Which excerpt from "The Adventure of the Mysterious Picture" conveys the eerie tone of the passage?
As I heard the wind moan among the trees, I caught a reflection of this accursed visage in the pane of glass, as though it were staring through the window at me.
I stood against the far wall of the shabby lobby avoiding eye contact with the doorman as my dad checked us in for the night. We'd hoped to make it as far as Scranton, but the weather had interfered, leaving us instead at an eyesore of a truck-stop motel. My ear buds were jammed in as far as comfort would allow in a vain attempt to block out the motel's vibe. Still, I could not ignore the looming presence of the doorman. He stood in the dim portico, sweeping and re-sweeping a pile of lint on the floor, watching the parking lot with his watery eyes, and occasionally signaling to the whiskered clerk behind the desk.What technique does the author use to build suspense in the excerpt?
Odd characters are introduced.
The young docent welcomed the class to the museum, explaining that the east wing was under construction and he'd be leading them to the first exhibit. His fingers leapt to his name tag as he nervously introduced himself as "Liam, a student of the arts." Then he bade the group follow him. They traversed a vaulted hall lined with hulking objects, each one obscured by a faded tarpaulin. Some of the items stretched across the floor, others cast long shadows on the museum walls.What technique does the author use to build suspense in the excerpt?
intentionally omitting setting details
I descended the steps to the cellar, reminding myself that the smell of dirt was not to be feared. The earthen walls shone with moisture, and the rows of jarred fruit gleamed. I loathed these errands and doubted my ability to discern a peach from a pear in the dim light. I held a jar inches from my eyes and concluded it was some undesirable green—beans or peas—to be retrieved at a later date. As I mused, something crept stealthily from the shadows, and pounced unexpectedly from the summer's stash.Which best describes the tone of the excerpt?
uncertain
I began to undress, but in spite of every effort I could not keep myself from stealing a glance every now and then at the picture; and a glance was now sufficient to distress me. Even when my back was turned to it, the idea of this strange face behind me, peering over my shoulder, was insufferable. I threw off my clothes and hurried into bed; but still this visage gazed upon me.What effect does the tone of the excerpt have on the reader?
It produces shivers down the spine, or a feeling of unease.
They had laughed at the shabbiness of the hotel. "Oh well," they'd said, "we aren't going to spend any time inside." And they had not. They'd spent the day and evening sightseeing and had not retreated to their rooms until they were spent. Now Ana appraised her modest accommodations, remembering how the window in her room had amused her friends, as it offered a view of a brick wall not six inches away. "You get what you pay for!" they'd exclaimed, closing the heavy curtains.The window captured Ana's attention again. As she readied for bed, she heard a persistent tapping coming from outside. Ana reasoned with herself, reminded herself that only small bird or bug in distress could fit in such a space. The tapping suggested otherwise, and she turned to investigate.How does the excerpt exemplify the ideas King describes in "Danse Macabre"?
It allows readers to approach a "forbidden door.
From the porch, the cabin looked as quaint and rustic as the website had promised. I hoisted my duffel to my hip, unlocked the door with the key I'd been sent, and stepped into the warm air of the mountain home. The floorboards creaked a welcome as I investigated. I admired the piney living room, noting the stone hearth and the dappled afternoon light on the walls. Then I made my way toward the sole bedroom at the end of the hall. I glanced at the eyelet bedcover, the mantle clock, and the antique mirror. Wait. I glanced again at the mirror and impulsively brushed my hair from my eyes, balking at the coloring of the wayward wisps. How could it be? My hand touched my skin—the image I faced was a much older version of myself. I backed away, watching my wrinkled face retreat. I tripped on the doorjamb, stubbed my toe on an errant nail, and nearly toppled over my own luggage as I lunged for the door.What technique does the author use to build suspense in the excerpt?
quickening the pace of the story
I thanked her again for the cake, and quietly retreated from the porch. A blast of air conditioning assailed me as I reentered our home and closed the summer heat behind me. Placing the cake on the table with the others, I noted its carefully scalloped frosting with mounting sadness. Clutching the doorjamb, I suppressed a sob. The reality of our loss would wait.Which words from the excerpt convey the tone?
clutching" and "suppressed
After two hours of a tedious cinematic production, the dim aisle lights flickered back on. Having endured scenes of fake gore and the phony distress of deficient actors, I stood to leave with a measure of relief. I would breathe easy in the open air, away from the greasy odors and the sniffling man whose cough had noisily barked over the on-screen dialogue. My steps slowed as the queue of exiting patrons jammed the aisles. Then the sliver of light from the exit door went dark. The theater was briefly silent, and I heard the unmistakable sound of a deadbolt locking.What technique does the author use to build suspense in the excerpt?
The outcome of events becomes uncertain.
The Sonoran Desert route was his favorite. His friends were surprised he could endure the solitude of it, but he cherished the barren miles. Today he'd passed a mile of verbena in full bloom, followed by ten miles with nothing but sagebrush. The next leg promised cliffs, and he loved to imagine scaling them as he traversed the desolate highway. In fact, one was rising in the distance, and the highway would bear right around it. He looked down to cool the temperature, looked up again, and stared. The grill of a tractor trailer, in his lane, was bearing down upon him.How does the excerpt exemplify the ideas King describes in "Danse Macabre"?
It forces readers to "grapple" with their own mortality.
Certain it is, that, some fifteen or twenty years after the settlement of the town, the wooden jail was already marked with weather-stains and other indications of age, which gave a yet darker aspect to its beetle-browed and gloomy front. The rust on the ponderous iron-work of its oaken door looked more antique than any thing else in the new world.The author most likely include the words "darker aspect," "beetle-browed," "gloomy," and "ponderous" in order to
impart a melancholy mood.
This woman has brought shame upon us all, and ought to die. Is there not law for it? Truly there is, both in the Scripture and the statute-book. Then let the magistrates, who have made it of no effect, thank themselves if their own wives and daughters go astray!"What part of the plot does this excerpt reveal?
It is part of the rising action that reveals public sentiment toward Hester.
In accordance with this rule, it may safely be assumed that the forefathers of Boston had built the first prison-house, somewhere in the vicinity of Cornhill, almost as seasonably as they marked out the first burial-ground, on Isaac Johnson's lot, and round about his grave, which subsequently became the nucleus of all the congregated sepulchres in the old church-yard of King's Chapel.What is the meaning of this excerpt?
The prison and cemetery were built early, with the cemetery expanding in size from its original plot.
Goodwives," said a hard-featured dame of fifty, "I'll tell ye a piece of my mind. It would be greatly for the public behoof, if we women, being of mature age and church-members in good repute, should have the handling of such malefactresses as this Hester Prynne. What think ye, gossips? If the hussy stood up for judgment before us five, that are now here in a knot together, would she come off with such a sentence as the worshipful magistrates have awarded?"What is the meaning of this excerpt?
The speaker believes that she and her peers ought to be in charge of assigning sentences in cases like Hester's.
Finding it so directly on the threshold of our narrative, which is now about to issue from that inauspicious portal, we could hardly do otherwise than pluck one of its flowers and present it to the reader.What is the meaning of the word "inauspicious"?
unfavorable, boding ill
A throng of bearded men, in sad-colored garments and gray, steeple-crowned hats, intermixed with women, some wearing hoods, and others bareheaded, was assembled in front of a wooden edifice, the door of which was heavily timbered with oak, and studded with iron spikes.Which best describes the effect of the words "sad-colored," "steeple-crowned," and "iron spikes"?
They establish the austere Puritan setting.
Which event described in chapter 1 of The Scarlet Letter involves the narrator?
The narrator offers the reader a rose.
Which event described in chapter 2 of The Scarlet Letter occurs after Hester appears in front of the crowd?
Onlookers react to Hester's embroidered letter.
The door of the jail being flung open from within, there appeared, in the first place, like a black shadow emerging into sunshine, the grim and grisly presence of the town-beadle, with a sword by his side and his staff of office in his hand.Which best describes the purpose of the words "black shadow," "grim," "grisly," and "sword"?
to impart a solemn mood
Which event described in chapter 2 of The Scarlet Letter occurs after Hester leaves the jail?
Young children run heedlessly before Hester to the scaffold.
Based on Hawthorne's description in Chapter 4 of The Scarlet Letter, which word best describes the man who takes the name of Roger Chillingworth?
shrewd
In Chapter 3 of The Scarlet Letter, which best describes the magistracy's main goal with respect to the punishment it delivers to Hester Prynne for her crime?
public humiliation and ostracism
Even if I imagine a scheme of vengeance, what could I do better for my object than to let thee live,—than to give thee medicines against all harm and peril of life,—so that this burning shame may still blaze upon they bosom?"—As he spoke, he laid his long forefinger on the scarlet letter, which forthwith seemed to scorch into Hester's breast, as if it had been red-hot. He noticed her involuntary gesture, and smiled.What does the excerpt reveal about Roger Chillingworth?
He has no intention of truly alleviating Hester's suffering.
In Chapter 4 of The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne and the majority of the settlers see themselves as _______ than the American Indian population.
more civilized
Which excerpt from Chapter 3 of The Scarlet Letter is the best evidence that the stranger in the marketplace wants to keep his true identity a secret?
When he found the eyes of Hester Prynne fastened on his own, and saw that she appeared to recognize him, he slowly and calmly raised his finger, made a gesture with it in the air, and laid it on his lips.
In Chapter 3 of The Scarlet Letter, how does the magistracy's act of marking Hester Prynne with a scarlet letter serve to maintain its power in the community?
People in the community fear becoming similarly shamed.
Based on Chapter 3 of The Scarlet Letter, what do the circumstances of Hester Prynne's life reveal about the time period in which she lives?
A woman was considered to be the property of her husband.
The young pastor's voice was tremulously sweet, rich, deep, and broken. The feeling that it so evidently manifested, rather than the direct purport of the words, caused it to vibrate within all hearts, and brought listeners into one accord of sympathy.Based on the excerpt, which best explains why Mr. Dimmesdale's speech to Hester Prynne is so moving to the audience?
There is a depth of intense emotion underlying the words Mr. Dimmesdale speaks, as if he cannot control the feelings he is experiencing.
In Chapter 3 of The Scarlet Letter, what does Hester Prynne mean when she states, "It is too deeply branded. Ye cannot take it off," with respect to the scarlet letter on her breast?
Hester means that she has already been marked with shame for life whether she wears the letter or not.
She had borne, that morning, all that nature could endure; and as her temperament was not of the order that escapes from too intense suffering by a swoon, her spirit could only shelter itself beneath a stony crust of insensibility, while the faculties of animal life remained entire.Which character trait of Hester Prynne does Hawthorne develop in this excerpt from the chapter?
inner strength
Nor a word he spoke; nor did his officers say aught to him; though by all their minutest gestures and expressions, they plainly showed the uneasy, if not painful, consciousness of being under a troubled master-eye.Which best describes the theme Melville develops in this excerpt?
the inherent danger of a leader who exhibits signs of madness
It was one of those less lowering, but still grey and gloomy enough mornings of the transition, when with a fair wind the ship was rushing through the water with a vindictive sort of leaping and melancholy rapidity, that as I mounted to the deck at the call of the forenoon watch, so soon as I leveled my glance towards the taffrail, foreboding shivers ran over me. Reality outran apprehension; Captain Ahab stood upon his quarter-deck.Which of the novel's themes is best developed in this excerpt from Chapter 28 of Moby Dick?
man's inability to alter fate
Which best describes another comparison that Melville could have used to symbolize the rigid and unalterable character of Ahab in Chapter 28 of Moby-Dick?
a stone monument
Which best explains Melville's reason for describing how the sight of Ahab causes "foreboding shivers" in the narrator at the beginning of Chapter 28 of Moby-Dick?
Melville is building a mood of suspense.
Which best explains the symbolism behind Melville's use of the word "brand" to describe the scar on Ahab's body in Chapter 28 of Moby-Dick?
The source of Ahab's scar now owns him.
Which best explains how Melville uses his description of Ahab in Chapter 28 of Moby-Dick to comment on the nature of man?
Through Ahab, Melville symbolizes how obsession can take over a man's life.
What in the world are you going to do now, Jo?" asked Meg one snowyafternoon, as her sister came tramping through the hall, in rubberboots, old sack, and hood, with a broom in one hand and a shovel in theother."Going out for exercise," answered Jo with a mischievous twinkle in hereyes."I should think two long walks this morning would have been enough!It's cold and dull out, and I advise you to stay warm and dry by thefire, as I do," said Meg with a shiver."Never take advice! Can't keep still all day, and not being apussycat, I don't like to doze by the fire. I like adventures, and I'mgoing to find some."Which best explains why Alcott begins the chapter with one character asking another character a question?
to stimulate the reader's desire to understand a character's motives
It resembled that perpendicular seam sometimes made in the straight, lofty trunk of a great tree, when the upper lightning tearingly darts down it, and without wrenching a single twig, peels and grooves out the bark from top to bottom, ere running off into the soil, leaving the tree still greenly alive, but branded.Melville's description of Ahab's scar in this excerpt best develops which theme in the novel?
the ruling of man's present by his past wounds
Which best explains why Melville refers to Captain Ahab as "supreme lord and dictator" in the first paragraph of Chapter 28 of Moby-Dick?
to show that Captain Ahab is the only decision maker on board the ship
Which excerpt from Chapter 28 of Moby-Dick best develops the theme of the novel concerning man's insistence on manufacturing his own destruction.
And not only that, but moody stricken Ahab stood before them with a crucifixion in his face; in all the nameless regal overbearing dignity of some mighty woe.
I dared not -- oh, pity me, miserable wretch that I am! -- I dared not -- I dared not speak! We have put her living in the tomb! Said I not that my senses were acute? I now tell you that I heard her first feeble movements in the hollow coffin. I heard them -- many, many days ago -- yet I dare not -- I dared not speak! What is the effect of parallelism in this excerpt?
It emphasizes Usher's sense of terror.
I looked upon the scene before me -- upon the mere house, and the simple landscape features of the domain -- upon the blank walls -- upon the vacant eye-like windows -- upon a few rank sedges -- and upon a few white trunks of decayed trees -- with an utter depression of soul.What is the effect of parallelism in this excerpt?
It emphasizes the sizeable burden imposed by the summons.
[S]he succumbed (as her brother told me at night with inexpressible agitation) to the prostrating power of the destroyer; and I learned that the glimpse I had obtained of her person would thus probably be the last I should obtain -- that the lady, at least while living, would be seen by me no more. How does this excerpt provide information about the narrator of the story?
It provides an inference drawn by the narrator.
During the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens, I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of country; and at length found myself, as the shades of evening drew on, within view of the melancholy House of Usher.Which best describes the mood created by the narration in this excerpt?
gloomy and bleak
Will she not be here anon? Is she not hurrying to upbraid me for my haste? Have I not heard her footstep on the stair? Do I not distinguish that heavy and horrible beating of her heart? What is the effect of parallelism in this excerpt?
It emphasizes Usher's psychological fixation.
For several days ensuing, her name was unmentioned by either Usher or myself: and during this period I was busied in earnest endeavours to alleviate the melancholy of my friend.What does this excerpt reveal about the narrator of the story?
It describes what the narrator experiences in the story.
But it could have been neither the execution of the work, nor the immortal beauty of the countenance, which had so suddenly and so vehemently moved me. Least of all, could it have been that my fancy, shaken from its half slumber, had mistaken the head for that of a living person. I saw at once that the peculiarities of the design, of the vignetting, and of the frame, must have instantly dispelled such idea—must have prevented even its momentary entertainment.What is the effect of parallelism in this excerpt?
It emphasizes the narrator's denial.
His ordinary occupations were neglected or forgotten. He roamed from chamber to chamber with hurried, unequal, an objectless step. The pallor of his countenance had assumed, if possible, a more ghastly hue -- but the luminousness of his eye had utterly gone out.Which statement best describes the effect of the narration on the story?
The narration suggests Usher's mental decline after his sister's death.
I talked more quickly—more vehemently; but the noise steadily increased. I arose and argued about trifles, in a high key and with violent gesticulations; but the noise steadily increased. Why would they not be gone? I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the observations of the men?—but the noise steadily increased.What is the effect of parallelism in this excerpt?
It emphasizes the narrator's paranoia.
Although, as boys, we had been even intimate associates, yet I really knew very little of my friend. His reserve had been always excessive and habitual.What does this excerpt reveal about the narrator of the story?
It describes what the narrator knows from his past.
antisocial: opposing a social normWhat is the prefix of antisocial?
anti
When programming a universal remote, it is important to follow the step-by-step instructions. If the instructions are not followed, the remote will not program properly. Once all of the steps are followed appropriately, the remote will work, and the user will be grateful that the gadget was purchased. What is the writer trying to accomplish in this paragraph?
persuade consumers to abide by the universal remote's instructions
A job application would most likely use what type of language?
formal
How is a root word used to understand a text?
It provides the foundation for a word's meaning.
egomania: excessive preoccupation with oneselfWhat is the root word in egomania?
ego
conclusion: the last partWhat is the root word of conclusion?
clus
I grimaced as I walked into my apartment and recognized the familiar smell of my roommate's cooking. Which of the following is the connotation of the word "smell" in this sentence?
stench
The coded log book proved decipherable with the help of a few simple equations.Based on the suffix, -able, what does the word "decipherable" mean?
able to be understood
As the boy grew to be a teenager, he became more defiant with his mother. Based on the suffix, -ant, what does the word "defiant" mean?
The boy began to disobey his mother.
Novels, poetry, and drama are all genres, or types, of literature. These genres can reveal important insights about human nature, as well as protest injustices in the world or make social criticisms. The authors of literary pieces use characters, setting, and plot to analyze themes such as love, maturity, and death. The author's use of vocabulary in this passage helps to _____ literature.
inform the reader about
What two elements does a thesis statement need to contain?
the topic and the writer's viewpoint
Write a persuasive essay about an environmental issue that could be addressed to our town council members. Your idea should propose a student-led initiative that impacts our community.Who is the intended audience for this writing assignment?
local government officials
[WOL] doing my chores, I also had to type my essay. Which transitional word would best complete the sentence?
In addition to
Which is the most effective topic for a compare-and-contrast essay?
The Most Effective Campaign Advertisements
Which is the most effective topic for a compare-and-contrast essay?
Varied Messages from Class Presidential Candidates
Which is the most effective topic for a compare-and-contrast essay?
Toy Commercials of Yesterday and Today
Identify the best thesis statement below.
Public schools should require students to wear uniforms because it will help eliminate bullying.
Students who are commited to the team should mark their calendars, because there is a mandatory equipment check this Friday.What word from the draft is misspelled?
commited
Marina is responding to a writing prompt, and she decides to write an essay about the influence of rock music on American culture. This is the essay's
topic.
Choose the group of sentences that best demonstrates sentence fluency.
First, I went to the park with my neighbor. Soon after, my hands got dirty in the sand pit; however, everything was okay because I had so much fun.
Based on Chapter 4 of The Scarlet Letter, what biased view do Hester Prynne and most of her fellow settlers hold of themselves in relation to the Native American population in the area?
They see themselves as more civilized.
Never, sayest thou?" rejoined he with a smile of dark and self-relying intelligence.What trait of Roger Chillingworth does Hawthorne develop in this sentence?
Chillingworth's sinister motivations
[WOL] the man was only twenty-five years old, he looked twenty years older due to excessive sun exposure. Which transitional word would best complete the sentence?
Although
He looked like the darkly engraved portraits which we see prefixed to old volumes of sermons; and had no more right than one of those portraits would have, to step forth, as he now did, and meddle with a question of human guilt, passion, and anguish.Which trait of Reverend Mr. Wilson does Hawthorne develop in this excerpt from the chapter?
arrogance
Which statement is the best thesis for a compare-and-contrast essay?
Though both posters use graphic images, the poster with the mother's advice presents a more compelling message.
I coveted the [WOL] of jeans I saw in the store window. Determine the correct homophone.
pair
Which statement is the best thesis for a compare-and-contrast essay?
Both ads effectively convey the candidates' names and political parties, but the ad with citizen testimonials is the most convincing.
It was no great distance, in those days, from the prison-door to the market-place. Measured by the prisoner's experience, however, it might be reckoned a journey of some length; for, haughty as her demeanour was, she perchance underwent an agony from every footstep of those that thronged to see her, as if her heart had been flung into the street for them all to spurn and trample upon.What is the meaning of this excerpt?
The walk from prison to scaffolding seemed a long and treacherous journey to Hester.
Length multiplied by width equals the square footage of a room. If the room is L-shaped, you can break the space down into several different squares or rectangles. You may want to measure in inches to figure out the total square inches. Then divide that by 144 to figure out the total square footage.This passage is most appropriate for
students learning architectural design.
Mark Twain is a pseudonym for the writer's legal name, Samuel L. Clemens.Based on the prefix, pseudo-, what does the word "pseudonym" mean?
fake name
The apartment house had a communal attic rarely visited by its tenants. The labeled boxes and cast-off furniture offered little intrigue, so few explored its depths. Then one rainy afternoon, I ventured there seeking solitude. Roaming beyond the beams of the lone ceiling bulb, I spied only cobwebs until I rounded the corner of a hulking armoire. Beyond this antique was unrelenting shadow, but I willed myself to advance. Then a grim bellow of thunder resounded, sending me to the floor. Prostrate on the splintered beams, my hands felt a shaft of cold steel and I could but imagine the evil article I'd encountered.What technique does the author use to build suspense in the excerpt?
The word choice darkens the tone.
Which event described in chapter 1 of The Scarlet Letter takes place before the story begins?
The Puritans erect a jail.
In Chapter 3 of The Scarlet Letter, how does Hawthorne show that Master Dimmesdale is uncomfortable with the public aspect of his profession?
He describes Master Dimmesdale as someone who is most at ease in seclusion, not mingling outwardly among other people.
Having fallen out of the nest, the bird was insensible at first, but then flew off.To decipher the meaning of the word insensible, break the word into
the prefix in-, the root sens, and the suffix -ible.
The cave had offered a greater challenge than the group expected. This was not a tourist's cavern, and there was no stopping to photograph stalagmites—far from it. Each spelunker wore a headlamp, and each had gone so far as to belly crawl through a tight fissure at the urging of their guide. Riya had kept up all afternoon, ignoring her aching legs and the shadows of abundant bats. And now she awaited her turn to walk, legs splayed, across a yawning crevice. Even Old Dot had done it; she could hear the group clapping for her across the darkness. Finding footholds on the left and right, she advanced—one foot, then the other. Reaching ambitiously for jutting rock beyond her grasp, she heard a sickly crumble below and began to fall.How does the excerpt exemplify the ideas King describes in "Danse Macabre"?
It forces readers to "grapple" with their own mortality.