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TDQs

In This Blind Alley 1







TDQs
In This Blind Alley

TDQs In This Blind Alley 2







Vocabulary-Based TDQs

TEXT TDQ WRITING PRACTICE

In This Blind Alley Prep Questions:


by Ahmad Shamlu What is the central idea/theme of this passage?

They smell your mouth
Lest you've told someone 'I love you.'
They smell your heart
These are strange times, my dear
Love, What vocabulary words do you think are most important to
they drag out under lampposts the central idea/theme?
to thrash.
Love must be hid in closets at home.
In the cold of this blind alley
They keep their fires ablaze
Suggested Question Stems:
burning our anthems and poems.
What specific word choice or phrase in the text develops your
Do not venture to think.
understanding of the central idea?
These are strange times, my dear
He who pounds on the door in the nighttime

Has come to kill the light.
Light must be hid in closets at home.
Lo! the butchers
stationed on roads
with chopping-board and cleaver soaked in blood
These are strange times, my dear
They slit smiles off of lips
And song from the throat.
Joy must be hid in closets at home. Practice Question W riting:
Canaries are being roasted
on a spit of lilacs and jasmine
These are strange times, my dear
Satan, triumph-drunk
Feasts at a table spread with our mourning
God must be hid in closets at home.

TDQs In This Blind Alley 3







Central Idea/Thematic TDQs


TEXT TDQ WRITING PRACTICE

In This Blind Alley Prep Questions:


by Ahmad Shamlu What is the central idea/theme of this passage?

They smell your mouth
Lest you've told someone 'I love you.'
They smell your heart
These are strange times, my dear
Love, What lines/sections of this text do you think are most
they drag out under lampposts important to the central idea/theme?
to thrash.
Love must be hid in closets at home. Suggested Question Stem s:
In the cold of this blind alley Identify two specific word choices in the text and explain how
They keep their fires ablaze these words contribute to the overall theme/central idea.
burning our anthems and poems.
Do not venture to think.
These are strange times, my dear
He who pounds on the door in the nighttime
Has come to kill the light.
Light must be hid in closets at home.
Lo! the butchers
stationed on roads
with chopping-board and cleaver soaked in blood
These are strange times, my dear
They slit smiles off of lips Practice Question W riting:
And song from the throat.
Joy must be hid in closets at home.
Canaries are being roasted
on a spit of lilacs and jasmine
These are strange times, my dear
Satan, triumph-drunk
Feasts at a table spread with our mourning
God must be hid in closets at home.

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Multiple Choice Question Stems


Aligned by Standard

Extracted from the June 2014, August 2014, and January 2015 NYS Common Core Regents Exams

RI.2 RI.3 RI.4 RI.5 RI.6

Which statement The authors The speaker repeats The primary purpose The references to
from the text best anecdote about the word of lines ___ through ___in lines ___
summarizes the ___serves to ___throughout the ___is to clarify the through
central idea introduce a ___in order to ___contribute to the
The authors authors purpose by
With which How do lines ___ What effect is reference to ___is suggesting that
statement would the through ___develop created by the use of used to help clarify
author of this text a claim? irony in line___ and The function of lines
most likely agree? lines ___through___? The authors attempt ___ through ___is to
The reference to to engage the
With which ___in lines audience through the Lines ___ through
statement would the ___through ___is use of___ ___establish a___
authors most likely used to emphasize
agree? the questioning of The speakers use of
our [literary element] in
The central idea of lines ___and
the ___paragraph Which statement ___serves to
focuses on the best clarifies the represent the
sentence in lines ___-
Which statement ___?
from the text best
summarizes the The speakers
central idea of attitude in lines ___
paragraph___? through ___can be
best described as
Which statement
best summarizes the Which purpose is not
central claim made in referenced in the ___
lines ___through___?

TDQs In This Blind Alley 5









The description of The examples
___in lines ___ presented in lines___
through through ___help the
___emphasizes the reader understand
idea of

RL.2 RL.3 RL.4 RL.5 RL.6

The sentence In this passage, the Lines __ through __ The comparison in The poets purpose in
___contributes to conversation suggest that the lines __and __ the poem can best be
the central theme between ___and ___people emphasizes the described as
by? ___(lines___
through___) serves Which word best The author Why does
As used on Line ( ) to describes the structures the text <character> not
the phrase narrators tone___ around references character
___means that Which analysis is to___ thought/dialogue in
things are___ best supported by The reference to line___
the details in [characters] The narrators
The primary function lines___ through descriptive trait and purpose <in the first Lines ___through
of lines ___is to___ ___of the text? descriptive trait in stanza> is to ___illustrate the
line ___reveals his/her narrators belief that
Which quotation The authors What is the effect of __
best reflects a description of the The phrase ___ (line) withholding ___
central theme in the conversation emphasizes the The authors
text? between ___and___ narrators What is most likely description of
in lines ___through not a purpose of the ___stresses the___
___serves mostly to How do the words repetition of the
(line), ___ (line), phrase ___?
The conversation and ___ (line)
with___ (lines___ advance the authors
through___) leaves purpose
the narrator with a
sense of
The narrator
The ___references views ___ as___(lin
throughout the e ) because the
poem serve to narrator wishes to
The prevailing tone of
the poem is__

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L.4 L.4A L.5

Overall, the authors view of the Which phrase from the text clarifies The Authors use of figurative
people could be best described as___ the meaning of ___ as used in language ___serves to emphasize a
line___? sense of___
As used in line ___the word ___is
closest in meaning to (a)___ Which words from the speech help What is the effect of the simile___
the reader understand the meaning of
As used in line ___what does the ___ as used in line ___ [a characters] reaction to ___in lines
word ___mean? __reflects his___

In line ___the phrase ___is used by
the narrator to describe her___

The words__(line) imply that

The purpose of the figurative
language in lines ___and ___is to

The details in lines ___-___ contribute
to the speakers purpose by___

TDQs In This Blind Alley 7







Multiple- Choice Item Writing Form

WHAT DOES THE STUDENT NEED TO STANDARD ALIGNED QUESTION


ASSESSED STANDARD(S):
KNOW TO ANSWER? STEM(S):

TEXT EVIDENCE FOR OPTIONS (PARAGRAPH, LINE, OR PHRASE) AND IDENTIFY THE KEY:

1) 2) 3) 4)

WRITE YOUR NEW QUESTION BELOW:

TDQs In This Blind Alley 8

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