An Enemy of the People
Henrik Ibsen
Peter Stockmann. I happened to be passing, and so--(looks into the dining-room). But you have
company with you, I see.
Mrs. Stockmann (a little embarrassed). Oh, no--it was quite by chance he came in. (Hurriedly.)
Won't you come in and have something, too?
Peter Stockmann. I! No, thank you. Good gracious--hot meat at night! Not with my digestion,
Mrs. Stockmann. Oh, but just once in a way-Peter Stockmann. No, no, my dear lady; I stick to my tea and bread and butter. It is much more
wholesome in the long run—and a little more economical, too.
What is Peter implying when he says these lines?
A) that he is very hungry at the moment
B) that the Stockmanns spend too much on food
C) that Mrs. Stockmann is not a very good cook
D) that he is annoyed at not being invited to dinner
Excerpt from: Waterloo, Chapter I
Hilaire Belloc
The prime military object of a general is to “annihilate” the armed force of his opponents. He
may do this by breaking up their organisation and dispersing them, or by compelling the
surrender of their arms. He may achieve success in this purely military object in any degree. But
if, as an end and consequence of his military success, the political object be not achieved—if, for
instance, in the particular case we are considering, the neighbouring community does not in the
future obey laws dictated to it by the conqueror, but remains autonomous—then the campaign
has failed.
What is inferred in this paragraph?
A) conquering force should be more interested in compelling surrender in its opponent than in
winning battles.
B) Military campaigns are commonly misunderstood, often with tragic consequences.
C) Would-be conquerors in truth have no right to impose their ways upon neighboring states.
D) War campaigns are often bloody and fraught with heartbreak.
Excerpt from: Desiree's Baby
Kate Chopin
It was no wonder, when she stood one day against the stone pillar in whose shadow she had lain
asleep, eighteen years before, that Armand Aubigny riding by and seeing her there, had fallen in
love with her. That was the way all the Aubignys fell in love, as if struck by a pistol shot. The
wonder was that he had not loved her before; for he had known her since his father brought him
home from Paris, a boy of eight, after his mother died there. The passion that awoke in him that
day, when he saw her at the gate, swept along like an avalanche, or like a prairie fire, or like
anything that drives headlong over all obstacles.
Which best describes how Armand Aubigny fell in love with the girl?
A) slowly but consistently
B) immediately and instantly
C) over the course of many years
D) ever since he met her when he was eight years old
Excerpt from: The Shepherd’s Lute: A Chinese Folktale
Natalie Stewart
1Long ago in a medieval village, a wealthy but bitter farmer named Chao employed an affable
shepherd named Jiang, who truly enjoyed playing the lute. Jiang’s instrument was simple and
plain, crafted from the wood of a native bamboo tree. Despite its modest appearance, the lute
brought Jiang much joy. He created appealing music that lured the other villagers out to listen to
him. Having an audience made Jiang feel accepted, and he quickly formed an important bond
with the poor villagers.
2Chao, however, didn’t like Jiang. He hated Jiang’s lute playing and the way the villagers
admired Jiang. Although Jiang was an excellent person and a hard worker, Chao fired Jiang from
his job and smashed the lute into pieces.
3Miserable and brokenhearted, Jiang hung his head as he walked through the forest. Good
fortune soon came to him, however, when he bumped into a compassionate old man who felt
sorry for Jiang’s loss.
4The elderly man carved a new lute for Jiang and taught him to refine his playing technique.
Soon, Jiang played better than ever before. Villagers and woodland creatures from all over came
to hear him perform.
Tavaris read this folktale and exclaimed that Chao was a jealous and mean-spirited man. Which
section provides support for this interpretation?
A) Section 1
B) Section 2
C) Section 3
D) Section 4
5. Excerpt from: The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass
I was born in Tuckahoe, near Hillsborough, and about twelve miles from Easton, in Talbot
county, Maryland. I have no accurate knowledge of my age, never having seen any authentic
record containing it. By far the larger part of the slaves know as little of their ages as horses
know of theirs, and it is the wish of most masters within my knowledge to keep their slaves thus
ignorant. I do not remember to have ever met a slave who could tell of his birthday. They seldom
come nearer to it than planting-time, harvest-time, cherry-time, spring-time, or fall-time. A want
of information concerning my own was a source of unhappiness to me even during childhood.
The white children could tell their ages. I could not tell why I ought to be deprived of the same
privilege.
What does the example of birthdays reveal?
A)The speaker is unable to read or count.
B)White children and slave children were treated differently.
C)Children are unhappy when they do not celebrate their birthdays.
D)The speaker was abandoned by both of his parents when he was born.