Make it New, Early Modernism

Read the excerpt from John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address. To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support—to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective—to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak—and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run. Based on context, what is the most likely definition for "invective"? thanks praise criticism questions

criticism

Read "A Book," by Emily Dickinson. There is no frigate like a book To take us lands away, Nor any coursers like a page Of prancing poetry. This traverse may the poorest takeWithout oppress of toll; How frugal is the chariot That bears a human soul! Which words best indicate that the speaker believes that books offer traveling adventures?

frigate, traverse, and toll

Read the excerpt from "Poetry." however: when dragged into prominence by half poets, theresult is not poetry,nor till the poets among us can be"literalists ofthe imagination"—aboveinsolence and triviality and can presentfor inspection, "imaginary gardens with real toads in them,"shall we haveit.Based on context, what is the most likely definition for "triviality"? importance insignificance value meaning

insignificance

Read the excerpt from President Woodrow Wilson's speech, "War Message to Congress."We must put excited feelings away. Our motive will not be revenge or the victorious assertion of the physical might of the nation, but only the vindication of right, of human right, of which we are only a single champion.President Wilson is trying to convince his listeners that going to war is not about emotions but about defending the nation. about showing the world the power of the nation. not about spreading peace throughout the world. about sitting back and waiting to see what will happen.

not about emotions but about defending the nation.

Read the excerpt from "Birches" by Robert Frost. When I see birches bend to left and right Across the line of straighter darker trees, I like to think some boy's been swinging them.But swinging doesn't bend them down to stay. Ice-storms do that. Often you must have seen themLoaded with ice a sunny winter morning After a rain. They click upon themselves As the breeze rises, and turn many-colored As the stir cracks and crazes their enamel. Soon the sun's warmth makes them shed crystal shells Shattering and avalanching on the snow-crust— Such heaps of broken glass to sweep away You'd think the inner dome of heaven had fallen. Which lines describe the ice wrapping the tree branches?

As the breeze rises, and turn many-colored As the stir cracks and crazes their enamel.

Read the excerpt from "Rhapsody on a Windy Night."So the hand of a child, automatic,Slipped out and pocketed a toy that was running along the quay.I could see nothing behind that child's eye.I have seen eyes in the streetTrying to peer through lighted shuttersWhat theme is reflected in this excerpt? Young people especially enjoy living in a city. It is impossible to be left alone in the city. City life offers many cultural experiences. City life can be alienating and lonely.

City life can be alienating and lonely.

Read the passage. The rain came out of nowhere. It was just a few sprinkles at first. The droplets grew larger with each passing minute. Soon, there were more of them. They grew to the size of marbles. Liz quickened her step. She hadn't planned for the rain. There were mud puddles everywhere. Mud splashed up her ankles. Mud soaked into her shoes. Mud squished between her toes. She might as well have been barefoot. Which best describes the use of syntax as an element of style in this passage? Parallel sentence structure emphasizes the large amount of mud. Varied sentence structure emphasizes the changing weather conditions. Complex sentences reflect Liz's difficulty in navigating the mud. Unusual word order reflects Liz's discomfort with the weather.

Complex sentences reflect Liz's difficulty in navigating the mud.

Read the excerpt from the interview with E.Y. (Yip) Harburg. Everybody picked up the song in '30 and '31. Bands were playing it and records were made. When Roosevelt was a candidate for President, the Republicans got pretty worried about it. Some of the network radio people were told to lay low on the song. In some cases, they tried to ban it from the air. But it was too late. The song had already done its damage. Based on the excerpt and your knowledge of American history, which statement is most accurate?

Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, won the election of 1932.

Read the excerpt from the interview with E.Y. (Yip) Harburg. When I lost my possessions, I found my creativity. I felt I was being born for the first time. So for me the world became beautiful.With the Crash, I realized that the greatest fantasy of all was business. The only realistic way of making a living was versifying. Living off your imagination. Based on the excerpt, which best describes Harburg's view of the Great Depression? He has no interest in financial success for himself. He values artistic success over financial success for himself. He believes most people benefited from losing their financial stability. He regrets the fact that he gave away his money to benefit his art.

He values artistic success over financial success for himself.

Read the sentence.I am interested in drawing, painting, and make sculpture.Which is the best revision of the sentence?

I am interested in drawing, painting, and making sculptures.

Which sentence is written correctly?

Karina, the new student body president, was previously the class treasurer.

Read the excerpt from the interview with E.Y. (Yip) Harburg. We thought American business was the Rock of Gibraltar. We were the prosperous nation, and nothing could stop us now. A brownstone house was forever. You gave it to your kids and they put marble fronts on it. There was a feeling of continuity. If you made it, it was there forever. Suddenly the big dream exploded. How do Harburg's words reflect the experience of many Americans during the Great Depression? Like Harburg, many expected that they could maintain their possessions through the Depression. Like Harburg, many were shocked by stock market collapse and ensuing Depression. Like Harburg, many were grateful for the lessons they learned from the Depression. Like Harburg, many made meticulous plans to prepare for the Depression.

Like Harburg, many were shocked by stock market collapse and ensuing Depression.

Read the excerpt from the Joint Statement by President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill. Sixth, after the final destruction of the Nazi tyranny, they hope to see established a peace which will afford to all nations the means of dwelling in safety within their own boundaries, and which will afford assurance that all the men in all the lands may live out their lives in freedom from fear and want; Which statement best summarizes the central idea of the excerpt?

Roosevelt and Churchill are aiming to bring peace and freedom to the people of all nations.

Which excerpt from the Joint Statement by President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill addresses the safety of those traveling by ship? Third, they respect the right of all peoples to choose the form of government under which they will live; and they wish to see sovereign rights and self government restored to those who have been forcibly deprived of them; Fourth, they will endeavor, with due respect for their existing obligations, to further the enjoyment by all States, great or small, victor or vanquished, of access, on equal terms, to the trade and to the raw materials of the world which are needed for their economic prosperity; Fifth, they desire to bring about the fullest collaboration between all nations in the economic field with the objector securing, for all, improved labor standards, economic advancement and social security; Seventh, such a peace should enable all men to traverse the high seas and ocean

Seventh, such a peace should enable all men to traverse the high seas and oceans without hindrance;

Read the passage. At the sound of the gun, the runners' legs began to cross the starting line in a blur, and their bodies surged forward as if propelled by unseen engines. The lanes were runways, and the runners could take flight at any moment. But they stayed on earth, their feet drumming the ground in an uneven staccato that reverberated in the chests of the cheering crowd that choked the fence along the track. Which statement best describes the use of diction in this passage? The author uses several words with negative connotations. The author uses a variety of specific and interesting verbs. The author uses a number of words that are informal. The author uses a variety of specific and unusual adjectives.

The author uses a variety of specific and interesting verbs.

Read the passage. Isaac glared at the clock on his desk as he waited for the phone call that would change his life—he wasn't sure if the change would be for the better or the worse, but he knew that his life was going to change. It was an old clock that had belonged to his grandmother. Usually the quiet, dependable sound of the seconds ticking by comforted him, if he noticed them at all. Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Today, it occurred to him that the clock was mocking him. Tick-tock. Tock-tick. Tock-tock. "I wonder if Jenny wants this clock. . . ." His thought was interrupted by the sound of the phone ringing. Which statement best describes the author's use of a stylistic element in this excerpt?

The change in the second description of the clock's sounds emphasizes Isaac's unease.

Read the passage. Janelle could not believe her eyes when the cast list for the spring play was finally posted. Not only was she cast in the role she wanted, but her brother was cast in the leading role! Which best describes an example of the author's use of diction in the passage?

The idiom "could not believe her eyes" emphasizes Janelle's amazement.

Read the passage. Molly looked at her little brother and sighed. She forced a smile and asked, "What do you want to do today?" He stared back at her blankly. "Do you want to go to the aquarium and see the penguins and have an ice cream cone? Do you want to go to the park with the giant whale you can climb on, the one where you found the cool blue feathers? Hey! What about the museum with the big skeleton of a dinosaur that you like so much?" "Don't care," he responded dully. Which best describes the author's use of syntax in this passage? The long descriptions of choices Molly presents emphasize her excitement. The series of questions suggest Molly does not know her brother very well. The short response Molly's brother gives her emphasizes his disinterest. The use of an exclamation point suggests that Molly is feeling frustrated.

The short response Molly's brother gives her emphasizes his disinterest.

`Read the excerpt from "Birches" by Robert Frost. When I see birches bend to left and right Across the line of straighter darker trees, I like to think some boy's been swinging them. But swinging doesn't bend them down to stay. Ice-storms do that. Often you must have seen themLoaded with ice a sunny winter morning After a rain. They click upon themselves As the breeze rises, and turn many-colored As the stir cracks and crazes their enamel. Soon the sun's warmth makes them shed crystal shells Shattering and avalanching on the snow-crust— Such heaps of broken glass to sweep away You'd think the inner dome of heaven had fallen. What is the best description of the theme of this excerpt?

The sun has a wondrous effect on icy birch branches.

Read the excerpt from "A Day for Wandering" by Clinton Scollard. I set apart a day for wandering; I heard the woodlands ring, The hidden white-throat sing, And the harmonic West, Beyond a far hill-crest,Touch its Aeolian string. "Aeolian string" refers to a harp-like instrument that plays when it is placed in the wind. Based on this definition, which statement best describes the speaker's view of the wind? The wind is distracting. The wind is melodic. The wind is spooky. The wind is whispering.

The wind is melodic.

Read the passage. Get off the bus. Walk home. Eat a snack. Walk the dog. Do homework. Every day was the same. As Jimmy was walking Socks for the third time in a single day, just to get out of the house, he thought about ways he could make his life a bit more interesting. Not that he wanted too much excitement. Kelly, a girl in his world history class, was a competitive swimmer. And not just for their school. She swam with a club in town and trained every morning for two hours before school and again for two hours after. That seemed like too much to Jimmy. How do the short sentences at the beginning of the passage contribute to the mood of the passage?

They convey the monotony of the routine Jimmy goes through each day.

Read the passage. Knowing that it would be unthinkably rude to laugh, but struggling to suppress the giggles that threatened to break free, Silas fixed his lips into the thinnest of lines. On stage, a bumblebee with an earnest expression continually stopped to straighten her antennae, each time picking up where she had left off and falling further and further behind the other dancers. A tulip lost his footing and went hurtling into a dandelion, and for a moment, Silas was certain a brawl would break out. The tulip and dandelion glared at each other, each refusing to break eye contact as garden gnomes twirled around them. Finally, a butterfly broke into a huge grin and stared, waving at someone in the first row. A caterpillar grabbed him by a wing and dragged him forcefully back into the dance line. That's when Silas burst into uncontrollable laughter, but he was one of many in the crowd to do so. Which best descri

Vivid word choice emphasizes the audience's suppressed laughter.

Read the paragraph.Driving to the fair was a troublesome, difficult situation today. We planned on leaving at 5:30 p.m., which was unfortunately during rush hour. The traffic would be horrible and we did not want to be stuck. We decided to consult a map in an attempt to find an alternative route. Which sentence should be rewritten to improve the clarity of the paragraph? sentence 1 sentence 2 sentence 3 sentence 4

sentence 1

Read the passage. "Can't do it. Won't do it. No, I refuse to do it." These were the thoughts that went through Spencer's mind as he trudged out to the dumpster for the tenth time that afternoon. Those fools thought they could push him around just because he was the newest person on the job. No one else had to walk down the back stairs into the cold, wet afternoon to take out the trash 10 times in one day! "Well, joke's on them," he thought as he tossed the bag of trash into the dumpster and kept on walking toward the bus stop instead of heading back in to finish his shift. Which stylistic element most contributes to Spencer's outraged voice? vivid language sentence variety informal language incorrect punctuation

sentence variety

Read the passage. Finn skillfully and easily put together my new desk. Grace and I were unsure of what to do, but Finn—like a brother to me—read the instructions thoroughly and got to work immediately. As always, he had tools in the back of his car ready to go. When he finished, I treated him to some tasty tacos. Which stylistic element most contributes to the impressed tone of the passage? the use of the phrase "skillfully and easily" the comparison of Finn to a brother the alliteration in "tasty tacos" the em dashes after the second mention of Finn

the use of the phrase "skillfully and easily"