ACTIVITY 1 Listening Practice

Fill in each blank in the paragraph below with an appropriate word from Word List A. Use each word only once.

Irene looked out onto the beautiful valley. She thought the view was [1] _____________. From the mountaintop she
began to [2]______________________the slope to where the farmhouse stood. The valley below was covered in
[3]__________________and plum trees. It was harvest season. Some families kept the tradition of making offerings to the
harvest [4]______________. Now they were picking the fruit. Later they would make oil and jam. Irene soon found
herself in the [5] ______________of a group of farmers. While she was there, one farmer [6] ________________ another
to a contest. Each farmer thought his plum jam was the best. They asked Irene to try their [7]____________. Irene tasted
the jams and [8] _______________the first farmer’s plum jam the best. The farmers smiled and laughed. Irene loved this
valley. She felt as if she could stay here forever and laughed. Irene loved this valley. She felt as if she could stay here
forever

ACTIVTY 2 Comprehension Check

Choose the letter that best answers the question or completes the statement.

1. One of the reasons that “Arachne” is considered a myth is that it includes

a. gods and what they do.
b. a contest between rivals.
c. the sudden appearance of a marvel.
d. a conflict between characters.
2. Many people who came to watch Arachne wondered if the goddess Athene had taught her to weave. Arachne’s
reaction to this wonderment suggests that she feels
a. angry
b. confident
c. surprised
d. worried
3. When Athene and Arachne compete in a weaving contest, it is part of the story’s
a. climax

b. rising action

c. falling action

d. exposition

4. Why was Athene angry at the progress she saw on Arachne’s loom?

a. The images were an insult to the god.

b. It was evident that Arachne was beating Athene in the competition.

c. She did not realize Arachne was so skilled.

d. The colors used were Athene’s least favorite colors.

5. Which sentence from the story is the climax?

a. “…they remembered the contest with Athene and thought it was not right for even the best of men to claim
equality with the gods.”

b. “At these words, the old woman threw down her staff and stood erect.”

c. “Never before had Arachne been matched against anyone whose skill was equal, or even nearly equal to her own.”

d. “ ‘Live on, wicked girl…Live on and spin, both you and your descendents.’”
6. This story suggests that Arachne is best remembered for

a. her great weaving abilities

b. starting from humble beginnings

c. being punished for claiming equality to the gods

d. being a spider
Part 2 – Short Answer

[1] A. Identify a character trait of Arachne.

foolish

determined

prideful

confident

B. Support your answer in part A with evidence from the text.

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[3] Identify an important conflict in the story. Who is it between? Why is this conflict important to the plot (story)?

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[4] Reread lines 46-52. How does the information help establish the conflict of the story?

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[5] Describe the setting. How is this setting important to the plot (story)?

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