Read the excerpt from act 1 of The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street.

DON

And he never did come out to look at that thing that flew overhead. He wasn't even interested.

(he turns to the faces in the group, his face taut and serious)

Why? Why didn't he come out with the rest of us to look?
CHARLIE

He always was an odd ball. Him and his whole family. Real odd ball.

Which element of drama is highlighted in the stage direction?

Which two elements does this excerpt from a christmas carol by charles dickens contain? "a small matter," said the ghost, “to make these silly folks so full of gratitude." "small! " echoed scrooge. the spirit signed to him to listen to the two apprentices, who were pouring out their hearts in praise of fezziwig: and when he had done so, said, "why! is it not? he has spent but a few pounds of your mortal money: three or four perhaps. is that so much that he deserves this praise? " "it isn’t that," said scrooge, heated by the remark, and speaking unconsciously like his former, not his latter, self. "it isn't that, spirit. he has the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil. say that his power lies in words and looks; in things so slight and insignificant that it is impossible to add and count ’em up: what then? the happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune." he felt the spirit's glance, and stopped. "what is the matter? " asked the ghost. "nothing particular," said scrooge. "something, i think? " the ghost insisted. "no," said scrooge, "no. i should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk just now. that's all."

Constructed response paragraph: in the short story, the author describes her life during her “day away” but provides few details about her “normal” life. using information from the text, write a short story that describes events that precede the story above. as you detail the author’s daily routine before her “day away,” be sure your narrative establishes the story’s setting, first-person point of view, and primary conflict.

What is the key similarity between the characters of gerasim and vladimir ivanich in tolstoy’s the death of ivan ilyich?