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Nineteenth Century England — Test Answers

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Consider these versions of The War of the Worlds. Excerpt 1, from H. G. Wells's novel The War of the Worlds: Then came the night of the first falling star. It was seen early in the morning, rushing over Winchester eastward, a line of flame high in the atmosphere. Hundreds must have seen it, and taken it for an ordinary falling star. Albin described it as leaving a greenish streak behind it that glowed for some seconds. Denning, our greatest authority on meteorites, stated that the height of its first appearance was about ninety or one hundred miles. It seemed to him that it fell to earth about one hundred miles east of him. Excerpt 2, from Howard E. Koch's script for Orson Welles's radio adaptation: ANNOUNCER TWO: Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt our program of dance music to bring you a special bulletin from the Intercontinental Radio News. At twenty minutes before eight, central time, Professor Farrell of the Mount Jennings Observatory, Chicago, Illinois, reports observing several explosions of incandescent gas, occurring at regular intervals on the planet Mars. The spectroscope indicates the gas to be hydrogen and moving towards the earth with enormous velocity. Which statement best describes the difference between these versions?

A
The radio adaptation's tone is more friendly than the novel's tone.
B
The radio adaptation's tone is more urgent than the novel's tone.
C
The radio adaptation's tone is more peaceful than the novel's tone.
D
The radio adaptation's tone is more academic than the novel's tone.
2
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Consider these versions of The War of the Worlds. Excerpt 1, from H. G. Wells's novel The War of the Worlds: I think everyone expected to see a man emerge—possibly something a little unlike us terrestrial men, but in all essentials a man. I know I did. But, looking, I presently saw something stirring within the shadow: greyish billowy movements, one above another, and then two luminous disks—like eyes. Then something resembling a little grey snake, about the thickness of a walking stick, coiled up out of the writhing middle, and wriggled in the air towards me—and then another. Excerpt 2, from Howard E. Koch's script for Orson Welles's radio adaptation: PHILLIPS: Ladies and gentlemen, this is the most terrifying thing I have ever witnessed . . . Wait a minute! Someone's crawling out of the hollow top. Someone or . . . something. I can see peering out of that black hole two luminous disks . . . are they eyes? It might be a face. It might be . . . (SHOUT OF AWE FROM THE CROWD) PHILLIPS: Good heavens, something's wriggling out of the shadow like a gray snake. Now it's another one, and another. They look like tentacles to me. Which statement best describes the difference between these versions?

A
The radio adaptation is more frenzied than the novel.
B
The radio adaptation is more cheerful than the novel.
C
The radio adaptation shares more factual information than the novel.
D
The radio adaptation shares more humorous insight than the novel.
3

Read the excerpt from Act II of The Importance of Being Earnest . Algernon: [Raising his hat.] You are my little cousin Cecily, I’m sure. Cecily: You are under some strange mistake. I am not little. In fact, I believe I am more than usually tall for my age. Which two definitions of the word little does the pun in this excerpt rely on? Choose two correct answers.

A
young
B
few
C
mean
D
small
E
thin
4

Read the passage from The Importance of Being Earnest. Cecily: [Coming over very slowly.] But I don’t like German. It isn’t at all a becoming language. I know perfectly well that I look quite plain after my German lesson. Miss Prism: Child, you know how anxious your guardian is that you should improve yourself in every way. He laid particular stress on your German, as he was leaving for town yesterday. Indeed, he always lays stress on your German when he is leaving for town. Cecily: Dear Uncle Jack is so very serious! Sometimes he is so serious that I think he cannot be quite well. From the passage, the reader can conclude that Cecily

A
wants to be more responsible.
B
plans on traveling abroad.
C
values looks over knowledge.
D
wishes she were smarter.
5

Read the statement from a paper on The Importance of Being Earnest . The Importance of Being Earnest contains the features of a comedy of manners. Which excerpt from the play best supports the statement?

A
Merriman: Mr. Ernest Worthing has just driven over from the station.
B
Algernon: It is much pleasanter being here with you.
C
Miss Prism: No married man is ever attractive except to his wife.
D
Chasuble: Mr. Worthing, I offer you my sincere condolence.
6

Read the excerpt from Act II of The Importance of Being Earnest . Cecily: [Rather shy and confidingly.] Dearest Gwendolen, there is no reason why I should make a secret of it to you. Our little county newspaper is sure to chronicle the fact next week. Mr. Ernest Worthing and I are engaged to be married. Gwendolen: [Quite politely, rising.] My darling Cecily, I think there must be some slight error. Mr. Ernest Worthing is engaged to me. The announcement will appear in the Morning Post on Saturday at the latest. Part of this excerpt would be considered an understatement because

A
when Cecily says, “Mr. Ernest Worthing and I are engaged to be married,” she is actually making a joke.
B
when Gwendolen says, “The announcement will appear in the Morning Post on Saturday,” she is not telling the truth.
C
when Gwendolen says, “I think there must be some slight error,” she is actually referring to the large error of Cecily saying she is engaged to Ernest.
D
when Cecily says, “There is no reason why I should make a secret of it to you,” she actually does have a reason to keep it a secret.
7

Read the beginning of The Importance of Being Earnest . Title: The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde The Persons in the Play John Worthing, J.P. Algernon Moncrieff Rev. Canon Chasuble, D.D. Merriman, Butler Lane, Manservant Lady Bracknell Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax Cecily Cardew Miss Prism, Governess First Act SCENE Morning-room in Algernon’s flat in Half-Moon Street. The room is luxuriously and artistically furnished. The sound of a piano is heard in the adjoining room. [Lane is arranging afternoon tea on the table, and after the music has ceased, Algernon enters.] Algernon: Did you hear what I was playing, Lane? Lane: I didn’t think it polite to listen, sir. Which analysis of the beginning of The Importance of Being Earnest is the most accurate?

A
The setting at the opening of the play makes a comment on the benefits of being married.
B
The names of the characters in the play help Wilde illustrate the differences between social classes.
C
The title is helpful in establishing the play as a comedy of manners because it makes use of witty wordplay.
D
The first line of dialogue in the play helps Wilde emphasize a contrast between city and country life.
8

Read the passage from The Importance of Being Earnest. Jack: . . . Old Mr. Thomas Cardew, who adopted me when I was a little boy, made me in his will guardian to his grand-daughter, Miss Cecily Cardew. Cecily, who addresses me as her uncle from motives of respect that you could not possibly appreciate, lives at my place in the country under the charge of her admirable governess, Miss Prism. Algernon: Where is that place in the country, by the way? Jack: That is nothing to you, dear boy. You are not going to be invited . . . By refusing to let Algernon meet Cecily, what character trait does Jack display?

A
protectiveness
B
compassion
C
mischievousness
D
jealousy
9

Read the excerpt from Act I of The Importance of Being Earnest . [ Lady Bracknell: ] I have always been of opinion that a man who desires to get married should know either everything or nothing. Which do you know? Jack: [After some hesitation.] I know nothing, Lady Bracknell. Lady Bracknell: I am pleased to hear it. I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone. The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever. What does Wilde’s use of humor critique in this excerpt?

A
government
B
education
C
tradition
D
marriage
10

Read the excerpt from Act I of The Importance of Being Earnest . Jack: Of course it’s mine. [Moving to him.] You have seen me with it a hundred times, and you have no right whatsoever to read what is written inside. It is a very ungentlemanly thing to read a private cigarette case. Algernon: Oh! it is absurd to have a hard and fast rule about what one should read and what one shouldn’t. More than half of modern culture depends on what one shouldn’t read. The epigram that Algernon uses in his last line provides a critique about

A
how members of the upper class were not concerned with the rules of society and rarely followed them.
B
how the rules of Victorian society dictated many things, even what was proper to read.
C
how the rules of Victorian society were not very strict and were not taken seriously.
D
how members of high society rarely read books and were not concerned with cultural knowledge.
11

Read the excerpt from Act I of The Importance of Being Earnest . Jack: Gwendolen, will you marry me? [Goes on his knees.] Gwendolen: Of course I will, darling. How long you have been about it! I am afraid you have had very little experience in how to propose. Jack: My own one, I have never loved any one in the world but you. Gwendolen: Yes, but men often propose for practice. I know my brother Gerald does. All my girl-friends tell me so. How does this dialogue poke fun at a society that takes marriage too lightly?

A
Jack is joking about his marriage proposal.
B
Gwendolen says that her brother proposes to all her friends.
C
Gwendolen is happy that Jack has finally asked her to marry him.
D
Jack tells Gwendolen that he loves no one else.
12

Read the sentence from The Importance of Being Earnest . Algernon: . . . But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. The most precise description of the sentence is that it is a(n) [Dropdown 1] because it makes a short, witty statement that offers a surprising, satirical perspective.

Answer:

epigram

13

Read this sentence from a report on Oscar Wilde. Oscar Wilde uses humor to critique society and show that there is too much concern about coming from a proper family. Which line from The Importance of Being Earnest best makes this point?

A
“Where did the charitable gentleman who had a first-class ticket for this seaside resort find you?”
B
“Yes, Lady Bracknell. I was in a hand-bag—a somewhat large, black leather hand-bag, with handles to it—an ordinary hand-bag in fact.”
C
“To be born, or at any rate bred, in a hand-bag, whether it had handles or not, seems to me to display a contempt for the ordinary decencies of family life . . .”
D
“May I ask you then what you would advise me to do? I need hardly say I would do anything in the world to ensure Gwendolen’s happiness.”
14

Read the passage. No science fiction anthology is complete without an excerpt from The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells. It has every element of great science fiction: suspense, intrigue, and Martians. The story is a timeless classic. It captivated readers nearly one hundred years ago, and it is still relevant and spellbinding. What is the purpose of this passage?

A
to inform readers about methods for writing science fiction novels
B
to inform readers about a variety of H. G. Wells's literary works
C
to persuade readers of the literary merit of The War of the Worlds
D
to entertain readers with details from The War of the Worlds
15

How does the epigram affect this scene? Miss Prism: . . . The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means.

A
It suggests the serious idea that tidy endings are uncommon in real life.
B
It reveals the optimistic idea that most endings are a good thing.
C
It explains the humorous idea that bad endings are usually happy.
D
It introduces the pessimistic idea that happy endings only happen in stories.
16

Read the passage from an essay on The Importance of Being Earnest . Chasuble: . . . Your brother was, I believe, unmarried, was he not? Jack: Oh yes. Miss Prism: [Bitterly.] People who live entirely for pleasure usually are. How is the passage an example of Wilde achieving his overall purpose in writing the play?

A
Wilde uses criticism to instruct the audience about the importance of morality.
B
Wilde uses realism to instruct the audience so they approve of the marriage.
C
Wilde uses humor to entertain the audience while he comments on marriage.
D
Wilde uses sarcasm to shame the audience into embracing the social code.
17

Read the excerpt from Act III of The Importance of Being Earnest. Lady Bracknell: [With a shiver, crossing to the sofa and sitting down.] I do not know whether there is anything peculiarly exciting in the air of this particular part of Hertfordshire, but the number of engagements that go on seems to me considerably above the proper average that statistics have laid down for our guidance. What Victorian social code is reflected in Lady Bracknell’s disapproval of the number of engagements?

A
the perception that quick engagements go against religious beliefs
B
the belief that romance should play a large role in engagements
C
the perception that it is important to marry within one’s social class
D
the belief that engagements and marriages should follow social rules
18

Read the excerpt from Act III of The Importance of Being Earnest. Jack: I fear there can be no possible doubt about the matter. This afternoon during my temporary absence in London on an important question of romance, he obtained admission to my house by means of the false pretence of being my brother. Under an assumed name he drank, I’ve just been informed by my butler, an entire pint bottle of my Perrier-Jouet, Brut, ’89; wine I was specially reserving for myself. Continuing his disgraceful deception, he succeeded in the course of the afternoon in alienating the affections of my only ward. He subsequently stayed to tea, and devoured every single muffin. And what makes his conduct all the more heartless is, that he was perfectly well aware from the first that I have no brother, that I never had a brother, and that I don’t intend to have a brother, not even of any kind. I distinctly told him so myself yesterday afternoon. Based on this excerpt, what behavior does Jack most clearly disapprove of?

A
being deceptive
B
being romantic
C
being determined
D
being creative
19

Read the passage from The Importance of Being Earnest . Lady Bracknell: . . . [Turns to Jack.] Apprised, sir, of my daughter’s sudden flight by her trusty maid, whose confidence I purchased by means of a small coin, I followed her at once by a luggage train. Her unhappy father is, I am glad to say, under the impression that she is attending a more than usually lengthy lecture by the University Extension Scheme on the Influence of a permanent income on Thought. I do not propose to undeceive him. Indeed I have never undeceived him on any question. I would consider it wrong. But of course, you will clearly understand that all communication between yourself and my daughter must cease immediately from this moment. How does Wilde poke fun at Victorian society in the passage? Choose three correct answers.

A
Lady Bracknell says her maid is trustworthy but has to bribe her to get help.
B
The names of the college and class seem reasonable to Gwendolen’s father.
C
Gwendolen’s father appears to be an unhappy man.
D
Lady Bracknell does not approve of Gwendolen dating Jack.
E
Lady Bracknell says it is wrong to be honest with her husband.
20

Read the passage from The Importance of Being Earnest . Gwendolen: Let us preserve a dignified silence. Cecily: Certainly. It’s the only thing to do now. [Enter Jack followed by Algernon . They whistle some dreadful popular air from a British Opera.] Gwendolen: This dignified silence seems to produce an unpleasant effect. Cecily: A most distasteful one. Gwendolen: But we will not be the first to speak. Cecily: Certainly not. Gwendolen: Mr. Worthing, I have something very particular to ask you. Much depends on your reply. Wilde uses the exchange between Gwendolen and Cecily to

A
mock the formal courtship rules of Victorian society.
B
show the superiority of women in Victorian society.
C
explain the importance of romance in Victorian society.
D
praise the strict social codes of Victorian society.

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