Read the paragraph from a student’s literary essay comparing two different works.(1) Sandra Cisneros’s “Mericans” is about a young American girl of Mexican descent who is struggling between her cultural heritage and American identity. (2) Cisneros illustrates this through a number of images and ideas. (3) For example, the speaker, Micaela, calls her grandmother “awful,” and seems to resent the woman’s strict views and religious ideals. (4) The speaker also mentions how she and her brother emulate characters from popular American television programs when they play make-believe. (5) Lastly, she describes physically standing outside her family’s church, an act that symbolizes the fact that she feels like an outsider to Mexican culture. (6) Although Micaela is of Mexican descent, she seems to feel a stronger connection to the United States. This paragraph supports the idea that Micaela

A

wishes her heritage was different because she has difficulty relating to her grandmother.

B

wants to find her own unique identity that is separate from her brother and her grandmother.

C

will never accept her Mexican roots because of her feelings toward her grandmother.

D

identifies with her Mexican heritage in a different way than her grandmother.

2

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Read the paragraph from a student’s literary essay comparing two different works.(1) Sandra Cisneros’s “Mericans” is about a young American girl of Mexican descent who is struggling between her cultural heritage and American identity. (2) Cisneros illustrates this through a number of images and ideas. (3) For example, the speaker, Micaela, calls her grandmother “awful,” and seems to resent the woman’s strict views and religious ideals. (4) The speaker also mentions how she and her brother emulate characters from popular American television programs when they play make-believe. (5) Lastly, she describes physically standing outside her family’s church, an act that symbolizes the fact that she feels like an outsider to Mexican culture. (6) Although Micaela is of Mexican descent, she seems to feel a stronger connection to the United States. Which best describes this paragraph?

A

the introduction to the essay

B

a body paragraph of the essay

C

the thesis of the essay

D

the conclusion of the essay

3

Read the sentence.In the story “Mericans,” Micaela thinks her grandmother is awful.Which is the best revision of this sentence using academic vocabulary?

A

Micaela’s grandmother mistreats her, and Micaela does not like her.

B

Micaela does not like her grandmother because the old woman mistreats her.

C

The main character of “Mericans” does not like her awful old grandmother at all.

D

The protagonist of “Mericans,” Micaela, expresses that her grandmother is awful.

4

Read the sentence. Micaela says something about her grandmother’s feelings toward the United States, which are the opposite of the girl’s view.Which is the best revision of this sentence using academic vocabulary?

A

Micaela talks about her grandmother’s feelings toward the United States, which are the reverse of the narrator’s view.

B

Micaela speaks about her grandmother not liking the United States, which is not the same as the narrator’s view.

C

Micaela refers to her grandmother’s feelings toward the United States, which contrast with her own views.

D

Micaela describes her grandmother’s dislike of the United States, which is different than what the girl feels.

5

Read the sentence.The poem is about the way Japanese Americans were relocated.Which is the best revision of this sentence using academic vocabulary?

A

The poet talks about how Japanese people were forced to move to internment camps.

B

The poem addresses the forced relocation of Japanese Americans to internment camps.

C

Mainly the poem is about the putting of Japanese people into internment camps during the war.

D

Japanese Americans were put into internment camps, and the poem talks about that.

6

Read the paragraph from a student’s essay comparing Sandra Cisneros’s “Mericans” and Dwight Okita’s “In Response to Executive Order 9066.”(1) Sandra Cisneros’s “Mericans” is about a young American girl of Mexican descent who is struggling between her cultural heritage and American identity. (2) Cisneros illustrates this through a number of images and ideas. (3) For example, the speaker, Micaela, calls her grandmother “awful,” and seems to resent the woman’s strict views and religious ideals. (4) The speaker also mentions how she and her brother emulate characters from popular American television programs when they play make-believe. (5) Lastly, she describes physically standing outside her family’s church, an act that symbolizes the fact that she feels like an outsider to Mexican culture. (6) Although Micaela is of Mexican descent, she seems to feel a stronger connection to the United States. Which is the best thesis statement for the entire essay?

A

While the speaker of Okita’s poem feels strongly about her identity as an American citizen, the speaker of Cisneros’s short story identifies more closely with her Mexican family.

B

Both Okita’s poem and Cisneros’s short story show that people can feel tension between their cultural heritage and American identity due to racism and discrimination.

C

The family members in Cisneros’s and Okita’s works play a significant role in the lives of both narrators as they contemplate their place in hostile environments.

D

Cisneros and Okita rely on imagery to convey their ideas about American identity.

7

In a subject-by-subject comparison essay, a thesis statement must

A

show how the theme is developed in both works.

B

sum up all of the major points.

C

compare and contrast the theme in both works.

D

clearly explain the essay’s topic and viewpoint.

8

Which best describes the overall themes of Okita’s “In Response to Executive Order 9066” and Cisneros’s “Mericans”?

A

Individuals often face discrimination because of their appearances, especially during war time.

B

Physical appearances are more significant than cultural heritage in determining nationality.

C

People can feel tension between their cultural heritage and American identity due to racism and discrimination.

D

Many older immigrants find it difficult to discover their identities within the culturally varied American landscape.

9

The poem “In Response to Executive Order 9066” and the short story “Mericans” share the theme of

A

being relocated against one’s will.

B

accepting religious influence.

C

finding an American identity.

D

moving toward the unknown.

10

When writing a compare-and-contrast essay about a common theme, the writer must

A

avoid explaining how both works develop the theme.

B

compare and contrast how the themes are developed.

C

be sure to use transitions and avoid literary devices.

D

explain why the author chose a particular theme.

Correct Modifiers and Concise Wording — Unit test Answers

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