Theme
What is the theme of the passage below?
Tim hated his old baseball glove. He wanted to play with a new glove, but he didn't have any money, so he decided to steal it. But when Tim got caught stealing the glove, his parents said he couldn't play baseball all summer.
Example: If you want something, you should work for it.
With over $10,000 in scholarship money awarded, Christopher deserved all the adulation he received for his hard work, good grades, and volunteer work. What does ADULATION mean in this case?
a. friendliness
b. recognition
c. money
d. prize
Recognition
Dolphins are regarded as the friendliest creatures in the sea and stories of them helping drowning sailors have been common since Roman times. The more we learn about dolphins, the more we realize that their society is more complex than people previously imagined. They look after other dolphins when they are ill, care for pregnant mothers and protect the weakest in the community, as we do. Some scientists have suggested that dolphins have a language but it is much more probable that they communicate with each other without needing words. Could any of these mammals be more intelligent than man? Certainly the most common argument in favor of man's superiority over them that we can kill them more easily than they can kill us is the least satisfactory. On the contrary, the more we discover about these remarkable creatures, the less we appear superior when we destroy them.
One can infer from the reading that ----.
A) dolphins are quite abundant in some areas of the world
B) communication is the most fascinating aspect of the dolphins
C) dolphins have skills that no other living creatures have such as the
ability to think
D) it is not usual for dolphins to communicate with each other
E) dolphins have some social traits that are similar to those of humans
E) dolphins have some social traits that are similar to those of humans
What is a scene that interrupts a story to describe an earlier event?
Flashback
In "James and the Giant Peach" what part of the plot does James fly the peach over the ocean?
Rising action.
What does it mean when the theme is implied?
The reader has to make an educated guess about the theme.
Buksa cocked his head and furrowed his brow, listening.
What does furrowed mean?
a. wrinkled
b. minor
c. pushed
d. smacked
wrinkled
Passage 3 - Unsinkable Ship
Naval architects never claim that a ship is unsinkable, but the sinking of the passenger-and-car ferry Estonia in the Baltic surely should have never have happened. It was well designed and carefully maintained. It carried the proper number of lifeboats. It had been thoroughly inspected the day of its fatal voyage. Yet hours later, the Estonia rolled over and sank in a cold, stormy night. It went down so quickly that most of those on board, caught in their dark, flooding cabins, had no chance to save themselves: Of those who managed to scramble overboard, only 139 survived. The rest died of hypothermia before the rescuers could pluck them from the cold sea. The final death toll amounted to 912 souls. However, there were an unpleasant number of questions about why the Estonia sank and why so many survivors were men in the prime of life, while most of the dead were women, children and the elderly.
7. One can understand from the reading that ----.
A) the lifesaving equipment did not work well and lifeboats could not be
lowered
B) design faults and incompetent crew contributed to the sinking of the Estonia ferry
C) 139 people managed to leave the vessel but died in freezing water
D) naval architects claimed that the Estonia was unsinkable
E) most victims were trapped inside the boat as they were in their cabins
E) most victims were trapped inside the boat as they were in their cabins
What is a traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as historical but unauthenticated?
Legend.
In "James and the Giant Peach" what part of the plot does James live in the peach stone in Central Park?
Resolution.
Travis was having a really bad day. He was being rude to everyone. He pushed Frederick on his way to class, and even threw Michael's books out of his hands. When it came time to go to the in-school game Travis got to the concession stand and ordered a hot dog and soda. As Travis waited for his snacks, he sunk his hand into his pocket only to find that he had lost his money. He turned to see that Michael was laughing at him.
Is the theme of this passage stated or implied? What is the theme?
Implied. Example: Treat others the way you wish to be treated.
Example: What goes around comes around.
After the downpour ended, the neighborhood was SERENE.
What does SERENE mean?
Calm.
Opera refers to a dramatic art form, originating in Europe, in which the emotional content is conveyed to the audience as much through music, both vocal and instrumental, as it is through the lyrics. By contrast, in musical theater an actor's dramatic performance is primary, and the music plays a lesser role. The drama in opera is presented using the primary elements of theater such as scenery, costumes, and acting. However, the words of the opera, or libretto, are sung rather than spoken. The singers are accompanied by a musical ensemble ranging from a small instrumental ensemble to a full symphonic orchestra.
1. It is pointed out in the reading that opera ----.
A) has developed under the influence of musical theater
B) is a drama sung with the accompaniment of an orchestra
C) is not a high-budget production
D) is often performed in Europe
B) is a drama sung with the accompaniment of an orchestra
What is literature passed from one generation to the next?
Oral Tradition.
In "James and the Giant Peach" what part of the plot does James confront the rhino?
The climax.
Devin kept a low profile in school. He attended classes and talked with his friends in the hall, but few knew him well. He rarely raised his hand in class and never spoke out of turn. Even in band class, he refused to draw attention to himself. Though he had earned the honor of first-chair saxophone, he did not reveal his passion for his instrument to his classmates.
Then, sophomore year, Devin joined the marching band despite his fear of public scrutiny. The night of the first football game, his palms were sweating and his heart was racing as the band marched onto the field. But as soon as he began to play, his fears were forgotten, and through the glare of the lights he could see the crowd swaying and clapping to the music. Devin was completely at ease during his solo, and after the game a friend told him, "You were great! I didn't know you had it in you."
What other theme is addressed in the passage?
Example: It's important to take risks.
Example: People reveal themselves through their passions.
The teacher's face, like a brightly glowing summer day, signaled her feelings of contentment.
What does CONTENTMENT mean?
Happiness.
The surface of the Earth is more than three-quarters water. This water—most of it oceans
and seas—is exposed to the sun's heat and drying winds. As a result, some of the water
slowly evaporates, or turns into water vapor, the gaseous state of water. Because it is less
dense in this gaseous state, the water vapor rises into the atmosphere. Since the
atmosphere is cool, the vapor cools down as it rises until it is cool enough to condense into
water again. The tiny droplets of water in the atmosphere form clouds. As more and more
water condenses, the droplets in the clouds become larger and heavier until they fall back
down to the Earth as rain. The rain eventually gets back to the bodies of water on the
Earth's surface, and the process starts all over
Based on the selection, what causes water to evaporate into water vapor? |
| A. | the weight of the water droplets |
| B. | drying winds and the cool atmosphere |
| C. | the sun's heat and drying winds |
| D. | the sun's heat and the cool atmosphere |
C. Sun's heat and drying winds.
What is a brief story that teach a lesson or moral and often feature animal characters?
Fable.
In "Arachne" what part of the plot do we meet the best weaver in her city, Arachne?
Exposition.
Consider the passage and theme.
Ria was thrilled when her doctor removed her cast. It had only been a month, but the inconvenience of wearing a cast and using crutches had been a constant challenge. She had learned that her high school, while accessible, was not easy to navigate with crutches. The stairs were treacherous, and the elevator was slow, but what bothered Ria the most were the entrances. Since her high school sat on a hill with a wide, concrete stairway to the front door, all of the ramps were at entrances far off her usual course.
Fortunately, Ria made some new friends venturing to and from the ramps. She noticed that these friends were upbeat and determined, and they had more interesting things to discuss than the minor inconvenience of a ramp. Still, when the student council asked for suggestions about a class project, Ria submitted a proposal for a front-entrance ramp instead of the high-def scoreboard she had once prioritized.
Example: Lessons are often learned through one's struggle.
Example: Considering life from a new point of view can be enlightening.
"Excuse me," she said. "The train conductor told me what happened. You were on the wrong train car." Then she pointed to the large board that had previously mystified Patrick. "You will want to catch the next train to Milan," she said. "From there it is easy to get to Rome."
In the excerpt above, the word mystified most likely means
a. mysterious.
b. confused.
c. frustrated.
d. shocked.
Confused.
[GINA enters dressed in a nightgown. She walks stiffly across the stage with arms extended.]
GINA [In a dull voice]: Where's the bus stop? I need a bus. Maybe the bus is late. [Stops
abruptly]
MOTHER [Alarmed]: What are you talking about, Gina? It's the middle of the night! [Rises]
Based on the stage directions, what do you think is happening in this scene?
A Gina and her mother are watching television.
B Gina is waiting for a bus.
C Gina is trying to tell her mother a secret.
D Gina is sleepwalking.
D. Gina is sleepwalking.
What is the problem that moves the characters to act and react?
Conflict.
In "Arachne" what part of the plot does Arachne challenge Athene to a competition?
Conflict.