Name Date

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Act III, by William Shakespeare

Reading Warm-up B
Read the following passage. Pay special attention to the underlined words. Then, read it again,
and complete the activities. Use a separate sheet of paper for your written answers.

Countless stories have centered around the predicament 1. Underline the phrase describ-
of individuals torn between family or friends and the person ing the predicament charac-
they love. It is not a universal problem. Many happy couples ters face in many stories. Circle
the phrase that is a clue to the
all over the world meet and fall in love without a hitch. None-
meaning of predicament.
theless, it is an ageless problem and it can happen to rich
and poor alike. 2. Underline the words that
The conflict between loyalty and love is central to the explain why this predica-
musical West Side Story. This modern version of Romeo ment is not universal. Name a
problem or issue that you
and Juliet depicts the struggle between rival gangs of think is universal and explain
poor teens on the west side of Manhattan, in New York your choice.
City. The Jets are the established gang. The Sharks are
the newcomers. The unruly gangs clash over who will 3. Circle a word that gives a
control the streets. Their violent battles create deep clue to the meaning of
hatred between them. unruly. Give a synonym, or
word with a similar meaning,
True to Shakespeare’s story, the musical brings for unruly.
together two characters who share a mild disposition and
whose behavior tends to be more tolerant than that of 4. Underline the phrase that
their friends. Tony is a member of the Jets and Maria is gives a clue to the meaning
of disposition. Describe the
the sister of the leader of the Sharks. They meet at a high
disposition of a person or
school dance. In the garish setting of a brightly colored animal you know.
but crudely decorated gym, they immediately fall in love.
Like Romeo and Juliet, Tony and Maria must keep their 5. Underline the phrase that
love a secret. They know they are being disobedient and explains the meaning of garish.
not following the rules of the streets where they live. Give a synonym for garish.
West Side Story takes its plot from the tragic series of 6. Underline the phrase that
events in Shakespeare’s play. A calamity is in store for gives the meaning of
Tony and Maria. That terrible and unexpected event disobedient. Give a syn-
occurs during a fight between the Sharks and the Jets. onym for disobedient.
Maria’s brother kills Tony’s best friend. Then, Tony kills
7. Underline the phrase that
Maria’s brother. gives the meaning of calamity.
However, a change from Shakespeare’s ending helps Give a synonym for calamity.
West Side Story teach a lesson about the senselessness of What calamity takes place in
violence and hatred. From these vile activities and awful West Side Story?
deaths come understanding and the hopeful message
8. Circle the word that is a clue
that differences can always be bridged. to the meaning of vile. Give
an antonym, or word with the
opposite meaning, for vile.

Unit 5 Resources: Drama

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