Reassess Activity 1.11 (LA.8.2.1.2) NAME Reassess Activity 1.11 (LA.8.2.1.2) Section 1 - Multiple Choice For questions 1-3 War Is Kind by Stephen Crane Do not weep, maiden, for war is kind, Because your lover threw wild hands toward the sky And the affrighted steed ran on alone, Do not weep. War is kind. Hoarse, booming drums of the regiment, Little souls who thirst for fight, These men were born to drill and die. The unexplained glory flies above them. Great is the battle-god, great, and his kingdom A field where a thousand corpses lie. Do not weep, babe, for war is kind. Because your father tumbles in the yellow trenches, Raged at his breast, gulped and died, Do not weep. War is kind. Swift blazing flag of the regiment, Eagle with crest of red and gold, These men were born to drill and die. Point for them the virtue of slaughter, Make plain to them the excellence of killing And a field where a thousand corpses lie. Mother whose heart hung humble as a button On the bright splendid shroud of your son, Do not weep. War is kind. 1
1) What does the author s use of the word hoarse imply about the setting of war? (a) tiring (b) audible (c) worthy (d) frightening 2) What is a theme in the poem? (a) positive effect of war (b) horrible result of war (c) urgent need to survive (d) symbolic value of a flag 3) What is the speaker in the poem trying to do? (a) show that drums are used during battle (b) make people understand the need for war (c) illustrate the horrible outcome of war (d) give meaning to the flags of one s country For questions 4-5 The Gold in the Orchard There was once a farmer who had a fine olive orchard. He was very industrious, and the farm always prospered under his care. But he knew that his three sons despised the farm work and were eager to make wealth fast, through adventure. When the farmer was old, and felt that his time had come to die, and he called the three sons to him and said, My sons, there is a pot of gold hidden in the olive orchard. Dig for it, if you wish it. The sons tried to persuade him to tell them in what part of the orchard the gold was hidden; but he would tell them nothing more. After the farmer was dead, the sons went to work to find the pot of gold. Since they did not know where the hiding-place was, they agreed to begin in a line, at one end of the orchard, and to dig until one of them should find the money. They dug until they had turned up the soil from one end of the orchard to the other, round the tree roots and between them. But no pot of gold was to be found. It seemed as if some one must have stolen it, or as if the farmer had been wandering in his wits. The three sons were bitterly disappointed to have all their work for nothing. The next olive season, the olive trees in the orchard bore more fruit than they had ever given; the fine cultivating they had had from the digging brought so much fruit, and of so fine a quality, that when it was sold it gave the sons a whole pot of gold! When the sons saw how much money had come from the orchard, they suddenly understood what their wise father had meant when he said, There is gold hidden in the orchard; dig for it. 2
4) Why does the setting of the story affect the plot? (a) The sons learn a life lesson by working in the family orchard. (b) The orchard can be sold for more money than the hidden gold is worth. (c) The orchard is an easy place to search for a box of hidden gold. (d) The sons understand that working in the orchard improves their health. 5) Why was there conflict between the farmer and his sons? (a) The farmer didn t want to become wealthy. (b) The sons thought their father had lied to them. (c) They didn t agree on the best way to make a living. (d) The farmer would not tell them where the gold was hidden. 3
For questions 6-10 The Reality of Battle Father appeared to be more nervous than usual during supper. Neither he nor Mother spoke much except to remind me and my brother Isaac to use good table manners and to eat everything that was on our plate. After fifteen minutes of uncomfortable dining, I decided to break the ice. Is there something wrong? What is it that is keeping you and Mother from speaking tonight? I questioned with some apprehension. Father did not respond at all; in fact, he just continued staring at his plate as he scooped up his food with his fork. Marcus, I think Samuel and Isaac are old enough. Just tell them, Marcus. Just speak to your sons, Mother interjected with sadness in her face. Sons, I am going to be leaving for Richmond this afternoon. I volunteered to help the Union fight to get the South back into the Union, said Father as he continued eating his supper. When they attacked Fort Sumter in April, it became evident that a battle would ensue. Fight a battle? I said with excitement in my voice. May I go with you? I m fourteen now. That is old enough to hold a rifle. Please Father, let me go with you. The Union needs me, please! I could tell from the expression on Mother s face that my going to battle was out of the question. Her face clearly spoke the fear she had at losing Father and that she would be horrified if she lost both of us. There s a rifle in the tool shed. It s in a wood box that is behind the hay stack. Go get it and bring it in the house, Father responded. As I headed out the door, I could hear Father s explanation to Mother that the Union had no choice but to stop the South from more attacks. On July 21, our troops, led by General McDowell advanced toward Manassas on the way to Richmond. At that time, we were unaware that the Confederate troops had blocked the road at Manassas that would continue to the city of Richmond. It was obvious from the reaction of our troops and the Confederate soldiers that neither expected to have a battle that day. Son, remember, we are much more able to fight than they are. Keep your faith and we will win, said Father for the hundredth time. Our troops tried to break through the barricade, but more and more Confederate troops showed up making it impossible. After several hours, I realized what I was doing. I found myself shooting my rifle at a barrage of Confederates to keep the Union forces strong. As I ran toward their soldiers, I felt my eyes burning from the dust that was making its way into the air. I looked around to find Father. He was nowhere in sight. As I continued my struggle to fight, I felt a hand grabbing my left shoulder. I instantly turned to see Father as he fell to the ground, blood pouring from his chest. Father! No! Father! I yelled as I dropped my rifle to the ground. 4
6) What is a theme of this passage? 9) What is a major conflict in the passage? (a) a need for excitement (b) the need to work as a team (c) a negative outcome of war (d) the importance of family love 7) Which MOST likely tells what the narrator believes? (a) Fighting a battle is something everyone should experience. (b) War is exciting, but also devastating to many people. (c) All young people should fight a battle, if necessary. (d) A mother s viewpoint should be overlooked. (a) the fact that there was a rifle that could be found in a box in the tool shed (b) the fact that the Union troops were being led by General McDowell (c) the fact that the father was silent when he was eating his supper (d) the fact that the son went to battle against his mother s wishes 10) What happens at the climax of the passage? (a) The father falls to the ground and dies. (b) The father tells his son where the rifle is. (c) The mother stares at her son with disapproval. (d) Confederate soldiers begin to attack Union soldiers. 8) What mood does the battlefield setting create? (a) confidence (b) contentment (c) discomfort (d) neglect 5
Reassess Activity 1.11 (LA.8.2.1.2) Answer Key Section 1 - Multiple Choice 1) a 2) b 3) c 4) a 5) c 6) c 7) b 8) c 9) d 10) a 6