ICB Test
11. In the paragraph beginning "Equally intoxicating," the author is LEAST objective in his descriptions of (A) Kenyon's reaction to Bob's new interest (B) the boys' relative shooting abilities (C) the boys' overnight hunting hikes (D) the recent change in the boys' relationship (E) Bob's words to Kenyon
A
19. The nature of the concrete details in Bobby Rupp's account primarily reflect (A) the circumstances under which he is speaking (B) his remarkably precise memory (C) his desperation to deflect suspicion from himself (D) the likelihood that he fabricated at least some of his account (E) the author's embellishments upon his account
A
25. In the paragraph beginning "Yesterday, after studying the papers," the structure of Perry's words to Dick is that of a(n) (A) assertion followed by evidence (B) effect followed by a series of causes (C) question followed by several hypotheses (D) dialogue between two hypothetical speakers (E) series of unrelated anecdotes
A
30. As he is portrayed in this passage, Dick could LEAST be described as (A) philosophical (B) affable (C) mercurial (D) sanguine (E) vengeful
A
32. The impact of the third paragraph (beginning "He introduced himself") is dependent primarily upon (A) selection of detail (B) diction (C) tone (D) point of view (E) syntax
A
41. The landlady's attitude toward her tenants in general could best be characterized as (A) disdainful (B) affectionate (C) concerned (D) solicitous (E) protective
A
5. The author most likely declares that "one must" include a description of the Holcomb School because (A) the description significantly supplements the author's characterization of Holcomb (B) the school is a center of activity in most small communities (C) he wants to be careful not to imply that the residents of Holcomb are uneducated (D) he wants to emphasize that school-age children make up much of Holcomb's population (E) the description leads logically into the explanation that the residents come from varied cultural backgrounds
A
50. Mrs. Hartman and Myrt Clare object to speculation about the Clutter murder s primarily because they believe in (A) preserving the peace at all costs (B) showing proper respect for the dead (C) the presumption of innocence (D) letting law enforcement officials do their jobs (E) focusing on more important matters
A
52. Myrt Clare's speech contains exampl es of all of the following EXCEPT (A) euphemism (B) metaphor (C) truism (D) simile (E) repetition ©
A
64. At the end of that paragraph, the diagnosis by Dr. Fenton (A) injects a tone of detachment (B) underscores the enormity of the crimes (C) confirms Dick and Perry's guilt (D) shows the thoroughness of the investigation (E) adds potentially prejudicial information
A
74. In Green's argument, he employs all of the following EXCEPT (A) citation of legal precedents (B) rhetorical questions (C) figurative language (D) dramatization (E) logical appeal
A
13. In context, Nancy's discussion of her one-year-old nephew could best be described as (A) sentimental (B) poignant (C) distasteful (D) maudlin (E) idealist
B
21. In the third section of the passage, the last senten ce of the first paragraph ("To top it off . . .") presents a significant shift in (A) syntax (B) content (C) tone (D) point of view (E) diction
B
23. In the description of Dick's assessment of Perry, Dick is presented as primarily (A) cold-blooded (B) opportunistic (C) idealistic (D) suggestible (E) irrational ©
B
28. Dick's verbal responses to Perry's description of his premonitions and dreams could best be characterized as (A) superstitious (B) matter-of-fact (C) condescending (D) fascinated (E) dismissive
B
34. The "riddle" Dick tells primarily emphasizes his (A) immaturity (B) callousness (C) nervousness (D) joviality (E) obliviousness
B
37. The function of this passage in relation to the novel as a whole is primarily to (A) show that good people are sometimes miraculously protected (B) underscore the critical qualities in the two killers (C) recount a humorous example of Perry and Dick being thwarted (D) provide a diversion from the focus on the Clutter murders (E) draw a parallel to Perry's recurring dream of miraculous rescue
B
40. The landlady's assertion that "'Whatever it is, it ain't nothing big-big. Couldn't be'" can be attributed to I. the landlady's lack of ability in judging character II. Perry's unthreatening demeanor III. the investigator's confirmation that Perry was only wanted for a parole violation (A) I only (B) II only (C) I and II only (D) II and III only (E) I, II, and III
B
48. The ideas in the paragraph beginning "But secrets" are developed primarily by means of (A) syntax (B) diction (C) concrete details (D) allusion (E) parallel structure
B
63. In the second paragraph, the details of the weather serve to (A) reinforce the accuracy of the witnesses' testimony (B) create a feeling of dissonance (C) remind the reader that the murders occurred in the fall (D) highlight the western Kansas setting (E) suggest that the witnesses might be exaggerating
B
65. Dick's father, Mr. Hickoc k, can be characterized as I. objective II. mendacious III. disheartened (A) II only (B) III only (C) I and II only (D) I and III only (E) II and III only
B
68. In context, the phrase "rather hangdog" to describe Floyd Wells's demeanor implies that Wells (A) regretted informing on Perry (B) knew the questioning attorney was right (C) had hoped Dick would not know he was the informant (D) had become exhausted by the questioning (E) was surprised by the attorney's viciousness
B
8. The author's primary purpose in this passage is to (A) depict a typical Midwestern small town (B) provide a backdrop for a presentation of dramatic events (C) create sympathy for the townspeople of Holcomb (D) emphasize that appearances can be deceptive (E) explain why neighbors in Holcomb turned against each other
B
Passage 10, Questions 70-76. Read the twelfth section of "The Co rner," beginning "The aristocracy of Finney County" and ending "'The Last Laugh?'" (pages 302-307), carefully before you choose your answers. 70. In the second sentence of the passage, the declaration made by the "wife of one rich rancher" contains an example of (A) hyperbole (B) euphemism (C) anaphora (D) foreshadowing (E) metaphor
B
Passage 3, Questions 16-23. Read the thirteenth through the fifteen sections of "The Last to See Them Alive," beginning with Perry's hymn "And He walks with me . . ." and ending "'O.K. Let's go'" (pages 48- 55), carefully before you choose your answers. 16. The primary effect of the hymn Perry sings in the first section of this passage is one of (A) foreshadowing (B) irony (C) humor (D) suspense (E) path
B
Passage 6, Questions 38-44. Read the fifth section of "Answer," beginning "December 16, 1959, Las Vegas, Nevada" and ending "'never seen him since, him or his boy'" (pages 174-179), carefully before you choose your answers. 38. The most likely source for the information in the first paragraph is (A) Harold Nye's official K.B.I. report (B) a combination of Harold Nye's K.B.I. report and the author's interview with Nye (C) an interview the author conducted with Harold Nye (D) a combination of Harold Nye's K.B. I. report and the Las Vegas police report (E) a combination of Harold Nye's K.B.I. report and the author's interview with the landlady
B
12. In light of the passage as a whole, Mr. Helm's comment that Mr. Clutter "must be laying in a stack of it" is an example of (A) hindsight (B) foreshadowing (C) irony (D) sarcasm (E) non sequitur
C
18. In context of this passage, the last sentence of th e first section ("A full moon was forming . . .") serves primarily to (A) complement the tone of the hymn Perry sings (B) provide important information about visibility on the night being described (C) clarify the point that the night being described is the night of the murders (D) create a mood of tranquility and beauty (E) underscore that Perry and Dick are behaving in a bizarre manner
C
2. In the second paragraph, the physical layout of Holcomb is characterized as I. "aimless" II. "haphazard" III. "unshaded" (A) I only (B) III only (C) I and II only (D) II and III only (E) I, II, and III
C
22. The description of the signs lit up by the car's headlights is an example of (A) foreshadowing (B) imagery (C) local color (D) poetic license (E) verisimilitude
C
26. Perry most likely brings up Floyd Wells in order to (A) remind Dick that they ow e allegiance to a third party (B) make Dick as angry as Perry is (C) force Dick to face reality (D) ascertain where Dick's loyalty lies (E) divert the subject from the murders
C
27. Perry's words in the paragraph beginning "That was a riddle" contain all of the following rhetorical features EXCEPT (A) imagery (B) simile (C) apostrophe (D) rhetorical question (E) sentence fragment
C
3. In the second and third paragraphs, the atmosphere of Holcomb is conveyed primarily by the author's selection of (A) nouns (B) adverbs (C) adjectives (D) superlatives (E) verbs
C
33. The significance of the last sentence of the ninth paragraph ("Later . . . with the sky-blue beads") is enhanced by means of I. imagery II. the use of passive voice III. the choice of nouns (A) I only (B) II only (C) I and II only (D) II and III only (E) I, II, and III
C
39. Nye's quoted opinion that the landlady "'looked younger—maybe ten minutes younger'" could best be described as (A) disingenuous (B) impartial (C) snide (D) precise (E) indecisiv
C
42. Which of the following quotations serves LEAST to provide insight into the landlady's character and personality? (A) "'Well, I'm just a dizzy blonde. I believe you.'" (B) "'I got a daughter married big-big.'" (C) "'No, he doesn't have any friends.'" (D) "'Play fair. Any money on the table?'" (E) "'Boil down, Dutch! Turn it off or out you go!'"
C
46. In the second paragraph, factors that would be promising from the authorities' point of view are tempered by the words I. "But even if" II. "Just because" III. "'If we didn't'" (A) I only (B) III only (C) I and II only (D) II and III only (E) I, II, and III
C
51. Myrt Clare objects to the speculation for all of the following reasons EXCEPT that the speculation is (A) useless (B) beneath her dignity (C) dangerous (D) gruesome (E) disruptive
C
69. The primary purpose of the final paragraph of the passage is most likely to (A) present information the reader would surely be interested in having (B) imply that Floyd Wells may have been untruthful in his testimony (C) comment on the culture in which Dick and Perry existed (D) draw a distinction between Floyd Wells and the two defendants (E) demonstrate the author's continuing interest in the story
C
7. The antecedent for the pronoun "them" in the final sentence of the passage is (A) "exceptional happenings" (B) "the earliest hours" (C) "certain foreign sounds" (D) "nightly Holcomb noises" (E) "six human lives
C
73. Logan Green raises all of the following objections to the defense attorneys' pleas for mercy EXCEPT that (A) Perry and Dick were merciless (B) the Clutter murders were particularly egregious (C) the jurors should be guided by what the Bible says (D) Perry and Dick's motives were significant (E) Perry and Dick might kill again in the future
C
75. Reverend Post could be characterized primarily as (A) pragmatic (B) compassionate (C) romantic (D) resourceful (E) spiritual
C
76. The humor of Perry's last words in this passage could best be described as (A) gleeful (B) bombastic (C) caustic (D) flippant (E) jubilant ©
C
Passage 2, Questions 9-15. Read the tenth section of "The Last to See Them Alive" which begins "Kenyon had built the chest himself" and ends "nothing out of the ordinary" (pages 38-41) carefully before you choose your answers. 9. The concrete details about Nancy and Kenyon Clutter serve primarily to (A) emphasize the exhaustive research the author undertook (B) draw several important distinctions between the two of them (C) provide insight into their personality and characters (D) suggest possible reasons that the two would become victims of a crime (E) shed light on the interests typical of the teenagers in Holcomb at the time
C
Passage 5, Questions 31-37. Read the fourth section of "Answer," beginning "It was late afternoon" and ending with Mr. Bell saying "'When you gotta go, you gotta go!'" (pages 172-174), carefully before you choose your answers. 31. The author's outlining Perry and Dick's "intentions " in the second paragraph creates in the reader a sense of (A) dread (B) sympathy (C) curiosity (D) anxiety (E) pity
C
Passage 9, Questions 62-69. Read the eighth section of "The Corner," beginning "The next day, Wednesday, was the proper start" and ending "a thirty-year sentence for armed robbery" (pages 279-285), carefully before you choose your answers. 62. In the first paragraph, the description of the encounter between Perry Smith and Arthur Clutter most likely represents (A) a scenario invented by the author (B) an account from the court records (C) the impressions of an eyewitness (D) Perry's version, recounted later (E) Arthur Clutter's version, recounted later
C
10. The author most likely places "the gang" an d "inventions" in quotation marks in order to (A) gently show how naïve Nancy and Kenyon were (B) indicate that Nancy and Keny on used these terms ironically (C) make clear that he relied on published sources for his account (D) show that these were terms that Nancy and Kenyon used themselves (E) clarify that these were words teenagers used in the late 1950s.
D
15. The mood created by the last paragraph could best be described as (A) tranquil (B) suspenseful (C) lyrical (D) ominous (E) anguished
D
17. The point of view from which the first section of this passage is told suggests that the author I. had access to an account from Dick II. had access to an account from Perry III. allowed himself some artistic license (A) I only (B) II only (C) I and II only (D) II and III only (E) I, II, and III
D
35. The way this passage is structured makes which of the following the most ironic? (A) "somebody to talk to and keep him awake" (B) "The salesman thought perhaps he could help." (C) "'We always wanted to go back.'" (D) "And why shouldn't it? The setup was ideal." (E) "like the laughter of Tex John Smith" 36
D
4. In relation to the sentence that precedes it, the sentence beginning "Unless you include, as one must. . ." serves to (A) clarify (B) contradict (C) reiterate (D) qualify (E) elaborate
D
43. As it is used in the paragraph beginning "True, it was valueless stuff," the word "mean" could best be restated as (A) cruel (B) average (C) hostile (D) sordid (E) meaningles
D
49. In the same paragraph, the phrase "approaching beasts" refers to (A) the townspeople (B) possible witnesses (C) newspaper and radio reporters (D) the suspects (E) the local police
D
66. The author's attitude toward Floyd Wells's appearance and testimony for the prosecution could best be described as (A) scathing (B) disinterested (C) appalled (D) wry (E) disingenuous
D
71. In their own opinion, the attendance of the Finney "a ristocracy" at the last se ssion of the trial reflects their I. loyalty II. voyeurism III. condescension (A) I only (B) III only (C) I and II only (D) I and III only (E) II and III only
D
Passage 4, Questions 24-30. Read the fourth section of "Persons Unknown," beginning "Approximately four hundred miles east" and ending "could not help laughing, as always" (pages 89-93), carefully before you choose your answers. 24. The tone of Perry's immediate response to reading the summarizing paragraph from the Kansas City Star could best be described as (A) outraged (B) dispassionate (C) sarcastic (D) pedanticus (E) incredulous
D
Passage 7, Questions 45-52. Read the eighth section of "Answer," beginning "Dewey was determined" and ending "'we've had enough excitement'" (pages 189-191), carefully before you choose your answers. 45. Dewey could best be characterized as (A) pessimistic (B) jaded (C) swaggering (D) realistic (E) credulous
D
14. The author's chronological relationship to the events he is describing is most clearly emphasized by the details about (A) Skeeter (B) Kenyon (C) Bonnie (D) Bob (E) Mr. Helm
E
20. In the context of the passage as a whole, Bobby Rupp's last two sentences ("Only now when I think back . . . waiting for me to leave") are most likely a result of (A) his remembering details that he failed to notice on the night he is describing (B) widespread speculation that whoever killed the Clutters had a grudge against them (C) police evidence that someone had been hiding in the trees that night (D) his relief that he was not one of the victims (E) his imagined scenario , unsupported by evidence
E
29. The second half of the passage, which focuses on Perry and his dream, provides I. insight into his philosophy of life II. hints of his possible motivations for killing III. elaboration on the cont rast between Perry and Dick (A) I only (B) III only (C) I and II only (D) II and III only (E) I, II, and III
E
36. Chronologically, the appropriateness of the phrase "his savior" in the last paragraph would first have been apparent to (A) Mr. Bell (B) the author (C) the reader (D) the hitchhiker (E) Perry and Dick
E
44. In the paragraph beginning "Thus the morning," the words "the in dividual" are placed in quotation marks to reflect the fact that the phrase (A) represents the postal clerk's attitude toward Tex John Smith (B) is appropriate given the unconventional nature of Tex John Smith (C) is a direct quotation from the postal clerk (D) emphasizes that Tex John Smith had left for Alaska alone (E) is taken from Harold Nye's official report
E
47. It can be inferred that those who worked in the sheriff's office (A) were indiscreet in their conversations with each other (B) gossiped with people from the town (C) spread rumors based on their suspicions (D) were not informed of all the facts Dewey knew (E) unwittingly alerted outsiders to the fact that there were suspects
E
6. A prominent stylistic characteristic of the final paragraph is the use of (A) inverted syntax (B) sentence fragments (C) idiomatic diction (D) shifts in point of view (E) parallel structure
E
67. The overt characterization of Mr. Flemming ("a classic country lawyer more happily at home with land deeds than ill deeds") (A) is confirmed by the account that follows it (B) reveals the author's sympathy for the defendants (C) confirms the author's disdain for small-town professionals (D) underscores the fact that the defendan ts could not afford the best representation (E) is undercut by the account that follows it
E
72. In the county attorney's summation, he dismisses all of the following notions EXCEPT that (A) there is any room for doubt about the defendants' guilt (B) Dick's culpability was not as great as Perry's (C) there is a viable option to the death penalty in this case (D) seeking the death penalty is barbaric (E) Perry committed the actual murders
E
Passage 1, Questions 1-8. Read the first section of "The Last to See Them Alive" which begins "The village of Holcomb" and ends "viewed each other strangely, and as strangers" (pages 3-5) carefully before you choose your answers. 1. In the first paragraph, the author's attitude toward the area near Holcomb is most clearly suggested by his description of the (A) skies and air (B) local accent (C) men's clothing (D) topography (E) grain elevator
E
