II Study Guide for Semester Final
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
Reading and Literary Analysis
DIRECTIONS This story is about a family waiting for the father to return home with important news. Read
the story and answer the questions that follow.
Home
by Gwendolyn Brooks
What had been wanted was this always, this always to last, the talking softly on this porch, with the snake
plant in the jardiniere1 in the southwest corner, and the obstinate slip from Aunt Eppie’s magnificent
Michigan fern at the left side of the friendly door. Mama, Maud Martha, and Helen rocked slowly in their
rocking chairs, and looked at the late afternoon light on the lawn and at the emphatic iron of the fence and at
the poplar tree. These things might soon be theirs no longer. Those shafts and pools of light, the tree, the
graceful iron, might soon be viewed possessively by different eyes.
Papa was to have gone that noon, during his lunch hour, to the office of the Home Owners’ Loan. If he
had not succeeded in getting another extension, they would be leaving this house in which they had lived for
more than fourteen years. There was little hope. The Home Owners’ Loan was hard. They sat, making their
plans.
“We’ll be moving into a nice flat2 somewhere,” said Mama. “Somewhere on South Park, or Michigan, or
in Washington Park Court.” Those flats, as the girls and Mama knew well, were burdens on wages twice the
size of Papa’s. This was not mentioned now.
“They’re much prettier than this old house,” said Helen. “I have friends I’d just as soon not bring here.
And I have other friends that wouldn’t come down this far for anything, unless they were in a taxi.”
Yesterday, Maud Martha would have attacked her. Tomorrow she might. Today she said nothing. She
merely gazed at a little hopping robin in the tree, her tree, and tried to keep the fronts of her eyes dry.
“Well, I do know,” said Mama, turning her hands over and over, “that I’ve been getting tireder and tireder
of doing that firing.3 From October to April, there’s firing to be done.”
“But lately we’ve been helping, Harry and I,” said Maud Martha. “And sometimes in March and April
and in October, and even in November, we could build a little fire in the fireplace. Sometimes the weather
was just right for that.”
She knew, from the way they looked at her, that this had been a mistake. They did not want to cry.
But she felt that the little line of white, sometimes ridged with smoked purple, and all that cream-shot
saffron4 would never drift across any western sky except that in back of this house. The rain would drum with
as sweet a dullness nowhere but here. The birds on South Park were mechanical birds, no better than the poor
caught canaries in those “rich” women’s sun parlors.
“It’s just going to kill Papa!” burst out Maud Martha. “He loves this house! He lives for this house!”
“He lives for us,” said Helen. “It’s us he loves. He wouldn’t want the house, except for us.”
“And he’ll have us,” added Mama, “wherever.”
“You know,” Helen sighed, “if you want to know the truth, this is a relief. If this hadn’t come up, we
would have gone on, just dragged on, hanging out here forever.”
“It might,” allowed Mama, “be an act of God. God may just have reached down and picked up the reins.”
“Yes,” Maud Martha cracked in, “that’s what you always say—that God knows best.”
Her mother looked at her quickly, decided the statement was not suspect, looked away.
Helen saw Papa coming. “There’s Papa,” said Helen.
They could not tell a thing from the way Papa was walking. It was the same dear little staccato walk,5 one
shoulder down, then the other, then repeat, and repeat. They watched his progress. He passed the Kennedys’,
he passed the vacant lot, he passed Mrs. Blakemore’s. They wanted to hurl themselves over the fence, into the
street, and shake the truth out of his collar. He opened his gate—the gate—and still his stride and face told
them nothing.
“Hello,” he said.
Mama got up and followed him through the front door. The girls knew better than to go in too.
Presently Mama’s head emerged. Her eyes were lamps turned on.
“It’s all right,” she exclaimed. “He got it. It’s all over. Everything is all right.”
The door slammed shut. Mama’s footsteps hurried away.
“I think,” said Helen, rocking rapidly, “I think I’ll give a party. I haven’t given a party since I was eleven.
I’d like some of my friends to just casually see that we’re homeowners.”
1. jardiniere (jär´d · nir´): An ornamental pot or stand for plants.
2. flat: An apartment.
3. firing: Starting a coal fire.
4. saffron: A yellow-orange color.
5. staccato (st · kät´ ) walk: A walk of short, abrupt steps.
“Home” from Maud Martha by Gwendolyn Brooks. Copyright © 1993 by Gwendolyn Brooks. Published by
Third World Press, Chicago. Reprinted by permission of The Estate of Gwendolyn Brooks.
____
____
____
____
____
____
1. This selection is BEST described as a —
a. myth
c. story
b. satire
d. legend
2. What is the conflict in this selection?
a. Two sisters cannot get along with their parents.
b. A family is trying to keep their home.
c. A mother is too tired to manage the family home.
d. Members of a family have a dispute with their neighbors.
3. The setting for this selection is —
a. the Home Owners’ Loan office
c. the front porch of a house
b. a party hosted by Helen
d. a flat on South Park
4. What does the phrase “turning her hands over and over” reveal about Mama?
a. She gestures a lot as she talks.
c. She has pain in her hands.
b. She waves excitedly at her husband.
d. She is worried or nervous.
5. The tone of this passage could BEST be described as —
a. tender
c. bitter
b. mocking
d. critical
6. What does the word extension mean in this sentence from the passage?
If he had not succeeded in getting another extension, they would be leaving this house in
which they had lived for more than fourteen years.
____
a. an outward movement of the leg
c. a larger amount of space
b. a structural addition to a house
d. extra time to repay a debt
7. The sentence “Her eyes were lamps turned on” is an example of —
a. metaphor
c. allegory
b. simile
d. irony
____
____
____
____
____
8. Which statement BEST describes how the two sisters and the mother feel about the problem they face?
a. Mama and Helen are worried, but Maud Martha doesn’t care.
b. All three are equally concerned but show it in different ways.
c. Mama and Maud Martha are worried, but Helen is ready to leave.
d. Maud Martha and Helen are unconcerned, but their mother is worried.
9. When the passage says that Maud Martha “tried to keep the fronts of her eyes dry,” it means that she —
a. struggled to keep from crying
b. reacted to the effects of the afternoon sun
c. tried to keep from arguing with her sister
d. concentrated on watching the robin in the tree
10. The climax of the story occurs when —
a. Helen sees Papa coming up the street toward the house
b. Papa opens the gate and tells them nothing
c. Mama exclaims, “It’s all right . . . He got it.”
d. the door slams and Mama walks away
11. Which of these sentences from the story BEST reflects the sense of security Helen feels at the end of the
story?
a. They could not tell a thing.
c. The door slammed shut.
b. Presently Mama’s head emerged.
d. “I think I’ll give a party.”
12. Which sentence BEST expresses the theme of this story?
a. There is no place like home.
b. Everyone should be a homeowner.
c. Home loan associations can be cruel.
d. People are often judged by where they live.
Reading and Literary Analysis
DIRECTIONS This selection is about henna body painting. Read the selection and answer the questions
that follow.
Henna Body Painting
Henna? Isn’t that what your great-grandmother put on her hair to hide the gray? Yes, until recently, henna
was considered a color from the past. It was associated mostly with hair dye, but that was true only in the
United States and Europe. In other cultures around the world, the henna shades of brown, russet, and crimson
have glowed for five thousand years, most often decorating the hands and feet of people from Africa, India,
and the Middle East. Now people in Western countries have become interested in decorating the skin with
henna.
Henna dye is made from the dried leaves, flowers, and twigs of the henna shrub, which are ground into a
fine powder. Mixing the powder with water and an oil forms a paste, which is the basis for the paint that
outlines the intricate designs.
Henna painting varies from country to country and spans different cultures and religious traditions.
African henna designs have geometric-patterned angles that are large and striking. Arabic henna painting
features broad, floral patterns on hands and feet, whereas Indian henna painting uses fine, lacelike floral and
paisley designs that cover the entire hands, forearms, and feet.
Often the painting is done to celebrate special occasions. In North Africa, red palms signal a young
person’s passage to a new chapter in life. In Morocco, a soldier’s right hand might be painted with henna
designs to protect him in battle. In the north and western parts of India, henna painting is an important part of
the wedding ritual and ceremony. There is a romantic notion that the deeper the color obtained on the skin, the
longer the love in the marriage will last.
If the custom of painting the body with henna has existed in other cultures for so long, why is it just now
receiving new attention in the United States and Europe? For one thing, its developing popularity coincides
with the renewed interest in tattooing. However, it enjoys a prime advantage over tattooing—it doesn’t hurt!
Composed of harmless ingredients, the henna dye washes away after a period of time, and the application of a
simple design takes less than thirty minutes. Henna painting also allows those who seek decoration to avoid
the health risks and social attitudes connected with tattooing.
Whether awash in a geometric design or merely dotted with flowers and stars, present-day henna patrons
share a bond with their great-grandmothers. Across time and cultures, they all sampled from nature’s palette.
____ 13. What is the author’s purpose in writing this selection?
a. to warn people about using henna to dye hair
b. to criticize those who use henna
c. to persuade readers to try henna
d. to inform readers about henna painting
____ 14. The selection states that “henna was considered a color from the past.” That statement means that —
a. henna fell from popularity years ago
b. henna paint fades over time
c. henna was used to paint various designs
d. henna is no longer used as a dye
____ 15. When the writer says that henna painting uses “floral patterns,” this means these designs look like —
a. bushes
c. paisley designs
b. flowers
d. angled lines
____ 16. According to the passage, the main advantage henna painting has over tattooing is that it is —
a. permanent
c. painless
b. colorful
d. less expensive
____ 17. Which conclusion below is BEST supported by information from the passage?
a. The peoples of India, Africa, and the Middle East strongly oppose the art of henna body
painting.
b. There is revived interest in the use of henna in the United States and Europe.
c. Although painting with henna spans many cultures and countries, the painting patterns are
the same.
d. Henna has completely replaced tattoos as the body decoration of choice.
____ 18. Which of the following statements is based more on opinion than on fact?
a. “In other cultures . . . the henna shades of brown, russet, and crimson have glowed for five
thousand years.”
b. “Henna dye is made from the dried leaves, flowers, and twigs of the henna shrub.”
c. “[T]he deeper the color obtained on the skin, the longer the love in the marriage will last.”
d. “[I]ts developing popularity coincides with the renewed interest in tattooing.”
____ 19. If you were doing research about painting hands and feet with henna, which would be your BEST source for
information?
a. an atlas with maps of the United States and Europe
b. do-it-yourself directions for tattooing
c. a romance novel set in India
d. an encyclopedia with an entry for “henna”
____ 20. Which research question would BEST lead to more information about the topic of the selection?
a. What types of traditional henna painting are used today?
b. What is the typical age when people marry in India?
c. When do the flowers on the henna shrub bloom?
d. How many people in the United States dye their hair with henna?
____ 21. Which is the BEST reference to include in a bibliography of sources about henna body painting?
a. Walter, Cindy, and Jennifer Priestly. The Basic Guide to Dyeing and Painting Fabric.
Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications, 2002.
b. Patrick, Diane. Family Celebrations. New York: Silver Moon Press, 1993.
c. Weinberg, Norma Pasekoff. Henna from Head to Toe! North Adams, Massachusetts:
Storey Books, 1999.
d. Smith, Olivia. Aging in America. New York: H. W. Wilson, 2000.
Language Conventions: Sentence Structure
DIRECTIONS Read the group of words in the box. There may be a problem in sentence structure. If you
find a problem, choose the answer that is written most clearly and correctly. If there is no problem, choose
Correct as is.
SAMPLE D
Thrashing through the bushes, the terrified man spied a house on a hill in the
distance.
a.
b.
c.
d.
The terrified man thrashing through the bushes on a hill in the distance spied a
house.
The terrified man spied a house on a hill in the distance thrashing through the
bushes.
The terrified man spied a house thrashing through the bushes on a hill in the
distance.
Correct as is
ANS: D
OBJ: LC 1.1, 1.2
____ 22.
Alarmed by the storm, the campers’ equipment was hastily loaded into the truck.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Alarmed by the storm, the campers hastily loaded their equipment into the truck.
Alarmed by the storm, the campers’ equipment was hastily loaded into the truck.
Alarmed by the storm, the equipment was hastily loaded by the campers into the truck.
Correct as is
____ 23.
The travelers viewed remnants of Hadrian’s Wall touring the English countryside.
a. Touring the English countryside, remnants of Hadrian’s Wall were viewed by the
travelers.
b. The travelers viewed remnants of Hadrian’s Wall, which was touring the English
countryside.
c. While they were touring the English countryside, the travelers viewed remnants of
Hadrian’s Wall.
d. Correct as is
____ 24.
Nervously reviewing their lines, the actors listened for their cues and prepared to take the
stage.
a. Prepared to take the stage, their lines were nervously reviewed by the actors listening for
their cues.
b. The actors listened for their cues and prepared to take the stage reviewing their lines
nervously.
c. The actors listening for their cues, preparing to take the stage, nervously reviewing their
lines.
d. Correct as is
____ 25.
An epidemic that is believed to have been plague and killed up to half the population of
Constantinople.
a. Killing up to half the population of Constantinople, an epidemic that is believed to have
been plague.
b. An epidemic that is believed to have been plague struck Constantinople and killed up to
half the population.
c. To kill up to half the people of Constantinople, an epidemic that is believed to have been
plague.
d. Correct as is
____ 26.
Enthralled by the works of Monet, the young artist, a frequent visitor to the museum.
a.
b.
c.
d.
The young artist, a frequent visitor to the museum and enthralled by the works of Monet.
Frequently visiting the museum, the young artist enthralled by the works of Monet.
Enthralled by the works of Monet, the young artist was a frequent visitor to the museum.
Correct as is
Writing
DIRECTIONS Eduardo is writing an essay for the Central City Cycling Club contest. The essay should tell
a true story about a bicycling experience. Read the questions and the essay, and answer the questions that
follow.
Here is a draft of Eduardo’s essay.
(1) My life really changed a few years ago during the summer I was twelve. (2) In early June, I noticed a
group of people riding their bikes along the road near my house. (3) They looked serious, and I was awed by
their sleek, shiny bikes and colorful gear. (4) Every weekend, I rode my own bike to the top of a hill
overlooking the road. (5) I watched the riders and imagined myself flying along with them, though I knew I
was too shy to try anything so challenging.
(6) Then one day, I noticed a poster on the bulletin board at the neighborhood community center. (7)
“Fourth of July Bike Race!” it proclaimed. (8) Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have dreamed of entering a race, but I
read that poster again and again. (9) Finally, I pulled an entry blank off the poster and went quickly home.
(10) Back in my room, I read the race rules carefully. (11) I filled out the form, and when I showed it to
my mom, she looked surprised and pleased. (12) “Go for it, Eddie,” she said with a beaming smile. (13) When
I slipped my entry into the mailbox, my heart was racing. (14) For the next two weeks, I was up before dawn
and rode my bike for hours. (15) My dad joked about the new person living in my room.
(16) Race day dawned clear and hot. (17) My parents drove me to the race location and helped me find
my age group. (18) I watched the other kids adjusting their helmets and warming up in the parking lot. (19)
My dad squeezed my shoulder and said, “We’ll be cheering for you at the finish line.”
(20) It was time for my race. (21) I was so nervous I almost fell over when the starter’s gun went off. (22)
Incredibly, I found myself out in front for the first two laps around the course. (23) Then, on the final lap a
girl suddenly cruised by me as if I were standing still. (24) I watched in disbelief as she sped over the finish
line ahead of me. (25) After the race she would give me encouragement. (26) Seconds later I crossed in
second place, while my parents cheered wildly.
(27) Afterward, the girl came over and congratulated me. (28) She told me that she’d competed in lots of
races. (29) When I told her this had been my first race, she let out a whistle. (30) “You’re great,” she said.
(31) “I was never that good when I first started racing.” (32) All I could do was smile.
(33) I don’t remember much about the drive home. (34) As I rested in the back seat of the car, every part
of my body hurt. (35) My spirits, however, never felt better.
____ 27. Because the essay is to be a narrative, Eduardo should FIRST brainstorm the —
a. locations where the experience took place
b. dialogue of the people involved in his experience
c. concrete sensory details that describe the experience
d. sequence of events central to the experience
____ 28. In order to provide the necessary background information, Eduardo should think about his—
a. pace
c. organization
b. audience
d. transitions
____ 29. In order to hint at the meaning of his experience, which of these should Eduardo add after sentence 5?
a. On those summer nights, brightly colored bikes would appear even in my dreams.
b. My parents began to wonder why I rode to that hill every weekend.
c. However, my dream of competing with them would prove stronger than my shyness.
d. Without being aware of it, watching those riders had become the focus of my weekends.
____ 30. Which phrase would BEST add sensory details to the end of sentence 7?
a. in bright red and blue letters
c. from the top of the bulletin board
b. to everyone who passed by
d. among all the other notices
____ 31. Which of these should Eduardo add after sentence 13 to show his thoughts and feelings?
a. “I did it, Mom,” I said when I got back home.
b. The letter carrier assured me that my entry would make it on time.
c. “I can’t believe I’m doing this!” I said to myself.
d. I could feel it pounding in my chest as I rode home.
____ 32. Which is the BEST way to revise sentence 15 to include informal dialogue?
a. My dad joked, “Who’s the new kid living in Eddie’s room?”
b. My dad joked, “Who is the new person living in Eduardo’s room?”
c. My dad joked, “Who is the new person living in my son’s room?”
d. My dad joked, “Who’s the new boy living in Eduardo’s room?”
____ 33. Which of these should Eduardo add to the beginning of sentence 20?
a. Someone said
c. I realized that
b. I noticed that
d. Before I knew it,
____ 34. Which sentence should be deleted to make the organization more logical?
a. 21
c. 25
b. 24
d. 29
____ 35. Which is the BEST way to write my body hurt in sentence 34?
a. my body bothered me
c. my body ached
b. my body was in pain
d. Leave as is
____ 36. Which of these should Eduardo add to the conclusion of his essay?
a. I may not have won the race, but I had won something more important: self-confidence.
b. My mind replayed every moment of the race, even the moment when the girl passed me.
c. I remembered those days when I stood on the hill and watched the riders pass by.
d. It had been one of the most important summers of my life.
Reading and Literary Analysis
DIRECTIONS This story excerpt is about a man who has a disturbing experience as he tries to find a
house. Read the story and answer the questions that follow.
WHEN THE WORLD WAS YOUNG
by Jack London
He was a very quiet, self-possessed sort of man, sitting a moment on top of the wall to sound the damp
darkness for warnings of the dangers it might conceal. But the plummet of his hearing brought nothing to him
save the moaning of wind through invisible trees and the rustling of leaves on swaying branches. A heavy fog
drifted and drove before the wind, and though he could not see this fog, the wet of it blew upon his face, and
the wall on which he sat was wet.
Without noise he had climbed to the top of the wall from the outside, and without noise he dropped to the
ground on the inside. From his pocket he drew an electric night-stick, but he did not use it. Dark as the way
was, he was not anxious for light. Carrying the night-stick in his hand, his finger on the button, he advanced
through the darkness. The ground was velvety and springy to his feet, being carpeted with dead pine-needles
and leaves and mold which evidently had been undisturbed for years. Leaves and branches brushed against his
body, but so dark was it that he could not avoid them. Soon he walked with his hand stretched out gropingly
before him, and more than once the hand fetched up against the solid trunks of massive trees. All about him
he knew were these trees; he sensed the loom of them everywhere; and he experienced a strange feeling of
microscopic smallness in the midst of great bulks leaning toward him to crush him. Beyond, he knew, was the
house, and he expected to find some trail or winding path that would lead easily to it.
Once, he found himself trapped. On every side he groped against trees and branches, or blundered into
thickets of underbrush, until there seemed no way out. Then he turned on his light, circumspectly, directing its
rays to the ground at his feet. Slowly and carefully he moved it about him, the white brightness showing in
sharp detail all the obstacles to his progress. He saw an opening between huge-trunked trees, and advanced
through it, putting out the light and treading on dry footing as yet protected from the drip of the fog by the
dense foliage overhead. His sense of direction was good, and he knew he was going toward the house.
And then the thing happened—the thing unthinkable and unexpected. His descending foot came down
upon something that was soft and alive, and that arose with a snort under the weight of his body. He sprang
clear, and crouched for another spring, anywhere, tense and expectant, keyed for the onslaught of the
unknown. He waited a moment, wondering what manner of animal it was that had arisen from under his foot
and that now made no sound nor movement and that must be crouching and waiting just as tensely and
expectantly as he. The strain became unbearable. Holding the night-stick before him, he pressed the button,
saw, and screamed aloud in terror. He was prepared for anything, from a frightened calf or fawn to a
belligerent lion, but he was not prepared for what he saw. In that instant his tiny searchlight, sharp and white,
had shown him what a thousand years would not enable him to forget—a man, huge and blond, yellow-haired
and yellow-bearded, naked except for soft-tanned moccasins and what seemed a goat-skin about his middle.
Arms and legs were bare, as were his shoulders and most of his chest. The skin was smooth and hairless, but
browned by sun and wind, while under it heavy muscles were knotted like fat snakes. . . . Practically in the
instant he saw all this . . . [H]e bounded up and away . . . He did not wait for more, but ran.
DIRECTIONS This article explains what happens in the brain when someone is frightened. It tells about
acquiring and getting rid of fears. Read the article and answer the questions that follow.
Facts of Fear
President Franklin D. Roosevelt once told the American people, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.”
Some psychologists now tell us, however, that fear isn’t as bad as everyone thinks, and that it may actually be
beneficial.
Michael Fenselow, a professor in the psychology department at UCLA, points out that fear provides a
necessary defense mechanism. “Appropriate fear,” he says,“. . . keeps us alive.” Sometimes it keeps us from
pursuing a dangerous situation; other times it tells us how to proceed. Some have called it the “fight or flight”
response. We may try to fight back, or we may try to run away.
Fenselow notes that fear activates certain brain systems. From a physiological standpoint, when a person
becomes frightened, the body releases adrenaline and other chemicals into the brain. Interestingly, while the
adrenaline may cause the heart rate to increase, other chemicals, such as endorphins, can cause a person to be
unaware of pain. For example, a person in a threatening situation might be injured but still able to run away or
attempt defensive moves because the outpouring of endorphins suppresses the feeling of pain.
According to Fenselow, most people acquire their fears in two different ways. They may inherit them, or
they may learn them through personal experience and societal influences. “Some things you just recognize as
being frightening,” Fenselow says. “And sometimes you learn to be afraid of things when you observe others
expressing fear to them.” Certain fears are fairly common. For example, heights, snakes, spiders, blood, or
public speaking can arouse fear in many people.
Scientists have also found that some people are more easily frightened than others because their brain
mechanisms undergo greater levels of activity. Consequently, it takes a lot to make some people afraid, while
others become frightened much more easily.
If fear becomes too great or irrational, it becomes a phobia. A person may need to seek medical advice to
overcome the problem. Phobias are often treated by gradually increasing a person’s exposure to what he or
she fears. These repeated exposures to the frightening stimulus without any negative consequences help to
eliminate the person’s fear.
DIRECTIONS These tables show information about home computers and Internet use in the United States.
Examine the tables and answer the questions that follow.
Table 1: Home Computers in the United States *
(Percentages)
Characteristic
Households with computers
Households with computers by region
• Northeast
• Midwest
• South
• West
Students (ages 6–17) who use computers
1984
8.2
1989
15.0
1997
36.6
2000
51.0
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
35.2
36.5
33.4
43.4
51.3
51.3
47.1
57.2
• Only at home
• Only at school
• At both home and school
Adults who use computers at work
N/A
N/A
N/A
24.6
N/A
N/A
N/A
36.8
N/A
N/A
N/A
49.8
9.9
22.8
56.9
60.0†
* Computer Use in the United States, U.S. Census Bureau, September 1999;
Home Computers and Internet Use in the United States, U.S. Census Bureau, September 2001
N/A = Not Available
†estimate
Table 2: Specific Uses of the Internet at Home by
Adults and Children, August 2000*
(Percentages)
Specific Use
E-mail
School research or courses
Check news, weather, sports
Make phone calls
Information search
Job search
Job-related tasks
Shop or pay bills
Play games, entertainment, fun
Other
Children 3 to 17 Years Old
72.9
68.1
19.8
3.4
33.0
2.3
1.5
8.0
10.7
6.0
Adults 18 Years and Over
87.7
24.0
52.5
6.4
64.2
19.8
33.7
39.8
4.9
9.4
* Home Computers and Internet Use in the United States, U.S. Census Bureau, September 2001
Language Conventions
DIRECTIONS Read the group of words in the box. There may be a mistake in sentence structure. If you
find a mistake, choose the answer that is written most clearly and correctly. If there is no mistake, choose
Correct as is.
____ 37.
The markings on the horse’s side becoming noticeable only after the horse loses its winter coat, beginning to
resemble two butterflies.
a. The markings on the horse’s side resemble two butterflies but become noticeable only
after the horse loses its winter coat.
b. To become noticeable after the horse loses its winter coat, the markings on its side
resemble two butterflies.
c. After the horse loses its winter coat, two butterflies, the markings resembling and
becoming noticeable.
d. Correct as is
Language Conventions
DIRECTIONS Look at the underlined word or words in each sentence. Choose the answer that correctly
identifies the word or words.
____ 38.
Wayne Gretzky lived in Canada as a child.
a. Concrete noun
b. Abstract noun
c. Proper noun
d. Collective noun
____ 39.
Neither Jason nor Tanya auditioned for a part in the play.
a. Correlative conjunctions (Correlate)
b. Coordinating conjunctions (Coordinate)
c. Predicate adjectives
d. Interjections
____ 40.
My classmate’s efforts to boost school morale have been admirable.
a. Gerund phrase
b. Infinitive phrase
c. Appositive phrase
d. Participial phrase
____ 41.
Rummaging through old clothes, Scott found a sweater given to him by his aunt in Iowa.
a. Gerund phrase
b. Prepositional phrase
c. Infinitive phrase
d. Participial phrase
____ 42.
I could see the steep slopes and craggy cliffs when I looked through the cabin window.
a. Adjective clause
b. Noun clause
c. Adverb clause
d. Independent clause
____ 43.
Because I missed the deadline, my article was not printed in the school newspaper.
a. dependent clause
b. Independent clause
c. Compound sentence
d. Simple sentence
Reading and Literary Analysis
DIRECTIONS This story is about a Russian government official who is honored by his subordinates. Read
the story and answer the questions that follow.
The Album
by Anton Chekhov
KRATEROV, the titular councillor, as thin and slender as the Admiralty spire, stepped forward and,
addressing Zhmyhov, said:
“Your Excellency! Moved and touched to the bottom of our hearts by the way you have ruled us during
long years, and by your fatherly care . . .”
“During the course of more than ten years, we, your subordinates, on this so memorable . . . day, beg your
Excellency to accept in token of our respect and profound gratitude this album with our portraits in it, and
express our hope that for the duration of your distinguished life, that for long, long years to come, to your
dying day you may not abandon us . . . And,” he wound up, “may your standard fly for long, long years in the
career of genius, industry, and social self-consciousness.”
A tear trickled down the wrinkled left cheek of Zhmyhov.
“Gentlemen!” he said in a shaking voice, “I did not expect, I had no idea that you were going to celebrate
my modest jubilee. . . . I am touched indeed . . . I shall not forget this moment to my dying day, and . . .
believe me, friends, that no one is so desirous of your welfare as I am . . . and if there has been anything . . . it
was for your benefit.”
Zhmyhov, the actual civil councillor, kissed the titular councillor Kraterov, who had not expected such an
honour, and turned pale with delight. Then the chief made a gesture that signified that he could not speak for
emotion, and shed tears as though an expensive album had not been presented to him, but on the contrary,
taken from him. . . . Then when he had a little recovered and said a few more words full of feeling and given
everyone his hand to shake, he went downstairs amid loud and joyful cheers, got into his carriage and drove
off, followed by their blessings. As he sat in his carriage he was aware of a flood of joyous feelings such as he
had never known before, and once more he shed tears.
At home new delights awaited him. There his family, his friends, and acquaintances had prepared him
such an ovation that it seemed to him that he really had been of very great service to his country, and that if he
had never existed his country would perhaps have been in a very bad way. The jubilee dinner was made up of
toasts, speeches, and tears. In short, Zhmyhov had never expected that his merits would be so warmly
appreciated.
“Gentlemen!” he said before the dessert, “two hours ago I was recompensed for all the sufferings a man
has to undergo who is the servant . . . of duty! Through the whole duration of my service I have constantly
adhered to the principle—the public does not exist for us, but we for the public, and to-day I received the
highest reward! My subordinates presented me with an album . . . see! I was touched.”
Festive faces bent over the album and began examining it.
“It’s a pretty album,” said Zhmyhov’s daughter Olya, “it must have cost fifty roubles, I do believe. Oh,
it’s charming! You must give me the album, papa, do you hear? I’ll take care of it, it’s so pretty.”
After dinner Olya carried off the album to her room and shut it up in her table drawer. Next day she took
the clerks out of it, flung them on the floor, and put her school friends in their place. . . . Kolya, his
Excellency’s little son, picked up the clerks and painted their clothes red. Those who had no moustaches he
presented with green moustaches and added brown beards to the beardless. When there was nothing left to
paint he . . . began playing soldiers with them. After cutting out the titular councillor Kraterov, he fixed him
on a match-box and carried him in that state to his father’s study.
“Papa, a monument, look!”
Zhmyhov burst out laughing, lurched forward, and, looking tenderly at the child, gave him a warm kiss on
the cheek.
“There, you rogue, go and show mamma; let mamma look too.”
Reading and Literary Analysis
DIRECTIONS This article gives information about buying and using digital cameras. Read the article and
answer the questions that follow.
Digital Photography
“Everybody look at the camera and smile!” Whoops, did Cousin Charlie frown instead? Did Aunt Judy
turn her head to see if the kids were giving her bunny ears? These are not problems with a digital camera.
One of the many advantages of this recent technological wonder is that the photographer can look into the
built-in LCD screen and decide whether the photo is worth keeping. If not, the problem picture can be deleted
and another can be taken immediately. It is this editing function and many other qualities that make digital
cameras so attractive to photographers of all skill levels.
What is a digital camera?
Instead of using traditional film, digital cameras use little dots of color known as pixels to make a picture.
As in a mosaic, the more little dots of color that make up the picture, the better it looks. While some digital
cameras may use fewer than one million pixels, most these days have at least a million, also called a
megapixel. Since a digital camera with more pixels also costs more, here are some guidelines to consider
when choosing a camera that’s right for you.
• Cameras with 1 megapixel are good for general-purpose photography and for pictures
used on the Web or in e-mail.
• Cameras with 2 megapixels provide significantly better printed pictures, including 8 x
10-inch prints that are comparable to those taken by good 35mm film cameras.
• Cameras with 3 or more megapixels provide superb quality prints that are sought by
serious amateurs as well as by professionals, especially when close-up shots or
enlargements are desired.
What happened to that film?
Traditional photographic film records latent images on light-sensitive material. Film processing causes
chemical reactions on the film so that the images develop. Digital pictures, by contrast, are recorded as
electronic impulses on removable memory chips of various types.
The cameras use either solid-state memory cards or disks instead of film to store the pictures. Solid-state
memory is small and portable and comes in a variety of sizes, measured in megabytes. Once you have used
the space on a card, you can download your pictures to a computer or CD-ROM and use the same card to take
more pictures. The more megabytes (MB) your card has, the more pictures you can take without stopping to
change cards or to download the pictures.
What can you do with these pictures?
You can do many interesting and fun things with your pictures.
• Edit: Most cameras come with software that lets you edit or alter the image—anything
from removing the “red eye” effect caused by the flash to putting a mustache on
someone’s face.
• E-mail: You can also send your pictures in a file to friends and family.
• Print: There’s no need to wait for your photos to be processed at the neighborhood
pharmacy. You can print your pictures on photo-quality paper using a color printer, and
chances are they will look as good as or better than the ones you get with film. Once you
print them, you can use your pictures in school or for personal projects.
Reading and Literary Analysis
DIRECTIONS This article gives directions for searching the Internet. Read the article and answer the
questions that follow.
Directions for Searching the Internet
The World Wide Web grows larger each day, yet the time you have to explore it remains
the same. Follow these steps to search the Internet more productively.
1.
Select a search engine.
There are many from which to choose. Search engines can be sorted into two
categories—directories and indexes. Directories are good for identifying general
information. Indexes provide more specific information because they search all the
contents of a Web site.
2. Take the time to read the tips found on the search engine sites.
These tips can save you time by pointing out specific strategies to use on a particular
Web site.
3. Locate the area on the search engine’s Web site where you enter search terms.
This area, known as the text box or search box, is often a rectangular box.
4. Enter your search term(s), keyword, or phrase into the search box.
Editing your terms in different ways can help you focus your search. Start with the
most specific term possible.
5. Click on the search button.
6. Refine your search by using more advanced search strategies if you don’t
initially find what you want.
• Boolean searching. Named after English mathematician George Boole, Boolean
searches add certain words, called operators, to the search terms. The most
common operators are AND, OR, and NOT. For example, entering “food AND
poisoning” will give you documents with both words. Entering “food OR
poisoning” yields documents containing either word. Entering “food NOT
poisoning” limits the search to documents with the word food but not the word
poisoning.
• Capital sensitivity. If a search word is capitalized, the search engine will return
only documents containing the capitalized word. Therefore, if you want to know
about the country of China, capitalize it to eliminate results about dishware.
• Phrase searching. When using search terms containing more than one word in a
specific order, enclose the phrase in quotation marks so that the search engine will
return only documents containing all the words and in that order.
7. Bookmark your important findings!
Once you’ve found an interesting site, bookmark it so that you can quickly and easily
refer to it again. How to bookmark a site may vary with the browser you are using,
but it usually involves clicking on BOOKMARKS and then clicking on ADD
BOOKMARKS.
Language Conventions
DIRECTIONS Read the sentence in the box. There may be a mistake in grammar in the underlined section
of the sentence. If you find a mistake, choose the answer that is written most clearly and correctly. If there is
no mistake, choose Correct as is.
____ 44.
By this time tomorrow, the delegates chose their new president.
a. had chosen
b. will have chosen
c. are choosing
d. Correct as is
____ 45.
Although one of the two candidates is the better campaigner, no one can predict who the voters will choose.
a. best campaigner, no one can predict who
b. better campaigner, no one can predict whom
c. good campaigner, no one can predict whom
d. Correct as is
DIRECTIONS Read the sentence in the box. There may be a mistake in grammar. If you find a mistake,
choose the answer that is written most clearly and correctly. If there is no mistake, choose Correct as is.
____ 46.
Gazing out the airplane window, the land below looked like a giant jigsaw puzzle.
a. We saw that the land below looked like a giant jigsaw puzzle gazing out the airplane
window.
b. The land gazing out the airplane window looked like a giant jigsaw puzzle below.
c. Gazing out the airplane window, we saw that the land below looked like a giant jigsaw
puzzle.
d. Correct as is
Writing
DIRECTIONS Annette is concerned about a solar energy issue in her community, so she is writing a
persuasive essay about the topic. She is going to send her essay to the editor of her local newspaper to appear
in the “Guest Opinion” section.
Here is a rough draft of Annette’s essay. Use it to answer the questions that follow.
(1) Soon there will be a brand-new Carter High School. (2) Everyone knows that this is a great idea
because the old school had many problems. (3) The new school will be bigger, better, and more modern, and
everyone is looking forward to its completion. (4) One thing bothers me, however. (5) “Old Carter” had solar
panels on the roof to heat the school’s water, but the school board has decided not to put panels on the new
school. (6) A serious mistake is being made by the school board. (7) Every board member should consider the
future and vote to install solar panels on the new school.
(8) First, the solar panels at Old Carter were a terrific learning tool for science and math students. Every
year since the panels were installed, the ninth-grade science students have experimented to find the best angle
for maximum energy collection. (10) Every year, the tenth-grade math students have calculated how much
money the school saved by not having to pay to heat its water. (11) For the past five years, Carter students
have won science fair prizes for their solar energy projects.
(12) Second, the entire community was proud of our school’s approach to the world’s energy situation.
(13) Carter was the only school in the city that experimented with alternative energy. (14) Benjamin Harris,
parent of Carter student Brad Harris, said, “I always like to say that Carter kids are going to solve the world’s
energy problems.” (15) Mr. Harris also volunteered to help with future alternative energy projects at Carter.
(16) My third reason is that we need to be sensible about energy. (17) Gasoline prices may be low now,
but the world is going to run out of fossil fuels some day. (18) What will the world be like when that
happens? (19) It isn’t right to use up the next generation’s energy needlessly when we could be getting energy
from a limitless source—the sun.
(20) Having solar panels would contribute to students’ scientific knowledge, make us proud of our
innovative spirit, and be the right action for the future.
II Study Guide for Semester Final
Answer Section
MULTIPLE CHOICE
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C
B
C
D
A
D
A
B
A
C
D
A
D
A
B
C
B
C
D
A
C
A
C
D
B
C
D
B
C
A
C
A
D
C
C
A
A
C
A
B
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1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
OBJ:
OBJ:
OBJ:
OBJ:
OBJ:
OBJ:
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OBJ:
OBJ:
OBJ:
OBJ:
OBJ:
OBJ:
OBJ:
OBJ:
OBJ:
OBJ:
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OBJ:
LRA 3.2
LRA 3.3
LRA 3.0
LRA 3.0
LRA 3.11
WFV 1.1
WFV 1.1 | LRA 3.7
LRA 3.8 | LRA 3.9
WFV 1.1 | LRA 3.7 | LRA 3.8
LRA 3.3
LRA 3.4 | LRA 3.8
LRA 3.5
LRA 3.4 | LRA 3.8
WFV 1.1
WFV 1.0
RC 2.0
RC 2.5
RC 2.8
RC 2.2
RC 2.3
RC 2.2
LC 1.1 | LC 1.2
LC 1.1 | LC 1.2
LC 1.1 | LC 1.2
LC 1.1 | LC 1.2
LC 1.1 | LC 1.2
WA 2.1a
WA 2.1a
WA 2.1a
WA 2.1c
WA 2.1c
WS 1.9
WS 1.9
WS 1.9 | WA 2.1a
WS 1.9
WA 2.1a
LC 1.1 | LC 1.2
LC 1.0
LC 1.0
LC 1.1
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
D
C
A
B
B
C
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
1
1
1
1
1
1
OBJ:
OBJ:
OBJ:
OBJ:
OBJ:
OBJ:
LC 1.1
LC 1.1
LC 1.1
LC 1.3
LC 1.3
LC 1.1 | LC 1.2