english cumulative exam

Read the excerpt from the song, "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" They used to tell me I was building a dream With peace and glory ahead— These lines emphasize the pre-Great Depression belief that

American businesses were imperishable.

Which of the following is the most effective thesis statement?

(D) The Department of Education's literacy advertising campaign uses several persuasive techniques to persuade a broad audience that strong reading skills are beneficial.

Which is the best definition of the term "magic realism"?

(D) a narrative genre characterized by its use of fantastic or mythic elements in otherwise realistic fiction

Which event is described in both "Ambush" and "Facing It"?

(D) the death of a soldier

What is one advantage of listening to an audio recording as opposed to silently reading a play?

(D)It helps listeners interpret the characters' emotions and motivations.

Read the excerpts from "Take the Tortillas Out of Your Poetry" and "Speaking Arabic." My friend had concluded that if he took his language and culture out of his poetry, he stood a better chance of receiving a fellowship. He took out his native language, the poetic patois of our reality, the rich mixture of Spanish, English, pachuco and street talk which we know so well. In other words, he took the tortillas out of his poetry, which is to say he took the soul out of his poetry. At a neighborhood fair in Texas, somewhere between the German Oom-pah Sausage Stand and the Mexican Gorditas booth, I overheard a young man say to his friend, "I wish I had a heritage. Sometimes I feel—so lonely for one." And the tall American trees were dangling their thick branches right down over his head. Which best states how the structures of both excerpts support ideas about cultural diversity?

(A) Each incorporates non-English words.

Read this claim from an argumentative essay about high-sugar foods. High-sugar foods should have the same sales restrictions as other harmful substances, such as alcohol and tobacco. Which statement best represents a counterclaim to this claim?

(A) Sugar is a nutrient that the body uses as a source of energy; alcohol and tobacco are not.

Read the excerpt from Cristina Garcia's Dreaming in Cuban. The sunset flares behind a row of brownstones, linking them as if by a flaming ribbon. Lourdes massages her eyes and begins walking with legs that feel held by splints. "I'm glad to see you, Lourdes. Thank you for everything, hija, the hat, the cigars. You buried me like an Egyptian king, with all my valuables!" Jorge del Pino laughs. Lourdes perceives the faint scent of her father's cigar . . . "Where are you, Papi?" The street is vacant, as if a force has absorbed all living things. Even the trees seem more shadow than substance. "Nearby," her father says, serious now. The author uses magic realism by

(A) revealing Jorge's appreciation for his valued burial gifts.

Read the following passage, which is modeled after an encyclopedia entry about tortillas. A tortilla is a round flatbread that appears in most Mexican dishes, including tacos, enchiladas, and tostadas. Tortillas are made with cornmeal or sometimes wheat flour. Traditionally, the corn or wheat grains are ground on a stone. Next, the meal from these grains is formed into small pieces of dough and patted into thin circles by hand. Finally, the tortilla is baked on a griddle. Today, tortilla dough is usually mixed by machine, flattened into shape, and passed on a conveyor belt to cook over a flame. Tortillas can be purchased at most major grocery stores. Which best describes the purpose of this passage?

(A) to inform audiences about the production and types of tortillas

Read the sentence. The works of Charles Dickens a famous British writer include David Copperfield and Oliver Twist. Which is the best revision of this sentence?

(B) The works of Charles Dickens, a famous British writer, include David Copperfield and Oliver Twist.

Read the excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail." If I sought to answer all the criticisms that cross my desk, my secretaries would have little time for anything other than such correspondence in the course of the day, and I would have no time for constructive work. What is the author's purpose for including this sentence?

(B) to undermine the significance of his critics' letter

Read this excerpt from Vachel Lindsay's poem "In Praise of Johnny Appleseed." In the days of President Washington, The glory of the nations, Dust and ashes, Snow and sleet, And hay and oats and wheat, Blew west, Crossed the Appalachians, Found the glades of rotting leaves, the soft deer-pastures, The farms of the far-off future In the forest. How does this allusion reinforce the meaning of the excerpt?

(B)The allusion lends patriotic pride to the excerpt.

Which of the following sentences is written correctly?

(B)The drum major performed badly because she forgot the routine.

Read the excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail." I have earnestly opposed violent tension, but there is a type of constructive, nonviolent tension which is necessary for growth. How does King support this claim in the rest of his letter?

(B)by quoting Socrates and establishing historical precedent

Which topic would prompt an argumentative essay?

(C) A Case for Gender Equity in the Workplace

How is the author's use of a climactic structure reflected in the time that elapses in part two of King Arthur's Socks: A Comedy in One Act?

(C) A short time elapses, and the situations do not evolve far.

Read the excerpt from "The Latin Deli: An Ars Poetica." plain ham and cheese that would cost less at the A&P, but it would not satisfy the hunger of the fragile old man lost in the folds of his winter coat, who brings her lists of items that he reads to her like poetry, or the others, whose needs she must divine, conjuring up products from places that now exist only in their hearts— closed ports she must trade with. Which best describes how the author's word choice affects the tone of the poem?

(C) The tone is nostalgic because the people have "hunger" for items from "places that now exist only in their hearts."

Read the excerpt from "Take the Tortillas Out of Your Poetry." In other cases, the censoring has been direct and brutal. On February 28, 1981 the morning newspaper carried a story about the burning of my novel, Bless Me, Ultima. The book was banned from high school classes in Bloomfield, New Mexico, and a school board member was quoted as saying: "We took the books out and personally saw that they were burned." Which type of rhetoric most shows how powerful people use censorship to silence the powerless?

(C) an appeal to logic

Read the excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail." Sometimes a law is just on its face and unjust in its application. How does King support this claim?

(C) by describing a law about parade permits

Which excerpt from part one of Trifles most develops the motives of the County Attorney?

(C)Which excerpt from part one of Trifles most develops the motives of the County Attorney?

Which source would best support an argumentative essay on the importance of protective gear for those playing sports?

(C)a case study of sports-related injuries

Which strategy is the best way to improve the written expression in a redundant sentence?

(D) Remove unnecessary repetition.

The following question is based on your reading of the short stories of Flannery O'Connor. Describe the Antebellum South.

It is the pre-Civil War South of slavery and plantations. There was a strong culture of ladies and gentleman, decadence, and decorum.

The following question is based on your reading of the literary critique of Flannery O'Connor. What happens to make McGovern think that Flannery O'Connor may not want to be "found"?

They had a difficult time finding her gravesite, the O'Connor room at Georgia State College was closed, O'Connor's childhood home was closed, and Anadulsia is a private residence.

The following question is based on your reading of the short stories of Flannery O'Connor. Interpret Julian's reaction and state of mind after his mother's stroke

he felt upset and like it was his fault because he yelled at her.