Irony: what you expect and what happens

Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   The Early Bird (original story)

   [1] Everyone at Linden Middle School knew Noah as the early bird, the first student to arrive every morning for two years. [2] On Monday, Noah told the whole class, “I have never been late, and I never will be.” [3] That afternoon, Ms. Park taped a notice to the classroom door saying that Friday's field trip bus would leave at 7:30, not 8:00. [4] Noah had already gone home for the day, so Noah never saw the notice. [5] Zee heard the news from Ms. Park, but Zee forgot to pass it along.

   [6] On Friday, Noah woke up extremely early, packed a lunch, and walked to school feeling proud and confident. [7] At 7:50, Noah strolled through the gate, whistling and glancing at the clock above the cafeteria. [8] “Right on time, as always,” Noah said to the quiet courtyard. [9] The courtyard was quiet because the bus had already rolled away. [10] A custodian sweeping the steps looked up and said with a grin, “Early as ever, I see.” [11] Zee arrived a few minutes later, out of breath, and said, “I am so sorry, I forgot to tell you.” [12] Noah looked at the clock, then at the empty parking space where the bus had been. [13] The student who had promised never to be late was, at long last, late.

2. 1.

   Ari reads sentences [8] and [10]. Which choice names the irony in each, in order?

   • [8] is situational irony and [10] is verbal irony.
   • [8] is verbal irony and [10] is dramatic irony.
   • [8] is dramatic irony and [10] is verbal irony.
   • [8] is dramatic irony and [10] is situational irony.
3. 2.

   Kira reads Noah's boast in sentence [2]. What does the boast do in the story?

   • It is verbal irony: Noah boasts about being on time but means the opposite.
   • It is a plain description with no link to the ending.
   • It sets up situational irony: the opposite of the boast happens in [13].
   • It is dramatic irony: the reader already knows Noah will be late.
4. 3.

   Luz wants sentence [13] to be only bad luck, not irony, with Noah still late. Which change does that?

   • Move the notice to the gym door instead of the classroom door.
   • Remove the early-bird reputation in [1] and the boast in [2].
   • Have Noah arrive at 7:40 instead of 7:50.
   • Have Zee apologize to Noah before the custodian speaks.
5. 4.

   Pia reads Zee's apology in sentence [11]. Which claim about it is correct?

   • Situational irony: Zee expected to arrive early and arrived late.
   • Not irony: Zee is sincere, and Noah learns about the forgotten message in the same line.
   • Dramatic irony: the reader knows Zee forgot, but Noah does not.
   • Verbal irony: Zee says sorry but means the opposite.

6. The Shortcut (original story)

   [1] Esme absolutely loved shortcuts and liked to brag that Esme could get anywhere in half the usual time. [2] On the morning of the neighborhood fun run, Esme and Luz agreed to meet at the finish line in the park. [3] Luz took the main road, which was long and winding but perfectly clear. [4] Esme chose a narrow path behind the hardware store, certain that it would save ten minutes.

   [5] Halfway down the path, Esme found a ten-dollar bill under a bush and decided to turn it in at the park office. [6] A few steps later, a locked garden gate blocked the way, and Esme had to walk all the way back. [7] The unexpected detour added fifteen extra minutes to the trip. [8] Luz had been waiting at the finish line for twenty minutes when Esme finally came huffing around the corner. [9] “Wow, that shortcut was so quick,” Luz said, tapping a wristwatch. [10] Esme laughed and handed the ten-dollar bill to the park office. [11] Then Esme and Luz hurried to the starting line, just as the other runners began to gather behind the banner.

7. 5.

   Jun reads sentences [7] and [9]. Which choice names the irony in each, in order?

   • [7] is situational irony and [9] is dramatic irony.
   • [7] is verbal irony and [9] is situational irony.
   • [7] is situational irony and [9] is verbal irony.
   • [7] is dramatic irony and [9] is verbal irony.
8. 6.

   Milo looks for the one event that is only a surprise, not irony. Which sentence is it?

   • Sentence [5], where Esme finds a ten-dollar bill under a bush.
   • Sentence [7], where the detour adds fifteen minutes to the trip.
   • Sentence [9], where Luz says the shortcut was so quick.
   • Sentence [8], where Luz has waited twenty minutes before Esme arrives.
9. 7.

   Noah wants sentence [7] to be only bad luck, not irony. Which change does that?

   • Have Luz take the narrow path too.
   • Make the bill a twenty-dollar bill.
   • Make the garden gate green instead of locked.
   • Remove Esme's bragging and certainty that the path would save time.
10. 8.

    Tala reads Luz's line in sentence [9]: “Wow, that shortcut was so quick.” Which claim is correct?

    • Not irony: Luz is praising Esme for finding a fast path.
    • Situational irony: Luz expected to arrive last and arrived first.
    • Verbal irony: Luz knows the trip was slow and says the opposite.
    • Dramatic irony: the reader knows the trip was slow, but Luz does not.
11. 9.

    Zee lists the story's two kinds of irony in the order they appear. Which list is correct?

    • Situational irony in [7], then verbal irony in [9].
    • Situational irony in [7], then dramatic irony in [9].
    • Verbal irony in [7], then situational irony in [9].
    • Dramatic irony in [4], then verbal irony in [9].
12. 10.

    Ari wants to add dramatic irony to the story. Which change would do that?

    • Tell the reader in [4] that the path ends at a locked gate, which Esme does not know.
    • Have Esme find the ten-dollar bill before leaving home.
    • Have Luz say “quick” in a happy voice in [9].
    • Have Esme arrive at the finish line before Luz.