Q3: Mississippi Solo

Paragraph 10 of the selection contains an allusion to Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s famous poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Which statement best describes the effect of this allusion?

Remember: an allusion is an indirect reference to something well known.

• It shows that the narrator is a lover of classic literature.

• It suggests that the water is more of a danger than the high winds.

• It proves that canoeing is a dangerous activity and should be avoided.

• It emphasizes the perilous nature of the situation the narrator finds himself in.

Read this sentence from paragraph 5.

"Clouds rolled overhead in wild swirls like batter in a bowl."

The simile in this sentence highlights the narrator’s —

• hopefulness

• fear

• truthfulness

• authority

Memoirs are shorter than autobiographies.

• True

• False

Choose the phrase that uses the most precise language to replace the underlined section

in the sentence below.

"If a thunderstorm occurs while you’re canoeing, find safety by quickly moving to some land."

• paddling to the nearest section of

• going to a nearby piece of

• working your way over to

• correct as is

Memoirs include real and fictional characters.

• True

• False

Which statement best explains why the narrator paddles into the trees in paragraph 7?

• He knows it will be easier than trying to reach land.

• He considers it a better option than trying to reach land.

• He needs to find a place to rest before trying to reach land.

• He feels he needs immediate shelter instead of trying to reach land.

What does the simile in paragraph 5, which compares the rainstorm to an avalanche, suggest about the storm?

• It began slowly, and then it strengthened.

• It started quickly and ferociously.

• It went by weakly, and then it died.

• It ended very powerfully and suddenly.

Which sentence from the selection best demonstrates the use of vivid words?

• If you only get sunshine, someone said, you end up in a desert. (paragraph 1)

• The river was talking to me, changing colors from puce to brown to thick, murky green.

  (paragraph 2)

• I could then turn left and find ground to pull out and wait out the storm. (paragraph 6)

• Only the trailing edge was left, a light rain that lasted almost until I reached Natchez.

  (paragraph 12)

Memoirs share a life lesson the author has learned.

• True

• False

How can the reader tell that this selection is written in a conversational tone?

• The author includes details.

• The author includes personal opinions.

• The author includes dialogue.

• The author includes vivid descriptions.