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Copywork
About This Passage
Ivan's self-description combines physical grandeur with quiet irony — a creature 'made for battle' who lives in a glass box. The passage models vivid physical description with precise comparatives (mightier, taller, tallest), satisfying criteria A (vocabulary density: mightier, outstretched, span), B (three sentences of varied length), and D (thematic tension between power and captivity).
I am mightier than any human, four hundred pounds of pure power. My body looks made for battle. My arms, outstretched, span taller than the tallest human.
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Discussion Questions
Narration Prompt
Tell someone what happened in this book in order. When you get to the most important part, slow down and tell it carefully — what happened, why it mattered, and what you think about it.
Discussion Questions
- Ivan says he is 'just Ivan, only Ivan,' but people call him 'the freeway gorilla' and 'the ape at exit eight.' What in the story makes you think Ivan wants to be known by his own name instead of by the place where he lives?
- Ivan makes a promise to Stella that he will find a better home for Ruby. Was Ivan right to make this promise even though he had no idea how to keep it? What in the story makes you think so?
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Vocabulary Builder
Item 1
A large, strong ape that walks on its knuckles and lives in family groups
Item 2
The place where an animal lives, eats, and sleeps every day
Item 3
Able to wait for a long time without getting upset or angry
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Critical Thinking
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