Question 1: Identify one example of hyperbole in the passage and explain its effect.

Answer: Example: 'people were so thirsty they could drink entire rivers in a single gulp'; it emphasizes extreme thirst and adds humor.

Question 2: Find an understatement in the passage. How does it influence the tone?

Answer: Example: 'he refused to eat anything at all'; it downplays the hunger, creating a humorous or ironic tone.

Question 3: How does hyperbole affect the reader's perception of the heatwave?

Answer: It makes the heat seem overwhelming and intense, increasing the reader's sense of discomfort.

Question 4: Analyze how understatement helps to create humor or irony in the passage.

Answer: See full answer key

Question 5: Identify two literary techniques used in the passage besides hyperbole and understatement and explain their effect.

Answer: Possible techniques include irony and exaggeration; they create humor and emphasize feelings.

Question 6: Create a short paragraph (5-7 sentences) using hyperbole and understatement to describe a school day. Ensure your writing clearly demonstrates both techniques.

Answer: See full answer key

Question 7: In the paragraph you just wrote, identify one hyperbole and one understatement, and explain how each contributes to the overall tone.

Answer: Hyperbole: [student's example], emphasizes the extreme nature of the event. Understatement: [student's example], creates humor or irony.

Question 8: Reflect on a time when exaggeration or underplaying was used effectively in a story or speech you have encountered. Briefly describe the context and its impact.

Answer: Personal response encouraging critical thinking about real-life examples.