Practice Test Answers

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1
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Read the excerpt from The Metamorphoses by Ovid. The Goddess was moved, and gave this response: "Depart from my temple . . . and throw behind your backs the bones of your great mother.” For a long time they are amazed; and Pyrrha . . . refuses to obey the commands of the Goddess; and begs her, with trembling lips, to grant her pardon, and dreads to offend the shades of her mother by casting her bones. In the meantime they reconsider the words of the response given, but involved in dark obscurity. . . . [Deucalion] soothes [Pyrrha] with these gentle words, and says, ". . . The oracles are just, and advise no sacrilege. The earth is the great mother; I suspect that the stones in the body of the earth are the bones meant; these we are ordered to throw behind our backs.” Read the excerpt from the adaptation "The Flood” by James Baldwin. "Go on down the mountain,” said Mercury, "and as you go, cast the bones of your mother over your shoulders behind you;” and, with these words, he leaped into the air and was seen no more. "What did he mean?” asked Pyrrha. "Surely I do not know,” said Deucalion. "But let us think a moment. Who is our mother, if it is not the Earth, from whom all living things have sprung? And yet what could he mean by the bones of our mother?” "Perhaps he meant the stones of the earth,” said Pyrrha. "Let us go on down the mountain, and as we go, let us pick up the stones in our path and throw them over our shoulders behind us.” How does the adaptation compare to the original?

A
In Baldwin’s adaptation, Pyrrha figures out the meaning of the instructions, while in Ovid’s original, Deucalion interprets the correct meaning.
B
In Ovid’s original, the instructions ask the characters to disrespect a grave, while in Baldwin’s adaptation, they are meant to dig stones out of the ground.
C
In Baldwin’s adaptation, Pyrrha is afraid to follow the goddess’s instructions, while in Ovid’s original, she is eager to do as Mercury says.
D
In Ovid’s original, the characters cooperate to understand the instructions, while in Baldwin’s adaptation, Deucalion alone figures out the meaning.
2
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Read the excerpt from The Metamorphoses by Ovid. Soon as they reached the steps of the temple, each of them fell prostrate on the ground, and, trembling, gave kisses to the cold pavement. And thus they said: ". . . Give thy assistance, O most gentle Goddess to our ruined fortunes.” The Goddess was moved, and gave this response: "Depart from my temple. . . and throw behind your backs the bones of your great mother.” Read the excerpt from the adaptation "The Flood” by James Baldwin. While they were talking and trying to think what they should do, they heard a voice behind them. They turned and saw a noble young prince standing on one of the rocks above them. He was very tall, with blue eyes and yellow hair. There were wings on his shoes and on his cap, and in his hands he bore a staff with golden serpents twined around it. They knew at once that he was Mercury, the swift messenger of the Mighty Ones, and they waited to hear what he would say. How does the adaptation compare to the original?

A
Baldwin’s adaptation describes the gods as demanding, while Ovid’s original describes them as merciful.
B
Baldwin’s adaptation says that Mercury helps the characters, while Ovid’s original says that an unnamed goddess does.
C
Baldwin’s adaptation says that the characters are friends of Mercury’s, while Ovid’s original says that the characters fear Mercury.
D
Baldwin’s adaptation describes the characters as dedicated to the gods, while Ovid’s original portrays them as disrespectful.
4

What element of a myth is featured in the title "The Beginnings of the Maasai”?

A
an attempt to explain a supernatural god
B
an attempt to explain a fantastic setting
C
an attempt to explain a conflict
D
an attempt to explain an origin
5

Which reason best explains why "The Beginnings of the Maasai” can be classified as a myth?

A
It has supernatural features that help to explain the conflict with the Maasai’s cattle.
B
It has fantastic features that help to explain the purpose of the Maasai’s weather.
C
It has fantastic features that help to explain the reason for the Maasai’s traditions.
D
It has supernatural features that help to explain the volcanic eruption in the Maasai’s home.
6

Read the passage from Perseus. "Your child!” Acrisius cried in great anger. "Who is his father?” But when Danaë answered proudly, "Zeus,” he would not believe her. In the passage, the dialogue primarily serves to

A
illustrate the feelings of the characters.
B
describe the actions of the characters.
C
identify the narrator of the story.
D
identify the narrator’s point of view.
9

An author has successfully created a suspenseful sequence of events when the reader asks which question?

A
What will happen next?
B
Who are the important characters?
C
What is the background information?
D
Where is the setting located?

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