MC Passages

Read the sentence from paragraph 1.

Unfortunately he had none of his father’s physical repose, and his strength often asserted itself inharmoniously.

What does the phrase asserted itself mean in this sentence?

• lost motivation

• promised to act

• became obvious

• failed to return

Read the sentences from the excerpt.

The general signal for breakfast was the smell of doughnuts frying. This morning Ralph rolled out of bed at the last minute and callously put on his clean underwear without taking a bath. This cost him not one regret, though he took time to polish his new oxblood shoes tenderly with a pocket handkerchief.

Which words from the context of the sentences BEST help the reader to know the meaning of callously.

• The general signal for breakfast

• This morning Ralph rolled out of bed

• cost him not one regret

• polish his new oxblood shoes

Read the sentences from paragraph 7.

“Mahailey and I will never be quite up-to-date, Ralph. We’re old-fashioned, and I don’t know but you’d better let us be.”

Which idea is conveyed through the sentences?

• People often resist change.

• Some people enjoy hard work.

• One must be persistent to be persuasive.

• Advances in technology yield positive results.

Read the sentence from paragraph 1.

He especially hated his head,—so big that he had trouble in buying his hats, and uncompromisingly square in shape; a perfect block-head.

Which word is closest in meaning to uncompromisingly as it is used in the sentence?

• solid

• deceptively

• painfully

• distractingly

Which word BEST describes Claude?

• hard working

• imaginative

• obedient

• restless

Which sentence from the excerpt BEST supports the idea that Claude is hard working?

• “The next morning Claude was standing at his dresser, shaving.”

• “Ralph lifted his eyebrows to excuse Claude’s bluntness.”

• C. “Claude told his mother to go upstairs and dress; he would scald the separator while Ralph got the car ready."

• “Nearly every time Claude went into the cellar, he made a desperate resolve to clear the place out some day, reflecting bitterly that the money this wreckage cost would have put a boy through college decently.”

Which character does the author develop that MOST strongly represents the theme of the inevitability of modernization.

• Mahailey, because Mrs. Wheeler suspects she will have trouble using the separator

• Ralph, because he consistently introduces new types of technology to the household

• Claude, because he feels annoyed by the mechanical toys that Ralph leaves around the house

• Mrs. Wheeler, because she feels enthusiastic about using new gadgets Mahailey does not understand

How does the author’s choice to include paragraph 19 contribute to the meaning of the excerpt?

• by suggesting why Mrs. Wheeler is much less considerate of Ralph’s feelings than she is of Claude’s

• by showing how Claude feels overwhelmed and frustrated by reminders of Ralph’s wastefulness

• by offering information about Ralph’s plans to use the items in the cellar to improve the family’s quality of life

• by introducing a conflict that exists between Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler regarding Ralph and his collection of objects

Read the paragraph from the excerpt.

“You really oughtn’t to load mother up with things like this, Ralph,” he exclaimed fretfully. “Did you ever try washing this ... thing yourself?”

Based on the paragraph, what does the underlined phrase mean?

• force mother to carry heavy items

• shower mother with enjoyable gifts

• help mother finish her chores quicker

• give mother more than she can handle

Read the sentences.

As an avid runner, I cannot imagine how I would successfully cope with life’s challenges if I were not able to go running. Going running helps me to clear my mind of stressful thoughts.

What is the BEST way to combine the sentences to maintain their detail while avoiding repetition?

• Clearing my mind of stressful thoughts, I cannot imagine how I would successfully cope with life’s challenges if I were not able to go running, since I am an avid runner.

• Going running helps me to clear my mind of stressful thoughts as an avid runner, so I cannot imagine how I would successfully cope with life’s challenges if I were not able to go running.

• As an avid runner, I cannot imagine how I would successfully cope with life’s challenges without going running, which helps me clear my mind of stressful thoughts.

• As an avid runner, I cannot imagine how I would successfully cope with life’s challenges if I were not able to go running because going running helps me to clear my mind of stressful thoughts.