Picture of Dorian Gray
Which sentence best expresses a central idea of passage 1
A. The artist Basil Hallward is so entranced with a portrait he has painted that he does not want to put it on public display.
B. Lord Henry, a patron of the arts, tries to persuade the artist Basil Hallward to change the gallery he works with.
C. Basil Hallward’s earlier disappearance from London had caused a great deal of excitement in the city.
D. Basil Hallward risks his professional reputation by insisting that his work not be displayed.
A
The artist Basil Hallward is so entranced with a portrait he has painted that he does not want to put it on public display.
*******BONUS*******
Who is the author of Frankenstein?
Mary Shelley
What does the word privation mean as it is used in paragraph 4?
A. division
B. hardship
C. tedium
D. stamina
B
hardship
What does the word dissenting mean as it is used in paragraph 5?
A. disrespectful
B. disappointed
C. disagreeing
D. disbelieving
C
disagreeing
What does intuition mean, as used in paragraph 4?
A. notation
B. proof
C. insight
D. intention
C
insight
**********BONUS**********
Who is the author of Dorian Gray?
Oscar Wilde
In passage 2, which statement characterizes the narrator’s reaction to his creation?
A. He is surprised that his feelings about his creation have changed so quickly.
B. Regardless of his horror, he remains proud of his accomplishment.
C. In spite of himself, he feels loyal to his creature.
D. He realizes that he has sacrificed companionship for his creation.
A
He is surprised that his feelings about his creation have changed so quickly.
Which sentence best expresses a central idea of the passage?
A. The Pony Express was the first mail delivery system in the United States.
B. The Pony Express, despite meeting with some early criticism, became a showcase for American ingenuity.
C. The Pony Express, despite the dangers its riders faced, was welcomed by the people of the West as an important addition to their lives.
D. The Pony Express was a contributing factor in the increasingly poor relations between Western settlers and Plains Indians.
C
The Pony Express, despite the dangers its riders faced, was welcomed by the people of the West as an important addition to their lives.
What quote supports the idea that the citizens were excited about the Pony Express?
A. “A pause of seconds, and a cannon booms in the distance. . .”
B. “The rider leaps to his saddle and starts.”
C. “A ferry boat under a full head of steam is waiting.”
D. “The crowd behind breaks into tumultuous applause.”
D
“The crowd behind breaks into tumultuous applause.”
Select the paragraph from the passage that best expresses its central idea.
A. "Normally she used her laptop to take notes, but, without it, she’d have to rely on a more traditional approach.”
B. “So she put pen to paper—and found something surprising.”
C. “Class just seemed better. ‘I felt like I had gotten so much more out of the lecture that day,’ she said."
D. “A new study—conducted by Mueller and Oppenheimer—finds that people remember lectures better when they’ve taken handwritten notes, rather than typed ones.”
D
“A new study—conducted by Mueller and Oppenheimer—finds that people remember lectures better when they’ve taken handwritten notes, rather than typed ones.”
What does the word delineate mean as it is used in paragraph 9?
A. ignore
B. forgive
C. portray
D. fabricate
C
portray
Which quotation from the passage best supports the supports the idea that the creator was disgusted with his creation?
A. “With an anxiety that almost amounted to agony, I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet.” (paragraph 8)
B. “His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful.” (paragraph 9)
C. “The different accidents of life are not so changeable as the feelings of human nature.” (paragraph 10)
D. “I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.” (paragraph 10)
D
“I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.” (paragraph 10)
How does the author present information in the passage?
A. The author begins by explaining general ideas then gives additional specific details.
B. The author lists the least important ideas first then concludes with the most important ideas.
C. The author describes the reaction geographically, starting in the east and moving to the west.
D. The author gives the history chronologically from the first event that occurred to the final celebration.
C
The author describes the reaction geographically, starting in the east and moving to the west.
********BONUS***********
Who is the author of Pony Express?
Glenn Danford Bradley
How does the author use rhetoric in paragraphs 1–2 to advance his purpose?
A. He uses a personal story to explain an unexpected discovery.
B. He uses data and facts to support a position about note-taking.
C. He uses an emotional appeal to emphasize an alarming problem.
D. He uses a metaphor to make his ideas easier to understand.
A
He uses a personal story to explain an unexpected discovery.
How do Lord Henry’s feelings toward Basil Hallward change by the end of passage 1?
A. He is jealous of Basil’s abilities at first but begins to pity the lonely painter by the end.
B. He admires Basil’s fine work at the beginning but becomes confused by his strange behavior.
C. He has little interest in Basil when he arrives but comes to wonder at his magnificent talent.
D. He is worried about Basil at the beginning but becomes hopeful after speaking with his friend.
B
He admires Basil’s fine work at the beginning but becomes confused by his strange behavior.
Which sentence best expresses a central idea of the passage?
A. A scientist suffers delusions from long periods of solitude.
B. A creator feels an unexpected revulsion for his creation.
C. An ordinary man represses his human emotions in a sterile, scientific environment.
D. An inventor persists in pursuing his goal despite criticism from peers.
B
A creator feels an unexpected revulsion for his creation.
What is the relationship between paragraph 1 and paragraph 6 in the passage?
A. Both paragraphs describe the spirit embodied by the Pony Express riders.
B. Both paragraphs emphasize the speed and expertise of the riders.
C. Both paragraphs describe the excitement of citizens at both ends of the route.
D. Both paragraphs
C
Both paragraphs describe the excitement of citizens at both ends of the route.
Which quote shows that Californians had points of view about the Pony Express?
A. “. . . the opening of the line was likewise awaited with the keenest anticipation.”
B. “. . . there had been at the outset a few dissenting opinions, . . .”
C. “A vast majority of the people favored the enterprise and clamored for it; . . .”
D. “. . . all classes were united in the conviction that they could not do without it.”
B
“. . . there had been at the outset a few dissenting opinions, . . .”
What is the primary claim in paragraph 18?
A. Students who take notes by hand listen more carefully to lectures, while
students who use laptops listen only selectively.
B. Students who take notes by hand are only able to remember selective information, while students who use laptops can remember much more information.
C. Taking notes by hand is more effective than taking notes on a laptop because it requires students to process information as they write it down.
D. Taking notes by hand is less efficient than taking notes on a laptop because it requires students to process information rather than simply write it down.
C
"Taking notes by hand is more effective than taking notes on a laptop because it requires students to process information as they write it down."
What do the main characters of "Dorian Gray" and "Frankenstein" have in common?
A. They both feel disappointment in a creation.
B. They both desire to create an object of beauty.
C. They both feel a sense of satisfaction about a creation.
D. They both desire to maintain a respectable reputation.
B
They both desire to create an object of beauty.
Select two central ideas shared by "Dorian Gray" and "Frankenstein".
A. The creators are selfishly unwilling to share their creations with others.
B. The process of creating can have unsettling results.
C. The process of creation is a solitary occupation.
D. The creators lack self-confidence.
E. The creators have an obsession with their creations.
F. The process of creation is more important than the creation itself.
B + E
(B) The process of creating can have unsettling results.
(E) The creators have an obsession with their creations.
What are two claims presented at the beginning of the passage?
A. “The rider leaps to his saddle and starts. In less than a minute he is at the post office where the letter pouch, square in shape with four padlocked pockets, is awaiting him.” (paragraph 1)
B. “A ferry boat under a full head of steam is waiting. With scarcely checked speed, the horse thunders onto the deck of the craft.” (paragraph 1)
C. “Some scream themselves hoarse; others are strangely silent; and some— strong men—are moved to tears. . . .” (paragraph 1)
D. “The managers of the Central Overland, California and Pike’s Peak Express Company had laid their plans well.” (paragraph 2)
E. “There was no guesswork or delay.” (paragraph 2)
D + E
(D) “The managers of the Central Overland, California and Pike’s Peak Express Company had laid their plans well.” (paragraph 2)
(E) “There was no guesswork or delay.” (paragraph 2)
What is the relationship between paragraph 4 and paragraph 5 in the passage?
A. Paragraph 4 gives supporting details to explain why many Californians planned to use the Pony Express.
B. Paragraph 4 gives supporting details to explain how organized the entire Pony Express system turned out to be.
C. Paragraph 4 gives supporting details to explain why Californians had conflicting points of view about the enterprise.
D. Paragraph 4 gives supporting details to explain why Californians were united in their belief that the enterprise was a good thing for their state.
C
Paragraph 4 gives supporting details to explain why Californians had conflicting points of view about the enterprise.
How does paragraph 16 develop the ideas in paragraphs 13–15?
A. Paragraph 16 provides background information that may explain the results described in paragraphs 13–15.
B. Paragraph 16 presents the results of the experimental setup described in paragraphs 13–15.
C. Paragraph 16 presents an alternate perspective on the experiment described in paragraphs 13–15.
D. Paragraph 16 summarizes the conclusions that can be drawn from the results described in paragraphs 13–15.
D
Paragraph 16 summarizes the conclusions that can be drawn from the results described in paragraphs 13–15.