Sample Short Story 5

The Hope of Ancestors

The pregnant clouds outside kept out the sunlight. The morning was bleak and the sky overcast. It was not surprising when the clouds gave birth to heavy droplets of water which hit against the rusty zinc. Clink! Clink! The weather outside opposed my mood, yet I was happy. It was the morning my ancestors and my generation had waited for. I was the one. I was to recover lost hope although the weather demanded laziness; I was in the mood to work. I was joyful, hopeful and felt the strength that would enable me to move mountains. Generations had fought before the fight I was to fight to bring back respect and hope to my family. "Honey, will I pass?" I asked my wife, who was still half asleep on the bed beside me. "Yes, of course you must," she replied. It was one of those precocious flairs. I had developed as a result of my humble beginning: I could weather the weather whatever it was, whether I liked it or not. Could I do it this morning?

I arrived at the examination centre early that morning. I sat and watched my "opponents." The examination began. Everything was anxious except me - I was confident. I knew that I should pass; I must. Throughout the five hours that the exam lasted everyone looked into the eye of whomever they could. In those eyes was the look of dare. Those examinations decided your destiny, your fate. So in that room friends became enemies. Only one person would get through to study law; one of about seventy persons. I fought the battle with the papers. I demanded that post. Duty demanded it. It was like salvation to the sinner. It was like food to the starving man. Poverty was nothing anyone desired. You could be free yet incarcerated because of poverty. That exam was the verdict. The post was for the person who wanted it the most. Ting-a-ling-a-ling! The bell signaled the end of the battle. I had fought it well.

Two months later, I sat in my living room. The result would be communicated via the telephone. It was the day of reckoning. Who wanted it more? I sat with the phone in my hand. My heart was beating: thump! I thought my wife could hear it. My children sat with my wife and I on the bed. The phone was to ring anytime now. There was a deafening silence. We were all nervous. Instead of rain today however, the sun blazed in the blue skies above. It was element weather. Was it signifying success or was it failure? I did not know, we did not know. All they knew and I know was that our life depended on it. I suddenly remembered the vows I had made on my wedding day. If I failed, would we have to get a divorce?" For better or worse…! I was nervous. Ring! Ring! The phone rang once. It rang again. That was it.          

Tips for Answering Multiple Choice Comprehension Questions

1. Read the passage more than once to ensure that you understand it fully.

2. Look at the questions after you feel that the passage is clear to you.

3. Make sure you understand the instruction clearly. 

    For example, should you choose the best answer, or are you supposed to be identifying an      alternative that is false?

4. Pay attention to every detail in the question.

5. Read each question as if you had to answer it without choosing from a list of alternative answers.

6. Try to answer the question first without looking at the list of choices.

7. If you know the answer, select it from the list of choices and move on.

8. If you don’t know the answer, look at the choices and use the process of elimination to narrow   down choices.

9. Verify whether or not there is an "all of the above" or "none of the above" choice before selecting    your first choice answer.

10. Use the true/false technique to help you select between two similar answers. (Translate the question into a statement with each of the possible answers, and select one that is true.)

11. If you are not sure about an answer leave the question and then come back to it.

12. Do not leave any questions blank.

To Kill A Mockingbird: Chapters 6-10 Summary

source

 Chapter 6

On Dill's last evening in Maycomb, the group begins the evening at Miss Rachel's pond. Dill and Jem decide to make one last attempt to see Boo. Scout reluctantly agrees to go with them.

The trio sneaks to the house in the dark. As they move to the window, someone is out in the yard. He walks close to them, and after he passes, the children run for the gate near the schoolyard. A gunshot goes off as they try to escape. Jem's pants are caught on the fence and he has to remove them to go free.

When the children return to the street, they see a large crowd gathered in front of the Radley house. Nathan Radley tells the crowd that some nigger was in his collard patch and that he fired the gun to scare off the intruder. As the crowd talks, Atticus notices that Jem has no pants on. Dill comes up with a quick story that he won them from Jem in a poker game. After evading Atticus, Jem decides to return and get his pants.

Chapter 7

School begins and Scout enters the second grade. Jem finally admits to Scout what happened the night he went back for his pants. He found them folded neatly on the fence and someone had done a poor job trying to repair the tear.

On another walk, home they find a grey ball of twine in the tree on the Radley lot. Later, the find two carved soap figures; one of a girl and one of a boy. Another time they find gum and a pocket watch. Scout and Jem decide to leave a thank you note in the tree for whoever is leaving them the gifts. The next day the hole in the tree has been filled with cement. Jem asks Nathan Radley why cement was poured in the tree, and he explains that the tree is ill and needed it.

Chapter 8

Maycomb sees it's first winter in years and it startles Scout, who has never seen a snowfall. She and Jem decide to take the opportunity to make a snowman and enjoy what little snow is on the ground.

That evening Scout is woken by Atticus to find that Maudie Atkinson's house is burning. The town gathers to help move out furniture and personal belongings. The house finally collapses and the firefighters rush to make sure that no other houses at threatened by the flames. Jem and Scout watch in awe and fear, so taken with the scene that they do not realize that someone has places a blanket around Scout. Atticus tells Scout that it was Boo Radley who placed the blanket around her. Jem is overtaken with all that has happened and tells Atticus all that has happened with the Radleys.

Jem and Scout go to see Maudie the next morning. They are shocked with her positive attitude about the fire. Maudie sees the fire as a chance to start over and move on.

Chapter 9

Scout gets in a fight at school with a boy who says that her father defends niggers. Scout tells Atticus about the fight and asks him what they boy meant. Atticus explains that he is defending Tom Robinson, a black man, and many in the town believe that he should not have taken the case. When someone at school makes a similar comment, Scout heeds her father's advice about fighting, and backs down.

Christmas arrives, and so does Atticus' brother Jack. On Christmas day Jem and Scout receive air rifles as gifts. After opening presents, everyone goes to Finch's Landing to spend the rest of the day. Scout has to deal with her bratty cousin Francis for most of the day. After dinner Francis calls tells Scout that her father is a nigger lover. Although Scout has been good about fighting, Scout attacks him and demands he take it back. This brings the day to an abrupt end. Scout receives a spanking from her Uncle Jack. She explains to Jack why she started a fight with Francis, and he becomes more understanding.

That evening, Atticus talks to Jack about the case and all of the problems that may arise because of it.

Chapter 10

Atticus sets some rules with Jem about the use of his new gun. He doesn't wanting him shooting at birds, but he is sure that Jem will. He explicitly tells him never to shoot a mockingbird, since they are the most innocent of the birds.

That afternoon a mad dog wanders down the street. Calpurnia rushes the children inside and calls Atticus to tell him. Atticus arrives with the town sheriff, Heck Tate. Heck aims for the dog, but realizes that he might miss. He tells Atticus that he should take the shot, to the surprise of the children. Atticus kills the dog instantly. The event greatly affects Jem and he warns Scout not to mention this at school. Scout is confused but Jem tells her that if Atticus wanted them to know what a good shot he was, he would have told them.

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Collins Caribbean Student's Dictionary Review and Giveaway

Recently, I came across a copy of the Collins Caribbean Student's Dictionary and at first I thought that it was just like any other dictionary that I have owned. Boy was I wrong with my initial assessment. 

This is not only a dictionary but also an English 101 and grammar text book all rolled into one. I say this because of the unique survival guide for students that is at the back of the dictionary.

From this unique survival guide, students are equipped with detailed information on the various types of writing (summary writing and report writing), exam tips, detailed definition and examples of the various punctuation marks and their usage, a spelling guide, homophones examples and definitions, sample cover letters, sample resumes, business letters and memoranda. I must say it is a survival guide indeed. 

What I like must is that the topics that are covered in the survival guide are topics that are in line with the new CSEC English A syllabus (summary writing, report writing, presentation tips, exam tips). Almost all the topics from the paper 2 exam are covered in this guide. 

This dictionary is truly all the information you need at your fingertips. It is also a great tool for not only high school students but students entering sixth form, university or even a reference tool to have around the house.

The price point makes it more than worth purchasing.  If you don’t believe you can watch the video below for a detailed look at the dictionary.

*****GIVEAWAY****

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