The Poetry of Physics — Cumulative exam Answers

0 verified answers2 views
1
Free Preview

Read the final paragraph of "How We Entered World War I."In April 1917 the illusion of isolation was destroyed. America came to the end of innocence, and of the exuberant freedom of bachelor independence. That the responsibilities of world power have not made us happier is no surprise. To help ourselves manage them, we have replaced the illusion of isolation with a new illusion of omnipotence. That screen, too, must fall.Which best explains the purpose of repeating the word “illusion” in the paragraph?

A
to emphasize that the United States was never completely isolationist nor will it ever be all powerful
B
to mock the United States’ reasons for becoming involved in World War I
C
to highlight the fact that Wilson based his decisions on false ideas
D
to demonstrate that the United States’ sense of strength is a complete falsehood
2
Free Preview

An author has successfully created a suspenseful sequence of events when the reader asks which question?

A
Who are the important characters?
B
What will happen next?
C
Where is the setting located?
D
What is the background information?
3

Read the passage from "Cruel Tribute.”Then every maiden, without looking, reached her hand into one of the vessels and drew forth a ball, and those who took the black balls were borne away to the black ship, which lay in waiting by the shore. The young men also drew lots in like manner, but when six black balls had been drawn Theseus came quickly forward and said:"Hold! Let no more balls be drawn. I will be the seventh youth to pay this tribute.”

A
Theseus sets himself up to become the ruler of Athens.
B
Theseus sets himself up to battle the Minotaur.
C
Theseus sets himself up to win Ariadne’s love.
D
Theseus sets himself up to win King Minos’s respect.
4

Which in-text citation is formatted correctly in MLA style?

A
Homer writes that the men’s oars “sent the white foam scuddling by” (38).
B
Homer writes “that the men’s oars sent the white foam scuddling by” (38)
C
Homer writes “that the men’s oars sent the white foam scuddling by,” (38).
D
Homer writes that the men’s oars “sent the white foam scuddling by.” (38)
5

If a writer were writing a modern-day story based on the Theseus myth featured in "Cruel Tribute,” what would the story’s plot most likely include?

A
a young man beginning a political career in hopes of one day becoming head of the country
B
a young man learning the family business so he can take over for his father when he retires
C
a young man preparing to take a trip around the world with his friends and his family
D
a young man searching through a new city, trying to find his lost friends before they are harmed
6

Which assignment is most likely to require a works cited page?

A
a business letter seeking employment opportunities
B
a demonstration speech about how to bait a hook
C
a research paper describing the effects of erosion
D
a personal narrative telling the story of a vacation
7

Read the passage from "The Raven and the First Men: The Beginnings of the Haida.”Raven crept into the chief’s dwelling. He appeared as a baby, with raven hair and black eyes. The chief’s daughter adopted the child, never knowing that he was in fact Raven the trickster.The daughter loved the child, but soon the baby began to cry. The Sky Chief did whatever he could to comfort his new grandson, but the baby was inconsolable. Finally, to appease the child, he gave him a small box to play with. Raven, as the baby, tumbled and tossed the box until it fell open. Whoosh! The stars flew up through the smoke hole in the ceiling, settling in the night sky.The chief was very upset, but was able to recover, as they were only stars and not very luminous.

A
were large.
B
were small.
C
had windows.
D
had fireplaces.
8

Read the excerpt from The Odyssey.Then we unloaded all the Cyclops' flockto make division, share and share alike,only my fighters voted that my ram,the prize of all, should go to me. I slew himby the sea side and burnt his long thighbones to Zeus beyond the stormcloud, Cronus’ son,who rules the world. But Zeus disdained my offering;destruction for my ships he had in storeand death for those who sailed them, my companions.

A
Odysseus believes that he controls his own destiny.
B
Odysseus is destined to perish at sea along with his men.
C
Odysseus is religious and he believes in the power of the gods.
D
Odysseus believes that he can escape his destiny.
9

One theme found throughout The Odyssey is that good leaders take responsibility for those in their charge.

A
“The wind that carried west from Iliumbrought me to Ismarus, on the far shore,a strongpoint on the coast of Cicones. I stormed that place and killed the men who fought.”
B
“I drove them, all three wailing, to the ships, tied them down under their rowing benches, and called the rest: All hands aboard; come, clear the beach and no one tastethe Lotus, or you lose your hope of home.”
C
He drew to his fist the cruel head of an arrow for Antinous just as the young man leaned to lift his beautiful drinking cup, embossed, two-handled, golden: the cup was in his fingers: the wine was even at his lips: and did he dream of death?
D
“Spare your own people. As for ourselves, we'll makerestitution of wine and meat consumed, and add, each one, a tithe of twenty oxen with gifts of bronze and gold to warm your heart.”
10

[BLANK]

A
conflicting
B
cause and effect
C
familial
D
evolutionary
11

Read the excerpt from Neil deGrasse Tyson’s “Death by Black Hole.”That’s the gory moment when your body snaps into two segments, breaking apart at your midsection. Upon falling further, the difference in gravity continues to grow, and each of your two body segments snaps into two segments. Shortly thereafter, those segments each snap into two segments of their own, and so forth, and so forth, bifurcating your body into an ever-increasing number of parts: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, etc. After you’ve been ripped into shreds of organic molecules, the molecules themselves begin to feel the continually growing tidal forces. Eventually, they too snap apart, creating a stream of their constituent atoms. And then, of course, the atoms themselves snap apart, leaving an unrecognizable parade of particles that, minutes earlier, had been you.Which statement best describes how the author conveys the message that humans are no match for the power of a black hole?

A
He explains scientific theories to the reader and provides the definitions for difficult terms and words.
B
He uses logic and reason to lay out each individual step of human combustion as it is absorbed by the tidal force.
C
He provides helpful comparisons of black holes with other cosmic phenomena that the reader may already know.
D
He personalizes the experience for the reader and uses vivid imagery to create a clear mental picture.
12

Which statement best describes the main idea of the third paragraph of "How We Entered World War I"?

A
US citizens were comfortable with their detachment from England and had no interest in going to war.
B
US citizens were proud of themselves for ignoring the problems going on in Europe.
C
US citizens were tired of fighting with Europe and wanted to continue the separation.
D
US citizens were told to keep their opinions to themselves about the possibility of going to war.
13

The event from The Odyssey that best supports the theme that acting prideful can lead to unwanted consequences is

A
Odysseus controlling his temper with the Suitors and winning back his home.
B
Odysseus boasting of blinding Cyclops and Cyclops seeking revenge.
C
Odysseus proving his identity to Penelope by recounting the story of his bed.
D
Odysseus and his son, Telemachus, successfully fighting off the evil Suitors.
14

Read the excerpt from The Odyssey.Their secret! as she heard it told, her knees grew tremulous and weak, her heart failed her. With eyes brimming tears she ran to him,throwing her arms around his neck, and kissed him

A
Good leaders show personal responsibility.
B
Overconfidence can lead one to danger.
C
Help often comes to individuals who work hard.
D
Love and family make a homecoming worthwhile.
15

In "Wilson's War Message to Congress" the word "extraordinary" is repeated in order to

A
communicate Wilson’s opinion of the United States government.
B
make the message of war as concise as possible.
C
call attention to the greatness of the members of Congress.
D
emphasize the importance of the meeting and its special purpose.
16

Which excerpt from Part 2 of The Odyssey best supports the conclusion that Odysseus’s fate is doomed?

A
The Cyclops bellowed and the rock roared round him,and we fell back in fear.
B
But I kept thinking how to win the game:death sat there huge; how could we slip away?
C
Ahead of our black prow it struck and sankwhelmed in a spurning geyser,
D
But Zeus disdained my offering;destruction for my ships he had in store
17

Read the excerpt from The Odyssey.He saw the townlandsand learned the minds of many distant men,and weathered many bitter nights and daysin his deep heart at sea, while he fought onlyto save his life, to bring his shipmates home. But not by will nor valor could he save them,for their own recklessness destroyed them all—children and fools, they killed and feasted onthe cattle of Lord Helios, the Sun,and he who moves all day through heaven took from their eyes the dawn of their return.Of these adventures, Muse, daughter of Zeus,tell us in our time, lift the great song again.

A
a difficult journey with trials.
B
important historical events.
C
a list of everyday events.
D
repetition of key phrases
18

[BLANK]

A
device
B
opinion
C
reason
D
fallacy
19

What element of a myth is featured in the title "The Beginnings of the Maasai”?

A
an attempt to explain a supernatural god
B
an attempt to explain a fantastic setting
C
an attempt to explain an origin
D
an attempt to explain a conflict
20

A(n) ____ expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.

A
dependent clause
B
adverbial clause
C
independent clause
D
indefinite clause

Did you find these answers helpful?