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WorksheetsVoices and Viewpoints
Total questions: 40
Worksheet time: 10hrs 0mins
Read this excerpt from Langston Hughes's "The Negro Speaks of Rivers":
I've known rivers:
I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
Which type of poem is this work?
a lyric poem
a free verse poem
a narrative poem
a concrete poem
What is the primary motivation of a media piece about the dangers of drunk driving?
to increase awareness of a major social issue that puts people in danger
to encourage people to take political action against companies that produce alcohol
to promote the commercial interests of car manufacturers
to entertain people with a tense true story about loss
Read the excerpt from MLK, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech:
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic
shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation.This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
What is the allusion in this excerpt?
Dr. King alludes to Lincoln's freeing of the slaves.
Dr. King alludes to America as a land of equal opportunity.
Dr. King alludes to the Founding Fathers and America's core values.
Dr. King alludes to the recent achievements of the civil rights movement.
Read the stanza from "The Rainy Day":
My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the mouldering Past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,
And the days are dark and dreary.
How does the structure of "The Rainy Day" affect the poem?
The rhyme and meter are both simple and rhythmic helping the speaker communicate that life can be bleak and dull.
The rhyme and meter are both lighthearted and bouncy, helping the speaker communicate that life shouldn't be taken too seriously.
The rhyme and meter are jazzy and uneven, helping the speaker communicate the unpredictably of life.
The rhyme and meter are harsh and sharp, helping the speaker communicate his severe emotional pain.
Read this stanza from "The Rainy Day":
My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the mouldering Past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,
And the days are dark and dreary.
What does the word mouldering mean in this stanza?
decaying
growing
impressive
confusing
Read these lines from "Invictus."
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
What does the phrase "the Horror of the shade" mean?
the monstrosity of failure
the misery of death
the evil of defeat
the torment of regret
What is the purpose of this media piece?
to persuade the viewer to join the navy
to convince the reader to see the world
to convince the American public that the navy is a good institution
to demonstrate that everyone who joins the navy also loves to travel
The speaker in "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" uses the I pronoun.
The speaker in "We Real Cool" uses the we pronoun.
Which statement is accurate?
Both poems, despite their different points of view, speak for an entire race.
"The Negro Speaks of Rivers" is deeply personal; "We Real Cool" speaks for a group.
Both poems, despite their different points of view, are about one specific person.
"The Negro Speaks of Rivers" speaks for a group; "We Real Cool" reflects on the poet's own youth.
Read the passage from Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address."
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
What does Lincoln point out about the founding of the United States?
It happened a long time ago.
The United States was originally ruled by Britain.
The nation was founded upon very specific ideals.
The founding of the nation was marked by great truggle and strife.
In "The Gettysburg Address," President Lincoln argues that all those who have come to Gettysburg to dedicate the cemetery there cannot "consecrate" or "hallow" the ground. That is, neither he nor anyone else can confer honor upon this place.
Is Lincoln's reasoning in support of this argument sound?
Yes, because he then notes that the courageous sacrifices of those who died there have already made Gettysburg a place of honor and solemn respect.
Yes, because he points out that to make Gettysburg an honored place would be to celebrate the awful violence and destruction of war.
No, because he ultimately asserts that his speech remembering those who died at Gettysburg will turn the battlefield into a shrine.
No, because he later states that Gettysburg was already viewed as a sanctified or holy place long before the battle was fought there.
Read this excerpt from "The Gettysburg Address."
...that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom.
What is the purpose of this passage?
to persuade the audience to fight for freedom and the United States
to entertain the audience with an inspiring story
to inform the audience about America's past struggles
to shame the audience for their refusal to grant civil rights
I'm an advocate for the ____ treatment of animals.
Which word Best completes the sentence?
deplore
humane
spontaneous
legendary
Why does Lincoln decide to make the "Gettysburg Address" so brief?
He wants the speech to be shocking.
He wants to prove his expertise on the subject.
He wants to speech to be memorable.
He wants to sound like an ordinary person.
Read this line from Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson's "Memorial Day" speech.
We do not answer him ---- we do not answer those who lie beneath this soil --- when we reply to the Negro by asking, "Patience."
What does Johnson claim the African American is asking for, and how do we answer him?
He asks for equal rights, and we refuse to grant them.
He asks for justice, and we tell him to give us more time.
He asks for us to remember Gettysburg, and we answer with empty speeches.
He asks for peace, and we tell him it's already been granted.
Which viewpoint is Dr. Kind expressing in this line from his "I Have a Dream" speech?
Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.
African Americans must do whatever it takes to get what they deserve.
Those who deny the rights of others do not deserve those rights themselves.
African Americans should not try to achieve a positive goal through negative means.
It is not for him to decide how other people ought to behave.
Which viewpoint does Dr. King express in his "I Have a Dream" speech?
The American government must pay for the sins of slavery.
America has not yet lived up to its promise of equality for all.
Individual freedoms are less important than societal security.
There will never be justice and freedom for all people in America.
Read the excerpt from Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech.
Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.
What are the "majestic heights" Dr. King is referring to?
peaceful protest
heaven
physical aggression
thoughtful reflection
Jeremy is writing a research paper about scientific efforts to find life in the universe.
Which search term will provide the most useful results?
"Andromeda galaxy"
"the quest to find alien life"
"different types of starts"
"recent discoveries of planets that could sustain life"
Review the scenario.
Jeremy reads, "Lethal injection was supposed to be the humane alternative to firing squads and hangings used for capital punishment." Based on the sentence, Jeremy thinks the word humane means "less painful."
Use a thesaurus to determine the most common meaning.
Consult a dictionary, review each definition, and determine which definition makes sense in context.
Go to the library and check out a book on humane.
Create an online survey to see how most people use this term.
A huge, oversized shirt on such a small child only ______ her even more.
Which word best completes the sentence?
enhances
softens
contributes to
diminishes
Read this stanza from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "The Rainy Day":
The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the mouldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.
Which type of poem is this work?
a free verse poem
a lyric poem
an abstract poem
a narrative poem
What is the primary motivation of a media piece informing teenagers about the dangers of smoking?
to increase awareness about a social issue that leads to health problems.
to promote the commercial interests of cigarette manufacturers.
to encourage people to support a law against smoking.
to entertain people with a sad true story of addiction.
Read this excerpt from "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" by Langston Hughes.
I've known rivers:
I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.
What is the allusion in this excerpt?
The speaker alludes to rivers from his childhood.
The speaker alludes to the bloodshed from the Civil War.
The speaker alludes to the survival of his people.
The speaker alludes to rivers as old as civilization itself.
Read the stanza from "Invictus."
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
How does the structure of "Invictus" affect the poem?
The rhyme and meter are somber and military- like, communicating the speaker's determination to reach his goals.
The rhyme and meter are bouncy and light, communicating the speaker's decision to ignore those who criticize him.
The rhyme and meter are halting and uneven, helping the speaker communicate his fear of the future.
The rhyme and meter are harsh and sharp, helping the speaker communicate his severe emotional pain.
Read this stanza from "Invictus":
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
What does the word bludgeonings mean in this stanza?
deceptions
beatings
opportunities
victories
Read these lines from "The Rainy Day."
Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.
What does the phrase "Into each life some rain must fall" mean?
It is foolish to be unhappy.
All lives eventually come to an end.
Sometimes it's good to be unhappy.
Everyone faces times of unhappiness.
Which statement most accurately describes the purpose of this media piece?
to introduce the audience to a patriotic company
to persuade the viewer to shop at Strauss because it's a strong and growing company, like America
to advertise Strauss as a high-quality company
to divert the audience's attention from an economic crisis in America
The speaker in "Invictus" asserts that "the menace of the years/Finds and shall find me unafraid."
The speaker in "A Rainy Day" reminds himself that "Into each life some rain must fall."
Based on their language, what are the speakers in both "The Rainy Day" and "Invictus" struggling to maintain?
financial advantage
a hopeful spirit
the love of a good woman
discouragement and despair
What argument does Lincoln make about the Civil War in "The Gettysburg Address"?
He asserts that the war happened a long time ago, but it is worth remembering.
He insists that the war should never have been fought, and he blames the south for starting it.
He claims that the war is about the ideals of the nation, and whether a country founded on those ideals can survive.
He states that the war, though filled with great struggle and strife, is a positive experience that will make the nation stronger.
In his remarks at Gettysburg, Vice President Johnson argues that it is wrong to believe that racism in America is a problem that will be solved simply by the passage of time.
Is Johnson's reasoning in support of this argument sound?
Yes, because he rightly notes that 100 years have passed since slavery ended, and African Americans are still waiting for equality.
Yes, because he correctly points out that African Americans are treated worse in 1963 than they were in 1863.
No, because he then describes the great progress that has been made toward equality since the end of the Civil War.
No, because elsewhere in the speech he asserts his own belief that time heals all wounds.
Read this excerpt from "The Gettysburg Address."
...we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish form the earth.
Why does Lincoln allude to the Declaration of Independence here?
to demonstrate his disgust that more soldiers will die bloody deaths on the battlefield
to express hope that the current government will be reformed
to covey his pessimistic view that the Civil War will never end
to insist that America will not forget its dedication to the ideals of freedom
His skill in battle made him a _______ warrior.
Which word best completes the sentence?
legendary
articulate
emphasis
spontaneous
Why does Lincoln use the first-person plural mode of address in "The Gettysburg Address"?
because he is speaking to a large group of people
because he hopes to create the feeling that everyone in attendance is aligned and united
because he wants to emphasize ho is responsible for the desperate state of the nation
because he wants to inspire his audience and motivate them to take action
Read this line from Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson's "Memorial Day" speech.
But to fail to ask of him - and of all Americans - perseverance within the processes of a free and responsible society would be to fail to ask what the national interest requires of all its citizens.
What claim is Johnson arguing in this excerpt?
He's asking white Americans to fight harder on behalf of African Americans.
He's pointing out that the fight for equal rights is the work of all citizens in a free society.
He's accusing white Americans of not asking the right questions.
He's saying that white Americans should encourage African Americans to fight harder.
Read this passage from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.
I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations, Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.
Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.
Which viewpoint does Dr. King express in this passage?
Comfort can be found in religion and prayer.
It's time to take arms and violently overthrow the forces of persecution.
The battle for freedom and justice has been won.
Good people must return home and continue the struggle for civil rights.
Which viewpoint does Dr. King express in his "I Have a Dream" speech?
African Americans should exact revenge on those who have oppressed them.
African Americans must have the same civil rights as white Americans
African Americans face worse inequality now than they did during slavery.
African Americans should separate themselves from white Americans.
Read the excerpt from Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech.
In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds.
What are the "wrongful deeds" Dr. King is referring to?
peaceful protest
reasoning on religious grounds
Physical aggression
thoughtful reflection
Carmen is writing a research paper about school uniforms.
Which search term will provide the most useful results?
"school uniforms"
"Massachusetts public school system"
"controversial issues in schools"
"arguments against mandatory school uniforms"
Read the scenario.
Khianna reads, "Germany under Adolf Hitler, Italy under Mussolini, and Spain under Franco were all fascist states."
Based on the sentence, Khianna thinks that fascism?
Consult a dictionary, review each definition, and determine which definition makes sense in context.
go to the library and check out a book on fascism
Create an online survey to see how most people use this term.
Use a thesaurus to determine the most common meaning.
The _______ water made me hesitate to take my tiny canoe down the river.
Which word best completes the sentence?
turbulent
spontaneous
deplorable
enhanced
