AzMerit Practice Reading Test

Transcription

1 1 Name Date Period AzMerit Practice Reading Test *Directions Today you will read two fictional passages. After reading the passages, you will answer several comprehension questions. Excerpt from The Pit and the Pendulum by Edgar Allan Poe 1 So far, I had not opened my eyes. I felt that I lay upon my back, unbound. I reached out my hand, and it fell heavily upon something damp and hard. There I suffered it to remain for many minutes, while I strove to imagine where and what I could be. I longed, yet dared not to employ my vision, I dreaded the first glance at objects around me. It was not that I feared to look upon things horrible, but that I grew aghast lest there should be nothing to see. At length, with a wild desperation at heat, I quickly unclosed my eyes. My worst thoughts, then, were confirmed. The blackness of eternal night encompassed me. I struggled for breath. The intensity of the darkness seemed to oppress and stifle me. The atmosphere was intolerably close. I still lay quietly, and made effort to exercise my reason. I brought to mind the inquisitorial proceedings, and attempted from that point to deduce my real condition. The sentence had passed; and it appeared to me that a very long interval of time had since elapsed. Yet not for a moment did I supposed myself actually dead. Such supposition, notwithstanding what we read in fiction, is altogether inconsistent with real existence; - but where and in what state was I? The condemned to death, I knew, perished usually at the auto-da-fes, and one of these had been haled on the very night of the day of my trial. Had I been remanded to my dungeon, to await the next sacrifice, which would not take place for many months? This I at once saw could not be. Victims had been in immediate demand. Moreover, my dungeon, as well as all the condemned cells at Toledo, had stone floors, and light was not altogether excluded. 2 A fearful idea now suddenly drove the blood in torrents upon my heart, and for a brief period, I once more relapsed into insensibility. Upon recovering, I at once started to my feet, trembling convulsively in every fibre. I thrust my arms wildly above and around me in all directions. I felt nothings; yet dreaded to move a step, lest I should be impeded by the walls of a tomb. Perspiration burst from every pore, and stood in cold big beads upon my forehead. The agony of suspense grew at length intolerable, and I cautiously moved forward, with my arms extended, and my eyes straining from the sockets, in the hopes of catching some faint ray of light, I proceeded for many paces; but still all was blackness and vacancy. I breathed more freely. It seemed evident that mine was not, at least, the most hideous of fates. 3 And now, as I still continued to step cautiously onward, there came thronging upon my recollection a thousand vague rumors of the horrors of Toledo. Of the

2 2 dungeons there had been strange things narrated-fables I had always deemed thembut yet strange, and too ghastly to repeat, save in a whisper. Was I left to perish of starvation in this subterranean world of darkness; or what fate, perhaps even more fearful, awaited me? That the result would be death, and a death of more than customary bitterness, I knew too well the character of my judges to doubt. The mode and the hour were all that occupied or distracted me. 4 My outstretched hands at length encountered some solid obstruction. It was a wall, seemingly of stone masonry-very smooth, slimy, and cold. I followed it up; stepping with all the careful distrust with which certain antique narratives had inspired me. This process, however, afforded me no means of ascertaining the dimensions of my dungeon; as I might make its circuit, and return to the point whence I set out, without being aware of the fact; so perfectly uniform seemed the wall. I therefore sought the knife which had been in my pocket, when led into the inquisitorial chamber; but it was gone; my clothes had been exchanged for a wrapper of coarse serge. I had thought of forcing the blade in some minute crevice of the masonry, so as to identify my point of departure. The difficult, nevertheless, was but trivial; although, in the disorder of my fancy, it seems at first insuperable. I tore a part of the hem from the rove and placed the fragment at full length, and at right angles to the wall. In groping my way around the prison, I could not fail to encounter this rag upon completing the circuit. So, at least I thought; but I had not counted upon the extent of the dungeon, or upon my own weakness. The ground was moist and slippery. I staggered onward for some time, when I stumbled and fell. 5 Upon awakening, and stretching forth an arm, I found beside me a loaf and pitcher with water. I was too much exhausted to reflect upon this circumstance, but ate and drank with avidity. Shortly afterward, I resumed my tour around the prison, and with much toil came at last upon the fragment of the serge. Up to the period when I felt I had counted fifty-two paces, and upon resuming my walk, I had counted forty-eight more;- when I arrived at the rag. There were in all, then, a hundred paces; and, admitting tow paces to the yard, I presumed the dungeon to be fifty yards in circuit. I had met, however with many angles in the wall, and thus I could form no guess at the shape of the vault; for vault I could not help supposing it to be.

3 3 1. What is the meaning of supposition as it is used in paragraph 1? A. occurrence B. development C. proceeding D. assumption 2. Which sentence from the passage helps the reader to understand the meaning of supposition? A. to deduce my real condition B. to remain for many minutes C. remanded to my dungeon D. await the next sacrifice 3. Which two themes are developed in the excerpt from The Pit and the Pendulum? A. There is a fine line between reason and insanity. B. Those who commit a crime should be punished. C. There is a solution to every problem. D. People fear what they do not know. E. Patience can yield positive results. F. One can handle anything if there is hope. 4. Which two details support the themes identified in? A. So far, I had not opened my eyes. B. The condemned to death perished usually at the auto-da-fes C. The intensity of the darkness seemed to oppress and stifle me. D. This I at once saw could not be. E. for a brief period, I once more relapsed into insensibility F. I still continued to step cautiously forward 5. How does the author s choice to have the narrator reveal only bits and pieces of what happened prior to his incarceration contribute to the meaning of the passage? A. It heightens the sense of unreality B. It highlights the cruelty of the Inquisitors. C. It emphasizes the narrator s guilt. D. It reveals the sentence the narrator received. 6. Which detail from the passage best supports the answer to? A. -but where and in what state was I? B. I brought to mind the inquisitorial proceedings C. it appeared to me that a very long interval of time had since elapsed. D. Victims had been in immediate demand.

4 4 Excerpt from The Minister s Black Veil by Nathaniel Hawthorne 1 The sexton stood in the porch of Milford meeting-house pulling lustily at the bell-rope. The old people of the village came stooping along the street. Children with bright faces tripped merrily beside their parents or mimicked a graver gait in the conscious dignity of their Sunday clothes. Spruce bachelors looked sidelong at the pretty maidens, and fancied that the Sabbath sunshine made them prettier than on weekdays. When the throng had mostly streamed into the porch, the sexton began to toll the bell, keeping his eye on the Reverend Mr. Hooper's door. The first glimpse of the clergyman's figure was the signal for the bell to cease its summons. 2 "But what has good Parson Hooper got upon his face?" cried the sexton in astonishment. 3 All within hearing immediately turned about, and beheld the semblance of Mr. Hooper, pacing slowly his meditative way towards the meeting-house. With one accord they started, expressing more wonder than if some strange minister were coming to dust the cushions of Mr. Hooper's pulpit. 4 "Are you sure it is our parson?" inquired Goodman Gray of the sexton. 5 "Of a certainty it is good Mr. Hooper," replied the sexton. "He was to have exchanged pulpits with Parson Shute, of Westbury; but Parson Shute sent to excuse himself yesterday, being to preach a funeral sermon." 6 The cause of so much amazement may appear sufficiently slight. Mr. Hooper, a gentlemanly person, of about thirty, though still a bachelor, was dressed with due clerical neatness, as if a careful wife had starched his band, and brushed the weekly dust from his Sunday's garb. There was but one thing remarkable in his appearance. Swathed about his forehead, and hanging down over his face, so low as to be shaken by his breath, Mr. Hooper had on a black veil. On a nearer view it seemed to consist of two folds of crape, which entirely concealed his features, except the mouth and chin, but probably did not intercept his sight, further than to give a darkened aspect to all living and inanimate things. With this gloomy shade before him, good Mr. Hooper walked onward, at a slow and quiet pace, stooping somewhat, and looking on the ground, as is customary with abstracted men, yet nodding kindly to those of his parishioners who still waited on the meeting-house steps. But so wonder-struck were they that his greeting hardly met with a return. 7 "I can't really feel as if good Mr. Hooper's face was behind that piece of crape," said the sexton. 8 "I don't like it," muttered an old woman, as she hobbled into the meetinghouse. "He has changed himself into something awful, only by hiding his face." 9 "Our parson has gone mad!" cried Goodman Gray, following him across the threshold. 10 A rumor of some unaccountable phenomenon had preceded Mr. Hooper into the meeting-house, and set all the congregation astir. Few could refrain from twisting their heads towards the door; many stood upright, and turned directly about; while several little boys clambered upon the seats, and came down again with a terrible racket. There was a general bustle, a rustling of the women's gowns and shuffling of the men's feet, greatly at variance with that hushed repose which should attend the

5 5 entrance of the minister. But Mr. Hooper appeared not to notice the perturbation of his people. He entered with an almost noiseless step, bent his head mildly to the pews on each side, and bowed as he passed his oldest parishioner, a white-haired great-grandsire, who occupied an arm-chair in the centre of the aisle. It was strange to observe how slowly this venerable man became conscious of something singular in the appearance of his pastor. He seemed not fully to partake of the prevailing wonder, till Mr. Hooper had ascended the stairs, and showed himself in the pulpit, face to face with his congregation, except for the black veil. That mysterious emblem was never once withdrawn. It shook with his measured breath, as he gave out the psalm; it threw its obscurity between him and the holy page, as he read the Scriptures; and while he prayed, the veil lay heavily on his uplifted countenance. Did he seek to hide it from the dread Being whom he was addressing? 11 Such was the effect of this simple piece of crape, that more than one woman of delicate nerves was forced to leave the meeting-house. Yet perhaps the pale-faced congregation was almost as fearful a sight to the minister, as his black veil to them. 1. Why does the author use the phrase semblance of Mr. Hooper in paragraph 3 to describe what the villagers see walking toward the meeting-house? A. to explain who the villagers are looking at B. to compare Mr. Hooper to an unknown person C. to show that the villagers mistrust Mr. Hooper D. to emphasize that Mr. Hooper is not quite himself 2. Which two details from the passage best support the answer to? A. Which one accord they started, expressing more wonder than if some strange minister were coming to dust the cushions of Mr. Hooper s pulpit. B. Of a certainty it is good Mr. Hooper; replied the sexton. C. I can t really feel as if good Mr. Hooper s face was behind that piece of crape, said the sexton. D. But what has good Parson Hooper got upon his face? cried the sexton, in astonishment. E. A rumor of some unaccountable phenomenon had preceded Mr. Hooper into the meetinghouse and set all the congregation astir. F. I don t like it, muttered an old woman as she hobbled into the meeting-house.

6 6 3. Which two themes does the author begin to develop in this excerpt from The Minister s Black Veil? A. the importance of tolerance B. triumph over adversity C. fear of the unknown D. alienation due to perceived differences E. the impact of excessive grief F. convention and rebellion 4. Which statement from the passage best supports BOTH themes identified in? A. The cause of so much amazement may appear sufficiently slight. B. Swathed about his forehead and hanging down over his face Mr. Hooper had on a black veil. C. But so wonder-struck were they that his greeting hardly met with a return. D. It was strange to observe how slowly this venerable man became conscious of something singular in the appearance of his pastor. 5. How does the tone created by the author s description of the villagers in paragraph 1 change as he described how the villagers react to Mr. Hooper s veil? A. from curiosity to acceptance B. from satirical to straightforward C. from excited to calm D. from light-hearted to somber 6. Highlight two details from paragraph 1 and two details from the last three paragraphs to support you answer to.

7 7 Answers: 1. B 2. A 3. A & C 4. C & E 5. A 6. A 7. D 8. A & C 9. C & D 10. C 11. D 12. Possible answers a. Children with bright faces b. Spruced bachelors looked sidelong at the pretty maidens c. Fancied that the Sabbath sunshine made them prettier d. Our parson has gone mad! e. Did he seek to hide it from the dread Being whom he was addressing? f. Yet perhaps the pale-faced congregation was almost as fearful as sight to the minister as his black veil to them. Rationale for scoring: 2 points given for correct and 2 correct answers from description and reaction of villagers in. 1 point given for correct and 2 correct answers collectively from