Paired Passage STAAR Practice

20. #22 How do the events described in paragraphs 1 and 2 contribute to the plot of the excerpt from “The City Lost in the Snow”?

• 1. A. They establish the snowfall as a rare, almost magical happening.

• B. They introduce the confusion Marcovaldo feels throughout

  the story.

• C. They provide a sense of approaching danger to Marcovaldo and his neighbors.

• D. They suggest that the storm has created a unique, unfathomable mystery.

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#23 How does the setting of “an industrial city of northern Italy” affect the plot in the excerpt from “The City Lost in the Snow”?

• A. The shipping department workplace suggests Marcovaldo feels confident that his position at work will improve.

• B. The snow-covered city on Marcovaldo’s walk to work inspires him to imagine a life without restrictions.

• C. The deserted city streets emphasize the reason Marcovaldo must walk slowly on his way to work.

• D. The hidden Italian streets convey the importance of Marcovaldo’s job to clear the snow from the sidewalks.

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#25 How does the language the author uses in paragraph 4 contribute to the mood in the excerpt from “The City Lost in the Snow”?

• A. It creates empathy for people who walk to work.

• B. It suggests hope that there will be progress for the worker.

• C. It emphasizes the sense of fantasy that ends abruptly.

• D. It reveals a feeling of warmth that contrasts with the cold outside.

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#26 What does the use of alliteration in lines 1 through 9 of the poem “London Snow” convey to the reader?

• A. The soothing lull of the falling snow

• B. The shadowy gloom of the endless snow at night

• C. The dangers hidden by the thick snow

• D. The exciting thrill of watching the snow fall

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#27 Read lines 15 and 16 of the poem “London Snow.”

The eye marvelled—marvelled at the dazzling whiteness; The ear hearkened to the stillness of the solemn air;

How does the figurative language in these lines reveal the speaker’s attitude toward the snow?

• A. By suggesting that human productivity is hampered by the unexpected weather

• B. By conveying how the sight of snow is more appealing than the void of sound

• C. By describing how the individual senses are affected by dramatic changes in nature

• D. By showing that the newly fallen snow conceals the bleakness of everyday life

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#29 How does the language in paragraphs 1 and 2 of the excerpt from “The City Lost in the Snow” DIFFER from the language in lines 1 through 9 of the poem “London Snow”?

• A. The language in the excerpt emphasizes the surprise of a character, while the language in the poem suggests the sadness of the speaker.

• B. The language in the excerpt conveys the fear of a character, while the language in the poem reveals the excitement of the speaker.

• C. The language in the excerpt conveys the enthusiasm of a character, while the language in the poem reveals the calmness of the speaker.

• D. The language in the excerpt emphasizes the objectivity of a character, while the language in the poem suggests the bias of the speaker.

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#30 Which sentence best expresses a SIMILARITY between the excerpt from “The City Lost in the Snow” and the poem “London Snow”?

• A. Newly fallen snow can bring a welcome change to everyday life.

• B. Forces in nature can be hostile and compel people to work harder.

• C. Nature constantly reminds people that progress is only an illusion.

• D. Heavy snowfall isolates people from one another.

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

Part A

Read these quotations from the excerpt from “The City Lost in the Snow” and the poem “London Snow.”

He opened the window: the city was gone; it had been replaced by a white sheet of paper. (paragraph 1 of “The City Lost in the Snow”)

Hiding difference, making unevenness even,

(line 8 of “London Snow”)

What does the imagery in BOTH quotations suggest?

• A. A heavy snowfall affects everyone in a city equally.

• B. A heavy snowfall can be destructive to city landmarks.

• C. A heavy snowfall can transform the appearance of a city.

• D. A heavy snowfall provides opportunities to everyone in a city.

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#31

Part B

Which line from the poem “London Snow” supports the answer to Part A?

• A. Deadening, muffling, stifling its murmurs failing; (line 5)

• B. Silently sifting and veiling road, roof and railing; (line 7)

• C. It lay in the depth of its uncompacted lightness, (line 11)

• D. But even for them awhile no cares encumber (line 34)

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#32 What is the DIFFERENCE in the way the newly fallen snow affects the working men in the excerpt from “The City Lost in the Snow” and the working men in the poem “London Snow”?

• A. While the laborers in the excerpt compete for scarce jobs shoveling the snow, the laborers in the poem feel that the snow has made their work much harder.

• B. While the laborers in the excerpt feel overwhelmed by the increased workload due to the snow, the laborers in the poem trudge through the snow without noticing it.

• C. While the laborers in the excerpt worry about the monumental task of shoveling the snow, the laborers in the poem think of the snow as a part of their daily struggles.

• D. While the laborers in the excerpt appreciate opportunities brought by the snow, the laborers in the poem find the snow a short distraction from the drudgery of their day.

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