In 3–5 sentences, describe a character in fiction book, series, or show that is stingy with money and dishonest. Include allusions to Scrooge and Pinocchio or two other suitable, well-known allusions in your response. (4 points)

One example of a character in fiction who embodies stinginess with money and dishonesty is Lord Voldemort from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Just like Scrooge, Voldemort hoards resources and riches for his own gain, showing little regard for the needs or well-being of others. Furthermore, much like Pinocchio's dishonesty, Voldemort constantly manipulates and deceives those around him in his pursuit of power, using others as pawns in his grand scheme. Another suitable allusion could be Iago from Shakespeare's Othello, whose greed and deceitfulness drive him to orchestrate a web of lies and manipulation, ultimately leading to tragedy.

The current state of Castle Park is a disgrace to our community. Ten years ago, community groups came together to give our children a safe place to play. Today, the wooden structure rots, the chains on the swing set rust, and garbage covers the ground. The city government refuses to take responsibility for restoring the structure, yet it will not allow concerned citizens to make their own repairs. Our children deserve a safe, clean, functional play space. The city council’s inaction has turned a gem of the park system into yet another public junkyard.

In 3–5 sentences, identify and explain words in the letter that create a negative tone. Support your answer with details from the text.

(4 points)

The words and phrases that create a negative tone in the letter are "disgrace," "rots," "rust," "garbage covers the ground," "refuses to take responsibility," "inaction," and "public junkyard." These words and phrases emphasize the sorry state of Castle Park and highlight the negligence and lack of action from the city government. Additionally, the use of words like "safe place" and "clean, functional play space" further highlights the contrast between the current condition of the park and the expectations and needs of the community.

One character that fits the description of being stingy with money and dishonest is Mr. Burns from the television show "The Simpsons." Similar to Scrooge, Mr. Burns is known for his extreme greed and unwillingness to spend his money. Additionally, he often engages in dishonest practices to further his own wealth and power, paralleling the deceitful nature of Pinocchio. This combination of traits, reminiscent of these well-known allusions, makes Mr. Burns an unforgettable character in fiction.

One character in fiction who is both stingy with money and dishonest is Gollum from J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" series. Gollum's obsession with the One Ring makes him unwilling to part with any of his possessions and he hoards them greedily. His deceitful nature is akin to that of Charles Dickens' character, Ebenezer Scrooge from "A Christmas Carol," as they both prioritize personal gain over honesty and integrity. Additionally, Gollum's tendency to lie and deceive others parallels the character of Iago from Shakespeare's "Othello," who manipulates those around him for his own malicious purposes.