Oil!-Chapter 1: The Ride Upton Sinclair BM3 RL Standards

What tone does the author’s choice of words create in paragraph 5?

• panicked and chaotic

• fun and adventurous

• joyful and celebratory

• introspective and thoughtful

What does paragraph 1 reveal about the narrator?

• The narrator is not interested in nature.

• The narrator has a deep fear of mountains.

• The narrator is observant and appreciative of nature.

• The narrator prefers urban environments to rural ones.

The narrator is a young boy when the events described in the passage take place. How does this affect the narrator’s point of view throughout the passage?

• It brings a sense of wonder and awe to the description of the journey.

• It results in a critical perspective on the environmental impact of the trip.

• It leads the narrator to ask internal questions about how people gain power.
  

• It makes the narrator focus mainly on the technical aspects of road construction.

Which quotation suggests that the narrator may not have a completely positive view of his father?

• “Another concession Dad made–wherever the bend was to the right, so that the mass of the mountain obstructed the road, Dad sounded his horn.” (paragraph 3)

• “The voice of his horn was sharp and military, there was in it no undertone of human kindness.” (paragraph 3)

• “Never since the world began had there been men of power equal to this, and Dad was one of them; he could do things like that, . . .” (paragraph 8)

• “At seven o’clock this evening, in the lobby of the Imperial Hotel at Beach City, a man would be waiting by the name of Ben Skutt, the oil scout, whom Dad described as his ‘lease hound’; . . .” (paragraph 8)

Read the script below then answer the question that follows.

 

Script for a Conversation Between the Narrator and Dad

Scene: Inside a car driving through mountainous roads.

 

Narrator: This road is really winding up the mountain. How do you drive so confidently at this speed?

 

Dad: Experience, son. You learn to read the road, not just the signs. It’s about understanding your limits and sometimes pushing them.

 

Narrator: I noticed you always honk at the bends.

 

Dad: It’s necessary. It’s like sending a message–clear the way, important business coming through. The road is our domain.

 

Narrator: (Observes the surroundings) It’s amazing how everything moves out of your way–the birds, the squirrels, even other drivers.

 

Dad: It’s the power of command, son. In our line of work, in life, you need to assert yourself. Make your presence known.

 

Narrator: It’s almost like we’re flying close to the clouds, with all this power at our feet.

Dad: Exactly, it’s the power of engineering, of progress. Men of vision have made this possible. And we’re part of that lineage, shaping the world.

Which two changes does the script’s writer make to convey the relationship between the narrator and Dad?

 

• The script removes all of the narrator’s thoughts and opinions regarding Dad’s behavior.

• The script includes dialogue that shows Dad is more confident than he is in the passage.

• The script includes dialogue to replace the narrator’s internal thoughts from the passage.

• The script allows Dad to say verbally what is implied through the description in the passage.

• The script removes important context for the characters’ actions as described in the passage.

Read the sonnet below then answer the question that follows.

Road Trip Sonnet

1 In a car where horizons stretch and bend,

A boy and father journey side by side.

Through landscapes vast, their silent paths extend,

In the father’s shadow, the boy did ride.

5 Miles unfold, like stories yet untold,

Dad’s voice, commanding, echoes in the air.

The boy, in silence, thoughts both brave and bold,

Observes a truth laid starkly bare.

9 Through towns and fields, the lessons slowly dawn,

Not to mimic Dad’s tone, self-important and high.

In the rearview, self-reflection drawn,

A vow to be kind, under the vast sky.

13 In every mile, a new self he found,

Away from arrogance, humility's ground.

In what way does the rhythm and meter of the sonnet contrast with the prose passage in contributing to each of their writing styles?

• The sonnet’s rhythm limits narrative development.

• The sonnet's meter simplifies its thematic complexity.

• The sonnet’s rhythm creates a musical, reflective tone.

• The sonnet's meter prevents any emotional expression.

What is the impact of the author’s use of the phrase “magic ribbon of concrete” in paragraph 6?

• It highlights the discomfort of the car ride.

• It portrays the road as a fascinating thing.

• It emphasizes the danger of mountain roads.

• It symbolizes the unification of distant places.

The following question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
Part A
Based on the information in paragraph 2, what can the reader infer about the narrator’s father?

• He is unable to read.

• He has a bad temper.

• He thinks he is superior to others.

• He tries to be considerate of others.

Part B
Which quotation from paragraph 2 supports the answer to Part A?

Part A
Based on the information in paragraph 2, what can the reader infer about the narrator’s father?

A. He is unable to read.

B. He has a bad temper.

C. He thinks he is superior to others.

D. He tries to be considerate of others.

• “The road began to climb steeply; it swung around the shoulder of a hill, . .”

• “. . . either that sign or his speedometer.”

• “. . . for the elite few experienced drivers, the limit was whatever speed you could go. . . .”

• “. . . and still keep on your own half of the highway.”

Read the quotation from paragraph 7.

Men of money had said the word, and surveyors and engineers had come, and diggers by the thousand, bronze of skin, armed with picks and shovels.

What inference does this quotation support?

• Dad values the beauty of the landscape over wealth.

• Wealth has little influence on technological advancements.

• Dad believes that being wealthy is the same thing as being powerful.

• Wealth should be earned by people who contribute to large building projects.