Word Meaning and Nuances 11

Nina rolled her eyes and said to Antonio, “Wow, you must be a psychologist: You know exactly what I’m thinking.”

What is the meaning of the verbal irony in the sentences?

• Antonio wants to be a psychologist one day.

• Antonio does not get along with Nina.

• Antonio wants to roll his eyes too.

• Antonio does not know what Nina is thinking.

That bank’s lending practices are as predatory as a pride of lions.

What is the meaning of the simile in the sentence?

• The bank is the best choice for people seeking loans.

• The bank is under investigation for fraud.

• The bank will not be in business much longer.

• The bank victimizes people seeking loans.

Oh darling, no one goes downtown anymore. It is much too crowded.

The paradox in the sentences conveys _____ mood.

• a hurried

• a tense

• a friendly

• an ironic

It was Shay’s first time visiting a swampland. She was surprised that some people consider this peaceful. Between the birds chirping, the bugs buzzing, and the mud gurgling, Shay couldn’t think straight.

What is the purpose of the words chirping, buzzing, and gurgling in the third sentence?

• They help the reader to understand why Shay is visiting the swampland.

  
  

• They help the reader to visualize what the swampland looks like.

• They help the reader to understand why Shay feels peaceful at the swampland.

• They help the reader to imagine what the swampland sounds like.

A universal theme in a poem is like the glaze on a donut. You can still have a donut without the glaze, but what is the point?

What is the purpose of the analogy in the first sentence?

• The author wants to show that writing poetry is just like eating donuts.

• The author wants to show that a universal theme raises the quality of a poem.

  
  

• The author wants to show that he enjoys poetry as much as he enjoys donuts.

• The author wants to show that a universal theme can make a poem too sweet.

Read the excerpt and answer the question.

What is implied by the metaphor "ocean monarch?"

Having got the weather-gage, the boats are lowered; sail is immediately set, and, like swift huge-winged birds, they swoop down upon the prey. Driving right upon the back of the nearest monster, two harpoons are plunged into his body up to the “hitches.”

The sheet is at once hauled aft, and the boat flies up into the wind; while the terrified cetacean vainly tries, by tremendous writhing and plunging, to rid himself of the barbed weapon. The mast is unshipped, and preparation made to deliver the coup de grace. But finding his efforts futile, the whale has sounded, and his reappearance must be awaited. Two boats' lines are taken out before the slackening comes, and he slowly rises again. Faster and faster the line comes in; the blue depths turn a creamy white, and it is “Stern all” for dear life. Up he comes, with jaws gaping twenty feet wide, gleaming teeth and livid, cavernous throat glittering in the brilliant light.

The boat's crew are seasoned hands, to whom this dread sight is familiar, and orders are quietly obeyed, the boat backing, circling and darting ahead like a sentient thing under their united efforts. So the infuriated mammal is baffled and dodged, while thrust after thrust of the long lances are got home, and streamlets of blood trickling over the edges of his spouthole give warning that the end is near. A few wild circlings at tremendous speed, jaws clashing and blood foaming in torrents from the spiracle, one mighty leap into the air, and the ocean monarch is dead. He lies just awash, gently undulated by the long, low swell, one pectoral fin slowly waving like some great stray leaf of Fucus gigantea. A hole is cut through the fluke and the line secured to it. The ship, which has been working to windward during the conflict, runs down and receives the line; and in a short time, the great inert mass is hauled alongside and secured by the fluke chain.

• The whale was so much bigger and stronger than anything else in the ocean

  
  

• They gave the whale a royal funeral at sea

• The whale was king of the ocean

• The whale killed itself

Read the excerpt and answer the question.

What is the effect of personification in the passage?

The sky began to thicken, and the lowing of the cattle to have a melancholy cadence; the nightingale forgot her song, and fled to her nest; and the sea roared and lashed the rocks. During the calm which portended an approaching storm, every creature was running for shelter.—We must, if possible, said Mrs. Mason, reach yon cottage on the cliff, for we shall soon have a violent thunder-storm. They quickened their pace, but the hurricane overtook them. The hail-stones fell, the clouds seemed to open and disclose the lightning, while loud peals of thunder shook the ground; the wind also in violent gusts rushed among the trees, tore off the slender branches and loosened the roots.

The children were terrified; but Mrs. Mason gave them each a hand, and chatted with them to dispel their fears. She informed them that storms were necessary to dissipate noxious vapors, and to answer many other purposes, which were not, perhaps, obvious to our weak understandings.

• It shows that the storm was more powerful than the children.

• It helps the reader understand the children’s fear.

• It illustrates how Mrs. Mason’s anger is reflected in the storm.

• It shows that the children were to be punished for their wrongs.

Read the excerpt and answer the question.

If the word "melancholy" were replaced with "despairing," the meaning of the phrase would be...

The sky began to thicken, and the lowing of the cattle to have a melancholy cadence; the nightingale forgot her song, and fled to her nest; and the sea roared and lashed the rocks. During the calm which portended an approaching storm, every creature was running for shelter.—We must, if possible, said Mrs. Mason, reach yon cottage on the cliff, for we shall soon have a violent thunder-storm. They quickened their pace, but the hurricane overtook them. The hail-stones fell, the clouds seemed to open and disclose the lightning, while loud peals of thunder shook the ground; the wind also in violent gusts rushed among the trees, tore off the slender branches and loosened the roots.

• less focused on loneliness

• less sad

• the same except less extreme

• the same except more extreme

Read the sentence:

Jasper became frustrated when he wasn’t selected for the football team the first time he tried out.

How would the meaning of the sentence be different if the word frustrated were replaced with the word discouraged?

• The reader would likely assume that Jasper became injured while trying out.

• The reader would likely assume that Jasper will not try out for the team again.

  
  

• The reader would likely assume that Jasper does not want to play football.

• The reader would likely assume that Jasper is not a good team player.

When describing a person, how is meaning of the word cheap different from the meaning of the word frugal?

• The word cheap suggests that the person has a negative trait.

• The word cheap suggests that the person has a praiseworthy trait.

• The word cheap implies that a person is slightly frugal.

• The word cheap means the opposite of frugal.