Rites of passage are important occasions of somebody's life. For example, puberty, marriage, having children and death.
Guideline:
“The Bass, the River, and Shelia Mant”
14 year-old boy asks Sheila out. They go to the cinema by boat. The boy covers the fishing rod and fails to catch a big bass. Then he is upset.
"Oranges"
12 year-old boy goes out on a date with a girl for the first time. They go to the drugstore on foot. He has an orange in his pocket. She picks a chocolate. They take each other's hands. He peels the orange and she opens the chocolate.
You can use the synonym clue in understanding the meaning of the underlined word. The other word synonymous to it might be more familiar to you so it would be a lot easier. The synonym clue says the word in a simple way.
"Sentences" is the punning word in #1, for judges give out sentences. And teachers, as well. Get it? Sentences?
"Manor" is the punning word in #2. Get that? Castle? Home? Manor instead of manner? A pun is a joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings.
Another example of a pun is:
The pigs were a squeal.
I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. And then it hit me.
Do you understand now? LOL. (: Hope this helps(: