Romanticism, Victorianism, Modernism Test

The Cry of the Children by Elizabeth Barrett Browning Summary

"The Cry of the Children" exposes the grueling and unethical working conditions many children were forced to endure in industrialized England.

Modernism Works

- Araby -The story of j.alfred prufrock - dulce et decorum est -the second coming - a room of ones own -a cup of tea

(A Cup Of Tea) Which of the following sentences best explains the main idea of the text? A. Even those with great wealth and social status want what they don't have. B. A woman's beauty is her most valuable asset. C. Rich people are usually unhappy because they don't know what to do with all of their money. D. Marriage has its ups and downs.

A. Even those with great wealth and social status want what they don't have.

(Wurthering Heights) The excerpts from chapters, 9, 15, and 16 of Wuthering Heights are narrated by . A. Nelly B. Heathcliff C. Catherine D. Edgar Linton

A. Nelly

(Araby) According to the text, Dublin is most closely described as_________ . A. mundane B. sophisticated C. threatening D. lifeless

A. mundane

(Araby) Which of the following options most likely explains why the boy does not buy anything at Araby? A. Everything is too expensive for him. B. The bazaar is not what he expected it to be. C. The shops are all closed when he gets there. D. He lost all of his money on the train.

B. The bazaar is not what he expected it to be

(The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock) What is most likely the speaker's reason for repeating the following lines? In the room the women come and go Talking of Michelangelo. A. to acknowledge the achievements of the Italian Renaissance B. to establish that the women he is around are worldly C. to lend the poem an Old-European atmosphere D. to show his annoyance at intellectual pretension

B. to establish that the women he is around are worldly

(The Cry of the Children) Which of the following adjectives from the poem most accurately describes the children's working conditions? A. tender B. wretched C. metallic D. blessed

B. wretched

(Ozymandias) What is the best summation of the theme of the poem? A. The kings of the ancient world created great works only with the help of thousands of slaves. B. Nothing that you do will have any lasting value. C. Excessive pride or an inflated sense of self based on our accomplishments is absurd: nothing remains. D. Enjoy your life today because like everyone who has ever lived, you will die.

C. Excessive pride or an inflated sense of self based on our accomplishments is absurd: nothing remains.

(The Postmaster) Which of these inferences about Ratan is best supported by the story? A. Ratan's work ethic came from her parents. B. She is a member of the Baül sect. C. Ratan misses having a family. D. She is a trained medical nurse.

C. Ratan misses having a family.

(The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock) What is the meaning of deferential as it is used in the text? A. meek B. humble C. yielding D. docile

C. yielding

Author of A Tale of Two Cities

Charles Dickens

(The Rime of the Ancient Mariner) Which of the following statements about the albatross is best supported by the passage below (lines 63-70)? At length did cross an albatross, Thorough the fog it came; As if it had been a Christian soul, We hailed it in God's name. It ate the food it ne'er had eat, And round and round it flew. The ice did split with a thunder-fit; The helmsman steered us through! A. The albatross had been sent by a rescue team to retrieve the missing vessel. B. The albatross pestered the crewmen every day for food. C. The albatross was very picky about the food it ate. D. The albatross was seen by the sailors as a good omen.

D. The albatross was seen by the sailors as a good omen.

(The Importance of Being Earnest) The following passage (line 32) adds to the development of the text mainly by . GWENDOLEN: You have filled my tea with lumps of sugar, and though I asked most distinctly for bread and butter, you have given me cake. I am known for the gentleness of my disposition, and the extraordinary sweetness of my nature, but I warn you, Miss Cardew, you may go too far. A. indicating that Cecily is more at fault for the argument than Gwendolen B. offering an example of an extreme social faux pas during this time period C. showing that teatime is a very important ritual for social bonding between women D. highlighting the trivial nature of the women's disagreement

D. highlighting the trivial nature of the women's disagreement

Author of A Cup Of Tea

Katherine Mansfield

Author of Frankenstein

Mary Shelley

Author of The Postmaster

Rabindranath Tagore

Author of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Ode on a Grecian Urn by John Keats Summary

The speaker looks upon a Grecian urn, marveling at the pictures upon its side. Speaking to it, he thinks it knows how to tell a story even better than his poetry can. One of the pictures is a young man playing a pipe beneath the trees. The speaker addresses him, saying that imagined melodies are even sweeter than those heard out loud. He envies the youth, because he will never grow old, the trees will not go bare, nor will the beauty of his lover ever fade. Looking at another picture, the speaker sees priests leading a cow to sacrifice. His mood turns darker, thinking how that town will stay silent forever, with no one to explain why it is so desolate on this day. In the final stanza, the speaker addresses the urn itself—how it will remain when he and everyone he knows is dead. The urn will continue teaching its lesson, that truth and beauty are one and the same, for all of eternity.

Victorianism Major Concepts

- culture and ideals of 19th century England - novels were popular -periodicals (novels released over a period of time like a tv show) -the rise of realism: seeks to portray life as it really is, the good and bad. focused on the working conditions of the middle class. social reform

Victorianism Works

-The Cry of the Children - Factory Children - A tale of two cities - Wurthering Heights - Pride and Prejudice - The importance of being earnest

(Ode on a Grecian Urn) Which of these ideas is mainly expressed in the poem? A. Although humans will grow old and die, the urn will last forever as a testament to history. B. Religion and faith are two concepts that connect humanity throughout history. C. The subjects on the urn are unsatisfied because they can never change or grow like real humans. D. Art is the only true expression of beauty that exists in the world, because humans are flawed and words fade.

A. Although humans will grow old and die, the urn will last forever as a testament to history.

(Factory Children) Which of the following statements best explains the author's position on the Ten Hours' Bill? A. He agrees with the bill and advocates for its passage to preserve the health of children and the morality of society. B. He agrees with the bill and believes everyone will love and easily support it. C. He disagrees with the bill and argues against its passage. D. He authored the bill with a doctor and two children.

A. He agrees with the bill and advocates for its passage to preserve the health of children and the morality of society.

(The Rime of the Ancient Mariner) Which selection most closely explains how Coleridge structures the poem's narrative? A. He employs a circular narrative that begins and ends in the same place in the story. B. He describes events in a chronological order without deviation. C. He describes events in characters' lives in reverse chronological order. D. He builds a stream of consciousness narrative in which characters and events are largely indistinguishable.

A. He employs a circular narrative that begins and ends in the same place in the story.

(Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey) In the final stanza, Nature is personified as________ . A. a woman B. Wordsworth's sister C. a nurse D. a lost man

A. a woman

(The Importance of Being Earnest) The tone of the play is best described as_______ . A. satirical B. suspenseful C. ironic D. hostile

A. satirical

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Sumary

After toiling for two years, Dr. Frankenstein finally succeeds in giving life to his creature. However, seeing the horrific monster he has created, he is filled with horror and disgust. Dr. Frankenstein has nightmares and wakes to see the creature standing by his bed, staring at him. Later in the book, Frankenstein sees the monster approaching from across the ice and prepares to engage in mortal combat. Dr. Frankenstein makes his intentions known, but the creature begs his creator for acceptance. The creature speaks eloquently about how much men hate the wretched and laments over how awfully he is hated. He speaks of his suffering and what it feels like to be despised by all. Ultimately, he feels an allegiance toward Frankenstein for giving him life and asks him to be better than other men. The creature vows to be good if Dr. Frankenstein will help him to be happy.

(The Rime of the Ancient Mariner) Which of the following selections most closely identifies two themes of the poem? A. tradition and ceremony B. guilt and repentance C. exploration and devotion D. companionship and isolation

B. guilt and repentance

(Ode on a Grecian Urn) In the following passage (lines 2-4), the speaker mainly expresses that . Thou foster-child of silence and slow time, Sylvan historian, who canst thus express A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme: A. foster children are often marginalized in history B. the urn can tell history better than poets C. history is the most creative story ever told D. historians are more valuable than poets

B. the urn can tell history better than poets

(Frankenstein) The tone of the following passage (paragraph 1) is best described as . It was on a dreary night of November that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils. With an anxiety that almost amounted to agony, I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet. It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs. A. matter-of-fact and emotionless B. uneasy and ominous C. exhausted D. triumphant and satisfied

B. uneasy and ominous

(The Rime of the Ancient Mariner) Which of the following selections best explains why the albatross is hung around the mariner's neck (lines 139-142)? Ah! wel-a-day! what evil looks Had I from old and young! Instead of the cross, the albatross About my neck was hung. A. Because he wants to show it off as a hunting trophy. B. Because he has rejected Christianity. C. Because it serves as a reminder of his bad deed. D. None of the above.

C. Because it serves as a reminder of his bad deed.

(The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock) What is the central idea or theme of this passage? But though I have wept and fasted, wept and prayed, Though I have seen my head (grown slightly bald) brought in upon a platter, I am no prophet—and here's no great matter; I have seen the moment of my greatness flicker, And I have seen the eternal Footman hold my coat, and snicker, And in short, I was afraid. A. His butler is a smart-aleck but has worked for him a long time. B. He has had a vision in which he is executed. C. He feels his chance to seize his own life has passed him by. D. He was miserable despite religious practice.

C. He feels his chance to seize his own life has passed him by.

(Ozymandias) What can the reader infer from the description of the scene below? Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand, Half sunk, a shattered visage lies A. In ancient times, a giant forest grew on the site. B. There is quicksand in the area which has swallowed the creation Ozymandias was so proud of. C. Ozymandias had a massive statue of himself constructed of which only fragments remain. D. The waste of resources practiced under Ozymandias' rule turned a fruitful area into barren desert.

C. Ozymandias had a massive statue of himself constructed of which only fragments remain.

(The Postmaster) What is most likely the reason Ratan calls the postmaster "Dada"? A. The postmaster resembles her father. B. Ratan knows the postmaster is a village elder. C. The postmaster serves a father-like role in her life. D. Ratan calls all older gentlemen "Dada."

C. The postmaster serves a father-like role in her life.

(The Cry of the Children) Which of the following statements most closely describes how the children in the poem view death? A. Dying for their country is an honor and a privilege. B. Death is just an illusion. C. They consider death to be a release from their brutal, hardscrabble lives. D. They would rather die in the mines and factories than on a battlefield.

C. They consider death to be a release from their brutal, hardscrabble lives.

(Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey) Which of these selections best expresses the poet's meaning in the following passage (lines 110-113)? And what perceive; well pleased to recognise In nature and the language of the sense The anchor of my purest thoughts, the nurse, The guide, the guardian of my heart, and soul Of all my moral being. A. Wordsworth argues that his love of nature prevents him from reaching his full potential as a poet. B. Wordsworth links his experience of nature and religion through similar imagery. C. Wordsworth believes nature positively influences his thoughts, feelings, and entire self.

C. Wordsworth believes nature positively influences his thoughts, feelings, and entire self.

(Dulce Et Decorum Est) The soldiers in the following passage (lines 1-8) are most closely depicted as . Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs And towards our distant rest began to trudge. Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind; Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind. A. dangerous B. inebriated C. impaired D. aloof

C. impaired

(The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock) Which of the following best explains the tone in which Eliot begins the poem? A. distant, erudite B. like a public speaker C. intimate, cultured D. very informal

C. intimate, cultured

(Frankenstein) Which of the following words best replaces clemency in the following passage (paragraph 10)? Oh, Frankenstein, be not equitable to every other and trample upon me alone, to whom thy justice, and even thy clemency and affection, is most due. Remember that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed. A. forgiveness B. love C. mercy D. devotion

C. mercy

Author of Factory Children

Cavie Richardson

(Dulce Et Decorum Est) Which of the following ideas is best supported by the poem? A. War makes all soldiers go insane. B. People who support war are cruel. C. It is sweet and right to die for one's country. D. War is unglamorous and dehumanizing.

D. War is unglamorous and dehumanizing.

(The Cry of the Children) The following passage from "The Cry of the Children" is written in_____tense, from a_______ point of view (lines 59-62). Go out, children, from the mine and from the city — Sing out, children, as the little thrushes do — Pluck you handfuls of the meadow-cowslips pretty Laugh aloud, to feel your fingers let them through! A. past; first-person B. past; second-person C. present; first-person D. present; second-person

D. present; second-person

(The Rime of the Ancient Mariner) The aspect of the poem's narrative that is left most uncertain is . A. what happens on the ship to the nephew of the ancient mariner B. the reason the ancient mariner tells his story to the wedding guest C. the number of men traveling in the crew with the ancient mariner D. the reason the ancient mariner shoots the albatross with his crossbow

D. the reason the ancient mariner shoots the albatross with his crossbow

Author of The Cry of the Children

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Author of Wuthering Heights

Emily Bronte

Author of Araby (from 'Dubliners')

James Joyce

Author of Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen

Author of The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock

T.S. Eliot

Romanticism Major Concepts

- born from concerns about modernization - nature vs. science -emotion over reason - individualism over conformity - freedom over order -truth and beauty

Romanticism Works

-The Rime of the Ancient Mariner -Ozymandias -Ode on a Grecian Urn -Composed a few miles from Tintern Abbey - Frankentsien

Modernism Major Concepts

-condemns societies social oppressions - imperialism - surrealism ( tried to capture meaning through movement, thought, emotion, and other abstracts that can't be shown on a canvas) - class, colonialism, and war - women's rights

(A Room of One's Own) Which of these statements best summarizes the similarity Woolf sees between the working class and women? A. Based on society's structural injustice, members of both groups are much less likely able to act on their genius. B. Based on society's structural injustice, members of both groups are much less likely to be intelligent. C. Based on society's structural injustice, members of both groups are much less likely to understand the theater. D. Based on society's structural injustice, members of both groups are much less likely to be interested in the arts.

A. Based on society's structural injustice, members of both groups are much less likely able to act on their genius.

(Frankenstein) Which of the following inferences is best supported by the following excerpt from the text (paragraph 5)? "Devil," I exclaimed, "do you dare approach me? And do not you fear the fierce vengeance of my arm wreaked on your miserable head? Begone, vile insect! Or rather, stay, that I may trample you to dust! And, oh! That I could, with the extinction of your miserable existence, restore those victims whom you have so diabolically murdered!" A. Dr. Frankenstein's rage has made him feel indestructible. B. Dr. Frankenstein is afraid of the creature and hopes to escape from him. C. Dr. Frankenstein believes the creature is the literal incarnation of the Devil. D. The creature, though appearing human, has the nervous system and organs of an insect.

A. Dr. Frankenstein's rage has made him feel indestructible.

(A Tale of Two Cities) Which of the following statements is best supported by the passage below (paragraph 4)? France, less favoured on the whole as to matters spiritual than her sister of the shield and trident, rolled with exceeding smoothness down hill, making paper money and spending it. Under the guidance of her Christian pastors, she entertained herself, besides, with such humane achievements as sentencing a youth to have his hands cut off, his tongue torn out with pincers, and his body burned alive, because he had not kneeled down in the rain to do honour to a dirty procession of monks which passed within his view, at a distance of some fifty or sixty yards. A. France was suffering under the specter of moral hypocrisy. B. France was having a difficult time spending its surplus of money. Incorrect. The author implies that France's monetary policy was one of the factors in the country going "down hill." C. France had recently instituted new laws regarding the public treatment of monks. D. France was more concerned with spiritual matters than England.

A. France was suffering under the specter of moral hypocrisy.

(The Postmaster) What does the following passage mainly reveal about the postmaster's point of view (paragraph 14)? The postmaster had nothing to do. The shimmer of the freshly washed leaves, and the banked-up remnants of the retreating rain-clouds were sights to see; and the postmaster was watching them and thinking to himself: "Oh, if only some kindred soul were near - just one loving human being whom I could hold near my heart!" This was exactly, he went on to think, what that bird was trying to say, and it was the same feeling which the murmuring leaves were striving to express. But no one knows, or would believe, that such an idea might also take possession of an ill-paid village postmaster in the deep, silent mid-day interval of his work. A. He does not view Ratan as a "kindred soul." B. The postmaster thinks he hears voices in the nearby forests. C. He views his work as important and industrious. D. The postmaster is not self-involved.

A. He does not view Ratan as a "kindred soul."

(The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock) Which of these inferences is best supported by the passage below? Shall I say, I have gone at dusk through narrow streets And watched the smoke that rises from the pipes Of lonely men in shirt-sleeves, leaning out of windows? I should have been a pair of ragged claws Scuttling across the floors of silent seas. A. He feels different and unable to relate to people. B. He is hesitant to admit that he likes hanging out in working-class bars. C. He sees the opportunity for lonely people to connect when smoking. D. He thinks he is like a crab.

A. He feels different and unable to relate to people.

(Pride and Prejudice) Which of these inferences about Mr. Bennet is best supported by the passage below (paragraph 29-31)? "You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least." "Ah! you do not know what I suffer." "But I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young men of four thousand a year come into the neighbourhood." A. He uses his sense of humor to defuse tension with his wife. B. His psychological disorder makes him believe that his wife's nerves are living, breathing people. C. He doesn't take his wife seriously at all. D. He thinks about other women all the time.

A. He uses his sense of humor to defuse tension with his wife.

(Wurthering Heights) Which of the following inferences best explains Catherine and Heathcliff's love? A. It runs hot and cold, vacillating between profound anger and deep longing. B. Catherine feels it was a youthful infatuation, whereas Heathcliff wanted something more. C. Heathcliff agrees that it was right for Catherine to marry Edgar Linton for his financial security. D. Their decisions to marry other people ultimately allowed them to live more stable lives.

A. It runs hot and cold, vacillating between profound anger and deep longing.

(Factory Children) Which is most closely the central idea of the passage below (paragraph 5)? To remedy these and the various evils connected with the system in general, and to render it as far as possible what it ought to be, an advantage to the labouring classes of the community; or at least to mitigate the rigours endured by the Children, a Bill has been introduced into Parliament to limit the hours of labour to twelve, for five days in the week, and ten on the Saturdays, including proper times for meals; and that no Child shall be allowed to work in the Factories under Nine years of age; this is termed the "Ten Hours' Bill." A. The intention of the Ten Hours' Bill is to limit working hours for children to improve society and lessen the severity of the current conditions where children are currently suffering. B. The current system is evil and should be overthrown immediately solely to benefit the wealthy owners, who give away too large of a percentage of their profits, to help keep their workers happy. C. Children should only work six days per week because that is how many days God worked when he created the earth. D. Only children over nine should work in factories, because they are the only ones who are old enough to prepare and eventually eat the meals that they take into work.

A. The intention of the Ten Hours' Bill is to limit working hours for children to improve society and lessen the severity of the current conditions where children are currently suffering.

(Factory Children) Which of the following inferences about Factory Children is best supported by the text? A. The majority of the factory children are from families who must send their children to work to help financially support their households. B. The majority of factory children come from families with low morals, a different set of societal values, and prefer to engage in criminal behavior. C. The majority of factory children are promiscuous and make poor choices, which is why they need someone to step in and support a change in their work environment. D. The majority of factory children can pay for the bill to be passed; all they have to do is ask for money from their parents and other relatives, since all of the workers come from wealthy homes.

A. The majority of the factory children are from families who must send their children to work to help financially support their households.

(The Second Coming) Which of the following best explains the purpose of the passage below (lines 1-4)? Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world... A. The passage introduces the reader to a sense of chaos and disorder. B. The passage suggests that all of the earth's birds have lost control. C. The passage outlines Yeats's fears in the aftermath of WWI for the reader. D. The passage explains that anarchy is now the favored political system.

A. The passage introduces the reader to a sense of chaos and disorder.

(Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey) Which of these statements best explains the lasting effect that the setting of Tintern Abbey had on Wordsworth? A. The thought of the beautiful landscape and the memories he made there helped him through difficult times. B. His trip to the abbey was the last time he ever saw his beloved sister so the memories were bittersweet. C. His visit at the abbey inspired him to begin writing poetry, so he could share his powerful experience with the world. D. The landscape was so moving and beautiful that Wordsworth decided to devote his life to the God that had created it.

A. The thought of the beautiful landscape and the memories he made there helped him through difficult times.

(The Rime of the Ancient Mariner) Which of the following statements would the ancient mariner be most likely to agree with by the end of the poem? A. There is a power greater than man that decides the fate of the soul. B. Competition creates a treacherous environment among crewmen. C. Vanity allows for the congregation of superficial companions. D. Humanity is more valued than the creatures of land and sea.

A. There is a power greater than man that decides the fate of the soul.

(The Cry of the Children) Which of the following statements most closely summarizes the passage below (lines 39-54)? "True," say the children, "it may happen That we die before our time! Little Alice died last year her grave is shapen Like a snowball, in the rime. We looked into the pit prepared to take her— Was no room for any work in the close clay: From the sleep wherein she lieth none will wake her, Crying, 'Get up, little Alice! it is day.' If you listen by that grave, in sun and shower, With your ear down, little Alice never cries; Could we see her face, be sure we should not know her, For the smile has time for growing in her eyes ,— And merry go her moments, lulled and stilled in The shroud, by the kirk-chime! It is good when it happens," say the children, "That we die before our time!" A. Though Alice is dead, she is lucky because her suffering is over. B. Those who die for their country live forever. C. Most turn a blind eye to the children's suffering. D. Parliament is in the process of intervening to protect the children.

A. Though Alice is dead, she is lucky because her suffering is over.

(Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey) The following passage (lines 63-67) most closely expresses the idea that . The picture of the mind revives again: While here I stand, not only with the sense Of present pleasure, but with pleasing thoughts That in this moment there is life and food For future years. And so I dare to hope, A. joyful experiences offer happiness over and over again through memory B. nothing brings more pleasure than family bonding over a good meal C. it is only possible to find happiness if one has satisfied their basic needs, such as food and health D. paintings of beautiful landscapes can remind people of treasured memories

A. joyful experiences offer happiness over and over again through memory

(Frankenstein) The excerpts from Frankenstein are told in the_____tense, from a_____point of view. A. past; first-person B. past; third-person C. present; first-person D. present; third-person

A. past; first-person

(A Tale of Two Cities) The following passage (paragraph 2) adds to the development of the text mainly by . There were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a plain face, on the throne of England; there were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a fair face, on the throne of France. In both countries it was clearer than crystal to the lords of the State preserves of loaves and fishes, that things in general were settled for ever. A. showing that, while people in France and England may have viewed themselves quite differently, they had many more similarities than differences B. critiquing monarchy as a political system C. introducing key characters who will figure prominently in the narrative D. explaining that the primary diet in England consisted mainly of bread and seafood

A. showing that, while people in France and England may have viewed themselves quite differently, they had many more similarities than differences

A Room Of One's Own by Virginia Woolf summary

According to Virginia Woolf, Shakespeare was given the education that would have allowed him to find his way to London's theater world. If he had a sister who possessed equal amounts of genius, she mostly likely would have been forced into housework and an early marriage. If she had rebelled and ran off to London, she would have been laughed away from the theater door, perhaps finding solace in the arms of a man or killing herself. Genius did not make itself apparent among the working classes and women at the time, but Woolf believes that genius of some sort must have existed. All stories of witches, women possessed by devils, and even remarkable mothers are tales of novelists that could have been, Woolf asserts. Any woman born with a poetic gift in the sixteenth century was sure to live a painful life, torn between her own natural creativity and the culture that strove to thwart her.

A Cup Of Tea by Katherine Mansfield Summary

Although Rosemary Fell was a very rich woman, she was not very beautiful. One day, while visiting her favorite antique store, she could not bring herself to pay 28 guineas for an antique box. Outside the store, a poor woman approached Rosemary and asked for money to buy a cup of tea. Rosemary was struck with a whim and decided to take the poor girl home. Rosemary pictured how she would take care of the girl and how she would tell her friends about it later. Upstairs, the girl was very shy, but Rosemary had tea and sandwiches brought in. Then Rosemary's husband walked in and, upon seeing the girl, was shocked. In private, he told Rosemary that it was impossible for the girl to stay there, and also admitted that the girl was incredibly pretty. Now envious of the girl's looks, Rosemary abandoned her plan to keep her and sent her off with a little money. Later, Rosemary asked her husband whether he thinks she's pretty.

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge summary

An old mariner accosts a man heading to a wedding to tell him his crazy life story. The Mariner's ship had just set sail when a great storm blew them off course. They ended up near Antarctica, lost in icy fog. An albatross appears and begins to steer them to safety, but the Mariner shoots the bird. The winds cease, the conditions get hot, and the other sailors, dying of thirst, hang the albatross upon the Mariner's neck. The Mariner sees a ship approaching and rejoices, but as it gets closers, the sailors see it is a ghost ship. The crew dies upon the deck and the Mariner lies there helpless. Awoken by the rain, he uses the winds of the storm to sail to port, where his ship suddenly sinks. The Mariner is rescued by a rowboat and, back on shore, he spends his time moving from land to land, his heart burning, looking for the right person to whom he can tell his tale.

(Wurthering Heights) Which of the following statements by Heathcliff most strongly suggests his reason(s) for being angry with Catherine? A. "'Don't torture me till I'm as mad as yourself,' cried he, wrenching his head free, and grinding his teeth.'" B. "'Why did you betray your own heart, Cathy? I have not one word of comfort. You deserve this. You have killed yourself.'" C. "'Did shetake due warning, then?' asked Heathcliff, attempting a sneer. 'Did she die like a saint? Come, give me a true history of the event. How did—?'" D. "'And—did she ever mention me?' he asked, hesitating, as if he dreaded the answer to his question would introduce details that he could not bear to hear."

B. "'Why did you betray your own heart, Cathy? I have not one word of comfort. You deserve this. You have killed yourself.'"

(Pride and Prejudice) Which of the following inferences best explains Mr. Bennet's assessment of his daughters as marriage prospects for Mr. Bingley? A. He is proud of his daughters as potentially good wives. B. He doesn't see anything special about his daughters except for Lizzy. C. He is embarrassed by his daughters. D. He wishes his daughters were boys.

B. He doesn't see anything special about his daughters except for Lizzy.

(The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock) How does the poet introduce the various settings? A. He presents each setting with title cards as if you are watching a silent film. B. He leads you from one setting to the next to create the impression that you are in his company. C. He refers to each setting through works of literature you are expected to have read. D. He communicates the settings through the use of newspaper headlines.

B. He leads you from one setting to the next to create the impression that you are in his company.

(The Importance of Being Earnest) Which of the following inferences about the women and Ernest is most likely supported by the text? A. Gwendolen thinks that she must protect Ernest from Cecily, because Cecily has a reputation for being manipulative. B. Instead of blaming Ernest for proposing to two women, Cecily and Gwendolen are angry with one another. C. Cecily is jealous that Gwendolen has more of a claim to Ernest, because Ernest proposed to her first. D. Cecily and Gwendolen believe it is socially unacceptable to question Ernest directly about the matter of double proposals.

B. Instead of blaming Ernest for proposing to two women, Cecily and Gwendolen are angry with one another.

(Wurthering Heights) Which inference about Nelly is best supported by the text from chapter 16? A. She is loyal to the Lintons, in spite of Heathcliff. B. She is tactful with Heathcliff about Catherine's death. C. She is overbearing toward Catherine. D. None of the above.

B. She is tactful with Heathcliff about Catherine's death.

(The Postmaster) Which statement best explains the reason for the story's tragic outcome? A. You can never truly go home again once you've left. B. Sometimes different people's needs cannot be reconciled. C. People from the city are simply not suited to live in the country. D. Government work is monotonous and needs to be avoided.

B. Sometimes different people's needs cannot be reconciled.

(Araby) Which of the following most closely explains the purpose of the following passage (paragraph 12)? What innumerable follies laid waste my waking and sleeping thoughts after that evening! I wished to annihilate the tedious intervening days. I chafed against the work of school. At night in my bedroom and by day in the classroom her image came between me and the page I strove to read. The syllables of the word Araby were called to me through the silence in which my soul luxuriated and cast an Eastern enchantment over me. I asked for leave to go to the bazaar on Saturday night. My aunt was surprised and hoped it was not some Freemason affair. I answered few questions in class. I watched my master's face pass from amiability to sternness; he hoped I was not beginning to idle. I could not call my wandering thoughts together. I had hardly any patience with the serious work of life which, now that it stood between me and my desire, seemed to me child's play, ugly monotonous child's play. A. The passage provides a critique of daily routines and responsibilities. B. The passage suggests that everyday life stands in the way of the boy's desire. C. The passage explains that the boy is preoccupied with Araby because he's nervous. D. The passage shows that the boy's romantic feelings ruined his good grades.

B. The passage suggests that everyday life stands in the way of the boy's desire.

(The Postmaster) Which of these inferences about the postmaster is best supported by the second paragraph? Our postmaster belonged to Calcutta. He felt like a fish out of water in this remote village. His office and living-room were in a dark thatched shed, not far from a green, slimy pond, surrounded on all sides by a dense growth. A. The postmaster fits in and blends with his environment. B. The postmaster is physically and psychologically isolated from other people in the village. C. The postmaster loves solitude. D. The postmaster once belonged to Calcutta, but has come to feel at home in Ula

B. The postmaster is physically and psychologically isolated from other people in the village.

(Factory Children) Which of the following best explains why Richardson introduced this bill? A. Children and parents were regularly working alongside one another and wanted someone to introduce protections for all workers. B. The traditional working model of children and parents operating their own family "factories" had ended; which forced children to endure inhumane conditions in industrial factories. C. Parents were upset because their children were not being paid for their overtime hours; thus, many families were forced to sacrifice significantly as their finances dwindled and their children became severely overworked. D. Parents were happy that their children of both sexes were working alongside one another; it made it far easier to organize arranged marriages and ensure that their children were being properly socialized at their jobs.

B. The traditional working model of children and parents operating their own family "factories" had ended; which forced children to endure inhumane conditions in industrial factories.

(The Importance of Being Earnest) Which of the following best characterizes Gwendolen and Cecily's initial behavior when they find out the other is engaged to Ernest? A. They do away with manners immediately and act rudely to each other. B. They are very polite and formal, despite the shocking news. C. They are kind and compassionate, despite the confusion. D. They are polite but condescending to each other.

B. They are very polite and formal, despite the shocking news.

(Ozymandias) What is most likely the author's reason for telling the story as it was told to him by "a traveller from an antique land"? A. To avoid responsibility for whether the story is true or not. B. To allow him freedom to supply dramatic detail without bringing up questions of how he saw these things, where exactly, et cetera. C. To allow himself questionable distance from the bleak attitude toward all human accomplishment reflected in the poem. D. To avoid legal action by anyone who might feel the poem was based on them.

B. To allow him freedom to supply dramatic detail without bringing up questions of how he saw these things, where exactly, et cetera.

(Ode on a Grecian Urn) Which meaning of overwrought most closely matches its meaning in the following excerpt? O Attic shape! Fair attitude! with brede Of marble men and maidens overwrought, With forest branches and the trodden weed; A. adjective | thoughtless B. adjective | excessively complicated C. verb | to ripen D. verb | to complicate something unnecessarily

B. adjective | excessively complicated

(A Room of One's Own) Based on the text, Woolf most likely believes that tragic reactions, such as insanity or suicide, . A. are a form of power that women can use against their oppressors B. are only natural for a person who is systematically unable to act on her passions C. are the only outlets women have to express themselves in society D. are the only model for behavior that a sexist society has bestowed upon women

B. are only natural for a person who is systematically unable to act on her passions

(A Room of One's Own) The author most likely discusses the life of William Shakespeare's imagined sister in order to__________ . A. substantiate the claim that men in Shakespeare's time were sexist B. examine the disadvantages that talented women have faced all throughout history C. offer a new, unexplored angle in her biography of William Shakespeare D. argue that women are still less inclined to pursue a career in the arts than a man

B. examine the disadvantages that talented women have faced all throughout history

(Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey) The following passage (lines 90-95) adds to the development of the text mainly by . Abundant recompense. For I have learned To look on nature, not as in the hour Of thoughtless youth; but hearing oftentimes The still sad music of humanity, Nor harsh nor grating, though of ample power To chasten and subdue.—And I have felt Answer choices for the above question A. showing that Wordsworth believes humanity has ruined nature B. explaining that Wordsworth perceived nature differently as he matured C. indicating that Wordsworth appreciated nature more as a young man D. All of the above

B. explaining that Wordsworth perceived nature differently as he matured

(The Postmaster) The author establishes a conflict between what Ratan and the postmaster want from each other mainly by_______ . A. revealing that Ratan has always dreamed of Calcutta B. having the postmaster dismiss her request to come to his home C. putting Ratan in charge of nursing him back to health D. having Ratan beg him to stay in Ulapur

B. having the postmaster dismiss her request to come to his home

(A Tale of Two Cities) The narrator's range of knowledge is best described as . A. confined very closely to a specific character's point of view B. omniscient C. unreliable D. confined to only specific areas of expertise

B. omniscient

(The Importance of Being Earnest) The passage below (lines 18-23) mainly shows . GWENDOLEN [Looking round.]: Quite a well-kept garden this is, Miss Cardew. CECILY: So glad you like it, Miss Fairfax. GWENDOLEN: I had no idea there were any flowers in the country. CECILY: Oh, flowers are as common here, Miss Fairfax, as people are in London. GWENDOLEN: Personally I cannot understand how anybody manages to exist in the country, if anybody who is anybody does. The country always bores me to death. CECILY: Ah! This is what the newspapers call agricultural depression, is it not? I believe the aristocracy are suffering very much from it just at present. It is almost an epidemic amongst them, I have been told. May I offer you some tea, Miss Fairfax? A. that people from the country never get along with people from the city B. that Gwendolen and Cecily are using each other's respective homes to land an insult C. that Gwendolen and Cecily are choosing to rise above their anger and be polite D. that people from the city tend to look down on those from the country

B. that Gwendolen and Cecily are using each other's respective homes to land an insult

(A Tale of Two Cities) The following passage (paragraph 6) adds to the development of the text mainly by showing . ... daring burglaries by armed men, and highway robberies, took place in the capital itself every night; families were publicly cautioned not to go out of town without removing their furniture to upholsterers' warehouses for security; the highwayman in the dark was a City tradesman in the light, and, being recognised and challenged by his fellow- tradesman whom he stopped in his character of "the Captain," gallantly shot him through the head and rode away; the mall was waylaid by seven robbers, and the guard shot three dead, and then got shot dead himself by the other four, "in consequence of the failure of his ammunition:" after which the mall was robbed in peace ... A. that France struggled with a much higher crime rate compared to England at this time B. that London had become a dangerous and violent city during this period C. that the narrator exaggerates the problems afflicting London D. that a main issue afflicting robbers is that they often forgot to bring enough ammunition

B. that London had become a dangerous and violent city during this period

(Wurthering Heights) Which of the following passages best illustrates the meaning of something that is both literal and figurative? A. "'Nelly, I see now you think me a selfish wretch; but did it never strike you that if Heathcliff and I married, we should be beggars? Whereas, if I marry Linton I can aid Heathcliff to rise, and place him out of my brother's power.'" B. "Heathcliff had knelt on one knee to embrace her; he attempted to rise, but she seized his hair, and kept him down." C. "'Her senses never returned: she recognised nobody from the time you left her,' I said. 'She lies with a sweet smile on her face;'" D. "'May she wake in torment!' he cried, with frightful vehemence, stamping his foot, and groaning in a sudden paroxysm of ungovernable passion."

C. "'Her senses never returned: she recognised nobody from the time you left her,' I said. 'She lies with a sweet smile on her face;'"

(Ode on a Grecian Urn) Which of these statements best summarizes the following passage (lines 17-20)? Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss, Though winning near the goal—yet, do not grieve; She cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss, For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair! A. Love is more valuable than beauty, because beauty may fade but true love can last forever. B. The woman pictured on the urn is losing her beautiful looks because she is separated from her lover by a crack in the ceramic. C. Because the lovers depicted on the urn are frozen in time, the man will never kiss his love and the woman's beauty will never fade. D. Keats wishes that his lover would never grow old and their love would never be subject to the changes of real life.

C. Because the lovers depicted on the urn are frozen in time, the man will never kiss his love and the woman's beauty will never fade.

(Wurthering Heights) Which statement about Catherine is best inferred from the excerpt's final passage (paragraph 37)? The place of Catherine's interment, to the surprise of the villagers, was neither in the chapel under the carved monument of the Lintons, nor yet by the tombs of her own relations, outside. It was dug on a green slope in a corner of the kirk-yard, where the wall is so low that heath and bilberry-plants have climbed over it from the moor; and peat-mould almost buries it. A. Catherine's husband and family have disowned her and forbidden burial at their plots. B. Catherine wants to express her independence by choosing a burial place of her own. C. Catherine has chosen a spot to be buried that represents her love for Heathcliff. D. Catherine's burial place has become overgrown due to neglect by the Lintons.

C. Catherine has chosen a spot to be buried that represents her love for Heathcliff.

(Pride and Prejudice) Which of these inferences about Mr. Bennet is best supported by the passage below (paragraph 11-19)? "What is his name?" "Bingley." "Is he married or single?" "Oh! single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!" "How so? how can it affect them?" "My dear Mr. Bennet," replied his wife, "how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them." "Is that his design in settling here?" "Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes." "I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better, for as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley might like you the best of the party." A. He asks the obvious because he is slow to understand his wife. B. He is jealous of Mr. Bingley's fortune. C. He does not demonstrate eagerness regarding his wife's plans. D. He would like to seek a divorce from his wife.

C. He does not demonstrate eagerness regarding his wife's plans.

(Frankenstein) Which of the following statements about Dr. Frankenstein is most strongly supported by the following passage (paragraph 2)? How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form? His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! Great God! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun-white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips. A. He is impressed by the beauty of his own work. B. He knows he must destroy what he has created. C. He is devastated that his efforts to create something beautiful have backfired. D. He is disappointed in himself.

C. He is devastated that his efforts to create something beautiful have backfired.

(The Second Coming) What does the sphinx, or the sandy "shape with lion body and the head of a man," most closely reveal to the speaker? A. Humankind has been delusional until now. B. Jesus will be born again as a rough beast. C. Humankind is on the brink of total disaster. D. A terrible monster will be brought to earth soon.

C. Humankind is on the brink of total disaster.

(Araby) Which of the following most closely explains the boy's "bad humour" the day he is meant to go to Araby? A. The bazaar is canceled right before he leaves the house. B. He doesn't think Mangan's sister loves him. C. It seems that nothing is going according to plan. D. He has changed his mind about attending the bazaar.

C. It seems that nothing is going according to plan.

(Factory Children) Which of these inferences about the opposition to the Ten Hours' Bill is best supported by the passage below (paragraph 10)? The opposition to the measure has been great—the Bill has been sent into a Select Committee of the House of Commons, witnesses have had to be produced, and various expenses incurred to the amount of £3500 and upwards; of which sum of about £1000 is received in subscriptions, so that there is yet a deficiency of more than £2500. A. Everyone might consider supporting the bill if it did not cost as much as it has. B. The witnesses were eager to speak at the House of Commons and discuss how much support they would need to get this bill to pass. C. The bill has faced an inordinate amount of opposition; this seems to bolster the notion that people are not eager to find other factory workers who are not children. D. The amount of money that this bill has cost is unfair because others were much cheaper.

C. The bill has faced an inordinate amount of opposition; this seems to bolster the notion that people are not eager to find other factory workers who are not children.

(Frankenstein) What has most likely happened between the excerpts from Chapters 5 and 10, based on information in the passage below (paragraph 6)? "I expected this reception," said the daemon. "All men hate the wretched; how, then, must I be hated, who am miserable beyond all living things! Yet you, my creator, detest and spurn me, thy creature, to whom thou art bound by ties only dissoluble by the annihilation of one of us. You purpose to kill me. How dare you sport thus with life? Do your duty towards me, and I will do mine towards you and the rest of mankind. If you will comply with my conditions, I will leave them and you at peace; but if you refuse, I will glut the maw of death, until it be satiated with the blood of your remaining friends." A. Dr. Frankenstein's creature has gained considerable intelligence. B. The creature has made preparations to kill Dr. Frankenstein. C. The creature has already murdered someone close to Dr. Frankenstein. D. Dr. Frankenstein realized that he should not have spurned his creature.

C. The creature has already murdered someone close to Dr. Frankenstein.

(The Importance of Being Earnest) Which of the following inferences about Cecily and Gwendolen is best supported by the excerpt? A. Neither woman is suitable to marry Ernest because of their low social status. B. They both want to marry Ernest because they know he is the most eligible bachelor their age. C. Their social status forces them to hide their annoyance and petty insults behind a veil of civility. D. It is difficult for both women to voice their anger toward one another because they have been friends for so long.

C. Their social status forces them to hide their annoyance and petty insults behind a veil of civility.

(The Cry of the Children) Which of the following words best replaces pang as it is used in the passage below (lines 144-150)? They sink in the despair, without its calm — Are slaves, without the liberty in Christdom, — Are martyrs, by the pang without the palm, — Are worn, as if with age, yet unretrievingly No dear remembrance keep,— Are orphans of the earthly love and heavenly : Let them weep ! let them weep! A. stare B. insult C. ache D. laugh

C. ache

(The Second Coming) In the following passage (lines 5-8) the speaker mainly suggests that . The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity. A. Yeats does not trust anyone he comes into contact with anymore B. a great flood has drowned all the good and innocent people in society C. good people have become weak, while bad people are now strengthened D. there are not any morally decent people left in society anymore

C. good people have become weak, while bad people are now strengthened

(Araby) The following passage (paragraph 4) mainly reveals that . Every morning I lay on the floor in the front parlour watching her door. The blind was pulled down to within an inch of the sash so that I could not be seen. When she came out on the doorstep my heart leaped. I ran to the hall, seized my books and followed her. I kept her brown figure always in my eye and, when we came near the point at which our ways diverged, I quickened my pace and passed her. This happened morning after morning. I had never spoken to her, except for a few casual words, and yet her name was like a summons to all my foolish blood. A. Mangan's sister does not know the boy well B. the boy wants to intimidate Mangan's sister C. the boy has intense feelings for Mangan's sister D. Mangan's sister and the boy are deeply in love

C. the boy has intense feelings for Mangan's sister

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë summary

Catherine knows heaven is not her home. She also knows she shouldn't be marrying Linton, but hopes she can use Linton's money to help Heathcliff make his way in the world. She and Heathcliff have matching souls, but still, it would lower her position to marry him. Heathcliff overhears this and leaves Wuthering Heights. Years later, now rich and married to Linton's sister, he returns to see Catherine on her deathbed. Catherine tells him that he's broken her heart and has killed her. Passionately, Heathcliff responds that she has killed herself by betraying her own feelings. He is saddened that she will soon be at peace, while he has the rest of his life to be tormented by her absence. After Catherine passes, Nelly brings news to Heathcliff. Bashing his head against a tree, he wishes that Catherine doesn't go to heaven, but rather comes back to haunt him. He cannot live without her in his life.

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde summary

Cecily announces her engagement to Mr. Ernest Worthing, which Gwendolyn says is impossible because she herself is engaged to Mr. Worthing. Cecily insists that Gwendolyn is wrong, as Mr. Worthing apparently proposed to her just ten minutes prior. The two women compare diary entries and Gwendolyn says her engagement is legitimate because it happened first. Cecily responds saying that Mr. Worthing obviously changed his mind. Gwendolyn then accuses of Cecily of somehow trapping Ernest in the engagement. At that moment, the servants come in and the two women switch to a more veiled, passive-aggressive form of insult. Gwendolyn insults Cecily for living in the countryside, while Cecily throws a jab at city manners. Then, Cecily purposely puts sugar in Gwendolyn's tea and hands her cake after she asked for bread. Gwendolyn becomes very upset, saying that although she is known for her gentle manners, Cecily has gone too far.

(Pride and Prejudice) Which sentence from the text best supports the idea that gossipy Mrs. Bennet is also rationally minded? A. "'You have no compassion on my poor nerves.'" B. "'Indeed you must go, for it will be impossible for us to visit him if you do not.'" C. "'Mr. Bennet, how can you abuse your own children in such a way!'" D. "'My dear, you flatter me. I certainly have had my share of beauty, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now.'"

D. "'My dear, you flatter me. I certainly have had my share of beauty, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now.'"

(Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey) The purpose of this poem is mainly to reflect on . A. Wordsworth's deep appreciation for nature's beauty B. the power of memory to prolong happiness C. the connection between the natural world and humanity D. All of the above

D. All of the above

(The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock) What do the following lines reveal about the emotional state of the speaker? For I have known them all already, known them all: Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons, I have measured out my life with coffee spoons; I know the voices dying with a dying fall Beneath the music from a farther room. So how should I presume? A. He is overconfident in his writing. B. He is too active and busy to fully comprehend the gravity of the situation. C. He has a severe caffeine addiction. D. He is humbled by his experiences.

D. He is humbled by his experiences.

(A Tale of Two Cities) Which of these is most closely a central idea of the passage below (paragraph 6)? All these things, and a thousand like them, came to pass in and close upon the dear old year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five. Environed by them, while the Woodman and the Farmer worked unheeded, those two of the large jaws, and those other two of the plain and the fair faces, trod with stir enough, and carried their divine rights with a high hand. Thus did the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five conduct their Greatnesses, and myriads of small creatures—the creatures of this chronicle among the rest—along the roads that lay before them. A. Woodmen and farmers made up much of the 18th-century European economy. B. The royalty in England was not so similar to the royalty in France after all. C. The narrator wants to emphasize the year the story takes place, for those who missed it the first time. D. History is made up of everyone and everything that happens in real time, not just the powerful figures and important events in history books.

D. History is made up of everyone and everything that happens in real time, not just the powerful figures and important events in history books.

(Araby) Which of the following options most closely explains how Araby changes the boy? A. It makes him decide to leave Dublin. B. It proves to him that love is not real. C. It teaches him to distrust his aunt and uncle. D. It robs him of his idealism.

D. It robs him of his idealism.

(A Tale of Two Cities) Which of these statements would the narrator most likely agree with? A. England in the 18th century was experiencing unprecedented levels of public safety. B. There is some truth in using magic to predict the future. C. Those who understand economic theory were in a good position to predict the future of Europe. D. People think that historical situations are unique and unchanging, when in fact they change in unpredictable ways.

D. People think that historical situations are unique and unchanging, when in fact they change in unpredictable ways.

(A Room of One's Own) Which of these inferences is best supported by the passage below (paragraph 1)? ...Shakespeare himself went, very probably—his mother was an heiress—to the grammar school, where he may have learnt Latin—Ovid, Virgil and Horace—and the elements of grammar and logic. He was, it is well known, a wild boy who poached rabbits, perhaps shot a deer, and had, rather sooner than he should have done, to marry a woman in the neighborhood, who bore him a child rather quicker than was right. That escapade sent him to seek his fortune in London. He had, it seemed, a taste for the theatre; he began by holding horses at the stage door. Very soon he got work in the theatre, became a successful actor, and lived at the hub of the universe, meeting everybody, knowing everybody, practicing his art on the boards, exercising his wits in the streets, and even getting access to the palace of the queen. A. Shakespeare's life would have been very different if he had truly had a sister who was more talented than him. B. Shakespeare's work should not be celebrated because he was a selfish and immoral man who does not deserve success. C. Shakespeare's plays and poems are well-known because his parents were wealthy and connected D. Shakespeare's life circumstances gave him the opportunity and possibility to explore his passions.

D. Shakespeare's life circumstances gave him the opportunity and possibility to explore his passions.

(The Cry of the Children) Which of the following inferences is best supported by the poem? A. The children hope to run the mines and factories one day. B. The speaker worked in a textile factory as a child. C. As upsetting as it may be, the speaker believes it is necessary for the children to work in the mines and factories. D. The children endure all of the hardship of aging without enjoying the benefits.

D. The children endure all of the hardship of aging without enjoying the benefits.

(Pride and Prejudice) Which of the following inferences about the narrator is most strongly supported by the text? A. The narrator thinks that Mrs. Bennet can offer an intelligent opinion on most subjects. B. The narrator is a close and personal family friend of the Bennets. C. The narrator believes that most arranged marriages are doomed from the start. D. The narrator thinks Mr. Bennet is more intelligent than his wife.

D. The narrator thinks Mr. Bennet is more intelligent than his wife.

(Pride and Prejudice) Which of the following inferences best explains an opinion that the narrator of this excerpt might express? A. If you have lowered expectations of people, they will most likely act accordingly. B. Imagination is more important than knowledge. C. Parents should show favoritism to one of their children, to help inspire their siblings to be better people. D. The neighbors feel entitled to redistribute a newcomer's wealth by arranging marriages.

D. The neighbors feel entitled to redistribute a newcomer's wealth by arranging marriages.

(Factory Children) What is most closely the meaning of incessant as it is used in the following passage (paragraph 7)? "The Factory System," he says, "reduces the Child of the poor Citizen to the rank of an animal machine - to the condition of a breathing automaton. Suns shine and flowers bloom, and forests wave, and streams run glittering in the light, in vain for the tens of thousands of British Children condemned to the incessant labors of the Factory. The glorious God of Nature is almost shut out from the imaginations of these poor martyrs to avarice, and man's puny arts alone fill their minds; gas and steam are the only elements of power and light with which they are acquainted—potatoes and oatmeal the only viands with which they are familiar- broken rest, severe punishment, excessive toil, the only usage to which they are accustomed. Can it be wondered at that they become, with few exceptions, stunted or decrepid in body, feeble in mind, vindictive in disposition?" A. natural inclination B. disinterest C. extremely hurtful D. continuous

D. continuous

(Dulce Et Decorum Est) The following passage (lines 9-14) adds to the development of the poem mainly by . Gas! Gas! Quick, boys!-An ecstasy of fumbling, Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time; But someone still was yelling out and stumbling And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime... Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light, As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. A. suggesting that the soldiers' gas masks are not sufficient protection B. explaining that the soldiers have been gassed by the enemy C. suggesting that the speaker is hallucinating a vision of a drowning man D. showing that one of the soldiers did not put his gas mask on in time

D. showing that one of the soldiers did not put his gas mask on in time

Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey by William Wordsworth Summary

It's been five summers separated by five long winters since the speaker visited Tintern Abbey. In the opening stanza, he describes the beauty of the countryside bathed in summer. This scenery has sustained and restored him through long years in the city—memories returning to him more as feelings of calm and tranquility. When he first came to these woods, he explored them so fervently, it was as if he was running from something, rather than seeking something he loved. Now being older, he looks upon nature with a newfound maturity—gleaning a deeper, subtler meaning from his surroundings. In the final stanza, the speaker addresses his sister—the dear friend he's had a falling out with. He offers nature a prayer —since nature never betrays those who love her—asking the moon to shine upon his sister. If she suffers solitude or grief, he hopes that she remembers what pleasures nature brings.

Author of Ode on a Grecian Urn

John Keats

Author of The Importance of Being Earnest

Oscar Wilde

Author of Ozymandias

Percy Bysshe Shelley

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T. S. Eliot summary

Prufrock invites the reader to come take a walk with him, through a damp foggy day, to visit the cheap hotels and restaurants he knows. There's something important he needs to talk about. The yellow fog descends and rubs up against the window panes, but there is still plenty of time to address the important questions. Prufrock wonders "Do I dare?" considering whether to go back downstairs, afraid people will judge him for his baldness or thinness. There's something important he must ask but does not want to "disturb the universe." He thinks of how to begin, then wonders whether he's too presumptuous. He procrastinates, hoping to postpone the moment until after tea and cake. He reconsiders, thinking it's "no great matter"; he admits he was afraid. Now, he's old and envisioning himself with rolled-up pants.. He walks along the beach, amidst the mermaids who won't sing to him. He lies down in the sea only to be woken up and then to drown.

Factory Children by Cavie Richardson summary

Since the industrialization of the textile industries in England, prices of goods have dropped, and along with them, factory workers' wages. Cavie Richardson asserts that child laborers bear the brunt of these burdens, working up to nineteen hours per day and, suffering from exhaustion, often sustain horrific injuries. Richardson has proposed the Ten Hours' Bill, which strives to improve conditions by limiting child labor to twelve hours a day, five days a week, and ten hours on Saturdays. This bill would be advantageous for all of society, because it would allow children to spend more time with their parents, which would help to curb their pernicious tendencies. Furthermore, it would give children more time to enjoy the fresh air or to educate themselves. Lastly, these working hours would leave them free to attend Sunday school and to learn of the duties Richardson believes they owe to God and society.

Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley summary

The English Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote this poem in response to the statue of Pharaoh Ramses II being transported from Egypt to London. The speaker in the poem meets a traveler who describes seeing a statue in a state of disrepair. The legs of the statue were standing, but the trunk was missing and its head lay half-buried in the sand. On its face, the statue wore a haughty sneer, conveying that the sculptor understood how to accurately capture a tyrant's features. The pedestal of the statue carried an inscription: "my name is Ozymandias . . . look on my works . . . and despair." Looking around, one would see nothing but boundless desert in every direction.

Araby (from 'Dubliners') by James Joyce Summary

The narrator, a young boy, describes his house in North Dublin. He plays outside with friends after dinner, hiding from his uncle and his friend Mangan's sister. In fact, he is infatuated with Mangan's sister and secretly watches her house from his window, hoping to catch a glimpse of the girl. One evening, she finally speaks to the narrator, asking if he'll be going to Araby. She expects it'll be a splendid bazaar. However, she can't go herself because of religious activities at her school. The narrator promises to bring something back for her. He is unable to concentrate at school and treats his friends poorly. His uncle finally arrives home, drunk, to take him to the bazaar. Their train is delayed and in his hurry, the boy accidentally overpays the entrance fee. The bazaar is about to close and a woman selling vases is cold to the boy. He becomes angry at himself for his own vanity and relentless obsession.

The Postmaster by Rabindranath Tagore summary

The postmaster, originally from Calcutta, works in the remote village of Ulapur. At night, he often shares his meals with an orphan girl named Ratan, and the two share stories of their lives. Ratan recounts fishing with her brother, and the postmaster shares memories that haunt him. One day, during the rains, the postmaster feels especially lonely and, wishing to have a kindred soul nearby, teaches Ratan to read. However, as the rainy season goes on, the postmaster becomes ill, and eventually, requests a transfer. When it is approved, he informs Ratan that he will go back to Calcutta. Hearing this, Ratan begins to weep, and when he tries to offer her money, she runs. The postmaster boards the boat and, as it drifts away, comforts himself with philosophical musings. Ratan, who has no philosophy, continues to wander around the post office crying, secretly hoping he will come back for her.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Summary

The year 1775 was the best of times and it was the worst of times. Large-jawed kings sat on the thrones of both England and France, and it felt as if things were going to go on as they were forever. In England, apart from a recent message from the kingdom's American subjects, things were quiet. France, too, was rolling along, with plenty of money and good guidance from its spiritual leaders. Peasants who refused to kneel respectfully were punished accordingly, and the guillotine was already under construction. However, the Revolution was already brewing silently. Likewise, trouble was brewing in England, as daring burglaries and highway robberies were the norm. People were cautioned about going out at night, while masked thieves challenged men along the road or held hostages in drawing rooms. All these things were going on in 1775, while the little people planned and the kings continued to rule with divine right.

The Second Coming by William Butler Yeats summary

Turning in ever-widening circles, the falcon cannot hear its human master. The center does not hold, as the world falls apart and anarchy takes hold. The speaker describes a bloody tide let loose upon the world, and in it, the innocent drown. In this new world, the best among us lack conviction, while the worst are driven by the greatest passion. A revelation of some kind, a second coming, is at hand and the speaker is troubled by an ominous image of a sphinx stalking through the desert with a blank stare, surrounded by birds. The speaker's vision suddenly goes dark and he wonders whether all the centuries since Christ are about turn to nightmare, as this beast moves toward Bethlehem to be born.

Author of A Room Of One's Own

Virginia Woolf

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen summary

When a wealthy bachelor, Mr. Bingley, moves to the neighborhood, Mrs. Bennet tells her husband that this will be a good turn for their daughters. Mr. Bennet, a sarcastic and witty man, wonders how Bingley's presence can affect them. Mrs. Bennet says he knows that she's talking about marriage, but Bennet wonders if that's Bingley's real reason for moving there. Bennet says that his wife and daughters may visit Bingley at will, but he does not enjoy social calls. He tries to steer his wife off the subject by commending her beauty, joking that perhaps Mr. Bingley will like her best of all. However, Mrs. Bennet is a woman of single-minded purpose and begs him to consider his daughters. Bennet reluctantly agrees, but asks his wife to put in a special word for Lizzy. Mrs. Bennet doesn't understand why he favors Lizzy above his other daughters. They're all silly and ignorant, he says, and only Lizzy has any intelligence.

Author of Dulce Et Decorum Est

Wilfred Owen

Author of The Second Coming

William Butler Yeats

Author of Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey

William Wordsworth