The principal qualities in Stepan Arkadyevitch which had gained him this universal respect in the service consisted, in the first place, of his extreme indulgence for others, founded on a consciousness of his own shortcomings; secondly, of his perfect liberalism—not the liberalism he read of in the papers, but the liberalism that was in his blood, in virtue of which he treated all men perfectly equally and exactly the same, whatever their fortune or calling might be; and thirdly—the most important point—his complete indifference to the business in which he was engaged, in consequence of which he was never carried away, and never made mistakes.

In the selection, the use of the word liberalism to describe Stephan's interactions with others is meant to convey what about his character?

On reaching the offices of the board, Stepan Arkadyevitch, escorted by a deferential porter with a portfolio, went into his little private room, put on his uniform, and went into the boardroom. The clerks and copyists all rose, greeting him with good-humored deference. Stepan Arkadyevitch moved quickly, as ever, to his place, shook hands with his colleagues, and sat down. He made a joke or two, and talked just as much as was consistent with due decorum, and began work. No one knew better than Stepan Arkadyevitch how to hit on the exact line between freedom, simplicity, and official stiffness necessary for the agreeable conduct of business.

Based on paragraph 5, what does the author mean when he uses the word decorum?

That portion of the earth’s surface known as “the Big Bend” has often been described as a “geologist’s paradise.” In part this is due to the sparse vegetation of the region, which allows the various strata to be easily observed and studied. It is also due to the complex geologic history of the area, presenting a challenge to students and researchers from all over the world. Not all field geologists, however, refer to the Big Bend as a paradise. For some, this land of twisted, tortured rock is a nightmare.

What is the effect of the metaphors in the sentences below from paragraph 2?

What is the synonym that best reflects the meaning of the word alien as used in line 17?

"Here in this alien crowd I walk apart"

How does the use of personification in the first paragraph help develop the setting?

"Towards evening the storm was at its height. From the terrific downpour of rain, the crash of thunder, and the repeated flashes of lightning, you might think that a battle was raging in the skies. Black clouds waved like the Flags of Doom. The Ganges was lashed into a fury, and the trees of the gardens on either bank swayed from side to side with sighs and groans."

What is the meaning of the simile in the sentence below?

"Like a rudderless boat, the discussion kept turning round and round the same point; and at last it threatened to be overwhelmed in a flood of tears."

Which literary device is used in this sentence?

"She is fishing in troubled water."

if an author has no opinion regarding the story they are telling, their tone can be described as

Weather reporters have to give out a lot of information. That's why they use pictures. The pictures help them tell us about the weather without using so many words. Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is. They need to know where the warm air is. They have to know where it is raining and what types of clouds are in the area. Their reports need to be correct, but they also need to be short. The pictures help weather reporters get the information out in a fast way.

Which sentence best describes the central idea of the paragraph?

Kevin's interest in model cars has turned into a hobby. If you change the word hobby to obsession, the word now has a _____ connotation.

True or false, setting is important when determining mood.

Which is the BEST central idea of the last THINK CERCA ("Latino, Black, and Middle Eastern Immigrants Portrayed as Criminals on TV")

A possible theme for the THINK CERCA on "Latino, Black, and Middle Eastern Immigrants Being Portrayed as Criminals on TV," might be BEST described as:

What inference can we make based on the following quote from the first THINK CERCA article, "Popular culture can help to bring us together, or it can further drive us apart."

"Language is a road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from & where they are going." Is an example of:

"I hain't got no money... It's a lie. Judge Thatcher's got it. You git it. I want it... I hain't got no money..." Is an example of:

What is the meat of your MEAEAL paragraph? *It is where you show your original thinking.

Match the definition with the correct term:

"Experiencing worry, unease, or nervousness, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome"

“Well now, one winter it was so cold that all the geese flew backward and all the fish moved south and even the snow turned blue. Late at night, it got so frigid that all spoken words froze solid afore they could be heard. People had to wait until sunup to find out what folks were talking about the night before."

"The rise in poverty will unlock the Pandora’s box of crimes."

When pulling quotes that show different attributes and motivations of a character in a story, one must analyze each quote by answering the following question(s):

This image is an example of a(n):

“Don’t act like a Romeo in front of her.”

What are the types of context clues you can use to determine meaning and impact of a phrase or word? Select all that apply.

No matter where you go, the Internet is following you. Almost every portable device is being made with an Internet connection. Most new TVs and many other appliances come with Internet connections as well. The Internet is truly ubiquitous. If something is ubiquitous, __________.

Wherever he goes, the esteemed Dr. Sanchez is applauded for his life saving research. What does “esteemed” mean?

The election could actually end up being decided in the U.S. Congress. Al Gore’s vice presidential running mate, Joe Lieberman, and perhaps Mr. Gore himself, would be able to vote on the matter. Some would argue that they should recuse themselves, but they would probably exercise their right to vote. What does “recuse” mean?