Words in Context
What does the word “makeshift” mean in the following passage:
One day while I am standing on top of our makeshift “garage” -- pieces of tin nailed across some poles-- holding my bow and arrow and looking out toward the fields, I feel an incredible blow to my right eye.
A. Cheap
B.Broken
C.Homemade
D.Sturdy
C. Homemade
Why does the author include the poem?
A. The poem uses figurative language and description to show the author's emotions in more detail.
B. The poem is more boring, which shows how the narrator feels.
C. The poem describes the desert so the reader feels like they are there.
D. There is no reason for the poem--it's just there.
A. The poem uses figurative language and description to show the author's emotions in more detail.
Select the piece of evidence that best illustrates that people's reactions to the narrator change after the accident?
A. I can tell they admire my dress, but it is my spirit, bordering on sassiness (womanishness), they secretly applaud.
B. "What's the matter with your eye?" they ask, critically. When I don't answer (I cannot decide whether it was an "accident" or not), they shove me, insist on a fight.
C. She is the teacher who "knew me before I was born" and bought my first baby clothes.
D. "You did not change," they say.
B. "What's the matter with your eye?" they ask, critically. When I don't answer (I cannot decide whether it was an "accident" or not), they shove me, insist on a fight.
What is the perspective of the narrator in paragraph 2?
Later, it does not surprise me to find myself in Miss Mey's shiny black car, sharing the back seat with the other lucky ones. Does not surprise me that I thoroughly enjoy the fair. At home that night I tell the unlucky ones all I can remember about the merry-go-round, the man who eats live chickens, and the teddy bears, until they say: that's enough, baby Alice. Shut up now, and go to sleep.
A. The narrator is surprised she is included due to their income.
B. The narrator is remembering times with her family and the importance of family.
C. The narrator is reflecting on why she is deserving of going to the fair.
D. The narrator is reflecting on how she is sorrowful for the unlucky ones in her family.
C. The narrator is reflecting on why she is deserving of going to the fair.
What change, if any, should be made in this sentence?
While First Lady Michelle Obama was visiting Beijing in March 2014 she toured the Forbidden City.
There should be a comma after 2014.
While First Lady Michelle Obama was visiting Beijing in March 2014, she toured the Forbidden City.
What context clue best help you to understand the meaning of the word "makeshift"?
One day while I am standing on top of our makeshift “garage” -- pieces of tin nailed across some poles-- holding my bow and arrow and looking out toward the fields, I feel an incredible blow to my right eye.
A.“Standing”
B.“Makeshift”
C.“Looking out”
D.“Tin nailed across some poles”
D.“Tin nailed across some poles”
How does the repetition of the following quote affect the text: “"You did not change," they say.”
A.It shows that the narrator was still beautiful regardless of the accident.
B.It shows they did not notice a change in her regardless of her accident.
C.It shows even though she felt the accident changed her, her family did not notice.
D.It shows they did not want to hurt her feelings by telling her she changed.
C.It shows even though she felt the accident changed her, her family did not notice.
Which two pieces of evidence best support the theme that choices can impact your life and the lives of others?
A.“She is knocked out from getting most of us ready.”
B.“...and that my mother--she of no money, eight children, and a chronic earache-- refused it”
C.“At home that night I tell the unlucky ones all I can remember about the merry-go-round…”
D.“If I do not say this is what happened, I know my brothers will find ways to make me wish I had.”
E.“She is the teacher who "knew me before I was born" and bought my first baby clothes."
F. "You did not change," they say.
B.“...and that my mother--she of no money, eight children, and a chronic earache-- refused it”
E.“She is the teacher who "knew me before I was born" and bought my first baby clothes."
How does the narrator’s perspective of herself change throughout the story?
A.Besides growing up, her perspective doesn’t change.
B.She becomes more beautiful as she grows up.
C.She learns that even her scar is beautiful.
D.She realizes that a person’s character is what makes them beautiful.
C.She learns that even her scar is beautiful.
What change, if any, should be made to this sentence?
Many manufacturers are adding caffeine to snack foods so the Food and Drug Administration is investigating how caffeine affects young people.
There should be a comma after foods.
Many manufacturers are adding caffeine to snack foods, so the Food and Drug Administration is investigating how caffeine affects young people.
What does the word "throes" mean in this sentence?
Years later, in the throes of a mid-life crisis, I ask my mother and sister whether I changed after the "accident."
A. joy
B. struggle
C. small talk
D. crisis
B. struggle
What effect does the following quote have on the text: “It was great fun being cute. But then, one day, it ended.” (paragraph 7).
A.It summarizes the next event that will be explained.
B.It creates suspense by alluding to a significant change in the narrator’s life.
C.It gives a better understanding of the narrator’s character.
D.It shows that her childhood ended earlier that what it should have.
B.It creates suspense by alluding to a significant change in the narrator’s life.
Which piece of text evidence best shows the narrator's changing perspective over the course of the WHOLE text?
A."You did not change," they say.
B.Almost immediately I become a different person from the girl who does not raise her head.
C."Decide how you want to look on the cover," she says. "Glamorous, or whatever."
D.There was a world in my eye. And I saw that it was possible to love it.
D.There was a world in my eye. And I saw that it was possible to love it.
How does the narrator's daughter change her point of view about beauty?
A. The daughter shows her that physical beauty isn't important.
B. The daughter shows her that it's what's inside that counts.
C. The daughter shows her that she can dance beautifully.
D. The daughter shows her that her scar can be beautiful in its own way.
D. The daughter shows her that her scar can be beautiful in its own way.
What changes, if any, should be made to this sentence?
If you struggle while you're learning new information you'll remember it better later on according to a 2012 study.
There need to to be two commas, after information and before according.
If you struggle while you're learning new information, you'll remember it better later on, according to a 2012 study.
What does the word "reputedly" mean in this sentence?
At night I have nightmares about the electric chair, and about all the people reputedly "fried" in it.
A. repeatedly
B. electrically
C. supposedly
D. hurriedly
C. supposedly
How does structure in the following section add meaning to the text?
My mother is lying in bed in the middle of the day, something I have never seen. She is in too much pain to speak. She has an abscess in her ear. I stand looking down on her, knowing that if she dies, I cannot live.
A. The problem and solution structure of the text allows the reader to see how the problem will be solved.
B. The sequential order to the text allows the reader to see what event is happening first.
C. The descriptive nature allows the reader to see how the mother cars for the narrator.
D. The cause and effect structure allows for the reader to see what would be the result of losing her mom.
D. The cause and effect structure allows for the reader to see what would be the result of losing her mom.
Which two pieces of evidence best illustrates that the narrator believes you have to be "beautiful" to have power and influence?
A. For six years I do not stare at anyone, because I do not raise my head.
B. And then she asks, looking at my recent school picture, which I did not want taken, and on which the "glob," as I think of it, is clearly visible, "You still can't see out of that eye?"
C. Suddenly all I can think of is whether I will get enough sleep the night before the photography session: If I don't, my eye will be tired and wander, as blind eyes will.
D. It is now thirty years since the "accident." A beautiful journalist comes to visit and to interview me.
E. Now that I've raised my head I win the boyfriend of my dreams. Now that I've raised my head I have plenty of friends.
F. Whirling happily in my starchy frock, showing off my biscuit-polished patent-leather shoes and lavender socks, tossing my head in a way that makes my ribbons bounce, I stand, hands on hips, before my father.
A. For six years I do not stare at anyone, because I do not raise my head.
D. It is now thirty years since the "accident." A beautiful journalist comes to visit and to interview me.
How does the narrator's point of view about beauty change when she is 14?
A. She gets shot in the eye, so she becomes shy.
B. She gets surgery, which gives her confidence.
C. Her point of view about beauty does not change.
D. Her point of view about beauty changes--she now believes someone's personality makes them beautiful, not their looks.
C. Her point of view about beauty does not change.
What changes, if any, should be made to this sentence?
The World Bird Fund provides emergency medical care to all kinds of birds and small animals in new york city but pigeons are the most commonly treated.
New York City needs to be capitalized, and there needs to be a comma before but.
The World Bird Fund provides emergency medical care to all kinds of birds and small animals in New York City, but pigeons are the most commonly treated.
In the paragraph below what is the meaning of the phrase "made your peace with it"?
"Because in all probability," I say in a rush, "my eye won't be straight."
"It will be straight enough," she says. Then, "Besides, I thought you'd made your peace with that." And I suddenly remember that I have.
A. broke it down
B. accepted it
C. forgiven those who did it
D. forgotten about it
B. accepted it
How does the overall structure of the text contribute to the meaning of the text?
A. The problem and solution structure helps the reader determine the problem and how it will be solved early in the story.
B. The compare and contrast structure allows the reader to compare her life to her siblings allowing the reader to see the how they were all treated equally.
C. The chronological order allows the reader to see how the narrator’s perspective changed as she grew.
D. The nontraditional timeline allows the reader to see the narrator go from insecurity to confidence, even though she backtracked several times during her life.
D. The nontraditional timeline allows the reader to see the narrator go from insecurity to confidence, even though she backtracked several times during her life.
Choose two BEST pieces of evidence that show the narrator's perspective on gender roles.
A. So what, if my brothers grew up to buy even more powerful pellet guns for their sons and to carry real guns themselves.
B. Ironically, the girl who was voted most beautiful in our class (and was) was later shot twice through the chest by a male companion, using a "real" gun, while she was pregnant. But that's another story in itself. Or is it?
C. I am fourteen and baby-sitting for my brother Bill, who lives in Boston. He is my favorite brother and there is a strong bond between us.
D. All I know is that my mother might die, my father is not so jolly, my brothers still have their guns, and I am the one sent away from home.
E. My brother, the one who created the story about the wire, comes to my rescue. But then brags so much about "protecting" me, I become sick.
F. My playmates are my brothers, two and four years older than I. Their colors are black and green, the only difference in the way we are dressed.
A. So what, if my brothers grew up to buy even more powerful pellet guns for their sons and to carry real guns themselves.
B. Ironically, the girl who was voted most beautiful in our class (and was) was later shot twice through the chest by a male companion, using a "real" gun, while she was pregnant. But that's another story in itself. Or is it?
What is the narrator's perspective on men?
A. They are equal to women.
B. They are encouraged to be manly all the time so no one questions their gender identity.
C. They are expected to be violent to keep the power that they have.
D. They are rough, but they are usually kind, like her husband.
C. They are expected to be violent to keep the power that they have.
What changes, if any, should be made to this sentence?
While its safe to say that the author is an expert on the subject she could consider how to better address other people's ideas and experiences in the field.
There should be an apostrophe in it's and a comma after subject.
While it's safe to say that the author is an expert on the subject, she could consider how to better address other people's ideas and experiences in the field.