10.4 Exact Quotes

COMPREHENSION Based on the reading, write T for true or F for false.

1. When Alma plays the piano, it sounds like a performance by a professional adult. 2. Alma realized she loved music when she composed her first piece. 3. Dr. Ruthsatz thinks that child prodigies are mainly interested in themselves.

THINK ABOUT IT Discuss the questions with a partner or in a small group.

1. Would you like to be a prodigy? What are the advantages and disadvantages, in your opinion? 2. Do you think parents should treat prodigies differently than their other children? Why or why not?

EXAMPLES EXPLANATION

Dr. Winner said, “A prodigy is . . . a more extreme version of a gifted child.” Deutscher said, “I know that life is not always beautiful.” Alma said, “I want to write beautiful music.” “I want to write beautiful music,” Alma said. “I want to write beautiful music,” said Alma. “I just had these melodies and ideas in my head,” said Alma, “and I would play them down at the piano.” An exact quote is used when the exact words are worth repeating and are remembered because they have been recorded on video or audio or in print. The said or asked clause can come at the beginning or the end of a quote. If it comes at the end, the subject and the verb can be inverted.

An exact quote can be split, with the said or asked clause in the middle, separated from the quote by commas.

Punctuation Note: Study the punctuation of sentences that contain an exact quote. Note that the first letter of an exact quote is a capital. The child psychologist said, “Your daughter is an extremely gifted musician.” The mother asked, “How can we help her to develop her talent?” “Should we let her practice whenever she wants to?” asked the father. “I love to work with children,” said the teacher, “because they teach me so much.”

EXERCISE 12 Read these quotes. Add capital letters, quotation marks, and other punctuation. "Can

1. The young pianist asked, “can I keep playing, Mom?”

2. His mother said don’t practice too long or you’ll give yourself a headache

3. The child said today I’m going to start writing an opera

4. That’s a wonderful idea said his father

5. Parents can dramatically influence systems in their child’s brain wrote child psychologist Margot Sunderland

6. Your son is doing well said the psychologist but should keep doing his exercises