Pursuing the Dream

"Roberto Clemente created the dream for many of us to become professional players and to reach the major leagues,'' Merced says. "He opened the eyes of the American teams to the talent that was here.'' The talent has diminished, and Clemente's on-field legacy has receded in the Puerto Rican consciousness. His dignity and devotion to those less fortunate, however, continue to resonate. After reading this excerpt, readers can infer that

2nd option

During my first fast in 1968, Dr. King reminded me that our struggle was his struggle too. He sent me a telegram which said, "Our separate struggles are really one. A struggle for freedom, for dignity, and for humanity." I was profoundly moved that someone facing such a tremendous struggle himself would take the time to worry about a struggle taking place on the other side of the continent. Just as Dr. King was a disciple of Gandhi and Christ, we must now be Dr. King's disciples. Dr. King challenged us to work for a greater humanity. I only hope that we are worthy of his challenge. The theme that "all people who fight for freedom are united" is best supported by .

3rd option

Kyle thought that he would go to the job interview, that he would talk about his previous experience, and that the manager's questions would be answered by him. To correct the error in parallel structure, replace the underlined portion with .

3rd option

Which sentence from "Lessons of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." best shows that Chavez is trying to connect with his audience to persuade them to join his cause?

A. "My friends, as we enter a new decade, it should be clear to all of us that there is an unfinished agenda"

[George] asked another question. "How long does it take?" . . . . "Four years is just the undergraduate part," she replied. "Medical or dental school is another four-year program, plus additional years of study after that." "That's an awfully long time," Rameck said, sitting down with defeat on his face. Which of the story's central ideas do the details in this passage best support?

A. Achieving success takes hard work and determination.

Anticipation is a grip on their hearts; They wait with frozen smiles Until it finally starts. With a jerk, their cart begins to climb And every click of the chains Prickles their spines. Which line contains a metaphor?

A. Anticipation is a grip on their hearts;

He knew I would have terrible problems and wanted me to know the extent of them before I agreed to the plan. I was twenty-six years old, and all my life - back to the age of eight-I had believed in payback, retaliation. The most luxurious possession, the richest treasure anybody has, is his personal dignity. I looked at Mr. Rickey guardedly, and in that second I was looking at him not as a partner in a great experiment, but as the enemy -a white man. I had a question, and it was the age-old one about whether or not you sell your birthright. "Mr. Rickey," I asked, "are you looking for a Negro who is afraid to fight back?" I never will forget the way he exploded. "Robinson," he said, "I'm looking for a ballplayer with guts enough not to fight back." Which statement best summarizes this excerpt?

A. Before accepting Rickey's offer, Robinson confirms that Rickey respects him as a strong black man.

According to the article "Clemente's Impact Wanes in Puerto Rico 40 Years after His Death," what leads to Clemente's passion for community service?

A. Clemente experiences racial discrimination in America.

"We headed out to the beach closest to the crash area and it was packed with people. It was devastating news for everybody,'' says former major league pitcher Jose Santiago, a close friend of Clemente. "People were going, 'Are you sure he boarded the plane? Maybe he didn't.' Or claiming, 'Oh, he's got to be alive.' Some would say, 'He's clinging to a rock in one of those little islands out there.' " What can best be inferred from this excerpt?

A. Clemente's friends and fans did not want to believe that he was dead.

"But I don't want to teach—I want to be a doctor or nurse or something medical." "I don't even know what you have to do to become something like that," Sampson said honestly. "I don't know either," George said. "But I figure you need big piles of money and about a million years to spend in college." "Hassan and Ahi are going to Howard University in D.C.," Rameck commented, "but their folks have a little cash." He fell silent. . . . Sampson drove the other two home then, their hopes and dreams left in the starlight. What central idea do the details in this passage support?

A. Having little money often makes the friends think that their goals are impossible to achieve.

Which sentence is written correctly?

A. My garden has green peppers, carrots, and three different kinds of tomatoes.

According to the article "Clemente's Impact Wanes in Puerto Rico 40 Years after His Death," which event takes place months before the author attends a party on New Year's Eve 1972?

A. Roberto Clemente hits his 3,000th hit.

As soon as I could spell a few words my teacher gave me slips of cardboard on which were printed words in raised letters. I quickly learned that each printed word stood for an object, an act, or a quality. I had a frame in which I could arrange the words in little sentences; but before I ever put sentences in the frame I used to make them in objects. I found the slips of paper which represented, for example, "doll," "is," "on," "bed" and placed each name on its object; then I put my doll on the bed with the words is, on, bed arranged beside the doll, thus making a sentence of the words, and at the same time carrying out the idea of the sentence with the things themselves. One day, Miss Sullivan tells me, I pinned the word girl on my pinafore and stood in the wardrobe. On the shelf I arranged the words, is, in, wardrobe. Nothing delighted me so much as this game. My teacher and I played it for hours at a time. Often everything in the room was arranged in object sentences. From the printed slip it was but a step to the printed book. I took my "Reader for Beginners" and hunted for the words I knew; when I found them my joy was like that of a game of hide-and-seek. Thus I began to read. Of the time when I began to read connected stories I shall speak later. What happens before the narrator forms sentences in her room?

A. She learns how to read individual words with raised letters.

The railroad track is miles away, And the day is loud with voices speaking, Yet there isn't a train goes by all day But I hear its whistle shrieking. All night there isn't a train goes by, Though the night is still for sleep and dreaming, But I see its cinders red on the sky, And hear its engine steaming. My heart is warm with friends I make, And better friends I'll not be knowing; Yet there isn't a train I wouldn't take, No matter where it's going. What is the central idea of this poem?

A. The narrator is preoccupied by a desire to travel.

How does the relationship between George, Sampson, and Rameck at the beginning of We Beat the Street compare with their relationship at the end?

A. They rely more heavily on each other at the end of the story.

What figurative language does the narrator use with the images of tacks and splinters in "Mother to Son"?

A. a metaphor about life's difficulties

A simile is a type of figurative language that

A. compares two things using "like" or "as."

The exhausted student decided to call it a night, hit the hay, and study more in the morning. Which word in the sentence is most important to understanding the meaning of the idiom "hit the hay"?

A. exhausted

The faded pink car wheezed as it made its way up the steep hill brimming with potholes. Which word in the sentence best clarifies the meaning of the personification in the phrase "car wheezed"?

A. faded

[Sampson] was the captain of the baseball team at University and could almost touch his dreams of playing in the major leagues. He often had write-ups in the local paper, highlighting his playing performance: "Davis goes three for four, with four RBIs, while pitching a four-hitter as University tops Shabazz 6-5." What causes Sampson to dream that he will someday play in the major leagues?

A. his talent and success as a player

My friends, as we enter a new decade, it should be clear to all of us that there is an unfinished agenda, that we have miles to go before we reach the promised land. Which words in the passage show Chavez's attempt to connect with his audience?

A. my friends

My friends, if we are going to end the suffering, we must use the same people power that vanquished injustice in Montgomery, Selma, and Birmingham. I have seen many boycotts succeed. Dr. King showed us the way with the bus boycott, and with our first boycott, we were able to get DDT, Aldrin, and Dieldrin banned in our first contracts with grape growers. The details in this passage send the message that

A. nonviolent resistance is an important tool in the fight for positive change.

Caffeine is found in chocolate, coffee, tea, sodas, and energy drinks. The amount of caffeine in these items varies greatly and is measured in milligrams. Some energy drinks contain as much as 160 milligrams of caffeine per serving. Caffeine is a stimulant, praised for its ability to maintain wakefulness. What is the author's purpose for writing this paragraph?

A. to inform readers about caffeine facts

Which detail from "Lessons of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." best supports the theme that the fight for social justice often requires determination and sacrifice?

B. "Dr. King knew that he very probably wouldn't survive the struggle that he led so well. But he said, 'If I am stopped, the movement will not stop. . . . For what we are doing is right.'"

Which excerpt from We Beat the Street supports the story's central idea that opportunities should never be wasted?

B. "Then the three of you get out of here. Colleges come to this school every day, looking for good students, and you three jokers let it all pass you by."

In our life and death struggle for justice we have turned to the court of last resort: the American people. And the people are ruling in our favor. As a result, grape sales keep falling. We have witnessed truckloads of grapes being dumped because no one would stop to buy them. As demand drops, so do prices and profits. The growers are under tremendous economic pressure. We are winning, but there is still much hard work ahead of us. I hope that you will join our struggle. Which phrase from Chavez's speech uses details to support his argument that the grape boycott is working?

B. "truckloads of grapes being dumped"

A hush is over all the teeming lists, And there is pause, a breath-space in the strife; A spirit brave has passed beyond the mists And vapors that obscure the sun of life. And Ethiopia, with bosom torn, Laments the passing of her noblest born. And he was no soft-tongued apologist; He spoke straight-forward, fearlessly uncowed; The sunlight of his truth dispelled the mist And set in bold relief each dark-hued cloud; To sin and crime he gave their proper hue, And hurled at evil what was evil's due. Thro' good and ill report he cleaved his way Right onward, with his face set toward the heights, Nor feared to face the foeman's dread array— The lash of scorn, the sting of petty spites. He dared the lightning in the lightning's track, And answered thunder with his thunder back. How is the message of this poem similar to the poet's message in "The Courage That My Mother Had"?

B. Both poems mourn the bravery of one who has died.

Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot uneducate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. And you cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore. In our life and death struggle for justice we have turned to the court of last resort: the American people. And the people are ruling in our favor. The details of this excerpt express which theme?

B. Change begins when people are educated and strong.

Which sentence contains parallel structure?

B. Derrick coached his sister's soccer team and managed his brother's baseball team.

Which sentence is written correctly?

B. Earning a spot on the football team (which has won the championship the last two years) is quite an accomplishment.

What is the central idea of Langston Hughes's poem "Mother to Son"?

B. Even though life is a struggle, people must persevere.

He had never forgotten the agony of that black athlete. When he became a front-office executive in St. Louis, he had fought, behind the scenes, against the custom that consigned black spectators to the Jim Crow section of the Sportsman's Park, later to become Busch Memorial Stadium. His pleas to change the rules were in vain. Those in power argued that if blacks were allowed a free choice of seating, white business would suffer. Which statement best summarizes this excerpt?

B. Inspired by the injustices he witnessed as a coach, Rickey tries unsuccessfully to change race rules about stadium seating.

Which sentence contains parallel structure?

B. Jalen folded the application and placed it in the envelope.

According to the article "Clemente's Impact Wanes in Puerto Rico 40 Years after His Death," what begins after Clemente's death?

B. Major League Baseball offers a yearly award for community service.

Which sentence has a simile that compares the girl to something negative?

B. She is like a boulder stuck in the road.

Which sentence is written correctly?

B. Snow cones, a tasty treat, can be found in many delicious flavors.

Which is the best use of punctuation?

B. The Industrial Revolution (a period between 1750 and 1850) brought many changes to manufacturing.

The teacher called her name The sound was an alarm It prickled every hair And jangled every nerve Which line contains a metaphor?

B. The sound was an alarm

There are no beaten paths to Glory's height, There are no rules to compass greatness known; Each for himself must cleave a path alone, And press his own way forward in the fight. Smooth is the way to ease and calm delight, And soft the road Sloth chooseth for her own; But he who craves the flower of life full-blown, Must struggle up in all his armor dight! What though the burden bear him sorely down And crush to dust the mountain of his pride, Oh, then, with strong heart let him still abide; For rugged is the roadway to renown, Nor may he hope to gain the envied crown, Till he hath thrust the looming rocks aside. What is the central idea of this poem?

B. There are many obstacles and challenges on the way to success.

"What do we have to lose? Let's just do the applications and see what happens," George suggested. "Yeah, man—why not?" Sampson told the others. "Let's go for it." Rameck added, "Can't hurt anything. Who knows—this might turn out to be a good thing." In what way are the three friends different at the end of the story?

B. They are much more hopeful about their futures.

"I am from Seton Hall University," the speaker began, "and we have a special program that some of you might find appealing. Did you know that there is a vast need for minorities in the health professions? Did you know that in this city alone, people have to wait for hours to see a doctor because there are not enough doctors on staff at the hospitals to see them?" Sampson thought back to that day the stone fell on his foot and how the doctor with the magical X-rays had helped him heal properly. Rameck thought back to the many times he had been taken to the emergency room for various scrapes and bruises. George thought back to his many visits to the dentist and how fascinating the whole process had been for him. What effect do the speaker's words have on the three friends?

B. They recall their own experiences at medical facilities and are drawn into the presentation.

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, probably the top player among a diminishing Puerto Rican contingent in the majors, has taken up the cause of abused and disadvantaged kids through his foundation. Molina says the chance to live up to Clemente's legacy was a motivating factor. What can best be inferred from this excerpt?

B. Yadier Molina admires Roberto Clemente.

The prestigious National Academy of Sciences recently concluded an exhaustive five-year study which determined that pesticides do not improve profits and do not produce more crops. What, then, is the effect of pesticides? Pesticides have created a legacy of pain, and misery, and death for farm workers and consumers alike. Based on the details and language in this passage, the reader can conclude that Chavez wants to

B. convince people that pesticides do much more harm than good.

Have you ever been at sea in a dense fog, when it seemed as if a tangible white darkness shut you in, and the great ship, tense and anxious, groped her way toward the shore with plummet and sounding-line, and you waited with beating heart for something to happen? I was like that ship before my education began, only I was without compass or sounding-line, and had no way of knowing how near the harbour was. "Light! give me light!" was the wordless cry of my soul, and the light of love shone on me in that very hour. . . . The morning after my teacher came she led me into her room and gave me a doll. The little blind children at the Perkins Institution had sent it and Laura Bridgman had dressed it; but I did not know this until afterward. When I had played with it a little while, Miss Sullivan slowly spelled into my hand the word "d-o-l-l." I was at once interested in this finger play and tried to imitate it. When I finally succeeded in making the letters correctly I was flushed with childish pleasure and pride. Running downstairs to my mother I held up my hand and made the letters for doll. I did not know that I was spelling a word or even that words existed; I was simply making my fingers go in monkey-like imitation. In the days that followed I learned to spell in this uncomprehending way a great many words, among them pin, hat, cup and a few verbs like sit, stand and walk. Based on this excerpt, which words best describe Helen Keller?

B. curious and eager

"Well, I know Mrs. Silly String would never believe it, but I'd really like to be a teacher," Rameck admitted. "So kids not even born yet can do to you what we did to our teachers?" Sampson asked with a laugh. Rameck sighed. "No, 'cause I know what it's like to be a kid who needs more but doesn't know how to ask for it. Only a few teachers know how to reach out to kids like me. I could do that." What causes Rameck to think about becoming a teacher?

B. his understanding of the challenges that young people often face

We have witnessed truckloads of grapes being dumped because no one would stop to buy them. As demand drops, so do prices and profits. The growers are under tremendous economic pressure. We are winning, but there is still much hard work ahead of us. The details in this passage best support the theme that

B. people can make a positive change by working together.

It had rained for the entire week before we went river rafting. The rain made the river swell with extra water. In fact, the river was a speeding train by the time we got there. Thus, we had quite the adventure. The context clue "rained for the entire week" most helps the reader understand the meaning of which figurative language?

B. river was a speeding train

The siblings were like cats and dogs when left alone together. As a result, the babysitter was careful to keep them separated as much as possible. The author most likely uses the simile to emphasize that

B. the siblings did not get along well.

Branch Rickey lost that fight, but when he became the boss of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1943, he felt the time for equality in baseball had come. He knew that achieving it would be terribly difficult. There would be deep resentment, determined opposition, and perhaps even racial violence. He was convinced he was morally right, and he shrewdly sensed that making the game a truly national one would have healthy financial results. He took his case before the startled directors of the club, and using persuasive eloquence, he won the first battle in what would be a long and bitter campaign. He was voted permission to make the Brooklyn club the pioneer in bringing blacks into baseball. What is the author's purpose for including this paragraph?

B. to inform readers about Branch Rickey's determination

He not only told me about it, but he acted out the part of a white player charging into me, blaming me for the "accident" and calling me all kinds of foul racial names. He talked about my race, my parents, in language that was almost unendurable. "They'll taunt and goad you," Mr. Rickey said. "They'll do anything to make you react. They'll try to provoke a race riot in the ballpark. This is the way to prove to the public that a Negro should not be allowed in the major league. This is the way to frighten the fans and make them afraid to attend the games." What is the author's purpose for including these paragraphs?

B. to inform readers about the challenges Rickey and Robinson expect to face

The prestigious National Academy of Sciences recently concluded an exhaustive five-year study which determined that pesticides do not improve profits and do not produce more crops. Which persuasive element does Chavez use in this passage?

B. using facts to support an argument

The team went to South Bend, Indiana, for a game. The hotel management registered the coach and team but refused to assign a room to a black player named Charley Thomas. In those days college ball had a few black players. Mr. Rickey took the manager aside and said he would move the entire team to another hotel unless the black athlete was accepted. The threat was a bluff because he knew the other hotels also would have refused accommodations to a black man. While the hotel manager was thinking about the threat, Mr. Rickey came up with a compromise. He suggested a cot be put in his own room, which he would share with the unwanted guest. The hotel manager wasn't happy about the idea, but he gave in. Which detail supports the idea that Branch Rickey is personally involved in his players' struggle for acceptance?

C. "He suggested a cot be put in his own room, which he would share with the unwanted guest."

According to the article "Clemente's Impact Wanes in Puerto Rico 40 Years after His Death," what happens in Puerto Rico immediately after Clemente's death is confirmed?

C. A state of mourning envelops the country.

My days are never days of ease; I till my ground and prune my trees. When ripened gold is all the plain, I put my sickle to the grain. I labor hard, and toil and sweat, While others dream within the dell; But even while my brow is wet, I sing my song, and all is well. Sometimes the sun, unkindly hot, My garden makes a desert spot; Sometimes a blight upon the tree Takes all my fruit away from me; And then with throes of bitter pain Rebellious passions rise and swell; But—life is more than fruit or grain, And so I sing, and all is well. How is the message of this poem similar to the poet's message in "Mother to Son"?

C. Both poems encourage endurance through hardships.

Which sentence contains parallel elements?

C. Carina could hear the rolling thunder and the howling winds.

The trees along this city street, Save for the traffic and the trains, Would make a sound as thin and sweet As trees in country lanes. And people standing in their shade Out of a shower, undoubtedly Would hear such music as is made Upon a country tree. Oh, little leaves that are so dumb Against the shrieking city air, I watch you when the wind has come,— I know what sound is there. What is the central idea of this poem?

C. City trees make sounds that cannot be heard above the commotion.

My friends, Dr. King realized that the only real wealth comes from helping others. I challenge each and every one of you to be a true disciple of Dr. King, to be truly wealthy. I challenge you to carry on his work by volunteering to work for a just cause you believe in. Which theme does Chavez communicate in this passage?

C. Everyone has the power to make a difference.

Sighing sadly, hanging her head Regrets resound Apologies abound. Forgiveness granted is like wings, And she will soar. Which line contains a simile?

C. Forgiveness granted is like wings,

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

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

Which sentence is written correctly?

C. Kellen, who graduated with honors, will study microorganisms, sensory neurons, and potential energy.

When reeds are dead and a straw to thatch the marshes, And feathered pampas-grass rides into the wind Like aged warriors westward, tragic, thinned Of half their tribe, and over the flattened rushes, Stripped of its secret, open, stark and bleak, Blackens afar the half-forgotten creek,— Then leans on me the weight of the year, and crushes My heart. I know that Beauty must ail and die, And will be born again,—but ah, to see Beauty stiffened, staring up at the sky! Oh, Autumn! Autumn!—What is the Spring to me? What is the central idea of this poem?

C. Nature's changes in autumn are a sad reminder of the cycle of life.

George would not give up. "Hey, look. I really want to do this. I think we could ALL do this—the three of us—together!" "Maybe," Rameck said slowly. "It's an awful long time," Sampson said with a sigh. "Man, we can go to college for FREE!" George said, trying to convince them. "Free is always good," Rameck said with a grin. "What do we have to lose? Let's just do the applications and see what happens," George suggested. "Yeah, man—why not?" Sampson told the others. "Let's go for it." What central idea in the story do the details in this excerpt support?

C. One should take advantage of opportunities.

"Then the three of you get out of here. Colleges come to this school every day, looking for good students, and you three jokers let it all pass you by." *** "You'll be four years older whether you go to college or not. Why not fill up those four years with something valuable?" *** George thought back to Miss Johnson, who had said almost the exact same thing to him way back in third grade. What central idea in the story do the details in these excerpts best support?

C. People should make the most of the opportunities that are given to them.

"It's all that ought to count," he replied. "But it isn't. Maybe one of these days it will be all that counts. That is one of the reasons I've got you here, Robinson. If you're a good enough man, we can make this a start in the right direction. But let me tell you, it's going to take an awful lot of courage." He was back to the crossroads question that made me start to get angry minutes earlier. He asked it slowly and with great care. "Have you got the guts to play the game no matter what happens?" "I think I can play the game, Mr. Rickey," I said. The next few minutes were tough. Branch Rickey had to make absolutely sure that I knew what I would face. Beanballs would be thrown at me. I would be called the kind of names which would hurt and infuriate any man. I would be physically attacked. Could I take all of this and control my temper, remain steadfastly loyal to our ultimate aim? Which is the central idea of this excerpt?

C. Rickey expects people to oppose integration.

Which is the best use of punctuation?

C. Upon hearing her diagnosis, she was filled with one emotion: relief.

What figurative language does the narrator use to describe her life in "Mother to Son"?

C. a metaphor comparing life to a stairway

It was life on the farm that drove me into devising ways and means to better transportation. I was born on July 30, 1863, on a farm at Dearborn, Michigan, and my earliest recollection is that, considering the results, there was too much work on the place. That is the way I still feel about farming. There is a legend that my parents were very poor and that the early days were hard ones. Certainly they were not rich, but neither were they poor. As Michigan farmers went, we were prosperous. The house in which I was born is still standing, and it and the farm are part of my present holding. Which is the best source to use to confirm the information in this excerpt?

C. a website providing a timeline of Ford's life

Economic pressure is the only language the growers speak, and they are beginning to listen. Please, boycott table grapes. Which persuasive element does Chavez use in this passage?

C. stating a clear purpose or goal

"Hassan and Ahi are going to Howard University in D.C.," Rameck commented, "but their folks have a little cash." He fell silent. "I think it would be cool to go into business," Sampson said, "You know, become an entrepreneur and own some big company." He sounded a little vague. "What kind of business is there around here except for drugs and crime?" George asked bitterly. "Show business!" Rameck told him. "We can be rap stars!" "Yeah, right. You need money even to do that," Sampson told him. Sampson drove the other two home then, their hopes and dreams left in the starlight. What causes the friends to believe that their dreams are too difficult to achieve?

C. their lack of money

Today we honor a wise teacher, an inspiring leader, and a true visionary, but to truly honor Dr. King we must do more than say words of praise. We must learn his lessons and put his views into practice, so that we may truly be free at last. Based on this passage, the reader can conclude that one purpose of Chavez's speech is to

C. urge people to follow in Dr. King's footsteps in the fight against injustices.

The time is now for people, of all races and backgrounds, to sound the trumpets of change. As Dr. King proclaimed, "There comes a time when people get tired of being trampled over by the iron feet of oppression." The strong language in this passage shows that Chavez wants people to

C. work together to fight against social injustices.

In our life and death struggle for justice we have turned to the court of last resort: the American people. And the people are ruling in our favor. As a result, grape sales keep falling. We have witnessed truckloads of grapes being dumped because no one would stop to buy them. As demand drops, so do prices and profits. The growers are under tremendous economic pressure. We are winning, but there is still much hard work ahead of us. I hope that you will join our struggle. Which sentence clearly states the purpose of Chavez's speech?

D. "I hope that you will join our struggle."

Thirty-five years later, while I was lying awake nights, frustrated, unable to see a future, Mr. Rickey, by now the president of the Dodgers, was also lying awake at night, trying to make up his mind about a new experiment. He had never forgotten the agony of that black athlete. When he became a front-office executive in St. Louis, he had fought, behind the scenes, against the custom that consigned black spectators to the Jim Crow section of the Sportsman's Park, later to become Busch Memorial Stadium. His pleas to change the rules were in vain. Those in power argued that if blacks were allowed a free choice of seating, white business would suffer. Which detail best supports the central idea that many people oppose Branch Rickey's ideas?

D. "Those in power argued that if blacks were allowed a free choice of seating, white business would suffer."

The simple act of refusing to buy table grapes laced with pesticides is a powerful statement that the growers understand. Economic pressure is the only language the growers speak, and they are beginning to listen. Please, boycott table grapes. Which words from the passage most clearly state a goal of Chavez's speech?

D. "boycott table grapes"

Jalen picked up his camera and began taking pictures of the majestic mountains and the magnificent sunset. Which elements of this sentence are parallel?

D. "majestic mountains" and "magnificent sunset"

According to the article "Clemente's Impact Wanes in Puerto Rico 40 Years after His Death," what happens in Puerto Rico in 2012 to celebrate the anniversary of Clemente's 3000th hit?

D. A musical about Clemente's life is performed in a theater.

Give away her gowns, Give away her shoes; She has no more use For her fragrant gowns; Take them all down, Blue, green, blue, Lilac, pink, blue, From their padded hangers; She will dance no more In her narrow shoes; Sweep her narrow shoes From the closet floor. How is the message of this poem similar to the poet's message in "The Courage That My Mother Had"?

D. Both poems suggest that earthly items are unnecessary after death.

Which excerpt from We Beat the Street best supports the central idea that the boys share a supportive friendship?

D. But George would not give up. "Hey, look. I really want to do this. I think we could ALL do this—the three of us—together!"

George felt his heart beating faster. Could this be the chance he was looking for—the answer to the questions he didn't even know how to ask? *** George sat there with a look of disbelief and possibility on his face. *** He was swallowing every word, his excitement building as she continued to describe this unbelievable opportunity. The details in these excerpts support the idea that

D. George is motivated to do something with his life.

After the snow stopped, the sun came out. I looked out the window to see whether there was any snow on the ground. And oh my, there was a lot of snow! I found that my car had been transformed into a snowy Kilimanjaro. Realizing I wouldn't be leaving soon, I went to get a shovel. The context clue that best helps the reader understand the meaning of "snowy Kilimanjaro" is

D. I went to get a shovel

"Hassan and Ahi are going to Howard University in D.C.," Rameck commented, "but their folks have a little cash." He fell silent. "I think it would be cool to go into business," Sampson said, "You know, become an entrepreneur and own some big company." He sounded a little vague. "What kind of business is there around here except for drugs and crime?" George asked bitterly. "Show business!" Rameck told him. "We can be rap stars!" "Yeah, right. You need money even to do that," Sampson told him. Sampson drove the other two home then, their hopes and dreams left in the starlight. What effect does the boys' lack of money have on them?

D. It makes them believe that their goals are too difficult to achieve.

Which sentence contains parallel structure?

D. Mekhi finished his chemistry homework and then finished his essay.

When Mrs. Garcia taught class, the chairs stood straighter. The computers hummed in unison. And, along the front wall, the chalkboards waited impatiently to be tickled by the chalk. What most likely is the author suggesting through the figurative language in the passage?

D. Mrs. Garcia is a good teacher.

Which sentence is written correctly?

D. Sarah, Matt's wife, works as a business software developer.

She told us the noise she'd heard was like fingernails on a chalkboard. She said it reminded her of the way shrieking cats and grinding metal sound. What is the most effective context clue to add to the beginning of the first sentence to help the reader understand the simile?

D. Shuddering,

Which lines from "The Courage That My Mother Had" contain a simile?

D. That courage, like a rock which she Has no more need of, and I have.

Jodi, Jan, and Seth peered out the window. They could not believe that a line was forming! Their flier had advertised tryouts for a garage band guitarist, because Epic Noise had been one musician short since their friend Zach moved to Michigan. Now it looked as though their need would be met. Eleven or twelve kids their age lined the driveway, some propping up oversize cases, and others with guitars strapped on their backs. The three hosts of the audition believed that they would find what they were listening for among the assembled crowd. Which statement best summarizes this paragraph?

D. The Epic Noise band members are optimistic about their chances of filling their need for a guitarist at their audition.

What is the central idea of Edna St. Vincent Millay's poem "The Courage That My Mother Had"?

D. The narrator wishes she could have inherited her mother's courage.

I know my love is true, And oh the day is fair. The sky is dear and blue, The flowers are rich of hue, The air I breathe is rare, I have no grief or care; For my own love is true, And oh the day is fair. My love is false I find, And oh the day is dark. Blows sadly down the wind, While sorrow holds my mind; I do not hear the lark, For quenched is life's dear spark,— My love is false I find, And oh the day is dark! What is the central idea of this poem?

D. The narrator's mood is determined by the state of the relationship with his love.

The children live in communities surrounded by the grape fields that employ their parents. The children come into contact with the poisons when they play outside, when they drink the water, and when they hug their parents returning from the fields. . . . We have no choice, we must stop the plague of pesticides. How do the examples in this passage best support Chavez's purpose?

D. They show how the dangers of pesticides are spread so that people will work to get rid of them.

"That's what he was supposed to tell you," Mr. Rickey said. "The truth is you are not a candidate for the Brooklyn Brown Dodgers. I've sent for you because I'm interested in you as a candidate for the Brooklyn National League Club. I think you can play in the major leagues. How do you feel about it?" My reactions seemed like some kind of weird mixture churning in a blender. I was thrilled, scared, and excited. I was incredulous. Most of all, I was speechless. "You think you can play for Montreal?" he demanded. I got my tongue back. "Yes," I answered. Which statement best summarizes this excerpt?

D. When Rickey offers Robinson a job in the Major Leagues, Robinson is shocked.

My father, Arthur H. Keller, was a captain in the Confederate Army, and my mother, Kate Adams, was his second wife and many years younger. Her grandfather, Benjamin Adams, married Susanna E. Goodhue, and lived in Newbury, Massachusetts, for many years. Their son, Charles Adams, was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, and moved to Helena, Arkansas. When the Civil War broke out, he fought on the side of the South and became a brigadier-general. He married Lucy Helen Everett, who belonged to the same family of Everetts as Edward Everett and Dr. Edward Everett Hale. After the war was over the family moved to Memphis, Tennessee. Which is the best source to use to confirm the information in this excerpt?

D. a biography with Helen Keller's family tree

Nia, my best friend, scored the winning goal. Which is the best revision of the sentence?

D. no change

I tried to finish the meal, but the burned meat was as tough as leather, and I began to wonder whether I was eating someone's old sneakers. Which type of figurative language does the sentence contain?

D. simile

The crop which poses the greatest danger, and the focus of our struggle, is the table grape crop. These pesticides soak the fields, drift with the wind, pollute the water, and are eaten by unwitting consumers. The poisons are designed to kill, and pose a very real threat to consumers and farm workers alike. What is Chavez's purpose in this passage?

D. to persuade people that everyone is affected by the harmful chemicals found in pesticides

"If you're looking for the Seton Hall presentation, it's just beginning," the principal told them. She walked with the three boys to the library, then stood by the door, listening to the presentation herself for a few minutes. We're stuck, Sampson thought as the three of them found seats at a back table. How do the boys' attitudes before the presentation compare to their attitudes after it?

Not B

Mustufa ran the 100-meter and 200-meter races but the one he had trained for the hardest was the 400-meter competition. Which is the best revision of this sentence?

Not B C

Which sentence contains parallel structure?

Not B D Jonah's two ultimate goals are becoming a published columnist and to write a book.

The dock was far from view The hour of night was near Unbeknown to the laboring crew Cruel darkness crept o'er the stern.

Not C

At first, word was Orlando Cepeda was the victim, and that would have been a huge loss because the 1967 National League MVP was a popular figure and a future Hall of Famer. Which is the best source to use to confirm the information in this excerpt?

Not C D