2015 Mass ELA G10 Session 2 Speech Honoring Abraham Lincoln

Read the sentence from paragraph 6 of the speech in the box below.
He could have said “the brave Unionmen.”
In the remainder of the paragraph, what does the speaker speculate about Lincoln?

• A. possible reasons underlying Lincoln’s choice of words
• B. possible reasons for Lincoln’s worries about the country
• C. whether Lincoln’s speech could have worsened wartime discord
• D. whether Lincoln’s speech could have been more encouraging to soldiers

In the eulogy for Whitman, what is the main effect of the speaker’s use of the pronouns “we” and “us”?

• A. It reveals his strong feelings for Whitman.
• B. It heightens the formal tone of the speech.
• C. It emphasizes his connection with his audience.
• D. It mimics the language Whitman used in his poetry.

Based on paragraph 4 of the eulogy, why does the speaker believe Whitman made death “less fearful” for others?

• A. Whitman accepted death as part of life.
• B. Whitman lived a long and healthy life.
• C. Whitman focused on death in his writings.
• D. Whitman publicized his belief in an afterlife.

Read the descriptions in the box below.
• Not often in the story of mankind does a man arrive on earth who is both steel and velvet, who is as hard as rock and soft as drifting fog, . . . (paragraph 1 of the speech)
• Great he was—so great that he rose above the greatest that he met without arrogance; and so great that he stooped to the lowest without conscious condescension.(paragraph 1 of the eulogy)
Which technique is used for effect in both descriptions?

• A. literary allusions
• B. familiar symbols
• C. understated claims
• D. contrasting images

What do paragraph 8 of the speech and paragraph 4 of the eulogy suggest about Lincoln and Whitman?

• A. Both had moments of deep anger.
• B. Both had many human weaknesses.
• C. Both were known as extremely straightforward.
• D. Both were capable of experiencing deep emotion.

Read the sentence from paragraph 9 of the speech in the box below.
The people of many other countries take Lincoln now for their own.
Which description from the eulogy suggests that Whitman’s work had a similar effect on people?

• A. “He came into our generation a free, untrammeled spirit, . . .”
• B. “He loved to look at the sea . . .”
• C. “He was the poet of the human race everywhere.”
• D. “He was true absolutely to himself.”

Read the descriptions in the box below.
• He stands for decency, honest dealing, plain talk, and funny stories. (paragraph 9 of the speech)
• He was frank, candid, pure, serene,and noble. (paragraph 3 of the eulogy)
Based on the descriptions, “plain talk”and “candid” most likely refer to which characteristic?

• A. respect
• B. humility
• C. sensitivity
• D. truthfulness

What do paragraph 13 of the speech and paragraph 5 of the eulogy emphasize?

• A. the lasting legacies of Lincoln and Whitman
• B. the difficulties of accepting the loss of great men
• C. the viewpoints embraced by Lincoln and Whitman
• D. the challenges in finding great men to replace those who have died

Describe how the speech and the eulogy emphasize the humanity of men who were considered to be great and powerful. Support your answer with relevant and specific details from both the speech and the eulogy.

• A
• B