A Sliver of Steel- Questions Only

19. Read the sentences from paragraph 2.

Through the hulking building there seemed no sound except Bob’s own strained breathing. In the corridor it was as quiet as in the room, yet someone must be outside the door, testing the lock.

How does the author’s word choice impact the tone of the passage?

• 1. A  by creating an anxious tone

• 1. B  by supporting a detached tone

• 1. C  by creating an energetic tone

• 1. D  by supporting a shocking tone

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20. 20. Read the summary of the passage.

Bob Houston believes there is an intruder hiding in his office building. When his office door is jammed shut by a sliver of steel, he sets off in search of the trespasser. Bob finds an unlocked office that has been searched and destroyed.

Which sentence should be added to make a complete summary?

• 1. A.  Bob borrows a flashlight from the security guard and begins to search the corridors for the

     person who blocked his office door.

• 1. B.  When Bob yells for help, the security guard does not see anyone run past him because he is asleep on the job.

• 1. C.  While Bob is searching, the mystery person again traps Bob in the vandalized room but is quickly caught.

• 1. D.  Bob’s suspicions are confirmed when he notices that someone has removed the handkerchief from his office doorknob and opened his door.

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Part A
21. How does the author create suspense in the passage?

• 1. A.  by using the security guard to hide important evidence about the investigation from the reader

• 1. B.  by providing the reader, but not Bob Houston, with important information about the robber

• 1. C.  by allowing the reader to observe the robber’s pathway through the office building

• 1. D.  by keeping both the reader and Bob Houston unaware of what’s happening in the dark

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Part B

22. 22. Which quotation from the passage illustrates the answer chosen in Part A?

• 1. A.  “Reaching out, he tilted the shade of his desk lamp back and a flood of light struck the doorknob. No! His eyes had not tricked him. The knob was still turning. There was a faint click and then the knob remained stationary.” (paragraph 4).

• 1. B.  “Bob shook his head. ‘No, he wouldn’t have done that. Besides, I distinctly remember hearing him running down toward the elevators.’ ‘Well, I wasn’t asleep and no one came my way,’ insisted the guard. ‘Maybe you were dreaming a little. You look kind of tired.’”
     (paragraphs 11-13)

• C.  “Then he found it—a thin sliver of steel that had been inserted as a wedge. It was an innocent enough looking piece, but when placed properly in a door could cause considerable delay.” (paragraph 17)

• 1. D.  “Bob looked around. Hundreds of papers had been strewn on the floor; some of them had been ruthlessly destroyed and he wondered how many valuable documents would be lost when they finally checked up.” (paragraph 37)

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22. 23. What is the meaning of the word reconnoiter as it is used in paragraph 25?

• 22. A. announce

• 22. B. explore

• 22. C. organize

• 22. D. wander

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24. 24. In paragraph 17, how does the discovery of the sliver of steel propel the action in the passage?

• 1. A.  The discovery inspires Bob Houston to jam the other doors in his building to help prevent the intruder from stealing documents.

• 1. B.  The discovery gives Bob Houston a reason to suspect the security guard of hiding things, which causes him to question the guard.

• 1. C.  The discovery proves to Bob Houston that someone is intentionally trespassing, which becomes the start of his investigation.

• 1. D.  The discovery encourages Bob Houston to begin gathering evidence to prove that a crime was committed in his office.

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25. Read the sentence from paragraph 18.

Although he was not aware of it at the time, it was the first piece of evidence in a mystery which was to pull him deep into its folds and require weeks of patient effort to untangle.

How does the author’s use of foreshadowing create tension in the passage?

• 1. A.  by creating confusion about the reliability of Bob Houston as a witness to the supposed crime

• 1. B.  by conveying the steps required to solve the identity of the trespasser

• 1. C.  by highlighting the importance of the small item as a signifier of a larger, more complex occurrence

• 1. D.  by portraying Bob Houston as insignificant to the circumstances surrounding the secrecy in the office building

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26. How do the authors’ differing choices of narrators affect the meanings of each passage?

• 1. A.  The third person narrator in “A Sliver of Steel” provides tension relief for the reader, whereas the first person narrator in “The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet” creates tension for the reader.

• 1. B.  The third person narrator in “A Sliver of Steel” reveals reliable information, whereas the first person narrator in “The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet” is biased and potentially concealing information.

• 1. C.  The first person narrator in “A Sliver of Steel” expresses concern for the characters, whereas the third person narrator in “The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet” ignores the problems faced by the characters.

• 1. D.  The first person narrator in “A Sliver of Steel” highlights the mystery in the passage, whereas the third person narrator in “The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet” explains the secret in the passage.

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27. Both passages provide limited details about the settings and characters. How do these structural choices contribute to the passages?

• 1. A.  They explain the motivations behind the actions of the characters.

• 1. B.  They inspire the conflicts and resolutions in the plots.

• 1. C.  They reflect the emotional states of the characters.

• 1. D.  They support the mystery and tension in the plots.

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