Grade 8 Unit 1 Study Guide

Based on context clues in the passage, what is most likely the meaning of the word vehemently?

9 No doubt I now grew very pale;—but I talked more fluently, and with a heightened voice. Yet the sound increased—and what could I do? It was a low, dull, quick sound—much such a sound as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton. I gasped for breath—and yet the officers heard it not. I talked more quickly—more vehemently; but the noise steadily increased. I arose and argued about trifles, in a high key and with violent gesticulations, but the noise steadily increased.

• at a high volume

• B. with a lot of passion

• C. in a flat monotone

• D. sounding muffled

What effect do the punctuation choices in paragraph 9 have on the tone?

9 No doubt I now grew very pale;—but I talked more fluently, and with a heightened voice. Yet the sound increased—and what could I do? It was a low, dull, quick sound—much such a sound as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton. I gasped for breath—and yet the officers heard it not. I talked more quickly—more vehemently; but the noise steadily increased. I arose and argued about trifles, in a high key and with violent gesticulations, but the noise steadily increased. Why would they not be gone? I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the observations of the men—but the noise steadily increased. Oh God! what could I do? I foamed —I raved—I swore! I swung the chair upon which I had been sitting, and grated it upon the boards, but the noise arose over all and continually increased. It grew louder—louder—louder! And still the men chatted pleasantly, and smiled. Was it possible they heard not? Almighty God!—no, no! They heard!—they suspected!—they knew! —they were making a mockery of my horror!—this I thought, and this I think. But any thing was better than this agony! Any thing was more tolerable than this derision! I could bear those hypocritical smiles no longer! I felt that I must scream or die!—and now—again— hark! louder! louder! louder! louder!—

• A. The dashes and exclamation marks reveal that the narrator is losing control.

• B. The italics make it clear that the narrator’s words aren’t to be trusted.

• C. The semicolons introduce a formal tone into an informal speech.

• D. The frequent questions reveal the narrator’s attempt to engage the reader.

Which phrase from the passage most clearly suggests the narrator’s disturbed mental state at the end of the story?

• A. “but I talked more fluently”

• B. “Why would they not be gone?”

• C. “It grew louder—louder—louder!”

• D. “And still the men chatted pleasantly”

Which of the following is one character trait that O’Brien shows in this passage?

O’BRIEN

52 How are you doing?

STEVE

53 I’m scared.

O’BRIEN

54 Good; you should be. Anyway, just remember what we’ve been talking about. The judge is going to rule on a motion that King’s lawyer made to suppress Cruz’s testimony, and a few other things. Steve, let me tell you what my job is here. My job is to make sure the law works for you as well as against you, and to make you a human being in the eyes of the jury. Your job is to help me. Any questions you have, write them down and I’ll try to answer them. What are you doing there?

STEVE

55 I’m writing this whole thing down as a movie.

O’BRIEN

56 Whatever. Make sure you pay attention. Close attention.

• A. honesty

• B. fearfulness

• C. optimism

• D. pessimism

Based on Hitchcock’s explanation of suspense in paragraph 9, the reader can conclude that—

9 The audience knows everything from the start, the players know nothing. There is not a single detail to puzzle the audience. It is certainly not a whodunit for the simple reason that everyone out front knows who did it. No one on the screen knows except the two murderers. The fact that the audience watches actors go blithely through an atmosphere that is loaded with evil makes for real suspense.

• A. The author thinks that suspense is stronger when the characters know everything.

• B. The author believes that whodunit films are not as suspenseful as thrillers.

• C. The author prefers to keep suspenseful details from his audiences.

• D. The author likes building suspense by telling the audience when characters are in danger.

The questions Hitchcock includes in paragraph 10 reveal his point of view. He believes that suspense builds when the audience—

These are the questions, now, that constantly pop up. Will the murderers break and give themselves away? When the victim does not show up for the party will his father suspect? Will Jimmy get killed before he discovers the actual crime? How long will that body lie in its wooden grave at a champagne party without being discovered? If we are successful we'll have the audience at such a pitch that they want to shout every time one of the players goes near that chest.

• A. knows how the film will end.

• B. tries to guess what will happen.

• C. is confused about the movie.

• D. makes noise during the movie.

Which paragraph best supports Bly’s point of view that people living with a mental illness receive poor treatment?

43 “I don’t see why all this is needed to help me find my trunks. These men are impudent, and I do not want to be stared at. I will go away. I don’t want to stay here.”44 So saying, I pulled down my veil and secretly hoped the reporters would be detained elsewhere until I was sent to the asylum.45 “I don’t know what to do with the poor child,” said the worried judge. “She must be taken care of.”46 “Send her to the Island,” suggested one of the officers.47 “Oh, don’t!” said Mrs. Stanard, in evident alarm. “Don’t! She is a lady and it would kill her to be put on the Island.”48 For once I felt like shaking the good woman. To think the Island was just the place I wanted to reach and here she was trying to keep me from going there! It was very kind of her, but rather provoking under the circumstances.

• 43

• 44

• 47

• 48

Based on details in paragraph 48, the reader can infer that Bly’s purpose in writing is—

48 For once I felt like shaking the good woman. To think the Island was just the place I wanted to reach and here she was trying to keep me from going there! It was very kind of her, but rather provoking under the circumstances.

• A. to describe how to fool people to get what you want.

• B. to entertain readers with a funny story from her real life.

• C. to persuade readers that Mrs. Stanard is a very kind lady.

• D. to inform readers about the treatment of people living with a mental illness.

Which compares "Sympathy" and "Ten Days in a Madhouse"?

• The narrator has to adjust what she says and does, such as putting on a veil, because people react in ways she can’t predict.

• Both the narrators are hoping for their situations to change.

• The narrator understands the feelings of frustration that one would experience if they were trapped.

Which contrasts "Sympathy" and "Ten Days in a Madhouse"? (Choose 2)

• Both the narrators are affected emotionally because other people are in control of their circumstances

• When people try to prevent the narrator from being sent away, she feels upset thinking her plans will be ruined.

• The narrator understands that desperation can lead people to act wildly.