These questions refer to “Richard Bone” from The Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters.
1. What word best describes Bone’s attitude about the deceased people’s friends and relatives?
sincere
sensitive
comical
cynical
2. Who does “they” refer to in line 4?
the historians of Spoon River
the friends/family of the dead
the ghosts of Spoon River
the people who had died
These questions refer to “Fiddler Jones” from The Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters.
3. Contrast the view of Fiddler Jones we get in “The Hill” (lines 29-37) to his epitaph about himself in “Fiddler Jones.” While Jones is satisfied with how he spent his life, how might his wife and family have viewed his life?
They were poor because he fiddled instead of farmed.
They had no regrets because he had no regrets about life.
His family completely supported Jones in his fiddling.
They resented his fiddling because he was never home.
4. Which of the following best contrasts George Gray and Fiddler Jones?
Gray played the piano; Jones played the fiddle.
Gray sought shelter; Jones sought adventure.
Gray is regretful about life; Jones is content.
Gray found meaning in life; Jones found none.
5. What always seemed to prevent Jones from getting his plowing done?
being asked to fiddle for a party
being asked to help a neighbor
being asked to drive to the market
none of the above
6. Which of the following images described in the poem reminded Jones of music?
harvest of clover (line 5)
a pillar of dust (line 11)
crows and robins (line 18)
creak of a windmill (line 19)
all of the above
These questions refer to “Lucinda Matlock” from The Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters.
7. What do the following lines suggest about Lucinda Matlock? “I spun, I wove, I kept the house, I nursed the sick,/ I made the garden, and for holiday/ Rambled over the fields where sang the larks” (lines 10-12)
she resented all of her hard work
she found joy in everyday life and work
she wished she could have more holidays
she regretted not spending time with family
8. Who is Lucinda Matlock addressing when she says “degenerate sons and daughters” (line 20)?
her posterity
modern generation
cynical people
a and b
all of the above
9. What does Lucinda Matlock mean by “It takes life to love Life” (line 21)?
People haven’t lived unless they have endured as many trials as she did.
The more you wish for that you don’t have, the less you will get out of life and living.
Only those who have lived a long life can appreciate having lived at all.
Enduring through sorrows and joys builds an appreciation for life.
These questions refer to Selections from “Where I Lived and What I Lived For” from Walden by Henry David Thoreau.
10. How does Thoreau believe we can best improve our lifestyles?
internalize principles of time management
experience nature to remind us of our priorities
utilize technology fully to save precious time
simplify responsibilities to enjoy every moment
11. In the last two paragraphs, which of the following is not one of the common details in life that Thoreau tells us to ignore or simplify?
fishing
breakfast
dinner
bells
12. What does Thoreau mean when he states, “We do not ride on the railroad; it rides upon us.”
The railroad’s monopoly is oppressing society and hurting the economy.
Society is controlled by its creations rather than controlling its creations.
Society must continue to build railroads in order to strengthen its power.
The railroad is becoming the most powerful influence on society.
13. “Our life is frittered away by details” implies
that life is wasted by focusing too much on the trivial matters
that life passes away too quickly so do not waste it
that we are too detail-oriented as a people and society
that life is too short to waste in fritters and flattery
14. In Thoreau’s discussion of the railroad, he is using the railroad to stand for what?
technology
transportation
simplification
communication
15. Why does Thoreau refuse to read the newspaper?
It is too simplistic.
It is too depressing.
It is too repetitive.
It is too full of lies.
These questions refer to the “Usage Lesson: Quotation Marks” section of this lesson. Mark “correct” if the sentence uses quotation marks correctly; mark “incorrect” if it does not.
16. Billy screamed, “I never want to see you again!”
correct
incorrect
17. To call someone “gay” fifty years ago meant that they were cheerful. Now it means something very different.
correct
incorrect
18. Shelly said “that her favorite song of all time was by Elvis.”
correct
incorrect
These questions refer to the “Word Choice” section of this lesson. You may use a dictionary if you need to.
19. If you wanted a word to describe your unique fear of trampolines, what word best describes that feeling?
hesitation
phobia
anxiety
timidity
20. Your vocabulary should sound natural.
true
false
21. Every new word increases your power.
true
false
22. What is the best way to give energy and pizzazz to your writing?
choose colorful adjectives
use longer words, especially nouns
get rid of small words altogether
employ specific, strong verbs
23. Specific words are not that important if the vague words you used are understandable.
true
false
24. If you were trying to describe the physical appearance of prisoners in the Nazi concentration camps, which of the following words would best capture that picture?
slim
thin
slender
emaciated
25. If you wanted to describe how a police officer was grilling a suspected criminal with questions, which of the following words would be best to express that action?
question
ask
interrogate
26. If you were trying to find a word that described the physical features of the most beautiful woman you’ve ever seen, which of the following would be the best choice.
quite attractive
completely handsome
very graceful
stunningly gorgeous
These questions refer to “The Hill” from The Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters.
27. How does this poem serve as an introduction to the rest of the anthology?
it introduces several people who will be sharing their own epitaphs
it introduces the idea that these people were all familiar with each other
it introduces the idea that these people are all dead and buried
a and b
all of the above
28. What is the speaker’s tone in the poem?
optimistic
fantastic
altruistic
pessimistic
These questions refer to your reading in The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis.
29. What is the “great divorce” the title refers to?
divorce of marriage
divorce of heaven and hell
divorce of good and evil
a and c
b and c
30. How would the “Tousle-Headed Poet” described at the beginning of chapter 2 most likely describe himself?
a leader
a victim
an optimist
a politician
31. What does the light reveal about the people on the bus?
the difficult trials they endured in life
the light reflects their true character
their desire to be better and achieve more
their positive attitudes and personalities
32. In chapter 4, how is it possible that Len, who murdered Jack on earth, was able to become a Bright Person while the Big Ghost, who was “straight” all his life, will not be able to become a Bright Person?
Len was able to seek repentance and forgiveness.
The Big Ghost secretly committed terrible crimes.
The Big Ghost wasn’t treated fairly in the Bright Country.
none of the above.
These questions refer to “George Gray” from The Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters.
33. Which of the following lines from the poem best symbolizes Gray’s life?
“Yet all the while I hungered for meaning in my life” (line 9)
“For love was offered me and I shrank from disillusionment” (line 6)
“It is a boat longing for the sea and yet afraid” (line 16)
“To put meaning in one’s life may end in madness” (line 13)
34. Which of the following emotions was Gray too fearful to pursue?
hunger, meaning, life
truth, love, sorrow
meaning, truth, ambition
love, sorrow, ambition
35. What is the significance of the boat depicted on George Gray’s headstone?
It represents Gray’s occupation as a sail maker.
It represents Gray’s life of unfulfilled desires.
It represents Gray’s skills as a ship’s captain.
It represents Gray’s constant thirst for adventure.
36. How does Gray look back on his life?
with regret
with satisfaction
with compassion
with pleasure
These questions refer to Habit 2 — Begin With the End in Mind from The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven R. Covey.
37. Why is it important to have two creations?
to first develop a specific mental plan before trying to complete the physical creation
to accomplish twice as many goals while putting forth a minimum of effort
to prepare one spiritually and emotionally for the rigors of the physical creation
to fix all mistakes during the second creation that were made in the first creation
38. Why is it important to be a leader first and a manager second?
to ensure everyone is in the right jungle
to enable the managers to do their job
to envision destination and principles
to explain how to lead the company
39. Why does Covey stress the importance of establishing a personal mission statement?
to strengthen one’s definition of self-awareness
to establish the vision and values to direct one’s life
to develop a foundation for becoming proactive
to continue to work on one’s leadership skills
40. Which of the following best illustrates the principle of leadership vs. management?
rules vs. efficiency
purpose vs. values
values vs. rules
control vs. manage
For these questions, choose a synonym for the following vocabulary word. (Remember that a synonym is a word with the same meaning as another word.)
41. aspiration
value
goal
contest
42. invigorate
to energize
to exercise
to capitalize
43. cessation
stopping
obeying
repeating
44. undulation
circular
wavelike
rhythmic
45. perturb
pertain
pervade
disturb
46. perilous
fabulous
monotonous
dangerous
47. rudiment
sentiment
foundation
argument
48. sensuous
sensory
sensitive
sensible
49. paradigm
category
frame
model
50. inordinate
expressive
excessive
expensive
51. metamorphosis
mutate
transfer
transform
52. requiem
epic
sonnet
hymn
……………..Answer Preview……………
These questions refer to “Richard Bone” from The Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters.
- What word best describes Bone’s attitude about the deceased people’s friends and relatives?
*Comical
- Who does “they” refer to in line 4?
*The friends/family of the dead
These questions refer to “Fiddler Jones” from The Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters.
- Contrast the view of Fiddler Jones we get in “The Hill” (lines 29-37) to his epitaph about himself in “Fiddler Jones.” While Jones is satisfied with how he spent his life, how might his wife and family have viewed his life?
*They had no regrets because he…
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