Second Marking Period

Speak Exam #2 Second Marking Period Pages 47-92

Directions: Read each excerpt carefully. On your own sheet of paper, answer each question that follows. Your responses should be at least one complete, specific, and thoughtful paragraph. You need to write enough to show you have read pages 47-92.

Excerpt One- from “Closet Space” “I know my head isn’t screwed on straight. I want to leave, transfer, or warp myself to another galaxy. I want to confess everything, hand over the guilt and mistake and anger to someone else. There is a beast in my gut, I can hear it scraping away at the inside of my ribs. Even if I dump the memory, it will stay with me, staining me. My closet is a good thing, a quiet place that helps me hold these thoughts inside my head where no on can hear them.” 1. Describe the beast in Melinda’s gut. How might this beast influence her actions inside and outside of the closet?

Excerpt Two- from “First Amendment” “He says a million things without saying a word. I make a note to study David Petrakis. I have never heard a more eloquent silence.” 2. What exactly causes David’s actions? How does Melinda begin to change after this event?

Excerpt Three- from “Wombats Rule!” “The Merryweather Wombats. Has a nice ring. We are the Wombats, woozy, wicked Wombats! Worried, withdrawn, weepy, weird, Wombats. We pass Raven Cheerleader and Amber Cheerleader on the way to the bus. They wrinkle their brows as they struggle to rhyme “wombat.” Democracy is a wonderful institution.” 3. Explain the sound device/figurative language used in this excerpt. How does this contribute to the overall effect and meaning?

Excerpt Four- from “Can It” “ It feels like the Prince of Darkness has swept his cloak over the table. The lights dim. I shiver. Andy stands behind me to flirt with Emily. I lean into the table to stay as far away from him as I can. The table saws me in half. Emily’s mouth moves, the fluorescent lights glittering on her teeth. The other girls scotch toward Emily to soak up her Attractiveness Rays. Andy must be talking too, I can feel deep vibrations in my backbone, like a thudding speaker…” 4. What is the significance of the personification in the excerpt?