Pg. #3
Date: _______
Name: ________________
Assignment: Warm Up Wk 3
Directions:​ Read the selection and complete the activity for the day of the week. ​When applicable, prove
your answer by highlighting/underlining the evidence from the text that proves your answer choice. ​ Your
answers should be recorded on your paper for reviewing purposes. However, your response will be recorded
using Plickers.
How to Make History Dates Stick
By. Mark Twain
​Dates are difficult things to acquire; and after they
are acquired it is difficult to keep them in the head. But
they are very valuable. They are like the cattle-pens of
a ranch – they shut in the several brands of historical
cattle, each within its own fence, and keep them from
getting mixed together. Dates are hard to remember
because they consist of figures; figures are
monotonously unstriking in appearance, and they don’t
take hold, they form no pictures, and so they give the
eye no chance to help. Pictures are the thing. Pictures
can make dates stick. They can make nearly anything
stick – particularly IF YOU MAKE THE PICTURES
YOURSELF. Indeed, that is the great point – make the
pictures YOURSELF. I know about this from
experience.
Monday:
The author tries to show the reader how the mind
separates dates. To what does the author compare
dates?
a) Pictures
b) Figures
c) Cattle-pens
d) ranches
There are four strategies for using
context
clues:
●
●
●
●
Definitions
Examples
Antonyms
Inferences
The senator was ​flabbergasted​, or extremely surprised, by the
question that the reporter asked him. He cleared his throat a
few times before speaking. Even though he tried his best to
answer the question, it was clear that he had not been
expecting it at all.
Based on the context of the sentence, what is the ​best
definition of the word ​flabbergasted?
a.
b.
c.
d.
To answer a question
To clear one’s throat
Extremely surprised
Excited and pleased
What type of context clue strategy was used?
Tuesday:
Which of the following relationships is ​most similar​ to the
relationship below?
acquire : lose
a) monotonously : tedious
b) valuable : important
c) unstriking : unusual
d) brands : types
My favorite movie ​antagonists​ are the Joker, Darth Vader, and
the Wicked Witch of the West.
Based on the context of the sentence, what is the ​best
definition of the word ​antagonists?
a.
b.
c.
d.
A minor character
A comic book character
A villain or evil character
A hero or heroine
What type of context clue strategy was used?
Pg. #3
Date: _______
Name: ________________
Assignment: Warm Up Wk 3
Wednesday:
How does the author express his ideas about historical
dates?
a) He uses repetition to show how to remember
historical dates.
b) He tells a humorous story to show his difficulty
with dates.
c) He uses comparisons to show why historical dates
are difficult to remember.
d) He asks a series of rhetorical questions about
historical dates.
Wednesday
Graham gave his sister an ​incredulous​ look when she told
him that pigs could fly. He was skeptical and not sure if he
believed her. His sister was smart, but he had never seen a
pig fly before.
Based on the context of the sentence, what is the ​best
definition of the word ​incredulous?
a.
A pig
b.
Smart
c.
Able to fly
d.
Skeptical
What type of context clue strategy was used?
Thursday:
Thursday
Why does the author recommend the use of pictures to
remember dates?
a) Pictures keep dates from getting mixed up in the
mind.
b) Pictures are not extremely easy to draw.
c) Pictures help show the value of historical dates.
d) Pictures are fun to draw and therefore help
increase memorization.
Despite Sara's efforts to ​augment​ her wealth, she actually
became poorer.
Based on the context of the sentence, what is the ​best
definition of the word ​augment?
a.
b.
c.
d.
To give away
To increase
To spend
To lose
What type of context clue strategy was used?
Friday:
What is the main idea of this selection?
a) The importance of historical dates
b) The way to remember dates in history
c) The way to draw pictures of important
historical dates
d) The similarities between cattle and history
Friday
Jacob was ​despondent​ after the death of his beloved dog,
Skippy
Based on the context of the sentence, what is the ​best
definition of the word ​despondent?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Happy and excited
Very sad
Cheerful
nervous
What type of context clue strategy was used?