A Star Spangled Catastrophe

Read line 3 from the play.

[The audience can be heard applauding halfheartedly.]

What do these stage directions help the reader understand?

• Pete is upset that nobody paid attention to his performance.

• Pete’s performance did not go as well as he had hoped.

• Pete had a difficult time hearing others while he was singing.

• Pete’s friends are not supportive of his decision to sing.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.7.7

What does line 29 reveal about Angie’s thoughts regarding Pete’s problem?

• She thinks Pete is overreacting to what happened, so she teases him.

• She is disappointed in Pete because she thinks he didn’t put forth enough effort.

• She thinks Pete’s situation is entertaining and wants to embarrass him further.

• She understands Pete’s distress but does not know how to make him feel better.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

Read line 4 from the play.

COMMENTATOR: [From offstage.] Okay . . . um . . . thank you, Pete Mahoney, for that . . . And now the referee will get ready for the coin toss. [Voice fades.]

The reader can conclude from this line that the commentator —

• thinks Pete’s mistakes were funny

• was not expecting Pete to make so many mistakes

• is concerned that Angie was not able to catch Pete’s mistakes on film

• knows that people did not notice Pete’s mistakes

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.7.7

In lines 18 through 23, the stage directions most help the reader understand the —

• stress that the characters experience as a result of their responsibilities

• familiarity the characters have with each other

• conflicting viewpoints of the characters

• lack of understanding the characters have about their tasks

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.7.7

One way Angie tries to encourage Pete is by —

• promising him that he will find great fame on the Internet

• explaining to him that she was too busy taping the football game to see his performance

• telling him that he will be on a video with others who also sang the national anthem at football games

• reminding him that singing the national anthem is something most people are not brave enough to do

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

What is the best summary of the play?

• A boy is humiliated when he forgets the words to the national anthem while singing at a football game, but his friend helps him understand that many people have made similar mistakes.

• A boy is surprised to learn that he was filmed while singing the national anthem, but his friend promises to erase the recording.

• A boy is angry when he finishes singing the national anthem at a football game, but his friend persuades him to sing a different song later so that he can feel better.

• A boy is upset when he forgets the words to the national anthem, but his friend compliments his voice and makes him feel better.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.7.7