"The Reef" and "Metamorphosis"

Select two sentences that provide an accurate summary of the passage.

• The grandfather, who was once a skilled deep sea diver, escorts his grandson to the same lagoon where the boy’s father died.

• The grandson is frightened by a manta ray that jumps out of the water, nearly capsizing the canoe.

• The grandfather does not think his grandson is up to the task of deep sea diving and regrets bringing him to the lagoon.

• While underwater, the grandson observes a variety of beautifully colored shrubbery that distracts him from collecting sponges.

• While he is diving for sponges, the grandson disregards the grandfather’s warning and is nearly killed by a tiger shark.

In paragraph 1, how does the author’s use of imagery and word choice impact the passage?

• by creating a reverent tone to highlight the striking beauty of the isolated setting

• by creating an astonished tone to depict the setting as startling and unexpected

• by creating a grim tone to describe the setting as turbulent and chaotic

• by creating an anxious tone to express fear about the dangerous setting

In paragraphs 14-16, how does the father’s death advance the plot of the passage?

• by explaining how the grandfather came to raise his grandson

• by emphasizing that deep sea diving is a family profession for grandfather and grandson

• by highlighting the courage of the grandfather upon which the grandson relies

• by stressing the dangers associated with what the grandfather and grandson are about to do

How does the grandfather’s point of view affect the reader’s perception of the grandson’s dive?

• The grandfather’s past experiences make his concerns about the grandson’s dive justifiable.

• The grandfather’s expertise as a diver suggests the grandson has much to prove.

• The grandfather’s sense of duty causes him to end his grandson’s dive prematurely.

• The grandfather’s pride in his grandson indicates that the grandson is ready for the challenge.

Read the excerpt from paragraphs 16-17. What can the reader infer about the grandson from his response to the grandfather?

• He does not care about his grandfather and is disinterested in his stories.

• He wants to avenge his grandfather somehow for the suffering he has endured.

• He intends to prove to his grandfather and himself that he is not afraid of the past.

• He is an experienced deep sea diver and does not need assistance from his grandfather.

How does the author develop suspense in paragraphs 20-21?

• by describing the cut the grandson receives from the sea urchin next to the sponges

• by highlighting the grandfather’s panicked signals to his grandson

• by focusing on the grandson’s actions as he methodically pulls the prized sponges

• by contrasting what the grandfather observes in the canoe with what his grandson sees

Which quotation supports the answer in Part A?

• "The moving branches had to be parted carefully with the spike, lest they close and hide, beyond finding, the silky clump growing within their depths." (paragraph 20)

• "Yet nowhere in the nearby water could he see anything unusual, except a little fish some eight inches long marked with alternate bands of blue and gold, which came close to him and then turned and swam out to sea." (paragraph 20)

• "Even as he pulled out a silk-sponge, worth more than its weight in gold, something sharp as steel and brittle as ice pierced his hand deep, and he felt a score of spines break and rankle in his flesh like splinters of broken glass." (paragraph 21)

• "As he rose he saw his grandfather mouthing the word 'Hurry!' every line on his tense face set in an agony of pleading." (paragraph 21)

Read the sentence from paragraph 22. "The tiny tick of time which the fish took in turning enabled the old man, with a tremendous heave of his powerful arms, to drag Jimmy Tom bodily over the gunwale just as the fatal jaws snapped shut below him." What is the effect of the figurative language on the overall passage?

• The simile highlights the strength the grandfather displays to save his grandson.

• The metaphor conveys that the grandson has learned an important lesson about obedience.

• The alliteration emphasizes how closely the grandson came to being killed by the shark.

• The personification illustrates the ferociousness of the shark bearing down on the grandson.

How does the structure affect the passage?

• By explaining that Daedalus and Icarus are exiled on the island, the author creates sympathy for the plights of the characters.

• By focusing on the conflict between father and son, the author creates tension between Daedalus and Icarus.

• By contrasting the care and caution of Daedalus with the foolishness of Icarus, the author creates sympathy for Daedalus but not Icarus.

• By describing how well Daedalus designed the wings for himself and Icarus, the author creates approval for Daedalus’s invention.

What does admonitions mean in paragraph 2?

• persuasions

• questions

• reassurances

• warnings