Read the passage from a raisin in the sun. beneatha (laughingly noticing what her mother is doing): mama, what are you doing? mama: fixing my plant so it won't get hurt none on the way . . beneatha: mama, you going to take that to the new house? mama: un-huh— beneatha: that raggedy-looking old thing? mama (stopping and looking at her): it expresses me! ruth (with delight, to beneatha): so there, miss thing! how would the tone change if the word hideous replaced the word raggedy? beneatha would be showing anger instead of expressing her sadness about the plant. beneatha would be telling a hilarious joke instead of making a mildly humorous comment. beneatha would be telling the truth to her mother instead of sparing her feelings. beneatha would be harshly criticizing her mother instead of gently teasing her.

Read this excerpt from i never had it made. "it's all that ought to count," he replied. "but it isn't. maybe one of these days it will be all that counts. that is one of the reasons i've got you here, robinson. if you're a good enough man, we can make this a start in the right direction. but let me tell you, it's going to take an awful lot of courage." he was back to the crossroads question that made me start to get angry minutes earlier. he asked it slowly and with great care. "have you got the guts to play the game no matter what happens? " "i think i can play the game, mr. rickey," i said. the next few minutes were tough. branch rickey had to make absolutely sure that i knew what i would face. beanballs would be thrown at me. i would be called the kind of names which would hurt and infuriate any man. i would be physically attacked. could i take all of this and control my temper, remain steadfastly loyal to our ultimate aim? which is the central idea of this excerpt?