The Art of the Game: Holden’s Greatest Performance
SETTING: A brightly lit middle school gymnasium that has been converted into a theater for the annual 'Living History' showcase. A single basketball hoop stands at the far end of the stage. A rack of basketballs and a vintage red jersey with the number 23 are the only props.
CHARACTERS:
HOLDEN: A ten-year-old student, known for his academic brilliance, who has spent months researching the life and mindset of Michael Jordan.
MR. STERLING: The drama and speech coach, who is both supportive and rigorous in his expectations.
[The stage is quiet except for the rhythmic thud-thud-thud of a basketball. HOLDEN is wearing the red jersey, which is slightly too large for him. He is dribbling with an intensity that seems beyond his years. MR. STERLING enters from the wings, holding a clipboard.]
MR. STERLING: We are exactly twenty minutes from the doors opening, Holden. I see you’ve already found your rhythm. How is the internal monologue? Are you still thinking like a fifth grader, or have you found the frequency of the G.O.A.T.?
- Synthesis:
- The act of combining different ideas or information into a single new idea.
- Cadence:
- The flow or rhythm of a person's voice as they speak.
- Monologue:
- A long speech given by a single character in a play or performance.
- Resonant:
- Having a deep, clear, and powerful sound that carries well.
- Legacy:
- The long-lasting impact or reputation left behind by a person's actions.
- inevitable:
- Certain to happen and impossible to prevent or avoid.
- trajectory:
- The curved path that an object follows as it moves through the air.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What is the setting for the reader's theater performance in the passage?
- 2Which legendary basketball player has Holden been researching for his role?
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About this reader's theater passage for 7th Grade
“The Art of the Game: Holden’s Greatest Performance” is a reader's theater reading passage about Excellence, written for 7th Grade. It takes about 7 minutes to read (1,052 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.