device most commonly associated with poetry by the general public. Words that have different beginning sounds but whose endings sound alike, including the final vowel sound and everything following it, are said to rhyme.

Example: time, slime, mime Double rhymes include the final two syllables. Example: revival, arrival, survival Triple rhymes include the final three syllables. Example: greenery, machinery, scenery

A variation which has been used effectively is called slant rhyme, or half rhyme. If only the final

consonant sounds of the words are the same, but the initial consonants and the vowel sounds are different, then the rhyme is called a slant rhyme or half rhyme.

Example: soul, oil, foul; taut, sat, knit

The MEANINGS of words Most words convey several meanings or shades of meaning at the same

time. It is the poet's job to find words which, when used in relation to other words in the poem, will carry the precise intention of thought. Often, some of the more significant words may carry several layers or "depths" of meaning at once. Some ways in which the meanings of words are used are:

Hyperbole: An outrageous exaggeration used for effect. Example: He weighs a ton.

Irony: A contradictory statement or situation to reveal a reality different from what appears to be true. Example: Wow, thanks for expensive gift...let's see: did it come with a Happy Meal or the Burger King equivalent?

Metaphor: A direct comparison between two unlike things, stating that one is the other or does the action of the other. Example: He's a zero. Example: Her fingers danced across the keyboard.

Personification: Attributing human characteristics to an inanimate object, animal, or abstract idea. Example: The days crept by slowly, sorrowfully.

Simile: A direct comparison of two unlike things using "like" or "as." Example: He's as dumb as an ox. Example: Her eyes are like comets.

Homonym: One of two or more words that have the same sound and often the same spelling but differ in meaning, such as bank (embankment) and bank (place where money is kept).

Tree Heartbeat

The tree was there. It was always there, gently tap tap tapping at my window for me to come and play. A warm breeze lingered in its branches, a leftover from summer, as i t dropped pointed red treasures in my hair. I leaned against the rough autumn bark. Remembered when my dad said the tree was alive. Listened for a heartbeat. Tree heartbeat.

Dressed in silver, she twirled her branches, dumping snow when least expected. I climbed up up up where, nestled among branches, I stayed the afternoon. I leaned against the snowy bark. Listened for a heartbeat. Tree heartbeat

Red blossoms burst from limbs, fireworks in April. I caught in my shirt only to throw them back up to the tree. I leaned my head against the soft, wet bark. Listened for a heartbeat. Tree heartbeat.

The only shady place on the lawn but with room enough for everyone. A hole on the left for waterballons, when brothers were around. I leaned my face against the cool bark. Listened for a heartbeat. Tree heartbeat.

Now, a lighted match against pale blue sky, it waits for my father, knowing its life is at an end. A life of snow, balloons, blossoms, and leaves. I lean against the bark. I remember how my dad told me it was alive. Listen for a heartbeat. Tree heartbeat

1. Discuss the theme of the poem supporting your interpretation with

direct references to the poem.

2. Referring to this poem find an example of the following poetic devices.

a) onomatopoeia:

b) repetition:

c) imagery:

d) alliteration:

3. Write your own examples of the following poetic devices:

a. Rhyme:

b. Personification:

c. Simile:

d. Metaphor:

e. Repetition:

f. Hyperbole:

g. Onomatopoeia:

h. Alliteration:

i . Idiom: