6.09 Unit Test: Modern Fiction and Nonfiction

What does the use of the word ephemeral suggest? Select the two correct answers. A story without heart will be short lived. A writer must never let go of fear if he wants to be successful. Stories written without truthfulness won't last long. Writers too fearful to write truthfully are criticized.

A story without heart will be short lived. AND Stories written without truthfulness won't last long.

Which detail from "In Another Country" by Ernest Hemingway is an example of understatement? "'I am sorry,' he said, and patted me on the shoulder with his good hand. 'I would not be rude. My wife has just died. You must forgive me.'" "The doctor went to his office in a back room and brought a photograph which showed a hand that had been withered almost as small as the major's, before it had taken a machine course, and after was a little larger." "'Good,' he said. 'You will be able to play football again better than ever.'" "The girls at the Cova were very patriotic, and I found that the most patriotic people in Italy were the café girls—and I believe they are still patriotic."

"'I am sorry,' he said, and patted me on the shoulder with his good hand. 'I would not be rude. My wife has just died. You must forgive me.'"

In "A Wagner Matinee," Clark's Aunt Georgiana comes to Boston on family business. Georgiana seems dazed by being in Boston, having lived in a small prairie town in Nebraska for the past 30 years. As a treat, Clark plans to take his aunt to a concert of Wagner music, knowing her love of music. But Clark wonders if it was a good idea. Which excerpt from the story leaves matters uncertain for readers about Aunt Georgiana? "Soon after the tenor began the 'Prize Song,' I heard a quickdrawn breath, and turned to my aunt. Her eyes were closed, but the tears were glistening on her cheeks," "I spoke gently to her. She burst into tears and sobbed pleadingly, 'I don't want to go, Clark, I don't want to go!'" "I was perplexed as to what measure of musical comprehension was left to her, to her who had heard nothing but the singing of gospel hymns in Methodist services at the square frame schoolhouse on Section Thirteen." "'And you have been hearing this ever since you left me, Clark?' Her question was the gentlest and saddest of reproaches."

"I spoke gently to her. She burst into tears and sobbed pleadingly, 'I don't want to go, Clark, I don't want to go!'"

In "A Wagner Matinee," even though Aunt Georgiana has adapted to her life on the prairie, it is clear she misses music. Which details support this conclusion? Select the three correct answers. "She taught me my scales and exercises, too, on the little parlor organ which her husband had bought her after fifteen years,..." "From the time we entered the concert hall, however, she was a trifle less passive and inert, and seemed to begin to perceive her surroundings." "'Don't love it so well, Clark, or it may be taken from you. Oh! dear boy, pray that whatever your sacrifice be it is not that.'" "She preserved this utter immobility throughout the numbers from The Flying Dutchman, though her fingers worked mechanically upon her black dress, as though of themselves they were recalling the piano score they had once played." "When the violins drew out the first strain of the Pilgrims' chorus, my Aunt Georgiana clutched my coat sleeve."

"She preserved this utter immobility throughout the numbers from The Flying Dutchman, though her fingers worked mechanically upon her black dress, as though of themselves they were recalling the piano score they had once played." AND "When the violins drew out the first strain of the Pilgrims' chorus, my Aunt Georgiana clutched my coat sleeve."

In "In Another Country," Hemingway contrasts the injuries the men suffered with supposed photographs of how they will improve with the use of the machines. How does this affect the story? The program at the hospital serves as an interim place for the men to learn how to deal with their injuries before they are sent home. The photographs serve as a reminder to the men of what they once had, adding to their feelings of hopelessness and despair. Despite the doctors' encouragement for rehabilitation, the men realize that they will never regain the use they once had. The before and after photographs lend credibility to the success the men will achieve if they keep using the machines.

Despite the doctors' encouragement for rehabilitation, the men realize that they will never regain the use they once had.

How does Hemingway's decision to end the story of the major returning to the hospital after his wife's death contribute to the story's impact? It suggests a sense of absurdity that the machine will revitalize the major's hand to what is shown in the photographs, ending the story on a patronizing note. It hints that the major mourned for his lost wife only for a brief few days before returning to his routine at the hospital, ending the story on an uncaring note. It emphasizes that the photographs are of no concern to the major because he doesn't expect the machine to make much difference, ending the story on a doubtful note. It creates a sense of grief for the major not only for the loss of his wife but also the loss of his hand, ending the story on a tragic note.

It creates a sense of grief for the major not only for the loss of his wife but also the loss of his hand, ending the story on a tragic note.

Why does Welty end "The Worn Path" with the line "Then her slow step began on the stairs, going down"? Select the two correct answers. It helps to remind readers that Phoenix is a feeble old woman. It makes readers wonder what Phoenix will encounter on her way back home. It helps readers understand the strength and determination of Phoenix's character. It shows that Phoenix is beginning the long walk back home to her grandson.

It helps readers understand the strength and determination of Phoenix's character. AND It shows that Phoenix is beginning the long walk back home to her grandson.

Read the excerpt from "A Worn Path" by Eudora Welty. She was meditating, and not ready, and when he came at her she only hit him a little with her cane. Over she went in the ditch, like a little puff of milkweed. What does the phrase "like a little puff of milkweed" suggest? Phoenix stops on the path and bends over to pick some flowers and falls. Phoenix falls asleep while standing on the path and falls into a bed of flowers. Phoenix is as delicate and lightweight as a flower, causing her to lose her balance and fall over. Phoenix attempts to knock the milkweed out of her way with her cane.

Phoenix is as delicate and lightweight as a flower, causing her to lose her balance and fall over.

Which viewpoint does Hurston convey in the excerpt? She becomes curious about why the hymn-books don't include the music to the hymns. She thinks the songs white people enjoy shows that they have no taste. She is moved by the words in the hymn-book, and they create music for her. She feels that she needs to pay more attention to white people and their actions.

She is moved by the words in the hymn-book, and they create music for her.

What is most likely the meaning of reproaches? cooperation disapproval rudeness surrender

disapproval