Some Of US Had Been Threatening Our Friend Colby

1. What is notable about Howard's injunction to Colby to "Be reasonable"?

This statement identifies Howard as the fairest individual in the group of friends.

This statement highlights Colby’s traits that leads to his punishment, meriting his death.

This statement is ironic because the group’s decision to execute Colby is unreasonable.

This statement is said at the beginning of the story, setting up the increasingly ridiculous decisions in the event-planning process.

The statement "Be reasonable" is ironic because it contrasts with the group's decision to execute Colby, which is deemed unreasonable. This suggests that Howard recognizes the absurdity of the situation and is emphasizing the group's lack of rationality.

Explanation

The statement "Be reasonable" is ironic because it contrasts with the group's decision to execute Colby, which is deemed unreasonable. This suggests that Howard recognizes the absurdity of the situation and is emphasizing the group's lack of rationality.

2. (RL.1.1) The narrator omits details about the specific cause of Colby's punishment. What effect does this withholding of information create in the text?

The omission creates understatement

The omission creates mystery

The omission creates satire

The omission creates irony.

The omission of details about the specific cause of Colby's punishment creates mystery in the text. By not revealing the specific reason for Colby's punishment, the narrator leaves the reader curious and wanting to know more. This creates a sense of intrigue and suspense, as the reader is left wondering what Colby did to deserve punishment.

Explanation

The omission of details about the specific cause of Colby's punishment creates mystery in the text. By not revealing the specific reason for Colby's punishment, the narrator leaves the reader curious and wanting to know more. This creates a sense of intrigue and suspense, as the reader is left wondering what Colby did to deserve punishment.

3. (R.L.2.6)
How does the author's use of the absurd reflect the purpose of the story?

It highlights the need for additional death penalty laws

It intensifies the debate with death penalty law we have in our society.

It reassures people that the death penalty is the best solutions that we currently have in our legal system.

It illustrates the fact that the death penalty may just not be the only solution we have in a democracy.

The author's use of the absurd in the story intensifies the debate with the death penalty law in our society. By presenting absurd situations or scenarios, the author challenges the reader to question the effectiveness and morality of the death penalty. This can lead to a deeper examination of the issues surrounding capital punishment and encourage a more critical and informed discussion on the topic.

Explanation

The author's use of the absurd in the story intensifies the debate with the death penalty law in our society. By presenting absurd situations or scenarios, the author challenges the reader to question the effectiveness and morality of the death penalty. This can lead to a deeper examination of the issues surrounding capital punishment and encourage a more critical and informed discussion on the topic.

4. (RL 2.5)
What best explains the author's purpose for excluding the description of what it meant for the characters to "go too far".

The characters' suggest what he did to “go too far”.

It is generally understood what it means to “go too far”.

The characters’ response to the action is more important than the action itself.

It is generally understood that death is always the consequence of “going too far”.

The author's purpose for excluding the description of what it meant for the characters to "go too far" is because the characters' response to the action is more important than the action itself. By focusing on the characters' reactions, the author can explore the emotional and psychological impact of "going too far" rather than simply describing the act itself. This allows for a deeper understanding of the characters and their motivations, and adds complexity to the story.

Explanation

The author's purpose for excluding the description of what it meant for the characters to "go too far" is because the characters' response to the action is more important than the action itself. By focusing on the characters' reactions, the author can explore the emotional and psychological impact of "going too far" rather than simply describing the act itself. This allows for a deeper understanding of the characters and their motivations, and adds complexity to the story.

5. (RL 2.5)
What is the primary function of the closing sentences?

"The two things I remember best about the whole episode are the grateful look Colby gave me when I said what I said about the wire, and the fact that nobody has ever gone too far again".

The closing sentences of the passage suggest that the narrator starts to sympathize with Colby as he expresses gratitude towards the narrator. This gratitude humanizes Colby in the eyes of the narrator, leading to a shift in the narrator's perspective. However, any doubts the narrator may have had about the moral validity of their actions are immediately silenced as the results of the punishment demonstrate the effectiveness of the system. The closing sentences highlight the conflicting emotions of sympathy and validation that the narrator experiences towards Colby and the justice system.

Explanation

The closing sentences of the passage suggest that the narrator starts to sympathize with Colby as he expresses gratitude towards the narrator. This gratitude humanizes Colby in the eyes of the narrator, leading to a shift in the narrator's perspective. However, any doubts the narrator may have had about the moral validity of their actions are immediately silenced as the results of the punishment demonstrate the effectiveness of the system. The closing sentences highlight the conflicting emotions of sympathy and validation that the narrator experiences towards Colby and the justice system.

6. (RL.1.2)
Which of the following is not a major theme in the story?

The harm inflicted by friends who wish to help.

Intentional ostracism of someone based on arbitrary factors.

The danger in creating a social structure based on relative moral codes

The triumph and honor in accepting negative consequences.

The correct answer is The triumph and honor in accepting negative consequences. This answer is not a major theme in the story because the other options focus on different aspects of the story. The first option highlights the harm caused by well-meaning friends, the second option mentions intentional ostracism, and the third option discusses the danger of creating a social structure based on relative moral codes. However, the story does not emphasize the theme of triumph and honor in accepting negative consequences.

Explanation

The correct answer is The triumph and honor in accepting negative consequences. This answer is not a major theme in the story because the other options focus on different aspects of the story. The first option highlights the harm caused by well-meaning friends, the second option mentions intentional ostracism, and the third option discusses the danger of creating a social structure based on relative moral codes. However, the story does not emphasize the theme of triumph and honor in accepting negative consequences.

7. Select two phrases from the passage below that best support the idea that Colby's friends are actually the ones that go too far.

Then the question of the hangman came up. Pete said did we really need a hangman? Because if we used a tree, the noose could be adjusted to the appropriate level and Colby could just jump off something -- a chair or stool or something. Besides, Pete said, he very much doubted if there were any free-lance hangmen wandering around the country, now that capital punishment has been done away with absolutely, temporarily, and that we'd probably have to fly one in from England or Spain or one of the South American countries, and even if we did that how could we know in advance that the man was a professional, a real hangman, and not just some money-hungry amateur who might bungle the job and shame us all, in front of everybody?

Capital punishment has been done away with absolutely

We'd probably have to fly one in from England or Spain or one of the South American countries

Then the question of the hangman came up

The phrases "capital punishment has been done away with absolutely" and "Then the question of the hangman came up" support the idea that Colby's friends are the ones going too far. The mention of capital punishment being abolished indicates that they are discussing a method of execution for Colby, which suggests their extreme actions. Additionally, the fact that they are considering the need for a hangman and the logistics of flying one in from another country further emphasizes their excessive and extreme behavior.

Explanation

The phrases "capital punishment has been done away with absolutely" and "Then the question of the hangman came up" support the idea that Colby's friends are the ones going too far. The mention of capital punishment being abolished indicates that they are discussing a method of execution for Colby, which suggests their extreme actions. Additionally, the fact that they are considering the need for a hangman and the logistics of flying one in from another country further emphasizes their excessive and extreme behavior.

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