Sample EOCT Items KEY

English 2 – Sample EOCT KEY Selection 1 – American Non-Fiction Document Address Delivered at the Dedication of the Cemetery at Gettysburg Abraham Lincoln November 19, 1863 Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. 1. What is the author’s purpose in writing the selection? a. to discuss those who died during the civil war b. to expose the truth of the war’s injustice for the Union toops c. to persuade listeners to devote themselves to freedom after the war d. to describe the death of civil war soldiers 2. What is the effect of referring to “our fathers” in paragraph one? a. it connects to a sentimental pre-war past b. it emphasizes the passage of time since the start of the war c. it demonstrates that the fathers were misguided in assembling so many together d. it indicates that people deserve freedom 3. Which of the following best describes the sequence of the speech? a. cause, effect b. past, present, and future c. future, present, past d. summary, then dialogue 4. What is the effect of personification in the following lines? “We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. a. b. c. d. it shows the Gettysburg battlefield regrets the bloodshed it shows the dead men wish they could return it supports the theme that the nation is reborn through the death of others it demonstrates the love the speaker has for those who died 1 5. What does the author mean when he states the following lines? “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.” a. b. c. d. the world will write small notes to remember the speech the burial and dedication will be remembered for eternity the brutality of war will be forgotten in time the soldiers’ sacrifices will be remembered forever 6. Why does the author include the following sentence? “… Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” a. b. c. d. it emphasizes the importance of the people it immortalizes the soldiers it discusses the political significance of the United States in implies the necessity of government 7. Why does the author cite “Under God” in the final paragraph? a. it reminds readers of the religious morality of the country b. it mentions liberty of both sides of the war c. it hints at birth and rebirth symbols from the first paragraph d. it suggests the scientific advancement of the time 8. Based on the context, which of the following best replaces the word “perish” in the last paragraph? a. arrive c. relieve b. fade d. believe 9. What is the tone of the speech? a. respectful b. ironic c. hateful d . fearful Selection 2 – World Poetry Poem 144 The crookedness of the serpent is straight enough for the snake-hole. Poem 70 The crookedness of the river is straight enough for the sea. As a mother runs Close behind her child with his hand on a cobra or a fire, the lord of the meeting rivers stays with me every step of the way And looks after me. - Basavanna And the crookedness of our Lord’s men is straight enough for our Lord! - Basavanna 10. Which of the following words best describes the mother in Basavanna’s poem #70? a. manipulator c. interferer b. protector d. provider 2 11. What is the effect of the simile in poem #70? a. it compares a cobra to a fire b. it compares the lord to a mother c. it shows the child is foolish d. it describes the river 12. Which of these best describes the nature of “the lord of the meeting rivers” in Basavanna’s poem #70? a. omnipotent; having unlimited power c. omnipresent; having unlimited presence b. omniscient; having unlimited knowledge d. vengeful; destroying everything 13. Which of these words best describes the word “crookedness” in line 5 of Basavanna’s poem #144? a. imperfection and deficiencies c. curving and slanting b. poison and danger d. slyness and aloofness 14. Which pair of descriptions best states the unifying theme of Basavanna’s two poems? a. the lord offers comfort and acceptance c. animals and humans always live together b. suffering and danger are requisites of life d. companionship is good when traveling Selection 3 – Fiction Passage from Les Miserables THE next morning at sunrise Monseigneur Bienvenu was strolling in his garden. Madame Magloire ran up to him in utter consternation. "Monseigneur, Monseigneur!" she exclaimed, "does your Grace know where the basket of silver is?" "Yes," replied the Bishop. "Jesus the Lord be blessed!" she resumed; "I did not know what had become of it." The Bishop had just picked up the basket in a flower-bed. He presented it to Madame Magloire. "Here it is." "Well!" said she. "Nothing in it! And the silver?" "Ah," returned the Bishop, "so it is the silver which troubles you? I don't know where it is." "Great, good God! It is stolen! That man who was here last night has stolen it." In a twinkling, with all the vivacity of an alert old woman, Madame Magloire had rushed to the oratory, entered the alcove, and returned to the Bishop. The Bishop had just bent down, and was sighing as he examined a plant of cochlearia des Guillons, which the basket had broken as it fell across the bed. He rose up at Madame Magloire's cry. "Monseigneur, the man is gone! The silver has been stolen!" As she uttered this exclamation, her eyes fell upon a corner of the garden, where traces of the wall having been scaled were visible. The coping of the wall had been torn away. "Stay! yonder is the way he went. He jumped over into Cochefilet Lane. Ah, the abomination! He has stolen our silver!" 3 The Bishop remained silent for a moment; then he raised his grave eyes, and said gently to Madame Magloire: -"And, in the first place, was that silver ours?" Madame Magloire was speechless. Another silence ensued; then the Bishop went on: -"Madame Magloire, I have for a long time detained that silver wrongfully. It belonged to the poor. Who was that man? A poor man, evidently." "Alas! Jesus!" returned Madame Magloire. "It is not for my sake, nor for Mademoiselle's. It makes no difference to us. But it is for the sake of Monseigneur. What is Monseigneur to eat with now?" The Bishop gazed at her with an air of amazement. "Ah, come! Are there no such things as pewter forks and spoons?" Madame Magloire shrugged her shoulders. "Pewter has an odor." "Iron forks and spoons, then." Madame Magloire made an expressive grimace. "Iron has a taste." "Very well," said the Bishop; "wooden ones then." A few moments later he was breakfasting at the very table at which Jean Valjean had sat on the previous evening. As he ate his breakfast, Bishop Bienvenu remarked gayly to his sister, who said nothing, and to Madame Magloire, who was grumbling under her breath, that one really does not need either fork or spoon, even of wood, in order to dip a bit of bread in a cup of milk. "A pretty idea, truly," said Madame Magloire to herself, as she went and came, "to take in a man like that! and to lodge him close to one's self! And how fortunate that he did nothing but steal! Ah, mon Dieu! it makes one shudder to think of it!" As the brother and sister were about to rise from the table, there came a knock at the door. "Come in," said the Bishop. The door opened. A singular and violent group made its appearance on the threshold. Three men were holding a fourth man by the collar. The three men were gendarmes; the other was Jean Valjean. A brigadier of gendarmes, who seemed to be in command of the group, was standing near the door. He entered and advanced to the Bishop, making a military salute. "Monseigneur -- " said he. At this word, Jean Valjean, who was dejected and seemed overwhelmed, raised his head with an air of stupefaction. 4 "Monseigneur!" he murmured. "So he is not the cure?" "Silence!" said the gendarme. "He is Monseigneur the Bishop." In the meantime, Monseigneur Bienvenu had advanced as quickly as his great age permitted. "Ah! here you are!" he exclaimed, looking at Jean Valjean. "I am glad to see you. Well, but how is this? I gave you the candlesticks too, which are of silver like the rest, and for which you can certainly get two hundred francs. Why did you not carry them away with your forks and spoons?" Jean Valjean opened his eyes wide, and stared at the venerable Bishop with an expression which no human tongue can render any account of. "Monseigneur," said the brigadier of gendarmes, "so what this man said is true, then? We came across him. He was walking like a man who is running away. We stopped him to look into the matter. He had this silver -- " "And he told you," interposed the Bishop with a smile, "that it had been given to him by a kind old fellow of a priest with whom he had passed the night? I see how the matter stands. And you have brought him back here? It is a mistake." "In that case," replied the brigadier, "we can let him go?" "Certainly," replied the Bishop. The gendarmes released Jean Valjean, who recoiled. "Is it true that I am to be released?" he said, in an almost inarticulate voice, and as though he were talking in his sleep. "Yes, thou art released; dost thou not understand?" said one of the gendarmes. "My friend," resumed the Bishop, "before you go, here are your candlesticks. Take them." He stepped to the chimney-piece, took the two silver candlesticks, and brought them to Jean Valjean. The two women looked on without uttering a word, without a gesture, without a look which could disconcert the Bishop. Jean Valjean was trembling in every limb. He took the two candlesticks mechanically, and with a bewildered air. "Now," said the Bishop, "go in peace. By the way, when you return, my friend, it is not necessary to pass through the garden. You can always enter and depart through the street door. It is never fastened with anything but a latch, either by day or by night." Then, turning to the gendarmes: -"You may retire, gentlemen." The gendarmes retired. Jean Valjean was like a man on the point of fainting. The Bishop drew near to him, and said in a low voice: -"Do not forget, never forget, that you have promised to use this money in becoming an honest man." 5 Jean Valjean, who had no recollection of ever having promised anything, remained speechless. The Bishop had emphasized the words when he uttered them. He resumed with solemnity: -"Jean Valjean, my brother, you no longer belong to evil, but to good. It is your soul that I buy from you; I withdraw it from black thoughts and the spirit of perdition, and I give it to God." 15. What plot event occurred the previous night? a. Valjean promised with solemnity c. the Bishop’s silver was stolen b. the gendarmes retired d. the Bishop helped a rich man gain fame 16. Why does the Bishop mention different types of forks and spoons? a. he believes pewter has an odor when eating b. he believes they should move on despite their misfortune c. he thinks the wood and iron are better for someone poor like him d. he thinks many materials will help his occupation 17. What is the meaning of the bold word stupefaction on page 3 of the passage? a. confusion c. fear b. hatred d. love 18. Why is Valjean suprised? a. he didn’t have to pay for his hotel room b. the Gendarmes discovered he had a basket from the flower garden c. Madame Magloire is not angry with him and the Bishop is angry with him d. he is released by the Gendarmes 19. What does the Bishop claim Valjean forgot? a. his table manners c. his silver utensils b. his sister d. his candlesticks 20. What can readers infer from the description of the garden on page 1 of the passage? a. the house is not properly maintained c. the beauty of the garden fades with time b. someone escaped over the wall d. the French craftsmen were not good 21. How much are the candlesticks worth? a. less than pewter b. less than iron c. less than wood d. 200 francs 22. What can readers infer from the following quote? "By the way, when you return, my friend, it is not necessary to pass through the garden. You can always enter and depart through the street door. It is never fastened with anything but a latch, either by day or by night." a. b. c. d. The latch is very strong The garden is more convenient than the street door The Bishop is trusting Only true friends are allowed to come through the street door 23. What is the connotation of the phrase “black thoughts” in the final paragraph? a. mysterious thoughts c. intelligent thoughts b. evil thoughts d. religious thoughts 6 CONSTRUCTED RESPONSE. Respond to the following question in 4-6 sentences in the space below. Cite evidence to support your claim. 24. How does the author, Victor Hugo, develop the Bishop’s character in the passage? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Selection 4 – Speech Excerpt “Principles of Speech and Expression” Dr. John DeGioia This speech was delivered by the president of Georgetown University in February 2003. Let me begin this forum by arguing two different points of view regarding free speech and expression. This tension has shaped our discourse here, and I hope to do it justice. First: Georgetown should curtail speech because we believe strongly that ideas matter. Ideas are conveyed in speech, and ideas can be very dangerous. They can upset the status quo; they can be disruptive. Ideas can generate negative reactions, carry hate, wound people, and cause real trauma. Ideas are powerful. College students are at a formative time in their lives; they are easily persuaded; they may not grasp the complexity of some ideas. If you believe in the power of ideas, then you must consider carefully what ideas are promulgated at Georgetown. Specifically, one must consider that a campus committed to unrestricted speech count, on occasion, appear to provide a legitimate platform for lies, hatred, distortion, and error. As a result, offensive speech appears to acquire legitimacy when it occurs on the grounds of a respected research institution or is uttered by members of that community. Now let’s consider a second viewpoint-that a university should commit itself to free speech and expression. Universities are predicated on a fundamental trust that permits the broadest possible intellectual freedom and autonomy. Universities are also committed to the idea that the truth is achieved in dialogue. To limit dialogue without prior thought is to show a lack of confidence in the capacity of the individual to discover truth. The university is a catalyst and container of conflict; and there will be conflict. Active debate and discussion of ideas are, in fact, the signs of a healthy intellectual community. Two points of view. Both matter. Good arguments can be made for both. The question of what constitutes the appropriate range of speech and expression raises the most difficult and important issues for the academy. We live this tension as a community. At Georgetown, our decision has been to create a framework that supports an open forum and free expression. Georgetown has chosen to permit the widest possible discourse, limited only under certain exceptional circumstances, because we believe in three things: the value of intellectual inquiry, the integrity of individuals, and the ability of members of this university community to think rationally about 7 ideas and work toward truth. We cannot be a university dedicated to intellectual excellence and at the same time places limits on what might be said and thought and discussed. Our policy on free speech and expression was developed at Georgetown 14 years ago to provide a framework for our common life together. It does not prohibit speech based on the person presenting ideas or the content of those ideas nor does it mandate any mechanism by which the institution decides who gets to speak and who doesn’t. We don’t approve or endorse the speakers that come here. That’s known and widely understood. At the same time, we understand that free speech will cause pain. Open debate can be difficult and uncomfortable. Our trust will, on occasion, be abused. William Shockley, a Nobel laureate, was invited to speak on many campuses in the 1960s, despite the fact that he used his stature in the scientific world to make outrageous claims about racial inferiority. There can be a tragic element in any pursuit of truthfulness. We can’t ignore the tragic dimension of our lives, but we truly believe, by permitting the broadest range of discourse—some of it unpopular, some of it disturbing—that truth will emerge. 25. Who is the intended audience of the speech? a. the government of Virginia c. members of Georgetown University b. the government of North Carolina d. William Shockley and his friends 26. Dr. DeGioia could best support his argument that “truth is achieved in dialogue” by adding which sentence to the fifth paragraph? a. By considering the viewpoints of another individual, one is made aware of the strengths and weaknesses of one’s own viewpoints. b. The best way to develop friendship is by asking others about their thoughts and concerns. c. After all, truth comes from within. d. Truth, as they say, is one of the most valuable and rare things that can be found in this world of ours. 27. Why would it be more significant and effective for Dr. DeGioia to give this speech rather than publish it on Georgetown’s website? a. A speech would enable the speaker to reach a wider, more international audience. b. The audience could experience the emotion of the spoken words. c. Students and staff could leave if they disagreed with what was said. d. Supporters of free speech and expression could cheer wildly. 28. Which word best replaces the bold word “mandate” in the 8th paragraph? a. command c. humanity b. clean d. love 29. What can readers infer from the sentence below: “Our policy on free speech and expression was developed at Georgetown 14 years ago to provide a framework for our common life together.” a. There have been a lot of unpopular speakers at Georgetown. b. Georgetown has restricted speech and expression for many years. c. Speech and expression debates are important to the University’s community. d. Georgetown’s current students decided they needed to develop the policy. 30. How does the tone of the speech compare to that of the following excerpt from a Georgetown student’s Internet blog? “Georgetown’s policy is totally irresponsible! New and crazy ideas will result in only two things: conflict and confusion. Everyone should know that! What happens when students start thinking things that are wrong?” 8 a. The tone of the speech is composed; the tone of the blog is disgusted b. The tone of the speech is distant; the tone of the blog is ironic c. The tone of the speech is emotional; the tone of the blog is optimistic d. The tones are the same in both the speech and the blog Selection 5 – Speech Excerpt “The Great Dictator” Charlie Chaplin You the people have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness. You the people have the power to make life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy let’s use that power, let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give you the future and old age and security. By the promise of these things, brute have risen to power, but they lie. They do not fulfill their promise, they never will. Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people. Now let us fight to fulfill that promise. Let us fight to free the world, to do away with national barriers, do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness. 31. Which of the following quotes contains parallel structure? a. You the people have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness. b. Then in the name of democracy let’s use that power. c. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power, but they lie. d. Now let us fight to fulfill that promise. 32. Why would the author choose the word “brutes” in the speech? a. It shows that democracy is something that needs power. b. It highlights the violence of dictators. c. It supports the idea that fighting must happen. d. It condemns the audience’s ability to fight. 33. Which of the following quotes best describes the speech’s main idea? a. Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people. b. They do not fulfill their promise. c. Let us fight for a new world. d. You the people have the power, the power to create machines. 34. What is the author’s purpose in the previous speech? a. To inform the audience of the danger of the machines b. To narrate a first-hand experience c. To present an unbiased perspective on life d. To persuade the audience to act for change. Selection 6 – Passage from African Time by Zoe Kenyon 1 2 At midday the only sign of life was a white couple on the side of an empty road. They tried to shield themselves from the sun beneath the spindly branches of a tree. Finally, in the distance, a blue truck shimmered in and out of the heat. It slowed, then stopped. Its sides were battered, the windows long gone, a wiper stuck out at right angles to the bonnet, pointing up to the endless sky. The woman in the passenger seat was obscured by the driver, who leant out to get a better view. The tips of his black hair shone copper in the sun. “Where are you heading?” he said. 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 “The nearest hospital,” said the girl on the side of the road. Her body betrayed her panic. She wiped from her eyes and mouth the dust that the tires had stirred up. She pointed at the extra pale boy on the ground. “He’s not well. I think it’s malaria.” The black man leant further out of the window and shook his head. “I am sorry,” he said. The voice rumbled, almost comforted. “The problem is there is no hospital near here. The local one is two-hundred kilometers away.” “Can you take us? I’ll pay.” Distress wobbled in the edges of her green eyes. She began to fumble with the top of her bag. The man spread his palm and shook his head again. “I am sorry. I am busy with something. Maybe when I finish, if you are still here,” he said, the corners of his mouth turned down. The woman in the passenger seat said nothing. She did not move. The driver drew himself back into the truck and creaked it into gear. It shuddered on. In the mirror, his steady brown eyes watched the white couple’s reflection shrink back into the heat and dust. His companion touched his knee. “We should help them, shamwari,” she said. “That murungu looked bad. It could be malaria.” He looked at her. Her smooth skin was beginning to crinkle with age. “What about the Mukomberes?” he said. “They can wait.” When she spoke, he could see the gap between her front teeth. He spun the truck around, sent up more clouds of dust from the track. The white couple were still there, under the mopani tree. The girl chewed at the sides of her nails, ground circles in the earth with the toe of her boot. The boy shivered on the sand, even though it must have burnt his bare legs. The black man opened his door. “We will take you,” he said. “Two-hundred kilometers is not so far.” He unfolded himself from the truck. He was tall, his shoulders strong, square. He helped the girl lift her companion and their bags on to the back seat. Murungus always carried too much. His passenger twisted round to get a better view; with the movement came the smell of Perfection soap. She pressed a small, kind hand against the boy’s forehead, beneath the damp, blond hair. He lay with his head on the bags, his blue eyes cloudy. Beads of sweat hovered on his skin. The woman in the front seat looked at the girl, then back at the driver. “This is my husband, Chief Mbangombe,” she said. She missed the smile that flickered across Chief Mbangombe’s serene face. “I am Mrs. Fortune Mbangombe. I used to be a nurse. Your friend has malaria.” The white girl nodded. “I have lots of medicine at home. We will take you there and make your friend better. It is nearer than the hospital.” Mrs. Mbangombe turned back to look through the cracked windscreen at the straight, empty track. She smoothed her skirt along her thighs. Its colors had faded from being seared dry in the sun too often. Chief Mbangombe glanced over at his wife and smiled again. “I’m Alice. This is Jo,” the white girl said. She pushed the hair out of her face, a tangle of auburn where it caught the light. “What’s going to happen to him?” There was a tremor in her voice. Her fingers dug into the boy’s shoulder. The chief answered. “If it is malaria, your friend will first sweat hot and cold,” he said. “Then the fever will rise and he will start speaking in his dreams. If he does not get medicine, the fever will go to his brain. Then he may die.” He concentrated hard on the road. “Murungus are not so strong in a battle against malaria. We Africans can fight better. But still we sometimes die.” The sun was so bright that he had to squint. The dry wind whipped through the truck. Sometimes the girl in the back sniffed. Chief Mbangombe and his wife sat ramrod straight as they rattled and shook over potholes. The boy started to mutter. “He’s getting worse,” said the girl, the words high with fear. Neither of the Africans moved. “He has time,” said Mrs. Mbangombe. She rearranged the scarf on her head, patted it down. A brightly painted bottle store loomed suddenly out of the haze, red and blue against the quivering yellow and brown of the bush. There were a few other cars parked outside, one without a windscreen, one without tires, all of them dented and rusty. The chief swung his truck off the road. “We need drink and food,” he said. “There is still a long way to go.” 10 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 “I’d better wait here, in case he gets worse,” said the girl. It was clear she did not want them to stop. The chief shrugged. “As you wish,” he said. “We will be back just now.” Mrs. Mbangombe glided beside her husband. Everyone recognized the black couple. “Masicati, maswera sei?” they said. They greeted the chief first, shaking his hand. “Masicati, maswera sei?” They clapped their respect to his wife. The storekeeper came out with a free Zambezi beer for him and a bottle of Coke for her. Two boys played an energetic game of table football on the rickety wooden verandah. Underneath, a mangy dog panted; another worried at the sores in its patchy fur. People came and went, materializing out of the bush only to be sucked back into it. It made their throats dry, their eyes sore. They carried bursting bags, stacks of firewood, tatty suitcases on their heads. Babies clung to their mothers’ backs, tacked on by a carefully tied shawl, a length of material. Bare feet slapped into the sand. Each time a person passed another they nodded, lips moving slowly in greeting. Whoever passed the bottle store broke from his errand and came up to the chief and his wife and shook hands and clapped. Their laughter rolled away from the store, attracted more passers-by. Occasionally the chief motioned with his bottle towards the truck. His friends muttered and hummed and nodded. The murungu had refused a drink, so she would have to wait. The owner brought some gristly bits of cows’ stomach that he had dried himself at the back of his store. They chewed in amicable silence. At the truck, five children peered at the white girl and her friend. They shuffled closer. Held hands for safety. The smallest stood on tiptoe to try and see over the windowless door. The white girl sighed and tossed her head; the children giggled and scuttled back. The dust swirled over their toes. The girl didn’t notice when they crept up again. She had eyes for only the chief and his wife. At last the couple drained their bottles. They handed them back and the keeper clinked them into the recycling crate. “Taquienda. Tatenda,” said the chief and his wife. “Tatenda,” said the others. The word was satisfied, the second syllable elongated sleepily. They all shook hands again. The murungu was worse. He chattered between clenched teeth. The girl was wild-eyed. There was a clean, white mark along the back of her hand where she’d pulled it across her nose. Chief Mbangombe studied the boy. He looked at his wife. “I think maybe we should go straight to the hospital,” he said. His wife nodded slowly. “Yes,” she said. “How far is it? How long has he got?” “Your husband will be fine,” said Chief Mbangombe. “We will be at the hospital in maybe one hour. They will fix him there.” He concentrated on the road again. Mrs. Mbangombe adjusted the radio, then stretched into the back to feel the boy’s forehead again. “He will be fine,” she said. No one spoke for the rest of the journey. The chief hummed to the radio and tapped his long fingers on the duct-taped steering wheel. The hospital was a group of six whitewashed bungalows. The heat trembled above their corrugated tin roofs. Below, queues of people snaked out of every door. Some stood, some sat, some lay. Mrs. Mbangombe and the girl helped half-carry the boy to the main building. The chief led the way. The crowds parted in front of him. Every now and then, someone would break from the throng to shake his hand or clap in front of him, head bowed, knees bent. The two women followed in his wake. The boy’s feet dragged between them. A white doctor appeared at the door of the main building. “Ah, Chief Mbangombe! Masicati. Maswera sei? Mrs. Mbangombe! Masicati. Maswera sei?” he said. “Maswera, teswera?” husband and wife replied. The white girl bit her lip, tried to catch the doctor’s eyes. He ignored her, focused instead on the black couple. “We have brought a sick murungu,” they said. “Malaria.” “Ah,” said the doctor. He turned to the white girl. “Can you do anything? He’ll be OK, won’t he?” she said. 11 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 “Don’t worry,” said the doctor. “He’ll be fine.” He turned back to the chief and his wife. “I will talk to you later. Tatenda,” he said. “Tatenda.” The doctor took the weight of the white boy on his shoulder, and headed into the hospital. The girl followed. She forgot the chief and his wife. Chief Mbangombe went to the building next door. He walked between the corridor of beds, reserved for the sickest people. There was usually one death in the day and one at night. The chief’s steps were slow and deliberate, his head held high. Every man that could, sat up. “Chief Mbangombe! Masicati, maswera sei?”and arms were extended if they still had enough energy to do so. The chief went to every one. He clasped their hands in his and bent his head to whisper a few words. Women, too, crawled from under the beds, where they slept beneath their sick husbands and children. He greeted each in turn. When he had finished that building, he carried on to the next. He ignored the stench from the overflowing cesspits. He shook hands with the people who sat in the stinking mess the same way he had with those inside. His wife did the same in the women’s wards. When they had finished, they found the white boy tucked up in crisp white sheets. The girl, exhausted, slept under the bed. Mrs. Mbangombe touched her husband’s arm. “Taquienda. We must go,” she said. “Eh. Taquienda. I am hungry. We will eat. Later we will bring the murungus food. They will not be fed here,” said Chief Mbangombe. Together they walked back out to their beaten-up truck. 35. Which definition most closely matches the use of the word drew in paragraph 7? a. to produce a picture with a pen or pencil b. to describe something or someone with words c. to move toward or away d. to tighten a string by pulling it 36. Paragraphs 41 and 42 are mainly about Chief Mbangombe a. visiting all the patients c. walking slowly and carefully b. holding his head high d. ignoring the stinking cesspits 37. How does Mrs. Mbangombe know so much about malaria? a. She visits sick people. c. She is friends with a doctor. b. She is married to the chief. d. She used to be a nurse. 38. Which aspect of the story is most dependent on the African setting? a. the girl’s panic c. the doctor’s expertise b. the boy’s malaria d. the wife’s compassion 39. In paragraph 11, why is it significant that the boy is shivering despite the heat? a. it hints at the story’s conclusion. c. It shows that the girl shouldn’t worry. b. it hints that the chief will offer help. d. It shows that the boy is very sick. 40. Which sentence best emphasizes the conflict faced by the girl? a. “She pushed the hair out of her face, a tangle of auburn where it caught the light.” b. “It was clear she did not want them to stop.” c. “The girl didn’t notice when they crept up again.” d. “She wiped from her eyes and mouth the dust that the tires had stirred up.” 41. From the reactions of the chief, his wife, and the doctor, the reader can conclude that a. they’re used to dealing with malaria c. they grew up together near the hospital b. they do not care if the boy dies d. they will have dinner together that evening 12 42. In paragraph 7, the author uses the words “creaked” and “shuddered” to emphasize the a. attitude of the chief c. heat of the highway b. condition of the truck d. fear of the couple 43. The author’s use of the word “finally” in paragraph 1 helps the reader conclude that the white couple has been a. suffering from the heat c. waiting a long time b. having a hallucination d. expecting the truck 44. The reader can conclude that the word “murungus” refers to people who are a. not African c. hot healthy b. not helpful d. not mature Selection 7 – Guardian Angel by Adoralida Padilla 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 In the fall of 1998, my friend Eleanor, a seasoned traveler, wanted to visit Turkey but couldn’t find anyone to join her. I had always wanted to travel, and figured I had to start somewhere, so I signed on for a five-week trip. We arrived in Istanbul. This was such an ancient city: Constantinople, Byzantium, the center of the Roman Empire; we were truly in awe and very humbled. The Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar—we saw it all. We decided to venture out from Istanbul heading toward Izmir by ferry. Then, we would take a train to Selcuk where we would be only minutes away from the ancient ruins of Ephesus. Arriving at the ferry office rather early, we were the first ones there, other than a scruffy homeless-looking Turk asleep on a bench. We sat as far away from him as we could. His shoes were several sizes too big, and the soles were flopping off. His socks had been worn through at the heel, and turned so now the hole was at the front ankle. His pants were baggy and dirty, his jacket had holes, and he was in serious need of a shower and a shave. People started to filter into the ferry building, getting in line to buy their tickets. Although most of the people we encountered spoke English, the ticket seller did not. It was difficult to convey that we wanted both ferry tickets and train tickets. To my surprise, the homeless-looking man appeared at my side, and in near perfect English told us that we were in the wrong line. He guided us to the proper line, ordered our tickets, made sure I counted my currency and that I received the proper change. He told me his name was Sinan. Sinan helped us with our very heavy bags onto the ferry, and up several flights of stairs to the top observation deck. The seats were full. He asked a family at a nice booth to please let us sit there, and they obliged. We invited him to sit with us, and offered to buy him breakfast for all his help. He only accepted a cup of coffee. Sinan explained he was in Istanbul for a job interview with a cruise line. He had worked at major hotels in Saudi Arabia and London. From his torn jacket, he produced his prized possession—a Polaroid picture of himself with Sean Connery, taken in London. He accompanied us out onto the deck and told us all about the sites along the Bosporus. We spent hours on the ferry enjoying his company, and took Polaroid pictures of ourselves with him. He placed our picture together with the picture of Sean Connery. When we arrived at our stop, Sinan didn’t even hesitate before grabbing our bags and carrying them down the stairs. After walking us to the train station, he quickly paid a porter to watch our bags, and we walked several blocks to a pizzeria for lunch. We insisted on buying lunch, but he ate very little. He carried our bags onto the train, and again asked people to move so we had perfect seats. We didn’t realize the ferry trip would be about three hours and the train trip another eight hours. While Eleanor napped, Sinan and I talked about every subject under the sun: politics, the role of women in Turkish society, religion, family, law, UFO’s (he was convinced, as 13 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 he said many Turks were, that America had contact with aliens and that is why we had advanced technology). He was bright, funny, insightful, naive. We had not finished our lunch, and he had the foresight to have our leftovers wrapped up. We ate cold pizza and the people he had kicked out of our seats shared apples and bread with us. We told him where we were headed, and he asked where we planned to stay once we arrived in Selcuk. He advised that we should get off several stops before the end of the line, to be closer to the bus station where we had to connect to our final destination. By the time we arrived in Izmir, it was about eleven p.m. Sinan helped us off the train, picked up our bags, one on each shoulder, and started off down a busy expressway. It was all Eleanor and I could do to keep up with him, in the dark. We feared we had made a terrible mistake, entrusting this stranger with our belongings, and that he was now running off with all we had. I saw him turn off way ahead, and Eleanor and I were out of breath trying to catch up. When we turned the same corner, we saw Sinan standing in front of a magnificent Mercedes bus, with our luggage in front of him, and his arms spread out wide to stop the bus which was pulling out of the station. The driver got out and yelled at him, and he answered back in Turkish. The driver opened the storage area, and threw our bags in. We arrived breathless and Sinan ushered us onto the bus, telling us we could buy the tickets on board. He gave us a hurried hug good-bye, and he was drenched in sweat from running with our luggage. The moment we were on the bus, it pulled out of the station. Sinan ran alongside the bus, waving excitedly. It was then I noticed tears running down my face. I had missed the chance to tell my new friend how much we appreciated his kindness and company. We waved back and he was gone. Eleanor and I sat and looked at each other and at the same time said: “He was a guardian angel!” Had it not been for Sinan, we would not have purchased the proper tickets, we would have labored terribly with our bags, we would have missed out on good seating, and who knows what we would have done about food. We would have missed the delightful guided tour of the Bosporus on the ferry. We would have gotten off at the wrong station, had to hire a taxi, and would have missed the last bus to Selcuk that night, leaving us stranded without reservations near midnight in a strange city. When we arrived in Selcuk, it was nearly midnight. The little town was asleep. There was no one in sight. We were the only passengers getting off at that town. There was a man leaning by a car. He eyed us carefully. We were instantly worried. The man approached and asked: “Are you the American women coming from Istanbul?” We were shocked. “How did you know?” we asked. He answered: “Because a man named Sinan called the hotel and told us you would be arriving on this bus. He said you’d be hungry and asked that we keep the kitchen open for you.” We couldn’t believe it. Even though he was no longer traveling with us, Sinan, our guardian angel, was still looking out for us. The man took our luggage and drove us the few blocks to our hotel. The kitchen was open and waiting to serve us dinner. That night, as I drifted off to sleep, I felt ashamed for having initially judged Sinan by his appearance. I was also sad that such a wonderful man had so few opportunities—his greatest desire was to someday come to the United States and work at a 7-11 store. Most importantly, I was thankful to have opened my eyes to discover kindness when and where it was least expected. It was stunning how much a total stranger was willing to do for us, without expecting anything in return. Throughout our adventure in Turkey, we saw this same kindness repeated time and time again. We never knew his last name, but we will always remember him as “Sinan, the guardian angel.” 45. In paragraph 1, the word “seasoned” means a. flavored c. experienced b. frightened dl embarrassed 14 46. Paragraphs 6 and 7 are mainly about the narrator a. taking a train ride c. getting to know Sinan b. eating at a pizzeria d. learning about Turkish society 47. Why did Sinan start running with the women’s luggage in Izmir? a. He was hurrying to catch a bus. c. He was late for a job interview. b. He was eager to leave the women. d. He was trying to steal their luggage. 48. The narrator and her friend faced difficulties at the ferry building because the ticket seller did not a. like foreigners c. accept checks b. speak English d. have change 49. Which sentence best explains what the narrator learned from her experience? a. “We never knew his last name, but we will always remember him as ‘Sinan, the guardian angel.’” b. “We spent hours on the ferry enjoying his company, and took Polaroid pictures of ourselves with him. c. “That night, as I drifted off to sleep, I felt ashamed for having initially judged Sinan by his appearance.” d. “Eleanor and I sat and looked at each other and at the same time said: ‘He was a guardian angel!’” 50. Which aspect of the selection affected the narrator most? a. She was hungry and tired when she reached Izmar. b. She was on a trip scheduled to last five weeks. c. She was traveling with a friend. d. She was traveling in a foreign country. 51. Which of these is a major theme in the selection? a. helping the disadvantaged c. overcoming a painful experience b. dealing with difficult people d. learning not to judge too quickly 52. In paragraph 9, the author uses the word “stranger” to help the reader understand that she was a. worried about her friend Eleanor c. still a little suspicious of Sinan b. confident she would catch the bus d. feeling more relaxed in Turkey 53. By telling the story in the order that events occur, the author keeps the reader guessing about a. why the narrator decided to go to Turkey b. what the narrator like best about Istanbul c. how often the narrator had traveled in the past d. what the narrator learned from the events 54. Based on paragraphs 11 and 15, the reader can conclude that Eleanor a. remained suspicious of Sinan’s motives b. shared the narrator’s affection for Sinan c. wished she had not traveled to Turkey d. feared things that were strange or different 55. The detailed description of Sinan in paragraph 3 allows the reader to understand the narrator’s a. delight at his insight c. difficulty buying tickets b. wariness toward him d. desire to visit Ephesus 15 Selection 8 – Anthem for a Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen What passing-bells for these who die as cattle? Only the monstrous anger of the guns. Only the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle Can patter out their hasty orisons. No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells, Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,— The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; And bugles calling for them from sad shires. What candles may be held to speed them all? Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes Shall shine the holy glimmers of good-byes. The pallor of girls’ brows shall be their pall; Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds, And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds. CONSTRUCTED RESPONSE. Respond to the following question in 4-6 sentences in the space below. Cite evidence to support your claim. 56. What is the significance of figurative language in Wilfred Owen’s “Anthem for a Doomed Youth”? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Selection 9 – News Article NASA Launches Sophisticated Rover on Journey to Mars CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.—The world’s biggest extraterrestrial explorer, NASA’s Curiosity rover, rocketed toward Mars on Saturday on a search for evidence that the planet might once have been home to microscopic life. 1 It will take eight and half months for Curiosity to make the 345-million-mile journey to Mars. 16 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 The rover, officially known as the Mars Science Laboratory, was hoisted into a cloudy sky on Saturday morning by an Atlas V rocket. More than 13,000 guests crowded the Cape Canaveral space center for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s first mission to Earth’s next-door neighbor in four years, and the first launching of a Martian rover in eight years. Pan Conrad, a NASA astrobiologist whose instrument seeking carbon compounds is on the rover, had a shirt made for the occasion. The blue blouse was emblazoned with rockets, planets and the words “Next stop Mars!” The one-ton Curiosity is a mobile, nuclear-powered laboratory holding 10 scientific instruments that will sample Martian soil and rocks, analyzing them on the spot. It also has a drill and a stone-zapping laser machine. It is “really a rover on steroids,” said Colleen Hartmann, assistant associate administrator for science at NASA. “It’s an order of magnitude more capable than anything we have ever launched to any planet in the solar system.” The primary goal of the $2.5 billion mission is to see whether Mars might once have been hospitable for microbial life—or might even still be conducive to life. No actual life detectors are on board; rather, the instruments will hunt for organic compounds. With Mars the eventual goal for astronauts, NASA will also use Curiosity to measure radiation on the planet. The rover also has a weather station that will measure temperature, wind and humidity, and a computer application with daily weather updates is planned. The world has launched more than three dozen missions to Mars, the planet most like Earth in the solar system. Yet fewer than half of those quests have succeeded. This month, a Russian spacecraft ended up stuck in orbit around Earth, rather than en route to the Martian moon Phobos. “Mars really is the Bermuda Triangle of the solar system,” Ms. Hartman said. “It’s the death planet, and the United States of America is the only nation in the world that has ever landed and driven robotic explorers on the surface of Mars, and now we’re set to do it again.” Curiosity’s landing next August will be particularly hair-raising. In a protective “aeroshell,” the rover will be lowered onto the Martian surface via a jet pack and a tether system similar to the sky cranes used to lower heavy equipment into remote areas on Earth. Curiosity is too heavy to use air bags, as its much smaller predecessors, Spirit and Opportunity, did in 2004. Besides, the new method should provide for a more accurate landing. Astronauts will need to make similarly precise landings on Mars one day. Curiosity will spend at least two years roaming around Gale Crater, chosen as the landing site because it is rich in minerals. Scientists have said that if there is any place on Mars that might have been ripe for life, that would be it. “I like to say it’s extraterrestrial real estate appraisal,” Ms. Conrad said with a laugh last week. Curiosity’s seven-food robotic arm has a jackhammer on the end to drill into the rock, and a seven-foot mast is topped with high-definition and laser cameras. No previous Martian rover has been so sophisticated or capable. The rover, about 10 feet long and 9 feet wide, should be able to go father and work harder than any previous Mars explorer because of its power source: 10.6 pounds of radioactive plutonium. The nuclear generator was encased in several protective layers in case of a launching accident. NASA expects the rover to put at least 12 miles on its odometer. This is NASA’s third space mission to be launched from Cape Canaveral since the retirement of the space shuttle fleet this summer. The Juno probe is en route to Jupiter, and the Grail mission’s twin spacecraft are set to arrive on the Moon on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. 17 57. The phrase “death planet” is used to describe a. how difficult it is to land a rover on Mars b. the atmosphere on Mars c. one astronaut’s experiences on Mars d. the landscape on Mars 58. What is the author’s purpose in including the information in paragraphs 11 through 13? a. explain what the surface of Mars is like b. explain some of the requirements of a Martian landing c. explain why NASA is sending Curiosity to Mars d. explain why Spirit and Opportunity failed 59.How far will Curiosity travel while on Mars? a. 345 million miles c. 9 feet b. 10 feet d. 12 miles 60. What is the tone of the article? a. disappointed b. pessimistic c. anxious d. nostalgic Selection 10 – Excerpt from To the Person Leaving by Alicia Dujovne I have emigrated three times in my life. In 1978, I emigrated from Argentina to come to France, because a military dictatorship had taken hold in my country. In 1999, I emigrated from France, where I’d lived for twenty years, in order to return to Argentina, because I missed it so much. And in 2002, I emigrated from Argentina to return to France, because a financial dictatorship had taken hold in my country. This triple experience of emigration from one side of the planet to the other permitted me to compare the two. The Argentines now leaving are not the same as those who left earlier. The earlier émigrés discussed matters as if they understood them. Today’s maintain only a perplexed silence. Before them there had been, of course, others. It is not necessary to repeat here the cliché of the artist who traveled to make his mark in Paris at the turn of the last century, or that of the estate-owner who did much the same, but brought his cow along with him. I met successors to the first type in the 1960s and 1970s; unfortunately I did not meet any of the second type (had we managed to coincide, I could, perhaps, have claimed a glass of milk for my sustenance), but they clearly did not constitute any kind of a mass movement. Nor did the exiles emigrating during the dictatorship—and yet the Argentine abroad became a more significant phenomenon during this period, both in quantity and in symbolic effect. Between 1976 and 1982, these Argentines became the representatives of a country of thinkers, intellectually respected throughout Europe. The intellectual status so generously attributed to the exiles may have formed the basis of that generally ridiculous division into Those Who Left and Those Who Stayed Behind. It was as though the two groups belonged to two distinct peoples. Whether openly or in private, each group regarded itself as more persecuted than the other, and one of them—the exiles—considered itself the more distinguished. They competed over their levels of suffering and conscience, running some kind of race at the end of which the prize consisted of determining who had the greater conscience and who had suffered the most. Only, at the time, the prestige attached to the journey was such that those who did not leave attempted to justify themselves by discrediting those who did—the long-suffering sippers who had found themselves obliged to swallow the salty caviar of exile. For their part, those who left adopted a faint, albeit heroic, air of superiority, at times no doubt justified, and at others in no way so, as if somehow those who had stayed had been really, really dumb. Without overlooking, of course, that among those who had stayed there were some thirty thousand corpses. But 18 neither those who had left, nor the corpses, added up to a majority: Argentina as a whole, and I say this without intending criticism but as fresh evidence of my attempt to view things dispassionately on my return, was not in the same state of generalized loss as it feels today. In 2002, the difference between those who left and those who stayed no longer attracted capital letters (for we live in a lowercase eta, without great pretentions). We are no longer a people divided between those who, on the one hand, have a home and, on the other, a suitcase; or in one instance, the hero persecuted for political reasons and on the other the meek lamb who did not protest. In a land where there’s no need to abandon one’s home in order to lose the roof over one’s head, everyone is on the road. It’s a journey everyone makes as best they can, according to what strengths they have. This renders us all more indulgent, or perhaps more mature, in cases where maturity is measured in sadness. Who would now dare to decide whether it was more courageous to remain in Argentina, or more cowardly to leave, or both at the same time? 61. Which statement summarizes the central idea of the selection? a. The author wants an émigré to recognize the costs of staying or leaving, realizing the neither is more courageous nor cowardly than the other. b. The author feels that, though life may be lost in Argentina, it is more courageous to remain in one’s homeland. c. The author wishes to expose those who leave as cowards, though she herself has fled twice. d. The author wants émigrés to take the story of Argentina into the world and share their grief. 62. In paragraph 3, what effect does the word “generously” have on the selection? a. It shows that the author feels fortunate to have been safe in Europe. b. It shows that the author includes herself as a member of the intellectual class. c. It shows that the author is being serious when she describes the division of the population as being ridiculous. d. It shows that the author does not agree that most exiles were intellectuals. 63. What is the effect of the metaphor in the sentence below from paragraph 4? “Only, at the time, the prestige attached to the journey was such that those who did not leave attempted to justify themselves by discrediting those who did—the long-suffering sippers who had found themselves obliged to swallow the salty caviar of exile.” a. It shows that the safety of exile was small compared to the costs. b. It shows that exile was not a pleasant experience. c. It shows that exile was only for special occasions and for those who were wealthy. d. It emphasizes how those individuals who were exiled were ridiculed by those who were not. 64. What is the effect of the phrase below from paragraph 4 on the overall selection? “the long-suffering sippers who had found themselves obliged to swallow the salty caviar of exile.” a. The allegory demonstrates the perceived importance of some of the people who left. b. The simile exemplifies the repeated use of figurative language as a rhetorical device. c. The metaphor illustrates the idea that some of the people who left savored their special kind of suffering. d. The alliteration signals and emphasizes a place deserving special attention from the reader. 65. What is the purpose of the figurative language in the sentence below from the last paragraph? “In 2002, the difference between those who left and those who stayed no longer attracted capital letters (for we live in a lowercase era, without great pretensions).” 19 a. The description of the two eras demonstrates the author’s ironic tone while differentiating the change in perception between the time periods. b. The description of the two eras shows the importance of language to the author. c. The description of the two eras eliminates the possibility that the two time periods were similar in any way. d. The description alludes to previous use of analogies and metaphors by the author which demonstrates the similarity between the two time periods. 66. Which statement describes the connection between the selection and the oxymoron “both at the same time”? a. The division between the two groups is not as distinct in the more recent, financial crisis as it was during the dictatorship. b. Many of those who stayed, as well as those who left, lost their homes and were exiles. c. Those who left had the freedom to protest, while those who stayed were afraid to protest. d. The author criticizes Argentina, despite her immigration during turbulent times. 67. What can be inferred from the author’s focus on Argentina’s troubled past and present situation? a. The people who have left Argentina are better off than those who stayed. b. The people who have stayed in Argentina are better off than those who left. c. the Argentinian people as a whole have lost any sense of security. d. the leaders of Argentina have made life intolerable for all Argentinian citizens. CONSTRUCTED RESPONSE. Respond to the following question in 4-6 sentences in the space below. Cite evidence to support your claim. 68. In the excerpt from “To the Person Leaving,” why does the author choose to end the selection with a rhetorical question? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 20