The Three Golden Apples and Weight

Read the sentence from Passage 1.

"And besides, I have no fancy for burdening myself with the sky, just now."

What is the meaning of the word fancy as it is used in the paragraph?

• ability

• desire

• experience

• fear

Read the excerpt from Passage 1.

"'We will see about that, one of these days,' answered the giant. 'At all events, you ought not to complain, if you have to bear it the next hundred years, or perhaps the next thousand. I bore it is a good while longer, in spire of the back-ache.'"

What does this excerpt reveal about Atlas?

• He is encouraged by Hercules's struggle

• He dismisses Hercules's attempts at trickery.

• He resents the fact that he has held the sky for so long

• He thinks that Hercules is more deserving of punishment.

Read the sentence from Passage 1.

"Ah, the thick-witted old rogue of a giant!"

What is the meaning of the phrase thick-witted as it is used in this sentence?

• difficult to deceive

• slow to understand

• admirable and kind

• young and inexperienced

Which sentence from Passage 1 shows why Atlas offers to take the apples to the king?

• "I took the finest that grew on the tree, I assure you."

• "You are certainly a very strong man, and can never have a better opportunity to prove it."

• "That's no more than fair, and I'll do it!"

• "I have no idea of spending another thousand years as I spent the last."

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

What is a theme in Passage 1?

• Opportunities can be missed if one avoids a challenge.

• Pursuing selfish interests can cause others hardship.

• Teamwork makes it easier to overcome difficulties.

• Being helpful to others can be its own reward.

Part B: Which sentence from the passage supports the theme of pursuing selfish interests can cause others hardship?

• "'Yes, and the dragon with a hundred heads is a sight worth any man's seeing.'"

• "'And now, as I have a long way to go, and am rather in haste,'and as the king, my cousin, is anxious to receive the golden apples-will you be kind enough to take the sky off my shoulders again?'"

• "'Well then, after a thousand years, if I happen to feel in the mood, we may possibly shift about again.'"

• "He threw down the golden apples, and received back the sky, fron the head and shoulders of Hercules upon his own, where it rightly belonged."

Read the sentence from Passage 2.

'Since you ask, I'd like a pad for my head-take the weight off.'

How does this dialogue lead to Atlas's decision to take the universe from Hercules?

• Atlas feels ashamed of tricking Hercules and agrees to take back the weight

• Atlas relates with Hercules's hardships and wants to help him relieve his suffering.

• Atlas finds Hercules is willing to hold up the sky and decides to exchange duties.

• Atlas realizes he is responsible for Hercules's suffering and yields to his punishment.

Read the sentence from Passage 2.

"Slowly, so as not to spill one drop of milk, Atlas lowered the Kosmos back onto his shoulders, and bent himself under the burden."

How does the author's use of the phrase "so as not to spill one drop of milk" affect the story?

• It reveals Atlas's defiance.

• It exaggerates Atlas's timid nature.

• It illustrates Atlas's devotion to the universe.

• It shows Atlas's misunderstanding of the situation.

This question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then answer part B.

How has Atlas's character in Passage 2 been transformed from the way it is portrayed in Passage 1?

• In Passage 2, Atlas has lost whatever respect he had for Hercules in Passage 1.

• In Passage 2, Atlas has a stronger sense of duty and responsibility than in Passage 1.

• In Passage 2, Atlas is stronger and more physically impressive than he is in Passage 1.

• In Passage 2, Atlas has been supporting the universe for a longer time than in Passage 1.

Part B: Select the detail from Passage 2 that support the statement that in Passage 2, Atlas has a stronger sense of duty and responsibility than in Passage 1?

• "You aren't getting tired are you?' said Atlas."

• "If he made a fuss, Atlas could just walk away."

• "Unsuspecting Atlas nodded and bent down to put the apples on the floor of the universe. Then with a light flick he spun the Kosmos off Hercules and held it down over his head."

• "He would gladly have dashed the world to pieces if that would have freed him. He saw now that Atlas could do just that, but did not, and he respected him but would not help him."