Use “The Dinner Party” to answer questions 1-7.
Then fill in the answers on your answer document.
1. Which statement from the story best shows how a character’s statements or actions are influenced by the
time period? (8.3C/Fig19D)
A. His first impulse is to jump back and warn the others, but he knows the commotion would frighten the
cobra into striking.
B. “A woman’s unfailing reaction in any crisis,” the colonel says, “is to scream.”
C. She is staring straight ahead, her muscles contracting slightly.
D. “I want to know just what control everyone at this table has.”
2. Which event triggers the conflict in the story? (8.6A/Fig19D)
A “Because it was crawling across my foot.”
B. As he looks, he sees a strange expression come over the face of the hostess.
C. A spirited discussion springs up between a young girl who insists that women have outgrown the
jumping-on-a-chair-at-the-sight-of-a-mouse era and a colonel who says that they haven’t.
D. Those who move will forfeit fifty rupees.
3. What effect do the American’s characteristics have on the resolution of the conflict? (8.6B/Fig19D)
A.
B.
C.
D.
The American wins the bet by showing that a man has demonstrated perfect control.
Because he is an American, he wants to challenge the British colonel.
His fondness for games and wagers causes him to propose the bet that resolves the conflict.
The American is a naturalist, and so he observes the group and notices the hostesses reaction to the
snake.
4. The point of view in this story is – (8.6C/Fig19D)
A.
B.
C.
D.
objective, because the narrator reports the story as though he/she was an observer in the room.
objective, because all characters are treated the same by the narrator.
subjective, because the narrator tells the thoughts and feelings of all the characters.
subjective, because the narrator enters into characters’ minds to allow the reader to see the world
from their perspective.
5. What is the best summary of the story? (Fig19E)
A. A snake is discovered at a dinner party. In order to keep the people safe, the naturalist challenges
everyone to remain still and quiet for five minutes. Once the snake goes out, the guests believe that
the naturalist’s behavior has proved the colonel’s point.
B. At a dinner party in India, a colonel states that men have more control than women. Meanwhile, a
naturalist observes that the hostess has been calmly dealing with the problem of having a cobra in the
room. After the snake has been shut out of the room, the naturalist points out that the hostess’
behavior disproved the colonel’s point.
C. At a dinner party in India, a snake under the table puts everyone in danger. But the hostess and a
naturalist quietly deal with the problem by asking a servant to place a bowl of milk outside and
challenging the guests to be still and quiet. Once the snake is safely outside, the danger is revealed.
D. During a spirited discussion near the veranda, a woman notices a snake and proposes a wager to see
who can handle the situation best. The naturalist wins fifty rupees from an attaché because he knows
that the snake will be drawn to a bowl of milk. In the end, the woman reveals that the snake was
crawling across her foot.
6. In paragraph 3, what does the word nerve mean? (8.2B)
A.
B.
C.
D.
power of endurance, fortitude, strength or courage
the rude attitude of someone who says or does things that make other people angry
the delicate, sensitive pulp that is beneath the enamel of a tooth
a sore or sensitive point
7. Read the dictionary entry below.
contract \ˈkän-ˌtrakt\ or \kən-ˈtrakt
1. a binding agreement between two or more persons or parties
2. a document describing the terms of a contract
3. to reduce to smaller size by or as if by squeezing or forcing
together
4. to shorten (as a word) by omitting one or more sounds or letters
Which definition best fits the meaning of contracting as it is used in paragraph 4? (8.2E)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Definition 1
Definition 2
Definition 3
Definition 4
Use “Phenomenal Woman” to answer questions 8-10.
Then fill in the answers on your answer document.
8. The poet likely intends for the last four lines to express the speaker’s— (8.4/Fig19D)
A.
B.
C.
D.
dissatisfaction with herself.
joy in her physical beauty.
frustration toward pretty women.
confidence in her identity as a woman.
9. In lines 19 and 20, the poet’s use of a metaphor suggests that — (8.8A/Fig19D)
A.
B.
C.
D.
the speaker is sweet.
the speaker is captivating.
the speaker is bothered by men.
the speaker is being worshipped.
10. According to the speaker, what makes her a phenomenal woman? (Fig19E)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Her appearance
Her style
Her self-assurance
Other people’s opinions
Use “The Dinner Party” and “Phenomenal Woman” to answer questions 11-12.
Then fill in the answers on your answer document.
11. What common theme is developed in both the short story and the poem? (8.3A/Fig19F)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Men have more self-control.
Women can defy society’s expectations.
Milk draws cobras like honey draws bees.
12. How are the hostess in the story and the speaker in the poem presented differently? (Fig19F)
A.
B.
C.
D.
The hostess is reserved, and the speaker is expressive.
The hostess has many admirers, and the speaker is lonely.
The hostess is plain, and the speaker is more beautiful.
The hostess is calm, and the speaker is anxious.