Reading a play: scenes, asides and soliloquies

Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   The Missing Lunch (original play)

   [1] SCENE 1. A school hallway, early morning.
   [2] [PIA opens a locker, searches every shelf, and frowns at the empty top one.]
   [3] PIA: My lunch was right here on the top shelf. I packed it myself last night.
   [4] [ZEE strolls up, chewing slowly.]
   [5] ZEE: Maybe the janitor borrowed it for a snack.
   [6] ZEE: (to the audience, so PIA cannot hear) The janitor is me. I ate the whole sandwich.
   [7] PIA: Zee, you look guilty.
   [8] ZEE: Me? I am the most honest person in the whole school.
   [9] [PIA narrows both eyes and walks off. ZEE slumps against the lockers.]
   [10] SCENE 2. The same hallway, after lunch.
   [11] [The hall is empty and quiet. ZEE stands alone under the big clock.]
   [12] ZEE: Why did I do that? Pia packed that lunch for a big game, and I ate it anyway. Tomorrow I will bring Pia two lunches and a note that says I am sorry.
   [13] [ZEE exits.]

2. 1.

   Bo reads the play. What does the break to Scene 2 in sentence [10] show?

   • Recap: Scene 2 repeats the talk between Pia and Zee.
   • Time shift: the story goes back to before Pia finds the empty shelf.
   • Time shift: the story moves to after lunch, with Zee alone in the hall.
   • Place change: the story moves to a different building across town.
3. 2.

   Esme reads the play. What does the stage direction in sentence [4], “ZEE strolls up, chewing slowly,” add?

   • It gives the audience a clue that Zee has been eating something.
   • It is a line Zee says aloud to Pia when Zee walks up and starts talking about eating.
   • It shows that Zee has already confessed to Pia.
   • It shows that Zee is happy to see Pia.
4. 3.

   Jun reads the play. Which choice names Zee's long speech in sentence [12] and says what it adds?

   • Soliloquy: a long speech spoken by a character who is alone on stage.
   • Soliloquy: Zee thinks aloud alone, so the audience hears the regret.
   • Aside: Zee shares a short secret with the audience while another character is on stage.
   • Dialogue: Zee tells Pia about being sorry.
5. 4.

   Kira reads the play. What does the stage direction in sentence [9] show about Pia and Zee?

   • Pia forgives Zee and walks off to buy Zee lunch.
   • It is a line Pia says aloud to Zee as Pia walks away from the lockers.
   • Pia believes Zee, and Zee feels proud.
   • Pia suspects Zee, and Zee feels bad when left alone.
6. 5.

   Luz reads the play. How does Scene 2 change what the audience knows about Zee, compared with Scene 1?

   • In Scene 1 Zee is sorry; in Scene 2 Zee jokes about the lunch.
   • In Scene 2 Zee is terrified that the whole school knows.
   • In Scene 1 Zee jokes and hides the truth; in Scene 2 the audience sees Zee is sorry.
   • In Scene 2 Zee tells Pia the truth.

7. The Pie Contest (original play)

   [1] SCENE 1. A town fair, midday. A table holds two pies.
   [2] [KIRA and Grandpa OSKAR stand beside the crowded table.]
   [3] KIRA: Grandpa, the judge is coming. Are you nervous?
   [4] OSKAR: Nervous? I have won this contest nine times, and I plan to win a tenth.
   [5] OSKAR: (to the audience, softly) But Kira's pie smells better than mine.
   [6] [The JUDGE tastes both pies and writes a note.]
   [7] JUDGE: Both are wonderful, and the choice will not be easy. I will announce the winner at five.
   [8] SCENE 2. The fairground, late afternoon. KIRA stands alone by the empty table.
   [9] KIRA: If Grandpa loses, will Grandpa stop baking? I could tell the judge my pie has too much sugar. But that would not be fair, and Grandpa would know.
   [10] [KIRA takes a deep breath and looks toward the stage where the winner will be announced.]
   [11] KIRA: No. We will both wait, and whatever happens, we bake again tomorrow.
   [12] [Music rises. KIRA exits.]

8. 6.

   Milo reads the play. Oskar speaks softly to the audience in sentence [5]. Which choice names it and says what it adds?

   • Dialogue: Oskar tells Kira that Kira's pie smells better, so Kira feels proud.
   • Aside: the audience learns Oskar secretly thinks Kira's pie is better.
   • Aside: a short remark spoken to the audience, in a soft voice.
   • Soliloquy: Oskar is alone on stage and thinking aloud about the contest.
9. 7.

   Noah reads the play. What does the break to Scene 2 in sentence [8] show?

   • Time shift: the story moves to late afternoon, with Kira alone at the fair.
   • Recap: Scene 2 repeats the judging from Scene 1.
   • Place change: the story moves to Oskar's kitchen at home.
   • Time shift: the story returns to the morning before the judge arrives at the fair.
10. 8.

    Pia reads the play. What does the stage direction in sentence [6], “The JUDGE tastes both pies and writes a note,” add?

    • It builds suspense, because the audience cannot see what the judge writes.
    • It is a line the judge says aloud to the crowd about the two pies before the results.
    • It shows the judge is bored by the contest.
    • It shows that the judge has already chosen Oskar's pie.
11. 9.

    Ren reads the play. Which choice names Kira's speech in sentence [9] and says what it adds?

    • Soliloquy: Kira thinks aloud alone, so the audience hears the struggle to be fair.
    • Dialogue: Kira tells the judge that the pie has too much sugar.
    • Soliloquy: a speech in which a character who is alone says thoughts aloud.
    • Aside: Kira tells the audience a secret while Oskar is nearby.
12. 10.

    Tala reads the play. What does the stage direction in sentence [10], “KIRA takes a deep breath,” add?

    • It shows Kira has given up on baking.
    • It is a line Kira says aloud to the audience while waiting by the table.
    • It shows Kira calming down to make a choice.
    • It shows Kira is about to leave the fair.