Poetry
"The Fox"
"The Fox"
3.
Part A (TEKS 4F)
The poet’s description of the setting emphasizes —
A. a clear portrayal of life
B. the importance of preserving nature
C. a sense of playfulness
D. the freedom of the outdoors
D. the freedom of the outdoors
10 In paragraph 12, what does the word Paradoxically mean?
A Improbable but humorous
B Impressive but selfish
C Contradictory yet accurate
D Competent yet inconsistent
C Contradictory yet accurate
1 Which statement best expresses the thesis of the excerpt?
A Ancestral Puebloans were attracted to the cliffs of Colorado centuries ago.
B Ancestral Puebloans left behind the ruins of their communities in the cliffs.
C Ancestral Puebloans were innovators who created a flourishing civilization.
D Ancestral Puebloans lived in complex communities in southwestern Colorado.
C Ancestral Puebloans were innovators who created a flourishing civilization.
25 How does the language the author uses in paragraph 4 contribute to the mood in the excerpt from “The City Lost in the Snow”?
A It creates empathy for people who walk to work.
B It suggests hope that there will be progress for the worker.
C It emphasizes the sense of fantasy that ends abruptly.
D It reveals a feeling of warmth that contrasts with the cold outside.
C It emphasizes the sense of fantasy that ends abruptly.
14. (TEKS 9D) What change is needed in sentence 1?
Before Sally Ride joined NASA in the 1970s, the idea of a woman becoming an astronaut seemed incomprehensable.
A. Insert a comma after NASA
B. Change idea to ideas
C. Change becoming to to become
D. Change incomprehensable to incomprehensible
D. Change incomprehensable to incomprehensible
3. Part B (TEKS 5C)
Which phrase from the poem best supports the correct answer to Part A (that the description of the setting emphasizes the freedom of the outdoors)?
A. something red move outside (line 3)
B. untamed patch of land (line 4)
C. head tucked into his tail (line 14)
D. safe enough to rest (line 17)
B. untamed patch of land (line 4)
12 The information in paragraphs 9 through 11 supports which conclusion?
A People who find that volunteering increases their happiness most likely recruit other volunteers.
B Family members who volunteer together regularly most likely share the same motives for volunteering.
C Future research studies most likely will focus on how volunteers deal with stress experienced while volunteering.
D Multiple occurrences of volunteering most likely are needed to produce health benefits in the volunteer.
D Multiple occurrences of volunteering most likely are needed to produce health benefits in the volunteer.
2 Which quotation from the excerpt best supports the conclusion that the Ancestral Puebloans made efficient use of limited resources?
A The low height of the doorways indicates that people then were shorter than they are today. (paragraph 4)
B However, the farmers were expert in dryland farming, creating check dams and channels to direct rainwater to their crops. (paragraph 10)
C Now the Ancestral Puebloans no longer lived on top of the mesa. (paragraph 12)
D Around 1270, the Ancestral Puebloans left Mesa Verde, although we are not entirely sure why they left. (paragraph 13)
B However, the farmers were expert in dryland farming, creating check dams and channels to direct rainwater to their crops. (paragraph 10)
30 Which sentence best expresses a SIMILARITY between the excerpt from “The City Lost in the Snow” and the poem “London Snow”?
A Newly fallen snow can bring a welcome change to everyday life.
B Forces in nature can be hostile and compel people to work harder.
C Nature constantly reminds people that progress is only an illusion.
D Heavy snowfall isolates people from one another.
A Newly fallen snow can bring a welcome change to everyday life.
19. (TEKS 9D) Choose the correct answer from the drop-down menu to complete the statement.
Sally Ride did not set out to be an astronaut ____________ became both.
1. or a hero. Nevertheless she
2. or a hero nevertheless. She
3. or a hero; nevertheless, she
4. , or a hero nevertheless, she
3. or a hero; nevertheless, she
2. (TEKS 4F, 7B) Which lines from the poem support the impulse to connect with nature? Select TWO correct answers.
A. It was an ordinary morning: November, thin light, (line 1)
B. an untamed patch of land and, across the lagoon, (line 4)
C. he might be a dog at first for he trotted and sniffed/like a dog (lines 7–8)
D. found/a patch of sand beneath a tree and turned himself (lines 12–13)
E. My God/I was tired of being a person. (lines 19–20)
B. an untamed patch of land and, across the lagoon, (line 4)
E. My God/I was tired of being a person. (lines 19–20)
13 Which group is most likely the author’s intended audience?
A Skeptical people who are unsure about devoting the time to be a volunteer
B Generous people who treasure the joy that comes from doing good deeds
C Selfless people who believe in doing something virtuous with their lives
D Ambitious people who are eager to look good to potential employers
A Skeptical people who are unsure about devoting the time to be a volunteer
3 In paragraphs 9, 10, and 12, the details support the key idea that the Ancestral Puebloans —
A developed new construction skills
B frequently faced challenges in surviving
C often moved in search of a better home
D outgrew the available resources
A developed new construction skills
29 How does the language in paragraphs 1 and 2 of the excerpt from “The City Lost in the Snow” DIFFER from the language in lines 1 through 9 of the poem “London Snow”?
A The language in the excerpt emphasizes the surprise of a character, while the language in the poem suggests the sadness of the speaker.
B The language in the excerpt conveys the fear of a character, while the language in the poem reveals the excitement of the speaker.
C The language in the excerpt conveys the enthusiasm of a character, while the language in the poem reveals the calmness of the speaker.
D The language in the excerpt emphasizes the objectivity of a character, while the language in the poem suggests the bias of the speaker.
C The language in the excerpt conveys the enthusiasm of a character, while the language in the poem reveals the calmness of the speaker.
9. (TEKS 9C) Sentence 5 needs to be revised.
In the box provided, rewrite sentence 5 in a clear and effective way.
5) Students are waking up exhausted, by Friday, but they must drag themselves through one more school day.
By Friday, students are waking up exhausted, but they must drag themselves through one more school day.
1. In stanza 4 (lines 10–12), the poet uses the word _______ to emphasize the fox’s delicate beauty.
dainty
15 What is the most likely reason the author includes contrasting ideas about stress in paragraph 7?
A To restate a key point more vividly
B To question conflicting evidence
C To emphasize an unusual perspective
D To challenge an opposing viewpoint
D To challenge an opposing viewpoint
4 Which detail from the section titled “The Cliff Dwellings at Mesa Verde” (paragraphs 3–7) supports the key idea that social interaction was important to Ancestral Puebloan communities?
A The size of the living areas
B The location of the kiva
C The function of the courtyard
D The proximity of the dwellings
C The function of the courtyard
32 What is the DIFFERENCE in the way the newly fallen snow affects the working men in the excerpt from “The City Lost in the Snow” and the working men in the poem “London Snow”?
A While the laborers in the excerpt compete for scarce jobs shoveling the snow, the laborers in the poem feel that the snow has made their work much harder.
B While the laborers in the excerpt feel overwhelmed by the increased workload due to the snow, the laborers in the poem trudge through the snow without noticing it.
C While the laborers in the excerpt worry about the monumental task of shoveling the snow, the laborers in the poem think of the snow as a part of their daily struggles.
D While the laborers in the excerpt appreciate opportunities brought by the snow, the laborers in the poem find the snow a short distraction from the drudgery of their day.
D While the laborers in the excerpt appreciate opportunities brought by the snow, the laborers in the poem find the snow a short distraction from the drudgery of their day.
13. (TEKS 9B) What is the most effective transition to add to the beginning of sentence 37?
(36) The evidence in favor of switching to four-day school weeks is overwhelming. (37) It’s time for our school system to implement this innovative program in our area.
A. For example
B. Similarly
C. Unfortunately
D. Clearly
D. Clearly
ECR Prompt:
Explain the feelings the poet expresses while watching the fox and how those feelings are developed by the poet.
What is a strong thesis for this prompt?
When she first notices the fox, the poet expresses the feelings of ___; as she watches the fox, they develop into feelings of ____ and ____.
Possible feelings: surprise, worry, concern, envy, desire for freedom
SCR: What effect does the shift in tone between paragraphs 6 and 7 have on the author’s argument?
The shift from a dubious tone in paragraph 6 to a reassuring one in paragraph 7 refocuses the direction of the argument. For example, the "what about" series of questions in paragraph 6 are resolved by the calming phrase, "The answer, actually, is quite simple" at the beginning of paragraph 7. This turn allows the author to address and refute the counterargument; then the author continues with the primary argument's main claim.
5 Why does the author most likely include the illustrations in the excerpt? Select TWO correct answers.
A. To explain how the Ancestral Puebloans used different resources
B. To show how the Ancestral Puebloans designed and built structures
C. To demonstrate the challenges of building dwellings in the cliff
D. To show how the different parts of the cliff dwellings fit together
E. To contrast different types of buildings built by the Ancestral Puebloans
B. To show how the Ancestral Puebloans designed and built structures
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E. To contrast different types of buildings built by the Ancestral Puebloans
31 This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
Part A
Read these quotations from the excerpt from “The City Lost in the Snow” and the poem “London Snow.”
He opened the window: the city was gone; it had been replaced by a white sheet of paper. (paragraph 1 of “The City Lost in the Snow”)
Hiding difference, making unevenness even, (line 8 of “London Snow”)
What does the imagery in BOTH quotations suggest?
A A heavy snowfall affects everyone in a city equally.
B A heavy snowfall can be destructive to city landmarks.
C A heavy snowfall can transform the appearance of a city.
D A heavy snowfall provides opportunities to everyone in a city.
Part B
Which line from the poem “London Snow” supports the answer to Part A?
A Deadening, muffling, stifling its murmurs failing; (line 5)
B Silently sifting and veiling road, roof and railing; (line 7)
C It lay in the depth of its uncompacted lightness, (line 11)
D But even for them awhile no cares encumber (line 34)
C A heavy snowfall can transform the appearance of a city.
&
B Silently sifting and veiling road, roof and railing; (line 7)
(TEKS 9C) Sentence 8 needs to be revised. In the box provided, rewrite sentence 8 in a clear and effective way.
(8) Cities that want to must undergo a screening process, and it is rigorous, to host the Winter or Summer Games.
Cities that want to host the Winter or Summer Games must undergo a rigorous screening process.