Valentine for Ernest Mann
Blind Men & The Elephant
Yawning
Fox and the Horse (1)
Fox and the Horse (2)
100

The speaker decides to give the individual a reply because… 

a)they appreciate the individual’s bold demand.

b)they want to prove the individual wrong.

c)they don’t appreciate being challenged.

d)they can easily write the individual a poem.

b) they appreciate the individual’s bold demand.

100

Which of the following is NOT a true statement?

a)Both men are blind and rely on their sense of touch.

b)The First man knows he is touching an elephant.

c)The Second man thinks he has found a spear instead of a tusk.

d)Both men are surprised by what they feel when they touch the elephant.

c)The Second man thinks he has found a spear instead of a tusk. 

100

The author describes yawning as…

A. something that only humans do.

B. a biological function necessary to survival.

C. an action that is the same among all species.

D. an biological function that varies between species.

D. an biological function that varies between species.

100

The horse’s master asks him to leave because…

a)the horse is too old to work.

b)the horse is injured.

c)the horse is a bad worker.

d)the horse is a bad companion.

a)the horse is too old to work. 

100
  1. Which sentence from the folktale best illustrates the horses ability to solve conflict?
    1. “The poor horse was very sad, and went into the forest to get a little shelter from the wind and weather. (Paragraph 2)
    2. “The horse did as he was told, and the fox went to the lion’s den, not far off, and said: ‘There is a dead horse out there.’” (Paragraph 8)
    3. “When he had finished his work he patted the horse on the shoulder, and said: ‘Pull, old grey! Pull!’” (Paragraph 8)
    4. “But the horse let him roar, and never stopped till he stood before his master’s door.” (Paragraph 9)

B. “The horse did as he was told, and the fox went to the lion’s den, not far off, and said: ‘There is a dead horse out there.’” (Paragraph 8)

200

According to the speaker, poetry is… 

a)often about dark subjects.

b)not easy for everyone.

c)best written when relaxed.

d)difficult to find in the world.

d) difficult to find in the world. 

200

What do the Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth men have in common?

a)They are too embarrassed to admit that they are completely wrong.

b)None of them realize they are touching an elephant.

c)None of men trust the others’ judgement of what the elephant is like.

d)They all agree with one another, but cannot figure out the puzzle.

c)None of men trust the others’ judgement of what the elephant is like. 

200

What do scientists know about yawning?

a) It is something that has evolved over time.

b) Its true purpose is unknown to scientists.

c) It is necessary for a healthy brain.

d) It only occurs in animals of high intelligence.

b) Its true purpose is unknown to scientists.

200

The horse’s master allows him to return because…

a)the horse is strong enough to work.

b)the man misses the horse.

c)the horse brings him a lion.

d)the man feels guilty about sending the horse away.

c) the horse brings him a lion. 

200

 Which TWO sentences belong in a summary of “The Fox and the Horse?”

  1. The old horse is sent away by his owner.
  2. The horse lay down as the fox told him to do.
  3. The horse receives help from a cunning fox.
  4. The peasant does not want to feed an old horse.
  5. The birds in the forest are frightened by the lion.
  6. The horse ignores the lion’s enraged roar.

A. The old horse is sent away by his owner. & C. The horse receives help from a cunning fox.

300

Which statement expresses the main theme of the poem?

a)The best way a person can express their love for another person is through a poem.

b)The world has conditioned people not to see the beauty in simple things.

c)Most people don’t realize all the hard work that goes into writing a poem.

d)Meaning and beauty can be found in anything, it just depends on how a person looks at the world.

d)Meaning and beauty can be found in anything, it just depends on how a person looks at the world.

300

Which of the following best summarizes a central theme of the text?

  1. In order to understand something entirely, it must be viewed from different perspectives.
  2. Learning is not a noble pursuit if it only leads to controversy and debate.
  3. Comedy can teach people how to see themselves clearly.
  4. Nature is designed to confuse and frighten mankind.
  1. In order to understand something entirely, it must be viewed from different perspectives.
300

Which statement identifies the central idea of the text?

  1. Scientists know more about the biological functions of yawning than why some social species “catch” yawns from each other.
  2. Scientists believe that dogs are more likely to engage in contagious yawning because they are more empathetic than most humans.
  3. While scientists do not know what causes yawning, they have found that people who yawn more frequently are often mentally and physically healthier.
  4. While scientists have limited knowledge about why we yawn, studies have shown that people and animals can “catch” yawns from social interactions.

D. While scientists have limited knowledge about why we yawn, studies have shown that people and animals can “catch” yawns from social interactions.

300

In order for his plan to work, what did the fox need most?

  1. The horse had to be a good actor.
  2. The lion had to trust the fox.
  3. The horse had to be patient with the fox.
  4. The lion had to be hungry.

B. The lion had to trust the fox.

300

Which TWO additional sentences belong in the summary in Part A?

  1. The horse was sad when his master turned him out.
  2. The fox promises the lion a special meal.
  3. The fox tricks the lion into being tied to the horse.
  4. The horse is able to bring a lion back to his master.
  5. The lion is in his den when the fox comes to trick him.
  6. The master forgot the horse’s many years of service.

C. The fox tricks the lion into being tied to the horse. & D. The horse is able to bring a lion back to his master.

400

How does the first stanza contribute to the tone of the text?

a)It develops a sense of humor that the speaker feels towards someone’s assumptions about poetry.

b)It creates a sense of exasperation that the speaker feels toward people’s limited knowledge of the world.

c)It creates a sense of affection that the speaker feels towards the reader and their interest in poetry.

d)It develops a sense of irritation that the speaker feels towards those who don’t understand poetry.

a)it develops a sense of humor that the speaker feels towards someone’s assumptions about poetry. 

400

How does the speaker play with the meaning of the word “blind”?

  1. He uses the word “blind” to describe the men’s physical blindness, but also their ignorance of basic ideas because of their focus on academia and becoming scholars.
  2. He uses the word “blind” to describe the men’s physical blindness, but also their lack of attunement to and respect of nature (i.e. being blind to the shape of an animal).
  3. He uses the word “blind” to describe the men’s physical blindness, but also their introspective blindness—for the men know little about themselves and others.
  4. He uses the word “blind” to describe the men’s physical blindness, but also their inability to recognize bigger things (like the whole shape of an elephant) because of their preoccupation with the smaller things (like parts of the elephant).

D. He uses the word “blind” to describe the men’s physical blindness, but also their inability to recognize bigger things (like the whole shape of an elephant) because of their preoccupation with the smaller things (like parts of the elephant).

400

Which of the following describes the author’s main purpose of the text?

  1. to explore why people and animals yawn and how yawns are contagious
  2. to prove that yawning is more of a biological function than a social one
  3. to explain why scientists know so little about why humans yawn
  4. to support the theory that yawning helps cool down the brain
  1. to explore why people and animals yawn and how yawns are contagious
400

What does the fox tell the lion that causes him to trust him?

  1. The lion should eat his meal in comfort.
  2. Horse meat is delicious.
  3. The horse is dead.
  4. The lion should lie down and wait for the fox to return.
  1. The lion should eat his meal in comfort.
400

Which statement best expresses a central idea in the folktale?

  1. Loyal friends can be trusted.
  2. Honest people are good friends.
  3. Individuals who show kindness are often treated the same way.
  4. Individuals can accomplish more with the help of others.

D. Individuals can accomplish more with the help of others.

500

How does the structure of the poem contribute to the overall theme?

a)A speaker is addressing a character who asks for a poem, emphasizing how difficult it can be to find or produce poetry.

b)A speaker is addressing a character who wishes to write a poem themselves and doesn’t realize the difficulty of the task.

c)A speaker is addressing an overwhelming assumption people tend to make about poetry, allowing them to correct the faulty information.

d)A speaker is offering a character advice on how to create meaningful poetry as a valentine for their love.

a)A speaker is addressing a character who asks for a poem, emphasizing how difficult it can be to find or produce poetry.

500

Which of the following best describes the overall tone of the poem?

  1. Suspicious, as speaker relates that the men seem guarded about what they sense
  2. Playful, as the speaker recounts the men’s comedic attempts to understand an elephant
  3. Mocking, as the speaker criticizes the men for their failed attempt to see an elephant
  4. Angry, as speaker describes the men arguing over what the elephant looks like

B. Playful, as the speaker recounts the men’s comedic attempts to understand an elephant

500

How does the author’s discussion of the studies conducted on dogs contribute to the text?

  1. It emphasizes how yawning and contagious yawning differs greatly between species.
  2. It proves that social species have more in common than scientists initially realized.
  3. It provides additional information on the possible causes for contagious yawning in other species.
  4. It suggests that dogs are just as empathetic as humans because they experience contagious yawning.

C. It provides additional information on the possible causes for contagious yawning in other species.

500

Which aspect of the horse’s character best helps to solve the conflict in the folktale?

  1. trust
  2. sorrow
  3. strength
  4. persistence

A. Trust.

500

Why does the horse decide to follow the fox’s plan without knowing what it is?

  1. because the horse has lost his self-confidence
  2. because the fox has helped him before
  3. because the fox knows where the lion’s den is
  4. because the horse is lonely
  1. because the horse has lost his self-confidence
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