(80 points)

fantastical stories

class began as it usually does: the gossipers were gossiping, the paper throwers were throwing paper, and the colorful and brilliantly shiny medieval dragon was leering toward me, breathing heavily. wait, a dragon? those fantasy books had really taken a toll on my sense of reality. my senses came to me as i discovered that, of course, no dragon had found its way into my classroom. unfortunately, there was a fiery, heavy exhale that reached my desk. i looked up, nervously, as mr. anderson stared down at me with his arms crossed, his brow furrowed with disapproval. i had fallen asleep.
"off in the ozone again? " my teacher asked as i sat there embarrassed.
"sorry, mr. anderson. late night, you know? " there was no reason to explain the exhausting quest i had endeavored to complete, well into the deep forest and across the unfathomable heights of the great mountains. i knew my fantasies didn't belong in school. very few of my classmates would continue talking to me after i ranted about the vast territories my heroes traveled, or the colossal dangers that await victims in the forbidden swamps. my teacher, however, was fully aware of my interests because, as he noted, i talk in my sleep.
the next day, mr. anderson wrote an assignment on the board right off the bat. halfheartedly, i glanced at the writing at the front of the room. "write your own story with fantastical creatures and include elaborate detail."
my enthusiasm was felt throughout the room as i shifted my posture quickly and began shuffling papers erratically. my dreams had become a reality as i envisioned a new quest, a new mission to embark on that would transform the fantasy genre forever!
a week later, i sprang up to the front of the classroom to read my story, delivering powerful dialogue and suspenseful plot twists. everyone shifted in their seats, wriggling around with the introduction of a new setting, waiting in anticipation as each character turned a new corner. my teacher was in awe, but proud and happy that i was able to get out of my rut and finally take interest in school. after the 14 full pages came to a close, and after the bell had already rung, my classmates—those who never spoke a word to me—cheered with great enthusiasm as i walked back to my desk in a full, confident stride.

drag the tiles to the correct boxes to complete the pairs.
based on the context of the passage, match each idiom to its meaning.
taken a toll
right off the bat
get out of my rut
meaning
idiom
to happen immediately
arrowboth
to be harmful or tiring
arrowboth
to stop habitual behavior
arrowboth