English 9 Honors Final Study Guide

According to "Why Do Some Brains Enjoy Fear?" what feeling do many people commonly have after a frightening experience, such as touring a haunted house?

Confidence

Select the complex sentence.

Edgar Allan Poe's stories, while they delight the imagination, also challenge one's intelligence.

Which is the most accurate description of the ending of the "The Fall of the House of Usher"?

During a storm, the barely perceptible fissure in the façade of the house widens until the house collapses.

Which lines from "The Raven" best demonstrate the first-person point of view?

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, / As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

In which of the following places would a person most likely be gregarious?

a party

Which of the following is the best example of a tumultuous event?

a storm so loud that it is hard to hear others speaking

Read this sentence. The mood at the party had not changed; then suddenly, the visitors were gone. Which words make up a prepositional phrase?

at the party

In the opening scene of "The Metamorphosis," what do Gregor's thoughts and long speeches reveal most clearly about his personality?

He is indecisive and tends to overthink his actions.

Which of the following would most likely be considered an antiquity?

a vase from ancient times

How do "The Fall of the House of Usher" and "House Taken Over" differ in their approach to describing events, characters, and places?

"The Fall of the House of Usher" vividly depicts frightening events, while "House Taken Over" calmly depicts a growing threat.

Which excerpt from "The Fall of the House of Usher" best captures the story's overall effect?

"There was an iciness, a sinking, a sickening of the heart—an unredeemed dreariness of thought which no goading of the imagination could torture into aught of the sublime."

Based on your knowledge of the meaning of the word parts -ion and -ive, choose the most likely definitions for retributive and retribution.

retributive: "having the quality of punishment" and retribution: "punishment"

What does the research cited in "Why Do Some Brains Enjoy Fear?" show is the reason that people differ in their reactions to frightening situations, such as haunted houses?

variations in brain chemistry

If the "Windigo" were told from the omniscient point of view rather than from the first-person point of view, what additional information might a reader learn?

what the girl thought when she saw the Windigo

In which of the following situations would entreating be most appropriate?

when begging a friend to accept an apology

Select the answer choice in which a dependent clause is in quotes.

"Though the cause of Poe's death is unknown", many believe that poor health and habits were probably the main factors.

Read the following sentence. Malik bought his mother some flowers, and she enjoyed their fragrance. In which of these answer choices does the underlined word have the same denotation as fragrance but a clearly opposite connotation?

Arjun knew from the stench of the leftovers that it was time to clean the refrigerator.

Read the following stanza from "The Raven." But the Raven still beguiling my sad fancy into smiling, Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust, and door. Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore— What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore Meant in croaking, "Nevermore." Which aspect of this stanza most clearly adds to the feeling of tension or dread in these lines?

the addition of a number of descriptive words to "ominous bird of yore" in the fifth line, suggesting a growing frenzy.

In "beware: do not read this poem," to what does the speaker compare the poem?

the mirror in a horror movie, into which people disappear

After which event in "Where Is Here?" does the father announce forcefully, "The visit is over"?

the stranger's request to sit on the basement steps

Which words best characterize the stranger in "Where Is Here?"

He demonstrates mysterious and confusing powers.

Which of the following words best describes the mood, or overall feeling, established in "House Taken Over"?

Creepy

Which of the following is the best example of a person behaving amiably?

Dolores offered to share the last slice of cake with Mike.

What is the most likely reason that the author chose Dr. Margee Kerr as the subject of her interview in "Why Do Some Brains Enjoy Fear?"

Dr. Kerr is an expert on the topic of fear.

Read this sentence. She sat by the fire knitting scarves and humming a song. Identify the word in the sentence that is the object of a preposition.

Fire

Select the compound-complex sentence.

He also wrote a poem that he entitled "The Bells" because the words in the verse imitate the sounds of different kinds of bells, and the poem has become a popular piece to be read aloud by a chorus.

Read the following excerpt from "House Taken Over." I went down to the kitchen, heated the kettle, and when I got back with the tray of mate, I told Irene: "I had to shut the door to the passage. They've taken over the back part." After reading this excerpt how would you describe the narrator's reaction after the back section of the house is taken over?

He is surprisingly calm.

At the beginning of "The Fall of the House of Usher," what does the narrator do?

He travels to visit Roderick Usher at Usher's family home.

In "The Doll's House," which words best describe Kezia's impression of the lamp in the doll's house? Choose three options.

Homey, perfect, realistic

In which sentences are the words in quotes words auxiliary verbs?

If Kafka had not died at the age of forty, he "might have" produced more masterpieces like "The Metamorphosis."

At the end of "Where Is Here?," what effect has the stranger's visit had on the family

It has left the father and mother quarrelsome and confused.

In the following excerpt from "Where Is Here?," the stranger recalls looking through the colored glass in the fanlight and noticing how the colors alter the outside world: "After such a lesson it's hard to take the world on its own terms, isn't it?" he asked. The father asked, annoyed, "On what terms should it be taken, then?" The stranger replied, regarding him levelly, with a just perceptible degree of disdain, "Why, none at all." Which of the following statements best explains the effect of this dialogue on the reader's understanding of the stranger?

It helps the reader appreciate how difficult it is for others to understand the stranger.

Appear is a verb meaning "to become visible." The prefix dis- can be added to the word to form a new word, disappear. Which answer choice best describes how the word changes once the prefix is added?

It is still a verb but now means "vanish" or "go out of sight."

Read the following quotation from near the end of "House Taken Over." We had what we had on. I remembered fifteen thousand pesos in the wardrobe in my bedroom. Too late now. What does this detail suggest about the force or creature that has invaded the house of the narrator and his sister?

It is terrifying enough to make them forget valued possessions.

Which of the following is an aspect of the ending of "Where Is Here?" that most clearly shows that it is a modern Gothic story?

It leaves readers with questions about who the stranger was and whether the family has been changed.

What is one of the reasons given in "Why Do Some Brains Enjoy Fear?" to explain why people have been scaring themselves and others since prehistoric times?

It prepares children for challenging life experiences.

Read the sample sentence. Then, answer the question that follows. "Unlike his character Gregor, Kafka actually did well at one insurance company." Which of the following revisions of the sample sentence includes a verb phrase with an auxiliary verb or verbs?

Kafka must have been unlike his character Gregor, because Kafka actually did well at one insurance company.

Read the following sentence. The wrestler faced his adversary in the ring. In which of these answer choices does the underlined word have a denotation and connotation closest to the denotation and the connotation of adversary?

Keisha's foe on the student council was Joe, who voted against every suggestion she made.

At the beginning of "House Taken Over," how does the narrator and his sister Irene spend most of their days?

Knitting and cleaning

Read this quotation from "The Metamorphosis." "Then, answer the question that follows.He [Gregor] immediately dipped his head almost up to and over his eyes down into the milk. But he soon drew it back again in disappointment, not just because it was difficult for him to eat... but also because the milk, which otherwise was his favorite drink and which his sister had certainly placed there for that reason, did not appeal to him at all. He turned away from the bowl almost with aversion and crept back into the middle of the room." Which synonym most closely matches both denotation and connotation of aversion in the quotation?

Loathing

If a room can be accurately described as spacious, which of the following must be true?

Many people must be able to fit in the room.

Read this sentence. The man's thoughtful and pained expression conveyed an attitude of worry. Which word functions as a preposition?

Of

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B. Part A What is one likely meaning of the symbol of the doll's house in "The Doll's House"? Part B Which of these sentences from "The Doll's House" best supports the answer to Part A?

Part A: Social status Part B: "The Burnell children could hardly walk to school fast enough the next morning. They burned to tell everybody, to describe, to—well—to boast about their doll's house before the school bell rang."

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B. Part A What main criticism does "The Doll's House" offer about the class system that prevailed in the place and time of its setting? Part B Which of these sentences from "The Doll's House" best supports the answer to Part A?

Part A: The class system could be cruel to the lower classes. Part B: "They walked past the Kelveys with their heads in the air, and as they set the fashion in all matters of behavior, the Kelveys where shunned by everybody."

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B. Part A Read the following excerpt from "The Fall of the House of Usher." "The impetuous fury of the entering gust nearly lifted us from our feet. It was, indeed, a tempestuous yet sternly beautiful night, and one wildly singular in its terror and its beauty... —yet we had no glimpse of the moon or stars, ... But the under surfaces of the huge masses of agitated vapor, as well as all terrestrial objects immediately around us, were glowing in the unnatural light of a faintly luminous and distinctly visible gaseous exhalation which hung about and enshrouded the mansion." In what way is this excerpt most clearly characteristic of Gothic literature? Part B Which is most clearly the intended effect of the excerpt in Part A?

Part A: The description is dramatic. The setting described is eerie. Part B: to create a mood of terror.

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B. Part A What does "The Doll's House" suggest about the way that most people feel when they demean or insult other people? Part B Which of these sentences from "The Doll's House" best supports the answer to Part A?

Part A: They feel pleased and superior. Part B: "But now that she [Aunt Beryl] had frightened those little rats of Kelveys and given Kezia a good scolding, her heart felt lighter."

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B. Part A What does "The Doll's House" suggest about the role of adults in the snobbery in which children sometimes engage? Part B Which of these sentences from "The Doll's House" best supports the answer to Part A?

Part A: Adults encourage such behavior. Part B: "Even the teacher had a special voice for them [the Kelveys], and a special smile for the other children when Lil Kelvey came up to her desk with a bunch of dreadfully common-looking flowers."

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B. Part A In "The Metamorphosis," as his life as an insect continues, Gregor begins to lose interest in living. Which of these events most significantly leads to Gregor's deterioration? Part B Which quotation from "The Metamorphosis" best supports the answer to Part A?

Part A: Grete no longer shows compassion for him and treats him with indifference. Part B:"He was filled with sheer anger over the wretched care he was getting... Without thinking any more about how one might be able to give Gregor special pleasure, the sister now kicked some food or other very quickly into his room."

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B. Part A In "The Fall of the House of Usher," which of the following is one of Roderick Usher's disturbing ideas? Part B Which excerpt from the story best supports the answer to Part A?

Part A: Usher believes that his house has awareness, like a living thing. Part B: "The belief, however, was connected ... with the gray stones of the home of his forefathers. The conditions of the sentience had been here, he imagined, fulfilled in the method of collocation of these stones...."

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B. Part A In "The Fall of the House of Usher," which details of the house's interior seem to reflect Usher's appearance and the condition of his mind? Part B Which excerpt from "The Fall of the House of Usher" best supports the answer to Part A?

Part A: Usher's physical and mental deterioration is reflected in the gloomy darkness, lack of comfort, and old, worn-out possessions. Part B: "The general furniture was profuse, comfortless, antique, and tattered."

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B. Part A Which statement best summarizes the theme in "beware: do not read this poem"? Part B Which lines from the poem best support the answer to Part A?

Part A: Whenever someone commits to reading a poem, he or she risks getting caught up in it. Part B: "do not resist this poem/ ... this poem is the reader & the / reader this poem"

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B. Part A Which fear is shared by people around the world, according to "Why Do Some Brains Enjoy Fear?" Part B Which quotation from the article best supports the answer to Part A?

Part A: fear of things or events that are confusing or unnatural Part B: "And really anything that doesn't make sense ... is going to be scary (axe-wielding animals, masked faces, contorted bodies)."

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B. Part A How does Else most likely feel when she says, "I saw the little lamp" at the very end of "The Doll's House"? Part B Which quotation from "The Doll's House" best supports the answer to Part A?

Part A: pleased by the lamp and by Kezia's kindness Part B: "But now she [Else] had forgotten the cross lady. She put out a finger and stroked her sister's quill; she smiled her rare smile."

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B. Part A Who is the speaker in the poem "Windigo"? Part B Which lines from the poem best support the answer to Part A?

Part A: the Windigo Part B: "You saw me drag toward you. / Oh touch me, I murmured, and licked the soles of your feet. / You dug your hands into my pale, melting fur."

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B. Part A Which of the following is a defining element of Gothic literature that is clearly illustrated by "The Fall of the House of Usher"? Part B Which excerpt from "The Fall of the House of Usher" best supports the answer to Part A?

Part A: weird or otherworldly occurrences Part B: "[B]ut then without those doors there did stand the lofty and enshrouded figure of the lady Madeline of Usher. There was blood upon her white robes, and the evidence of some bitter struggle upon every portion of her emaciated frame.... then, with a low moaning cry, fell heavily inward upon the person of her brother, and in her violent and now final death agonies, bore him to the floor a corpse, and a victim to the terrors he had anticipated."

What claim in "Why Do Some Brains Enjoy Fear?" does Dr. Kerr support by referring to the child who was made to fear ordinary rabbits?

People can be made to fear almost anything.

Which situation most clearly illustrates a person who is having a cognitive problem?

Rita can't understand her grammar homework.

Read the two sentences. Sentence 1: Whether you feel terrified or ecstatic, chemicals in the brain are at work shaping your mood. Sentence 2: Dopamine, a chemical in the brain, plays a role in emotional responses ranging from fear to enjoyment. Which of the following best states the contrast between the two sentences?

Sentence 1 uses ordinary terms to convey a general idea. Sentence 2 uses scientific terms to provide precise information.

Which of the following is the most accurate description of what happens to Madeleine Usher in "The Fall of the House of Usher"?

She appears to die, is mistakenly entombed, but then revives and forces her way to freedom before dying.

In "The Doll's House," what can readers tell about Aunt Beryl from her reaction to the doll's house when the Burnells first receive it?

She often complains.

Read the following excerpt from "Why Do Some Brains Enjoy Fear?" One of the main hormones released during scary and thrilling activities is dopamine, and it turns some individuals may get more of a kick from this dopamine response than others do. Basically, some people's brains lack what Zald describes as "brakes" on the dopamine release and re-uptake in the brain. Which of the following best describes Dr. Kerr's use of words in this excerpt?

She uses scientific terms such as dopamine for precision but a simple comparison to "brakes" to help readers understand.

Which group of words in quotations in the following sentences is a verb phrase without any interrupting words?

Since that time, it "has been translated" into dozens of languages.

Read the following excerpt from "Why Do Some Brains Enjoy Fear?," in which Dr. Kerr states her views. "One of the most interesting things about studying fear is looking at the social constructions of fear, and learned fears versus those fears that appear to be more innate, or even genetics. When we look across time and across the world, we find that people truly can become afraid of anything." Based on this passage, choose the idea with which Dr. Kerr is most likely to agree.

Society has an important role in defining what people fear.

Which conclusions can be drawn most logically from the information in "Why Do Some Brains Enjoy Fear?" Choose two options.

The experiences very young children can affect them for many years; Fear is not always negative it depends on the person and situation.

How does Kafka create the atmosphere of a nightmare in "The Metamorphosis"? Choose three options.

The author has Gregor remain human in his feelings even though his body is now that of an insect. The author puts the insect Gregor in dangers that he does not know how to handle. The author makes Gregor unable to communicate with people.

What happens to the child in "Windigo"?

The child is kidnapped and carried into the woods by the Wendigo.

Which is the stimulus in the following situation? A basketball player trains shooting baskets for years. In a big game, at the end of the second half, a teammate passes the ball to him. The player sees that the clock is running down. Realizing that the game is almost over, he instantly decides to shoot, even though he is nearly at midcourt. He scores, and his team wins the game.

The clock

After the stranger in "Where Is Here?" leaves the house, the following dialogue takes place between the father and the mother: "I wasn't the one who opened the door to that man in the first place," the mother said ... [T]he father violently jerked his arm up and thrust her away. "Shut up. We'll forget it," he said. "But—" "We'll forget it." Which of the following statements best describes what this dialogue reveals about the father?

The dialogue shows that he would rather deny than understand the unsettling feelings caused by the stranger's visit.

"Where Is Here?" includes the following passage: She said, "We can't bar the door against him. That would be cruel." The father said, "What? No one has barred any door against anyone." "Put yourself in his place," the mother said. "He told me he didn't want to come inside," the father said. "Oh—isn't that just like you!" the mother said in exasperation. Which of the following statements best describes what the dialogue reveals about the characters in this passage?

The dialogue shows that the mother and the father see things from different perspectives and do not understand each other well.

Read the following sentences from the last part of "Where Is Here?" In the living room he [the father] saw that the lights were flickering as if on the brink of going out; the patterned wallpaper seemed drained of color; a shadow lay upon it shaped like a bulbous cloud or growth. Which of the following best explains what is taking place in this passage?

The father is detecting an otherworldly, unreal, and frightening presence.

Read the following sentence from "The Fall of the House of Usher," in which the narrator explains that he has received a letter from Roderick Usher. A letter, however, had lately reached me in a distant part of the country—a letter from him—which, in its wildly importunate nature, had admitted of no other than a personal reply. What is the most likely reason the narrator says the letter "admitted of no other than a personal reply"? Base your answer on your knowledge of the story as well as on the sentence.

The narrator feels obliged to respond to his friend's request for a visit because his friend is clearly upset.

How does the narrator's response to the supernatural events in "The Fall of the House of Usher" differ from the characters' response in "House Taken Over"?

The narrator in "The Fall of the House of Usher" is aware of the supernatural and seeks answers. The characters in "House Taken Over" do not confront their terror but try to ignore it.

If baseball players are stoical in the face of their team's defeat, which of the following must be true? Base your answer on the meaning of stoical.

The players show no emotion after the game.

Which of the following best describes the interaction between the speaker and the raven in "The Raven"?

The raven repeatedly utters one word, "Nevermore," which the speaker interprets in various ways as a comment on his life.

If "beware: do not read this poem" were told by the woman from a first-person point of view, what more might the reader learns about her actions?

The reader might learn what happens to the people she pulls into the mirror.

The word becalm is made up of the prefix be- plus the word calm. What has happened to a sailing ship that is becalmed? Choose based on your knowledge of the prefix be-.

The ship is not moving.

Which statement best describes the speaker in "The Raven"?

The speaker is suffering from the loss of his beloved.

In "The Doll's House," why are the Kelvey girls treated so badly?

Their family is poor and considered very low class.

How do the family members in "The Metamorphosis" justify their decision to get rid of the insect?

They convince themselves that the insect is not Gregor.

In "House Taken Over," what does the narrator and his sister do when the back section of the house is taken over?

They move into the other part of the house.

Which of these sentences best expresses the theme to which the symbol of the doll's house points in "The Doll's House"?

Those who enjoy the privileges of upper class life should share their joys with those who are less fortunate.

Read the following excerpt from "Why Do Some Brains Enjoy Fear?" "Haunted houses are great at this—they deliver a startle scare by triggering one of our senses with different sounds, air blasts, and even smells. These senses are directly tied to our fear response and activate the physical reaction, but our brain has time to process the fact that these are not "real" threats. Our brain is lightning-fast at processing threat. I've seen the process thousands of times from behind the walls in ScareHouse—someone screams and jumps and then immediately starts laughing and smiling." In this excerpt, why does Dr. Kerr mentioned that people often start laughing and smiling" directly after a scare?

To show how quickly the brain can determine a threat is not real

Think about the word travail as you read this quotation from "The Metamorphosis." Then, answer the question that follows. He [the father] would settle himself even more deeply in his armchair. Only when the two women grabbed him under the armpits would he throw his eyes open, look back and forth at the mother and sister, and habitually say, "This is a life. This is the peace and quiet of my old age."And propped up by both women, he would heave himself up, elaborately, as if for him it was the greatest travail. Which sentence best explains the connotation of travail?

Travail suggests work that takes great effort or is burdensome.

Which of the following situations could best be used to illustrate the meaning of amelioration? Base your answer on the meaning of amelioration.

a cold drink of water to a thirsty person

Read the following passage from "Where Is Here?" "That is the door leading down to the basement, isn't it?" [The stranger] spoke strangely, staring at the door. For a moment it appeared he might ask to be shown the basement but the moment passed, fortunately—this was not a part of their house the father and mother would have been comfortable showing to a stranger. Which of the following are aspects or elements of this passage that are also typical elements of the modern Gothic style? Choose two options.

an ordinary setting; a bizarre interruption of ordinary life

What is necessary for people to enjoy being frightened, according to "Why Do Some Brains Enjoy Fear?"

belief in the absence of any real danger

If Sophie sneered, which of these feelings was she most likely showing?

contempt

Read the passage from "Why Do Some Brains Enjoy Fear?" "Humans are obsessed with death; we simply have a hard time wrapping our mind around what happens when we die. This contemplation has led to some of the most famous monsters..." Based on your knowledge of the meaning of the word parts -ion and -ive, choose the most likely meaning of the underlined word when it has an -ive suffix instead of a -ion suffix: contemplative.

full of deep thought

In "The Doll's House," which of the following most likely drives Kezia's attempt to let the Kelvey girls see the doll's house?

her desire to be kind.

Read the following sentence. Lucy hesitantly peeked into the living room, not wanting to disturb her sleeping grandmother, who usually spent the afternoon napping in an overstuffed armchair. Which of the following gives an adverb from the sentence along with the adjective from which it is formed?

hesitantly (hesitant)

Which phrase best describes Usher's state of mind in "The Fall of the House of Usher"?

nervous and agitated

When does "Where Is Here?" take place?

on a chilly, damp evening at sunset

Which phrases in this passage from "The Doll's House" illustrate Katherine Mansfield's use of slang or informal diction most clearly? Choose three options. "Presently our Else nudged up close to her sister. But now she had forgotten the cross lady. She put out a finger and stroked her sister's quill; she smiled her rare smile. "I seen the little lamp," she said, softly."

our Else; I seen; the cross lady

Which of the following people would be most likely to act listlessly? Base your answer on the meaning of listlessly.

people who are overworked and exhausted

In the beginning of "Where Is Here?," what does the stranger say that he would like to do?

poke around

Which of these actions would most likely mean that someone is being shunned?

slamming a door in the person's face

Which of these actions would most likely mean that Carlos is behaving spitefully?

sticking his tongue out at someone else

In this paragraph from "The Doll's House," whose impression of the doll's house is conveyed? "But perfect, perfect little house! Who could possibly mind the smell? It was part of the joy, part of the newness."

the Burnell girls'

"Where Is Here?" focuses mostly on which of the following?

the strong influence of the irrational on human behavior

Which of the following is the most likely reason that Kafka in "The Metamorphosis" does Gregor turns into an insect rather than some other animal?

to make Gregor repulsive to those around him