Read the excerpt from act 3, scene 2, of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar . [ANTONY.] For Brutus is an honourable man, So are they all, all honourable men— Come I to speak in Caesar’s funeral. He was my friend, faithful and just to me. But Brutus says he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honourable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill. Did this in Caesar seem ambitious? When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept. Ambition should be made of sterner stuff. Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honourable man. You all did see that on the Lupercal I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition? Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, And sure he is an honourable man. Which piece of evidence describes Brutus and best supports the theme that even people with strong morals make mistakes?
Read the excerpt from act 3, scene 2, of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar and the information in the paragraph that follows. Excerpt: ANTONY: Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interrèd with their bones. So let it be with Caesar. Background information: "The Evil That Men Do” is the title of a song by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden. The lyrics of the chorus say that people’s evil deeds live on. Iron Maiden’s reference to the line from Shakespeare’s play is an example of
Read the excerpt from act 3, scene 2, of Julius Caesar . [BRUTUS.] If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him. As he was fortunate, I rejoice at it. As he was valiant, I honour him. But as he was ambitious, I slew him. There is tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honour for his valour, and death for his ambition. What is the immediate effect of Brutus's speech on the crowd?
Read the excerpt from act 3, scene 2, of Julius Caesar . [ANTONY:] For Brutus is an honourable man, So are they all, all honourable men— Come I to speak in Caesar’s funeral. He was my friend, faithful and just to me. But Brutus says he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honourable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill. Did this in Caesar seem ambitious? When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept. Ambition should be made of sterner stuff. Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honourable man. You all did see that on the Lupercal I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition? Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, And sure he is an honourable man. How is the word honourable used in the context of Antony’s speech?
Read the excerpt from Julius Caesar , act 3, scene 2. [BRUTUS:] If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him. As he was fortunate, I rejoice at it. As he was valiant, I honour him. But as he was ambitious, I slew him. Which paraphrase of the passage is the best ?
Read the excerpt from act 3, scene 2, of Julius Caesar . ANTONY: Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interrèd with their bones. So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus Hath told you Caesar was ambitious. If it were so, it was a grievous fault, And grievously hath Caesar answered it. What are the central ideas of this excerpt? Choose two correct answers.
Read the excerpts from The Red Badge of Courage. In the first excerpt, Henry Fleming is fighting in his first battle. In the second excerpt, Henry is deserting his regiment. Excerpt 1: Perspiration streamed down the youth’s face, which was soiled like that of a weeping urchin. He frequently, with a nervous movement, wiped his eyes with his coat sleeve. His mouth was still a little ways open. He got the one glance at the foe-swarming field in front of him, and instantly ceased to debate the question of his piece being loaded. Before he was ready to begin—before he had announced to himself that he was about to fight—he threw the obedient well-balanced rifle into position and fired a first wild shot. Directly he was working at his weapon like an automatic affair. Excerpt 2: To the youth it was an onslaught of redoubtable dragons. He became like the man who lost his legs at the approach of the red and green monster. He waited in a sort of a horrified, listening attitude. He seemed to shut his eyes and wait to be gobbled. A man near him who up to this time had been working feverishly at his rifle suddenly stopped and ran with howls. A lad whose face had borne an expression of exalted courage, the majesty of he who dares give his life, was, at an instant, smitten abject. He blanched like one who has come to the edge of a cliff at midnight and is suddenly made aware. There was a revelation. He, too, threw down his gun and fled. There was no shame in his face. He ran like a rabbit. Others began to scamper away through the smoke. The youth turned his head, shaken from his trance by this movement as if the regiment was leaving him behind. He saw the few fleeting forms. Which quotation shows the effect of Henry’s changed perspective?
Read the passage from A Doll’s House . Nora: [breathlessly]. Torvald—what was that letter? Helmer: Krogstad's dismissal. Nora: Call her back, Torvald! There is still time. Oh Torvald, call her back! Do it for my sake—for your own sake—for the children's sake! Do you hear me, Torvald? Call her back! You don't know what that letter can bring upon us. Helmer: It's too late. Nora: Yes, it's too late. Helmer: My dear Nora, I can forgive the anxiety you are in, although really it is an insult to me. It is, indeed. Isn't it an insult to think that I should be afraid of a starving quill-driver's vengeance? But I forgive you nevertheless, because it is such eloquent witness to your great love for me. [Takes her in his arms.] And that is as it should be, my own darling Nora. Come what will, you may be sure I shall have both courage and strength if they be needed. You will see I am man enough to take everything upon myself. Nora: [in a horror-stricken voice]. What do you mean by that? Helmer: Everything, I say— Nora: [recovering herself] You will never have to do that. Which evidence supports the inference that Nora is afraid of what Torvald will say if Krogstad tells him about her forgery?
Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll’s House. Helmer: My dear Nora, I can forgive the anxiety you are in, although really it is an insult to me. It is, indeed. Isn't it an insult to think that I should be afraid of a starving quill-driver's vengeance? But I forgive you nevertheless, because it is such eloquent witness to your great love for me. [Takes her in his arms.] And that is as it should be, my own darling Nora. Come what will, you may be sure I shall have both courage and strength if they be needed. You will see I am man enough to take everything upon myself. Nora: [in a horror-stricken voice]. What do you mean by that? Helmer: Everything, I say— Nora: [recovering herself] You will never have to do that. Helmer: That's right. Well, we will share it, Nora, as man and wife should. That is how it shall be. [Caressing her.] Are you content now? There! There! Not these frightened dove's eyes! The whole thing is only the wildest fancy! Now, you must go and play through the Tarantella and practise with your tambourine. I shall go into the inner office and shut the door, and I shall hear nothing; you can make as much noise as you please. [Turns back at the door.] And when Rank comes, tell him where he will find me. [Nods to her, takes his papers and goes into his room, and shuts the door after him.] What evidence from the text best supports the theme that men are expected to be providers and protectors?
Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House . Nora: What are you going to do? Helmer: [looking among his papers] Settle it. [Enter MAID.] Look here; take this letter and go downstairs with it at once. Find a messenger and tell him to deliver it, and be quick. The address is on it, and here is the money. Maid: Very well, sir. [Exit with the letter.] Helmer: [putting his papers together] Now then, little Miss Obstinate. Nora: [breathlessly]. Torvald—what was that letter? Helmer: Krogstad's dismissal. Nora: Call her back, Torvald! There is still time. Oh Torvald, call her back! Do it for my sake—for your own sake—for the children's sake! Do you hear me, Torvald? Call her back! You don't know what that letter can bring upon us. Helmer: It's too late. Nora: Yes, it's too late. Helmer: My dear Nora, I can forgive the anxiety you are in, although really it is an insult to me. It is, indeed. Isn't it an insult to think that I should be afraid of a starving quill-driver's vengeance? But I forgive you nevertheless, because it is such eloquent witness to your great love for me. [Takes her in his arms.] And that is as it should be, my own darling Nora. Come what will, you may be sure I shall have both courage and strength if they be needed. You will see I am man enough to take everything upon myself. Nora: [in a horror-stricken voice]. What do you mean by that? Helmer: Everything, I say— Nora: [recovering herself] You will never have to do that. Helmer: That's right. Well, we will share it, Nora, as man and wife should. That is how it shall be. [Caressing her.] Are you content now? There! There! Not these frightened dove's eyes! The whole thing is only the wildest fancy! Now, you must go and play through the Tarantella and practise with your tambourine. I shall go into the inner office and shut the door, and I shall hear nothing; you can make as much noise as you please. [Turns back at the door.] And when Rank comes, tell him where he will find me. [Nods to her, takes his papers and goes into his room, and shuts the door after him.] How does the interaction between Helmer and Nora advance the plot?
Read the excerpt from Does My Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah. I froze. The priest would declare me a heretic, my parents would call me a traitor, and Mrs. Piogarni would give me detention. I had no idea what to say. I mean, what does a Muslim confess to a priest? I could only think of one thing. That every time Chris Barkley called me a darkie, or teased me about my mom's towel-head, I made a silent prayer asking God to drop a tree on his stupid head. The priest asked me again: "What is your confession, my child?" "I’m Muslim," I whispered. "Five Hail Marys and five of the Lord’s Prayer.” That was my first and last participation in a church service. Which sentence best explains how the tone reveals the narrator’s perspective?
Read the excerpt from Julius Caesar , act 2, scene 2. DECIUS: Caesar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Caesar. I come to fetch you to the Senate House. CAESAR: And you are come in very happy time To bear my greeting to the senators And tell them that I will not come today. (65) Cannot is false, and that I dare not, falser. I will not come today; tell them so, Decius. CALPURNIA: Say he is sick. CAESAR: Shall Caesar send a lie? Have I in conquest stretched mine arm so far, (70) To be afraid to tell greybeards the truth? Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come. What does the image of "in conquest stretched mine arm so far” suggest about the meaning of the passage?
Read this excerpt from the poem "Monet’s ‘Waterlilies’” by Robert Hayden. Here space and time exist in light the eye like the eye of faith believes. The seen, the known dissolve in iridescence, become illusive flesh of light that was not, was, forever is. O light beheld as through refracting tears. Here is the aura of that world each of us has lost. Here is the shadow of its joy. What is the best evidence that this poem is written in free verse?
Which line from "Monet’s ‘Waterlilies’” by Robert Hayden best demonstrates the speaker’s regret about the effects of violence and destruction in the world?
Read the excerpt from "The Role of Social Media in the Arab Uprisings" by Heather Brown, Emily Guskin, and Amy Mitchell. Social media indeed played a part in the Arab uprisings. Networks formed online were crucial in organizing a core group of activists, specifically in Egypt. Civil society leaders in Arab countries emphasized the role of "the internet, mobile phones, and social media" in the protests. Additionally, digital media has been used by Arabs to exercise freedom of speech and as a space for civic engagement. Now, research is emerging that reexamines in a more detailed way the role that social media played in the Arab uprisings. In July 2012 a report was published by the United States Institute of Peace based on an extensive content analysis of bit.ly links from the uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Bahrain. Bit.ly links, or short URLs, are predominantly used in social media such as Twitter. The authors came to some conclusions that countered the initial assumption that social media was a causal mechanism in the uprisings. Instead, the study suggests that the importance of social media was in communicating to the rest of the world what was happening on the ground during the uprisings. "New [or social] media outlets that use bit.ly links are more likely to spread information outside of the region than inside it, acting like a megaphone more than a rallying cry." Which excerpt from the passage best supports the authors' claim?
Read the passage from the opinion of the court in Dred Scott v. Sandford, written by Justice Taney. The question before us is, whether the class of persons described in the plea in abatement compose a portion of this people, and are constituent members of this sovereignty? We think they are not, and that they are not included, and were not intended to be included, under the word "citizens" in the Constitution, and can therefore claim none of the rights and privileges which that instrument provides for and secures to citizens of the United States. On the contrary, they were at that time considered as a subordinate and inferior class of beings, who had been subjugated by the dominant race, and, whether emancipated or not, yet remained subject to their authority, and had no rights or privileges but such as those who held the power and the Government might choose to grant them. What is Taney’s claim in this passage?
Read the excerpt from act 5, scene 1, of Julius Caesar . CASSIUS: Then if we lose this battle, You are contented to be led in triumph Through the streets of Rome? BRUTUS: No, Cassius, no: Think not, thou noble Roman, That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome. He bears too great a mind. But this same day Must end that work the ides of March begun; And whether we shall meet again I know not. How does Shakespeare’s use of triumph instead of victory affect the meaning of the passage?
Why does Roosevelt use repetition in his request for a declaration of war?
Which homophones correctly complete the sentence? The students were __________ that an accomplished scientist always _____ over the results of an experiment.
Read the passage from A Room of One’s Own . Here am I asking why women did not write poetry in the Elizabethan age, and I am not sure how they were educated; whether they were taught to write; whether they had sitting-rooms to themselves; how many women had children before they were twenty-one; what, in short, they did from eight in the morning till eight at night. They had no money evidently; according to Professor Trevelyan they were married whether they liked it or not before they were out of the nursery, at fifteen or sixteen very likely. It would have been extremely odd, even upon this showing, had one of them suddenly written the plays of Shakespeare, I concluded, and I thought of that old gentleman, who is dead now, but was a bishop, I think, who declared that it was impossible for any woman, past, present, or to come, to have the genius of Shakespeare. Which statement best explains how the structure of the text supports its main idea?
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