TEST NAME: Eng 2 ­ world literature ­ range and complexity
TEST ID: 1068310
GRADE: 10 ­ Tenth Grade
SUBJECT: English Language and Literature
TEST CATEGORY: School Assessment
Eng 2 - world literature - range and complexity
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Student: Class:
Date:
Read the passage ­ 'Excerpt from The Five Orange Pips' ­ and answer the question below:
Excerpt from The Five Orange Pips
Excerpt from The Five Orange Pips
Excerpt from "The Five Orange Pips"
Excerpt from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
by Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) is best remembered for his stories
and novels about the detective Sherlock Holmes. The following passage
is excerpted from Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes story “The Five Orange Pips.”
The story is narrated by Holmes’s friend, Dr. Watson.
Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the fireplace, cross­indexing his
records … while I at the other was deep in one of Clark Russell’s fine sea
stories until the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text
and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of the sea
waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother’s, and for a few days I was a
dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker Street.
“Why,” said I, glancing up at my companion, “that was surely the bell. Who
could come tonight? Some friend of yours, perhaps?”
“Except yourself I have none,” he answered. “I do not encourage visitors.”
“A client, then?”
“If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out on such a day
and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more likely to be some crony of
the landlady’s.”
Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there came a step
in the passage and a tapping at the door. He stretched out his long arm to
turn the lamp away from himself and towards the vacant chair upon which a
newcomer must sit.
“Come in!” said he.
The man who entered was young, some two­and­twenty at the outside, well
groomed and trimly clad, with something of refinement and delicacy in his
bearing. The streaming umbrella which he held in his hand and his long,
shining waterproof told of the fierce weather through which he had come. He
looked about him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his
Eng 2 - world literature - range and complexity
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face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is weighed down
with some great anxiety.
“I owe you an apology,” he said, raising his golden pince­nez1 to his eyes. “I
trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have brought some traces of the
storm and rain into your snug chamber.” “Give me your coat and umbrella,” said Holmes. “They may rest here on the
hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from the southwest, I
see.”
“Yes, from Horsham.”
“That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is quite
distinctive.”
“I have come for advice.”
“That is easily got.”
“And help.”
“That is not always so easy.”
“I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast how you
saved him …”
“Ah, of course …”
“He said that you could solve anything.”
“He said too much.”
“That you are never beaten.”
“I have been beaten four times—three times by men and once by a woman.”
“But what is that compared with the number of your successes?”
“It is true that I have been generally successful.”
“Then you may be so with me.”
“I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me with some
details as to your case.”
“It is no ordinary one.”
“None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of appeal.”
“And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you have ever
listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of events than those
which have happened in my own family.”
“You fill me with interest,” said Holmes. “… Give us the essential facts from
the commencement, and I can afterwards question you as to those details
which seem to me to be most important.”
The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out towards the
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blaze.
“My name,” said he, “is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, as far as I
can understand, little to do with this awful business. It is a hereditary
matter, so in order to give you an idea of the facts, I must go back to the
commencement of the affair.”
1 pince­nez: eyeglasses held in place by a spring gripping the nose
Excerpt from story “The Five Orange Pips,” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Found in The Adventures
of Sherlock Holmes, published by Harper & Brothers, 1892.
1.
Read this sentence from “Excerpt from The Five Orange Pips.”
“And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you have ever
listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of events than those
which have happened in my own family.”
Which word best matches the meaning of inexplicable as it is used in this
sentence?
A.
disorganized
B.
frightening
C.
perplexing
D.
unfortunate
Read the passage ­ 'Excerpt from The Five Orange Pips' ­ and answer the question below:
2.
Which traits best describe John Openshaw in Doyle's excerpt from "The
Five Orange Pips"?
A.
friendly and open
B.
nervous but polite C.
stubborn and demanding
D.
awkward and embarrassed
Read the passage ­ 'Excerpt from The Five Orange Pips' ­ and answer the question below:
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3.
Which statement best describes Sherlock Holmes’ attitude toward John
Openshaw?
A.
Holmes is suspicious of him and thinks he may be lying.
B.
Holmes is flattered by his compliments and eager to help him.
C.
Holmes is insulted by him and impatient to end their conversation.
D.
Holmes is indifferent toward him and displays a detached interest in
his story.
Read the passage ­ 'Excerpt from The Five Orange Pips' ­ and answer the question below:
4.
Read this excerpt from the passage “Excerpt from The Five Orange Pips.”
“If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out on
such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more likely to
be some crony of the landlady’s.”
Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there
came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. Based on this excerpt, what does the word conjecture most likely mean?
A.
concern
B.
prejudice
C.
ridicule
D.
speculation
Read the passage ­ 'Excerpt from The Five Orange Pips' ­ and answer the question below:
5.
Which excerpt from “The Five Orange Pips” gives the best evidence of
Sherlock Holmes’ expertise?
A.
“‘If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out on
such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more likely to
be some crony of the landlady’s.’”
B.
“‘Give me your coat and umbrella,’ said Holmes. ‘They may rest here
on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from the
southwest, I see.’”
C.
“‘It is true that I have been generally successful.’ ‘Then you may be so with
me.’”
D.
“‘It is no ordinary one.’ ‘None of those which come to me are. I am
the last court of appeal.’”
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Read the passage ­ 'Excerpt from The Five Orange Pips' ­ and answer the question below:
6.
The excerpt “from The Five Orange Pips” begins with a description of
Holmes and Watson reading in silence. Which best describes an effect of
beginning the passage in this way?
A.
It gives an impression of the safety that is lost when Openshaw
introduces a threat.
B.
It suggests that Holmes and Watson have been quarreling and prefer
to remain silent.
C.
It creates an atmosphere of monotony and inactivity that a visit from
a client interrupts.
D.
It contrasts Holmes and Watson’s actual mode of life with what
Openshaw has imagined.
Read the passage ­ 'Excerpt from The Five Orange Pips' ­ and answer the question below:
7.
Which excerpt from “The Five Orange Pips” best supports the idea that
Sherlock Holmes enjoys solitude?
A.
“Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the fireplace, cross­
indexing his records.”
B.
“ ‘Except yourself I have none,’ he answered. ‘I do not encourage
visitors.’ ”
C.
“He stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself
and towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit.”
D.
“ ‘None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of appeal.’
”
Read the passage ­ 'Excerpt from The Five Orange Pips' ­ and answer the question below:
8.
Which best describes a theme and its development in the “Excerpt from
The Five Orange Pips”?
A.
the lack of privacy in a large city developed by Holmes's reluctance to
have visitors
B.
the importance of helping those in need developed by Holmes's
solving of the many problems people face
C.
the value of friendship during difficult times developed by
Holmes's entertainment of the narrator while his wife is away
D.
the excitement of having a new problem to solve developed by
Holmes's agreement to listen to what the visitor has to tell him
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Read the passage ­ 'The Exposed Nest' ­ and answer the question below:
The Exposed Nest
The Exposed Nest
The Exposed Nest
by Robert Frost
"The Exposed Nest" in
the public domain.
5
You were forever finding some new play.
So when I saw you down on hands and knees
In the meadow, busy with the new­cut hay,
Trying, I thought, to set it up on end,
I went to show you how to make it stay,
If that was your idea, against the breeze,
And, if you asked me, even help pretend
To make it root again and grow afresh.
But ’twas no make­believe with you to­day,
10 Nor was the grass itself your real concern,
Though I found your hand full of wilted fern,
Steel­bright June­grass, and blackening heads of
clover.
’Twas a nest full of young birds on the ground
The cutter­bar had just gone champing over
15 (Miraculously without tasting flesh)
And left defenseless to the heat and light.
You wanted to restore them to their right
Of something interposed between their sight
And too much world at once—could means be
found.
20 The way the nest­full every time we stirred
Stood up to us as to a mother­bird
Whose coming home has been too long deferred,
Made me ask would the mother­bird return
And care for them in such a change of scene
25 And might our meddling make her more afraid.
That was a thing we could not wait to learn.
We saw the risk we took in doing good,
But dared not spare to do the best we could
Though harm should come of it; so built the
screen
30 You had begun, and gave them back their shade.
All this to prove we cared. Why is there then
No more to tell? We turned to other things.
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I haven’t any memory—have you?—
Of ever coming to the place again
35 To see if the birds lived the first night through,
And so at last to learn to use their wings.
Which line from “The Exposed Nest” would most likely be easiest to
portray in a wordless sequence in a film?
9.
A.
“But ’twas no make­believe with you to­day”
B.
“Though I found your hand full of wilted fern”
C.
“And too much world at once—could means be found”
D.
“But dared not spare to do the best we could”
Read the passage ­ 'The Exposed Nest' ­ and answer the question below:
10.
Read this excerpt from “The Exposed Nest.”
The way the nest­full every time we stirred
Stood up to us as to a mother­bird
Whose coming home has been too long deferred,
Which sentence uses the word stirred in the same sense as it is used in
the poem?
A.
Evan stirred when his brother nudged him awake.
B.
The chef carefully stirred one cup of milk into the batter.
C.
Rosa made a complaint that stirred a debate among her friends.
D.
The sight of the bus stirred memories of the first day of school.
Read the passage ­ 'The Exposed Nest' ­ and answer the question below:
11.
Why does the speaker of “The Exposed Nest” think that helping the birds
may be risky?
A.
If the birds are not exposed to the open air, they might not learn to
fly.
B.
If the nest has been changed, the birds’ mother might abandon her
young.
C.
If the people move the nest, they might accidentally injure the birds.
D.
If the people have contact with the birds, the birds might not
recognize their mother.
Eng 2 - world literature - range and complexity
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Read the passage ­ 'Excerpt from Frankenstein' ­ and answer the question below:
Excerpt from Frankenstein
Excerpt from Frankenstein
Excerpt from Frankenstein
by Mary Wollsonecraft Shelley
In Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, the
narrator, Captain Robert Walton, composes a series of letters to his sister back in
England. In the letters, he describes the progress of the dangerous mission to the North
Pole that he and his crew have undertaken. In this letter, taken from Volume I, Walton
describes the initial phase of the journey.
To Mrs. SAVILLE, England.
St. Petersburgh , Dec. 11th, 17—.
You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the commencement of an enterprise
which you have regarded with such evil forebodings. I arrived here yesterday; and my first task
is to assure my dear sister of my welfare, and increasing confidence in the success of my
undertaking.
I am already far north of London; and as I walk in the streets of Petersburgh, I feel a cold
northern breeze play upon my cheeks, which braces my nerves, and fills me with delight. Do
you understand this feeling? This breeze, which has travelled from the regions towards which I
am advancing, gives me a foretaste of those icy climes. Inspirited by this wind of promise, my
day dreams become more fervent and vivid. I try in vain to be persuaded that the pole is the
seat of frost and desolation; it ever presents itself to my imagination as the region of beauty
and delight. There, Margaret, the sun is for ever visible; its broad disk just skirting the horizon,
and diffusing a perpetual splendour. There—for with your leave, my sister, I will put some trust
in preceding navigators—there snow and frost are banished; and, sailing over a calm sea, we
may be wafted to a land surpassing in wonders and in beauty every region hitherto discovered
on the habitable globe. Its productions and features may be without example, as the
phænomena of the heavenly bodies undoubtedly are in those undiscovered solitudes. What may
not be expected in a country of eternal light? I may there discover the wondrous power which
attracts the needle; and may regulate a thousand celestial observations, that require only this
voyage to render their seeming eccentricities consistent for ever. I shall satiate1 my ardent
curiosity with the sight of a part of the world never before visited, and may tread a land never
before imprinted by the foot of man. These are my enticements, and they are sufficient to
conquer all fear of danger or death, and to induce me to commence this laborious voyage with
the joy a child feels when he embarks in a little boat, with his holiday mates, on an expedition
of discovery up his native river. But, supposing all these conjectures2 to be false, you cannot
contest the inestimable benefit which I shall confer on all mankind to the last generation, by
discovering a passage near the pole to those countries, to reach which at present so many
months are requisite;3 or by ascertaining the secret of the magnet, which, if at all possible, can
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only be effected by an undertaking such as mine.
These reflections have dispelled the agitation with which I began my letter, and I feel my heart
glow with an enthusiasm which elevates me to heaven; for nothing contributes so much to
tranquillize the mind as a steady purpose,—a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual
eye. This expedition has been the favourite dream of my early years. I have read with ardour
the accounts of the various voyages which have been made in the prospect of arriving at the
North Pacific Ocean through the seas which surround the pole. You may remember that a
history of all the voyages made for purposes of discovery composed the whole of our good
uncle Thomas’s library. My education was neglected, yet I was passionately fond of reading.
These volumes were my study day and night, and my familiarity with them increased that regret
which I had felt, as a child, on learning that my father’s dying injunction had forbidden my uncle
to allow me to embark in a sea­faring life.
These visions faded when I perused, for the first time, those poets whose effusions4 entranced
my soul, and lifted it to heaven. I also became a poet, and for one year lived in a Paradise of
my own creation; I imagined that I also might obtain a niche in the temple where the names of
Homer and Shakespeare are consecrated. You are well acquainted with my failure, and how
heavily I bore the disappointment. But just at that time I inherited the fortune of my cousin,
and my thoughts were turned into the channel of their earlier bent.
Six years have passed since I resolved on my present undertaking. I can, even now, remember
the hour from which I dedicated myself to this great enterprise. I commenced by inuring5 my
body to hardship. I accompanied the whale­fishers on several expeditions to the North Sea; I
voluntarily endured cold, famine, thirst, and want of sleep; I often worked harder than the
common sailors during the day, and devoted my nights to the study of mathematics, the theory
of medicine, and those branches of physical science from which a naval adventurer might derive
the greatest practical advantage. Twice I actually hired myself as an under­mate in a
Greenland whaler, and acquitted myself to admiration. I must own I felt a little proud, when my
captain offered me the second dignity in the vessel, and entreated6 me to remain with the
greatest earnestness; so valuable did he consider my services.
And now, dear Margaret, do I not deserve to accomplish some great purpose? My life might
have been passed in ease and luxury; but I preferred glory to every enticement that wealth
placed in my path. Oh, that some encouraging voice would answer in the affirmative! My
courage and my resolution is firm; but my hopes fluctuate, and my spirits are often depressed. I
am about to proceed on a long and difficult voyage, the emergencies of which will demand all
my fortitude: I am required not only to raise the spirits of others, but sometimes to sustain my
own, when their’s are failing.
This is the most favourable period for travelling in Russia. They fly quickly over the snow in their
sledges; the motion is pleasant, and, in my opinion, far more agreeable than that of an English
stage­coach. The cold is not excessive, if you are wrapped in furs, a dress which I have
already adopted; for there is a great difference between walking the deck and remaining seated
motionless for hours, when no exercise prevents the blood from actually freezing in your veins. I
have no ambition to lose my life on the post­road between St. Petersburgh and Archangel.
I shall depart for the latter town in a fortnight or three weeks; and my intention is to hire a ship
there, which can easily be done by paying the insurance for the owner, and to engage as many
sailors as I think necessary among those who are accustomed to the whale­fishing. I do not
intend to sail until the month of June: and when shall I return? Ah, dear sister, how can I
answer this question? If I succeed, many, many months, perhaps years, will pass before you
and I may meet. If I fail, you will see me again soon, or never.
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Farewell, my dear, excellent Margaret. Heaven shower down blessings on you, and save me,
that I may again and again testify my gratitude for all your love and kindness.
Your affectionate brother,
R. WALTON.
1 satiate: satisfy completely
2 conjectures: judgments based on incomplete information
3 requisite: required
4 effusions: outpourings
5 inuring: becoming accustomed to something unpleasant
6 entreated: asked for in earnest; begged
Excerpt from Frankenstein by Mary W. Shelley. Published by Colburn and Bentley, 1831. In the public domain.
12.
In an illustration for the passage, how would an artist most likely depict
the St. Petersburgh scene?
A.
as a small piece of land surrounded on all sides by water
B.
as a series of icy streets dotted with people wrapped in furs
C.
as a bustling city with crowds, tall buildings, and a harbor in the
distance
D.
as a comforting and cozy place, with small homes and candles in the
windows
Read the passage ­ 'Excerpt from Frankenstein' ­ and answer the question below:
13.
In a film version of Frankenstein, which event described in the excerpt
would most likely be shown in a flashback sequence?
A.
the narrator preparing to sail to the North Pole
B.
the narrator writing a letter to his sister Catherine
C.
the narrator serving on a Greenland whaling ship
D.
the narrator walking through the Petersburgh streets
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Read the passage ­ 'Excerpt from Frankenstein' ­ and answer the question below:
14.
How does the landscape of the North Pole appear in Walton's
imagination?
A.
It is desolate and frost­covered.
B.
It is situated in the middle of open water.
C.
It is calm, beautiful, and sunny all the time.
D.
It is covered in snow but not excessively cold.
Read the passage ­ 'Excerpt from Frankenstein' ­ and answer the question below:
15.
Read this sentence from Frankenstein.
I also became a poet, and for one year lived in a Paradise of my
own creation; I imagined that I also might obtain a niche in the
temple where the names of Homer and Shakespeare are
consecrated.
Based on the context of the sentence, which word or phrase is the best
synonym for consecrated?
A.
contained
B.
hidden away
C.
made sacred
D.
spoken
Read the passage ­ 'Excerpt from Frankenstein' ­ and answer the question below:
16.
What sudden event makes it possible for Walton to pursue his childhood
goal of traveling to the North Pole?
A.
His captain promotes him to second officer.
B.
His cousin leaves him a large sum of money.
C.
His uncle gives him a collection of books on seafaring.
D.
His father changes his mind about forbidding him from going to sea.
Read the passage ­ 'Excerpt from Frankenstein' ­ and answer the question below:
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17.
If a student wants to learn more about the real­life history of the
geological research that Walton hopes to undertake at the North Pole in
Frankenstein, which source would be the most useful place to start?
A.
a section from an official government website of a country near the
North Pole, entitled “History of the Region”
B.
an article in an encyclopedia of natural sciences, entitled “A Journey
to Track the North Magnetic Pole, 1840”
C.
a nonfiction book rich in full­color pictures, entitled Architecture at
the Northern Edge of Civilization
D.
an 1860 novel set at the North Pole, entitled Journeying to the Far
North
Read the passage ­ 'Excerpt from Frankenstein' ­ and answer the question below:
18.
Read this excerpt from Frankenstein.
The cold is not excessive, if you are wrapped in furs, a dress which I
have already adopted; for there is a great difference between
walking the deck and remaining seated motionless for hours, when
no exercise prevents the blood from actually freezing in your veins. I
have no ambition to lose my life on the post­road between St.
Petersburgh and Archangel.
What effect does the literary device used in the last sentence have on
the narrative?
A.
Walton’s use of humorous understatement shows that he is
attempting to be lighthearted about what he knows is a very serious
situation.
B.
Walton’s exaggeration of how little he values his life suggests that
he is overly confident about his chances of survival on his journey.
C.
Walton’s refusal to be serious about the prospect of freezing to death
foreshadows a possibly dire event to come.
D.
Walton’s use of analogy shows that he is trying to deflect his sister’s
attention from the possibility of his death.
Read the passage ­ 'Excerpt from Frankenstein' ­ and answer the question below:
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Page 13 of 14
19.
Which sentence describes the most significant effect of the author’s
choice to relay Walton’s narrative in the form of a letter to his sister,
Margaret Saville?
A.
Walton amplifies his accomplishments for dramatic effect in the
letter, so readers are drawn to think his quest is meaningful.
B.
Walton clearly trusts and confides in Margaret, so readers will
understand that the narrative is a true and heartfelt account.
C.
Readers can put themselves in the position of Margaret receiving the
letter and feel excitement through her point of view. D.
The connection to Walton’s family reminds readers that Walton
stands to lose a great deal if his journey is not successful.
Read the passage ­ 'Excerpt from Frankenstein' ­ and answer the question below:
20.
Which sentence best describes Walton’s conflicting thoughts about his
voyage?
A.
Walton thinks that his dedication will help him attain his goal, but he
worries that the failings of his fellow travelers will bring him to
danger.
B.
Walton believes that his courage and sacrifice should be rewarded
with success, but he is not fully confident that this outcome will
occur.
C.
Walton is certain that the North Pole is a wondrous place, but he is
equally convinced that he will never reach the end of his journey.
D.
Walton is excited about the anticipated completion of his journey,
but he regrets spending so much time and effort in getting there.
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