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Course: ELA isolated skill practice > Unit 7

Lesson 1: Reading and vocabulary
Reading & language arts
ELA isolated skill practice
8th grade
Reading and vocabulary
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Text structure: drama and prose 8

Google Classroom

Problem

Read the passages.

The Opportunity

Cast of Characters:
Shanice: a 14-year-old girl
Trevon: Shanice’s stepdad
Scene One
[Early afternoon. On the bus on the way home from a disappointing audition.]
Trevon: I’m so proud of you.
Shanice: Really? But I didn’t get the part.
Trevon: I know, but you were so professional, not to mention that it takes a lot of guts to get up there and do that!
Shanice: [wiping tears from her cheeks] I’m sorry I’m crying. I held it together in the room, but I can’t keep it in anymore.
Trevon: [puts his arm around SHANICE]
Shanice: I just worked so hard. I really had my heart set on it.
Trevon: Just keep working at it. Keep your focus. It’ll pay off eventually.
Scene Two
[later that evening in the living room]
Shanice: [enters the living room, smiling from ear to ear, while talking on her cell phone] Thank you for the opportunity! I’ll see you on Monday at rehearsal.
Trevon: Rehearsal? Did they change their minds? Did you get the part?
Shanice: [smiling] No, I didn’t get the part, but the director offered me a spot in the company, you know, the nonspeaking actors that are in the background? I took it because it’ll give me a chance to learn some more about stage acting, and who knows—maybe next time I’ll get a speaking part.

The Audition

  1. After waiting for hours to perform her two-minute monologue, Shanice felt a strange mixture of relief and anticipation as she walked out onstage. She had been practicing her speech for weeks and knew it inside and out, but now that it was time to deliver it onstage, she was flooded with anxiety. She tried not to look at her stepdad who was sitting supportively in the audience.
  2. All the rehearsal paid off. Her nerves didn’t show at all. The casting director watched intently as she delivered her speech. He didn’t recognize Shanice from any local theater productions, but he was impressed by how prepared she was for the audition. He called her to the downstage microphone to interview her following her performance.
  3. The aspiring actress stood behind the microphone. The casting director said, “Shanice, you’re auditioning for the part of Monique—that’s a substantial part. Can you tell us about your previous acting experience?”
  4. Shanice struggled awkwardly with the microphone stand for a minute trying to adjust the height before answering, “Well, I haven’t officially performed in a play yet, but I’m currently taking a theater class.”
  5. The casting director looked over at his assistant who shook her head slightly. Then he said, “Shanice, thank you for your audition, but we’re looking for someone with more experience.”
  6. Shanice was devastated. She felt her face flush and wanted to run out of the room. Instead, she smiled and said politely into the microphone, “Thank you for the opportunity to audition.”
In both passages, the authors highlight the themes of—
Choose 1 answer: