"Life on the Mississippi"
by Mark Twain
by Mark Twain
1. How did the author use the first paragraph to help develop his view of the river?
a. by comparing the river to a book to show how interested he was in learning about the river
b. by using descriptive language to describe the awe he felt when first traveling the river
c. by contrasting the experiences of the passengers and crew to show how thrilling the river can be
d. by explaining how he first became acquainted with the river as a steamboat pilot
d. by explaining how he first became acquainted with the river as a steamboat pilot
Which is an effective and appropriate thesis for a research report on the dietary benefits of the lesser-known vitamin E?
A Not too many people know about the benefits of vitamin E.
B One of the lesser-known vitamins, vitamin E provides a number of nutritional benefits.
C Research shows that vitamins, including the lesser-known vitamin E, provide extraordinary benefits.
D Vitamin E, whether familiar or not, has proven to be beneficial to those who have poor
eating habits.
B One of the lesser-known vitamins, vitamin E provides a number of nutritional benefits.
A technique used in which a writer will plant clues or subtle indications about events that will happen later in the narrative.
What is foreshadowing
This important component in writing must state an opinion of some kind.
What is a thesis statement?
a. abate b. consequence c. triviality d. prosperity
a. abate
Read the following sentences from paragraph 3 and answer the question that follows.
I stood like one bewitched. I drank it in, in a speechless rapture. The world was new to me and I had never seen anything like this at home.
What is the meaning of the word rapture as it is used in the sentence above?
a. moment of perception
b. feeling of elation
c. state of confusion
d. sense of disappointment
b. feeling of elation
Which of the following sentences correctly employs parallel structure in order to maintain consistent emphasis?
A The famous writer’s autobiography showed that he preferred hope over despair, personal fulfillment over material rewards, and imagination more than being realistic.
B The manager expected her employees to be prompt, to be honest, to be polite to customers, to take pride in the store, and to have some fun.
C Lily wanted to paint her bedroom, add some new decorations, move some old belongings
to the attic, and the carpet needed replacing.
D Eli spent his afternoons studying, working at his father’s store, and he went jogging before dinner.
B The manager expected her employees to be prompt, to be honest, to be polite to customers, to take pride in the store, and to have some fun.
A type of poem that does not have any regular, recurring pattern of rhythm or rhyme.
What is free verse
These are words that link sentences and paragraphs and are necessary for organizing writing.
What are transitional words and phrases?
a. belligerent b. cacophony c. conflagration
a. belligeren
How does the author develop the central idea that the river is a living thing throughout the passage?
a. by illustrating the beauty he sees in the river
b. by detailing the dangers a steamboat captain must watch for
c. by expressing sadness on how the river has lost its charm to him
d. by describing how he must learn how the river changes as time passes
d. by describing how he must learn how the river changes as time passes
(1) Many people consider gardening to be a
rewarding experience, and my grandfather is
one of them. (2) In fact, he says he feels most at
home when he is working with the soil. (3) My
grandfather grows many vegetables, but he
specializes in heirloom tomatoes. (4) As recently
as two hundred years ago, some people believed
tomatoes were poisonous. (5) My grandfather
actually cultivates his own plants from seedlings
to make sure he always has tomato plants to set
out in his garden.
Which sentence from the paragraph should be
omitted to improve coherence?
A Sentence 1
B Sentence 2
C Sentence 3
D Sentence 4
D Sentence 4
A statement that is self-contradictory but still speaks the truth.
What is a paradox
In research, these are original materials that have not been altered and that were created during the time period being studied.
What are primary sources?
a. encroachment b. permeate c.caucus d. sultry
d. sultry
Over the course of the passage, the author’s attitude about the river changes.
How does the author develop this idea in the passage?
a. Each paragraph in the passage explicitly shows a change in the perspective of the author towards the river.
b. The passage is written chronologically to show his experience and what he felt during that time.
c. Each paragraph is a description of different aspects of the river and how the author feels about each aspect.
d. The passage is written to compare and contrast the river to something concrete in the life of the author.
a. Each paragraph in the passage explicitly shows a change in the perspective of the author towards the river.
Which of the following is composed in the narrative mode?
A Clutching the pristine pair of sneakers to my chest, I nervously picked my way through the clearance center. All around me people frantically grabbed the sale items, so I gripped my prize more tightly.
B Bargain hunters believe that paying full price for any item of clothing is foolish. Though these shoppers are not likely to wear the latest fashions, they are happy to have extra money in their wallets.
C Clearance centers and outlet stores are great places to look for bargains. Many stores move
inventory through these locations very quickly, however, so shoppers need to rely on luck if they are seeking particular items.
D I love hunting for bargains on all kinds of products—clothes, CDs, even food. My parents think I am a little too obsessed with clipping coupons, but I do not see why anyone should spend more money than is absolutely necessary.
A Clutching the pristine pair of sneakers to my chest, I nervously picked my way through the clearance center. All around me people frantically grabbed the sale items, so I gripped my prize more tightly.
Example: Freedom weeps, wrong rules the land, and waiting justice sleeps
What is personification
This is a concept can be very different from the dictionary's definition, and when diction and word choice are particularly strong, an author might be said to be using "loaded words."
What are connotations?
a. dote b. cajole c.belie
a. dote
Which of the following pieces of evidence from the passage supports the idea that the author became more educated about the river as time passed?
a. “…all manner of pretty pictures in it painted by the sun…” (paragraph 1)
b. “All the grace, the beauty, the poetry, had gone out of the majestic river!” (paragraph 2)
c. “…for it meant that a wreck or a rock was buried there that could tear the life out of the strongest vessel that ever floated.” (paragraph 3)
d. “No, the romance and beauty were all gone from the river.” (paragraph 4)
c. “…for it meant that a wreck or a rock was buried there that could tear the life out of the strongest vessel that ever floated.” (paragraph 3)
1. The book reports were handed back while the class nervously waited.
2. The novel was listed at the top of the bestseller list for five weeks in a row.
3. At least two yards of fabric are needed to make each curtain.
4. Many people were shocked by the startling announcement on the news.
Which sentence contains an italicized section that would be more effective if written in active voice?
A Sentence 1
B Sentence 2
C Sentence 3
D Sentence 4
A Sentence 1
Poe uses this device when he describes his love by comparing her to Helen of Troy.
What is allusion?
a. lancet b. whittle c. diffidence d. idiosyncrasy
d. idiosyncrasy