Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was born on September 15, 1977, in Enugu, Nigeria. From an early age, Chimamanda was an avid reader, especially of books written by fellow Nigerian author, Chinua Achebe. Despite her early passion for literature, she did not initially want to be a writer. At first, she studied medicine in Nigeria and then decided to move to the United States to study communication and political science. It was not until attending graduate school that Chimamanda majored in creative writing.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is now a famous author. One of her most popular novels is called Half of a Yellow Sun, which was published in 2006. It has since been adapted into a movie. This novel tells the story of three characters before and during Nigeria’s Biafran War. This was a civil war that caused horrible famine throughout the country.
One of Chimamanda’s more recent novels called Americanah focuses on a Nigerian girl’s experience studying at an American college. While the protagonist’s journey seems similar to Chimamanda’s own journey, the author denies that she was writing about her own experience.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has already won numerous awards for her writing. Currently, she lives part of the year in Nigeria and part of the year in the United States.
Making the Team
Tick-tock. Tick-tock.
Andreas watched the clock. It seemed to be moving very slowly. This was his last class of the day—biology. Usually, Andreas liked biology. He liked learning about all of the different plants. He liked understanding how animals survived in the wild. Usually, Andreas didn’t want biology class to end. But today was different. Today there were tryouts for the basketball team after school.
There was only one thing that Andreas liked more than science: basketball. Andreas had been practicing for months. His parents had put a basketball hoop in the backyard. Every night after dinner, Andreas went outside and practiced his shots. He loved the feeling of the basketball in his hands and the sound the ball made when it sailed through the net. Swish! Andreas thought it was the best sound in the world.
“Psst! Andreas!”
Andreas’s best friend, Tyrell, was trying to get his attention.
“I feel like this class will never end,” said Tyrell.
“I know,” said Andreas. “I’m so nervous.”
“You shouldn’t be nervous,” said Tyrell. “You’re the tallest kid in fourth grade.”
“Height doesn’t matter,” said Andreas. “What matters is if you can play the game. You’re a much better shooter than I am.”
Tyrell and Andreas had been best friends since kindergarten. Tyrell loved basketball, too, but his favorite team was the New York Knicks. Andreas’s favorite team was the Chicago Bulls. The only time Tyrell and Andreas fought was when the Knicks were playing the Bulls. Tyrell was also trying out for the basketball team that afternoon. Andreas was glad he’d have his best friend by his side.
Suddenly the bell rang and class was over. Andreas and Tyrell walked down to the gym. When they got there, Andreas’s heart sank. There were at least 60 boys crowded onto the bleachers.
“Oh no,” said Tyrell. “I never imagined there would be so many kids trying out for the basketball team.”
Andreas knew the basketball team only had room for 20 people. That meant two-thirds of the kids there wouldn’t make the team. Andreas and Tyrell looked at each other. What if only one of them made the team? That would be worse than not making the team at all.
The coach blew a whistle and the tryouts began. Andreas and Tyrell were separated into different groups. First Andreas ran sprints across the gym, over and over until his legs felt weak, and he was out of breath. Then, the coaches divided them into teams to play against one another. As soon as he felt his hands on the basketball, Andreas felt better. This was why he loved the game. All the nights of practicing paid off as he took shots from the 3-point line. Swish! Swish! Not all of the shots went in, but a lot of them did.
Tyrell was waiting outside when the tryouts were over.
“How did it go?” Andreas asked.
“I don’t know… I think it went alright,” said Tyrell. “The coach said he’s posting a list of who made the team tomorrow before school. So I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”
Andreas felt his stomach tighten. He knew he had played well, but was it good enough?
“It’s okay,” said Tyrell. Tyrell had known Andreas for so long that he could see when Andreas was upset. “I’m sure you made it. I just don’t know if I did.”
“Playing on the basketball team wouldn’t be any fun without you,” said Andreas.
They walked the rest of the way home in silence.
The next morning Andreas couldn’t eat any of his breakfast. “Can we go to school early today?” he asked his mother. “I can’t wait anymore.”
His mother nodded and reached for the car keys. Five minutes later, Andreas was standing in front of the gym. He looked at the list. Tyrell’s name was at the very top—he had made it! Andreas’s eyes moved down the list, slowly, reading every name. His eyes began to sting. He didn’t see his name anywhere.
“Andreas!” He heard Tyrell’s happy voice. “We made it!”
“What do you mean?” asked Andreas. “My name’s not on there.”
“Yes it is! Didn’t you look at the second sheet?” asked Tyrell.
Andreas looked back at the list. Tyrell was right; there was a second sheet of paper underneath. Andreas lifted up the first sheet of paper and saw his name at the very top. He turned and gave Tyrell a high-five. They were going to be on the basketball team together.
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əˈlɪsə ænd hɜr mɑm goʊ tu ðə dɪˈpɑrtmənt stɔr tu gɛt hɜr nu kloʊðz. ðeɪ wɔk pæst ðə bɔɪz ˈsɛkʃən. əˈlɪsə siz ə baʊ taɪ. ɪt hæz blu ænd pɪŋk straɪps, ænd taɪz əˈraʊnd ðə nɛk. əˈlɪsə laɪks ɪt. noʊ, ʃi lʌvz ɪt!
“ɪz ðæt jʊər dædz?” ˈɑˌveɪd sɛz, ˈpɔɪntɪŋ tu əˈlɪsəz nu baʊ taɪ.
“waɪ?” əˈlɪsə æsks. “ɪts ə baʊ. ænd ɪts ˈprɪti.”
“bʌt baʊ taɪz ɑr fɔr bɔɪz!” ˈɑˌveɪd sɛz.
naʊ ʃi ɪz ˈrɪli ɪmˈbɛrəst. ɔl ðə nu kɪdz wɪl θɪŋk ʃiz dʌm fɔr ˈwɛrɪŋ ə baʊ taɪ. ʃi wɪl æsk ðə ˈtiʧər wɛn ʃi gɛts tu skul tu hɛlp hɜr teɪk ɪt ɔf.
əˈlɪsə ɪz ɪkˈsaɪtəd fɔr hɜr fɜrst deɪ ʌv skul. ˈsʌmər wʌz fʌn, bʌt ʃi ˈɔlˌweɪz laɪks ɪt wɛn skul stɑrts əˈgɛn ɪn sɛpˈtɛmbər. ðɛr wɪl ˈprɑbəbli bi nu kɪdz ɪn hɜr klæs. əˈlɪsə laɪks ˈmeɪkɪŋ nu frɛndz.
əˈlɪsə θɪŋks ə lɑt əˈbaʊt wʌt ʃi wɑnts tu wɛr ɑn ðə fɜrst deɪ ʌv skul. hɜr mɑm ænd dæd seɪ fɜrst ɪmˈprɛʃənz ɑr ɪmˈpɔrtənt, soʊ əˈlɪsə wɑnts tu lʊk naɪs.
əˈlɪsə ænd hɜr mɑm goʊ tu ðə dɪˈpɑrtmənt stɔr tu gɛt hɜr nu kloʊðz. ðeɪ wɔk pæst ðə bɔɪz ˈsɛkʃən. əˈlɪsə siz ə baʊ taɪ. ɪt hæz blu ænd pɪŋk straɪps, ænd taɪz əˈraʊnd ðə nɛk. əˈlɪsə laɪks ɪt. noʊ, ʃi lʌvz ɪt!
“mɑm, meɪ aɪ hæv ðæt?” əˈlɪsə sɛz, ˈpɔɪntɪŋ tu ðə baʊ taɪ.
“bʌt ðæts fɔr bɔɪz,” əˈlɪsəz mɑm sɛz.
“waɪ?” əˈlɪsə æsks. “ɪts ə baʊ. ænd ɪts ˈprɪti.”
“wɛl…” əˈlɪsəz mɑm sɛz. ʃi ɪz ˈθɪŋkɪŋ. əˈlɪsə ˈkrɔsɪz hɜr ˈfɪŋgərz.
“oʊkeɪ, aɪ gɛs wi kæn gɛt ɪt.”
əˈlɪsə ʤʌmps ʌp ænd daʊn ɪn ɪkˈsaɪtmənt. “jeɪ!”
ðeɪ pɪk ʌp ðə baʊ taɪ. əˈlɪsə ænd hɜr mɑm ˈɔlsoʊ pɪk aʊt ə waɪt drɛs wɪð ə ˈkɑlər wɪð ˈbʌtənz daʊn ðə frʌnt. ɪts sɔrt ʌv laɪk ə bɔɪz ʃɜrt, bʌt ə drɛs. əˈlɪsə θɪŋks ɪt wɪl lʊk kul wɪð ðə baʊ taɪ.
ɑn ðə ˈmɔrnɪŋ ʌv ðə fɜrst deɪ ʌv skul, əˈlɪsə ɪz ˈvɛri, ˈvɛri ɪkˈsaɪtəd. ʃi ˈhɑrdli its ˈɛni ʌv hɜr ˈbrɛkfəst, ˈivɪn ðoʊ hɜr dæd meɪd ˈwɑfəlz. hɜr dæd ʃoʊz hɜr haʊ tu taɪ ðə baʊ taɪ. ɪts ˈhɑrdər ðæn ˈtaɪɪŋ jʊər ʃu!
əˈlɪsəz dæd wɔks hɜr tu ðə bʌs stɑp. wɛn ðeɪ gɛt ðɛr, əˈlɪsəz frɛnd ˈɑˌveɪd ɪz ˈweɪtɪŋ ðɛr ɔlˈrɛdi wɪð hɜr mɑm.
“haɪ ˈɑˌveɪd!” əˈlɪsə sɛz. ʃiz ˈhæpi tu si hɜr frɛnd.
“ɪz ðæt jʊər dædz?” ˈɑˌveɪd sɛz, ˈpɔɪntɪŋ tu əˈlɪsəz nu baʊ taɪ.
“ʌm, noʊ,” əˈlɪsə sɛz. “ɪts maɪn!”
“bʌt baʊ taɪz ɑr fɔr bɔɪz!” ˈɑˌveɪd sɪz.
əˈlɪsə ɪz ɪmˈbɛrəst. ðæt ɪz wʌt hɜr mɑm sɛd, tu! ˈmeɪbi ʃi ˈʃʊdənt wɛr ðə baʊ taɪ. bʌt ʃi ˈɔlsoʊ ˈdʌzənt wɑnt tu teɪk ɪt ɔf ɪn frʌnt ʌv hɜr dæd. soʊ ʃi ʤʌst ʃrʌgz ænd sɛz ˈnʌθɪŋ.
ðə bʌs kʌmz, ænd əˈlɪsə ænd ˈɑˌveɪd gɛt ɑn. ðeɪ sɪt təˈgɛðər. əˈnʌðər ˈklæˌsmeɪt ˈtɑmi gɛts ɑn æt ðə nɛkst stɑp.
“baʊ taɪz ɑr fɔr bɔɪz!” ˈtɑmi sɛz. “doʊnt ju noʊ ðæt?”
“jɛs,” əˈlɪsə ˈmʌmbəlz.
naʊ ʃi ɪz ˈrɪli ɪmˈbɛrəst. ɔl ðə nu kɪdz wɪl θɪŋk ʃiz dʌm fɔr ˈwɛrɪŋ ə baʊ taɪ. ʃi wɪl æsk ðə ˈtiʧər wɛn ʃi gɛts tu skul tu hɛlp hɜr teɪk ɪt ɔf.
wɛn ðeɪ gɛt tu skul, əˈlɪsə ænd ˈɑˌveɪd wɔk əˈkrɔs ðə ˈpɑrkɪŋ lɑt təˈwɔrd ðə frʌnt dɔrz. əˈlɪsə hæz hɜr hɛd daʊn.
ˈsʌdənli, əˈlɪsə hirz, “ə baʊ taɪ! ðæts soʊ kul.” əˈlɪsə lʊks ʌp, ænd siz eɪ ˈsɛvənθ ˈgreɪdər ˈlʊkɪŋ æt hɜr.
“wʌt?” əˈlɪsə sɛz.
“aɪ laɪk jʊər baʊ taɪ!” ði ˈoʊldər gɜrl sɛz. “ɪt ɪz ˈvɛri kul. ju mʌst bi ˈvɛri kriˈeɪtɪv.”
əˈlɪsə ˈdʌzənt fil ɪmˈbɛrəst ˌɛniˈmɔr. ʃi laɪks ˈbiɪŋ kriˈeɪtɪv. ʃi kænt weɪt tu ʃoʊ hɜr baʊ taɪ tu hɜr ɑrt ˈtiʧər.
wɛn wʌn ʌv hɜr ˈklæˌsmeɪts sɛz, “baʊ taɪz ɑr fɔr bɔɪz,” əˈlɪsə sɛz, “baʊ taɪz ɑr fɔr ˈɛvriˌwʌn. əˈspɛʃli ɪf ju ɑr kriˈeɪtɪv, laɪk mi!”
ˈʤinə lʊks əˈraʊnd hɜr nu ˈbɛˌdrum. hɜr ˈfæməli bɑt ðɪs oʊld hoʊˈtɛl læst wik. ʃiz stɪl ˈgɛtɪŋ juzd tu ˈlɪvɪŋ hir. ðə sʌn ɪz ˈraɪzɪŋ, ænd ˈʤinə pʊlz ðə ˈkʌvərz ˈoʊvər hɜr hɛd.
ɑn hɜr ˈdrɛsər, ðɛrz ə ˈpɔrsələn dɑl ɪn ðə ʃeɪp ʌv ə fɑks. ɪts ˈmjuzɪkəl. ɪt pleɪz “ˈpitər ænd ðə wʊlf” wɛn ju wɪnd ə ki ɪn ðə bæk. ɪt keɪm wɪð ðə hoʊˈtɛl.
ˈʤinə ˈdrɛsəz hərˈsɛlf ɪn ʤinz ænd hɜr ˈfeɪvərɪt ˈswɛtˌʃɜrt. ðə hoʊˈtɛl ɪz ˈkwaɪət. ˈfɑðər ɪz ɔlˈrɛdi aʊt bæk. hiz ˈwɜrkɪŋ ɑn ˈfɪksɪŋ ðə hoʊˈtɛl soʊ ðæt gɛsts kæn steɪ ðɛr sun. ɪts taɪm tu hɛd tu skul.
æz ʃi livz, ʃi ˈnoʊtəsəz ən oʊld ˈbaɪsɪkəl ʃiz ˈnɛvər sin bɪˈfɔr ˈlaɪɪŋ ɪn ðə ˈdraɪˌvweɪ. ˈʤinə ʃrʌgz ænd ˈfɪgjərz ʃil gɛt tu skul ˈkwɪkər ðɪs weɪ. ʃi pʊts hɜr ˈskulˌbʊks ɪn ðə ˈbæskət ænd hɑps ɑn.
ðə hɪl ɪz stip ænd ˈrɑki. hɜr ˈbaɪsɪkəl ˈkwɪkli stɑrts ˈweɪvərɪŋ. ðə frʌnt ˈtaɪər ɪz ˈmuvɪŋ bæk ænd fɔrθ. ˈsʌdənli, ðə baɪk vɪrz ɔf ðə roʊd. ɪts æz ɪf ˈsʌmˌwʌn ɛls ɪz ˈstɪrɪŋ ðə baɪk. ænd ðɛn, ə ˈtʌmbəl! bæk ˈtaɪər ˈoʊvər frʌnt ˈtaɪər, hɜr bʊks flaɪ ʌp ɪn ði ɛr. ˈɛvriˌθɪŋ goʊz ˈflaɪɪŋ.
θʌd! hɜr ˈɪŋglɪʃ bʊk hɪts hɜr raɪt ɑn tɑp ʌv ðə hɛd. θʌd! θʌd! daʊn kʌmz mæθ ænd ðɛn baɪˈɑləʤi. (ˈθæŋkfəli, ðoʊz læst tu ɑr sɑftˈkʌvər bʊks!)
“woooʊʊʊ oʊʊ,” ʃi kraɪz, hɜr aɪz ˈroʊlɪŋ bæk ʌp ˈɪntu hɜr hɛd. ˈɛvriˌθɪŋ gɛts dɑrk ænd ˈdɪzi ænd filz laɪk ʃiz ˈspɪnɪŋ əˈraʊnd ɑn ə ˈkɛrəˌsɛl. pərˈhæps ʃi ɪz.
ˈʤinə laɪz daʊn ɪn ðə græs ænd fɔlz əˈslip fɔr ə waɪl. ɪts ˈstɑrtɪŋ tu gɛt dɑrk wɛn ʃi lɪfts hɜr hɛd. ðə bʊk ðæt hɪt hɜr ɑn ðə ˈtɛmpəl ɪz naʊ ˈlaɪɪŋ bɪˈloʊ hɜr laɪk ə ˈpɪloʊ. ʃi ridz ðə ˈtaɪtəl: ðə ˈkjʊriəs ˌsɪʧuˈeɪʃən ʌv ˈfɑksəz.
ðæts ˈfʌni, ˈʤinə θɪŋks. aɪ doʊnt rɪˈmɛmbər ˈteɪkɪŋ ðɪs bʊk aʊt ʌv ðə ˈlaɪˌbrɛri.
ʃiz ˈʃʊrli mɪst skul naʊ, ænd ðə ˈbaɪsɪkəl ɪz ˈnoʊˌwɛr tu bi sin. mʌst bi ˈlaɪɪŋ ɪn ə hip ɪn ðə ˈbræmbəlz. ʃi stændz ænd lʊks əˈraʊnd, ˈdʌstɪŋ ɔf hɜr ʤinz. ðɛrz ə bɪg hoʊl ɪn ðə sliv ʌv hɜr ˈfeɪvərɪt ˈswɛtˌʃɜrt!
ʃiz fɑr bɪˈhaɪnd ðə hoʊˈtɛl, səˈraʊndəd baɪ ˈblækˌbɛri ˈbʊʃəz. ðɛrz ə stoʊn wɔl ˈkʌvərd ɪn mɔs ænd ə ˈhɛvi grin dɔr wɪð ə ˈkɑpər ˈhændəl ɪn ðə ʃeɪp ʌv ə fɑks. ʃi ˈtʌʧəz ðə fɑks hɛd, ænd ðə dɔr ˈoʊpənz.
ʃi wɔks θru ðə dɔr ænd siz ðə frʌnt ʌv ðə hoʊˈtɛl. ænd ðɛrz ðə ˈbaɪsɪkəl! bʌt ðɪs kænt bi ði ˈɛntrəns tu ðə hoʊˈtɛl, kæn ɪt?
ʃi pɪrz daʊn ə lɔŋ ˈhɔlˌweɪ. ɪts ˈlɔŋgər ðæn ʃi rɪˈmɛmbərz. hɜr hɛd stɪl hɜrts frʌm ˈbiɪŋ hɪt soʊ hɑrd. ɪn hɜr hænd, ʃi ˈkæriz ðə bʊk ðæt əˈtækt hɜr frʌm ði ɛr. ʃi ˈtʌʧəz hɜr ˈfɔrhɛd ænd ˈwɪnsɪz.
“ʌg, aɪv gɑt ə lʌmp ɑn maɪ hɛd laɪk ə hɔrn!”
æt ði ɛnd ʌv ðə ˈhɔlˌweɪ ɪz ə rum ʃi hæz ˈnɛvər sin bɪˈfɔr. ʃi hirz ˈlæftər ænd ˈklɪŋkɪŋ ˈglæsəz, ænd siz ðə ˈflɪkər ʌv ə ˈrɔrɪŋ ˈfaɪərˌpleɪs.
ɪn ə streɪnʤ rum wɪð oʊk wɔlz ænd ˈtæpəstriz, θri ˈpipəl ɑr ˈpleɪɪŋ ə bɔrd geɪm. wʌn mən ɪz ˈwɛrɪŋ ə twid ˈʤækət ænd ə ˈmɑnəkəl. wʌn ˈwʊmən hæz ə ˈfɛðər ɪn hɜr hɛr. ði ˈʌðər ˈwʊmən wɛrz ə lɔŋ strɪŋ ʌv pɜrlz əˈraʊnd hɜr nɛk. ðeɪ lʊk laɪk goʊsts. ðeɪ drɪŋk ʃæmˈpeɪn ænd waɪt ti, ænd pæs əˈraʊnd ˈʧɛriz ɑn ə ˈsɪlvər ˈplætər.
“həˈloʊ, maɪ dɪr,” sɛz ðə ˈwʊmən ɪn ðə ˈnɛkləs ʌv pɜrlz. “ʤɔɪn ˈaʊər ˈpɑrti. doʊnt lʊk soʊ skɛrd.”
“hu ɑr ju, ænd haʊ dɪd ju gɛt ˈɪntu ðə hoʊˈtɛl?” ˈʤinə æsks.
“aɪ æm ˈmɛrələn,” ʃi sɛz. “ænd ðə jʌŋ ˈwʊmən wɪð ðə ˈfɛðər ɪn hɜr hɛr ɪz məˈlɪndə. wi hæv ˈɔlˌweɪz laɪvd hir.”
“ˈfɛstɪv ˈaʊtˌfɪt!” məˈlɪndə kwɪps.
ˈmɛrələn teɪks ˈʤinə baɪ ðə hænd ænd lidz hɜr tu ə ʧɛr. naʊ, ˈʤinə siz ðæt hɜr kloʊðz hæv ʧeɪnʤd. ʃi ɪz noʊ ˈlɔŋgər ˈwɛrɪŋ ðə ʤinz ænd ˈswɛtˌʃɜrt ʃi pʊt ɑn ˈɜrliər. ʃi ɪz ˈwɛrɪŋ ə rɛd ænd grin ˈpɑrti drɛs wɪð ə blæk ˈvɛlvət baʊ ɪn hɜr hɛr.
“ænd ˈfaɪnəli, ˈaʊər gɛst ɪz ɪn ˈmæʧɪŋ ˈhɑləˌdeɪ əˈtaɪər!” ʤoʊks məˈlɪndə.
ðə mən stændz ænd ˌɪntrəˈdusɪz hɪmˈsɛlf. hi ˈpleɪsəz wʌn hænd ɪn frʌnt ʌv hɪz ˈstʌmək ænd baʊz. “ˈmædəm ˈʤinə, əˈlaʊ mi tu ˌɪntrəˈdus ˌmaɪˈsɛlf. aɪ æm ðə fɑks ˈhʌntər noʊn æz ʤəˈrɑrd.”
“lʊk hir, ˈmɪstər. fɑks ˈhʌntər,” ˈʤinə sɛz. “wi du nɑt hʌnt ɔr hɜrt ˈfɑksəz ɪn maɪ ˈfæməli!”
“aɪ doʊnt hɜrt ðɛm! aɪ stʌf ðɛm ænd hæŋ ðɛm ɑn maɪ wɔl æz ɑrt!” hi ˈbɛloʊz. “ðə ˈfɑksəz ɑr raɪp fɔr ðə ˈpɪkɪŋ!”
bɪˈfɔr ˈʤinə kæn skoʊld hɪm fɔr ðɪs ˈtɛrəbəl ˈkɑmɛnt, ði oʊld, oʊk ˈlaɪˌbrɛri ʃɛlf bɪˈgɪnz tu stɜr.
“wʌt muvz bɪˈhaɪnd ðə ˈlɛðər-baʊnd ˈɑlməˌnæk?” æsks ðə fɑks ˈhʌntər.
ði ˈɑlməˌnæk bɪˈgɪnz tu ˈkwɪvər. ˈʤinə muvz ˈkloʊsər tu ðə ˈbʊkˌkeɪs tu ɪnˈspɛkt ðə ˈflʌtərɪŋ. æt ðɪs ˈmoʊmənt, ðə bʊk pɑps aʊt ʌv ðə ʃɛlf laɪk ə tɔɪ ɑn ə sprɪŋ! ænd wʌt əˈpɪrz ɪn ɪts pleɪs? nʌn ˈʌðər ðæn ə fɑks!
ðə fɑks wɪl nɑt rɪˈmeɪn stɪl, ˌhaʊˈɛvər. hi ɪz ˈrɪgəlɪŋ hɪmˈsɛlf fri. ˈfræntɪk ˈmuvmənts: ə hɑrd ˈbɛrɪŋ-daʊn ɑn hɪz frʌnt pɔz, ænd ən əˈkeɪʒənəl ˈgrʌntɪŋ.
ˈsʌdənli, ðə fɑks kʌmz ˈflaɪɪŋ aʊt ʌv ðə hoʊl ænd ʃuts laɪk ən ˈæroʊ əˈkrɔs ðə rum. hi lændz ɑn ə bɛr skɪn rʌg ænd fɔlz ˈɪntu ə dip slip.
əˈnʌðər fɑks əˈpɪrz! ði ˈænəməlz plʌg ðə raʊnd hoʊl ˈpɜrfəktli, laɪk ə sɑft, rɛd kɔrk!
“bʌt haʊ kæn ðɪs bi?” ˈʤinə rʌbz hɜr aɪz wɪð hɜr fɪst. “frʌm ə ˈlaɪˌbrɛri ʃɛlf?”
wɛn ðæt fɑks ʤʌmps aʊt, jɛt əˈnʌðər fɑks əˈpɪrz. ænd əˈgɛn. ˈfæstər ænd ˈfæstər. ðə hoʊl bɪˈkʌmz ə moʊˈmɛntəs blɜr ʌv ˈɔrənʤ ænd braʊn. ˈfɑksəz ɑr ˈbʌbəlɪŋ fɔrθ ɪn ə strim, laɪk ə ˈfɔsət ðæt woʊnt tɜrn ɔf. ɔl ʌv ðɛm ˈlændɪŋ ɑn ðə rʌg ɪn ə paɪl.
“ðə hoʊl,” ˈmɛrələn gæsps. “ɪts ə ˈpɔrtəl! ə ˈpɔrtəl tu ˈfɑksəz!”
ˌɔlˈðoʊ ju meɪ ɪˈmæʤən ˈaʊər grup tu bi ɪn ðə mɪdst ʌv ə kəˈmoʊʃən, ðə ˈfɑksəz ɑr ˈækʧuəli kwaɪt ˈdɑsəl. fɜrst, ðeɪ ʤʌmp frʌm ðə hoʊl ænd rʌn əˈraʊnd ðə rum. ˈkwɪkli, ðoʊ, ðɛr aɪz kloʊs ˈʤɛntli, ænd ðeɪ ˈsɛtəl daʊn æz ɪf fɔr ə lɔŋ ˈwɪntərz næp.
ðə flɔr, ˌhaʊˈɛvər, ɪz naʊ ˈnoʊˌwɛr tu bi sin. ˈfɑksəz ɑr ˈslipɪŋ ænd ˈsnɔrɪŋ ˈɛvriˌwɛr, wɪˈθaʊt ˈɛni rəˈgɑrd fɔr ˈmænərz.
“hɛlp! hɛlp!” kraɪz məˈlɪndə. ʃi ɪz træpt bɪˈniθ ə ˈfʌzi paɪl ʌv smɔl, ˈbeɪbi ˈfɑksəz ˈslipɪŋ ɔl əˈraʊnd hɜr ˈʃoʊldərz ænd hɛd.
“ˈtræʤədi! wʌt kæn wi du?” ðeɪ kraɪ.
ʤʌst naʊ, ˈʤinə rɪˈmɛmbərz ðə bʊk ɪn hɜr hænd: ðə ˈkjʊriəs ˌsɪʧuˈeɪʃən ʌv ˈfɑksəz. ʃi ˈoʊpənz tu ðə fɜrst peɪʤ ænd bɪˈgɪnz tu rid: “ˈʧæptər wʌn: ɪn keɪs ʌv ɪˈmɜrʤənsi. wʌt tu du wɛn ə fɑks ˈpɔrtəl ɪz ˈoʊpənd.”
məˈlɪndə θroʊz hɜr ɑrmz ɪn ði ɛr. “mrfn!” ʃi pʊlz ə ˈslipɪŋ ˈbeɪbi fɑks aʊt ʌv hɜr maʊθ. “rid ɪt!”
“wɛl, ɪt sɛz hir,” ˈʤinə ridz, “ðæt ði ʌn-ˈfɑksɪŋ spɛl mʌst bi ˈʧæntɪd ɪn ˈjunəsən. naʊ, ˈɛvriˌwʌn, traɪ jʊər bɛst tu græb iʧ ˈʌðərz hænd!”
“aɪ kænt riʧ!” ˈmɛrələn kraɪz.
“jɛs, ju kæn!” sɛz ðə fɑks ˈhʌntər. hi bɪˈgɪnz ˈswɪmɪŋ əˈraʊnd ðə rum. hi dʌz ðə ˈbækˌstroʊk θru ˈfɑksəz, ˈgæðərɪŋ ˈmɛrələn ænd məˈlɪndə ɪn iʧ ɑrm.
ˈmɛrələnz ˈdeɪnti ˈfɪŋgərz ræp əˈraʊnd ˈʤinəz hænd. ðeɪ ʧænt.
“ˈfɑksəz ʌv ˈneɪʧər, wi bɛg fɔr jʊər fərˈgɪvnəs ænd biˈsiʧ ði tu rɪˈtɜrn tu ðə ˈfɔrəst. ðɪs hoʊˈtɛl ɪz nɑt wɛr ju ʃʊd ˈhaɪbərˌneɪt!”
ˈʤinə ˈpɔzəz fɔr ə ˈsɛkənd, ænd ðɛn sɛz: “fɑksɛn bigɔnɛn ˈbɛnəˌdɪktɛn fɑksnoʊmɔr!”
ðɛr ɪz ə ˈlaɪtnɪŋ kræʃ ˈaʊtˈsaɪd ænd ɔl ðə ˈwɪndoʊz ˈrætəl. ænd ðɛn, ˈbækwərdz, ðə weɪ ðeɪ keɪm, ðə ˈfɑksəz ɑr sʌkt bæk ˈɪntu ðə ˈpɔrtəl. wʌn baɪ wʌn, teɪlz fɜrst ænd hɛdz læst. ðeɪ ɑr sʌkt bæk ˈɪntu ðə hoʊl, stɪl ˈslipɪŋ ˈsaʊndli, tu rɪˈtɜrn tu ˈoʊnli ðə ˈdɛvəl noʊz wɛr.
wɛn ðə læst fɑks ˌdɪsəˈpɪrz, ðə bʊk ɪn ˈʤinəz hænd bɪˈgɪnz tu ˈflʌtər. ɪts ˈbiɪŋ pʊld ˌʌnkənˈtroʊləbli təˈwɔrd ðə ˈpɔrtəl naʊ. ʃi ˈkænɑt kənˈtroʊl hɜr ɑrm, ɪf ʃi ˈdʌzənt lɛt goʊ, ʃil goʊ ˈflaɪɪŋ əˈkrɔs ðə rum. ænd ʃi dʌz!
“ˈɔɔɔɔɔɔ!” ˈʤinə skrimz, ˈbiɪŋ pʊld təˈwɔrd ðə hoʊl. ɪt filz laɪk hɜr ɑrm wɪl tɛr raɪt ɔf.
“lɛt goʊ ʌv ðə bʊk!” ˈʤinə hirz ə vɔɪs kraɪ. ænd ʃi dʌz ðæt, tu. ðə fɔrs ˈpʊlɪŋ hɜr ɪz riˈlist ænd hɜr ˈbɑdi stɑps mɪd-ɛr. ʃi fɔlz tu ðə flɔr wɪð ə θʌd. ʤʌst laɪk ðə ˈfɑksəz, ʃi fɔlz əˈslip.
“ˈʤinə, lɛt goʊ ʌv ðə bʊk,” ʃi hirz. ʃi ˈoʊpənz hɜr aɪz, ænd hɜr ˈmʌðər ænd ˈfɑðər ɑr ˈstændɪŋ əˈbʌv hɜr. ʃiz bæk ɪn ðə ˈbræmbəl, ðə ˈbaɪsɪkəl ə ˈtwɪstəd mɛs bɪˈsaɪd hɜr. “lɛt goʊ ʌv ðə bʊk, ˈʤinə. wir ˈgoʊɪŋ tu teɪk ju ɪnˈsaɪd ænd klin ʌp ɔl ðiz skreɪps ænd ˈbruzəz.
“wʌt ˈhæpənd?”
“juv ˈfɑlən ɔf ðɪs baɪk, dɪr. ænd ɪts noʊ ˈwʌndər; ɪt hæd ə kəmˈplitli ˈrʌstəd ʧeɪn! naʊ, lɛt goʊ ʌv ðə bʊk.”
ʃi ɪz ˈklʌʧɪŋ ə bʊk tu hɜr ʧɛst. ðə ˈkʌvər ridz: ðə ˈkjʊriəs ˌsɪʧuˈeɪʃən ʌv ˈbɑksəz: haʊ tu bɪld ə bɑks fɔr ˈɛni əˈkeɪʒən.
“wʌt ɑr ju ˈduɪŋ wɪð ðɪs streɪnʤ bʊk, ˈɛniˌweɪ? ˈplænɪŋ tu meɪk ə bɑks?”
“aɪ… doʊnt ˈrɪli rɪˈmɛmbər,” ˈʤinə sɛz, ˈrʌbɪŋ ə ˈpeɪnfəl lʌmp ɑn hɜr ˈfɔrhɛd.
“oʊ, wɪl ju lʊk æt ðæt!” hɜr ˈmʌðər sɛz, ˈpɔɪntɪŋ æt ðə wʊdz. “haʊ swit!”
ɑn ðə dɜrt pæθ bɪˈhaɪnd hɜr, ə ˈfæməli ʌv ˈfɑksəz ɪz ˈmeɪkɪŋ ðɛr weɪ ˈɪntu ðə wʊdz. ˈʤinə skwɪnts ænd swɛrz ʃi siz ˈmɛrələn ænd məˈlɪndə, drɛst ɪn ˈfɛðərz ænd ˈfaɪnəriz, ˈlidɪŋ ðɛm hoʊm.
You did it!
We’re almost done with you; thank you so much for sticking with us. Now we just have three sections to check how effective this tool has been: two reading assessments, just like the two you just after signing in the first time, but this time in IPA; and another IPA test, just like the one you took when we started. This is a closed book test — we want to measure how much you actually learned in the previous lessons, so your honesty is appreciated.
There are only 12 questions. Each question is multiple choice. If you don’t know the answer, check the “I’m not sure” box and then make a guess.
When you are ready to begin, click the Begin IPA Assessment button below.
Thank you so much!
You’ve completed you’re portion. Now we’ll let you know when we complete ours.