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Generation Date: 04/15/2010

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from To Kill a Mockingbird

by Harper Lee

Our father said we were both right. Being Southerners, it was a source of shame to some members of the family that we had no recorded ancestors on either side of the Battle of Hastings. All we had was Simon Finch, a fur-trapping apothecary from Cornwall whose piety was exceeded only by his stinginess. In England, Simon was irritated by the persecution of those who called themselves Methodists at the hands of their more liberal brethren, and as Simon called himself a Methodist, he worked his way across the Atlantic to Philadelphia, thence to Jamaica, thence to Mobile, and up the Saint Stephens. Mindful of John Wesley's strictures on the use of many words in buying and selling, Simon made a pile practicing medicine, but in this pursuit he was unhappy lest he be tempted into doing what he knew was not for the glory of God, as the putting on of gold and costly apparel. So Simon, having forgotten his teacher's dictum on the possession of human chattels, bought three slaves and with their aid established a homestead on the banks of the Alabama River some forty miles above Saint Stephens. He returned to Saint Stephens only once, to find a wife, and with her established a line that ran high to daughters. Simon lived to an impressive age and died rich. It was customary for the men in the family to remain on Simon's homestead, Finch's Landing, and make their living from cotton.

1. Based on the historical setting of this excerpt, which of this is true about the

American South?

A. Very few people disagreed with the Methodists.

B. Trade was not a respectable way to prosperity.

C. John Wesley inspired many to practice medicine.

D. Slave trade was very common in the South.

April 19, 1963 My Dear Fellow Clergymen, (1) While confined here in the Birmingham city jail, I came across your recent statements calling my present activities "unwise and untimely." Seldom do I pause to answer criticism of my work and ideas. . . . I would have no time for constructive work. But since I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms are sincerely set forth, I want to try to answer your statements in what I hope will be patient and reasonable terms. . . . (2) You may well ask: "Why direct action? Why sit-ins, marches, and so forth? Isn't negotiation a better path?" You are quite right in calling for negotiation. Indeed, this is the very purpose of direct action. Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored. . . . The purpose of our direct-action program is to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation. (3) We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. . . . For years now, I have heard the word "Wait!" It rings in

the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This "wait" has almost always meant "Never." We must come to see, with one of our distinguished jurists, that "justice too long delayed is justice denied." (4) We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God-given rights. The nations of Asia and Africa are moving with jet-like speed toward gaining political independence, but we still creep at horse-and-buggy pace toward gaining a cup of coffee at a lunch counter. Perhaps it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say, "Wait." But when you have seen . . . hate-filled policemen curse, kick and even kill your black brothers and sisters; when you see the vast majority of your twenty million Negro brothers smothering in an airtight cage of poverty in the midst of an affluent society . . . when you have to concoct an answer for a five-year-old son who is asking: "Daddy, why do white people treat colored people so mean?"; when you take a cross-country drive and find it necessary to sleep night after night in the uncomfortable corners of your automobile because no motel will accept you; when you are humiliated day in and day out by nagging signs reading "white" and "colored" . . . when you are harried by day and haunted by night by the fact that you are a Negro, living constantly at tiptoe stance, never quite knowing what to expect next, and are plagued with inner fears and outer resentments; when you are forever fighting a degenerating sense of "nobodyness"—then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait. There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair. I hope sirs, you can understand our legitimate and unavoidable impatience. from "Letter From Birmingham City Jail" by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

2. What is the strongest evidence Dr. King presents in support of his direct action

program?

A. The program forces those who do not want to negotiate to confront the issue at hand.

B. Direct action should be tried before considering negotiations or violent action is

taken.

C. Direct action, like sit-ins and marches, create more press interest than negotiations

do.

D. The program convinces the community that nonviolent action will lead to violent

action.

3. Which sentence from the letter best explains why King believes the waiting must

end?

A. "...when you see the vast majority of your twenty million Negro brothers smothering

in an airtight cage of poverty..."

B. "Seldom do I pause to answer criticism of my work and ideas...I would have no time

for constructive work."

C. "We must come to see, with one of our distinguished jurists, that 'justice too long

delayed is justice denied.'"

D. "We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the

oppressor; it must be demanded..."

4. What is the strongest evidence Dr. King presents in support of his theory that it

is time to make justice and equality available to all Americans?

A. He gives an example of his children asking him why white people act mean to them.

B. He explains to his readers that negotiating for justice will never work in America.

C. He gives the details of his own personal struggles for freedom, equality, and justice.

D. He gives a long list of prejudices and humiliations suffered by African Americans.

5. Which phrase or sentence best explains the idea that our country is taking a long

time to give its people freedom?

A. "...we still creep at horse-and-buggy pace toward gaining a cup of coffee at a lunch

counter."

B. "We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the

oppressor..."

C. "... when you are humiliated day in and day out by nagging signs reading 'white' and

'colored'..."

D. "You may well ask: 'Why direct action? Why sit-ins, marches, and so forth? Isn't

negotiation a better path?'"

6. Which sentence from the letter best explains why King felt it was necessary to

write from jail?

A. "The nations of Asia and Africa are moving with jet-like speed toward gaining political

independence, but we still creep at horse-and-buggy pace..."

B. "The purpose of our direct-action program is to create a situation so crisis-packed

that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation."

C. "But since I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms are

sincerely set forth, I want to try to answer your statements..."

D. "While confined here in the Birmingham city jail, I came across your recent

statements calling my present activities 'unwise and untimely.'"

Survivor by A. Gautam

In 1941, Frederika lived in the ghetto of remote Romania before she was thrown into the concentration camps. She was pressed into labor, like the millions of persecuted Jews. With no means to contact her mother, who had passed away in a labor camp, Frederika cleared the debris of demolished buildings for many days. She likened shoveling to the act of un-burdening. However, the heavy thoughts of death hanging in the walls of the concentration camps did not allow Frederika to feel light. Two years later, Frederika was assigned to burn Russian books. The menial labor of shoveling had only hurt her shoulders and back; the burning of the books wounded Frederika’s spirit. With each pile of ash, Frederika loved books even more. She secretly read at nights when the rest of the fellow prisoners were trying to escape the reality of their lives in their dreams. Frederika read Shakespeare and wrote poetry in the small black diary she always carried with her. The language of faraway had soothed her more than the German language she grew up speaking at school. Imagination was Frederika’s only friend and solace. Sometimes King Lear appeared in the cramped room and sat near Frederika on her bed. Once, Romeo spoke to her from the top of one of the bunk beds and wooed her. She traveled back in time

when Shakespeare was writing plays and was free to create magnificent characters. Till the Red Army arrived to her rescue three years later, Frederika wrote poetry in her black diary. Her prophetic poems had somehow managed to speak of hope and beauty.

7. Based on the character of Frederika, which of these most likely describes the

education system in Romania?

A. Historical poetry was the most valued subject in the colleges.

B. Education was not regarded as important for success in Europe.

C. Girls did not have the same opportunities for education as boys.

D. German language was influential in many Romanian schools.

8. Based on the passage, choose the statement that best reflects the author's

opinion on World War II.

A. The war prompted many Russians to destroy all forms of art.

B. All of the people in the concentration camps were optimistic.

C. Many creative people were forced into labor during the war.

D. Shoveling was the most desired labor for all the prisoners.

Read the following excerpt from an electronic encyclopedia.

Buckminster Fuller was an American architect, designer, and inventor. He was born in Massachusetts in 1895, and he showed a talent for design early in his life. As a young man, Fuller worked as a machinist and mechanic, served in the United States Navy during World War I, and worked as a manager in a meat-packing plant. In 1949, Fuller began to popularize the geodesic dome, which had been invented thirty years earlier. He believed the geodesic dome, which is a self-supporting structure capable of holding up under extreme pressure, had the potential to solve the country's housing crisis. During his lifetime, Fuller received many awards for his humanitarian work. Fuller died at the age of 81 and is buried in the Mount Auburn Cemetary in Massachusetts. Now read this excerpt from an electronic journal article. Geodesic domes are spherical structures. These domes were first invented by Walther Bauersfeld just after World War I, but they gained popularity thirty years later through Buckminster Fuller. They are very strong structures and have been adapted into houses, observatories, and biospheres.

The strength of geodesic domes can be seen in the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. This research station, built by the United States in 1975, has to endure extreme temperatures, high winds, and heavy snow drifts. The geodesic dome provides a structure that can endure the South Pole weather and protect the scientists who work within.

9. Which of the following accurately presents the information in both the electronic

encyclopedia and the electronic journal article?

A. Buckminster Fuller, an American inventor and humanitarian, is remembered for his

research on how geodesic domes could provide housing in the U. S.

B. Geodesic domes, made popular by American inventor Buckminster Fuller, are self-

supporting, strong structures which can be used as houses.

C. The strength, durability, and protection offered by geodesic domes is important to the

scientists who work at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.

D. Geodesic domes, one example of which is Spaceship Earth at Epcot, can endure

strong winds, heavy snows, and extreme temperatures.

Safe

by A. Gautam

Bina Kapoor was finally going to see Disney World. The bags were packed, and the tickets were at hand. An old woman disposed to the care of her son's family, Bina had insisted on accompanying her grandchildren despite her advanced age. She wanted to relive and reinvent her childhood. Vinnie Kapoor knew that his mother had never slept well while traveling—not since the independence of India and Pakistan. He had seen her twitch and scream at night decades after her horrific journey by train. Vinnie knew that in the arms of the night, his mother was still a child. The terror of 1947 was fresh in her nightmares. Vinnie had finally told his mother that the kids were now old enough to understand their heritage. This meant that Bina could tell them about the Partition, the tragic journey from Karachi to Delhi, and the story of her survival. As the Kapoor family waited to board the plane, Bina told her story with animation and nostalgia. "The train was supposed to be fast," Bina whispered to her three grandchildren cuddled together in the airport lobby. "But it was not fast enough to stop the people from climbing. I had only packed my favorite clothes, kids. There wasn't enough room in the train for all my pretty toys. And the people were climbing on the windows, hanging on to the door, and even holding on to other people's hands." "Time to board, Ma," Vinnie cut the story short and handed his mother some sleeping aids. "You can tell the rest in the rental car. You have to get some sleep." Bina held on to her carry on, took a significantly long breath, and agreed to board the plane.

10. Which event while growing up in Karachi had the greatest impact on Bina

Kapoor?

A. the trip to America

B. the anxiety of traveling

C. the nostalgia of India

D. the Partition of India

11. Based on the historical context of the passage, choose the statement that best

reflects the author's opinion.

A. The process of the Partition left emotional scars on many children.

B. It is important for children to communicate their stories to their elders.

C. Wars can sometimes have a positive influence on a person's values.

D. Traveling to different countries can often be a rewarding experience.

Kangaroos are endemic, or unique, to the continent of Australia. They are the only large animals to use hopping as a means of locomotion. With their powerful hind legs and large feet, kangaroos can reach speeds of up to 44 miles per hour. Their fast and energy-efficient method of travel helps them to cover large distances in search of food and water. But while kangaroos are adept at hopping, the long shape of their feet restricts their ability to walk. In order to move at slow speeds, kangaroos use their long, muscular tail and two short forelimbs, or arms. With the tail providing balance behind them, they use their forelimbs to crawl or scamper. Another defining characteristic of kangaroos is their pouch, or marsupium. Female kangaroos, which are sometimes referred to as does or flyers, carry their young in the marsupium. Baby kangaroos, called joeys, complete the early stages of their development while inside the marsupium. However, the joeys don't remain in the pouch for very long. In less than year, they are ready to leave the pouch and begin hopping on their own. In Australia, the kangaroo is a national symbol. The image of the kangaroo is used on the Australian coat of arms and on some of its currency. Because the animals have adapted well to environmental changes caused by humans, their numbers are plentiful in the wild.

12. Which sentence from the passage best explains how kangaroos have managed to

adapt to environmental changes?

A. "In less than year, they are ready to leave the pouch and begin hopping on their

own."

B. "Because the animals have adapted well to environmental changes caused by

humans, their numbers are plentiful in the wild."

C. "Their fast and energy-efficient method of travel helps them to cover large distances

in search of food and water."

D. "With the tail providing balance behind them, they use their forelimbs to crawl or

scamper."

13. Which sentence from the passage best explains why kangaroos are better suited

to vast spaces?

A. "They are the only large animals to use hopping as a means of locomotion."

B. "Because the animals have adapted well to environmental changes caused by

humans, their numbers are plentiful in the wild."

C. "However, the joeys don't remain in the pouch for very long."

D. "But while kangaroos are adept at hopping, the long shape of their feet restricts their

ability to walk."

14. Which sentence from the passage best explains the importance of the

marsupium?

A. "In order to move at slow speeds, kangaroos use their long, muscular tail and two

short forelimbs, or arms."

B. "Baby kangaroos, called joeys, complete the early stages of their development while

inside the marsupium."

C. "Because the animals have adapted well to environmental changes caused by

humans, their numbers are plentiful in the wild."

D. "Female kangaroos, which are sometimes referred to as does or flyers, carry their

young in the marsupium."

15. Which sentence from the passage best explains why kangaroos are valued as a

national symbol of Australia?

A. "Kangaroos are endemic, or unique, to the continent of Australia."

B. "The image of the kangaroo is used on the Australian coat of arms and on some of its

currency."

C. "They are the only large animals to use hopping as a means of locomotion."

D. "Their fast and energy-efficient method of travel helps them to cover large distances

in search of food and water."

Finding Peace in My South Africa

Mambazo was sweeping the steps of the courtroom when he saw a small man storm out of the area. The anger had somehow not suited the otherwise calm appearance of the man. Mambazo thought that there was something different and familiar about the gentleman. "You will know a great man when you see one," Mambazo remembered his wise grandfather's words. What is so enigmatic about an angry man walking out of the house of law, he thought to himself. At a young age of seventeen, Mambazo had not inherited big dreams and hopes from his father. There were fables and moral stories that his mother told him as a child. And his grandfather had provoked the mystical and the miraculous in him. But Mambazo knew that his place in the society was not very promising. Ever since the first European settlers came in their land and named their territory as The Cape of Storms, life had been stormy for his kind. Sure, his homeland had been renamed The Cape of Good Hope, by a Portuguese. Mambazo often saw the good in his people, but he seldom saw the hope in their eyes. His grandfather had never told Mambazo how to cope with the fact that he could not vote or travel in the same compartment as his colonizers. "I am just supposed to be sweeping," Mambazo told himself as he was unable to stop thinking about the big questions in life. As his eyes tried to follow the mysterious man who had calmed down and was standing on the street across the courtroom, Mambazo dropped his broom. He walked toward the man wearing the turban, as if he was pulled by the force of destiny.

16. Based on this passage,

A. natives of South Africa did not identify with the colonizers.

B. there was no system of law in South Africa before 1893.

C. the youth of South Africa were trained to be warriors.

D. European settlers had the same privileges as the natives.

17. Based on Mambazo's story, which is most likely true of the author's opinion?

A. It was impossible for a South African to travel to another country.

B. People in South Africa lived in equality, peace, and harmony.

C. As colonized people, South Africans had little hopes for prosperity.

D. The colonizers had supplied the natives with fables and stories.

Read the following excerpt from an electronic encyclopedia entry. Natalie du Toit was the first female swimmer with an amputated limb to qualify for the Olympic Games. She competed alongside other swimmers at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing despite the fact that most of her left leg was amputated when she was 17 years old. du Toit also won five gold medals in the 2008 Summer Paralympic Games, an international competition for disabled athletes. Some disabled athletes, such as double-amputee runner Oscar Pistorius, have faced legal issues over using prosthetic limbs while competing. However, du Toit competes without prosthetics and is therefore free to qualify for and compete in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Now read the following excerpt from an electronic biographical dictionary. Natalie du Toit was born in Cape Town, South Africa in 1984. She began to participate in swimming competitions at the age of 14. Three years later, she was riding her scooter home from swimming practice when a car struck her. Her left leg had to be amputated at the knee. Despite the accident, Natalie continued to participate in swimming competitions. After several attempts to qualify for the Olympics, she finally qualified in 2008. At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Natalie competed against two-legged swimmers and finished in 16th place. Currently, Natalie is studying for her Bachelor's degree from University of Cape Town and working as a motivational speaker.

18. Which of the following accurately presents information based upon both

excerpts?

A. Natalie du Toit, who was born in Cape Town, South Africa, tried several times to

qualify for entry into the Summer Olympic Games.

B. Natalie du Toit, a competitive swimmer, lost most of her left leg at the age of 17

when her scooter was struck by a passing car.

C. Natalie du Toit, a swimmer who competes without a prosthetic limb, was exempt

from many legal troubles that had bothered other athletes.

D. Natalie du Toit, a swimmer who competes with an amputated leg, qualified for and

competed in the 2008 Summer Beijing Olympics.

Read this electronic research abstract. Victorian author Wilkie Collins was born in London in 1824. In his early years, he worked as a clerk for tea merchants, attended law school, and painted for the Royal Academy. When his first novel Antonia was published in 1850, Collins began to earn his living by his pen. During his lifetime,

he wrote 27 novels, at least 50 short stories, and more than 100 pieces of non-fiction work. Several of his works, including the short story "A House to Let," were written and published in conjunction with fellow writer Charles Dickens, whom he met in 1851. Like Dickens, Collins often wrote about social issues in his novels. He continued to write even as his health declined, and his last novel, Blind Love, was left unfinished at his death in 1889. Wilkie Collins is buried in Kensal Green Cemetary in London. Now read this excerpt from an electronic encyclopedia entry. "A House to Let" is a short story that was written in 1858 by Wilkie Collins, Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell, and Adelaide Anne Proctor.

Each of the four authors contributed a chapter to the book, and Charles Dickens published the collaboration in his Household Words magazine. Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins were friends who had often collaborated on books, short stories, and plays. Dickens had originally intended for the story to be written only by himself and Collins but later invited Gaskell and Porter, two popular female writers of the day, to add chapters. The plot of "A House to Let" centers on an elderly woman named Sophonisba who encounters suspicious activity at the empty house across the street from her home. "A House to Let" was broadcast as a radio dramatization in 2006 by BBC Radio.

19. Which of the following accurately presents the information in both the electronic

research abstract and the electronic encyclopedia entry?

A. Wilkie Collins, one of the authors of "A House to Let," wrote and published several

literary works with Charles Dickens.

B. Both Wilkie Collins and his friend and collaborator Charles Dickens often wrote about

social issues in their novels.

C. "A House to Let" was co-written by Elizabeth Gaskell and Adelaide Anne Porter, two

popular female writers of the time.

D. Charles Dickens, a friend of Wilkie Collins, planned to write "A House to Let" only with

Collins but later included other authors.

Passage 1

Survivor By A. Gautam

In 1941, Frederika lived in the ghetto of remote Romania before she was thrown into the concentration camps. She was pressed into labor, like the millions of persecuted Jews. With no means to contact her mother and unaware of her demise, Frederika cleared the debris of demolished buildings for many days. She likened shoveling to the act of un-burdening. However, the heavy thoughts of death hanging in the walls of the concentration camps did not allow Frederika to feel light. Two years later, Frederika was assigned to burn Russian books. The menial labor of shoveling had only hurt her shoulders and back; the burning of the books wounded Frederika’s spirit. With each pile of ash, Frederika loved books even more. She secretly read at nights when the rest of the fellow prisoners were trying to escape the reality of their lives in their dreams. Frederika read Shakespeare and wrote poetry in the small black diary she always carried with her. The language of faraway had soothed her more than German language she grew up speaking at school. Imagination was Frederika’s only friend and solace. Sometimes

King Lear appeared in the cramped room and sat near Frederika on her bed. Once, Romeo spoke to her from the top of one of the bunk beds and wooed her. She traveled back in time when Shakespeare was writing plays and was free to create magnificent characters. Till the Red Army arrived to her rescue three years later, Frederika wrote poetry in her black diary. Her prophetic poems had somehow managed to speak of hope and beauty.

Passage 2

The Porajmos

The Romani are an ethnic group of Europe tracing their origins to medieval India. The Romani ethnicity is often used for characters in contemporary fantasy literature. Many authors have portrayed the Romani as possessing prophetic and occult knowledge. This knowledge is shown to be passed through the generations of wandering tribes. The Romani culture has also influenced the musical scene of Eastern Europe—especially in genres like bolero, jazz, and flamenco. Historians believe that the Romani originated in central India—possibly in the modern Indian state of Rajasthan—and migrated to Northwest India around 250 B.C. Ever since the Romani people wandered from India to Europe, they have endured persecutions throughout history. The first prolonged persecutions against the Romani people, also known in English as Gypsies, started in the 14th century in the Romanian states of Wallachia and Moldavia. The Romanies were enslaved for four more centuries. During that period, any other Romanies who immigrated to Romanian states were also enslaved. In the twentieth century, the Nazis erased thousands of the Romani people from the face of the earth. The "Porajmos" or "devouring" is the term used to describe the extermination of the Romani people in an attempted genocide during the 1940s. The Porajmos has been studied very little and has been overshadowed by other developments during World War II.

20. How is the excerpt from Survivor reflective of the historical period described in

the passage about the Porajmos?

A. Both mention the brutalities of the Nazis during World War II.

B. Both discuss the persecution of Jews in Romania in the 1940s.

C. Both reflect the poetry and literature created during World War II.

D. Both describe the migration of the Romani people from India.

My Choctaw Youth

As any normal seventeen-year-old girl, I had always been bored by my surroundings. Being raised in Oklahoma had made me wonder what was on the other side of America. But, I still had high school to finish and a good family that loved me to death. Those days I often dreamed about the fast-paced life, the subway, the fashion, and the art scene of New York. How my parents and my grandparents had remained in one territory for years was beyond me. Even my cousins and all the extended family were perfectly happy in Oklahoma. Well, I thought they were perfectly happy until the day I asked. My grandmother pulled me to the patio and asked me to watch the sun, the sky, and the birds. She always had a thing for nature and always explained things by telling stories. "You see, Masheli, a bird knows where its home is. No matter how far it flies, it comes back to its territory," she said. "But, pokni," I protested. "I am not a child. I know what you mean. I just want to know why you guys don't want to move away from Oklahoma." "What do birds do when they find that their tree is burned down? Tell me," my grandmother was asking me a deep question. I knew she was referring to the difficult journey my people had made from the deep south to

Oklahoma. It was always a difficult question to answer. "They never go back to the trail of tears," I replied. I had understood why my family wanted to live like the birds that had found and loved a new tree.

21. Based on the historical setting of this excerpt, which of these is true about the

history of Oklahoma?

A. Many people who moved to Oklahoma found it exciting.

B. Oklahoma was not the first home for many Native Americans.

C. Most Native Americans moved from Oklahoma to New York.

D. All Choctaws living in Oklahoma had studied about birds.

22. Based on this passage, the author most likely believes that

A. today's young people are unaware of many important historical events.

B. the Trail of Tears left deep emotional scars on the Native Americans.

C. people can only learn about life and society by observing nature.

D. the oral tradition of story-telling is not as important in modern times.

Passage 1

Understanding My Father by A. Gautam

My father was never an emotional kind of guy. He never spoke more than it was needed—let alone tell stories about the Cultural Revolution. Of course, I could gather information from other sources, but I wanted to hear from him. Mother never told us about his role in the changing face of his country either. Besides, we had moved to America where I was now learning about the history of the Native Americans. I never knew if my father had worked in the revolution as a peasant, solider, or a revolutionary intellectual. I tried to picture him writing big-character posters and holding great debates with his fellow revolutionaries. Did he use big words? Did he sometimes skip classes to meet with the comrades across China? I often thought to myself. I wanted to ask him if he believed that the right to air one’s views fully really existed in his youth. As an only child, who was brought up to think that education was my only key to prosperity, I didn’t know why my father did not finish his degree. My father’s friends behaved just like him—quiet, laborious, and mysterious. They all looked at me with eyes full of love and hope. Only once, did I hear one of them speak about the past. Uncle Chen recounted something about “not being a Communist,” “arrest,” and “freedom.” It was then that I realized my parents and their friends had always talked to each other about their lives back home in Mandarin, the language I could no longer grasp. At that moment, I regretted my dwindling Chinese vocabulary and the opportunities I had already missed.

Passage 2

A New China

The Cultural Revolution in China was most importantly a class struggle. Student activists such as the Red Guard played an important role in taking the revolution to the homes of the ordinary citizens. Soon, their careers revolved around the act of changing the face of their nation. They began by publishing their ideas in leaflets which were widely handed out to the citizens. Soon, the visual aids

were used to post the names of suspected "counter-revolutionaries" as well as to portray the image of a very influential Mao Zedong. The written and the spoken word influenced and moved the revolution forward. Many student activists held "great debates" and wrote educational plays to inform and inspire the general population. Under the inspiration and supervision of Mao Zedong, the new People's Republic of China focused on abolishing the past. Public meetings, giant posters, and bulletin boards reflecting Mao's ideas of a new China began to appear everywhere. There were four major unwanted old ideas that Mao wanted to replace: Old Customs, Old Culture, Old Habits, and Old Ideas.

23. Based on A New China which of these is most likely true about the father's life in

China?

A. Students put their country before education in the revolution.

B. The father had always planned to live his life in the United States.

C. Students were graded on their public speaking and writing skills.

D. The father helped the authorities arrest the "counter-revolutionaries."

Passage 1

Finding Peace in My South Africa

On a breezy morning of 1893, Mambazo was sweeping the steps of the courtroom when he saw a small man storm out of the area. The anger had somehow not suited the otherwise calm appearance of the man. Mambazo thought that there was something different and familiar about the gentleman. "You will know a great man when you see one," Mambazo remembered his wise grandfather's words. What is so enigmatic about an angry man walking out of the house of law, he thought to himself. At a young age of seventeen, Mambazo had not inherited big dreams and hopes from his father. There were fables and moral stories that his mother told him as a child. And his grandfather had provoked the mystical and the miraculous in him. But, Mambazo knew that his place in society was not very promising. Ever since the first European settlers came in their land and named their territory as The Cape of Storms, life had been stormy for his kind. Sure, his homeland had been renamed The Cape of Good Hope, by yet another colonizer. Mambazo often saw the good in his people, but he seldom saw the hope in their eyes. His grandfather had never told Mambazo how to cope with the fact that he could not vote or travel in the same compartment as his colonizers. "I am just supposed to be sweeping," Mambazo told himself as he was unable to stop thinking about the big questions in life. As his eyes tried to follow the mysterious man who had calmed down and was standing on the street across the courtroom, Mambazo dropped his broom. He walked toward the man wearing the turban, as if he was pulled by the force of destiny.

Passage 2

Gandhi as a sergeant of the Indian Ambulance Corps

Gandhi's Work in South Africa

Many biographers state that Gandhi's stay in South Africa was a turning point in his life. When Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi arrived in South Africa as a young lawyer of 24, he was unaware of the racial tension in the country. Gandhi was often the target of the discrimination commonly directed

at blacks and Indians. He reacted to the acts of discriminating against him with defiance. Gandhi refused to remove his turban in the courtroom at Durban and to move from the first class to a third class coach while traveling. He was thrown off the train at Pietermaritzburg and barred from many hotels in his journey. These incidents only fueled the fire of social activism in Gandhi. The firsthand experience of racism, prejudice, and injustice against Indians compelled Gandhi to question his people's status and his own standing in society. Gandhi returned briefly to India in 1896 to bring his wife and children to live with him in South Africa. When he returned in January 1897, a white mob attacked and tried to lynch him. He did not seek action against the attackers stating that personal problems should not be tried at the court of law. At the request of his supporters, Gandhi stayed in Durban to continue fighting against the injustices Indians faced in South Africa. In 1894, Gandhi founded the Natal Indian Congress and established himself as the Secretary. Gandhi even supported the South African War in hopes that the lives of Indians would improve. As a decorated volunteer and a stretcher-bearer, Gandhi had organized a volunteer ambulance corps of 300 free Indians and 800 indentured laborers called the Indian Ambulance Corps. This was one of the few medical units to serve wounded black South Africans. Even when involved in a war, Gandhi was committed to non-violence and the service of the underprivileged.

24. How is the excerpt from Finding Peace in My South Africa reflective of the

historical period described in the passage about Gandhi?

A. Both are set in the same time period.

B. Both show an independent South Africa.

C. Both discuss the attempts of lynching.

D. Both focus on the troubles of teenagers.

Passage 1

from To Kill a Mockingbird

by Harper Lee

Our father said we were both right. Being Southerners, it was a source of shame to some members of the family that we had no recorded ancestors on either side of the Battle of Hastings. All we had was Simon Finch, a fur-trapping apothecary from Cornwall whose piety was exceeded only by his stinginess. In England, Simon was irritated by the persecution of those who called themselves Methodists at the hands of their more liberal brethren, and as Simon called himself a Methodist, he worked his way across the Atlantic to Philadelphia, thence to Jamaica, thence to Mobile, and up the Saint Stephens. Mindful of John Wesley's strictures on the use of many words in buying and selling, Simon made a pile practicing medicine, but in this pursuit he was unhappy lest he be tempted into doing what he knew was not for the glory of God, as the putting on of gold and costly apparel. So Simon, having forgotten his teacher's dictum on the possession of human chattels, bought three slaves and with their aid established a homestead on the banks of the Alabama River some forty miles above Saint Stephens. He returned to Saint Stephens only once, to find a wife, and with her established a line that ran high to daughters. Simon lived to an impressive age and died rich. It was customary for the men in the family to remain on Simon's homestead, Finch's Landing, and make their living from cotton.

Passage 2

Southern Economy and Cotton

One of the important economical roles the South played on the continuing development of the North was via cotton. Enslaved African Americans labored in the Southern cotton fields while

enriching Northern merchants. In addition, much of the Southern cotton was transported through the Northern Pports. Cotton continued to dominate the Southern economy after emancipation and the end of the Civil War in 1865. As sharecropping evolved in the South, it allowed free black farmers to work on white-owned cotton plantations for a share of the profits. For decades, African Americans hand-picked cotton and labored for survival. In the 1950s, reliable harvesting machinery was introduced into the South which resulted in the dwindling rural labor force. After the end of the two World Wars, machinery replaced labor in many American industries.

25. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the Great Depression era. Based on the

passage, which of this is most likely true about To Kill a Mockingbird?

A. The African American characters in the novel have a lower social status.

B. The characters representing the emaciated black farmers own cotton fields.

C. There is no racial tension between the characters as they live in the South.

D. The Anglo-Saxon characters in the novel are laborers in the cotton fields.

Read the following excerpt from an electronic encyclopedia entry. Cynthia Voigt is an American author of young adult novels. Her books involve complex issues such as mental illness, poverty, homelessness, racism, disabilities, and death. Voigt decided to become an author in high school, but it was only after she spent several years teaching English that she became inspired to write novels for young adults. Her novel Dicey's Song won the Newberry Medal, and in 1990 she won the California Young Reader's Award for Izzy, Willy Nilly. One of Voigt's most popular and critically acclaimed series is the Kingdom Series, which follows the adventures of a Robin Hood-type character. Currently, the author resides in Massechusetts with her family. Now read this excerpt from an electronic book review. American author Cynthia Voigt's young adult novel Dicey's Song won the Newberry Medal in 1983. The plot picks up where the previous novel, Homecoming, ended, and Dicey Tillerman and her siblings are living with their grandmother after having been abandoned by their mentally ill mother. In the novel, Dicey tries to be a parent figure to her younger siblings, and she also tries to get her grandmother to be more open about the past. As with most of Voigt's books, Dicey's Song does not avoid painful issues but confronts them through the experiences of the main characters. For example, Dicey's mother is living in a psychiatric hospital, and her younger sister is having difficulty in school due to learning disabilities. The sensitive issues addressed in the novel may be uncomfortable for some readers, but they may strike a sympathetic chord with other readers. Dicey's Song exemplifies Cynthia Voigt's honest and forthright approach to writing for young adults.

26. Which summary accurately presents information found in both the electronic

encyclopedia entry and the electronic book review?

A. Cynthia Voigt is the author of Dicey's Song which centers on the lives of Dicey

Tillerman, her grandmother, and her siblings.

B. Cynthia Voigt, the author of Dicey's Song, explores themes of death, illness, and

family in her novels for young adults.

C. Cynthia Voigt, who wrote the popular Kingdom Series, became serious about writing

after working as an English teacher.

D. Cynthia Voigt, the author of several young adult novels, was awarded the California

Young Reader's Award in 1990 for Izzy, Willy Nilly.

Understanding My Father by A. Gautam

My father was never an emotional kind of guy. He never spoke more than it was needed—let alone tell stories about the Cultural Revolution. Of course, I could gather information from other sources, but I wanted to hear from him. Mother never told us about his role in the changing face of his country either. Besides, we had moved to America where I was now learning about the history of the Native Americans. I never knew if my father had worked in the revolution as a peasant, solider, or a revolutionary intellectual. I tried to picture him writing big-character posters and holding great debates with his fellow revolutionaries. Did he use big words? Did he sometimes skip classes to meet with the comrades across China? I often thought to myself. I wanted to ask him if he believed that the right to air one’s views fully really existed in his youth. As an only child, who was brought up to think that education was my only key to prosperity, I didn’t know why my father did not finish his degree. My father’s friends behaved just like him—quiet, laborious, and mysterious. They all looked at me with eyes full of love and hope. Only once, did I hear one of them speak about the past. Uncle Chen recounted something about “not being a Communist,” “arrest,” and “freedom.” It was then that I realized my parents and their friends had always talked to each other about their lives back home in Mandarin, the language I could no longer grasp. At that moment, I regretted my dwindling Chinese vocabulary and the opportunities I had already missed.

27. Which of these statement best reflects the author's opinion of the Cultural

Revolution in China?

A. As a result of the revolution, people did not believe in education.

B. The revolution did not give the people the freedom of speech.

C. Ordinary people had no influence in the success of the revolution.

D. The revolution did not change China in any significant way.

28. Based on this excerpt, the Cultural Revolution in China

A. demanded that the revolutionaries move to other countries.

B. provided safety for people who didn't support communism.

C. discouraged the citizens from holding meetings and debates.

D. encouraged all citizens to be involved in changing the nation.

from The Things They Carried

by Tim O'Brien

Other missions were more complicated and required special equipment. In mid-April, it was their mission to search out and destroy the elaborate tunnel complexes in the Than Khe area south of Chu Lai. To blow the tunnels, they carried one-pound blocks of pentrite high explosives, four blocks to a man, 68 pounds in all. They carried wiring, detonators, and battery-powered clackers. Dave Jensen carried earplugs. Most often, before blowing the tunnels, they were ordered by higher command to search them, which was considered bad news, but by and large they just shrugged and carried out orders. Because he was a big man, Henry Dobbins was excused from tunnel duty. The

others would draw numbers. Before Lavender died there were 17 men in the platoon, and whoever drew the number 17 would strip off his gear and crawl in headfirst with a flashlight and Lieutenant Cross's .45-caliber pistol. The rest of them would fan out as security. They would sit down or kneel, not facing the hole, listening to the ground beneath them, imagining cobwebs and ghosts, whatever was down there—the tunnel walls squeezing in—how the flashlight seemed impossibly heavy in the hand and how it was tunnel vision in the very strictest sense, compression in all ways, even time, and how you had to wiggle in—bottom to elbow—a swallowed-up feeling—and how you found yourself worrying about odd things: Will your flashlight go dead? Do rats carry rabies? If you screamed, how far would the sound carry? Would your buddies hear it? Would they have the courage to drag you out? In some respects, though not many, the waiting was worse than the tunnel itself. Imagination was a killer.

29. Based on the narrator's description of the war, what is the best conclusion about

the effects of the Vietnam War?

A. Many people felt strongly patriotic.

B. Trade with the Vietnamese increased.

C. Few soldiers joined the U.S. army.

D. Morale among the troops was low.

30. Which of these best describes the importance of the historical setting as

symbolized by the tunnel?

A. The only thing that kept the soldiers hanging on was the thought of going home.

B. The Americans were fighting in the unknown as they knew little about Vietnam.

C. Soldiers who were imagining in the tunnel did not care about their surroundings.

D. Americans suffered because they imagined the war in the comfort of their homes.

Passage 1

My Choctaw Youth

As any normal seventeen-year-old girl, I had always been bored by my surroundings. Being raised in Oklahoma had made me wonder what was on the other side of America. But, I still had high school to finish and a good family that loved me to death. Those days I often dreamed about the fast-paced life, the subway, the fashion, and the art scene of New York. How my parents and my grandparents had remained in one territory for years was beyond me. Even my cousins and all my extended relatives were perfectly happy in Oklahoma. Well, I thought they were perfectly happy until the day I asked. My grandmother pulled me to the patio and asked me to watch the sun, the sky, and the birds. She always had a thing for nature and always explained things by telling stories. "You see, Masheli, a bird knows where its home is. No matter how far it flies, it comes back to its territory," she said. "But, pokni," I protested. "I am not a child. I know what you mean. I just want to know why you guys don't want to move away from Oklahoma." "What do birds do when they find that their tree is burned down? Tell me," my grandmother was asking me a deep question. I knew she was referring to the difficult journey my people had made from the deep south to Oklahoma. It was always a difficult question to answer. "They never go back to the trail of tears," I replied. I understood why my family wanted to live like the birds that had found and loved a new tree.

Passage 2

The Trail of Tears

The Trail of Tears refers to a major movement and relocation of Native Americans. The forced removal of many Native Americans from their homelands is an unforgettable tragedy in U.S. history. Between 1831 and 1838, Choctaws were displaced from their ancient homes in Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. These removals continued until the early 20th century. The Indian Territory, present day Oklahoma, was the new home for many displaced Choctaws. In their heartbreaking journey, the Native Americans suffered from exposure, disease, starvation, and deaths. The men, women, and children walked for thousands of miles—some traveling for a brief period on boats—without enough food and facilities. The displaced travelers were joined by thousands of enslaved and free African Americans. Some of these African Americans were former slaves of the Native American owners while others were being helped by the tribe members.

31. How is the excerpt from My Choctaw Youth reflective of the historical period

described in the passage about the Trail of Tears?

A. Both describe the role of African Americans in the trail of tears.

B. Both show the opinion of Choctaw elders on nature and home.

C. Both discuss the dreams and ambitions of Native American youths.

D. Both reflect the impact of the forced removal of Native Americans.

In 1799, French armies under the command of Napoleon Bonaparte took up residence in Cairo, Egypt. Though the army's initial reason for being in Egypt was to block Britain's trade with India, their occupation resulted in an amazing archaeological discovery. While working on a construction project, the French army unearthed the Rosetta Stone, a large stone tablet covered in writing. The stone contained a long passage written three times in three different languages: Egyptian Hieroglyphs, Egyptian Demotic, and Ancient Greek. The impact of this discovery was tremendous. Egyptian Hieroglyphs, a language that is estimated to have arisen as long ago as 3200 B.C., had long been studied by scholars around the world. But with no way to translate the language, much of ancient Egyptian culture had remained a mystery. Because scholars were able to understand the Ancient Greek on the Rosetta Stone, they were able to use it to translate the Hieroglyph and Demotic writings. This in turn allowed them to understand countless artifacts and documents left behind by the Egyptian Empire. In fact, much of what we know today about Ancient Egypt is possible because of the Rosetta Stone.

32. Which sentence from the passage best explains why the Rosetta Stone is a

valuable archaeological find?

A. "In fact, much of what we know today about Ancient Egypt is possible because of the

Rosetta Stone."

B. "While working on a construction project, the French army unearthed the Rosetta

Stone, a large stone tablet covered in writing."

C. "Though the army's initial reason for being in Egypt was to block Britain's trade with

India, their occupation resulted in an amazing archaeological discovery."

D. "Egyptian Hieroglyphs, a language that is estimated to have arisen as long ago as

3200 B.C., had long been studied by scholars around the world."

33. Which sentence from the passage best explains why scholars might have been

frustrated prior to the discovery of the Rosetta Stone?

A. "The stone contained a long passage written three times in three different languages:

Egyptian Hieroglyphs, Egyptian Demotic, and Ancient Greek."

B. "But with no way to translate the language, much of ancient Egyptian culture had

remained a mystery."

C. "Though the army's initial reason for being in Egypt was to block Britain's trade with

India, their occupation resulted in an amazing archaeological discovery."

D. "Egyptian Hieroglyphs, a language that is estimated to have arisen as long ago as

3200 B.C., had long been studied by scholars around the world."

Passage 1

The Vietnam War The Vietnam War had a major impact on everyday life in America. At its peak, the war deeply influenced America's politics, culture, and foreign relations. Americans were divided over the U.S. government's justification for and means of fighting the war. The government had instituted a draft when there were simply not enough volunteers to fight a prolonged war. In turn, many young Americans were part of the counterculture youth movement of the 1960s. The youth expressed their cynicism towards the government's actions in more than one ways. Protests erupted on college campuses in major cities. By 1968, the impact of the Vietnam War was palpable in every corner of America. Eventually, the government's refusal to send more troops was seen as a tacit admission that the war could not be won by escalation—at least not at a cost acceptable to the American people.

Passage 2

from The Things They Carried

by Tim O'Brien

Other missions were more complicated and required special equipment. In mid-April, it was their mission to search out and destroy the elaborate tunnel complexes in the Than Khe area south of Chu Lai. To blow the tunnels, they carried one-pound blocks of pentrite high explosives, four blocks to a man, 68 pounds in all. They carried wiring, detonators, and battery-powered clackers. Dave Jensen carried earplugs. Most often, before blowing the tunnels, they were ordered by higher command to search them, which was considered bad news, but by and large they just shrugged and carried out orders. Because he was a big man, Henry Dobbins was excused from tunnel duty. The others would draw numbers. Before Lavender died there were 17 men in the platoon, and whoever drew the number 17 would strip off his gear and crawl in headfirst with a flashlight and Lieutenant Cross's .45-caliber pistol. The rest of them would fan out as security. They would sit down or kneel, not facing the hole, listening to the ground beneath them, imagining cobwebs and ghosts, whatever was down there—the tunnel walls squeezing in—how the flashlight seemed impossibly heavy in the hand and how it was tunnel vision in the very strictest sense, compression in all ways, even time, and how you had to wiggle in—bottom to elbow—a swallowed-up feeling—and how you found yourself worrying about odd things: Will your flashlight go dead? Do rats carry rabies? If you screamed, how far would the sound carry? Would your buddies hear it? Would they have the courage to drag you out? In some respects, though not many, the waiting was worse than the tunnel

itself. Imagination was a killer.

34. How is the view of the Vietnam War in the story different from the view

expressed in the passage?

A. The story indicates that the war did not have casualties; the passage mentions many

casualties resulting from the war.

B. The story shows the war from the perspective of the soldiers; the passage reflects

the domestic effect of the war.

C. The story describes the soldiers' feelings of homesickness; the passage shows the

government's justification of the war.

D. The story depicts the solders as enthusiastic about the war; the passage shows the

youth as apathetic about the war.

Read the following excerpt from an electronic biography. Bronc riding is a rodeo event that requires skill and courage, and both men and women have become successful in this exciting event. One of the first female bronc riders, Ruth Roach Salmon, performed between the years 1914 and 1928. Although she preferred bronc riding, Salmon also performed in many other rodeo events. Over the course of her rodeo career, she earned the titles of World's Champion All Around Cowgirl, World's Champion Trick Rider, and World's Champion Girl Bronc Rider. After her rodeo career ended, she retired to run a ranching business with her husband in Nocona, Texas. In 1989, three years after her death, Ruth Salmon was inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame. Now read the following excerpt from an electronic encyclopedia. Bronc riding is a rodeo event in which participants ride a horse that attempts to throw off the rider. The event was originally created to test the horse training skills of cowboys. In modern competitions, the horse is held in a small enclosure to the side of the rodeo arena called a "bucking chute." The rider climbs onto the back of the horse in the chute. When the door to the chute is opened, the horse runs into the arena and begins to buck, or attempt to shake the rider off its back. Riders must stay on the horse's back for at least eight seconds in order to complete the ride. Although bronc riding is typically represented as a male-dominated event, many women, such as Ruth Roach Salmon, have proven themselves to be successful bronc riders.

35. Which summary accurately presents information found in both the electronic

biography and the electronic encyclopedia?

A. Bronc riding, in which a rider attempts to ride a horse for eight seconds without being

bucked off, has attracted both male and female rodeo riders.

B. Prior to being released into the rodeo arena, broncs are held in small enclosures

called "bucking chutes," which are located to the side of the arena.

C. Bronc riding, which involves a rodeo rider attempting to stay seated on a bucking

horse, is often represented as a "male-dominated" rodeo event.

D. One female bronc rider, Ruth Roach Salmon, won many prestigious titles for her

rodeo work, including "World's Champion Girl Bronc Rider."

Passage 1

Safe

by A. Gautam

Bina Kapoor was finally going to see the Disney World. The bags were packed and the tickets were at hand. An old woman disposed to the care of her son's family, Bina had insisted on accompanying her grandchildren despite her advanced age. She wanted to relive and reinvent her childhood. Vinnie Kapoor knew that his Mom had never slept well while traveling—not since the independence of India and Pakistan. He had seen her twitch and scream at night decades after her horrific journey by train. Vinnie knew that in the arms of the night, his mother was still a child. The terror of 1947 was fresh in her nightmares. Vinnie had finally told his mother that the kids were now old enough to understand their heritage. This meant that Bina could tell them about the Partition, the tragic journey from Karachi to Delhi, and the story of her survival. As the Kapoor family waited to board the plane, Vinnie told her story with animation and nostalgia. "The train was supposed to be fast," Bina whispered to her three grandchildren cuddled together in the airport lobby. "But it was not fast enough to stop the people from climbing. I had only packed my favorite clothes, kids. There wasn't enough room in the train for all my pretty toys. And the people were climbing on the windows, hanging on to the door, and even holding on to other people's hands." "Time to board, Ma," Vinnie cut the story short and handed his mother some sleeping aids. "You can tell the rest in the rental car. You have to get some sleep." Bina held on to her carry on, took a significantly long breath, and agreed to board the plane.

Passage 2

The Quit India Movement During the British rule in the Indian subcontinent for nearly a century (1858-1947), many nationalist freedom movements had taken place in India. The most successful and decisive one was the Quit India Movement. The Quit India Movement was a civil disobedience movement launched in 1942. It was a response to Gandhi's call for immediate independence of India and a protest against the British Empire's request to send Indians to World War II. The movement was aimed to bring the British Government to the negotiating table. The Quit India Movement also helped shape the partitioning of the British Indian Empire into a secular India and a Muslim Pakistan. The border between India and Pakistan was determined by a British Government-commissioned report. Pakistan was declared a separate nation from India on 14 August 1947. On midnight 15 August 1947, India became an independent nation. However, the independence came at a price of a painful separation process of the new-formed nations.

36. Which historical period do both passages reflect?

A. the time following India's independence

B. Civil War in the Indian subcontinent

C. the first and the second World Wars

D. the mass migration of Indians to the U.S.

The flight to Japan lasted more than twenty hours, giving Maya more than enough time to read her travel guidebook. The first chapter talked about the importance of reading maps and asking for

directions. The book cited statistics showing that the majority of travelers tend to get lost within the first hour of arriving in a foreign country. When the plane landed in Hong Kong, Maya awoke from a deep sleep. She walked through the Japanese airport as though in a dream. When she stopped at the customs desk, a man in a uniform asked her the names of her brothers and sisters in order to verify her identity. After what seemed like an eternity of waiting in lines, Maya finally retrieved her luggage at the baggage claim. Then she headed for the airport exit. Once outside, Maya was confronted by a dizzying swirl of taxi-cabs, buses, and people asking to take her luggage. She recognized several people from her flight and saw them getting on a bus. In her confusion, she nearly followed them onto the bus. But it was then that she remembered her guidebook, and the statistic that she had read on the plane. A man approached her and said, "I will take you to your hotel for only three thousand Yen. This is a very good deal." "No, thank you," Maya said. Then, to avoid further confusion, she walked back inside the airport. She found a bench and opened her guidebook. Taking a deep breath, she began to study the maps of Hong Kong.

37. Which sentence from the passage best describes Maya's plan to find her way out

of the airport?

A. "She walked through the Japanese airport as though in a dream."

B. "She recognized several people from her flight and saw them getting on a bus."

C. "Taking a deep breath, she began to study the maps of Hong Kong."

D. "She found a bench and opened her guidebook."

38. Which sentence from the passage suggests that Maya is becoming impatient?

A. "The book cited statistics showing that the majority of travelers tend to get lost

within the first hour of arriving in a foreign country."

B. "After what seemed like an eternity of waiting in lines, Maya finally retrieved her

luggage at the baggage claim."

C. "She recognized several people from her flight and saw them getting on a bus."

D. "The flight to Japan lasted more than twenty hours, giving Maya more than enough

time to read her travel guidebook."

39. Which sentence from the passage best explains how Maya feels upon de-

boarding the plane?

A. "Taking a deep breath, she began to study the maps of Hong Kong."

B. "She walked through the Japanese airport as though in a dream."

C. "When the plane landed in Hong Kong, Maya awoke from a deep sleep."

D. "Then, to avoid further confusion, she walked back inside the airport."

40. Which sentence from the passage best explains Maya's disorientation?

A. "Once outside, Maya was confronted by a dizzying swirl of taxi-cabs, buses, and

people asking to take her luggage."

B. "After what seemed like an eternity of waiting in lines, Maya finally retrieved her

luggage at the baggage claim. "

C. "When she stopped at the customs desk, a man in a uniform asked her the names

of her brothers and sisters in order to verify her identity."

D. "But it was then that she remembered her guidebook, and the statistic that she

had read on the plane."

Answers

1. D

2. A

3. C

4. D

5. A

6. C

7. D

8. C

9. B

10. D

11. A

12. C

13. D

14. B

15. A

16. A

17. C

18. D

19. A

20. A

21. B

22. B

23. A

24. A

25. A

26. B

27. B

28. D

29. D

30. B

31. D

32. A

33. B

34. B

35. A

36. A

37. C

38. B

39. B

40. A

Explanations

1.

In this excerpt from the famous Harper Lee novel, the narrator hints at the ease with

which Simon Finch bought three slaves in Alabama. The incorrect answer choices are

not supported by the text.

2.

In paragraph 2, King explains that he believes negotiation to be important but that

sometimes it takes direct action, like sit-ins and marches, to force a community to

understand there is an issue in need of negotiating. He shows his critics that he believes

his nonviolent direct actions will lead to the same goal his critics hope to reach.

3.

Dr. King writes in the letter that freedom for African Americans has always been a

matter of "waiting." He believes that they have had to wait too long for freedom,

equality, and justice, and that the wait must now be over. This sentence supports King's

argument by emphasizing that justice has been delayed for African Americans.

4.

In paragraph 4, Dr. King uses a list to stress the magnitude of injustices committed

against oppressed people and to give the impression that they have waited long enough

to be treated as equals.

5.

This line sets up the idea that other less-developed countries are ahead of us in terms of

civil rights and freedoms. To say we "creep at horse-and-buggy pace" is a way of

implying we are behind the times, taking a very long time to provide our people with the

same basic freedoms that other countries already have.

6.

Dr. King explains in the first paragraph that he does not normally write letters back to

those who have written to him. He says that responding to criticism would leave him no

time for his constructive work, but he felt it important to reply to these men because

they are good men who want to understand why he does what he does and who meant

to do good by criticizing him. The last sentence in the first paragraph of the letter

supports this idea.

7.

The question requires the readers to make an observation based on Frederika's

character. As mentioned in the story, Frederika found English more appealing than the

German language she had learned at school. The incorrect answer choices are not

supported by the text.

8.

This passage requires the readers to consider the facts about the historical time as

reflected in the story. The protagonist, Frederika, is depicted as a poet who is forced to

shovel debris and burn books. The passage implies that the environment inside the

camps was devoid of hope. It is implied in the story that Frederika, not all the captives

forced into labor, desired shoveling as opposed to burning the Russian books.

9.

Both of these electronic sources contain information about geodesic domes and

Buckminster Fuller. The first excerpt, from an electronic encyclopedia, focuses on

Buckminster Fuller's life and work, and the second excerpt, from an electronic journal

article, contains general information about geodesic domes. The correct answer is the

only choice that contains information found in both excerpts.

10.

The passage implies that Bina Kapoor had to travel from Karachi to Delhi during the

Partition. The train journey and its lasting impact on Bina is described as horrific. The

incorrect answer choices are not supported by the text.

11.

The passage shows how children are affected by the political turmoil in a country. In this

story, Bina Kapoor is traumatized by her train journey from Karachi (Pakistan) to Delhi

(India). Through Bina, the author describes the plight of the passengers. Many young,

impressionable minds are always deeply affected by such historic events like the

partition of a nation.

12.

The writer describes the way in which kangaroos move and carry their young, but few of

these descriptions indicate how kangaroos have adapted to a changing environment.

The kangaroo's ability to travel a great distance in a short amount of time would be

essential in overcoming food scarcity or difficult conditions. Thus, the correct choice is,

"Their fast and energy-efficient method of travel helps them to cover large distances in

search of food and water."

13.

The writer states that the long shape of a kangaroo's feet restricts its ability to move a

short distance. However, by hopping, it can cover a large area in search of food and

water. So the reader can guess that a kangaroo would have difficulty adapting to a

small area. Thus, the correct choice is, "But while kangaroos are adept at hopping, the

long shape of their feet restricts their ability to walk."

14.

The writer states that the female kangaroo carries its young in the marsupium, or

pouch. This statement tells us that the marsupium can be used to transport a baby

kangaroo. However, it is not until the following sentence that the writer states that the

baby kangaroo needs the marsupium for proper development. Thus, the correct choice

is, "Baby kangaroos, called 'joeys,' complete the early stages of their development while

inside the marsupium."

15.

This passage describes many unique and even impressive traits of kangaroos. In order

to determine why kangaroos are considered to be a national symbol of Australia, the

reader should look for a reason that kangaroos are more important to Australians than

to people of other nations. Thus, the correct choice is, "Kangaroos are endemic, or

unique, to the continent of Australia."

16.

The passage implies that Mambazo distinguishes between the colonizers and the

natives. He also knows that he faces discrimination and an unpromising future. With

Mambazo as an example, the author shows that the natives of South Africa did not

identify with the colonizers.

17.

Through the character of Mambazo, the author shows that the colonized people in South

Africa did not inherit big hopes and dreams from their parents. Mambazo is aware of the

reality that "his place in the society was not very promising." The oppressed often have

low morale because of the experience of being colonized in their own land.

18.

Both of these electronic sources contain information about Natalie du Toit. The first

excerpt, from an electronic encyclopedia, focuses on du Toit's swimming career, and the

second excerpt, from an electronic biographical dictionary, contains information about

both her personal and professional life. The correct answer is the only choice that

contains information found in both excerpts.

19.

Both of these electronic sources contain information about author Wilkie Collins. The

first excerpt, from an electronic research abstract, focuses on Collins' writing and

personal life, and the second excerpt, from an electronic encyclopedia entry, contains

information about one of Collins' literary projects, "A House to Let." The correct answer

is the only choice that contains information found in both excerpts.

20.

While the story is set during World War II and reflects Nazi brutalities on the Jewish

people, the passage mentions the persecutions of the Romani people by the Nazis. The

passage also mentions that the persecutions of the Romani people during World War II

has not been studied enough.

21.

The symbolism of the grandmother's story and the historical reference to the Trail of

Tears indicates that Masheli's family and relatives have relocated to Oklahoma. Thus,

Oklahoma was not the first home for many Native Americans.

22.

Look for the answer choice that supports an idea present in the story. The author shows

the narrator—a teenager—as understanding her history and the story-telling of her

grandmother. The author doesn't imply that observing nature is the only way to learn

about life and society. Based on the character of the grandmother, it is safe to say that

the author believes in the deep emotional scars of the Trail of Tears.

23.

The passage mentions that the students' careers revolved around the Cultural

Revolution. In other words, nation came before education during the Cultural

Revolution. The story does not provide background to predict whether the father had

planned to move to America. It doesn't reveal the father's role in the revolution either.

The passage does not reflect on the grading system of China.

24.

Notice that both passages show South Africa during the 1890s. Both passages also

reflect the state of South Africans during the colonization by Britain.

25.

Based on the question, the novel is set in the Great Depression era, during which the

African Americans still faced a lot of discrimination. Based on the setting of the novel,

the African American characters most likely have a lower social status compared to the

white American characters.

26.

Both of these electronic sources contain information about American author Cynthia

Voigt. The first excerpt, from an electronic encyclopedia, focuses on Cynthia Voigt's

writing and her personal life, and the second excerpt, from an electronic book review,

contains information about Dicey's Song, one of Voigt's books. The correct answer is the

only choice that contains information found in both excerpts.

27.

In the story, the narrator says, "I wanted to ask him if he believed that the right to air

one's views fully really existed in his youth." The author most likely doubts that the

freedom of speech existed in China during the Cultural Revolution. The story implies

that ordinary people played a big role in changing China through the revolution. The

narrator implies that his or her family strongly emphasized the importance of education.

28.

The second paragraph of the passage implies that people from all walks of life were

involved in the Cultural Revolution. The sentence ". . . worked in the revolution as a

peasant, soldier, or a revolutionary intellectual" implies that all citizens were encouraged

to be involved in the revolution.

29.

The excerpt doesn't touch on the soldiers' patriotism or a trade with Vietnam. It doesn't

show how many soldiers joined the U.S. army. The passage shows the narrator's

unenthusiastic and matter-of-fact approach to the war. The fear of the unknown and the

continuing missions had resulted in the low morale among the troops.

30.

The symbolic setting of the tunnel represents what the war meant for the soldiers. Much

like the tunnel, the foreign territory was unfamiliar to the soldiers. In addition, like the

tunnel, which didn't have light at one end, the Vietnam War had seemed endless.

31.

Although the story and the passage reflect the same historical period, there are

important differences in the texts. In the work of fiction, the Trail of Tears is mentioned

as a symbolic historic past. It also shows the perspective of a member of the Choctaw

tribe and reflects on the lasting impact of the Trail of Tears. The non-fiction passage

relates historical facts and the impact of the forced removal of Native Americans.

32.

The writer tells us that the Rosetta Stone helped scholars to understand the languages

of Ancient Egypt. In order to understand why these languages are so valuable, the

reader should consider that the languages are essential to understanding the culture.

Thus, the correct choice is, "In fact, much of what we know today about Ancient Egypt is

possible because of the Rosetta Stone."

33.

The writer states that scholars had long studied the ancient language of Egyptian

Hieroglyphs. In order to understand why this study might frustrate scholars, the reader

has to know that these studies were incomplete or unsuccessful. Thus, the correct

choice is, "But with no way to translate the language, much of ancient Egyptian culture

had remained a mystery."

34.

The story by O'Brien and the non-fiction passage depict the Vietnam War from two

different perspectives. While the story shows the range of emotions a soldier

experiences in a war zone, the passage reflects on the domestic effects of the Vietnam

War. Unlike the passage, the excerpt from O'Brien's story doesn't portray a soldier's

opinion on the American government or its justifications for the war.

35.

Both of these electronic sources contain information about bronc riding. The first

excerpt, from an electronic biography, focuses on a female bronc rider named Ruth

Roach Salmon, and the second excerpt, from an electronic encyclopedia, provides

details about bronc riding. The correct answer is the only choice that contains

information found in both excerpts.

36.

Both the passage and the story reflect the years following India's independence. As the

passage informs, the Partition followed India's struggle for independence. Bina Kapoor's

story of the Partition reflects the same historical period as the passage.

37.

The author states that Maya remembers the statistic she read in her travel guidebook.

Because this is the same statistic that was described in the first paragraph, the reader

can guess that Maya is reflecting on the importance of reading maps and asking for

directions. She then takes the proper course of action by studying her maps. Thus, the

correct choice is, "Taking a deep breath, she began to study the maps of Hong Kong."

38.

This passage focuses on Maya's impressions of her trip to Japan. While it is likely that a

plane flight lasting over twenty hours would make her impatient, the author states only

that the flight gave her "more than enough time to read her travel guidebook." Later,

the author describes Maya's wait for her baggage with the words "finally" and "eternity."

These words are good indicators that Maya is impatient. Thus, the best choice is: "After

what seemed like an eternity of waiting in lines, Maya finally retrieved her luggage at

the baggage claim."

39.

Several sentences in the passage make reference to Maya's state of mind as she walks

through the airport. The writer states that "Maya awoke from a deep sleep." The writer

also states that Maya walked back into the airport "in order to avoid confusion." These

statements suggest that Maya may be tired and/or confused, but they do not confirm

her feelings. Thus, the best choice is "She walked through the Japanese airport as

though in a dream."

40.

This passage is about traveling to a foreign country for the first time, which can be a

disorienting experience. By paying closer attention to the language that the author uses,

the reader can guess which experiences are most disorienting for Maya. When the

author describes the airport traffic as a "dizzying swirl," it is a good indication that Maya

is extremely disoriented. Thus, the correct choice is, "Once outside, Maya was

confronted by a dizzying swirl of taxi-cabs, buses, and people asking to take her

luggage."

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