Comprehension
In “By the Waters of Babylon,” how is John’s society different from the one that came before it?
People believe in magic, spirits, and demons.
What is the most likely way in which water would be purified?
1. by bathing in it
2. sealing it in a large container
3. by removing impurities from it
by removing impurities from it
What conclusion can you draw from this passage from “By the Waters of Babylon”?
There was also the shattered image of a man or a god. It had been made of white stone and he wore his hair tied back like a woman’s. His name was ASHING .…
1. The gods had a leader named Ashing.
2. The image is a statue of George Washington.
3. Some people considered George Washington a god.
The image is a statue of George Washington.
In “By the Waters of Babylon,” why does John go to the Place of the Gods?
to try to gain knowledge
What would a stern parent most likely do if his or her child misbehaved?
1.) laugh about the child’s behavior
2.) try to explain the child’s behavior
3.) punish the child’s behavior
Punish the child's behavior
From what point of view is “By the Waters of Babylon” narrated?
1. first-person, by John
2. first-person, by John’s father
3. third-person, limited to John’s thoughts and experiences
1. first-person by John
What do John’s references to gods and magic in “By the Waters of Babylon” most clearly suggest?
1. The Great Burning was a recent event.
2. The People of the Hills are social outcasts.
3. John’s people lack knowledge about technology.
John’s people lack knowledge about technology.
What must happen when a person is fasting?
1. The person must not eat.
2. The person must rush off.
3. The person must not smile.
The person must not eat.
How does “By the Waters of Babylon” offer a strong example of dramatic irony?
1. John undertakes a quest to the Place of the Gods, even though it is forbidden.
2. The narrator knows more about the Place of the Gods than the reader does.
3. The reader understands more about the Place of the Gods than John does.
The reader understands more about the Place of the Gods than John does.
In “By the Waters of Babylon,” what does John finally realize about the gods?
They were human beings.
What does the following sentence from “By the Waters of Babylon” suggest about the culture of the story?
A priest must know many secrets—that was what my father said. If the hunters think we do all things by chants and spells, they may believe so—it does not hurt them.
1. The priests are more educated and powerful than the hunters are.
2. Only men can become priests and learn their secrets.
3. The hunters know far more than the priests do.
The priests are more educated and powerful than the hunters are.
How does the use of dramatic irony in “By the Waters of Babylon” affect readers?
1. It creates a feeling of humor.
2. It creates a feeling of calm.
3. It creates a feeling of suspense.
It creates a feeling of suspense.
What is one central idea of “By the Waters of Babylon”?
1. Life is not always fair.
2. Love can change the world.
3. True wisdom may require knowledge of painful truths.
True wisdom may require knowledge of painful truths.
In “By the Waters of Babylon,” John sees the city “as it had been when the gods were alive.” What is he seeing?
1. a terrifying nightmare
2. a view of another planet
3. New York City in the past
New York City in the past.
TRICK QUESTION---DOUBLE POINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One definition of the word found is “to set up.” Listed below are four words with their definitions in quotation marks. Which word belongs to the same word family as found?
-->find; “to locate”
-->foundation; “the beginning”
-->befuddled; “confused”
-->flounder; “to struggle”
Read the following excerpt from “By the Waters of Babylon.”
Nevertheless, we make a beginning. It is not for the metal alone we go to the Dead Places now—there are the books and the writings. They are hard to learn. And the magic tools are broken—but we can look at them and wonder.
How does the author use dashes to develop John’s character in the story?
1. to emphasize that John is very frightened about the future
2. to create the impression that John is actually speaking
to create the impression that John is actually speaking
Read the following passage from “By the Waters of Babylon.”
Nevertheless, we make a beginning. It is not for the metal alone we go to the Dead
Places now—there are the books and the writings. They are hard to learn. And the
magic tools are broken—but we can look at them and wonder. At least, we make a
beginning. And, when I am chief priest we shall go beyond the great river. We shall
go to the Place of the Gods—the place newyork—not one man but a company. We
shall look for the images of the gods and find the god ASHING and the others—the
gods Lincoln and Biltmore and Moses. But they were men who built the city, not
gods or demons. They were men. I remember the dead man’s face. They were men
who were here before us. We must build again.
Which of these choices best describes John’s diction and syntax in the passage?
a. formal diction and simple syntax
b. informal diction and informal syntax
c. careless diction and formal syntax
formal diction and simple syntax