Diagnostic PreTest Answers

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22
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Read the quotation from "Song of Myself."I know I have the best of time and space, and was never measured and never will be measured.How does this line support the theme of the poem?

A
It reflects Whitman’s exceedingly high opinion of himself.
B
It shows Whitman’s love of life and of experience.
C
It indicates Whitman’s perception that he is above others’ judgment.
D
It reflects Whitman’s ideas about the unlimited capacity of the self.
23
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Read the excerpt from "The Story of a Warrior Queen."After Boadicea had been so cruelly and unjustly treated, she burned with anger against the Romans. Her heart was full only of thoughts of revenge. She called her people together, and, standing on a mound of earth so that they could see and hear her, she made a speech to them. She told them first how shamefully the Romans had behaved to her, their Queen. Then, like Caractacus, she reminded them how their forefathers had fought against Julius Caesar, and had driven the Romans away for a time at least. "Is it not better to be poor and free than to have great wealth and be slaves?" she asked. "And the Romans take not only our freedom but our wealth. They want to make us both slaves and beggars. Let us rise. O brothers and sisters, let us rise, and drive these robbers out of our land! Let us kill them every one! Let us teach them that they are no better than hares and foxes, and no match for greyhounds! We will fight, and if we cannot conquer, then let us die—yes, every one of us—die rather than submit."

A
Boadicea's warrior archetype leads her to fight the Romans and die if necessary.
B
Boadicea's rebel archetype results in her seeking revenge against the Romans.
C
Boadicea's sage archetype makes her impart wisdom to people in her community.
D
Boadicea's villain archetype makes her want to steal money from the Romans.
24

Read this excerpt from Allen Ginsberg’s "A Supermarket in California."I saw you, Walt Whitman, childless, lonely old grubber, poking among the meats in the refrigerator. Why does Ginsberg make an allusion to Walt Whitman in this excerpt?

A
to suggest a knowledge of Walt Whitman and his poetic devices
B
to suggest an interest in Walt Whitman and his shopping habits
C
to suggest a critical judgement against Walt Whitman and other poets
D
to suggest a familiarity and kinship with Walt Whitman and other outcasts
25

Which stage direction from part one of Trifles most adds to the suspenseful tone?

A
MRS. PETERS (to the other woman).
B
MRS. HALE (shaking her head).
C
MRS. HALE. (She arranges the pans under sink which the Lawyer had shoved out of place.)
D
MRS. PETERS (starts to speak, glances up, where footsteps are heard in the room above. In a low voice.)
26

Read the lines from "Because I Could Not Stop for Death."We paused before a House that seemedA Swelling of the Ground –What image does the language in these lines create?

A
The language reduces the importance of the image being presented.
B
The language distracts the reader from the symbolic meaning of the words.
C
The language creates an image of starkness and isolation.
D
The language suggests an image of gloom and foreboding.
27

Read the excerpt from Chapter 28 of Moby-Dick.His bone leg steadied in that hole; one arm elevated, and holding by a shroud; Captain Ahab stood erect, looking straight out beyond the ship’s ever pitching prow. There was an infinity of firmest fortitude, a determinate, unsurrenderable willfulness, in the fixed and fearless, forward dedication of that glance.Which best describes the theme Melville develops in this excerpt from the chapter?

A
obsession
B
optimism
C
love
D
loss
28

Read the passage.The man at the gas station gave me directions and then kept on chatting, telling me about the weather to come and places to stay nearby. His laconic wife simply nodded her head, occasionally correcting him on his lefts and rights and finally telling me I'd best be on my way if I wanted to reach town by sunset.Based on context clues in the passage, what is the most likely meaning of laconic? Select two options.

A
talkative
B
brief
C
open
D
warm
E
concise
29

Read the excerpt from Chapter 28 of Moby-Dick.It was one of those less lowering, but still grey and gloomy enough mornings of the transition, when with a fair wind the ship was rushing through the water with a vindictive sort of leaping and melancholy rapidity, that as I mounted to the deck at the call of the forenoon watch, so soon as I leveled my glance towards the taffrail, foreboding shivers ran over me. Reality outran apprehension; Captain Ahab stood upon his quarter-deck.Which of the novel’s themes is best developed in this excerpt from Chapter 28 of Moby Dick?

A
a person’s ability to outsmart fate
B
a person’s harmony with nature
C
a person’s control over nature
D
a person’s inability to alter fate
30

Read the passage from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe."Of course it would be raining!” said Edmund. They had just finished their breakfast with the Professor and were upstairs in the room he had set apart for them — a long, low room with two windows looking out in one direction and two in another."Do stop grumbling, Ed,” said Susan. "Ten to one it’ll clear up in an hour or so. And in the meantime we’re pretty well off. There’s a wireless and lots of books.”–The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,C. S. LewisNow read the passage from "Children of the Wartime Evacuation.”As I enjoyed my experience on the Williamses' farm so my brother did not. It is not perhaps surprising. We were very different personalities – he an introvert, I an extrovert. He tended to opt out of activities around the farm; I volunteered for everything. I loved every minute of it. I don't think I was particularly aware of Michael's unhappiness at the time, because I was enjoying myself.–"Children of the Wartime Evacuation,”Julie Summers

A
Living in the country is nothing like living in the city.
B
It is always more fun to face challenges with friends.
C
Family members do not always get along with one another.
D
People can have different reactions to the same situation.
31

Read this excerpt from Allen Ginsberg’s "A Supermarket in California."Where are we going, Walt Whitman? The doors close in an hour. Which way does your beard point tonight?(I touch your book and dream of our odyssey in the supermarket and feel absurd.)Will we walk all night through solitary streets? The trees add shade to shade, lights out in the houses, we’ll both be lonely. Why does Ginsberg most likely make an allusion to Walt Whitman in this excerpt?

A
to support Ginsberg and Whitman’s close friendship
B
to show Ginsberg’s esteem for Whitman and his work
C
to hint at Ginsberg’s embarrassment at his own behavior
D
to share Ginsberg’s desire to live during Whitman’s lifetime
32

Read the excerpt from part one of Trifles.HALE. Well, she looked queer.COUNTY ATTORNEY. How do you mean—queer?HALE. Well, as if she didn’t know what she was going to do next. And kind of done up.Which word has a meaning similar to “queer” as it is used in this excerpt?

A
doubtful
B
strange
C
pensive
D
irrational
33

Read the excerpt from Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms.The major was a little man with upturned mustaches. He had been in the war in Libya and wore two wound-stripes. He said that if the thing went well he would see that I was decorated. I said I hoped it would go well but that he was too kind. I asked him if there was a big dugout where the drivers could stay and he sent a soldier to show me. I went with him and found the dugout, which was very good. The drivers were pleased with it and I left them there.Hemingway uses vague pronouns and simple language to

A
convey the intelligence level of the men in the scene.
B
illustrate the sense of fear the narrator is experiencing.
C
reflect the reality of the characters’ situation in a straightforward manner.
D
indicate that the narrator may not fully understand his surroundings.
34

Read the excerpt from Cristina Garcia’s Dreaming in Cuban.That’s it. My mind’s made up. I’m going back to Cuba. I’m fed up with everything around here. I take all my money out of the bank, $120, money I earned slaving away at my mother’s bakery, and buy a one-way bus ticket to Miami. I figure if I can just get there, I’ll be able to make my way to Cuba, maybe rent a boat or get a fisherman to take me. I imagine Abuela [grandmother] Celia’s surprise as I sneak up behind her. She’ll be sitting in her wicker swing overlooking the sea and she’ll smell of salt and violet water. There’ll be gulls and crabs along the shore. She’ll stroke my cheek with her cool hands, sing quietly in my ear.The complex narrative structure used in the excerpt is an example of

A
establishing a work of fiction that is based on nonfiction.
B
several narrators being used.
C
unconventional text features.
D
the chronological order of events being manipulated.
35

Read the excerpt from "Song of Myself."Long enough have you dream’d contemptible dreams,Now I wash the gum from your eyes,You must habit yourself to the dazzle of the light and of every moment of your life.Long have you timidly waded holding a plank by the shore,Now I will you to be a bold swimmer,To jump off in the midst of the sea, rise again, nod to me, shout, and laughingly dash with your hair.What theme is suggested by this excerpt?

A
People should be brave, take risks, and embrace all aspects of life.
B
People should be careful when taking chances that they can handle the outcome.
C
People should take the time to appreciate the beauty that surrounds them each day.
D
People should be lighthearted and carefree and avoid taking life too seriously.
36

Read the excerpt from "Annabel Lee," by Edgar Allan Poe.And neither the angels in Heaven above Nor the demons down under the seaHow does Poe use a sound device in the excerpt?

A
He uses assonance to connect the images of death and sea.
B
He uses alliteration to link images of Annabel Lee to angels.
C
He uses cacophony to create a discordant sound of mourning.
D
He uses internal rhyme to enhance the rhythm of his lyrical poem.
37

Read the sentence.The clouds gathering on the horizon were an inauspicious sign for the outdoor class, so rather than risk getting caught in a downpour, Dara decided to bring the class indoors.Based on context clues in the sentence, what is the most likely meaning of inauspicious?

A
unexpected
B
unfavorable
C
unreliable
D
unbelievable
38

Which statement best describes the theme of "Song of Myself"?

A
There is room for many experiences and, indeed, selves within one self.
B
Everyone should try as hard as they can to free their spirits and minds.
C
Close observation of the world is the key to understanding it.
D
Belief in one’s self should be the ultimate goal of one’s life.
39

One of the themes in "Children of the Wartime Evacuation” is that it always helps to find the bright side of situations. Which detail from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe best supports the same theme?

A
Lucy discovers an old wardrobe while she and her siblings are busy exploring.
B
Peter convinces his siblings that staying in a strange house will be an adventure.
C
The children are sent away by their parents to live in the country with the Professor.
D
The Professor tells the children that the wardrobe will no longer lead them to Narnia.
40

Read the excerpt from "Annabel Lee," by Edgar Allan Poe.In her sepulchre there by the sea— In her tomb by the sounding sea.How does Poe use a sound device in the excerpt?

A
He uses assonance to create the sounds of sadness and mourning.
B
He uses alliteration to link images of the sea with images of death.
C
He uses cacophony to imitate the violence of the sea.
D
He uses internal rhyme to produce the effect of an echoing sea.
41

Read the excerpt from Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.My own house was an eyesore, but it was a small eyesore, and it had been overlooked, so I had a view of the water, a partial view of my neighbor's lawn, and the consoling proximity of millionaires—all for eighty dollars a month.Across the courtesy bay the white palaces of fashionable East Egg glittered along the water, and the history of the summer really begins on the evening I drove over there.The contrast created between East Egg and West Egg suggests that

A
the main character feels comfortable in all social situations.
B
Nick will experience a series of financial pitfalls as the story unfolds.
C
the story’s conflict will be based on wealth and appearances.
D
the story will be presented from a number of differing perspectives.

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