Nineteenth Century England — Test Answers

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?

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?

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.

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?

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

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

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.

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?

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?

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?

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?

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.

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. I think some preliminary inquiry on my part would not be out of place. Mr. Worthing, is Miss Cardew at all connected with any of the larger railway stations in London? I merely desire information. Until yesterday I had no idea that there were any families or persons whose origin was a Terminus. [ Jack looks perfectly furious, but restrains himself.] How can Lady Bracknell asking Miss Cardew (Cecily) if she is "at all connected with any of the larger railway stations in London” be seen as a reflection of Victorian social codes?

Read the passage from The Importance of Being Earnest . Lady Bracknell: . . . I think some preliminary inquiry on my part would not be out of place. Mr. Worthing, is Miss Cardew at all connected with any of the larger railway stations in London? I merely desire information. Until yesterday I had no idea that there were any families or persons whose origin was a Terminus. Which excerpt from the passage contains a paradox and a pun?

Read the passage from The Importance of Being Earnest. Gwendolen: [To Jack.] Darling! Algernon: [To Cecily.] Darling! [They fall into each other's arms.] [Enter Merriman. When he enters he coughs loudly, seeing the situation.] Merriman: Ahem! Ahem! Lady Bracknell! Jack: Good heavens! [Enter Lady Bracknell. The couples separate in alarm. Exit Merriman.] Lady Bracknell: Gwendolen! What does this mean? In contrast to reading the scene, seeing the staged version of the scene would improve its aesthetic impact by allowing the audience to

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?

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?

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

Read the passage from The Importance of Being Earnest . Algernon: I really don't see anything romantic in proposing. It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may be accepted. One usually is, I believe. Then the excitement is all over. The very essence of romance is uncertainty. If ever I get married, I'll certainly try to forget the fact. In the passage, Wilde uses [Dropdown 1] to achieve an aesthetic impact.

Read the sentence. Leonie jogged through the cool morning mist. What type of pronoun should the writer replace Leonie with?