1a. Where did Ashe first learn tennis? Who taught him to play?
2a. What dispute did Ashe have with Dr. Johnson's son, Bobby? How was it resolved?
3a. How did Ashe's personality change in St. Louis?
4a. What social experiences did Ashe have as a result of tennis that he otherwise might not have had?
5a. How does Ashe view the discrimination he experienced and witnessed as a young tennis player?
1b. How much did this seem to affect Ashe's life at the time? How much did it seem to affect his future?
2b. How did Ashe react to authority? How might the incident have changed Ashe's perception of authority?
3b. Why did Ashe want to make this change?
4b. How did these experiences help shape Ashe's world view as a youth? How might they have influenced his later ideals, friendships, and work?
5b. How might Ashe react to the types of discrimination that exist today?
Autobiography. Identify parts of this selection that share information about the United States in the 1950s and 1960s. How does Ashe use that information to better portray himself as a person?
Description. What types of descriptions does Ashe offer in this selection? Which characters, objects, or scenes does Ashe describe with the most detail? How does he describe actions? How do the descriptions contribute to the stories Ashe tells about his past?
1. Write an autobiographical story about an event in your past that helped shape who you are today.
2. Write the copy for a promotional poster to attract interest in a summer tennis clinic for young people.
3. Write a brief biographical sketch of Arthur Ashe that could be used as an encyclopedia entry.
Mastering Verbs. The following verbs appear in the selection from Off the Court or in "A Black Athlete Looks at Education." Select the sentence that best uses each verb in context, then write a sentence of your own using the verb.
1. repress click to select answer John repressed his temples, hoping the headache would go away. I have to repress my fear of striking out each time I am up to bat.
2. succumb click to select answer I did not want to succumb to the urge to eat another candy bar. Our team may succumb the odds and win the game tonight.
3. implicate click to select answer Your muddy footsteps may implicate you in the crime. Jean implicates that the math test is easy.
4. assimilate click to select answer After spending several summers in Mexico, Alex began to assimilate the customs and language. If you do not arrive by 5:00, I will assimilate that you are not coming.
5. instill click to select answer Coach Braxton instills in her players a respect for the game and a sense of pride. Amelia asked me to instill the new stereo in her car.
6. integrate click to select answer The goal of our advisory board is to integrate various students' points of view. After high school, I hope to go to college and integrate in four years.
7. elevate click to select answer Stan tried to elevate the box, but it was too heavy for him to carry. You shouldn't elevate athletes to superstar status—they're just people like us.
8. fulfill click to select answer When he turned 18, Luke was ready to fulfill his destiny of becoming a crimefighter. If you keep eating that ice cream, it's going to fulfill you.
9. expose click to select answer Gina was afraid to expose her fear of public speaking to her classmates. Do you expose that it will rain tonight?
10. rebuff click to select answer Marcus rebuffed Antonio's attempts to start an argument. Raeanna decided to rebuff her bicycle with some polish.
Using I and Me. Read the Language Arts Survey 3.41, "Using I and Me." Then choose the correct pronoun from those given in parentheses.
Example Toni and (I, me) enjoyed reading about Arthur Ashe.
1. Arthur Ashe liked to play tennis like Toni and click to select answer I me .
2. Our friends Scott and Olivia often ask Toni and click to select answer me I to play doubles with them.
3. Both Toni and click to select answer I me like to win.
4. Scott, Olivia, Toni, and click to select answer I me play tennis in the park whenever we can.
5. Reading about Arthur Ashe inspired Toni and click to select answer I me to practice more.
6. My parents would like to take my brother, Nathan, and click to select answer I me to Wimbledon to watch the tournament.
7. For Christmas, our grandparents bought new rackets for Nathan and click to select answer I me .
8. Nathan and click to select answer I me could hardly wait to use them.
9. The next day we played tennis at the park and Nathan beat click to select answer I me in a close match.
10. I wish I could have met Arthur Ashe; maybe he would have had some advice for click to select answer I me .
