1.12 Unit Test: Narrative Techniques and Structure - Part 1

Which excerpts from "Lifetime Service" most clearly reflect the author's purpose for writing this piece? Select each correct answer.

"After the parade, the mayor and several other town officials gave speeches about how my grandfather dedicated his life to the community." "There was an entire front row of seating reserved for our family and above the stage my grandfather's name was emblazoned on a large banner that read 'Lifetime Service Award.'" "Over the years, my grandfather typically employed people from town because he wanted to keep his community strong."

Which excerpts from "Lifetime Service" most clearly show the reasons why the author wrote it? Select each correct answer.

"My siblings and cousins and I thought we knew everything about our grandfather, but that day we learned how highly he was thought of by other people." "The most important thing I learned that day, though, was that one person can have a big impact on others, even without realizing it."

Which quotations from the narrative most clearly reflect the author's purpose for writing this piece? Select each correct answer.

"Stories were shared about my grandfather helping construct additions to neighbors' homes, dredging the town lake in the '60s so that kids could actually swim in it...and offering service as a volunteer firefighter for years." "After the parade, the mayor and several other town officials gave speeches about how my grandfather dedicated his life to the community." "Over the years, my grandfather typically employed people from town because he wanted to keep his community strong."

Which detail from the story supports the idea that Samara wants to improve her community?

"That evening, she went to the library and learned about what she would need to do in order to get the idea in front of the town zoning board."

Select the sentence from the excerpt that most effectively explains how the narrator's first reporting experience will benefit her in the future.

And thanks to my first story, I'd already met most of the school administrators in person and had the beginnings of an actual list of sources for future stories.

Select the sentence from the excerpt that most effectively explains how the narrator figured out what questions she would ask in her interviews.

As I tried to think of the kind of information that families in the community would want to know, I realized the answer was simple Reporter 101: Who, what, where, when, why, how?

Which conclusions can be drawn from the last paragraph of this story? Select each correct answer.

Business owners in Pine Grove support its beautification. Samara feels a sense of accomplishment.

What effect does the narrator's point of view have on the passage?

By entering Samara's thoughts, the point of view allows readers to understand her motives for taking action.

Part A Which statement is a central idea of this passage? Part B Which detail best develops the central idea of the text?

Effective journalists build strong contacts in their community. "And thanks to my first story, I'd already met most of the school administrators in person and had the beginnings of an actual list of sources for future stories."

Select the sentence from the excerpt that most effectively develops the idea that the narrator is a competent writer.

He was happy with the few writing samples I'd brought to the interview and offered me the job on the spot.

Part A Which statement expresses a central idea of this passage? Part B Which detail best supports the central idea in Part A?

If you are determined to succeed, you can learn the necessary skills on the job. "If I went back to the office with answers to all of these questions, I would be able to write a complete article."

What effect does the point of view have on this narrative?

It defines Hillary's appraisal of his knowledge and skills compared to other climbers.

What effect does point of view have on the narrative?

It involves the reader in the action by sharing Hillary's thoughts and feelings.

How does the information in paragraph 5—when Samara goes to the library—affect the plot?

It sets up the climax of the story, in which Samara presents her plan to the zoning board.

How does the point of view shape what the reader learns from the narrative?

It tells the reader how the narrator conquers her fears on her first day as a reporter.

Which events led Samara to realize that Pine Grove was in need of a park? Select each correct answer.

Mr. Peters reading on a bench on a busy street children playing tag on a small plot of land between houses Mrs. Yang tending her tiny garden

Read this sentence from paragraph 1 of the story "Lifetime Service." The homes in the town, most of which were being sold to returning soldiers, were uniform, and everyone wanted to add his or her own personal touch. Drag the phrase that means uniform into the box to complete the sentence.

Nearly Identical

What conclusion can be drawn from the details in this story?

Residents of Pine Grove were willing to work to improve their community once Samara led the way.

Part A What is the resolution of this story? Part B Which detail from the story supports the answer in Part A?

Samara and members of her community come together and create a new park. "Samara was happy to have been part of not only creating a beautiful space, but a common area where residents could come together."

Based on the details in the story, what conclusion can be drawn about the central idea of the story?

Samara identified a need in her community and worked hard to fulfill that need.

Part A Which event is part of the exposition of this story? Part B Which detail from the story supports the answer in Part A?

Samara is walking home from school on a Friday afternoon. "Everyone would be at the fund-raiser for new sports equipment at the high school on Saturday."

Which details support the idea that Samara lives in a supportive community? Select each correct answer.

Samara receives positive responses to participate in developing the park Wanda and other librarians help Samara with her presentation for the zoning board.

Part A Which event is part of the complicating incident of this story? Part B Which detail from the story supports the answer in Part A?

Samara sees children playing tag on a small plot of land between houses. "As Samara nodded and waved goodbye, she started thinking about what she had seen on her walk home that day."

Which detail is part of the rising action of this story?

Samara spends weeks working on a presentation for the town zoning board.

What does the author think about the sources she speaks to for her first story?

She admires how they carry out their difficult jobs.

What outcome do the events of the narrative have for the narrator? Select each correct answer.

She comes to realize what her grandfather means to others. She learns new facts about her grandfather's life history. She realizes how big an impact one person can have on others.

Part A What is the connection between Mrs. Yang's gardening and Samara's idea to build a park? Part B Which detail from the story best supports the answer in Part A?

Talking with Mrs. Yang about the garden helps Samara realize that having open public space improves people's lives. "As Samara nodded and waved goodbye, she....realized that Pine Grove did not have any open public spaces where everyone could go to relax and enjoy nature."

Which detail is part of the climax of the story "A Community Park"?

The decision of the town zoning board approving the community park.

Which events in the narrative develop the idea that the grandfather deserves the award? Select each correct answer.

The grandfather served as a volunteer firefighter for many years. The grandfather employed people from the town in order to "keep his community strong." The grandfather's hardware store became "the place for how-to advice on do-it-yourself projects."

How would the passage most likely be different if it were told from Wanda's point of view?

The passage would contain scenes at the library and the zoning meeting, but would not show how Samara got the idea for a park.

How does the author feel about the opportunity to be a reporter?

The prospect is challenging and unfamiliar, but it is exciting.

How would the passage most likely be different if it were narrated from Samara's first-person point of view?

The reader would have a more direct experience of Samara's thoughts and feelings.

Part A Why was it important for the author to describe the zoning board meeting? Part B Which sentence from the story best supports the answer in Part A?

The zoning board's approval was needed before the park could be built, and there was suspense about the board's decision. "Wanda told her that this kind of decision might take weeks, so Samara was surprised when the board members asked her to stay while they deliberated."

Part A Which choice states a central idea of this passage? Part B Which quotation from the passage best supports the answer in Part A?

To be a good reporter requires more than just good writing skills. " . . . I learned a great deal from him about how to cover a story well, how to handle my sources, and how to make a boring story seem interesting.

Which details support the idea that Samara lives in a supportive community?

Wanda and other librarians help Samara with her presentation for the zoning board. Samara receives positive responses to participate in developing the park. Mrs. Yang wants to lead the gardening project.

Part A In a story about a park, why was it important for the author to describe Samara's visits to the library? Part B Which detail from the story supports the answer in Part A?

Without research, Samara might not have known how to go about creating the park. "That evening, she went to the library and learned about what she would need to do in order to get the idea in front of the town zoning board."

Read this sentence from "The Final Assault." In imagination I could feel my heavy load dragging me backward down the great slopes below; I seemed clumsy and unstable and my breath was hurried and uneven. In this sentence, the narrator gives an example of how he must constantly evaluate his mental and physical capacity. How does the narrator develop this concept in the rest of the narrative?

by describing his circumstances from beginning to end

Read this sentence from "The Final Assault." My thirty-pound load seemed to crush me downward and stifled all enthusiasm, but when I turned on the oxygen and breathed it deeply, the burden seemed to lighten and the old urge to get to grips with the mountain came back. In this sentence, the narrator gives an example of why oxygen is vital to climbers on Mt. Everest. How does the narrator develop this concept in the rest of the narrative?

by showing instances where a lack of oxygen affects climbers

Read these sentences from "The Final Assault." Still a little worried about my boots, I asked Tenzing to lead off. Always willing to do his share, and more than his share if necessary, Tenzing scrambled past me and tackled the slope. In this short excerpt, the narrator gives an example of how important it is for climbers to help each other. How does the narrator develop this concept in the rest of the narrative?

by showing situations where one climber successfully assists another

Select the word in this excerpt that means "to consider carefully."

deliberated

At the end of the story, how does the author feel about her future as a reporter?

proud of her first story and excited about future stories

Read this sentence from paragraph 6 of the story "Lifetime Service." Stories were shared about my grandfather helping construct additions to neighbors' homes, dredging the town lake in the 1960s so that kids could actually swim in it, offering sage advice to other entrepreneurs who wanted to start businesses in town, and offering service as a volunteer firefighter for years. Drag the phrase that means dredging into the box to complete the sentence.

scooping out dirt from

Select the word in this excerpt that means "an amount left over" or "an excess."

surplus

Read these sentences from the "The Final Assault." This little slope was to be our campsite. It was certainly far from flat and it was to need a lot of work on it before we could possibly pitch a tent. We carefully moved all the gear to one side and then set to work with our ice axes to remove the surface snow off a reasonably large area. Ten inches down, we struck rock, and after an hour's work we had cleared an area about eight feet long and six feet wide. The slope underneath was made up of stones and rubble all firmly glued together with ice. This was much harder going. With the picks on our ice axes we chopped away at the slope, prizing out the separate stones and scraping away the rubble. Which phrase best explains why the ideas in these sentences are organized as they are?

to describe the difficulties of creating a camp

Read these sentences from "The Final Assault." This little slope was to be our campsite. It was certainly far from flat and it was to need a lot of work on it before we could possibly pitch a tent. We carefully moved all the gear to one side and then set to work with our ice axes to remove the surface snow off a reasonably large area. Ten inches down, we struck rock, and after an hour's work we had cleared an area about eight feet long and six feet wide. The slope underneath was made up of stones and rubble all firmly glued together with ice. This was much harder going. With the picks on our ice axes we chopped away at the slope, prizing out the separate stones and scraping away the rubble. Which phrase tells best why the ideas in these sentences are organized as they are?

to explain problems the narrator faced and solutions he attempted

Read these sentences from "The Final Assault." At 6:30 a.m. we crawled slowly out of the tent and stood on our little ledge. Already the upper part of the mountain was bathed in sunlight... Tenzing gallantly waved me through and with a growing feeling of excitement I cramponed up some firm slopes to the rounded top of the South Summit. It was only 9 a.m.... It was 11:30 a.m. My first sensation was one of relief—relief that the long grind was over; that the summit had been reached before our oxygen supplies had dropped to a critical level; and relief that in the end the mountain had been kind to us in having a pleasantly rounded cone for its summit instead of a fearsome and unapproachable cornice... Why does Hillary include time as a way to organize these paragraphs about reaching the summit of Mt. Everest?

to show how long it took to complete the final climb to reach the summit

What is the reason for the order of the sentences in paragraph 1? Select each correct answer.

to show that building respect was a process to reveal the order that events happened to show the steps in the grandfather's success

Select the phrase in this excerpt that provides a context clue about the meaning of the word vacated.

unused space

Read this sentence from paragraph 5 of the story "Lifetime Service." There was an entire front row of seating reserved for our family, and above the stage my grandfather's name was emblazoned on a large banner that read "Lifetime Service Award." Drag the phrase that means emblazoned into the box to complete the sentence.

written upon