Question: CHAPTER 8

Early the next morning, Rufus rang at the cottage gate.

"Well, Mr. Frenchman, and how do _you_ git along? And how's Amelius?"

Toff, standing before the gate, answered with the utmost respect, but showed no inclination to let the visitor in.

"Amelius has his intervals of laziness," Rufus proceeded; "I bet he's in bed!"

"My young master was up and dressed an hour ago, sir--he has just gone out."

"That is so, is it? Well, I'll wait till he comes back." He pushed by Toff, and walked into the cottage. "Your foreign ceremonies are clean thrown away on me," he said, as Toff tried to stop him in the hall. "I'm the American savage; and I'm used up with travelling all night. Here's a little order for you: whisky, bitters, lemon, and ice--I'll take a cocktail in the library."

Toff made a last desperate effort to get between the visitor and the door. "I beg your pardon, sir, a thousand times; I must most respectfully entreat you to wait--"

Before he could explain himself, Rufus, with the most perfect good humour, pulled the old man out of his way. "What's troubling this venerable creature's mind--" he inquired of himself, "does he think I don't know my way in?"

He opened the library door--and found himself face to face with Sally. She had risen from her chair, hearing voices outside, and hesitating whether to leave the room or not. They confronted each other, on either side of the table, in silent dismay. For once Rufus was so completely bewildered, that he took refuge in his customary form of greeting before he was aware of it himself. 1. Where does this story take place?
2. Who was the guest?
3. Who was the master?
4. Was he at the house?
5. Do we know where he went?
6. Who ordered the drink?
7. What did he drink?
8. on the rocks?
9. where was the drink served?
10. Who was in there?
11. What was she doing?
12. What caused her to rise?
13. Whos voices?
14. Where did they sit? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. cottage.
2. Rufus
3. Mr. Frenchman
4. no
5. no
6. Rufus
7. a cocktail
8. no
9. in the library
10. Sally.
11. She had risen from her chair
12. she was hearing voices outside
13. Rufus and Mr. Frenchman
14. on either side of the table

Question: In a growing number of English classes, teachers are leaving the classic novels on the shelf and letting students select the books they read. Supporters say that the new approach, called reader's workshop, helps develop a love for reading in students who are bored by classic literature. They argue that the best way to motivate students to read more is to offer them more choices.

_ , however. They worry that students who choose trendy, less challenging titles over the classics won't be exposed to the great writing and key themes of important works of literature.Student reporters Donald and Sarah express their ideas about this new approach.

Donald thinks that we should turn the page. Students should be allowed to select the books they read in English class. He says he and his classmates are allowed to pick their own books in class. That makes them more focused, and they look forward to class time. Tristin, a classmate of his at Clinton Middle School agrees. "I'm reading books that I want to read, which makes class more fun and interesting," he says. Offering students a choice may also improve test scores. Studies by Professor John Guthrie of the University of Maryland found that students in grades 4 through 6 who had some choices in the books they read showed improved reading comprehension skills during testing. Giving students the chance to decide what they read helps build a lifelong love for reading. Isn't that what we want for our students?

Sarah holds a different view. She thinks teachers know more about books than students do. When an English teacher assigns a book, he or she keeps in mind the reading level of most students in the class. Students who choose their own books might be cheating themselves by picking books that are not up to their reading level or that are too difficult. Furthermore, a whole class can discuss a book it reads together. That makes it easier for some kids to understand what they are reading. "The students wouldn't be able to hold a meaningful conversation if they were all reading different books," says Kristin, an English teacher at Fleetwood Area Middle School. "If they read the same book, their conversations would be more in-depth." 1. What is a good way to get students to want to read?
2. what is this approach called?
3. what kind of books are no longer being used?
4. what is the concern with students choosing trendy titles?
5. What does Donald think?
6. what does that mean?
7. are him and his classmates able to?
8. Is this expected to improve grades?
9. which skills were improved?
10. Does Sarah hold a different view?
11. what is it?
12. how might a student be cheating themselves?
13. what makes it easier for them to understand?
14. would that work if they are reading different books?
15. what are Donald and Sarah's titles?
16. Who is Tristin?
17. Who is John Guthrie? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers:
1. best way to motivate students to read more is to offer them more choices.
2. reader's workshop
3. classic novels
4. won't be exposed to the great writing and key themes of important works of literature
5. thinks that we should turn the page
6. Students should be allowed to select the books they read in English class
7. yes
8. yes
9. improved reading comprehension skills during testing
10. yes
11. She thinks teachers know more about books than students do.
12. cheating themselves by picking books that are not up to their reading level or that are too difficult.
13. discuss a book it reads together
14. no
15. Student reporters
16. classmate of his at Clinton Middle School
17. Professor John Guthrie of the University of Maryland