The Pasadena Pugilist: A Tall Tale That Might Be True

What feature helps the reader identify the story as a tall tale?

• the main character is a professional boxer

• the story features a friendly narrator from the Gulf Coast

• the story is narrated from the first-person perspective

• the plot features impossible exaggerations

The narrator's description of Percy's childhood in paragraphs 3-5 serves to--

• help the reader understand why Percy would later become a gifted boxer

• introduce important new characters, such as Mrs. Patterson and Mrs. McIntosh

• present the plot's main conflict

• remind the reader of their own experiences on the playground and in dance class

Read this sentence from paragraph 5: "He learned American Sign Language before he could talk, and he signed the ABC's with his little hands quick as wink while he was still in diapers."

The reader can tell from this information that Percy learned sign language ​ (a)  

• as a baby
• from his dance teacher
• to become a better boxer
• earlier than other boxers

The author provides context in paragraph 2 to show the reader that a pugilist is (a)  

• a boxer
• a storyteller
• hard to believe
• a modern artist

The anecdote in paragraph 4 is included to--

• show how fast Percy was on his feet

• explain the importance of dance and the arts in a child's education

• encourage other young people to explore dance and performance

• help the reader sympathize with a character's childhood problems

What is the best summary of the story?

• Percy Patterson is famous, and he made his hometown, Pasadena, famous as well. He also makes great beef jerky.

• Percy was the world's greatest boxer because he was able to win without even punching. Instead, Percy relied on his fast footwork, quick hands, and an ability to duck and dodge the other boxers' punches.

• From his earliest childhood, Percy, was physically gifted. He became a boxer, and won all of his matches in surprising and improbable ways. Finally, he retired to his hometown of Pasadina.

• First, Percy fought Spike Bryson. Then, he defeated Crashes Cray and Sugar Jay Jenner. Finally, he beat Forge Storeman and some Oklahoma boxers.

Which two characteristics allowed Percy to defeat 232 competitors during his career?

• he was a great dancer

• he sparred more than others

• he had very fast hands

• he was from Pasadena

• he was an even-tempered young man

A story about a person who is bigger than someone could really be in real life. These stories involve a lot of exaggeration.

• Tall Tale

• Fairy Tale

• Folk Tale

• Veggie Tale

What is conflict?

• Two characters getting along.
• A struggle between two opposing forces.
• The climax in a story.
• Part of the resolution.

What is the setting in a story

• The plot

• Stuff that describes a character

• The main idea

• The place where the story is taken at.