9th Grade ELA Final Review Part 1

Select the BEST definition of an epic.

• A) A poem that tells a tale often in song or spoken word.
• B) A poem from greek literature where the hero dies in the end.
• C) A poem that depicts the life and journey of a famous person from history.
• D) A poem rooted in mythology about gods and goddesses from ancient literature.

Read the line from “Tell the Story.” “Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story of that man skilled in all ways of contending, the wanderer, harried for years on end, after he plundered the stronghold on the proud height of Troy.” Based on its use in the text, what is the meaning of “plundered”?

• A) To Steal
• B) To Borrow
• C) To Return
• D) To Loan

Read the following lines from "Calypso, the Sweet Nymph." "The strong god glittering left her as he spoke, and now her ladyship, having given heed to Zeus’s mandate, went to find Odysseus in his stone seat to seaward—tear on tear brimming his eyes." Based on its use in the text, what is the meaning of mandate?

• A) A suggestion
• B) A request
• C) An official order
• D) An option

Read the following lines from "Calypso, the Sweet Nymph." "Swiftly she turned and led him to her cave, and they went in, the mortal and immortal." What is the purpose of juxtaposing Calypso and Odysseus' existences?

• A) The purpose of juxtaposing Calypso and Odysseus' existences is to remind the readers that both are gods, but only one can live forever.
• B) The purpose of juxtaposing Calypso and Odysseus' existences is to emphasize for the readers that Odysseus wants to live forever, but can't.
• C) The purpose of juxtaposing Calypso and Odysseus' existences is to point out that Calypso's only desire is to be human.
• D) The purpose of juxtaposing Calypso and Odysseus' existences is to foreshadow Calypso's offer to make Odysseus an immortal as well if he agreed to stay on the island with her.

Read the following lines from "The Lotus Eaters." "Upon the tenth we came to the coastline of the Lotus Eaters, who live upon that flower. We landed there 200 to take on water" Why did Odysseus and his crew stop at the island of the lotus eaters?

• A) Odysseus and his crew stopped at the island of the lotus eaters because their ship was sinking and they needed to repair the damages.
• B) Odysseus and his crew stopped at the island of the lotus eaters because they were hungry and running low on rations.
• C) Odysseus and his crew stopped at the island of the lotus eaters because they needed fresh water.
• D) Odysseus and his crew stopped at the island of the lotus eaters because they wanted to explore the new land.

Part A Read the following lines from "The Lotus Eaters." "I drove them, all three wailing, to the ships, tied them down under their rowing benches," Why were the three shipmates "wailing" as Odysseus drove them back to the ship?

• A) The three shipmates were "wailing" as Odysseus drove them back to the ship because they were homesick and sad that they had to stay on the island.
• B) The three shipmates were "wailing" as Odysseus drove them back to the ship because they had eaten to lotus on the island which caused them to not want to leave.
• C) The three shipmates were "wailing" as Odysseus drove them back to the ship because they were poisoned by the lotus and in extreme pain.
• D) The three shipmates were "wailing" as Odysseus drove them back to the ship because the Lotus eaters told the shipmates they weren't allowed to take any of the plants with them on their journey home.

Part B select the evidence from the text that BEST supports your answer to Part A.

• A) "but those who ate this honeyed plant, the Lotus, never cared to report, nor to return: they longed to stay forever, browsing on that native bloom, forgetful of their homeland."
• B) "Then I sent out two picked men and a runner to learn what race of men that land sustained."
• C) "They fell in, soon enough, with Lotus Eaters, who showed no will to do us harm, only offering the sweet Lotus to our friends—"
• D) "we came to the coastline of the Lotus Eaters, who live upon that flower."

According to the text, what is a "ewe"?

• A) A Cow
• B) A Horse
• C) A Sheep
• D) A Pig

Part A Read the following lines from "The Cyclops." My heart beat high now at the chance of action, 290 and drawing the sharp sword from my hip I went along his flank to stab him where the midriff holds the liver. I had touched the spot when sudden fear stayed me: What stopped Odysseus from killing Polyphemus, the Cyclops, after he ate two of Odysseus' shipmates?

• A) The fear of his sword breaking while stabbing the liver stopped Odysseus from killing Polyphemus.
• B) The fear of Polyphemus coming back to haunt him stopped Odysseus from killing Polyphemus.
• C) The realization that he would be punished by Zeus for his transgressions stopped Odysseus from killing Polyphemus.
• D) The realization that he and his crew would be trapped in the cave due to the giant boulder blocking the entrance stopped Odysseus from killing Polyphemus.

Part B Select the evidence from the text that best supports your answer to Part A.

• A) "if I killed him we perished there as well, for we could never move his ponderous doorway slab aside."
• B) "When the young Dawn with fingertips of rose lit up the world, the Cyclops built a fire and milked his handsome ewes, all in due order, putting the sucklings to the mothers."
• C) "but Cyclops went on filling up his belly with manflesh and great gulps of whey, then lay down like a mast among his sheep."
• D) "Then his chores being all dispatched, he caught another brace of men to make his breakfast, and whisked away his great door slab to let his sheep go through"