English II Review

Select the sentence from the excerpt that demonstrates the main character's sense of entitlement.

"One-third of the men in the government, the older men, had been friends of his father’s, and had known him in petticoats; another third were his intimate chums, and the remainder were friendly acquaintances. Consequently the distributors of earthly blessings in the shape of places, rents, shares, and such, were all his friends, and could not overlook one of their own set; and Oblonsky had no need to make any special exertion to get a lucrative post. He had only not to refuse things, not to show jealousy, not to be quarrelsome or take offense, all of which from his characteristic good nature he never did. It would have struck him as absurd if he had been told that he would not get a position with the salary he required, especially as he expected nothing out of the way; he only wanted what the men of his own age and standing did get, and he was no worse qualified for performing duties of the kind than any other man."

• One-third of the men in the government, the older men, had been friends of his father’s, and had known him in petticoats; another third were his intimate chums, and the remainder were friendly acquaintances.

• Consequently the distributors of earthly blessings in the shape of places, rents, shares, and such, were all his friends, and could not overlook one of their own set; and Oblonsky had no need to make any special exertion to get a lucrative post.

• He had only not to refuse things, not to show jealousy, not to be quarrelsome or take offense, all of which from his characteristic good nature he never did.

• It would have struck him as absurd if he had been told that he would not get a position with the salary he required, especially as he expected nothing out of the way; he only wanted what the men of his own age and standing did get, and he was no worse qualified for performing duties of the kind than any other man.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RI.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

The principal qualities in Stepan Arkadyevitch which had gained him this universal respect in the service consisted, in the first place, of his extreme indulgence for others, founded on a consciousness of his own shortcomings; secondly, of his perfect liberalism—not the liberalism he read of in the papers, but the liberalism that was in his blood, in virtue of which he treated all men perfectly equally and exactly the same, whatever their fortune or calling might be; and thirdly—the most important point—his complete indifference to the business in which he was engaged, in consequence of which he was never carried away, and never made mistakes.

In the selection, the use of the word liberalism to describe Stephan's interactions with others is meant to convey what about his character?

• his ability to accept all of his friends' wrongdoings

• his ability to navigate the politics of his time period

• his ability to befriend people from all walks of life

• his ability to function despite his excessive complaining

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

On reaching the offices of the board, Stepan Arkadyevitch, escorted by a deferential porter with a portfolio, went into his little private room, put on his uniform, and went into the boardroom. The clerks and copyists all rose, greeting him with good-humored deference. Stepan Arkadyevitch moved quickly, as ever, to his place, shook hands with his colleagues, and sat down. He made a joke or two, and talked just as much as was consistent with due decorum, and began work. No one knew better than Stepan Arkadyevitch how to hit on the exact line between freedom, simplicity, and official stiffness necessary for the agreeable conduct of business.

Based on paragraph 5, what does the author mean when he uses the word decorum?

• appropriateness

• Diligent

• Lightheartedness

• Inferiority

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

In the selection, what is the purpose of the sentences below from paragraph 9? "

'If they know,' he thought, bending his head with a significant air as he listened to the report, 'what a guilty little boy their president was half an ago.' And his eyes were laughing during the reading of the report."

• to display the humorous tone of the selection as a whole

• to explain the atmosphere of the boardroom meeting

• to provide visual imagery

• to show Stepan's playful attitude

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What can be inferred from the statement below in the last paragraph?

"Oblonsky, with his ready tact, felt that Levin fancied he might not care to show his intimacy with him before his subordinates, and so he made haste to take him off into his room."

• The phrasing demonstrates the cunning employed by Stepan in this scene.

• The phrasing displays how the statement contrasts with the description of Levin in the rest of the selection.

• The phrasing maintains Stepan's characterization as a valiant man.

• The phrasing builds suspense over Stepan and Levin's relationship and its relevance to the plot.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RI.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

That portion of the earth’s surface known as “the Big Bend” has often been described as a “geologist’s paradise.” In part this is due to the sparse vegetation of the region, which allows the various strata to be easily observed and studied. It is also due to the complex geologic history of the area, presenting a challenge to students and researchers from all over the world. Not all field geologists, however, refer to the Big Bend as a paradise. For some, this land of twisted, tortured rock is a nightmare.

What is the effect of the metaphors in the sentences below from paragraph 2?

• They compare Big Bend to a contradictory dream world.

• They emphasize the allure and repulsiveness of the landscape.

• They explain how Big Bend is enthralling to many people.

• They express how interesting the landscape is to many people.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

For almost 10 million years after uplift ended, nonmarine sediments of the Tertiary period constitute the only record of events in the Big Bend. Dinosaurs had long been gone from the land, their places taken by a proliferation of mammals, many of whose remains have been found in Big Bend . . . horses, rhinos, camels, and rodents, as well as fossils of the plants on which they thrived.

What is the synonym that best reflects the meaning of the word proliferation in paragraph 11?

• a decline

• a subordination

• an increase

• an observance

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

What is the synonym that best reflects the meaning of the word alien as used in line 17?

"Here in this alien crowd I walk apart"

• Boisterous

• Unfamiliar

• Comparable

• Exuberate

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

How does the use of personification in the first paragraph help develop the setting?

"Towards evening the storm was at its height. From the terrific downpour of rain, the crash of thunder, and the repeated flashes of lightning, you might think that a battle was raging in the skies. Black clouds waved like the Flags of Doom. The Ganges was lashed into a fury, and the trees of the gardens on either bank swayed from side to side with sighs and groans."

• It emphasizes the loudness of the storm.

• It emphasizes the cause of the storm.

• It emphasizes the damage of the storm.

• It emphasizes the severity of the storm.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

What is the meaning of the simile in the sentence below from paragraph 5?

"Like a rudderless boat, the discussion kept turning round and round the same point; and at last it threatened to be overwhelmed in a flood of tears."

• It describes two people who are crying because they finally came to a solution.

• It describes an insolvable argument between a husband and his wife, threatening to deteriorate into tears.

• It depicts a husband and his wife engaged in a minor argument.

• It describes an endless argument between two people.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5