AnswersEnglish 3Henry David Thoreau - Walden

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In paragraphs three and four of “Where I Lived and What I Lived For” in Walden , how does Thoreau contrast the way he lives with the way others live?

A
He believes that his life will last long, whereas he believes others’ lives will be quite brief.
B
He believes his life to be extremely simple, and he believes others’ lives to be needlessly complicated.
C
He considers his life extremely odd and unusual, and he considers others’ lives far more sensible.
D
He considers his way of life easy for him but perhaps too difficult and harsh for other people.
2
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In the second paragraph of “Spring” in Walden , how does the contrast of two time periods aid the development of a theme?

A
The feeling of happiness Thoreau describes at the changing of the seasons parallels his contentment as his self-knowledge grows.
B
The introduction of light into a cold, dark setting reflects Thoreau’s happiness at being separate from society.
C
Thoreau’s description of a burst of light on a winter day resembles his own enlightenment.
D
Thoreau is surprised by the appearance of spring sunlight, just as he is surprised at the discoveries he makes about nature during the course of his time in the woods.
3

How does the progress of the last paragraph of “Where I Lived and What I Lived For” communicate the main idea of Walden ?

A
The progress of the paragraph reinforces the increasing comfort Thoreau felt in the natural world.
B
Just as the paragraph moves from images of the water to those of the earth, Thoreau moves from emotional subjects to more practical subjects.
C
Just as the paragraph moves from gazing at water to digging in the earth, the excerpt moves from minimal knowledge of nature to more in-depth knowledge.
D
Thoreau moves from gazing at the water to burrowing into the earth, just as the excerpt shows a progress from observation to contemplation.
5

Which best states the overall structure of Walden ?

A
The work compares Thoreau’s thoughts before coming to Walden to his thoughts afterward.
B
The work shows how various problems Thoreau had before he came to Walden are solved by his retreat.
C
The work describes the effect spending time in nature has on Thoreau, and then explains why it has that effect.
D
The work describes Thoreau’s thoughts over the course of a year spent immersed in the natural world.
6

Read the excerpt from Walden . This is a delicious evening, when the whole body is one sense, and imbibes delight through every pore. I go and come with a strange liberty in Nature, a part of herself. As I walk along the stony shore of the pond in my shirt-sleeves, though it is cool as well as cloudy and windy, and I see nothing special to attract me, all the elements are unusually congenial to me. Which best states what the imagery in the excerpt suggests?

A
Thoreau feels like an outsider as he observes the objects in his environment.
B
Thoreau believes he is the only one to ever experience this type of night.
C
Thoreau feels as if he is in harmony with the aspects of his environment.
D
Thoreau believes he is experiencing a perfect night that will never happen again.
7

Read the excerpt from “Conclusion” in Walden . The surface of the earth is soft and impressible by the feet of men; and so with the paths which the mind travels. How worn and dusty, then, must be the highways of the world, how deep the ruts of tradition and conformity! I did not wish to take a cabin passage, but rather to go before the mast and on the deck of the world, for there I could best see the moonlight amid the mountains. I do not wish to go below now. Which best describes the purpose of the imagery in the excerpt?

A
It encourages readers to embark on their own worldly exploration after they finish Thoreau’s book.
B
It illustrates the physical and emotional difficulties Thoreau had while living in the world of nature.
C
It illustrates Thoreau’s goal to continue exploring the world around him in a unique and fulfilling way.
D
It encourages readers to experience Thoreau’s work as if they are taking a journey around the world.
8

In the first paragraph of “Conclusion” in Walden , how does Thoreau explain his departure from the woods?

A
He views his departure as a rejection of the idea of living in nature.
B
He explains that he left because he was no longer comfortable in the woods.
C
He explains his departure as the movement from one part of his life to another.
D
He explains that he left the woods because he had nothing left to write about.
10

Read the excerpt from Walden . I am on the alert for the first signs of spring, to hear the chance note of some arriving bird, or the striped squirrel’s chirp, for his stores must be now nearly exhausted, or see the woodchuck venture out of his winter quarters. How do the images in the excerpt relate to Thoreau’s overall quest in Walden ?

A
They remind readers that humans are not the only beings to notice the arrival of spring.
B
They create a connection between Thoreau’s experience and the solitary animals that he is observing.
C
They demonstrate that Thoreau has a greater understanding of animals now than he used to have.
D
They illustrate that the beginning of spring has a greater meaning for the animal kingdom than for humans.

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