HMH - Unit 1 MC Study Guide

Passage 1: Which word best describes the tone of the first text?

• Analytical and detached

• Emotional and reverent

• Humorous and sarcastic

• Critical and dismissive

Passage 1: Which claim from the passage most likely had the strongest impact on the decision?

• "The American flag served to unify the Thirteen Colonies at home while obtaining recognition of national sovereignty abroad."

• "The first distinctive flag of the Colonies was the 'Grand Union Flag'—with 13 stripes and a British flag in the left corner."

• "The American flag, then, throughout more than 200 years of our history, has come to be the visible symbol embodying our Nation. It does not represent the views of any particular political party, and it does not represent any particular political philosophy."

• "During the War of 1812, British naval forces sailed up Chesapeake Bay and marched overland to sack and burn the city of Washington."

Passage 1: This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.

Part A What claim does the author make?

• The American flag represents a specific political philosophy.

• The American flag symbolizes the unity of the nation over 200 years.

• The American flag was primarily created to avoid mistreatment of American sailors.

• The American flag represents the views of political parties in the United States.

Passage 1: Part B What evidence best supports this claim?

• "The flag served to unify the Thirteen Colonies at home while obtaining recognition of national sovereignty abroad.”

• "Without such a flag, the British could treat captured seamen as pirates and hang them summarily.”

• "The flag is not simply another 'idea' or 'point of view' competing for recognition in the marketplace of ideas."

• "The American flag, then, throughout more than 200 years of our history, has come to be the visible symbol embodying our Nation."

Passage 1: What effect does including the history of the American Flag have on the passage?

• It shows that the flag has always been a divisive political symbol.

• It emphasizes the flag’s role as a powerful national symbol, justifying laws protecting it from desecration.

• It highlights that the flag’s design has changed frequently, weakening its symbolic value.

• It proves that the flag was primarily a military symbol with no relevance in modern times.

Passage 1: Which excerpt indicates a concession, or an agreement with an opposing view, made by the author?

• "The American flag has come to be the visible symbol embodying our Nation."

• "Millions and millions of Americans regard it with an almost mystical reverence, regardless of what sort of social, political, or philosophical beliefs they may have."

• "I cannot agree that the First Amendment invalidates the Act of Congress, and the laws of 48 of the 50 States, which make criminal the public burning of the flag."

• "The flag is not simply another 'idea' or 'point of view' competing for recognition in the marketplace of ideas."

Passage 1: The word "resolve" (Paragraph 3) comes from the Latin root solv- meaning "to loosen" or "to free." In the passage, Congress "resolved" to create a new flag. What does "resolve" most likely mean here?

• To break apart

• To change frequently

• To decide firmly

• To debate endlessly

Passage 1: Which sentence best demonstrates how the author appeals to the emotions of the reader?

• "The American flag has come to be the visible symbol embodying our Nation."

• "Francis Scott Key, a Washington lawyer, had been granted permission by the British to board one of their warships to negotiate the release of an American who had been taken prisoner."

• "Millions and millions of Americans regard it with an almost mystical reverence, regardless of what sort of social, political, or philosophical beliefs they may have."

• "The lowering of the American flag at Fort Sumter was viewed as the start of the war."

Passage 1: Drawing on your own experiences and reading, how does the opinion address the principles of unity? Provide evidence from the text.

Passage 2: This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.

Part A: What can be inferred about the historical context of the text?

• The Supreme Court was primarily focused on protecting the American flag as a national symbol.

• The decision reflected a growing recognition of individual rights and free speech in American society during a time of political protest.

• The ruling suggested that the government had the right to enforce strict regulations on public expressions of dissent.

• The Court aimed to limit the influence of political movements that challenged the status quo in America.