Metaphores and more

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Copyright © 2007 by Cottonwood Press, Inc.

The activities in Metaphors and More are copyrighted by Cottonwood Press, Inc. However, per-

mission is granted to reproduce the activities for the purchaser’s own personal use in the class-
room, provided that the copyright notice appears on each reproduction. Otherwise, no part of
this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permis-
sion from Cottonwood Press, Inc.

Requests for permission should be addressed to:

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Website: www.cottonwoodpress.com
Telephone: 1-800-864-4297
Email: cottonwood@cottonwoodpress.com

Print ISBN: 978-1-877673-87-0
E-book ISBN: 978-1-877673-99-3

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Metaphors and More

© 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. • www.cottonwoodpress.com • 1-800-864-4297

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A. Choose 10 sounds from the box below. For each sound, invent a word that demonstrates

onomatopoeia.* Remember, your word must be a new word, not one that’s been used before
for this sound.

B. For each new word, write a sentence that demonstrates its use.

*Onomatopoeia is the use of a word that sounds like its meaning.

IIn

nv

ve

en

ntt a

a N

Ne

ew

w S

So

ou

un

nd

d

Onomatopoeia

1. the sound of someone typing on a computer keyboard

2. the sound of a refrigerator door closing

3. the noise of students changing classes after the bell rings

4. the sound of a dentist’s drill

5. the sound of a tea kettle whistling

6. the sound of someone opening a can of soda

7. the sound of a running stream in the mountains

8. the sound of a car accelerating quickly

9. the sound of a pencil in an automatic pencil sharpener

10. the sound of hail on a rooftop

11. the sound of a lawn mower

12. the sound of chalk squeaking on an old-fashioned chalkboard

13. the sound of the last bit of ketchup being squeezed from a plastic bottle

14. the sound of a steak hitting the grill

15. the sound of a city bus coming to a stop

16. the sound of clothes tumbling in a dryer

17. the sound of a basketball bouncing

18. the sound of a garbage disposal

19. the sound of a squirrel nibbling seeds

20. the sound of a pen scribbling on a notebook

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Onomatopoeia

Draw your own comic strip that uses onomatopoeic* words. The characters in your comic strip
can be drawn elaborately, or you can use simple stick figures if you don’t feel particularly artistic.
Use at least 10 words in your story.

Your story should be told in 10-20 panels. You can invent your own story, or you can flesh

out one of the plots below:

1. a male superhero rescues a beautiful damsel in distress
2. a female superhero rescues a handsome man in distress
3. a superheroic animal rescues a beautiful damsel in distress and a handsome man in dis-

tress

4. an evil creature turns a nice teacher into a frog
5. a nice teacher turns an evil creature into a frog

You can choose from these and any other onomatopoeic words you like.

*Onomatopoeia is the use of a word that sounds like its meaning.

W

Wh

ha

ap

p!! S

Sn

na

ap

p!! Z

Zo

oo

om

m!!

argh
bash
beep
belch
blab
blare
blurt
bonk
boom
buzz
chirp
clang
clank
clap
click
crackle

crunch
ding
drip
fizz
gasp
giggle
gobble
hiccup
hiss
honk
hum
jingle
knock
mumble
munch
nibble

ping
plop
pop
pow
quack
rattle
ring
roar
rustle
screech
shuffle
sigh
sizzle
slurp
smack
smash

snap
splash
splatter
stomp
thud
thump
toot
twang
wham
whisper
zap
zip

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Clliicch

é a

afftte

er

r C

Clliicch

é a

afftte

er

r C

Clliicch

é

5

Clichés* are such a normal part of our speech that we usually aren’t even aware that we are using
them. There is nothing wrong with using clichés in most everyday conversation. However, for
speeches or most kinds of writing, it is best to avoid them.

Why? Clichés are so common that they don’t have a lot of power. When we hear or read

them, the meaning flows right over us and we barely notice what is being said.

The first step in learning to avoid clichés is learning to recognize them. Look over the list of

common clichés in the box below. Then see how many clichés you can use in a one-page descrip-
tion of one of the following:

• what happened when the campers saw Big Foot
• the story of how Joe Schmoe and Lillian Schmillian met and fell in love

*A cliché is an expression that has lost its power or originality from overuse.

Cliché

é

bent out of shape
climbing the walls
fighting like cats and dogs
go through the roof
cost an arm and a leg
Let’s clear the air.
It’s theirs to lose.
This one is in the bag.
chip off the old block
deer in the headlights
And the rest is history.
snug as a bug in a rug
barking up the wrong tree
by the skin of my teeth
Cat got your tongue?
got off on the wrong foot
fell head over heels
jump the gun
last but not least
love is blind
madder than a wet hen
no strings attached
rotten to the core
sweep under the rug
stop on a dime
toot your own horn
What’s wrong with this pic-

ture?

works like a charm
easy as pie
get out of my hair
get with the program
go out on a limb
in over his head

shoot the breeze
a slam dunk
a smoking gun
stick to your guns
took the wind out of her sails
There’s no time like the pres-

ent.

tugged at my heartstrings
the whole enchilada
got a bone to pick
lay your cards on the table
look before you leap
lost his shirt
cost a pretty penny
catch some zzzzzzs
chewed me out
gave her the cold shoulder
blow a gasket
give it a whirl
good rule of thumb
go the extra mile
take five
That’s the way the ball

bounces.

twiddling your thumbs
Don’t reinvent the wheel.
right on the money
over my head
fit as a fiddle
fat chance
lost his lunch
all thumbs
asleep at the wheel
as the crow flies

butterflies in his stomach
got cold feet
cool your heels
grinning from ear to ear
hit the nail on the head
hit the sack
Keep your chin up.
Know which side your bread is

buttered on.

Give me a hand.
knuckle under
made of money
make ends meet
My hands are tied.
over the hill
pick of the litter
play with the big boys
put your foot in your mouth
put two and two together
put your heart in it
quiet as a mouse
read the fine print
save your breath
sick as a dog
the spitting image of
all washed up
like a fish out of water
make my day
neat as pie
heard it through the grapevine
better safe than sorry
like two peas in a pod
beat around the bush

P

P a

a r

r tt II

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© 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. • www.cottonwoodpress.com • 1-800-864-4297

Now it’s time to eliminate the clichés. Take what you wrote for “Cliché after Cliché after Cliché,
Part I” and replace all the clichés. (Be careful not to replace them with another cliché!) Try to be
as original as possible in the new version of your story. You may want to replace some of the
clichés with only a word or two. Sometimes, simple is best.

Example

Here is the first paragraph of one student’s story, with clichés:

My little sister Penelope and I were ffiiggh

httiin

ngg lliikkee cca

attss a

an

nd

d d

dooggss. Mom asked us to be

q

qu

uiieett a

ass a

a m

moou

ussee so she could cca

attcch

h ssoom

mee zzzzzzzzss, but we were cclliim

mbbiin

ngg tth

hee w

wa

allllss. Suddenly,

Mom bblleew

w a

a gga

asskkeett and cch

heew

weed

d u

uss oou

utt. She looked m

ma

ad

dd

deerr tth

ha

an

n a

a w

weett h

heen

n. When Mom’s

mad, a good rru

ullee ooff tth

hu

um

mbb is to get oou

utt ooff h

heerr h

ha

aiirr—it w

woorrkkss lliikkee a

a cch

ha

arrm

m

. Penelope and I

stopped ttw

wiid

dd

dlliin

ngg oou

urr tth

hu

um

mbbss and decided to go camping.

Here it is without clichés:

My little sister Penelope and I were fighting like that cranky couple at the end of our

block who has been married for 50 years. Mom asked us to be quiet so she could sleep, but

we were restless and just couldn’t keep quiet. Suddenly, Mom gave up any hold on patience

and yelled at us. She looked so mad that we knew we shouldn’t get in her way again. When

Mom’s mad, the best idea is to disappear and give her some time alone—then she’s always

happy to see us when we come back. Penelope and I stopped being bored and decided to go

camping.

C

Clliicch

é a

afftte

er

r C

Clliicch

é a

afftte

er

r C

Clliicch

é

Name

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Cliché

é

P

P a

a r

r tt II II

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Metaphor

In the comic strip Peanuts, Charlie Brown is noted for the line, “Happiness is a warm puppy.”
That simple metaphor* expresses the kind of joy many people feel about their pets.

Write some Charlie Brown-like metaphors of your own. Complete each of the following to

make meaningful metaphors:

*A metaphor compares or equates two different things, without using the words “like” or “as.”

IIs

s H

Ha

ap

pp

piin

ne

es

ss

s a

a W

Wa

ar

rm

m P

Pu

up

pp

py

y?

?

1. Happiness is….

2. Patience is…

3. Disaster is…

4. Relief is…

5. Hope is…

6. Anger is...

7. Beauty is…

8. Disappointment is...

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Metaphor

If your grandmother gives you a hug and says, “Your voice is music to my ears,” she is using a
metaphor.* She is also using a cliché, since “music to my ears” is an expression that is used so
often. Many common metaphors are also clichés.

Below is a list of clichéd metaphors. Think about what each one means. (If you don’t know,

ask someone or look it up.) Then rewrite the sentences, replacing each clichéd metaphor with
something more original.

Example: You are the rock of this family.
Rewritten: You are the tent stakes holding this family to the earth.

*A metaphor compares or equates two different things, without using the words “like” or “as.”

M

Mu

us

siicc tto

o M

My

y E

Ea

ar

rs

s

1.

You must remember that life is a journey.

2.

His lies were a tangled web.

3.

The announcement was a slap in the face.

4.

The teacher was a breath of fresh air.

5.

In the big city, he was a fish out of water.

6.

My mother is a tower of strength.

7.

The argument is water under the bridge.

8.

Her smile is a ray of sunshine.

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Metaphors and More

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C

Co

ou

un

nttlle

es

ss

s C

Co

on

ns

so

on

na

an

ntts

s

What makes tongue twisters so difficult to say? Partly, it is the alliteration.* It’s hard to get our
tongues to repeat the same sound so frequently.

Try writing some tongue twisters of your own, simply by using alliteration. Choose any 10 of

the consonants below. Then write an alliterative sentence for each. Make sure each sentence is at

least

seven words long.

*Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sound in words occurring near one another.

Alliteration

A

B

C

D

F

G

H

J

K

L

M

N

P

Q

R

S

T

V

W

X (ex)

Y

Z

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Alliteration

A silly selection of surly swans

A colorful collection of crazy camels

A brainy bunch of blond boys

What do the phrases above have in common? Each shows alliteration.* Each also fits this pattern:

a/an

adjective

noun

of

adjective

noun

See how alliterative you can be. Create an alliterative phrase by filling in the appropriate words in
the patterns below.

1. a/an

adjective

clump

of

adjective

noun

2. a/an

adjective

gathering

of

adjective

noun

3. a/an

adjective

trunk

of

adjective

noun

4. a/an

adjective

noun

of

adjective

skunks

5. a/an

adjective

noun

of

adjective

Jell-o

6. a/an

adjective

noun

of

adjective

liver

7. a/an

adjective

noun

of

drowsy

noun

8. a/an

adjective

noun

of

hot

noun

9. a/an

selfish

noun

of

adjective

noun

10. a/an marvelous

noun

of

adjective

noun

*Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sound in words occurring near one another.

A

A S

Siilllly

y S

Se

elle

eccttiio

on

n o

off S

Su

ur

rlly

y S

Sw

wa

an

ns

s

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A statement that involves hyperbole* can also be a cliché.

Take the statement, “He was so hungry he could eat a horse.” It involves hyperbole. (No one

is really hungry enough to eat an entire horse.) But it is used so often that it is also a cliché. It has
absolutely no originality at all.

How could you change the statement so that it still involves hyperbole, but is no longer a

cliché? Here’s one idea:

He was so hungry he opened his mouth to trap bugs

while riding his motorcycle to the nearest restaurant.

Each of the following statements uses hyperbole, and each is also a cliché. Rewrite the state-

ments so that they still involve hyperbole but show more originality. Be creative!

1. He is as strong as an ox.

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

2. I’m so tired I could sleep for a year.

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

3. She has tons of money.

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

4. He is older than the hills.

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

*Hyperbole is an obvious exaggeration that should not be taken literally.

II’’m

m s

so

o H

Hu

un

ng

gr

ry

y,, II C

Co

ou

ulld

d......

Hyperbole

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T

Ta

allll T

Ta

alle

e

One of the most common—and most fun—uses of hyperbole* is in tall tales. Tall tales often
involve a hero, like the giant lumberjack Paul Bunyan and his blue ox, Babe. They were suppos-
edly so large that their footsteps created Minnesota’s ten thousand lakes. Another example is the
less well-known Alfred Bulltop Stormalong, an immense sailor whose ship was so big it was said
to scrape the moon.

You’re the writer now.
Your hero is a character named S.T. Smozenstossle.
Make a list of five amazing things about S.T. Smozenstossle.

Here are some questions to consider in coming up with your list:

• What is amazing about S.T.? Is he/she amazingly tall, smart, strong, beautiful, handsome,

talented, or......?

• Does S.T. save people? Create things? Get revenge? Save landmarks? Come up with solu-

tions to problems. Or.....?

You might want to use this form for your list:

S.T. Smozenstossle was so _____________________ that he/she _________________________

__________________________________________________________________________.

*Hyperbole is an obvious exaggeration that should not be taken literally.

Hyperbole

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Sometimes euphemisms* are helpful. They can make a difficult message sting less.

Suppose Simon on the television show American Idol used euphemisms. Instead of saying,

“You are the worst singer in the history of the universe,” he might say something like this:

Perhaps you could find a way to participate in the music industry in a way that doesn’t involve singing.

Imagine that the following people need to say something difficult. Supply each with a

euphemistic way of saying what they really mean.

1. Parents: We absolutely forbid you to see your friend Smart Mouth ever again!

Using euphemisms: __________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

2. President of the U.S. to a foreign power: Your country is acting real stupid.

Using euphemisms: __________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

3. Policeman to parents: I arrested your son. He’s in jail. If you want him out, come talk to me.

Using euphemisms: __________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

4. Brother to little sister: Your hamster just croaked.

Using euphemisms: __________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

*A euphemism is a polite word or phrase used in place of one that may be too direct, unpleasant,
or embarrassing.

B

Be

eiin

ng

g K

Kiin

nd

d

Euphemism

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C

Co

oa

attiin

ng

g IItt w

wiitth

h H

Ho

on

ne

ey

y

When parents want their children to take terrible-tasting medicine, they sometimes mix it with a
thick tablespoon of honey. The honey makes the bitter medicine go down easier.

Euphemisms* are the honey of the world of words. They can make difficult messages less

blunt. They can also obscure the message entirely! Often, statements filled with euphemisms are
hard to figure out. What is the person really trying to say?

A. Here are some statements that use euphemisms. The meanings are not very clear. Rewrite

each statement so that its meaning is clear.

1. You are not a person I would choose to spend any time with on a regular basis primarily

because your personality is not compatible with mine and I prefer to keep my distance.

Direct: ____________________________________________________________________

2. Whenever I have to eat asparagus, my stomach feels rather unsettled and I often find myself in

the position of having my dinner show up in a manner that is rather embarrassing.

Direct: ____________________________________________________________________

3. I have determined that your employment with this company has run its course and that it is

time for you to pursue other interests as we attempt to find a replacement whose attitude is
more in line with our company philosophy.

Direct: ____________________________________________________________________

4. I see that you have bought new shoes, and they are very attractive in design and color.

However, I’m not sure they flatter your feet from the perspective of size.

Direct: ____________________________________________________________________

B. Now use euphemisms to honey-coat the following:

5. You are the worst driver ever!

With euphemisms: __________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

6. Your cooking stinks.

With euphemisms: __________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

*A euphemism is a polite word or phrase used in place of one that may be too direct, unpleasant,
or embarrassing.

Euphemism

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A simile is an expression that compares one thing to another, using the words “like” or “as.” Here
are a few similes you have probably heard before:

quiet as a mouse, as strong as a bull, as sweet as honey, fly like an eagle,

eat like a bird, fight like cats and dogs

The list on the left in the box below below contains adjectives. The list on the right contains

nouns. Draw lines connecting each adjective with a noun, in any order you wish. Then choose six
of your match-ups and write a simile explaining each. For example, if you connected “busy” and
“carpenter,” your simile might be “as busy as an overworked carpenter’s hammer.”

The first item is done for you.

M

Ma

ak

ke

e a

a C

Co

on

nn

ne

eccttiio

on

n

Simile

1.

Joe is as stubborn as a kite caught in a wild

updraft. .

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Adjectives

smart
tired
busy
sour
smooth
mean
happy
messy
clean
new
gentle
slow
difficult
fast
sharp
fresh
sad
stubborn
strong
soft

Nouns

water
kite
daisy
feather
candy
bubble
pizza
dog
basketball
airplane
mud
cloud
train
road
skyscraper
coat
hammer
snow
coffee
table

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R

Ro

om

ma

an

nttiicc F

Fr

re

ed

d

Poor Fred. He’s in love with Natasha, and he’s written her a love letter that is full of similes.* (He
heard once that poets use similes a lot, and he thinks poetry is romantic.)

Fred needs help, though. His similes are terrible—not the kind of language that’s going to

impress Natasha. Help him out by rewriting his letter, using similes that might make Natasha a lit-
tle bit happier than the ones he has chosen.

*A simile is an expression comparing one thing to another, using the words “like” or “as.”

Simile

Dearest Natasha:

You are as pretty as a floor that has just been scrubbed and waxed.
Your hair is as black and shiny as asphalt on a hot road. Your eyes are
as green as pond scum. Your lips are like raw hamburger—a bright,
beautiful red.

Your voice is as sweet as a sugar substitute, and your smile lights up a
room like the lights on a patrol car when it is pulling over someone
for speeding or driving while drinking.

I love you, Natasha. I will be as happy as a turkey that escapes the
chopping block on Thanksgiving if you agree to marry me.

Love,
Fred

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Idioms are very, very hard for people learning a new language. An idiom is an expression with a
meaning different from the literal meaning of the individual words. For example, if someone says,
“He sent us on a wild goose chase,” that person is not talking about anything at all involving
geese. You just have to know that “wild goose chase” is an idiom meaning, “a frustrating search
that leads nowhere.”

Similarly, if someone says, insensitively, “My neighbor kicked the bucket,” she is not talking

about anything having to do with buckets. You just have to know that “kicked the bucket” is an
idiom for “died.”

Below are sentences using 15 idioms that are common in English. Imagine that you don’t

know the meaning of these expressions and are trying to figure out the meaning just by looking at
the words themselves. Write what you might imagine the sentences to mean. The first one is
done for you.

1. Claire knew the ropes, so she showed the new student around.

Claire had met and shaken hands with the ropes and gotten to know them, so she
showed the new student around.

2. Josh knew the song by heart.
3. Mr. Gomez turned a blind eye to the misbehavior in the back of the room.
4. Little Sara burst into tears when her big brother ran over her Barbie doll with his truck.
5. “I guess it won’t break the bank,” said Elena’s father when she asked for a new bike.
6. “This report on Nebraska doesn’t even scratch the surface,” said Ms. Yamaguchi.
7. No one wanted to be around Savanna because she cried at the drop of a hat.
8. Tony’s grandpa said, “I’m as fit as a fiddle.”
9. When asked if he could fix the printer, Zach said, “It’s a piece of cake!”
10. When her neighbors asked her if she wanted to babysit every weekend for the entire summer,

Lyndsey answered, “Maybe. But let me sleep on it before I tell you for sure.”

11. “Here. Let me lend you a hand,” said Henry’s father.
12. David stared at his algebra assignment and said, “I can’t make heads or tails of this.”
13. “You can talk until you’re blue in the face,” said Audrey’s mother, “but I’m still not moving

your curfew to 2:00 a.m.”

14. “I don’t know why the company is dragging its feet on this decision,” said Jackson.
15. Brandy has been down in the dumps for about three weeks now.

A

A W

Wiilld

d G

Go

oo

os

se

e C

Ch

ha

as

se

e H

Ha

as

s N

No

o G

Ge

ee

es

se

e

Idiom

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B

Br

re

ea

ak

k a

a L

Le

eg

g!!

Idioms* are so common in the English language that most of us aren’t even aware that we are
using them. See if you can find all 25 idioms in the story below.

“I got such a kick out of watching our students present High School Musical,” said Mrs.

Adducci. “Those kids made the singing look like a piece of cake and the dancing look as easy as

pie. And the acting? I thought they would be in over their heads, but they really pulled it off.”

“You’re right,” said Miss Triblehorn. “The costumes were just to die for, and the scenery was

so great it must have cost an arm and a leg. This show became the hottest ticket in town!”

“I really thought the kids were biting off more than they could chew,” said Mr. Gutting, the

director. “If I’d had my druthers, they would have picked something easier. To make it even

worse, some kids were really bent out of shape because they didn’t get the roles they wanted.

Then the flu hit, and half the cast was under the weather for many of the rehearsals. But they

kept their nose to the grindstone, and there at the end they were really burning the midnight oil.”

“They were getting on each other’s nerves during dress rehearsal,” said the musical director,

Miss Wegter, “and a lot of them were rubbing each other the wrong way. I was crossing my fingers

that a couple of them didn’t tear into each other.”

“But others were certainly getting along well. The leading man lost his head over the leading

lady,” said Mr. Gutting.

“Really? I was in the dark about that,” said Miss Wegter.

“I guess I let the cat out of the bag. They were quite the item. However, I thought he was

going to fall apart at the seams when he saw her leave with one of the other guys one night. But

they were just friends. It turns out she was head over heels with the leading man, too.”

“The two of them really brought the house down when they came out for bows at the end of

the show,” said Mrs. Adducci. “It was wonderful!”

*An idiom is an expression with a meaning different from the literal meaning of the individual
words.

Idiom

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Name

O

Op

pp

po

os

siitte

es

s A

Attttr

ra

acctt

19

An oxymoron combines two terms that seem incompatible or contradictory. For example, “jumbo
shrimp.” We use “shrimp” to describe something very small because a shrimp really is very small.
Therefore, “jumbo shrimp” seems contradictory, even though we know it refers to the largest of
small shrimp.

Another example: The two of them were aalloon

nee ttooggeetth

heerr

. Here again is a contradiction. “Alone”

means to be by yourself, while “together” means to be with someone else.

Below are 40 combinations of words. Only 20 of them are oxymora (the plural of oxymoron).

Consider them all carefully and circle the 20 that are oxymora.

Oxymoron

1. jumbo shrimp

2. safety hazard

3. healthy tan

4. simple Simon

5. dozen doughnuts

6. accurate estimate

7. baby grand

8. act naturally

9. advanced beginner

10. interesting comment

11. tall oak

12. authentic replica

13. frozen corn

14. awfully nice

15. bad luck

16. baggy tights

17. big baby

18. toothbrush holder

19. paper clip

20. dream date

21. black light

22. hair dryer

23. ripe watermelon

24. clearly confused

25. dull roar

26. firm pillow

27. fresh frozen

28. fuzzy wuzzy

29. good grief

30. final exam

31. hokey pokey

32. funny guy

33. tall tree

34. simple request

35. beautiful sunset

36. least favorite

37. liquid smoke

38. loud whisper

39. advanced algebra

40. lively discussion

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Underline each oxymoron* that you see in the following story. You should be able to find 23
examples.

*An oxymoron is a combination of two opposite or contradictory terms.

S

Se

er

riio

ou

us

s F

Fu

un

n

Name

20

Oxymoron

Alissa asked if she could go to a weekend concert and be one of the paid volunteers

taking tickets. Her father gave her a definite maybe and said he would check with

her mom.

Alissa’s mother was a student teacher who rode the elevated subway into work

each day. She wouldn’t be home until late, so Alissa knew she wouldn’t be able to

get her answer right away.

Her dad gave her a hug, put on his dress pants, and left. He was a seriously

funny man who also played in a one-man band every other Friday night. (He was

hoping his band would become a full-time hobby.)

Alissa’s parents had one adult child, her brother Aaron. Though he lived at

home, he was training for a lightweight heavyweight boxing match, so he was a sight

unseen around the house most of the time. They also had Alissa and her little sister

Jasmine. Since no one else was around, Alissa had to cook for the two of them.

“Do you want boneless ribs or jumbo shrimp for dinner?” she asked.

“Shrimp,” said Jasmine.

The two of them ate alone together in a loud silence. “This is awful good,” said

Jasmine, trying to be nice.

Then they had slices of a fresh frozen vanilla fudge twelve-ounce pound cake

with genuine imitation chocolate bits in the frosting. She cut them in approximately

equal slices.

“That cake is pretty ugly,” said Jasmine, “but it sure is good.”

Finally they heard their mother’s key in the lock. Her mother entered, then her

older brother, then her father. A small crowd then stood in the tiny kitchen.

Alissa decided to eat her cake before her brother grabbed it. She would ask

about the concert later.

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Name

C

Cr

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e a

a P

Pu

un

n

21

Police were called to a day care center where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.

The sentence above is an example of a pun.* It involves a play on words—the similarity between “a
rest” (like a nap) and “arrest” (as in going to jail).

Puns are often used as the punch line for jokes. Here’s one example:

A chess club met in one of the meeting rooms of a hotel. After competition, a bunch of the

members were standing around the lobby, talking about their victories. After only a few min-

utes, the manager asked them to leave.

“But why?” they asked.

“I can’t stand chess nuts boasting in an open foyer,” he said.

Now if you’ve never heard the holiday song line, “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,” the

pun is not funny. (And it may not be funny to you even if you do know it. Puns often cause peo-
ple to groan, rather than laugh.)

Here’s one more example of a pun:

Anna lived on one side of the state. Monique lived on the other. They both were rich and

could afford to have their hair cut by the famous Lorenzo, who lived in the middle. Both called

Lorenzo early one Saturday, desperate to have their hair done. Lorenzo had only one appoint-

ment left, at noon that day. He said he would give it to whichever woman arrived first.

Anna left immediately in her private jet, and Monique left immediately in her private

helicopter. Anna’s plane had trouble and had to make an emergency landing. Monique

arrived safely for the hair appointment.

The moral of the story? The whirlybird gets the perm.

Below are eight punch lines that involve puns. Choose two of the punch lines, and construct

a story around each. Your goal is to make the punch line make sense. (The punch line should be
the last line in the story.)

1. I’m worried I won’t find my darling Clem in time.
2. Brother, can you spear a dime?
3. They used weapons of math disruption.
4. I’m not taking this lion down.
5. Some day my prints will come.
6. Where there’s a Will, there’s a Wayne.
7. He was the lesser of two weevils.
8. Time wounds all heels.

*A pun is a humorous play on words, often involving double meanings.

Pun

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Match the sentences on the left with the sentences on the right. When matched correctly, each
will create a pun.*

*A pun is a humorous play on words, often involving double meanings.

W

Wh

ha

att’’s

s S

So

o P

Pu

un

nn

ny

y?

?

Name

22

Pun

A. She has fillings, too.
B. They were assaulted.
C. It is nothing to write home

about.

D. I think I’ll dye!
E. She was trying to fudge the num-

bers.

F. His qualifications didn’t add up.
G. He had post dramatic stress dis-

order.

H. You might have a terminal ill-

ness.

I.

He fully recovered.

J.

It has a Liverpool.

K They wanted a bonding experi-

ence.

L. You get repossessed.
M. They were carrion.
N. Steal her blanket.
O. It was declared axe-idental.
P. You’re so pointless.
Q. They taste funny.
R. It wasn’t aloud.
S. He became a hardened criminal.
T. He didn’t want to be poultry in

motion.

1. How would a person make antifreeze?
2. Two peanuts were walking in the city. What

happened to them?

3. Why should you be kind to your dentist?
4. Why don’t the lions at the circus eat the

clowns?

5. What is the problem if you get sick at the air-

port?

6. England doesn’t have a kidney bank. What

does it have?

7. What problem did the retired actor have?
8. Even though the orthodontist was found

killed with a hatchet, no one was charged. Why?

9. Why didn’t the two vultures check their dead

raccoons when they went to the airport?

10. What did the triangle say to the circle?
11. What did the teacher say about Johnny’s

penmanship?

12. Why was the math teacher fired?
13. What happened to the man who fell into the

upholstery machine?

14. Why didn’t the mime talk?
15. The president of the company dropped her

brownie onto her calculator on purpose. Why?

16. What happened when the thief fell and broke

his leg in the cement?

17. Why did the family members go to a 007 movie?
18. Why didn’t the chicken cross the road?
19. What did the beautiful movie star say when she

saw her first gray hair?

20. What happens if you don’t pay your exorcist?

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A

An

ns

sw

we

er

r K

Ke

ey

ys

s

23

Invent a New Sound, page 3
Answers will vary. Sample answer:

Whap! Snap!

Zoom!,
page 4

Answers will

vary.
Sample
answer:

1.

Sheldon’s mom knew he was home because of the con-
stant crickcrick of his fingers on the computer.

2.

After grabbing two cans of Strawberry Delight soda and a
mound of shaved ham from the fridge, Sally shut the
refrigerator door with a fumpf.

3.

The teacher closed her door to the scriddle-scraddle of
students in the hall.

4.

Ally shuddered at the shrill zwee of the dentist’s drill.

5.

Grandma ran into the kitchen when she heard the famil-
iar phweet of the tea kettle.

6.

Zach was so thirsty he could hardly wait to hear the pok-

shoo

of a soda can being opened.

7.

The hikers stopped and listened to the relaxing sounds of
the pippling stream.

8.

Suddenly, the car went wroosh, disappearing in a cloud
of dust.

9.

The only sound in the classroom was the steady vrun of
the automatic pencil sharpener.

10. The thrap of hail on the rooftop kept me awake.

11. Billy was lulled to sleep by the zumming lawn mower.
12. The students winced at the skreet of the chalk on the

chalkboard.

13. With a loud skwit, I got the last bit of ketchup out of the

bottle.

14. As the cold steak hit the grill with a fshh, my mouth

watered.

15. She waited impatiently, hoping to hear the eeyurnt of the

bus coming to a stop.

16. As she entered the house, she heard the familiar wrump

of clothes tumbling in the dryer.

17.

The basketball blumped furiously as the star player took
it to the basket for the win.

18. The garbage disposal chorzled on and on in the kitchen

while I was trying to do my homework.

19. The park was so quiet, I could hear the sound of squir-

rels fwittling as they fed on seeds.

20. The students’ pens busily scrittled along as they wrote

out their brilliant essays.

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Cliché after Cliché after Cliché, Part I, page 5
Answers will vary. Sample answer:

What Happened When the Campers Saw Bigfoot?

My little sister Penelope and I were fighting like cats and dogs. Mom asked us to be quiet as a mouse so she

could catch some zzzzs, but we were climbing the walls. Suddenly, Mom blew a gasket and chewed us out. She
looked madder than a wet hen. When Mom’s mad, a good rule of thumb is to get out of her hair—it works like a

charm

. Penelope and I stopped twiddling our thumbs and decided to go camping.

We set out as the crow flies to find a good spot. We are both fit as a fiddle, so hiking was easy as pie. After find-

ing a spot, Penelope unpacked our tent while I looked for firewood. When I came back, she was all bent out of

shape

because she couldn’t figure out the tent. I gave her a hand. We took five and shot the breeze for a while. After

starting a fire and getting out the hotdogs and marshmallows, we were soon grinning from ear to ear.

When it was time to hit the sack, we heard something rustling behind our tent. Penelope looked like a deer in

the headlights

. I knew I had to be the brave older sister and check it out. Better safe than sorry! Although I had but-

terflies in my stomach

, I went behind the tent with my flashlight. I didn’t see anything.

“I don’t mean to just sweep this under the rug, but there’s nothing there,” I said, but Penelope was still scared.

We didn’t hear anything more, so we climbed in our tent, making sure all of the zippers were zipped shut. Penelope
looked at the zippers and shrugged. “You think those flimsy zippers will keep out the monsters? Fat chance!”
I told her to keep her chin up. “We have to stick to our guns and camp overnight here, or we will be afraid to go
camping again.”

She didn’t look convinced. I said, “I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but I’ve been getting pretty good at

karate. I will beat up any monster that tries to come in here! Make my day, monster!” Penelope laughed as I karate-
chopped the air. Soon we were sleeping peacefully in our tent, snug as two bugs in a rug.

The next morning, we woke up early.
“I’ll start a fire so we can have sausages for breakfast,” I said as I unzipped the tent. Penelope stayed snuggled in

her sleeping bag, reading a book.

I looked out, and to my surprise, there, sitting on a log in front of the campfire roasting marshmallows, was the

spitting image

of Bigfoot!

“Did you say you’re making sausages for breakfast?” he asked in a deep voice. I gasped, shutting the tent door.

Penelope asked what was wrong. I tried to beat around the bush, but she’s a chip off the old block, and was immedi-
ately suspicious.

“Seriously, what’s wrong?”
“Bigfoot wants to eat breakfast with us,” I said.
Penelope smiled. “Yeah, right.”
“See for yourself.”

She peeked out and then quickly ducked her head back in and zipped the tent door shut. “I can’t believe it!”

“I’m in over my head on this one,” I told her. “I’m pretty sure I can’t fight Bigfoot, not even with karate.”
“I guess we should just invite him to eat sausages with us,” she said.
“What?! How come you’re not scared?”
“Well, let’s not jump the gun here. He seems nice. When I peeked out, he said ‘Hello,’ and asked if he could

join us for breakfast. I think we should give him a chance.”

And the rest is history.

24

Answer Key, continued

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25

Cliché after Cliché after Cliché, Part II, page 6
Answers will vary. Sample answer:

What Happened When the Campers Saw Bigfoot?

My little sister Penelope and I were fighting like that cranky couple at the end of our block who has been mar-

ried for 50 years. Mom asked us to be quiet so she could sleep, but we were restless and just couldn’t keep quiet.
Suddenly, Mom gave up any hold on patience and yelled at us. She looked so mad that we knew we shouldn’t get in
her way again. When Mom’s mad, the best idea is to disappear and give her some time alone—then she’s always
happy to see us when we come back. So, Penelope and I stopped being bored and decided to go camping.

We set out to find a good spot. We are both in shape, so hiking was easy for us. After finding a spot, Penelope

unpacked our tent while I looked for firewood. When I came back, she was upset because she couldn’t figure out the
tent. I helped her. We rested and then talked for a while. After starting a fire and getting out the hot dogs and
marshmallows, we were soon smiling with satisfaction.

When it was time to go to bed, we heard something rustling behind our tent. Penelope froze. I knew I had to be

the brave older sister and check it out. I was scared, but I knew I should be sure we were safe. I went behind the tent
with my flashlight. I didn’t see anything.

“There’s nothing there,” I said, but Penelope was still scared.
We didn’t hear anything more, so we climbed in our tent, making sure all of the zippers were zipped shut.

Penelope looked at the zippers and shrugged. “You think those flimsy zippers will keep out the monsters? They
won’t.”

I told her to trust me and be brave. “We have to be brave and stay through the night, or we will be afraid to go

camping again.”

She didn’t look convinced. I said, “Remember how good I’m getting at karate? I will beat up any monster that

tries to come in here! Just watch me!” Penelope laughed as I karate-chopped the air. Soon we were sleeping peacefully
in our tent, calm and feeling safe.

The next morning, we woke up early.
“I’ll start a fire so we can have sausages for breakfast,” I said as I unzipped the tent. Penelope stayed snuggled in

her sleeping bag, reading a book.

I looked out, and to my surprise, there, sitting on a log in front of the campfire roasting marshmallows, was

Bigfoot!

“Did you say you’re making sausages for breakfast?” he asked in a deep voice. I gasped, shutting the tent door.

Penelope asked what was wrong. I tried to act calm, but she’s too much like me. She saw I was hiding something and
was immediately suspicious.

“Seriously, what’s wrong?”
“Bigfoot wants to eat breakfast with us,” I said.
Penelope smiled. “Yeah, right.”
“See for yourself.”
She peeked out and then quickly ducked her head back in and zipped the tent door shut. “I can’t believe it!”
“I have no idea what to do,” I told her. “I’m pretty sure I can’t fight Bigfoot, not even with karate.”
“I guess we should just invite him to eat sausages with us,” she said.
“What?! How come you’re not scared?”
“Well, let’s be reasonable and look at the facts. He seems nice. When I peeked out, he said ‘Hello,’ and asked if

he could join us for breakfast. I think we should give him a chance.”

So we did, and we made a new friend.

Answer Key, continued

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Is Happiness a Warm Puppy?, page 7
Answers will vary. Sample answer:

1.

Happiness is a triple scoop of chocolate chip ice cream.

2.

Patience is watching a rose bush start to bud.

3.

Disaster is a speeding ticket when you’ve had your license for only three days.

4.

Relief is having the orthodontist finally remove your braces.

5.

Hope is a phone call about your lost dog.

6.

Anger is a stolen bike.

7.

Beauty is Olivia.

8.

Disappointment is a phone call that never comes.

Music to My Ears, page 8
Answers will vary. Sample answer:

1.

You must remember that life is a jet racing through the sky.

2.

His lies were a mousetrap of deception.

3.

The announcement was a glass of water poured on his head.

4.

The teacher was a sparkle of laughter in the dreary meeting.

5.

In the big city, he was a fiddle player in a marching band.

6.

My mother is an oak tree with roots deep into the ground.

7.

The argument was a burst balloon.

8.

Her smile is an oasis in a desert.

Countless Consonants, page 9
Answers will vary. Sample answer:

1.

Big burly brothers brought brooms, blooms, and black balloons.

2.

Countless crazy clowns climbed carefully, clutching crutches.

3.

Hundreds of hungry hornets hounded the helpless hippo herd.

4.

Lots of languid, listless loons lolled lazily in the lagoon.

5.

Twenty-two twins told tall tales of treacherous trails.

6.

Susie’s sixth sense suggested surprising suspicion and suspense.

7.

Various very venomous vipers ventured vengefully and viciously.

8.

Washed windows work well for watching wobbly wallabies.

9.

Extra exuberant exercisers exude excellence and expect ecstasy.

10. Forty fearless flocks of flamingos fought furiously for food.

A Silly Selection of Surly Swans, page 10
Answers will vary. Sample answer:

1.

a colorful clump of clinging clematis

2.

a grand gathering of giddy girls

3.

a tremendous trunk of Tasmanian treasure

4.

a sneaky set of smelly skunks

5.

a jumbo jar of jiggling Jell-o

6.

a large lump of leathery liver

26

Answer Key, continued

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27

7.

a dizzy drove of drowsy dromedaries.

8.

a hefty hunk of hot ham

9.

a selfish society of sulky sophomores

10. a marvelous mixture of magnificent mangos

I’m so Hungry, I Could..., page 11
Answers will vary. Sample answer:

1.

He is as strong as Paul Bunyan on steroids.

2.

I’m so tired, the sheep I count are snoring.

3.

She has an ocean and a continent of money.

4.

He is older than a Neanderthal’s great great-grandfather.

Tall Tale, page 12
Answers will vary. Sample answer:

1.

S.T. Smozenstossle was so smart that she reinvented the wheel, and it’s better than the original.

2.

S.T. Smozenstossle’s brain was so big that she had to travel in a semi-truck that could accommodate her large
head.

3.

S.T. Smozenstossle was so intelligent that she won Nobel Prizes for physics, chemistry, physiology, medicine, liter-
ature, and peace—all in the same year.

4.

S.T. Smozenstossle was so smart that she invented a car that runs on air.

5.

S.T. Smozenstossle was so smart that she double-majored in rocket science and lunar colonization.

Being Kind, page 13
Answers will vary. Sample answer:

1.

Your friend Smart Mouth will need to be visiting his other friends in the future, and not you.

2.

We feel that your country’s recent actions aren’t really in your best interest, or in the best interest of other
nations.

3.

We request your presence at the county detention center, where I’m afraid your son is residing temporarily. I will
need for you to come in and discuss the possibility of him taking up residence in your home again.

4.

Unfortunately, sweetie, I’m afraid little Poppie won’t be needing his cage anymore.

Coating It with Honey, page 14
Answers will vary. Sample answer:

1.

I don’t like you, so let’s not hang out anymore.

2.

Asparagus makes me puke.

3.

You’re fired.

4.

Those new shoes are nice, but they make your feet look huge.

5.

Perhaps you should consider replacing the use of your car with bus or subway transportation, as a public safety
measure.

6.

Of all the unique meals you have made, I’d have to say that this doesn’t rank among my favorites.

Answer Key, continued

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Make a Connection, page 15
Answers will vary. Sample answer:

1.

Joe is as stubborn as a kite caught in a wild updraft.

2.

She is as tired as a daisy that spent the entire day stretching toward the sun.

3.

My father is as strong as a skyscraper in the wind.

4.

Melinda is as sad as cold coffee.

5.

His words are as gentle as a bubble floating on a breeze.

6.

The countertop was as clean as just-fallen snow.

7.

Jackson was as busy as a puppy with unlimited shoes to chew.

Romantic Fred, page 16
Answers will vary. Sample answer:

Dearest Natasha,

You are as pretty as a sparkling dewdrop on a daisy. Your hair is as black and shiny as exotic silk. Your eyes are as
green as a mountain meadow. Your lips are like fresh-picked strawberries—a bright, beautiful red.

Your voice is as sweet as a violin playing the loveliest song in the world, and your smile lights up a room like a mil-
lion candles.

I love you, Natasha. I will be as happy as a lottery winner if you agree to marry me.

Love,
Fred

A Wild Goose Chase Has No Geese, page 17
Answers will vary. Sample answer:

1. Claire had met and shaken hands with the ropes and gotten to know them, so she showed the new student

around.

2.

Josh knew the song by listening to his heart sing it.

3. Mr. Gomez looked in the opposite direction with his one eye that was blind, so he wouldn’t see the misbehavior

in the back of the room.

4. Little Sara blew up and wound up being a liquid puddle of tears when her big brother ran over her Barbie doll

with his truck.

5. “I guess it won’t cause the bank to shatter into a million pieces,” said Elena’s father when she asked for a new

bike.

6. “This report doesn’t even use a blunt object to harshly grate the top layer of Nebraska,” said Ms. Yamaguchi.
7. No one wanted to be around Savanna because she cried when someone dropped a hat on the floor.
8. Tony’s grandpa said, “I’m as fit as a small instrument with four strings that you play with a bow in folk style.”
9. When asked if he could fix the printer, Zach said, “It’s a slice of sweet dough baked and covered with frosting!”
10. When her neighbors asked her if she wanted to babysit every weekend for the entire summer, Lyndsey answered,

“Maybe. But let me lose consciousness for a little while on top of the question before I tell you for sure.”

11. “Here. Let me allow you to borrow my hand,” said Henry’s father, pulling it off his wrist.
12. David stared at his algebra assignment and said, “I can’t create a head out of a math assignment, or a tail,

either.”

13. “You can talk until your face color changes from normal to blue,” said Audrey’s mother, “but I’m still not mov-

ing your curfew to 2:00 a.m.”

28

Answer Key, continued

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29

14. “I don’t know why the company is moving its feet slowly behind it as it walks on this decision,” said Jackson.
15. Brandy has been at the bottom of the landfill for about three weeks now.

Break a Leg, page 18
Answers will vary. Sample answer:

“I got such a kick out of watching our students present High School Musical,” said Mrs. Adducci. “Those kids

made the singing look like a piece of cake and the dancing look as easy as pie. And the acting? I thought they would
be in over their heads, but they really pulled it off.

“You’re right,” said Miss Triblehorn. “The costumes were just to die for, and the scenery was so great it must

have cost an arm and a leg. This show became the hottest ticket in town!”

“I really thought the kids were biting off more than they could chew,” said Mr. Gutting, the director. “If I’d had

my druthers

, they would have picked something easier. To make it even worse, some kids were really bent out of

shape

because they didn’t get the roles they wanted. Then the flu hit, and half the cast was under the weather for

many of the rehearsals. But they kept their nose to the grindstone, and there at the end they were really burning the

midnight oil.

“They were getting on each other’s nerves during dress rehearsal,” said the musical director, Miss Wegter, “and a

lot of them were rubbing each other the wrong way. I was crossing my fingers that a couple of them didn’t tear into

each other.

“But others were certainly getting along well. The leading man lost his head over the leading lady,” said Mr.

Gutting.

“Really? I was in the dark about that,” said Miss Wegter.
“I guess I let the cat out of the bag. They were quite the item. However, I thought he was going to fall apart at

the seams

when he saw her leave with one of the other guys one night. But they were just friends. It turns out she

was head over heels with the leading man, too.”

“The two of them really brought the house down when they came out for bows at the end of the show,” said

Mrs. Adducci. “It was wonderful!”

Opposites Attract, page 19

Answer Key, continued

1.

jumbo shrimp

2.

safety hazard

3.

healthy tan

4.

simple Simon

5.

dozen doughnuts

6.

accurate estimate

7.

baby grand

8.

act naturally

9.

advanced beginner

10. interesting comment
11. tall oak

12. authentic replica

13. frozen corn

14. awfully nice

15. bad luck

16. baggy tights

17. big baby

18. toothbrush holder

19. paper clip

20. dream date

21. black light

22. hair dryer
23. ripe watermelon

24. clearly confused

25. dull roar

26. firm pillow

27. fresh frozen

28. fuzzy wuzzy

29. good grief

30. final exam
31. hokey pokey
32. funny guy
33. tall tree
34. simple request
35. beautiful sunset

36. least favorite

37. liquid smoke

38. loud whisper

39. advanced algebra
40. lively discussion

background image

Metaphors and More

© 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. • www.cottonwoodpress.com • 1-800-864-4297

Serious Fun, page 20

Alissa asked if she could go to a weekend concert and be one of the paid volunteers taking tickets. Her father gave
her a definite maybe and said he would check with her mom.

Alissa’s mother was a student teacher who rode the elevated subway into work each day. She wouldn’t be home

until late, so Alissa knew she wouldn’t be able to get her answer right away.

Her dad gave her a hug, put on his dress pants, and left. He was a seriously funny man who also played in a

one-man band

every other Friday night. (He was hoping his band would become a full-time hobby.)

Alissa’s parents had one adult child, her brother Aaron. Though he lived at home, he was training for a

lightweight heavyweight boxing match, so he was a sight unseen around the house most of the time. They also had
Alissa and her little sister Jasmine. Since no one else was around, Alissa had to cook for the two of them.

“Do you want boneless ribs or jumbo shrimp for dinner?” she asked.
“Shrimp,” said Jasmine.
The two of them ate alone together in a loud silence. “This is awful good,” said Jasmine, trying to be nice.
Then they had slices of a fresh frozen vanilla fudge twelve-ounce pound cake with genuine imitation chocolate

bits in the frosting. She cut them in approximately equal slices.

“That cake is pretty ugly,” said Jasmine, “but it sure is good.”
Finally they heard their mother’s key in the lock. Her mother entered, then her older brother, then her father. A

small crowd

then stood in the tiny kitchen.

Alissa decided to eat her cake before her brother grabbed it. She would ask about the concert later.

Create a Pun, page 21
Answers will vary. Sample answer:

1.

A man nervously paced the bus terminal looking for his wife. A fellow traveler asked the man if everything
was okay. “No,” he answered, “Our bus to New York City leaves in five minutes, and I’m worried I won’t find
my darling Clem in time.”

5.

Susan felt like an outsider while the other kids flipped through yearbooks and exchanged snapshots from the
end-of-the-year school bash. She put on a happy face and reminded herself, “Someday my prints will come.”

What’s So Punny?, page 22

30

Answer Key, continued

1.

N

2.

B

3.

A

4.

Q

5.

H

6.

J

7.

G

8.

O

9.

M

10. P

11. C
12. F
13. I
14. R
15. E

16. S
17. K
18. T
19. D
20. L

background image

www.cottonwoodpress.com

Great Books from Cottonwood Press!

HOT FUDGE MONDAY—Tasty
Ways to Teach Parts of Speech to
Students Who Have a Hard
Time Swallowing Anything To
Do With Grammar.

This new edi-

tion includes quirky quizzes,
extended writing activities, and
Internet enrichment activities that
reinforce new skills.

A SENTENCE A DAY—Short, play-
ful proofreading exercises to help
students avoid tripping up when
they write.

This book focuses on

short, playful, interesting sentences
with a sense of humor.

A TO Z—Novel ideas for reading
teachers.

Written by two reading

teachers with years of experience in
the classroom, the activities in A to
Z

can be used with any novel or

short story.

PHUNNY STUPH—Your stu-
dents will smile and sharpen
their proofreading skills as they
correct the jokes and urban leg-
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The activities contain just

about every error you can imag-
ine, from spelling and punctua-
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ments and run-ons.

DOWNW

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FUNNY—Using

student’s love of the ridiculous to
build serious writing skills.

The

entertaining activities and illustra-
tions in this book help teach all
kinds of useful writing skills.

HOW TO HANDLE DIFFI-
CULT PARENTS—A teacher’s
survival guide.

Suzanne Capek

Tingley identifies characteristics
of some parent “types”. She then
goes on to give practical, easy-to-
implement methods of working
with them more effectively.

TWISTING ARMS—Teaching
students how to write to per-
suade.

This book is full of easy-to-

use activities that will really
sharpen students’ writing and orga-
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RELUCTANT DISCIPLINAR-
IAN—Advice on classroom man-
agement from a softy who
became (eventually) a successful
teacher.

A

uthor Gary Rubinstein

offers clear and specific advice for
classroom management.

IF THEY’RE LAUGHING
THEY JUST MIGHT BE LIS-
TENING—Ideas for using
HUMOR effectively in the
classroom—even if you’re NOT
funny yourself.

Discover ways to

lighten up, encourage humor
from others, and have fun with
your students.

THINKING IN THREES—The
Power of Three in Writing.
Faced with a writing task of any
kind? Think of three things to say
about the topic. Writing an essay?
Remember that the body should
have at least three paragraphs.
Need help getting started? Learn
three ways to begin an essay.

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