Cumulative Exam — Cumulative exam Answers

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Read the excerpt from Flannery O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.”Mr. Shiftlet was so shocked that for about a hundred feet he drove along slowly with the door stiff open. A cloud, the exact color of the boy’s hat and shaped like a turnip, had descended over the sun, and another, worse looking, crouched behind the car. Mr. Shiftlet felt that the rottenness of the world was about to engulf him. He raised his arm and let it fall again to his breast. “Oh Lord!” he prayed. “Break forth and wash the slime from this earth!”The turnip continued slowly to descend. After a few minutes there was a guffawing peal of thunder from behind and fantastic raindrops, like tin-can tops, crashed over the rear of Mr. Shiftlet’s car.Which is a metaphor?

A
The turnip continued slowly to descend.
B
...raindrops, like tin-can drops, crashed over the rear of Mr. Shiflet’s car.
C
Mr. Shiftlet felt that the rottenness of the world was about to engulf him.
D
He raised his arm and let it fall again to his breast.
22
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Read this excerpt from "Not a Dove, But No Longer a Hawk." I remember distinctly the thrill of climbing aboard a U.S. Army helicopter in the cool of the morning and taking off across the rice fields with a South Vietnamese battalion for a day’s jousting with the Vietcong guerillas. I was proud of the young American pilots sitting at the controls in the cockpit and I was grateful for the opportunity to witness this adventure and to report it. We are fighting now, I used to think, and some day we will triumph and this will be a better country. Based on this excerpt, it can be inferred that

A
the war provides the author with his first flying experience.
B
the author once felt pride and optimism about the war.
C
the US soldiers are trained in hand-to-hand combat.
D
the author has a begrudging respect for the Vietcong.
23

How does the focus of the primary source article "Mrs. Hossack a Murderess" differ from the Midnight Assassin excerpt?

A
The article focuses on the outcome of the case, but the excerpt does not even mention the verdict.
B
The article briefly mentions the verdict, but the excerpt goes into great detail about the verdict.
C
The article explains why Mrs. Hossack was found guilty, while the excerpt expresses outrage at the verdict.
D
The article proposes that Mrs. Hossack was guilty of murder, while the excerpt suggests her innocence.
24

Read the excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.”The Negro has many pent up resentments and latent frustrations, and he must release them. How does King conclude this claim?

A
by stating the inevitability of violent protests
B
by urging White leaders to release him from jail
C
by encouraging White leaders to allow nonviolent protests
D
by persuading his followers to break laws and create unrest
25

Read this excerpt from part 5 of Zeitoun.It was a test, Zeitoun thinks. Who among us could deny that we were tested? But now look at us, he says. Every person is stronger now. Every person who was forgotten by God or country is now louder, more defiant, and more determined. They existed before, and they exist again, in the city of New Orleans and the United States of America. What assumption does the narrator make in this excerpt?

A
that Hurricane Katrina presented challenges to many people
B
that the people of New Orleans have renewed their faith in religion
C
that all Hurricane Katrina victims are having experiences similar to his
D
that the United States government has issued an apology to New Orleans
26

Which excerpt from ”First Generation” of Dreaming in Cuban is the best example of magic realism?

A
Celia del Pino, equipped with binoculars and wearing her best housedress and drop pearl earrings, sits in her wicker swing guarding the north coast of Cuba.
B
Her grandson appears in the doorway, his pajama top twisted off his shoulders, his eyes vacant with sleep.
C
Her husband emerges from the light and comes toward her, taller than the palms, walking on water in his white summer suit and Panama hat.
D
For many years before the revolution, Jorge had traveled five weeks out of six, selling electric brooms and portable fans for an American firm.
27

Read the excerpt from "Mother Tongue."Lately, I’ve been giving more thought to the kind of English my mother speaks. Like others, I have described it to people as “broken” or “fractured” English. But I wince when I say that. It has always bothered me that I can think of no other way to describe it other than “broken,” as if it were damaged and needed to be fixed, as if it lacked a certain wholeness and soundness. How does Tan build a central idea of her story in the excerpt?

A
Tan discusses her thoughts about language to build the idea that the English language does not have words to match some Chinese terms.
B
Tan discusses her relationship with her mother to build the idea that mothers and daughters in all cultures often have misunderstandings.
C
Tan discusses her mother’s use of English to build the idea that a form of language can be purposeful and meaningful even if it is nonstandard.
D
Tan discusses the English language to build the idea that there is a lack of appropriate synonyms for the word “broken.”
28

What is the speaker in "The Weary Blues" attempting to convey in his description of the scene?

A
a criticism of the nightclub atmosphere
B
a concern for overworked performers
C
a knowledge of new musical genres
D
a celebration of personal expression
29

Which sentence best uses academic vocabulary?

A
In the last stanza of the poem, the elderly woman expresses anxiety about her family members who live far away.
B
In the last stanza of the poem, the old woman seems upset about her family, who live in a faraway land.
C
In the last stanza of the poem, the elderly woman worries about her family members who live pretty far away.
D
In the last stanza of the poem, the old woman seems to care about her family who don’t live nearby.
30

Which sentence is written correctly?

A
Summer produce, such as heirloom tomatoes, can be used to create delicious salads.
B
The hotel in the business district, has many accommodations, for its corporate visitors.
C
The discovery of gold led to population growth, in the West, during the late 1800s.
D
Restaurants must adhere to, health department guidelines, in order to obtain a permit.
31

Read the excerpt from part 5 of Zeitoun.For many of his clients, it took time for the insurance money to come through, for the FEMA money to appear, for any number of complications to work themselves out. But now things are moving. The city is rising again. Since Hurricane Katrina, Zeitoun A. Painting Contractor LLC has restored 114 houses to their former states, or improved versions thereof.What is the meaning of the excerpt?

A
Zeitoun’s business serves homeowners experiencing poverty.
B
Zeitoun’s business was stalled by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
C
Zeitoun’s business has won accolades for its rebuilding efforts.
D
Zeitoun’s business is thriving with the rebuilding of New Orleans.
32

Read the excerpt from part 5 of Zeitoun.The kids fear water, yes, and when a pipe burst last year there were screams and nightmares, but slowly they’re growing stronger. For them he has to be strong, and he needs to look forward. He needs to feed them, to hold them close, and he needs to show them that God had a reason for their trials. He tells them that perhaps God, by allowing him to be jailed, saved him from something worse.Why does the author include these musings?

A
to suggest Zeitoun’s fear of the unknown
B
to emphasize Zeitoun’s unwavering faith
C
to prove Zeitoun’s innocence and good standing
D
to illustrate Zeitoun’s confidence in his children
33

Read the passage from “The Latin Deli: An Ars Poetica.”all wanting the comfortof spoken Spanish, to gaze upon the family portraitof her plain wide face, her ample bosomresting on her plump arms, her look of maternal interestas they speak to her and each otherof their dreams and their disillusions—In this passage, the words “ample” and “plump” are

A
sensory images that describe a wealthy person.
B
sensory images that describe a motherly figure.
C
words that express an attitude of respect.
D
words that express an attitude of disgust.
34

Why does Vivien say that she “shan't tell” Lancelot’s identity to her friend in King Arthur's Socks: A Comedy in One Act?

A
Lancelot is a famous artist who values his privacy.
B
Guenevere knows Lancelot and is likely to disapprove.
C
Guenevere is likely to gossip and spread the news of the affair.
D
Lancelot has not yet reciprocated Vivien’s feelings of love.
35

Which statement best compares the structure of "Harlem" and "The Weary Blues"?

A
“Harlem” is short and happy, while “The Weary Blues” is longer and lyrical.
B
“Harlem” is short and urgent, while “The Weary Blues” is longer and lyrical.
C
“Harlem” is short and content, while “The Weary Blues” is longer and unhappy.
D
“Harlem” is short and curious, while “The Weary Blues” is longer and unhappy.
36

Read the excerpt from “First Generation” of Dreaming in Cuban.He stops at the ocean’s edge, smiles almost shyly, as if he fears disturbing her, and stretches out a colossal hand. His blue eyes are like lasers in the night. The beams bounce off his fingernails, five hard blue shields. They scan the beach, illuminating shells and sleeping gulls, then focus on her. The porch turns blue, ultraviolet. Her hands, too, are blue. Celia squints through the light, which dulls her eyesight and blurs the palms on the shore.Which is an example of a hyperbole?

A
“smiles almost shyly, as if he fears disturbing her”
B
“and stretches out a colossal hand”
C
“His blue eyes are like lasers in the night.”
D
“The porch turns blue, ultraviolet.”
37

Read the excerpt from Fast Food Nation. Instead of relying upon a small, stable, well-paid, and well-trained workforce, the fast food industry seeks out part-time, unskilled workers who are willing to accept low pay. Teenagers have been the perfect candidates for these jobs, not only because they are less expensive to hire than adults, but also because their youthful inexperience makes them easier to control.Which of the following choices best presents a counterclaim to the argument presented in this excerpt?

A
Teenagers have not yet developed skills that make them valuable employees in the workforce.
B
Fast food restaurants are able to employ people who otherwise might not be able to find a job because of the low skill level required to perform the tasks.
C
The McDonald brothers designed the Speedee Service System based on the assembly line systems of American factories in the early twentieth century.
D
By law, fast food restaurants must offer equal employment opportunities to those seeking work.
38

Read the paragraph.Our school is considering mandating school uniforms next year. The student government supports school uniforms for a number of reasons. First, school uniforms save time. Students will not have to figure out what they will wear and thus will have more time to devote to their studies. They will be more focused on learning and less on appearance. Second, although there are up-front costs, uniforms will ultimately save families money. Finally, uniforms will promote a sense of equality because students are dressed the same regardless of economic status. This will encourage a greater sense of community at our school.What strategy does the author use in her choice of language to convey her message?

A
observational descriptions
B
sequence of events
C
logic and reason
D
real and imagined events
39

Read the sentence.It was difficult to extinguish because the fire was too hot.What is the best way to revise this sentence?

A
It was difficult to extinguish it because the fire was too hot.
B
The fire was difficult to extinguish because it was too hot.
C
The hot fire made it difficult to extinguish it.
D
The sentence is correct as written.
40

Imagine you are writing an ad slogan for a new type of breakfast cereal using the media technique of association. In order for the slogan to be effective, it should

A
invoke good memories of the past and provide a good explanation of the cereal’s content.
B
associate the cereal with something good and create positive feelings about the cereal.
C
build up the consumer’s self-esteem and validate that it is better than the competition.
D
review the contents of the cereal and convince consumers that the cereal is healthy.

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