ACT Practice: The Men of Brewster Place

The point of view from which the passage is told can best be described as that of:

• a man looking back on the best years of his life as director of a community center in a strife-ridden neighborhood.

• a narrator describing his experiences as they happen, starting with childhood and continuing through his adult years as an advocate for troubled children.

• an unidentified narrator describing a man who devoted his life to neighborhood children years after his own difficult childhood.

• an admiring relative of a man whose generosity with children was widely respected in the neighborhood where he turned around a declining community center.

It can reasonably be inferred from the passage that which of the following is a cherished dream that Abshu expects to make a reality in his lifetime?

• Establishing himself financially so as to be able to bring his original family back under one roof

• Seeing the children at the community center shift their interest from sports to the dramatic arts

• Building on the success of the community center by opening other centers like it throughout the state

• Expanding for some, if not all, of the children the vision they have of themselves and their futures

It can reasonably be inferred from the passage that Abshu and the Masons would agree with which of the following statements about the best way to raise a child?

• For a child to be happy, he or she must develop a firm basis in religion at an early age.

• For a child to be fulfilled, he or she must be exposed to great works of art and literature that contain universal themes.

• For a child to thrive and be a responsible member of society, he or she must develop a sense of discipline.

• For a child to achieve greatness, he or she must attach importance to the community and not to the self.

The fourth paragraph (lines 31–37) establishes all of the following EXCEPT:

• that Abshu had foster brothers.

• that the Masons maintained a clean house.

• how Mother Mason felt about the location of their house.

• what Abshu remembered most about his years with the Masons.

It can reasonably be inferred that which of the following characters from the passage lives according to Abshu’s definition of a life fully lived?

• Mother Mason

• Father Mason

• Abshu as a child

• Abshu as an adult

Which of the following statements about the children entering the community center is supported by the passage?

• They had unrealistic expectations that Abshu toned down in the course of informal conversations.

• In Abshu’s eyes, they were all gifted.

• In Abshu’s eyes, the children who were likely to succeed were the ones who gave him the most trouble at the outset.

• They were prepared to believe in each other more than in themselves.

It can reasonably be inferred from the first paragraph that in obtaining outside funding for the community center, Abshu could be characterized as:

• thorough in seeking out potential sources for financial backing.

• reluctant to spoil the children with charity.

• excited about having the children write grant applications.

• determined to let the children decide how the money would be spent.

Which of the following statements about Abshu’s attitude toward his mother’s choices early in his life is supported by the passage?

• Abshu wishes he could get over the bitterness he feels toward her for allowing him and his siblings to be placed in foster care.

• Abshu is worried that his mother is troubled by her decision to place her children in foster care and wants to comfort and support her now that he is a grown man.

• Abshu wonders if she might have made a better decision about letting him and his siblings go into foster care, even though he understands why she did it.

• Abshu wants to apologize for having been ungrateful as a child to his mother, who was only doing what she felt was best for her family.

According to the passage, which of the following most closely identifies Abshu’s definition of a life fully lived?

• Happiness in your work and love in your house

• The pursuit of your goals and the realization of your dreams

• Togetherness with your family and the sharing of laughter

• Working in the community and striving for equality