Unit Test — Unit test Answers

Read the excerpt from "The Lottery."Because so much of the ritual had been forgotten or discarded, Mr. Summers had been successful in having slips of paper substituted for the chips of wood that had been used for generations. Chips of wood, Mr. Summers had argued, had been all very well when the village was tiny, but now that the population was more than three hundred and likely to keep on growing, it was necessary to use something that would fit more easily into the black box. The night before the lottery, Mr. Summers and Mr. Graves made up the slips of paper and put them in the box, and it was then taken to the safe of Mr. Summers' coal company and locked up until Mr. Summers was ready to take it to the square next morning. The rest of the year, the box was put away, sometimes one place, sometimes another; it had spent one year in Mr. Graves's barn and another year underfoot in the post office, and sometimes it was set on a shelf in the Martin grocery and left there.

After reading "The Lady, or the Tiger,” a reader might conclude that the princess chooses the tiger, because

Read the excerpt from "The Lady, or the Tiger?”This semi-barbaric king had a daughter as blooming as his most florid fancies, and with a soul as fervent and imperious as his own. As is usual in such cases, she was the apple of his eye, and was loved by him above all humanity.

In "The Lady, or the Tiger,” which information about the princess is most important to help the reader decide whether she chooses the lady or the tiger?

After reading “A Smart Cookie,” what is the most likely reason a reader might conclude that Esperanza will listen to her mother and study hard?

Read the excerpt from “The Monkey's Paw.”Mr. White took the paw from his pocket and eyed it dubiously. "I don't know what to wish for, and that's a fact," he said, slowly. "It seems to me I've got all I want.""If you only cleared the house, you'd be quite happy, wouldn't you?" said Herbert, with his hand on his shoulder. "Well, wish for two hundred pounds, then; that'll just do it."His father, smiling shamefacedly at his own credulity, held up the talisman, as his son, with a solemn face, somewhat marred by a wink at his mother, sat down at the piano and struck a few impressive chords."I wish for two hundred pounds," said the old man distinctly.A fine crash from the piano greeted the words, interrupted by a shuddering cry from the old man. His wife and son ran toward him.

Read this passage from "An Hour with Abuelo” by Judith Ortiz Cofer.My mother tells me that Don Arturo had once been a teacher back in Puerto Rico, but had lost his job after the war. Then he became a farmer. She’s always saying in a sad voice, "Ay, bendito. What a waste of a fine mind.” Then she usually shrugs her shoulders and says, "Así es la vida.” That’s the way life is. It sometimes makes me mad that the adults I know just accept whatever crap is thrown at them because "that’s the way things are.” Not for me. I go after what I want.

Read the excerpt from “The Lottery.”Soon the men began to gather, surveying their own children, speaking of planting and rain, tractors, and taxes.

Which character information in "The Lady, or the Tiger” does the author most likely include to help the reader understand the moral?

Read the passage from "The Lady, or the Tiger.”All was ready. The signal was given. A door beneath the royal party opened, and the lover of the princess walked into the arena. Tall, beautiful, fair, his appearance was greeted with a low hum of admiration and anxiety. Half the audience had not known so grand a youth had lived among them. No wonder the princess loved him!

Which is an example of direct characterization?

Read the excerpt from “The Monkey's Paw.”"The first man had his three wishes. Yes," was the reply; "I don't know what the first two were, but the third was for death. That's how I got the paw."His tones were so grave that a hush fell upon the group."If you've had your three wishes, it's no good to you now, then, Morris," said the old man at last. "What do you keep it for?"The soldier shook his head. "Fancy, I suppose," he said, slowly. "I did have some idea of selling it, but I don't think I will. It has caused enough mischief already. Besides, people won't buy. They think it's a fairy tale; some of them, and those who do think anything of it want to try it first and pay me afterward.""If you could have another three wishes," said the old man, eyeing him keenly, "would you have them?""I don't know," said the other. "I don't know."

Read the sentences.The siblings were like cats and dogs when left alone together. As a result, the babysitter was careful to keep them separated as much as possible.

Which sentence from "The Lady, or the Tiger” is an example of building suspense?

Read the sentence.I tried to finish the meal, but the burned meat was as tough as leather, and I began to wonder whether I was eating someone’s old sneakers.

Read the excerpt from "The Coyote and the Bear."In a few minutes the hole was frozen solid, and his tail was fast."Now, friend Coyote," called the Bear, "I think you have him. Pull!"The Coyote pulled with all his might, but could not lift his tail from the ice, and there he was—a prisoner.

Read the excerpt from "The Coyote and the Bear.""But this is not fair. You have those round things, which are good to eat, but what I took home we cannot eat at all, neither my wife nor I.""But, friend Coyote," answered the Bear, gravely, "did we not make an agreement? Then we must stick to it like men."The Coyote could not answer, and went home. But he was not satisfied.

Read "The Coyote and the Bear."

Read the excerpt from "The Legacy of Billy Mason."Outside, the windmill continued its eerie creaking and moaning, and the light of the moon scarcely penetrated the dirt on the glass in the only window in the bedroom. Lying there in the darkness, Billy looked at the door again and again. What was behind it? Did it hide some awful secret? Did something monstrous lurk there? Then suddenly, as he watched, the door slowly opened, and as it opened, he saw his own name glowing in the darkness: Billy Mason.

Read the excerpt from "The Legacy of Billy Mason."The pages of the scrapbook were filled with clippings from newspapers, and they were all about Billy Mason and his team—the games they played and the plays he made. At the very end there was an article about Billy himself, how he was hardworking and courageous and how, in his rookie year, he was injured in a home-plate collision. He held onto the ball, won the game, and never played again. He took one for the team.Billy closed the scrapbook. This was his father's scrapbook, left here in his grandmother’s house. Catcher Billy Mason was his father's hero. He had given his son his hero’s name as a kind of legacy. Billy held the scrapbook in his hands as he went downstairs to have his first real conversation with Grandma M.