The Spelling Test

What lesson does Herbie learn in this play?

• Finding humor in a difficult task makes it more enjoyable.

• Depending on help from others is often challenging.

• Performing well all the time is impossible.

• Success is possible through hard work.

The word cinch in paragraph 25 refers to something that is --

• easy

• unusual

• similar

• interesting

Annabelle asks Miss Pinkham about the grade immediately after the test because Annabelle --

• thinks everyone in the class should know she did well on the test

• believes that she made a perfect score

• wants Miss Pinkham to recognize how much she studied for the test

• knows that her address is the most difficult to spell

The stage directions in paragraphs 42 and 43 are included to help --

• make the play humorous

• create suspense

• show a new problem

• introduce a new character

Herbie's reaction when he learns about Olivia's study method shows that he is --

• certain that Olivia is making fun of the way he studies

• jealous that Olivia always makes better grades than he does

• surprised to learn that the plan is very simple

• eager to demonstrate some of his own study habits

Why does the playwright include a narrator in this play?

• To make the main character’s conflict seem more suspenseful

• To help the audience understand what the characters are thinking

• To assist the main characters in figuring out how to solve a problem

• To give the audience details about the characters’ actions in the scene

Read the dictionary entry for the word keep.

keep \ ı kēp\ verb

1. to take care of

2. to save

3. to hold back

4. to control

Which definition best fits the way the word keeping is used in paragraph 31?

• Definition 1

• Definition 2

• Definition 3

• Definition 4

The narrator’s lines in paragraph 9 are important to the play because they —

• show that Herbie is serious about studying for his spelling test

• describe Herbie’s favorite method of studying for spelling tests

• explain why Olivia is surprised to see Herbie studying for a spelling test

• show that Olivia wants to help Herbie do well on his spelling test