WorksheetsUnit 2 Part I Test
Total questions: 5
Worksheet time: 1hrs 5mins
Excerpt from Romeo and Juliet
by William Shakespeare
Act III, Scene III
ROMEO: 'Tis torture, and not mercy: heaven is here,
Where Juliet lives; and every cat and dog
And little mouse, every unworthy thing,
Live here in heaven and may look on her;
But Romeo may not: more validity,
More honorable state, more courtship lives
In carrion-flies than Romeo—they may seize
On the white wonder of dear Juliet’s hand
And steal immortal blessing from her lips,
Who, even in pure and vestal modesty,
Still blush, as thinking their own kisses sin;
But Romeo may not; he is banished.
Flies may do this but I from this must fly:
They are free men but I am banished.
And sayst thou yet that exile is not death?
Hadst thou no poison mix’d, no sharp-ground knife,
No sudden mean of death, though ne’er so mean,
But “banished” to kill me? “Banished!”
O Friar, the damned use that word in hell,
Howlings attend it. How hast thou the heart,
Being a divine, a ghostly confessor,
A sin-absolver and my friend profess’d,
To mangle me with that word “banished”?
Which statement best summarizes this soliloquy from Romeo and Juliet?
Romeo rages against Friar Lawrence for the Friar's role in banishing him and separating him from Juliet.
Romeo expresses regret and guilt about the fact that his actions have led to him being banished and separated from Juliet.
Romeo pleads with Friar Lawrence to change his mind about banishing him and separating him from Juliet.
Romeo expresses his grief by insisting that banishment and separation from Juliet is a fate worse than death.
Part A:
Read the excerpt from Romeo and Juliet.
'Tis torture, and not mercy: heaven is here,
Where Juliet lives; and every cat and dog
And little mouse, every unworthy thing,
Live here in heaven and may look on her;
In this excerpt, Romeo compares where Juliet lives to heaven in order to
illustrate how pure and innocent Juliet is.
appeal to Friar Lawrence’s sense of duty as a man of God.
contrast it with the fate to which he has just been condemned.
demonstrate the remorse he feels for the crime he has just committed.
Part B:
Which line from Romeo and Juliet best supports the answer to Part A?
Who, even in pure and vestal modesty,
Still blush, as thinking their own kisses sin;
And sayst thou yet that exile is not death?
Hadst thou no poison mix’d, no sharp-ground knife,
“Banished!”
O Friar, the damned use that word in hell,
Howlings attend it.
Being a divine, a ghostly confessor,
A sin-absolver and my friend profess’d,
Read the excerpt from Romeo and Juliet.
But Romeo may not: more validity,
More honorable state, more courtship lives
In carrion-flies than Romeo—they may seize
On the white wonder of dear Juliet’s hand
And steal immortal blessing from her lips,
Who, even in pure and vestal modesty,
Still blush, as thinking their own kisses sin;
But Romeo may not; he is banished.
Flies may do this but I from this must fly:
They are free men but I am banished.
And sayst thou yet that exile is not death?
The repetition of the word but serves to
illustrate Romeo's plans after he is forced to leave.
emphasize that Romeo will not be able to be near Juliet.
show that Romeo believes that Juliet is purer than he is.
demonstrate Romeo's fear of death as a result of his punishment.
Read the excerpt from Romeo and Juliet.
Hadst thou no poison mix’d, no sharp-ground knife,
No sudden mean of death, though ne’er so mean,
But “banished” to kill me? “Banished!”
O Friar, the damned use that word in hell,
Howlings attend it. How hast thou the heart,
Being a divine, a ghostly confessor,
A sin-absolver and my friend profess’d,
To mangle me with that word “banished”?
What effect does placing the word “banished” in quotation marks have on the overall tone of the passage?
It illustrates Romeo’s overwhelming sense of injustice.
It suggests that Romeo is calmly resigned to his fate.
It adds a sense of seriousness to Romeo’s speech.
It demonstrates that Romeo is confused by the word.
Excerpt from “William Shakespeare’s Relevance in Today’s Society Is Changing”
by Douglas Bruster
Looking back, the past four centuries have been good to Shakespeare. School children can no more avoid his plays than a trip to the dentist both of which are supposed to be good for them, although stressful in different ways. Shakespearean playhouses have been reconstructed around the world, making it easy to see his dramas performed in complementary settings.
For those wishing to access his writings in other ways, there are not only countless printed editions, but also versions available on smartphones and tablets.
Shakespeare was a star of the movies almost from the time that movies began, so it is no surprise that he has made it into 21st century forms of culture. This is a man, after all, who helped define our sense of culture in the first place. Small wonder that he seems a monument able to withstand the passing years.
In his 55th sonnet, Shakespeare suggested that his writings could last when other things wouldn’t. His “powerful rhyme” would be eternal. But he also realizes, in this poem, that everything changes. Things like “marble,” “the gilded monuments of princes” and “statues” will all go away, ruined by history’s indifferent hand. Everything decays, and only the “living record” of writing would have the chance to cheat time.
As Renaissance led to Enlightenment, Industrial Revolution to the Digital Age, computers have changed our lives in ways that Shakespeare could not have imagined. What he did imagine was time changing everything, something that has come true for his writing.
As our language changes, older forms of English become more difficult. And words themselves are harder, as glowing screens and convenient apps make the visual image, and having things done for us, the norm rather than the exception.
This is why Shakespeare’s place will be increasingly hard to defend. It is pleasant to think that he will remain central to our culture. But the high-water mark of his influence has already passed. It lasted for just a century, between 1870 and 1970.
Since that time, his works have declined in relative popularity, not leveled by the hand of time, but increasingly subject to it. People know his reputation more than his words. Shakespeare will always be with us, of course, but eventually he will be what Geoffrey Chaucer has become: a brilliant author whose works can be read intelligently in the original by few people.
This is regrettable, for Shakespeare seems like one thing that we shouldn’t have to give up in order to have our electronic conveniences. He wrote the most eloquent version of the code we call human character. But he is the most anti-digital of authors. His complexity and richness ask for exceptional literacy, concentration and quiet, things not typically associated with the Computer Age.
Shakespeare’s 450th birthday comes in a brave new world. May his writings live to see his 500th.
Part A:
The primary purpose of “William Shakespeare’s Relevance in Today’s Society is Changing” is to
explain that Shakespeare’s works are inescapable, as his influence on modern culture is widespread and profound.
illustrate that Shakespeare’s works are too difficult for the majority of people to understand, as they contain dated language.
show that Shakespeare’s works have become extinct as modern forms of literature have come to replace them.
highlight that interest in Shakespeare’s works has dwindled as language and cultural preferences have shifted.
Part B:
Which sentence from the passage best supports the answer to Part A?
"Shakespeare was a star of the movies almost from the time that movies began, so it is no surprise that he has made it into 21st-century forms of culture."
"As our language changes, older forms of English become more difficult."
“Since that time, his works have declined in relative popularity, not leveled by the hand of time, but increasingly subject to it.”
“His complexity and richness ask for exceptional literacy, concentration and quiet, things not typically associated with the Computer Age.”
Which statement best describes the author’s point of view in “William Shakespeare’s Relevance in Today’s Society Is Changing?"
He argues that the overall meaning of Shakespeare’s works has changed as society itself has changed.
He explains why Shakespeare’s reputation is overstated and how his works have little to say to modern readers.
He regrets that Shakespeare’s works are unlikely to remain relevant as society becomes more driven by technology and convenience.
He believes that Shakespeare’s works are still relevant and that more effort must be made to translate them into more modern forms of culture.
Which two phrases provide the best evidence of Shakespeare's belief that artifacts are not immune to the effects of time?
Would be eternal
History’s indifferent hand
Everything decays
"The "living record" of writing
Chance to cheat time
Read the excerpt from “William Shakespeare’s Relevance in Today’s Society is Changing.”
Since that time, his works have declined in relative popularity, not leveled by the hand of time, but increasingly subject to it. People know his reputation more than his words. Shakespeare will always be with us, of course, but eventually he will be what Geoffrey Chaucer has become: a brilliant author whose works can be read intelligently in the original by few people.
In this excerpt, the author uses the example of Chaucer to illustrate how Shakespeare
is still much easier to read than many of his contemporaries.
will always be of great intellectual value to specialists and scholars.
is considerably less important as a cultural figure than he used to be.
will grow less accessible to the average reader as language changes over time.
Read the excerpt from “William Shakespeare’s Relevance in Today’s Society is Changing.”
Shakespeare was a star of the movies almost from the time that movies began, so it is no surprise that he has made it into 21st century forms of culture. This is a man, after all, who helped define our sense of culture in the first place.
In this excerpt, the author states that Shakespeare “helped define our sense of culture.”
What idea relating to culture does Shakespeare most seek to explore in the excerpt from Romeo and Juliet?
the challenging of traditions
the pursuit of religion
the structure of social classes
the complexity of relationships
According to the author of "William Shakespeare’s Relevance in Today’s Society is Changing," Shakespeare "wrote the most eloquent version of the code we call human character." What aspect of human character does Shakespeare capture in Romeo's speech?
that humans are impulsive and impatient when they want something they cannot have
that humans are self-centered and usually think about their own well-being
that humans can become sluggish and detached when they are depressed
that humans can become angry and violent when faced with an unfortunate circumstance
Showing Inner Turmoil in Drama
(1) Limited options for playwrights when it comes to expressing a character’s inner turmoil in crafting dramas. (2) Sometimes, music, lighting, or stage directions achieve this purpose. (3) Often it’s most effective to have characters vocalize their conflict and there is no better tool at an author’s disposal than the soliloquy.
(4) William Shakespeare uses a 25-line soliloquy. (5) Brutus contemplates whether or not he should participate in the murder of Julius Caesar, who is set to become king of Rome. (6) He begins by explaining that he knows “no personal cause to spurn” Caesar, but he’s concerned that his friend will be corrupted by the power of the crown.
(7) As the soliloquy continues, Brutus justifies his choice to participate in Caesar’s demise, which he believes is for the good of Rome. (8) At the end of the soliloquy, Brutus has made his decision to kill Caesar before he hatches, or becomes king.
(9) In these key 25 lines, Brutus takes the audience through his decision-making process, as he makes a pivotal choice. (10) His time alone on stage gives the audience a window into his inner struggle.
Which is the most effective revision to sentence 1 (reproduced below)?
Limited options for playwrights when it comes to expressing a character’s inner turmoil in crafting dramas.
When crafting dramas, playwrights have limited options. When it comes to expressing a character’s inner turmoil.
There are limited options, for playwrights, when it comes to expressing a character’s inner turmoil when crafting dramas.
When crafting dramas, playwrights have limited options when it comes to expressing a character’s inner turmoil.
There are limited options for playwrights when it comes to addressing, a character’s inner turmoil when crafting dramas.
Which is the best version of sentence 3 (reproduced below)?
Often it’s most effective to have characters vocalize their conflict and there is no better tool at an author’s disposal than the soliloquy.
NO CHANGE
Often, it’s most effective to have characters vocalize their conflict, and there is no better tool at an author’s disposal than the soliloquy.
Often, it’s most effective to have characters vocalize their conflict and there is no better tool at an author’s disposal than the soliloquy.
Often it’s most effective, to have characters vocalize their conflict, and there is no better tool at an author’s disposal than the soliloquy.
Which is the best revision to sentence 4 (reproduced below) that is appropriate for the purpose and context of the passage?
William Shakespeare uses a 25-line soliloquy.
In Julius Caesar, a well-known drama by William Shakespeare, there is a 25-line soliloquy in Act II Scene I.
William Shakespeare uses a 25-line soliloquy in Act II Scene I, in his famous drama titled Julius Caesar.
In Act II Scene I of Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare does a clever job exposing Brutus’s thoughts to the audience when he uses a 25-line soliloquy.
In Act II Scene I of Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare uses a 25-line soliloquy to expose Brutus’s thoughts to the audience.
The writer of "Showing Inner Turmoil in Drama" wants to add this sentence.
He compares the situation to a serpent’s egg, realizing that it would be better to destroy the serpent (Caesar) while it is still in the shell.
Where in the passage is the best placement for this sentence?
after sentence 4
after sentence 7
after sentence 8
after sentence 9
Which version of sentence 9 (reproduced below) uses punctuation correctly?
In these key 25 lines, Brutus takes the audience through his decision-making process, as he makes a pivotal choice.
NO CHANGE
In these key, 25 lines, Brutus takes the audience through his decision-making process as he makes a pivotal choice.
In these key 25 lines Brutus takes the audience through his decision-making process as he makes a pivotal choice.
In these key 25 lines, Brutus takes the audience through his decision-making process as he makes a pivotal choice.
