That's Pretty Clever! Characters in The Number Devil
Read the excerpt from The Number Devil. "By the way, the reverse is true as well," the number devil added. "The reverse? What do you mean?" "Simple," said the number devil with a grin. "Just as there are infinitely large numbers, there are infinitely small numbers. And an infinite number of infinitely small numbers." And so saying, he twirled his walking stick like a propeller in Robert's face. I'm starting to feel dizzy, thought Robert. It was the same feeling he'd had on the slide. "Stop!" he shouted. "Why so jittery, Robert?" asked the number devil. "It's perfectly harmless."
What is the number devil trying to accomplish? He is trying to make fun of Robert's limited math knowledge.
Read the excerpt from "The Story of the Three Little Pigs." Once upon a time, there was an old Sow with three little Pigs, and as she had not enough to keep them, she sent them out to seek their fortune. The first that went off met a Man with a bundle of straw, and said to him, "Please, Man, give me that straw to build me a house"; which the Man did, and the little Pig built a house with it. Presently came along a Wolf, and knocked at the door, and said, "Little Pig, little Pig, let me come in." To which the Pig answered, "No, no, by the hair of my chinny chin chin." "Then I'll huff and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in!" said the Wolf. So he huffed and he puffed, and he blew his house in and ate up the little Pig.
Who is the antagonist? the Wolf
Which statement correctly describes the characters in The Number Devil?
The number devil's character is used to challenge Robert's ideas.
Which of the number devil's statements from The Number Devil best reveals that the author's purpose is to inform?
"There's an infinite number of numbers."
Which excerpt from The Number Devil best conveys that the author's purpose for writing is to entertain?
"Wrong!" the number devil shouted, his mustache quivering, his eyes bulging, and his face turning red with rage.
Which statement from The Number Devil best reveals that the author is using the number devil's character to promote a positive view of mathematics?
"You need one thing and one thing only: one. With one—I am speaking of the numeral, of course—you can do almost anything."
Read the excerpt from "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp." But far away in Africa, the magician remembered Aladdin, and by his magic arts discovered that Aladdin, instead of perishing miserably in the cave, had escaped, and had married a princess, with whom he was living in great honor and wealth. He knew that the poor tailor's son could only have accomplished this by means of the lamp, and traveled night and day till he reached the capital of China, bent on Aladdin's ruin. . . . He was determined to get hold of the lamp, and again plunge Aladdin into the deepest poverty.
Who is the antagonist? the magician
Read the excerpt from "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp." But far away in Africa, the magician remembered Aladdin, and by his magic arts discovered that Aladdin, instead of perishing miserably in the cave, had escaped, and had married a princess, with whom he was living in great honor and wealth. He knew that the poor tailor's son could only have accomplished this by means of the lamp, and traveled night and day till he reached the capital of China, bent on Aladdin's ruin. . . . He was determined to get hold of the lamp, and again plunge Aladdin into the deepest poverty.
Who is the protagonist? Aladdin
Read the excerpt from "The Story of the Three Little Pigs." Once upon a time, there was an old Sow with three little Pigs, and as she had not enough to keep them, she sent them out to seek their fortune. The first that went off met a Man with a bundle of straw, and said to him, "Please, Man, give me that straw to build me a house"; which the Man did, and the little Pig built a house with it. Presently came along a Wolf, and knocked at the door, and said, "Little Pig, little Pig, let me come in." To which the Pig answered, "No, no, by the hair of my chinny chin chin." "Then I'll huff and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in!" said the Wolf. So he huffed and he puffed, and he blew his house in and ate up the little Pig.
Who is the protagonist? the little Pig
Which of Robert's actions in The Number Devil best reveals that the author's purpose is to entertain?
having a conversation with an imaginary number devil
