In response to an English assignment, Dustin wrote this paper about an experience he had. He wants you to read the paper and help him correct and improve it. When you finish reading, answer the questions that follow.
Photo courtesy of © José Luis Pelaez, Inc./CORBIS.
(1) I had signed up to play in the bailey county Chess Tournament two months before. (2) I’d been counting the days, filling my afternoons with practice games and begging everyone I knew to play chess with me. (3) The week before the tournament, I’d even ousted my father from the family “chess throne.” (4) Now I was the reigning Hodges family champ.
(5) I knew that my glory could end soon the tournament was about to begin. (6) I would be competing against 25 players, and all of us would be battling for just a few coveted trophies. (7) Glancing up at the prizes, each trophy I noticed was glistening in the summer sun. (8) I could just picture one of those trophies sat on the top shelf of the bookcase in my room.
(9) My daydream interrupted by the announcement of the first round. (10) “Shake hands and start playing!” exclaimed the judge. (11) I looked across the board and saw that she was almost too small to see over the top of the table. (12) “Aha!” I thought. (13) “This will be an easy win.”
(14) One unexpected checkmate later, I regretted my overconfidence. (15) A nine-year-old had beaten me in a mere 10 minutes! (16) I concealed my disappointment and congratulated the apparant prodigy. (17) “Good game! (18) You’re a terrific player,” I said with a genuine smile.
(19) The next three rounds went by very quickly, with each game proving more difficult than the one before. (20) By evening I had one win and three losses. (21) After the second game I was ready to forfeit and go home, but I stayed anyway, smiling and sincerely congratulating each of my opponents.
(22) As the trophies were being awarded, I listened respectful, applauding each winner as his or her name was called. (23) It was hard to hide my disappointment, but I tried. (24) Suddenly I heard the announcer say my name and was shocked to see everyone looking at me.
(25) “For excellent chess etiquette, a friendly attitude, and plain old determination, the Good Sport Award goes to Dustin Hodges,” the judge declared. (26) I grinned as I walked up to except the prize. (27) It wasn’t the trophy that I had hoped for, but the gold plaque looks pretty good on my bookcase. (28) Of course, it won’t stay there forever.