Phineas Gage FAST PREP

Character Analysis (ELA.8.R.1.3)

100

How is Phineas Gage described at the beginning of the text? What qualities made him a good foreman?

• A. He was tall and strong.
• B. He was good with his hands and had an iron will.
• C. He was quiet and reserved.
• D. He was a skilled doctor.

• Answer: B. He was good with his hands and had an iron will.

200

How did Phineas Gage's behavior change after the accident?

• A. He became more organized and efficient.
• B. He became more aggressive and unreliable.
• C. He became more compassionate and understanding.
• D. He became more skilled at his job.

 

• Answer: B. He became more aggressive and unreliable.

300

What does the phrase "Gage was no longer Gage" imply about his character after the accident?

• A. He physically changed.
• B. His personality and behavior changed.
• C. He lost his memory.
• D. He became more intelligent.

• Answer: B. His personality and behavior changed.

400

How did Phineas Gage's friends and family perceive him after the accident?

• A. They thought he was the same as before.
• B. They noticed significant changes in his behavior.
• C. They believed he had become a better person.
• D. They were indifferent to his changes.

• Answer: B. They noticed significant changes in his behavior.

500

Analyze the impact of Phineas Gage's personality changes on his social relationships. Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

• A. His relationships improved because he became more sociable.
• B. His relationships deteriorated because he became more impulsive and irresponsible.
• C. His relationships remained the same because he was still physically capable.
• D. His relationships were unaffected because he continued working as a foreman.

• Answer: B. His relationships deteriorated because he became more impulsive and irresponsible.

Figurative Language (ELA.8.R.3.4)

100

Identify and explain the metaphor used to describe the tamping iron in the text.

• A. "The tamping iron was a magic wand."
• B. "The tamping iron was a ticking time bomb."
• C. "The tamping iron was an iron spear."
• D. "The tamping iron was a gentle giant."

• Answer: C. "The tamping iron was an iron spear."

200

What is the effect of the author's descriptive language when detailing the accident?

• A. It makes the accident seem less severe.
• B. It emphasizes the suddenness and severity of the accident.
• C. It makes the accident seem humorous.
• D. It downplays the impact of the accident.

• Answer: B. It emphasizes the suddenness and severity of the accident.

300

Which figurative language device is used in the phrase "the iron shrieks through the air"?

• A. Simile
• B. Metaphor
• C. Personification
• D. Hyperbole

• Answer: C. Personification

400

How does the author use figurative language to convey the danger of working with explosives?

• A. By comparing the explosives to fireworks.
• B. By describing the gunpowder as "ticklish stuff."
• C. By likening the tamping iron to a crowbar.
• D. By calling the explosion a "gentle breeze."

• Answer: B. By describing the gunpowder as "ticklish stuff."

500

Analyze the impact of the simile "like a gun barrel" in describing the drill hole during the accident. How does this comparison enhance the reader's understanding of the event's severity?

• A. It suggests the drill hole was harmless.
• B. It emphasizes the power and danger of the explosion.
• C. It indicates the drill hole was very small.
• D. It downplays the severity of the accident.

• Answer: B. It emphasizes the power and danger of the explosion.

Central Idea (ELA.8.R.2.2)

100

What is the central idea of the text about Phineas Gage?

• A. The development of the railroad industry
• B. The impact of Phineas Gage's accident on brain science
• C. The daily life of a railroad worker
• D. The history of Vermont

• Answer: B. The impact of Phineas Gage's accident on brain science

200

How does the author introduce the central idea in the text?

• A. By describing Phineas Gage's family background
• B. By detailing the accident and its aftermath
• C. By discussing the history of brain science
• D. By explaining the construction of the railroad

• Answer: B. By detailing the accident and its aftermath

300

Which detail from the text best supports the central idea that Phineas Gage's accident was significant for brain science?

• A. Phineas Gage was a foreman.
• B. The tamping iron was made by a blacksmith.
• C. Phineas Gage's personality changed after the accident.
• D. The accident happened in Vermont.

• Answer: C. Phineas Gage's personality changed after the accident.

400

 How does the structure of the text help to develop the central idea?

• A. By presenting events in chronological order
• B. By using flashbacks and foreshadowing
• C. By focusing on unrelated events
• D. By including multiple perspectives

• Answer: A. By presenting events in chronological order

500

Analyze the effect of the author's use of detailed descriptions in the text. How do these descriptions contribute to the reader's understanding of the severity of the accident and its impact on Phineas Gage's life?

• A. It makes the text more confusing.
• B. It helps the reader understand the severity of the accident and its impact.
• C. It downplays the importance of the accident.
• D. It adds humor to the text.

• Answer: B. It helps the reader understand the severity of the accident and its impact.

Text Structure (ELA.8.R.1.4)

100

How does the author introduce Phineas Gage in the text?

• A. By describing his physical appearance
• B. By detailing his accident
• C. By explaining his job and character
• D. By discussing his family background

• Answer: C. By explaining his job and character

200

What is the purpose of the detailed description of the accident in the text?

• A. To entertain the reader
• B. To provide a clear understanding of the event
• C. To confuse the reader
• D. To downplay the severity of the accident

• Answer: B. To provide a clear understanding of the event

300

How does the author structure the text to highlight the significance of Phineas Gage's accident?

• A. By focusing solely on the accident
• B. By comparing it to other accidents
• C. By discussing the long-term effects and scientific impact
• D. By describing unrelated events

• Answer: C. By discussing the long-term effects and scientific impact

400

What role do the paragraphs describing Phineas Gage's immediate actions after the accident play in the overall text?

• A. They show his physical resilience.
• B. They highlight the confusion of the witnesses.
• C. They emphasize the severity of his injury.
• D. They provide comic relief.

• Answer: A. They show his physical resilience.

500

 How does the author use the structure of the text to build suspense about Phineas Gage's condition?

• A. By revealing the outcome immediately
• B. By gradually detailing his actions and the reactions of those around him
• C. By focusing on unrelated events
• D. By using technical medical jargon

• Answer: B. By gradually detailing his actions and the reactions of those around him

Rhetoric (ELA.8.R.3.1)

100

 What rhetorical strategy does the author use to engage the reader at the beginning of the text?

• A. Humor
• B. Shock and surprise
• C. Technical jargon
• D. Dialogue

• Answer: B. Shock and surprise

200

 How does the author use rhetorical questions in the text?

• A. To confuse the reader
• B. To emphasize the uncertainty and intrigue surrounding Phineas Gage's story
• C. To provide clear answers
• D. To downplay the significance of the accident

• Answer: B. To emphasize the uncertainty and intrigue surrounding Phineas Gage's story

300

What is the effect of the author's use of vivid imagery in describing the accident?

• A. It makes the text more boring.
• B. It helps the reader visualize the severity of the accident.
• C. It adds humor to the text.
• D. It makes the text less engaging.

• Answer: B. It helps the reader visualize the severity of the accident.

400

How does the author use anecdotes to support the central idea of the text?

• A. By providing unrelated stories
• B. By sharing personal experiences
• C. By including detailed accounts of Phineas Gage's actions and reactions
• D. By using fictional events

• Answer: C. By including detailed accounts of Phineas Gage's actions and reactions

500

What persuasive technique does the author use to highlight the significance of Phineas Gage's accident for brain science?

• A. Appeal to emotion
• B. Appeal to authority
• C. Appeal to logic
• D. Appeal to tradition

• Answer: B. Appeal to authority