Practice test 1-6

Select the sentence from paragraph 2 that shows that William is more aware of situations than others think he is.

“William sat on the other side of the table reading his farm paper. If he had noticed his wife’s agitation, his calm, clean-shaven face betrayed no sign of concern. He must have noticed the sarcastic turn of her remarks at the supper table, and he must have noticed the moody silence of the older boys as they ate. When supper was but half over little Billy, the youngest, had suddenly pushed back his plate and slipped away from the table, manfully trying to swallow a sob. But William Tavener never heeded ominous forecasts in the domestic horizon, and he never looked for a storm until it broke.” (paragraph 2)

• “William sat on the other side of the table reading his farm paper. If he had noticed his wife’s agitation, his calm, clean-shaven face betrayed no sign of concern.

• He must have noticed the sarcastic turn of her remarks at the supper table, and he must have noticed the moody silence of the older boys as they ate.

• When supper was but half over little Billy, the youngest, had suddenly pushed back his plate and slipped away from the table, manfully trying to swallow a sob

• But William Tavener never heeded ominous forecasts in the domestic horizon, and he never looked for a storm until it broke.”

Read this paragraph from the passage.

5. 5. William continued to read his farm paper, but it was not Hester’s custom to wait for an answer. She usually divined his arguments and assailed them one by one before he uttered them.

What is the meaning of assailed as it is used in the passage?

• explained

• fought

• ignored

• understood

Read these sentences from the passage.

“I mind they had an elephant and six poll parrots, an’ a Rocky Mountain lion, an’ a cage of monkeys, an’ two camels. My! but they were a sight to me then!” (paragraph 9)

How does this memory from Hester’s childhood affect the mood in this section?

• by describing how wondrous the circus was

• by describing the circus as a confusing experience

• by revealing that Hester longs to go back to the circus again

• by showing that Hester regrets not having appreciated the circus

How does the last paragraph of the passage reveal Hester’s internal conflict?

• It suggests that Hester no longer believes the good things others say about her

• It shows a difference between how others see Hester and what she is really like

• It raises the question of whether Hester will still be concerned about the family business

• It implies that Hester has regrets about neglecting a relationship that is important to her

How does using an omniscient narrator develop irony in the passage?

• by foreshadowing William's participation in the conversation

• by revealing how William and Hester have changed over time

• by showing what other people think about William and Hester

• by implying that William's memories of the circus are incomplete

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

Part A

How does the author develop the theme that habits and routine can cause people to take each other for granted?

• by showing how Hester stands up for her children

• be recalling William's experience at the circus as a child

• by describing how Hester and William's relationship has changed

• by explaining why Hester and William are interested in the circus

Part B

Which detail from the passage shows how the author develops the theme from Part A?

• Why, you couldn’t have been much bigger’n our Billy then. . . .”

  (paragraph 15)

• "No debtor ever haggled with his usurer more doggedly than did Hester with her husband in behalf of her sons."

  (paragraph 20)

• "The strategic contest had gone on so long that it had almost crowded out the memory of a closer relationship. "

  (paragraph 20)

• “Tell the boys not to stay late, an’ not to drive the horses hard,” he said quietly, and went off to bed."

  (paragraph 22)