Talent Show Jokes
The stage lights were right in my eyes. My palms were so sweaty I
felt like I might drop the microphone. I reached for the water that
sat on a nearby stool and took a quick sip. I pushed my hair away
from my eyes and cleared my throat.
"I took a ladder with me to school this morning..." I began.
It was stressful wanting to be a comedian. Having the skills wasn't enough. There was all the
practice. The writing of jokes. Searching the internet to find funny one-liners. You had to have plenty
of ambition, too. When your jokes didn't go well, you needed to pick yourself up and try again.
"... I felt I was ready for high school." There were a few laughs from the audience. My father's
laugh was the loudest.
Why did I agree to do this? I groaned to myself. Talent shows were nerve-racking. "My geometry
teacher wasn't at school today," I continued. "He sprained his angle."
This time, a lot of people laughed. I felt my heart lift. You can do this, I thought. I carried on with a
smile. "After school, I ate my geometry homework ..."
A Read and choose.
1 What does the narrator drink?
a.) water
b. juice
c. angle
2 Why is the narrator nervous?
a. She doesn't like light in her eyes.
b. She is taking part in a talent competition.
c. Someone laughs at her.
3 What do you think nerve-racking means?
a. feeling nervous
b. being funny
c. feeling confident
4 What point of view does the author use to
tell this story?
a. third person
b. second person
c. first person
5 Which line best finishes the narrator's last
joke?
a. It was so easy, it was a piece of cake.
b. So, I couldn't hand it in.
c. I like the taste of math.
6 Why does the narrator feel her heart lift?
a. The water makes her feel better.
b. The audience laughs at her jokes.
c. She can see her father.
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