Iwas in the national forest with my camera. the day was crisp and the leaves were bright with fall colors. when i spotted the white-tailed buck, i froze. he was less than 15 yards from where i was standing. the wind must have been right, because he kept on grazing on the mossy ground. i lifted my camera very slowly. carefully, holding my breath, i lifted the camera to my eye. turning the focus ring, i framed the deer’s head. just as i was ready to press the shutter release, the buck raised his head. he was looking my way with wide eyes. click—i took the picture. an instant later the deer bounded away into the forest. he took off, but i had the shot. today, the framed photo of that buck hangs above our fireplace.

what is the main idea of this piece? what are the clues? what does the author imply? if you think it is about a photo that was very important to the writer, you’re right. how does the last line you make that inference?

Read the following short excerpt of student writing. use your vocabulary and grammar knowledge to determine which suggestions you would make to improve his or her grammar and word choice. i really thought she loved me but i discovered her grave betrayal one afternoon. it was easy to figure out because she accidentally sent a text to me that was meant for him. i was confused by the text because it said, "don't tell mike." i felt insulted that she thought she could get away with this infidelity. at first i felt very angry bitter and hateful but then i felt so hopeless and depressed. i longed for her to call me. i thought if i could just hear her pleasing voice, maybe then i would not be filled with such bitterness. instead of calling her i talked to another friend who is good at listening and feeling my pain. talking with her makes me feel euphoric. i think i may be on the road to recovery.what word would you suggest to replace the underlined word or words in this excerpt? instead of calling her, i talked to another friend who is (good at listening and feeling my pain). talking with her makes me feel euphoric. amorous sentimental empathetic grave

Buck did not cry out. he did not check himself, but drove in upon spitz, shoulder to shoulder, so hard that he missed the throat. they rolled over and over in the powdery snow. spitz gained his feet almost as though he had not been overthrown, slashing buck down the shoulder and leaping clear. twice his teeth clipped together, like the steel jaws of a trap, as he backed away for better footing, with lean and lifting lips that writhed and snarled. read this passage. explain what the conflict shows about buck and spitz.

What else do you think experts can learn from studying the language of written work? what do you think is the value of studying the language of william shakespeare whose writing is over hundreds of years old?