PARCC Practice Test: "The Sinews of Peace"

Question #1: Part A

Which phrase best states Churchill's purpose in using personification to characterize Russia in paragraph 1?

• to emphasize the severity of the challenges confronting the nation

• to convey his attitude toward the recent actions of th enation

• to show his sympathy toward the nation and its interests

• to suggest the factors that led to the current state of the nation

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Question #1: Part B

In which quote from elsewhere in the passage does Churchill use the same technique for a similar purpose?

• "Athens alone - Greece with its immortal glories - is free to decide its future at an election under British, America and French observation." (paragraph 2)

• "the Russian-dominated Polish Government has been encouraged to make enormous and wrongful inroads upon Germany, and mass expulsions of millions of Germans on a scale grievous and undreamed of are now taking place."

• "An attempt is beign made by the Russians in Berlin to build up a quasi-Communist party in their zone of Occupied Germany by showing special favours to groups of left-wing German leaders.

• "At the end of the fitghting last June, the American and British Armies withdrew westwards, in accordance with an earlier agreement, to a depth at some points of 150 miles upon a front of nearly four hundred miles, in order to allow our Ruassian allies to occupy this vast expanse of territory which the Western Democracies had conquered." (paragraph 3)

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.1

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.7.8

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.6.1

Question #2: Part A

What is the meaning of the word totalitarian as it is used in paragraph 2 of the passage from the speech?

• disciplined

• calculating

• extraordinary

• absolute

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.4

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

Question #2: Part B

Which phrase from paragraph 2 best clarifies the meaning of totalitarian?

• "...which were very small..."

• "...these Eastern States of Europe..."

• "...pre-eminence and power..."

• "...seeking everywhere..."

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.4

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.K.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Question #3; Part A

How does Churchill use references to the United States of America in paragraph 5 to advance his argument?

• Using the United States as an example, Churchill provides a model for the behavior of the European nations.

• By listing American sacrifices, Churchill makes a plea for similar sacrifices from other governments.

• By highlighting American involvement in world wars, Churchill emphasizes to American that their nation is affected by the situation he describes.

• Describing the power of the United States, Churchill threatens other countries with military action.

Question #3: Part B

Which sentence form paragraph 5 supports the answer to Part A?

• "The safety of the world, ladies and gentlemen, requires a new unity in Europe, from which no nation should be permanently outcast".

• "It is from the quarrels of the strong parent races in Europe tha the world wars we have witnessed, or which occurred in former times, have sprung."

• "Twice the United States has had to send several millions of its young men across the Atlantic to find the war; but now war can dinf any nation, wherever it may dwell, between dusk and dawn."

• "That I feel is a - opens a course of policy of very great importance."

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Question #4: Part A

What is Churchill's primary purpose in his speech?

• to express his admiration for those who sacrificed so much in recent world events

• to present an objective assessment of a problem and to convince his listeners that they have exaggerated its severity

• to convey his perception of a growing threat and to suggest a course of action

• to describe a widely held attitude and to demonstrate why he believes it is mistaken

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Question #4: Part B

Which sentence from the passage from the speech provides the best support for the answer to Part A?

• "We understand the Russian need to be secure on her western frontiers by the removal of all possibility of German aggression." (paragraph 1)

• "At the end of the fighting last June, the American and British Armies withdrew westwards, in accordance with an earlier agreement, to a depth at some point of 150 miles upon a front of nearly four hundred miles, in order to allow our russian allies to occupy this vast expanse of territory which the Western Democracies had conquered." (paragraph 3)

• "It is from the the quarrles of the strong parent races in Europe that the world wars we have witnessed, or which occurred in former times have sprung." (paragraph 5)

• "Surely we should work wit conscious purpose for a grand pacification of Europe, within the structure of the Untied Nations and in accordance with our Charter." (paragraph 5)

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Question #5: Part A

How does Churchill build his claim that the countries of Europe should share a democratic ideology?

• by contrasting the actions of Russia as an ally during World War II wit the actions of Soviet Russia after the war

• by comparing the Russian Expansion to the tyranny of German during World War II

• by using figurative language to exaggerate the roles of the United States, European nations, and Soviet Russia

• by proposing an alliance with Russia that would help protect all nations from further aggression

Question #5: Part B

Which statement form the passage from the speech best supports the answer in Part A?

• "A shadow has fallen upon the scenes so lately lighted by the Allied victory." (paragraph 1)

• "Above all, we welcome, or should welcome, constant, frequent and growing contacts between the Russian people and our own peoples on both sides of the Atlantic." (paragraph 1)

• "Turkey and Persia are both profoundly alarmed and disturbed at the claims wihc are beign made uon them and at the pressure beign exerted by the Moscow Government." (paragraph 3)

• "Whatever conclusions may be drawn form these facts - and facts they are - this is certainly nto the Liberated Europe we fought to build up." (paragraph 4)

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3