CFA 2 Review

Practice Passage 1

Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost

Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

Multiple Choice

Which line from the poem best demonstrates personification, and how does it shape the reader’s understanding of nature?

• Her early leaf’s a flower — It shows nature acting like a person, making the change feel gentle and alive.

• Nothing gold can stay — It uses color imagery to create a sense of finality.

• So dawn goes down to day — It compares daylight to something falling.

• Leaf subsides to leaf — It shows nature repeating itself.

Multiple Choice

Which statement best expresses a central theme of the poem?

• Nature always returns to its original form after a long winter.

• Beautiful or perfect moments in life are temporary, so we should appreciate them while they last.

• Growing older brings more opportunities for happiness.

• Change only happens in nature, not in people.

Multiple Choice

Which line best helps create the poem’s tone of sadness or loss, and why?

• Nature’s first green is gold — It creates excitement through bright color.

• Her hardest hue to hold — It suggests that beautiful things fade, creating a feeling of sorrow.

• So Eden sank to grief — It shows nature becoming more joyful.

• Leaf subsides to leaf — It creates a neutral tone without emotion.

Multiple Choice

In the poem, what does “gold” most likely symbolize?

• Wealth and financial success

• Early morning sunlight only

• Moments of innocence, beauty, or perfection that fade quickly

• The arrival of fall weather

Multiple Choice

How does the poem’s short length and simple structure contribute to its meaning?

• It shows that Frost wanted the poem to be easy to memorize for schoolchildren.

• It mirrors the poem’s idea that beautiful moments are brief and pass quickly.

• It reflects Frost’s dislike of writing long poems.

• It emphasizes the scientific facts behind leaf color changes.

Multiple Choice

What is Frost most likely encouraging readers to understand through this poem?

• That nature is unpredictable and dangerous.

• That change is harmful and should be avoided.

• That people should treasure fleeting moments because they cannot last forever.

• That gold is the most valuable element in nature.

Practice Passage 2

Katherine Mansfield’s “The Voyage” (1921)

Excerpt from The Voyage

The sea lay calm under the fading light of evening. Fenella sat on the deck, her hands folded neatly in her lap, staring at the horizon where the sky met the water. Her thoughts wandered back to the little town she had left behind—streets lined with familiar faces, the market where she had bought flowers, and the whispers of neighbors who had watched her grow. A gentle breeze brushed her cheeks, carrying with it the scent of salt and freedom, mingled with a pang of homesickness.

Across from her, her mother held a small bundle, wrapped carefully in a shawl, and spoke softly, as if trying to comfort both herself and her daughter. “It will be better, Fenella. You’ll see. A new place, new friends… new beginnings,” she said, though her voice trembled slightly. Fenella nodded but said nothing; words felt inadequate for the weight of departure. She noticed the other passengers chatting quietly or reading, each absorbed in their own journey, their own apprehensions and anticipations.

The ship rocked gently, a lullaby of motion that seemed to whisper both promise and uncertainty. Fenella’s eyes lingered on the receding coastline, the dim outlines of houses fading into twilight. She realized that life was moving forward, and that she must move with it. Memories of home pressed on her heart, but so did the excitement of unknown adventures. Somewhere between sorrow and hope, she found herself balanced precariously, suspended between what had been and what could be.

Multiple Choice

Which detail from the passage best shows that Fenella feels uncertain or nervous in this moment?

• She watches the ship’s lights flicker across the water.

• She grips her grandmother’s hand tightly and stays close beside her.

• She notices the sound of the engine humming below the deck.

• She quietly observes the other passengers boarding the ship.

Multiple Choice

Which detail best supports the idea that Fenella is experiencing a moment of growth or change?

• She tries to carry her own bag even though it feels heavy.

• She hears a sailor call out instructions to the crew.

• She sees the moon reflected on the water.

• She stands with her grandmother on the deck.

Multiple Choice

In the passage, what does the ship most likely symbolize for Fenella?

• A temporary place of safety

• A journey from childhood toward independence

• A threat that makes her fearful of the future

• A reminder of the ocean’s beauty

Multiple Choice

Which archetype best fits Fenella’s role in this scene, based on her thoughts and actions?

• The Mentor — she gives guidance to others

• The Trickster — she disrupts the situation

• The Innocent — she is young, unsure, and beginning a new journey

• The Ruler — she takes control of the situation

Multiple Choice

How does the author’s use of words like flickered, mist, and shift affect the mood of the scene?

• It creates a loud, chaotic atmosphere full of excitement.

• It creates a tense and gloomy mood.

• It creates a calm but slightly uncertain or mysterious feeling.

• It creates a humorous, lighthearted tone.

Multiple Choice

How does the early 1900s setting influence Fenella’s behavior?

• She feels free to travel alone because women often traveled independently at the time.

• She becomes impatient with slow technology that she expects to move quickly.

• She relies heavily on adults for guidance, as children were expected to be quiet and obedient.

• She demands detailed explanations from the crew, as was common for young passengers.

Multiple Choice

How does Mansfield’s use of sensory imagery help the reader understand Fenella’s emotions?

• The vivid imagery shows that Fenella is focused mainly on the technical design of the ship.

• The sounds and sights she notices reveal her heightened awareness and mixed feelings of fear and curiosity.

• The imagery distracts the reader from Fenella’s emotional state.

• The sensory details show that Fenella is bored and uninterested in her surroundings.

Practice Passage 3

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s First Inaugural Address (1933)

“This great nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.

In every dark hour of our national life, a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. And I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.

In such a spirit, it is my purpose to devote myself to the task of leading us out of the depths, if I may succeed, and to offer that devotion to the service of our country.”

Multiple Choice

Which line from Roosevelt’s speech best demonstrates his use of pathos to connect emotionally with the audience?

• The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

• Economic indicators show a steady decline in market confidence.

• Congress will convene next week to begin immediate action.

• The Constitution provides a clear set of guidelines for leadership.

Multiple Choice

How does the historical context of the Great Depression most influence Roosevelt’s tone in the speech?

• His tone is playful because he wants to distract listeners from the crisis.

• His tone is confident and reassuring because the nation is experiencing severe economic hardship.

• His tone is neutral because he does not want to comment on the depression directly.

• His tone is angry as he blames the public for the economic collapse.

Multiple Choice

Which phrase best captures Roosevelt’s tone and shows his attitude toward the nation’s challenges?

• We must move forward with strong and active faith.

• The situation is too complicated to solve right now.

• Citizens should handle these problems without government help.

• The future remains uncertain and bleak.

Multiple Choice

Why does Roosevelt repeat key words and ideas throughout his speech?

• To bore the audience into agreement

• To emphasize hope and unity so the audience remembers his central message

• To avoid revealing his actual plans for economic reform

• To make the speech longer and more formal

Multiple Choice

Which type of language does Roosevelt use to establish his authority as President?

• Casual slang to sound more relatable

• Technical economic formulas and statistics

• Strong, confident verbs that show leadership and commitment

• Sarcastic comments about previous presidents

Multiple Choice

What is Roosevelt’s overall purpose in this passage?

• To entertain listeners with humorous stories

• To warn the public that conditions will not improve

• To inspire confidence and reassure the nation during a time of crisis

• To argue for immediate military action