Name:



|Name:       |Date:       |

Grade 10 Beginning-of-Year Test

Informational Text

from The Mountains of California, John Muir

Read this passage from The Mountains of California by John Muir. Then, answer the question(s).

(1) Making your way through the mazes of the Coast Range to the summit of any of the inner peaks or passes opposite San Francisco, in the clear springtime, the grandest and most telling of all California landscapes is outspread before you. At your feet lies the great Central Valley glowing golden in the sunshine, extending north and south farther than the eye can reach, one smooth, flowery, lake-like bed of fertile soil. Along its eastern margin rises the mighty Sierra, miles in height, reposing like a smooth, cumulous cloud in the sunny sky, and so glorious colored, and so luminous, it seems to be not clothed with light, but wholly composed of it, like the wall of some celestial city. . . .

(2) When I first enjoyed this superb view, one glowing April day, from the summit of Pacheco Pass, the Central Valley, but little trampled or plowed as yet, was one furred, rich sheet of golden compositae,* and the luminous wall of the mountains shone in all its glory. Then it seemed to me the Sierra should be called not the Nevada, or Snowy Range, but the Range of Light. And after ten years spent in the heart of it, rejoicing and wondering, bathing in its glorious floods of light, seeing the sunbursts of morning among the icy peaks, the noonday radiance on the trees and rocks and snow, the flush of the alpenglow, and a thousand dashing waterfalls with their marvelous abundance of irised** spray, it still seems to me above all others the Range of Light, the most divinely beautiful of all the mountain chains I have ever seen.

(3) The Sierra is about 500 miles long, 70 miles wide, and from 7,000 to nearly 15,000 feet high. In general views no mark of man is visible on it, nor anything to suggest the richness of the life it cherishes, or the depth and grandeur of its sculpture. . . . Nevertheless, glaciers are still at work in the shadows of the peaks, and thousands of lakes and meadows shine and bloom beneath them, and the whole range is furrowed with canyons to a depth of from 2,000 to 5,000 feet, in which once flowed majestic glaciers, and in which now flow and sing a band of beautiful rivers.

________________________________

*compositae: daisies

**irised: rainbowed

|Name:       |Date:       |

      1. Which statement best expresses the central idea, or claim, in this passage?

|a. |The Sierra Nevada is a magnificent mountain range, and the view of it from California’s Coast Range is |

| |spectacular. |

|b. |In every way, the Sierra Nevada is far superior to other mountain chains. |

|c. |The Sierra Nevada, which means “Snowy Range of Mountains” in Spanish, should be called “Mountain Range of |

| |Light.” |

|d. |The Sierra Nevada is a mountain range that contains many glaciers. |

2. The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B.

      Part A Reread the following sentence from the passage.

And after ten years spent in the heart of it, rejoicing and wondering, bathing in its glorious floods of light, seeing the sunbursts of morning among the icy peaks, the noonday radiance on the trees and rocks and snow, the flush of the alpenglow, . . . it still seems to me above all others the Range of Light. . . .

From the context of this sentence, what do you conclude is the meaning of the

technical term alpenglow?

|a. |the enthusiasm that mountain climbers show for their hobby |

|b. |a device similar to a flashlight, used by mountain climbers in high, |

| |snowy areas |

|c. |the thin air that is found at the upper range of mountains and that causes dizziness |

|d. |the reddish light that often appears on mountains at sunrise and sunset |

      Part B Which phrases from the sentence in Part A provide clues to the meaning of alpenglow? Choose two options.

|a. |the heart of it |

|b. |floods of light |

|c. |sunbursts of morning |

|d. |above all others |

|Name:       |Date:       |

      3. How does paragraph 2 contribute to the development of the author’s ideas?

|a. |It provides geological details supporting the writer’s assertions about the character of the mountains. |

|b. |It provides an expert opinion about the importance of the area described in the first paragraph. |

|c. |It gives details about a specific mountain in the general area introduced in the first paragraph. |

|d. |It tells of the author’s experience of the area and provides evidence for his claims about its character. |

      4. From the details in this passage, what can you conclude was most likely the main factor in shaping the canyons of the Sierra Nevada?

|a. |fertile soil |

|b. |human activity |

|c. |glaciers |

|d. |earthquakes |

      5. Which of the following are most clearly the author’s purposes in the passage?

|a. |to inform readers about the geography and appearance of the Sierra Nevada; to persuade readers of its beauty|

|b. |to inform readers about the location of the Sierra Nevada; to persuade readers that it was sculpted by |

| |glaciers |

|c. |to inform readers about the geography and appearance of the Coast Range; to persuade readers to visit it |

|d. |to inform readers about the view from Pacheco Pass; to persuade readers that the land must be preserved |

Literary Text

Short Story

Read the passage. Then, answer the question(s).

(1) Celeste and Lonnie had been next-door neighbors since the two had come home from the same hospital as infants. They played together as toddlers, went to the same preschool, and even played in Little League together. Then, Celeste moved to California.

(2) At first, they kept up their friendship via email. Over time, though, the emails grew more brief and less frequent. Finally, they stopped altogether. Life took over, with new friends and activities crowding out the past.

|Name:       |Date:       |

(3) Then, one day when the two were juniors in high school, Lonnie received an email from Celeste. Celeste wrote to say that she would be coming north to Portland by train for an interview at the university that she expected to attend. “I’m looking forward to meeting you again, Lonnie!” she added. Lonnie, however, was hesitant about seeing her. Did they really have anything in common anymore? He dreaded having to pretend to be interested in a person who was now a virtual stranger. Didn’t she realize years had passed, that he was no longer the little boy she had once known? Why did she assume they were still friends?

(4) Nevertheless, Lonnie offered to pick Celeste up at the train station. How could he refuse without seeming rude? When he arrived, his anxiety heightened. What did she think they would have to talk about—the cartoons they used to watch together? He realized he didn’t even know what she looked like now—he and Celeste had never exchanged photos.

(5) When a lovely young woman got off the train and walked up to him, right where he said he would be standing, he had no idea at first who she was. “Lonnie?” she inquired. And then: “Lonnie, it is you! How wonderful to see you!” She hugged him fiercely and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. He stood stunned for a moment, but then he slowly smiled. He had been trying to persuade his parents to send him east for college. Suddenly, he found himself wondering whether it would be easier after all to go to school in Portland.

      6. On which conflict does the passage focus?

|a. |Lonnie’s internal struggle about whether to agree to meet with Celeste again |

|b. |Lonnie’s external struggle with Celeste over whether or not to maintain their friendship |

|c. |Celeste’s internal struggle about whether to stay friendly with Lonnie and see him again |

|d. |Lonnie’s external struggle with his parents about whether to attend college close to home |

|Name:       |Date:       |

7. The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B.

      Part A Which is the best justified inference you can make from events after Celeste steps off the train?

|a. |In spite of the time that has passed, Celeste has not changed since Lonnie last saw her. |

|b. |For several minutes, Lonnie does not realize who is speaking to him. |

|c. |Lonnie is disturbed and put off by Celeste’s friendliness. |

|d. |Lonnie discovers he likes Celeste and is glad he decided to meet her again. |

      Part B Which excerpts from paragraph 5 best support the answer to Part A? Choose two options.

|a. |When a lovely young woman got off the train and walked up to him, . . . he had no idea at first who she was.|

|b. |She hugged him fiercely and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. |

|c. |He stood stunned for a moment, but then he slowly smiled. |

|d. |Suddenly, he found himself wondering whether it would be easier after all to go to school in Portland. |

      8. In what way does the ending of the passage illustrate situational irony?

|a. |Lonnie’s reactions when he meets Celeste are the opposite of what he expected. |

|b. |What Celeste says to Lonnie is the opposite of what she really means |

| |to say. |

|c. |Lonnie does not know something about Celeste that the reader knows. |

|d. |Lonnie’s situation seems contradictory but actually reveals a deeper truth. |

|Name:       |Date:       |

Informational Text

Essay

Read this passage. Then, answer the question(s).

(1) The early-twentieth-century artist George Bellows is an important figure in the artistic discovery of the city. (2) Without overly sentimentalizing his subjects, he finds the distinctive values of urban existence. (3) Take the painting that he called Cliff Dwellers. (4) Borrowing a term for earlier peoples living on mountainsides, Bellows instead paints figures in the “cliffs” of tenement houses in a crowded city neighborhood. (5) The painting is vividly realistic, and most of the people that it shows clearly lead difficult lives. (6) Yet the overall message is one of joyous celebration, of urban energy, of human resilience. (7) Similarly, consider Bellows’s famous painting A Morning Snow—Hudson River, which shows a scene on New York’s Upper West Side. (8) Here, snow covers the usual urban grit, and a father and child walk peacefully down a snow-lined path in the right foreground. (9) Yet Bellows makes sure that we never forget that his setting is a city, where most people work hard for a living. (10) Thus, in the left foreground, contrasting with those leisurely strollers, is a working man shoveling snow from the sidewalk. (11) Echoing the theme of work are the boats sailing the Hudson River in the distant background, their smokestacks belching steam into the crisp morning air.

      9. What kind of evidence does the author supply to support the claim stated in sentences 1 and 2?

|a. |examples |

|b. |logical reasoning |

|c. |statistics |

|d. |definitions |

      10. In which sentence does the author most clearly use parallelism as a rhetorical device?

|a. |sentence 3 |

|b. |sentence 5 |

|c. |sentence 6 |

|d. |sentence 9 |

|Name:       |Date:       |

Literary Text

from The Devil’s Dictionary, Ambrose Bierce

Read these entries from The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce. Then, answer the

question(s).

ABSURDITY n. A statement or belief manifestly inconsistent with one’s own opinion.

ACADEME n. An ancient school where morality and philosophy were taught.

ACADEMY n. [from ACADEME] A modern school where football is taught.

BORE n. A person who talks when you wish him to listen.

CABBAGE n. A familiar kitchen-garden vegetable about as large and wise as a man’s head. [The cabbage is so called from Cabagius, a prince who on ascending the throne issued a decree appointing a High Council of Empire consisting of the members of his predecessor’s Ministry and the cabbages in the royal garden. When any of his Majesty’s measures of state policy miscarried conspicuously it was gravely announced that several members of the High Council had been beheaded, and his murmuring subjects were appeased.]

      11. What type of literary work does The Devil’s Dictionary most clearly exemplify?

|a. |a humorous essay |

|b. |a reference work |

|c. |a memoir |

|d. |a satire |

      12. Which statement best describes Bierce’s tone and purpose?

|a. |Bierce uses an angry tone to condemn the sins of humanity. |

|b. |Bierce uses a cynical tone to ridicule human behavior and society. |

|c. |Bierce uses a lighthearted tone to educate humanity in a gentle way. |

|d. |Bierce uses a reprimanding tone to encourage human beings to improve. |

|Name:       |Date:       |

Literary Text

“Old Tunes,” Sara Teasdale

Read the following poem, “Old Tunes,” by Sara Teasdale. Then, answer the question(s).

As the waves of perfume, heliotrope,1 rose, 1. heliotrope: a fragrant flower.

Float in the garden when no wind blows,

Come to us, go from us, whence no one knows;

So the old tunes float in my mind,

5 And go from me leaving no trace behind

Like fragrance borne on the hush of the wind.

But in the instant the airs2 remain 2. airs: songs.

I know the laughter and the pain

Of times that will not come again.

10 I try to catch at many a tune

Like petals of light fallen from the moon,

Broken and bright on a dark lagoon,3 3. lagoon: a shallow lake or pond.

But they float away—for who can hold

Youth, or perfume or the moon’s gold?

      13. Which phrase best describes the speaker in this lyric poem?

|a. |lighthearted and carefree |

|b. |cold and unfeeling |

|c. |nostalgic about the past |

|d. |excited about the future |

      14. To which of the five senses does the imagery in the first line of the poem

appeal most clearly? Choose all that apply.

|a. |sight |

|b. |taste |

|c. |touch |

|d. |hearing |

|e. |smell |

      15. Which type of figurative language do the first and second stanzas of the poem together illustrate?

|a. |simile |

|b. |metaphor |

|c. |personification |

|d. |understatement |

|Name:       |Date:       |

16. The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B.

      Part A Which statement best expresses the main theme of this poem?

|a. |Experiences and emotions are temporary. |

|b. |For some people, experiences and emotions last forever. |

|c. |Music helps us overcome pain and sorrow. |

|d. |The sound of music is as lovely as the scent of flowers. |

      Part B Which excerpt from the poem best supports the answer to Part A?

|a. |As the waves of perfume, heliotrope, rose, / Float in the garden when no wind blows. / . . . / So the old|

| |tunes float in my mind. . . . (lines 1–4) |

|b. |But in the instant the airs remain / I know the laughter and the pain / Of times that will not come |

| |again. (lines 7–9) |

|c. |I try to catch at many a tune / Like petals of light fallen from the |

| |moon. . . . (lines 10–11) |

|d. |But they float away—for who can hold / Youth, or perfume or the moon’s gold? (lines 13–14) |

Literary Text

Historical Fiction

Read this passage. Then, answer the question(s).

(1) It was a fine harbor, well protected from the sea, yet with the sea easily reachable through navigable waters. (2) The vessel sailed for the Dutch West India Company, its mission to purchase from the natives a base from which to conduct company trade. (3) The best location, it was decided, was the tip of the hilly island the natives called Manna-hata. (4) Dutch being unfamiliar to the natives, the captain employed broken French and a great deal of sign language to arrange for the purchase. (5) For goods worth only about sixty Dutch guilders—cloth, kettles, knives, shirts—he concluded what he thought was a splendid bargain, acquiring the island for the company.

(6) The Tall One spoke as best he could to the strangers from across the waters. (7) “I know my people’s love of the land. I hear your words, but I do not think you share this love. (8) When you speak, I hear only your want. (9) I hear only your need. (10) Your need is for a place to hunt.

(11) Your want is for a promise of safety. (12) For this, you make offerings. (13) Very well. (14) There is enough here to share. (15) I accept your offerings, and I welcome you in peace.” (16) He did not understand why later they expected him and his people to leave the area.

|Name:       |Date:       |

      17. From the details in this passage, what can you conclude about the captain and the company he represents?

|a. |They place little value on ships and sailing. |

|b. |They place little value on trading goods. |

|c. |They place great importance on property ownership. |

|d. |They place great importance on the spiritual beauty of nature. |

18. The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B.

      Part A What contrast between the views of the captain and those of the Tall One does the passage show most clearly?

|a. |The captain sees trade as an important activity; the Tall One does not. |

|b. |The Tall One does not value material possessions; the captain does. |

|c. |The Tall One understands the importance of land; the captain does not. |

|d. |The captain believes buyers have exclusive rights; the Tall One does not. |

      Part B Which excerpt from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

|a. |The vessel sailed for the Dutch West India Company, its mission to purchase from the natives a base from |

| |which to conduct company trade. (sentence 2) |

|b. |For goods worth only about sixty Dutch guilders . . . he concluded what he thought was a splendid |

| |bargain, acquiring the island for the company. (sentence 5) |

|c. |“There is enough here to share. I accept your offerings, and I welcome you in peace.” (sentences 14–15) |

|d. |He did not understand why later they expected him and his people to leave the area. (sentence 16) |

      19. Which meaning of the word base is used in sentence 2?

|a. |a supporting foundation |

|b. |a center of operations |

|c. |a sand-filled bag |

|d. |a main ingredient |

|Name:       |Date:       |

      20. Which plot detail illustrates the climax of the story told in this passage?

|a. |the decision by the Dutch to purchase part of Manna-hata as a base |

|b. |the discussion of arrangements regarding the terms of the purchase |

|c. |the Tall One’s announcement of his decision regarding the purchase |

|d. |the effect of the purchase upon the native population of Manna-hata |

      21. In sentences 7–15, how does the Tall One’s language most clearly suggest his

attitude?

|a. |The Tall One’s use of simple language suggests his sincerity at a serious moment. |

|b. |The Tall One’s use of emotional words suggests his anger toward the Dutch. |

|c. |The Tall One’s use of technical terms suggests his sense of superiority. |

|d. |The Tall One’s use of slang suggests his amusement at the situation. |

Literary Text

from The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Act II, Scene ii, William Shakespeare

This passage appears in Act II, Scene ii, of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William

Shakespeare. Calpurnia, wife of the Roman leader Julius Caesar, warns Caesar not to go out because of the frightening signs that have appeared. Read the passage. Then, answer the question(s).

CALPURNIA. What mean you, Caesar? Think you to walk forth?

You shall not stir out of your house today.

CAESAR. Caesar shall forth. The things that threatened me

Ne’er looked but on my back; when they shall see

5 The face of Caesar, they are vanished

CALPURNIA. Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies,1

Yet now they fright me. There is one within,

Besides the things that we have heard and seen,

Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch.

10 A lioness hath whelpèd2 in the streets,

And graves have yawned, and yielded up their dead;

Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds

In ranks and squadrons and right form of war,

Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol;

15 The noise of battle hurtled in the air,

Horses did neigh and dying men did groan,

And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the street.

O Caesar, these things are beyond all use,3

And I do fear them.

CAESAR. What can be avoided

|Name:       |Date:       |

20 Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods?

Yet Caesar shall go forth; for these predictions

Are to the world in general as to Caesar.4

CALPURNIA. When beggars die, there are no comets seen;

The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.

25 CAESAR. Cowards die many times before their deaths;

The valiant never taste of death but once.

Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,

It seems to me most strange that men should fear,

Seeing that death, a necessary end,

30 Will come when it will come.

      22. Which statement best describes the imagery Calpurnia uses in lines 10–18?

|a. |It comes from the pursuits of nobles. |

|b. |It reflects truths about right and wrong. |

|c. |It shows the unjust cruelty of nature. |

|d. |It depicts eerie and unnatural scenes. |

      23. Which of these aspects of ancient Roman times does the passage most clearly reflect?

|a. |the use of metal armor and weapons in battle |

|b. |the belief in events signifying the future |

|c. |the primitive state of science and medicine |

|d. |the presence of dangerous wildlife in Rome |

      24. What do Caesar’s speeches suggest about his qualities as a leader?

|a. |He is an inexperienced leader who does not truly understand Roman politics. |

|b. |He is a brave, stubborn leader who insists on performing his duties. |

|c. |He is an efficient leader, but he does not handle crises well. |

|d. |He is a weak and superstitious leader, easily manipulated by others. |

      25. If Caesar is the tragic hero of the play, what most likely is his tragic flaw?

|a. |overconfidence |

|b. |indecisiveness |

|c. |greed |

|d. |cruelty |

|Name:       |Date:       |

      26. Imagine that a modern writer wishes to adapt this play for a modern audience while keeping the central themes the same. Which aspect is the writer least likely to change?

|a. |the names of Caesar and Calpurnia |

|b. |the language that Caesar and Calpurnia use |

|c. |Caesar’s willingness to venture into danger |

|d. |Calpurnia’s references to horses and a lioness |

Informational Text

“Shall Liberty or Empire Be Sought?” Patrick Henry

Once the Constitution of the United States had been written, it was passed along to the states for ratification, or approval, of it. In each state, representatives met in conventions to debate the document. On June 5, 1788, Patrick Henry gave the speech “Shall Liberty or Empire Be Sought?” at the Virginia Convention on ratification. His concerns and the concerns of others helped ensure that the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution. Read this passage from the speech. Then, answer the question(s).

(1) This Constitution is said to have beautiful features; but when I come to examine these features, sir, they appear to me horribly frightful. Among other deformities, it has an awful squinting; it squints toward monarchy. . . . It is on a supposition that your American governors shall be honest that all the good qualities of this government are founded; but its defective and imperfect construction puts it in their power to perpetrate the worst of mischiefs should they be bad men; and sir, would not all the world blame our distracted folly in resting our rights upon the contingency of our rulers being good or bad? Show me that age and country where the rights and liberties of the people were placed on the sole chance of their rulers being good men without a consequent loss of liberty! I say that the loss of that dearest privilege has ever followed, with absolute certainty, every such mad attempt.

(2) If your American chief be a man of ambition and abilities, how easy is it for him to render himself absolute! The army is in his hands, and if he be a man of address, it will be attached to him, and it will be the subject of long meditation with him to seize the first auspicious moment to accomplish his design, and sir, will the American spirit solely relieve you when this happens? I would rather infinitely—and I am sure most of this Convention are of the same opinion—have a king, lords, and commons, than a government so replete with such insupportable evils. If we make a king, we may prescribe the rules by which he shall rule his people, and interpose such checks as shall prevent him from infringing them; but the president, in the field, at the head of this army, can prescribe the terms on which he shall reign master, so far that it will puzzle any American ever to get his neck from under the galling yoke. . . .

|Name:       |Date:       |

      27. In paragraph 1, what general idea about government does Henry present most clearly?

|a. |The best government is one in which good people, not bad people, rule. |

|b. |If the people do not check their leaders’ power, the people will lose their liberty. |

|c. |If people look at the Constitution, they will see that it creates an American king. |

|d. |If American rulers are bad people, then the people will need to check their power. |

     28. In paragraph 1, Henry makes this statement.

It is on a supposition that your American governors shall be honest that all the good qualities of this government are founded; but its defective and imperfect construction puts it in their power to perpetrate the worst of mischiefs should they be bad men. . . .

Which choice best explains the connection between these statements and the details in paragraph 2?

|a. |The statement makes a specific point that Henry supports in paragraph 2 with an anecdote: Once, when |

| |there were kings instead of presidents, the people acted to check the powers of their leaders. |

|b. |The statement makes a general point that Henry supports in paragraph 2 with a specific example: Because |

| |the Constitution lets the army influence the president, it allows the army to run the country. |

|c. |The statement makes a general point that Henry supports in paragraph 2 with a specific example: Because |

| |the Constitution gives the president control of the army, it gives a bad president the means to seize |

| |more power. |

|d. |The statement makes a specific point that Henry generalizes in paragraph 2: Because the Constitution does|

| |not create a king, it is up to the American people to ensure that their leaders do not take advantage. |

      29. What kind of persuasive appeal does this passage illustrate most clearly?

|a. |an appeal to logic |

|b. |an appeal to emotion |

|c. |an appeal to morality |

|d. |an appeal to authority |

|Name:       |Date:       |

Informational Text

Public Document

Read the passage. Then, answer the question(s).

Boil Water Alert

NOTICE: If you live or work in the affected area (below), do NOT drink or wash with tap water UNLESS you first bring the water to a rolling boil and allow it to boil for one (1) full minute.

Where? The affected area lies between Smith Street on the north and Vine Street on the south, and between local Route 1 on the west and Corporate Drive East on the east.

Why? Due to a water main break at Rogers Avenue and Vine Street, water system pressure dropped below acceptable levels, increasing the risk of contamination of drinking water with harmful bacteria.

When? The water main break occurred around 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 20. Repairs are underway and are expected to be completed Monday, November 23 or Tuesday, November 24. Do not use tap water until you are notified that the risk has been eliminated.

Water Advisory Background Facts

• When there is a break in a water main, it may lead to a drop in water pressure in the system.

• When system water pressure drops, it may allow contaminants to flow into the system through leaks or other openings in the system.

• Health experts have established the following safety protocol in such situations: Before using tap water, bring the water to a rolling boil and allow it to boil for at least one (1) full minute.

(

|Name:       |Date:       |

      30. Which statement best describes a use of text features in this public document?

|a. |The reader can look under the boldface head Where? and consult the map to determine exactly which area is|

| |affected. |

|b. |The reader can look under the boldface head Why? and consult the map to determine the reasons the water |

| |main broke. |

|c. |The reader can cross-check details that follow “NOTICE” against the map. |

|d. |The reader can use the map to clarify the facts under Water Advisory Background Facts. |

      31. The word contamination, which appears in the public document, means “state of being unfit for use due to the presence of impurities.” What can you most reasonably conclude is the meaning of the related word contaminant?

|a. |process of contaminating |

|b. |substance causing contamination |

|c. |being in a contaminated state |

|d. |about to cause contamination |

      32. The third point under the head Water Advisory Background Facts refers to safety protocol. Given the context, choose the most likely meaning of protocol.

|a. |an outcome that was unforeseen |

|b. |an outline of facts that prove a point |

|c. |a set of procedures for a given situation |

|d. |a warning about risk and potential harm |

Standards and Skills Questions (Without Text Selections)

Identify the choice that best answers the question.

      33. In the following sentences, the underlined words share the same denotation, or general literal meaning: “thinking well of oneself.” Which underlined word has the most strongly negative connotation? Base your answer on context as well as on your knowledge of the word.

|a. |Keisha seemed very self-assured at the beginning of her speech but began to stumble after an attack of |

| |nerves. |

|b. |Reggie is not the most confident person, so we were reluctant to tell him that he had not qualified for |

| |the team. |

|c. |Jon is too proud to accept help from other people and thinks that he should be able to manage by himself.|

|d. |Some say that Sven is conceited, but I enjoy listening to his stories about his heroic victories in |

| |football and tennis. |

|Name:       |Date:       |

     34. Which revision best corrects the faulty parallelism in this sentence?

Athletes benefit from regular practice, a healthful diet, and they should have a positive attitude.

|a. |Change regular practice to practicing regularly. |

|b. |Add eating before a healthful diet. |

|c. |Change they should have a positive attitude to positive in their attitude. |

|d. |Omit they should have. |

      35. In Greek mythology, Narcissus was a young man who fell in love with his own reflection. What is the most likely meaning of narcissistic, a word that originates in his name?

|a. |flower-like |

|b. |vain |

|c. |reflective |

|d. |addictive |

      36. In which sentence does the word rain function as the object of a preposition?

|a. |The rain lashed against the window all night. |

|b. |We saw the rain pouring into the basement. |

|c. |The tremendous amount of rain has caused a flood. |

|d. |We sincerely hope that the rain will stop soon! |

|Name:       |Date:       |

      37. Read the terms for plot stages as well as the numbered definitions. Then, choose the answer that most accurately matches each numbered definition to the term it helps define. Note that not every definition matches a term.

Plot Stages

Exposition

Climax

Resolution

Definitions

I. point of greatest tension and suspense

II. phase in which conflict ends and issues are settled

III. point where tension in the story starts to decrease

IV. part that introduces characters, setting, and basic situation

V. part that introduces and develops a central conflict

|a. |Exposition: III, IV; Climax: I; Resolution: II |

|b. |Exposition: IV; Climax: I; Resolution: II |

|c. |Exposition: IV; Climax: II; Resolution: III |

|d. |Exposition: V; Climax: II; Resolution: III |

     38. What main technique for achieving humor does Mark Twain use in this sentence from Life on the Mississippi?

I was quaking from head to foot, and I could have hung my hat on my eyes, they stuck out so far.

|a. |understatement |

|b. |hyperbole |

|c. |satire |

|d. |personification |

|Name:       |Date:       |

     39. In the following sentences, the underlined words all contain the Latin prefix en-. Given this information and the context in the sentences, choose the most likely meaning of the prefix en-.

The trees were encircled with strings of lights.

An endangered species is a species that is in danger of extinction.

Entrapped by his own lies, the accused person confessed.

|a. |above or on top of |

|b. |the opposite of |

|c. |in, into, or within |

|d. |later or after |

      40. Which sentence contains an adjective clause?

|a. |We are going to Glenview Mall this afternoon. |

|b. |It has a new store that sells superhero and manga comics. |

|c. |Although we have other errands, we will spend at least 30 minutes there. |

|d. |Whenever you leave is fine with me. |

      41. Which sentence includes an infinitive phrase used as a noun?

|a. |My goal in this essay is to share my views about a favorite sport. |

|b. |I persuaded them that our idea was better. |

|c. |The runner to watch is the one on the inside track. |

|d. |I wrote to the author of my favorite book. |

      42. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

|a. |Please bring the following; batteries, extra socks, and sunscreen. |

|b. |The evening passed normally: then, the electricity failed. |

|c. |She said it best: “Make a plan, but be ready to tear it up.” |

|d. |The visitor had: a menacing glare it was a terrifying situation. |

|Name:       |Date:       |

      43. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

|a. |I told Mark not to rush home on my account, however, I didn’t expect him to be an hour late. |

|b. |I told Mark not to rush home on my account; however, I didn’t expect him to be an hour late. |

|c. |I told Mark not to rush home on my account—however—I didn’t expect him to be an hour late. |

|d. |I told Mark not to rush home on my account: however, I didn’t expect him to be an hour late. |

     44. Read this entry from a style manual.

Centuries: The names of centuries should be spelled out and set in lowercase. Example: Winston Churchill was born in the nineteenth century.

Decades: The names of decades should be written using numerals (with no apostrophe after the s when pluralized) unless the century is excluded. Examples: The Great Depression began in the late 1920s. The sixties were a time of great turmoil in the United States.

Which sentence is written correctly, according to the style manual entry?

|a. |The Revolutionary War occurred during the 18th century. |

|b. |Ronald Reagan was president for most of the 1980s. |

|c. |Medicine has improved immensely since the 50s. |

|d. |In the nineteen-seventies, virtually nobody owned a computer. |

|Name:       |Date:       |

     45. Read this sentence and the dictionary definition that follows.

Mr. Williams seems to believe his daily quotations are profound, but on closer examination, they are simply nonsense.

profound (proh FOWND) adj. 1. having an intense quality or feeling; 2. intellectually deep or insightful; 3. difficult to understand; 4. reaching far below the surface

Which definition best matches the meaning of profound as it is used in the sentence?

|a. |definition 1 |

|b. |definition 2 |

|c. |definition 3 |

|d. |definition 4 |

     46. Read this sentence, focusing on the underlined word.

We hoped that the concert would have a stunning conclusion; however, the end was anticlimactic, with the star just walking off the stage after her last song.

Which clues would most likely lead you to determine that anticlimactic means

something like “less exciting than expected”? Choose two options.

|a. |The overall meaning of the sentence suggests that anticlimactic has something to do with concerts. |

|b. |The overall meaning of the sentence suggests that anticlimactic has something to do with fame. |

|c. |Anticlimactic begins with the prefix anti-, suggesting that the word has a negative meaning. |

|d. |The word however creates a contrast between anticlimactic and stunning. |

|e. |Anticlimactic ends with the suffix -ic, indicating that it is an adjective. |

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1. stood on ceremonies paid attention to

2. hath whelpèd has given birth

3. beyond all use contrary to all experience

4. Are … Caesar apply to everyone, not just Caesar

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