No Circulars

No Circulars

Pencil and paper
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Further Resources
This task is about reading a play to find information and make inferences.
Read pages 12 and 13 of the play "No Circulars" School Journal Part 3, Number 2, 1993 to help answer these questions. 
 
a)
How many characters speak in this part of the play? __________  
 
b)
What was Dad talking about at the start of the play when he said,
"There! Ready at last. And a pretty good job too ..."?
 
 
 
c) What was "...the finishing touch"? __________________________________
 
d)
 
 How did Dad plan to stop junk mail being delivered to their house?

 
 
 
e)
Read this piece of the play:
 
 
SAM
 
DAD
But Dad, what about fast food vouchers – all those cheap takeaways?
 
That's too bad – just like takeaways. (To himself.)
Now let's see, where should I stick the sign?
He tries it above and below the opening.
 
Meanwhile, RUTH enters.
 
  Why have the two parts been written in italic print?

 
 
 
f) How did Dad suggest the family could find out about specials at the hardware shop after the 'No Circulars' sign went on the new letterbox

 
 
 
g) The last word Mum said on page 13 was "Rubbish". How does this fit with the title of the play?

 
 
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper.
Copyright: 
No Circulars -  Text was first published by Learning Media Limited on behalf of the Ministry of Education ©Bill Nagelkerke, Illustrations Copyright © Crown, 1989. Reproduced with permission.
 
Source: School Journal, Part 3, No 2, Learning Media, 1993.
Level:
3
Curriculum info: 
English, Making meaning, Reading
Key Competencies: 
Thinking, Using language, symbols, and texts
Keywords: 
play, comprehension, School Journal, retrieve, inference, SJ-3-2-1993
Description of task: 
Students read part of a play called 'No Circulars' and then answer retrieval and and inferential questions. The play is reproduced in the Teacher information pages. SJ-3-2-1993. Text provided.
Curriculum Links: 
Links to the Literacy Learning Progressions for Reading:
This resource helps to identify students’ ability to:

  • use comprehension strategies
  • infer ideas and information that are not directly stated in the text

as described in the Literacy Learning Progressions for Reading at: http://www.literacyprogressions.tki.org.nz/The-Structure-of-the-Progressions.
 

Answers/responses: 
 

Y7 (03/1999)
a) four very easy
b) The new letterbox. difficult
c) The 'No Circulars' sign. easy
d) By putting the 'No Circulars' sign on the new letterbox. very easy
e) To show that they are a direction for the actors/not spoken text. moderate
f) By reading the newspaper. easy
g) Any 1 of:

  • The play is about circulars/junk mail which may be considered rubbish.
  • Mum doesn't think the 'No Circulars' sign will work.
 moderate