11Apr23 SAT Reading Prep-Adv sched

“Under this great archway, then, against one of these doors, his big paws just inside the shadow line,—for it was not winter, but a brilliant summer morning, the grass all dusted with powdered diamonds, the sky a turquoise, the air a joy,—under this archway, I say, sat a big St. Bernard dog, squat on his haunches, his head well up, like a guard.” 

What is the effect of the imagery used to describe the scene? 

• A. It conveys the apprehension that the narrator feels upon approaching the large animal. 

• B. It foreshadows the events that will unfold in the same location later in the passage.

• C. It implies that the scene would look and feel very different at another time of year.

• D. It adds a sense of grandness and majesty to an otherwise simple scene

Which word is a synonym for the word inquisitive?

• A. pushy

• B. curious

• C. amiable 

• D. observant

“The way he looked at you from under his eyebrows, not eagerly, nor furtively, but with a

self‑possessed, competent air, quite like a captain scanning a horizon from the bridge,

watching the shifting crowds from one of the little stone circles anchored out in the rush of the

boulevards,—a look of authority backed by a sense of unlimited power.”

Which feeling is suggested by the use of the word competent?

• A. disdain

• B. hostility

• C. assurance

• D. kindness

How does the author’s style affect the mood of the passage?

• A. The concise language develops a tense mood.

• B. The playful language creates a lighthearted mood.

• C. The flowery language establishes a soothing mood.

• D. The formal language instills a serious mood.

“And with all this, and quite naturally, he was a dog of breeding, who, while he insisted on his

own rights, respected those of others.”

Which sentence from the passage best supports this characterization of the Danish hound?

• A. “First, he walked up sideways, his tail wagging and straight out, like a patent towel-rack.”

• B. “Then, if you could have seen that anxious look fade away from the face of the strange

  dog . . .”

• C. “Up went the spine of the stranger, and out went his tail like a bar of steel, the feet braced,

  and the whole body taut . . .”

• D. “With tail wagging more violently than ever, he assured the concierge that he understood

  his position exactly.”

“With his tail still wagging, showing his kindness and willingness to oblige, but with spine rigid

and hair bristling, he explained clearly and succinctly to that strange dog how absolutely

impossible it would be for him to permit his crossing the archway.”

Which inference about the St. Bernard is best supported by the sentence?

• A. The St. Bernard is confident and resolute with unfamiliar animals.

• B. The St. Bernard is fiercely loyal to and protective of its master.

• C. The St. Bernard is sociable but shows caution toward strangers.

• D. The St. Bernard is friendly but will firmly fulfill its duties.

Throughout the passage, the author refers to the St. Bernard as the “concierge.”

What is the effect of this personification?

• A. It suggests that the St. Bernard believes it is superior to others.

• B. It implies that the St. Bernard behaves in a helpful manner.

• C. It reveals the differences between the St. Bernard and the Danish hound.

• D. It emphasizes the gratitude that the Danish hound has for the St. Bernard.

Analyze how the use of personification helps the author achieve his purpose for writing the passage. Use information from the passage to support your analysis.