Author's Purpose and Main Idea Worksheet
Francis Scott Key, a lawyer negotiating an important prisoner exchange during the War of
1812, was the accidental poet of our national anthem when he hastily jotted down "Defense
of Fort McHenry," after watching twenty-five hours of bombardment. The flag flying over Fort
McHenry had survived the night from the "twilight's last gleaming" to the "dawn's early light."
The resilience and endurance of that flag was Key's inspiration. Today, the national anthem
is played at every sports event, including the Olympics, and asks the same question every
time it is sung: Does the flag still wave over the land of the free and the home of the brave?"
Instructions: Read the question and highlight the academic vocabulary in the question, then
read the selection and answer the questions.
1. Which sentence best states the main idea of the paragraph?
A The words to the national anthem remind us of the characteristics of America.
O B The national anthem is a song of war and should not be sung at sports events.
By

Synonyms and antonyms of the word mean is

Which excerpt from "the cask of amontillado" best infers what will be fortunato's downfall? the gait of my friend was unsteady, and the bells upon his cap jingled as he strode he had a weak point --this fortunato --although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. he prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine. "nitre," i replied. "how long have you had that cough? " "my friend, no; i will not impose upon your good nature. i perceive you have an engagement. luchresi--" which of the excerpts below is an example of foreshadowing? how remarkably well you are looking to-day. but i have received a pipe of what passes for amontillado… "i have my doubts," i replied; "and i was silly enough to pay the full amontillado price without consulting you in the matter. there were no attendants at home; they had absconded to make merry in honour of the time. i had told them that i should not return until the morning, and had given them explicit orders not to stir from the house. i broke and reached him a flagon of de grave. he emptied it at a breath. his eyes flashed with a fierce light. he laughed and threw the bottle upwards with a gesticulation i did not understand. which excerpt from "the cask of amontillado" best summarizes the overall theme of the story? "for the love of god, montresor! " "yes," i said, "for the love of god! " he had a weak point --this fortunato --although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. he prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine. a wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. it is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong. he turned towards me, and looked into my eves with two filmy orbs that distilled the rheum of intoxication. which excerpt from "the cask of amontillado" presents the reader with the initial conflict of the story? "i have my doubts," i replied; "and i was silly enough to pay the full amontillado price without consulting you in the matter. you were not to be found, and i was fearful of losing a bargain." the thousand injuries of fortunato i had borne as i best could, but when he ventured upon insult i vowed revenge. he had a weak point --this fortunato --although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. he prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine. "the nitre! " i said; "see, it increases. it hangs like moss upon the vaults. we are below the river's bed. the drops of moisture trickle among the bones. come, we will go back ere it is too late. your cough --"

In the por "heaven" what things does echo say will last?