CFA #2 Practice

Which detail from the passage supports the inference that the mother is a source of pain and annoyance to the narrator?

• “My mother introduced herself to him and then introduced me. She told him to keep an eye on me, for I had never gone this far away from home on my own.” (paragraph 4)

• “‘What does she want now?’ I said to myself. Still holding me close to her, she said, in a voice that raked across my skin, ‘It doesn’t matter what you do or where you go, I’ll always be your mother and this will always be your home.’” (paragraph 4)

• “As if responding to some invisible cue, we both said, at the very same moment, ‘Well.’ Then my mother turned around and walked out the cabin door.” (paragraph 5)

• “From the deck, I could not see my father, but I could see my mother facing the ship, her eyes searching to pick me out. I removed from my bag a red cotton handkerchief that she had earlier given me for this purpose, and I waved it wildly in the air.” (paragraph 5)

How does paragraph 1 develop the theme of the passage?

• The narrator’s fear of the sea emphasizes the irrational phobias associated with childhood.

• The narrator’s disrespectful attitude suggests that hurtful words have lasting impacts.

• The narrator’s feelings of confusion illustrate the complexity of parent-child relationships.

• The narrator’s disinterest in adult conversation highlights that wisdom comes with age.

Which contradictory character traits does the narrator express throughout the passage?

• apprehension and determination

• humility and arrogance

• indifference and enthusiasm

• patience and exasperation

How does the repetition of “I shall never see this again” in paragraphs 2 and 3 impact the tone of the passage?

• expresses the narrator’s anger and resentment that she is being sent away.

• It expresses the narrator’s disappointment and guilt about leaving her parents.

• It expresses the narrator’s anticipation and optimism about the future.

• It expresses the narrator’s excitement and sadness about leaving home.

Read the sentence from paragraph 2.

I felt that someone was tearing me into little pieces and soon I would be able to see all the little pieces as they floated out into nothing in the deep blue sea.

What feelings does the narrator express through the imagery in the sentence?

• anguish; helplessness

• bitterness; spite

• intolerance; disrespect

• suspicion; distrust

How does the author manipulate time in paragraph 4 to create suspense?

• The author uses foreshadowing to emphasize the wonderful adventures that lie ahead for the narrator.

• The author uses foreshadowing to emphasize the concern of the mother regarding how the narrator will adapt to her new life.

• The author uses pacing to emphasize the disregard the narrator displays for the feelings of her parents.

• The author uses pacing to emphasize the dramatic changes the narrator experiences in a matter of moments.

What effect is created by the flashback in paragraph 1?

• Tension

• Surprise

• Mystery

• horror

What is the narrator’s point of view towards the island that she calls home?

• The narrator is ashamed and views the island as ugly and impoverished.

• The narrator is concerned about the problems that exist on the island.

• The narrator is nostalgic about the island despite its imperfections.

• The narrator is proud and views the island as exotic and pristine.

Based on the context of paragraph 5, what does stupor mean?

• Annoyance

• Daze

• Distraction

• fixation

Read this sentence from paragraph 5.

What idea does the author emphasize through the figurative language in this sentence?

Recognizing me immediately, she waved back just as wildly, and we continued to do this until she became just a dot in the match-box size launch swallowed up in the big blue sea.

• The narrator forgets her mother quickly after the boat sets sail.

• The narrator is no longer afraid after she waves goodbye to her mother.

• The narrator’s home appears to be sinking slowly under water.

• The narrator’s home is just one small part of a much larger world.