Unit 1
Which sentence contains the best example of descriptive details?
A.) The apartment shuddered under the onslaught of the howling wind.
B.) They were about to move into the new apartment building last week.
C.) In preparation for the move to the apartment, they had to pack first.
D.) Inside the apartment, there was a lot to do to make it habitable.
A.) The apartment shuddered under the onslaught of the howling wind.
Which statement should be revised for a more formal tone?
A.) Poseidon, god of the sea, and Athena, goddess of war, fought for the city of Athens. Poseidon threw his spear, which produced the Spring of Acropolis.
B.) Amaltheia was kind of like a goat who fed Zeus, which Zeus was really happy about. In fact, he turned the goat’s horn into the horn of plenty.
C.) Chronos was the ancient Greek symbol of time. His appearance, a wise old man with a long beard, is similar to a current symbol, Father Time.
D.) Sisyphus displeased the gods by disclosing secrets. He found himself forced to roll a heavy stone uphill, only to see it roll back once it reached the peak.
B.) Amaltheia was kind of like a goat who fed Zeus, which Zeus was really happy about. In fact, he turned the goat’s horn into the horn of plenty.
Read the excerpt from "Binding Memories.”
Bound by a spine
strong enough to hold entire worlds
of information and dreams,
history and invention.
The speaker’s words reveal her
A.) resolve to write her own book.
B.) Enthusiasm for reading books
C.) Reverence for the written word.
D.) admiration of famous authors.
C.) Reverence for the written word.
Read the excerpt from Act V, scene iii of Romeo and Juliet.
Juliet: Go, get thee hence, for I will not away. [Exit FRIAR LAURENCE.]
What’s here? a cup, clos’d in my true love’s hand?
Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end.
O churl! drunk all, and left no friendly drop
To help me after! I will kiss thy lips;
Haply, some poison yet doth hang on them,
To make me die with a restorative. [Kisses him.]
Which tragic flaw of Juliet’s character is reflected in this excerpt?
A.) her optimistic way of seeing the world
B.) her tendency to act without forethought
C.) her tendency to act out of vengeance
D.) her carefree way of living life
B.) her tendency to act without forethought
Which sentence is in the active voice?
A.) The pact was negotiated by a team of seasoned diplomats.
B.) The garden was colonized by a dazzling variety of weeds.
C.) Our teacher was quoted in a magazine last week.
D.) Our old toaster always burns the toast on one side.
D.) Our old toaster always burns the toast on one side.
Read the excerpt from a discussion of themes in The Odyssey - Penelope.
Throughout Penelope’s encounter with the disguised Odysseus, she demonstrates how loyal she has been to him during his long absence.
What is the best way to summarize the theme being discussed?
A.) The character of Penelope is very loyal.
B.) Odysseus deserves Penelope’s loyalty.
C.) Relationships are often made of loyalty.
D.) Loyalty is the key to lasting relationships.
D.) Loyalty is the key to lasting relationships.
Which excerpt from "Binding Memories” contains imagery that helps the reader understand why the speaker loves books?
A.) No matter how many were printed,
there was only one copy like mine.
B.) I stole—well, borrowed—
the shoe box of letters
C.) I’m glad I’m a “romantic soul,”
that my work is worthwhile.
D.) I cherished the musty smell of the paper,
the permanence of the deep black ink,
D.) I cherished the musty smell of the paper,
the permanence of the deep black ink,
In Act III, scenes iii and iv of Romeo and Juliet, how does Capulet complicate the central conflict?
A.) by banishing Romeo for killing Juliet’s cousin Tybalt
B.) by forcing Paris to marry Juliet against his will
C.) by deciding to hasten Juliet’s marriage to Paris
D.) by refusing to recognize Romeo and Juliet’s marriage
C.) by deciding to hasten Juliet’s marriage to Paris
Based on its structure, which word most likely means "someone who takes advantage of circumstances”?
A.) credulous
B.) disdainful
C.) proactive
D.) opportunistic
D.) opportunistic
The Odyssey - Amphimedon shows that Greek society valued loyalty because of the way
A.) the suitors treat Penelope.
B.) Penelope treats the suitors.
C.) Amphimedon treats Agamemnon.
D.) Agamemnon treats Amphimedon.
B.) Penelope treats the suitors.
Read the excerpt from "The Scarlet Ibis.”
That summer, the summer of 1918, was blighted. In May and June there was no rain and the crops withered, curled up, then died under the thirsty sun. One morning in July a hurricane came out of the east, tipping over the oaks in the yard and splitting the limbs of the elm trees. That afternoon it roared back out of the west, blew the fallen oaks around, snapping their roots and tearing them out of the earth like a hawk at the entrails of a chicken. Cotton bolls were wrenched from the stalks and lay like green walnuts in the valleys between the rows, while the cornfield leaned over uniformly so that the tassels touched the ground. Doodle and I followed Daddy out into the cotton field, where he stood, shoulders sagging, surveying the ruin. When his chin sank down onto his chest, we were frightened, and Doodle slipped his hand into mine. Suddenly Daddy straightened his shoulders, raised his giant knuckly fist, and with a voice that seemed to rumble out of the earth itself began cursing heaven, hell, the weather, and the Republican Party. Doodle and I, prodding each other and giggling, went back to the house, knowing that everything would be all right.
Which phrases are examples of sensory imagery that make the details of the setting more vivid? Choose three answers.
A.) crops withered, curled up, then died under the thirsty sun
B.) morning in July a hurricane came out of the east
C.) snapping their roots and tearing them out of the earth
D.) a voice that seemed to rumble out of the earth itself
E.) prodding each other and giggling, went back to the house
A, C, D
In Act III, scenes iii and iv of Romeo and Juliet, why does Nurse most likely go to see Friar Laurence and Romeo?
A.) because she is concerned about Juliet’s well-being
B.) because she is angry at Romeo for killing Tybalt
C.) because she is worried about Romeo’s commitment to Juliet
D.) because she is confused about Juliet’s whereabouts
A.) because she is concerned about Juliet’s well-being
Read the sentence.
The media criticized Governor Dunham’s callous behavior, noting that the politician regularly ignored the struggles of the people who had voted for her.
What is the definition of "callous” in this context?
A.) immature
B.) impolite
C.) unenthusiastic
D.) unsympathetic
D.) unsympathetic
Which in-text citation is formatted correctly in MLA style?
A.) Odysseus and his men “slept again above the wash of ripples.(Homer 68).”
B.) Odysseus and his men, “slept again above the wash of ripples.(Homer 68)”
C.) Odysseus and his men, “slept again above the wash of ripples.” Homer (68)
D.) Odysseus and his men “slept again above the wash of ripples” (Homer 68).
D.) Odysseus and his men “slept again above the wash of ripples” (Homer 68).
Some sections of “Initiation” imply that Millicent will decline the sorority’s invitation.
The rising action contributes to this implied resolution by showing
A.) her feeling pride in becoming a candidate for the group.
B.) her beginning to question the way the group runs its operations.
C.) her completing the final challenges in the initiation.
D.) her waiting for her moment to confront the members of the sorority.
B.) her beginning to question the way the group runs its operations.
Read this line from the prologue of Romeo and Juliet.
A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life;
What is the most likely reason the prologue reveals this detail about the play?
A.) to engage the audience in the tragic story
B.) to warn the audience about the bloodshed
C.) to raise audience sympathy for the parents
D.) to build suspense about how the story ends
A.) to engage the audience in the tragic story
Read the passage from Heracles.
Ancient peoples believed in a pantheon of gods. To the ancient Greeks, the gods possessed human characteristics, including their weaknesses, such as vanity, greed, jealousy, vengefulness, and cruelty. In their stories, there was regular interaction between gods and humans, as well as demigods, who were the offspring of a union between a god and a mortal. Thus, many myths have to do with the struggle between them.
Based on the passage, what did the ancient Greeks most likely believe about their gods?
A.) The gods had greater character flaws than humans.
B.) The gods had fewer character flaws than humans.
C.) The gods lived by the same values as humans.
D.) The gods lived by different values than humans.
C.) The gods lived by the same values as humans.
Read the excerpt from The Odyssey.
Now Zeus the lord of cloud roused in the north
a storm against the ships, and driving veils
of squall moved down like night on land and sea.
The bows went plunging at the gust; sails
cracked and lashed out strips in the big wind.
We saw death in that fury, dropped the yards,
unshipped the oars, and pulled for the nearest lee:
then two long days and nights we lay offshore
worn out and sick at heart, tasting our grief,
until a third Dawn came with ringlets shining.
What does this excerpt most suggest about the beliefs of the ancient Greeks?
A.) They believed that nature’s strength was wholly uncontrollable.
B.) They believed that nature’s wrath could never be overcome.
C.) They believed that the gods were frequently unfair in their actions.
D.) They believed that the gods often punished people for acting badly.
D.) They believed that the gods often punished people for acting badly.
In “Initiation,” one example of a character vs. self conflict is when Millicent
A.) worries about how her actions affect Tracy.
B.) feels pressure to go along with the initiation.
C.) worries about what orders Bev will give next.
D.) feels pressure to accept the sorority’s invitation.
A.) worries about how her actions affect Tracy.
Read the excerpt from Act III, scene iii of Romeo and Juliet.
Romeo: Ha! banishment! be merciful, say ‘death;’
For exile hath more terror in his look,
Much more than death: do not say ‘banishment.’
Which is the best paraphrase of this dialogue?
A.) Death is more frightening than banishment.
B.) Banishment is a worse punishment than death.
C.) Death and banishment are deserved punishments.
D.) Banishment is equal to the pain of death.
B.) Banishment is a worse punishment than death.