American Lit A MIDTERM

Which of the following would be the most likely topic of a poem written by a Puritan?

If you were doing an Internet search to find the writings of American slaves, which of the following is the best phrase to use in your search?

What is a stanza in poetry?

Which of the following contains a coordinating conjunction?

Read the selection. Then, answer the question(s).

(1) O bird that flies on outstretched wing,
Where have you ventured, what news do you bring?

(2) By my pet bird I’ve been taken aback.
I expected a song, but he offered a quack.

Which is the best paraphrase of the second poem?

The noun conflict contains the prefix con- (meaning “together”) and the root -flict-. Based on those word parts, which of the following is the best definition of conflict?

Which of the following contains a coordinating conjunction?

Read the passage from Drake's Great Armada by Captain Walter Bigge. Then, answer the question(s).

(1) After our going hence, which was the 14th of September, in the year of our Lord 1585, and taking our course towards Spain, we had the wind for a few days somewhat scant, and sometimes calm. (2) And being arrived near that part of Spain which is called the Moors, we happened to espy divers sails, which kept their course close by the shore, the weather being fair and calm. (3) The General caused the Vice-Admiral to go with the pinnaces well manned to see what they were; who upon sight of the said pinnaces approaching near unto them, abandoned for the most part all their ships, being Frenchmen, laden all with salt, and bound homewards into France.

Which is the best way to break down sentence 2 to isolate its central meaning?

What does a sermon usually contain?

Read this passage from an exploration narrative. Then, answer the question(s).

(1) On the first day that we ventured away from the encampment, our native guides took us to a deep canyon surrounded by steep cliffs of coppery, red rock. (2) On horseback, we began a long and perilous trek down to the canyon's floor. (3) The narrow paths were hardly visible, and we were often frightened by the heights. (4) Surely each of us could have easily fallen to his death. (5) However, the strange and new plants and animals we encountered along the way were fascinating, particularly to Ramirez. (6) Often, he asked us to pause while he sketched a specimen or attempted to gain pertinent information from
our guides.

The answer choices list four events from the narrative. Which one occurs before the other three?

(1) Arcel, Sara, and I were walking in the park when Sara found a wallet on the ground. It was full of money! I said that we should turn it in at the information booth, but Sara said that we should keep it.

(2) Sara, Aundre, and I were walking in the park when Sara found a wallet on the ground. It was full of money! Sara and Cheyanne immediately had this huge fight, and Sara was really a jerk. She wanted to keep the money! So be careful if you ever have dealings with Sara.

Which statement is true about both selections?

Read the passage from Drake's Great Armada by Captain Walter Bigge. Then, answer the question(s).

(1) After our going hence, which was the 14th of September, in the year of our Lord 1585, and taking our course towards Spain, we had the wind for a few days somewhat scant, and sometimes calm. (2) And being arrived near that part of Spain which is called the Moors, we happened to espy divers sails, which kept their course close by the shore, the weather being fair and calm. (3) The General caused the Vice-Admiral to go with the pinnaces well manned to see what they were; who upon sight of the said pinnaces approaching near unto them, abandoned for the most part all their ships, being Frenchmen, laden all with salt, and bound homewards into France.

Which answer choice gives the best paraphrase of sentence 1?

Read the selection. Then, answer the question(s). from “Drake’s Great Armada” by Captain Walter Bigge

(1) After our going hence, which was the 14th of September, in the year of our Lord 1585, and taking our course towards Spain, we had the wind for a few days somewhat scant, and sometimes calm. (2) And being arrived near that part of Spain which is called the Moors, we happened to espy divers sails, which kept their course close by the shore, the weather being fair and calm. (3) The General caused the Vice-Admiral to go with the pinnaces well manned to see what they were; who upon sight of the said pinnaces approaching near unto them, abandoned for the most part all their ships, being Frenchmen, laden all with salt, and bound homewards into France.

Based on context clues in the selection, what is the best definition of pinnace?

Read this passage from an exploration narrative. Then, answer the question(s).

(1) On the first day that we ventured away from the encampment, our native guides took us to a deep canyon surrounded by steep cliffs of coppery, red rock. (2) On horseback, we began a long and perilous trek down to the canyon's floor. (3) The narrow paths were hardly visible, and we were often frightened by the heights. (4) Surely each of us could have easily fallen to his death. (5) However, the strange and new plants and animals we encountered along the way were fascinating, particularly to Ramirez. (6) Often, he asked us to pause while he sketched a specimen or attempted to gain pertinent information from our guides.

Which word signals the fact that the author found the journey interesting as well as scary?

Read the selection. Then, answer the question(s).

(1) O bird that flies on outstretched wing,
Where have you ventured, what news do you bring?

(2) By my pet bird I’ve been taken aback.
I expected a song, but he offered a quack.

Which statement is true about both poems?

Read the poem. Then, answer the question(s).

How happy is the little stone
That rambles in the road alone,
And doesn't car about careers,
And exigencies never fears;
Whose coat of elementat brown
A passing univerise put on;
And independent as the sun,
Associates or glows alone,
Fulfilling absolute decree
In casual simplicity.

-Emily Dickinson

What does the little stone most likely symbolize in the poem?

Which word contains a prefix that means “all”?

Read the selection. Then, answer the question(s). from “Drake’s Great Armada” by Captain Walter Bigge

(1) After our going hence, which was the 14th of September, in the year of our Lord 1585, and taking our course towards Spain, we had the wind for a few days somewhat scant, and sometimes calm. (2) And being arrived near that part of Spain which is called the Moors, we happened to espy divers sails, which kept their course close by the shore, the weather being fair and calm. (3) The General caused the Vice-Admiral to go with the pinnaces well manned to see what they were; who upon sight of the said pinnaces approaching near unto them, abandoned for the most part all their ships, being Frenchmen, laden all with salt, and bound homewards into France.

Which is the best paraphrase of sentence 1?

Which answer choice best identifies the qualities of poetry written in Puritan Plain Style?

Read this passage from an exploration narrative. Then, answer the question(s).

(1) On the first day that we ventured away from the encampment, our native guides took us to a deep canyon surrounded by steep cliffs of coppery, red rock. (2) On horseback, we began a long and perilous trek down to the canyon's floor. (3) The narrow paths were hardly visible, and we were often frightened by the heights. (4) Surely each of us could have easily fallen to his death. (5) However, the strange and new plants and animals we encountered along the way were fascinating, particularly to Ramirez. (6) Often, he asked us to pause while he sketched a specimen or attempted to gain pertinent information from our guides.

For which audience did the author most likely write this account?

The Latin roots -trud- and -trus- mean "push" or "thrust." Using this knowledge, choose the answer that best describes how you would most likely feel toward an intruder.

Which word contains a root that means “death”?

Read the selection. Then, answer the question(s).

(1) Long, long ago, when our people first came to this land, it was totally flat and covered with dry sand. (2) As hard as the people worked, they were unable to grow trees for shelter or plants for food. (3) The land seemed merciless, and many people grew weak and suffered mortal illnesses. (4) One day, two young women walked out into the hot, dry desert. (5) “Please, Great Spirit,” they called to the sky. (6) “Please revive our land with rain, green plants, and rolling hills.” (7) The Great Spirit was moved by their prayer. (8) “Please,” they cried, “bring a rushing river filled with bountiful fish for us to eat.” (9) The omnipotent Great Spirit brought a long rainy season to transform the land. (10) The sand washed away, causing hills to form along a rushing river’s banks. (11) Out of the drenched earth, green plants sprouted. (12) In modern times, our fertile and beautiful valley represents the Great Spirit’s reaction to the ancient women’s pleas for help.

Which sentence contains an example of direct address?

Read the selection. Then, answer the question(s).

(1) Long, long ago, when our people first came to this land, it was totally flat and covered with dry sand. (2) As hard as the people worked, they were unable to grow trees for shelter or plants for food. (3) The land seemed merciless, and many people grew weak and suffered mortal illnesses. (4) One day, two young women walked out into the hot, dry desert. (5) “Please, Great Spirit,” they called to the sky. (6) “Please revive our land with rain, green plants, and rolling hills.” (7) The Great Spirit was moved by their prayer. (8) “Please,” they cried, “bring a rushing river filled with bountiful fish for us to eat.” (9) The omnipotent Great Spirit brought a long rainy season to transform the land. (10) The sand
washed away, causing hills to form along a rushing river’s banks. (11) Out of the drenched earth, green plants sprouted. (12) In modern times, our fertile and beautiful valley represents the Great Spirit’s reaction to the ancient women’s pleas for help.

Which statement best describes the author’s point of view toward his topic?

Which of the following contains a linking verb?

Read the selection. Then, answer the question(s). from “Drake’s Great Armada” by Captain Walter Bigge

(1) After our going hence, which was the 14th of September, in the year of our Lord 1585, and taking our course towards Spain, we had the wind for a few days somewhat scant, and sometimes calm. (2) And being arrived near that part of Spain which is called the Moors, we happened to espy divers sails, which kept their course close by the shore, the weather being fair and calm. (3) The General caused the Vice-Admiral to go with the pinnaces well manned to see what they were; who upon sight of the said pinnaces approaching near unto them, abandoned for the most part all their ships, being Frenchmen, laden all with salt, and bound homewards into France.

What type of literature is this selection?

Read the passage from an origin myth. Then, answer the question(s).

(1) Long, long ago, when our people first came to this land, it was totally flat and covered with dry sand. (2) As hard as the people worked, they were unable to grow trees for shelter or plants for food. (3) The land seemed merciless, and many people grew weak and suffered mortal illnesses. (4) One day, two young women walked out into the hot, dry desert. (5) "Please, Great Spirit," they called to the sky. (6) "Please revive our land with rain, green plants, and rolling hills." (7) The Great Spirit was moved by their prayer. (8) "Please," they cried, "bring a rushing river filled with bountiful fish for us to eat." (9) The
omnipotent Great Spirit brought a long rainy season to transform the land. (10) The sand washed away, causing hills to form along a rushing river's banks. (11) Out of the drenched earth, green plants sprouted. (12) In modern times, our fertile and beautiful valley represents the Great Spirit's reaction to the ancient women's pleas for help.

Which of the following sentences from the passage contains a detail that suggests the religious beliefs of this culture?

Which of the following qualities in a text would most likely cause you to adjust your reading rate by slowing down?

Read the selection. Then, answer the question(s). from “Drake’s Great Armada” by Captain Walter Bigge

(1) After our going hence, which was the 14th of September, in the year of our Lord 1585, and taking our course towards Spain, we had the wind for a few days somewhat scant, and sometimes calm. (2) And being arrived near that part of Spain which is called the Moors, we happened to espy divers sails, which kept their course close by the shore, the weather being fair and calm. (3) The General caused the Vice-Admiral to go with the pinnaces well manned to see what they were; who upon sight of the said pinnaces approaching near unto them, abandoned for the most part all their ships, being Frenchmen, laden all with salt, and bound homewards into France.

What is the author’s main purpose for writing this selection?

Read the introduction to and excerpt from the poem "Eldorado" by Edgar Allan Poe. Then, answer the question(s).

Eldorado was an imaginary city abounding in gold, and thought by sixteenth-century Spaniards to exist in America.

Gaily bedight,
A gallant knight,
In sunshine and in shadow,
Had journeyed long,
Singing a song,
In search of Eldorado.

But he grew old,
This knight so bold,
And o'er his heart a shadow
Fell as he found
No spot of ground
That looked like Eldorado.

What does Eldorado most likely symbolize in the poem?

Answer the following question(s).

Which answer choice contains the best revision of this sentence, following standard English syntax?

The moping owl does to the moon complain.

Read the selection. Then, answer the question(s). from “Drake’s Great Armada” by Captain Walter Bigge

(1) After our going hence, which was the 14th of September, in the year of our Lord 1585, and taking our course towards Spain, we had the wind for a few days somewhat scant, and sometimes calm. (2) And being arrived near that part of Spain which is called the Moors, we happened to espy divers sails, which kept their course close by the shore, the weather being fair and calm. (3) The General caused the Vice-Admiral to go with the pinnaces well manned to see what they were; who upon sight of the said pinnaces approaching near unto them, abandoned for the most part all their ships, being Frenchmen, laden all with salt, and bound homewards into France.

Which is the best way to break down sentence 2 to understand its correct meaning?

Read this short selection. Then answer the question.

Ah, delicate flower! How have you managed to survive these dry, dry days?

What literary device does this selection contain?

Read the passage from an origin myth. Then, answer the question(s).

(1) Long, long ago, when our people first came to this land, it was totally flat and covered with dry sand. (2) As hard as the people worked, they were unable to grow trees for shelter or plants for food. (3) The land seemed merciless, and many people grew weak and suffered mortal illnesses. (4) One day, two young women walked out into the hot, dry desert. (5) "Please, Great Spirit," they called to the sky. (6) "Please revive our land with
rain, green plants, and rolling hills." (7) The Great Spirit was moved by their prayer. (8) "Please," they cried, "bring a rushing river filled with bountiful fish for us to eat." (9) The omnipotent Great Spirit brought a long rainy season to transform the land. (10) The sand washed away, causing hills to form along a rushing river's banks. (11) Out of the drenched earth, green plants sprouted. (12) In modern times, our fertile and beautiful valley represents the Great Spirit's reaction to the ancient women's pleas for help.

Which answer choice best summarizes the aspect of the world this origin myth explains?

Read this passage from an exploration narrative. Then, answer the question(s).

(1) On the first day that we ventured away from the encampment, our native guides took us to a deep canyon surrounded by steep cliffs of coppery, red rock. (2) On horseback, we began a long and perilous trek down to the canyon's floor. (3) The narrow paths were hardly visible, and we were often frightened by the heights. (4) Surely each of us could have easily fallen to his death. (5) However, the strange and new plants and animals we encountered along the way were fascinating, particularly to Ramirez. (6) Often, he asked us to pause while he sketched a specimen or attempted to gain pertinent information from our guides.

What is the main purpose of this exploration narrative?