Mythology — Test Answers

Which line from "Cruel Tribute” best supports the idea that the elders help to advance the plot?

Based solely on their titles, which contemporary novel most likely contains a mythological element that is also found in "Cruel Tribute?”

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?

In Rain Myths, which conclusion about the Madagascan people is most justified by "A Madagascan Myth”?

Reread "The Beginnings of the Maasai,” and then answer the question. One purpose of "The Beginnings of the Maasai” is to explain the weather. Which excerpt best justifies this conclusion?

Read the passage from "The Beginnings of the Maasai.” These cattle are sacred, because they are actually a divine gift from the sky god, Enkai. Our tribe makes a living by caring for the cattle, feeding them, and protecting them. What is the purpose of this passage?

Read the passage from "The Beginnings of the Maasai.” In the very beginning of the world, Enkai was the only god: the guardian of rain, fertility, sun, and love. With that love, Enkai birthed three sons who became the Fathers of the three tribes. Enkai gave each tribe a gift to help them succeed in their new home. Upon the Father of the Kikuyu, Enkai bestowed a hoe to cultivate the plains. To the Father of the Kamba, Enkai gifted a bow and arrow so his people could hunt wild animals in the forests and plains. To my father, Neiterkob, the Father of the Maasai, Enkai gave a stick. Why does the myth explain that each tribe has its own gift?

Read the passage from "The Beginnings of the Maasai.” Our relationship with Enkai is essential to the tribe. Enkai is neither male nor female. The sky god is powerful, but can change from nurturing to vengeful depending on our behavior. Sometimes Enkai is Enkai Narok, the Black God, happy with us and blanketing the sky with dark clouds that pour out rain to nourish the plains. When angry, though, Enkai becomes Enkai Nonyokie—the Red God. In these times, the sun grows incredibly hot until the earth dries up and becomes barren. Because of this, we work to keep Enkai happy. Why is this excerpt a good example of a feature often found in a myth?

Read the passage from "The Beginnings of the Maasai.” Neiterkob was confused at first. It was one thing for an eruption to send cows flying up into the sky, but it was another problem entirely to get them down to earth again. The wise god knew how to solve the problem. Enkai grew a giant fig tree out on the plains. The tree grew rapidly, and its branches grew so high that they reached up into the heavens. One by one, Enkai sent the cattle walking down branches of the fig tree, all the way down to the roots at the ground. My father and our people accepted the cattle and began to herd them with the sticks that Enkai had given us. Now, the rest of the tribe calls my father the "Beginner of the Earth” because he mediates between Enkai and our tribe, just as he did when the cattle returned from the sky. What does the passage explain?

Which value is reflected in Heracles?

Which part of "The Maori: Genealogies and Origins in New Zealand” best shows that the Maori value freedom?

Read the passage from "The Maori: Genealogies and Origins in New Zealand.” In his anger, Tû chopped down the forests to find Tâne and threw him into a basket. Next, Tû searched out Haumia and Rongo by digging into the soft earth, putting them into the basket as well. At last, Tû made nets to capture Tangora’s fish, and lured Tangora into the basket. In a rage, Tû opened his mouth and ate his brothers to punish them for their cowardice. Tû’s descendants became the Mâori, the humans who are able to master anything that they decide to conquer: the forest, the sea, the food, and the earth. What can be inferred about how the Maori feel about the land they live on?

Read the passage from "The Maori: Genealogies and Origins in New Zealand.” Light flooded into the world that had been created between Rangi and Papa. The brothers rejoiced, and were amazed to find that in the dark, they had birthed many children—the first humans! These offspring fell to Papa, and were warmly received by the earth, their new home. Which excerpt from the passage best allows the reader to infer that the Maori people felt cared for by the earth?

Words with the word root "dorm” will have a meaning related to

Based on the prefix, the word "extricate” most likely means

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Which sentence uses an antonym clue to help the reader determine the meaning of the underlined word?

Which sentence has an underlined word that means "leave”?

To find a word’s meaning, the reader can study the surrounding words, which are called the