TCAP English II Practice: "Picture of Dorian Gray"

Which sentence best expresses a central idea of passage 1?

• The artist Basil Hallward is so entranced with a portrait he has painted that he does not want to put it on public display.

• Lord Henry, a patron of the arts, tries to persuade the artist Basil Hallward to change the gallery he works with.

• Basil Hallward’s earlier disappearance from London had caused a great deal of excitement in the city.

• Basil Hallward risks his professional reputation by insisting that his work not be displayed.

How do Lord Henry’s feelings toward Basil Hallward change by the end of passage 1?

• He is jealous of Basil’s abilities at first but begins to pity the lonely painter by the end.

• He admires Basil’s fine work at the beginning but becomes confused by his strange behavior.

• He has little interest in Basil when he arrives but comes to wonder at his magnificent talent.

• He is worried about Basil at the beginning but becomes hopeful after speaking with his friend.

What does the word delineate mean as it is used in paragraph 9?

• ignore

• forgive

• portray

• fabricate

Part A: Which sentence best expresses a central idea of passage 2?

• A scientist suffers delusions from long periods of solitude.

• A creator feels an unexpected revulsion for his creation.

• An ordinary man represses his human emotions in a sterile, scientific environment.

• An inventor persists in pursuing his goal despite criticism from peers.

Part B: Which quotation from the passage best supports the correct answer to #4 Part A?

• "With an anxiety that almost amounted to agony, I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet." (paragraph 8)

• "His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful." (paragraph 9)

• "The different accidents of life are not so changeable as the feelings of human nature." (paragraph 10)

• "I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart." (paragraph 10)

In passage 2, which statement characterizes the narrator's reaction to his creation?

• He is surprised that his feelings about his creation have changed so quickly.

• Regardless of his horror, he remains proud of his accomplishment.

• In spite of himself, he feels loyal to his creature.

• He realizes that he has sacrificed companionship for his creation.

Select the phrase from paragraph 10 that best supports the correct answer in Part A.

• ... I had deprived myself of rest and health.

• ... the beauty of the dream vanished, ...

• ... disgust filled my heart.

• ... I rushed out of the room and continued a long time traversing my bedchamber, ...

What do the main characters in the two passages have in common?

• They both feel disappointment in a creation

• They both desire to create an object of beauty

• They both feel a sense of satisfaction about a creation

• They both desire to maintain a respectable reputation

Select TWO central ideas shared by both passages

• The creators are selfishly unwilling to share their creations with others

• The process of creating can have unsettling results

• The process of creation is a solitary occupation

• The creators lack self-confidence

• The creators have an obsession with their creations