READING COMPREHENSION
Reading Assessment I. Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Poetry DIRECTIONSCarefully read the following passage. Use context clues to help define any words with which you are unfamiliar. Pay close attention to the use of figurative language, argument, and tone. Then, on a separate sheet of paper, answer the questions that follow.
COMPREHENSION Directions Answer these questions about the excerpt from Beowulf. 1.Reread lines 1–3. Which lofty ideal do Beowulf’s people expect him to uphold? A.honesty in all situations B.mercy toward his enemies C.charity for the less fortunate D.responsibility toward those in need 2.Which phrase is a kenning for the word sea? A.“blackness of night” (line 8) B.“this noble place” (line 13) C.“hammered / Mail” (lines 38–39) D.“curving waves” (line 49) 3.Beowulf’s boasting in lines 5–11 focuses on his legendary A.fear and need to overcome it Bpride and tendency to exaggerate C.kindness and desire to do good deeds D.hunting skills and belief in fate 4.In lines 11–18, Beowulf identifies the battle with Grendel as one between A.humans and monsters B.intellect and emotion C.life and death D.good and evil 5.What is ironic about Beowulf’s statement in lines 36–37? A.The Danes will not mourn Beowulf. B.Beowulf and his men will survive. C.There will be no corpses if Grendel wins. D.Beowulf does not trust the Danes. 6.In line 45, the alliteration in “begun a bitter feud” helps to A.clarify the meaning of words B.create rhythm and unify ideas C.convey a sensory experience D.explain metaphors and similes WRITTEN RESPONSE Short ResponseWrite three or four sentences to answer this question. 7.In line 41, Beowulf exclaims, “Fate will unwind as it must!” What can you infer about his beliefs from this statement? Extended ResponseWrite two or three paragraphs to answer this question. 8.In lines 19–27, Beowulf says that he, like Grendel, needs no weapons to fight. What can you infer about Beowulf’s character from these lines? DIRECTIONSRead this excerpt from “The Prologue” of The Canterbury Tales and answer the questions that follow.
COMPREHENSION Directions Answer these questions about the excerpt from The Canterbury Tales. 9.Chaucer develops the Squire’s character by A.describing his appearance and talents B.comparing him to other young nobles C.showing other characters’ reactions to him D.relating conversations between characters 10.Reread lines 7–14. Why might it be ironic that the Squire is described as “singing he was, or fluting all the day”? A.The reader assumes that all cadets receive musical instruction as part of their training. B.Chaucer suggests that the Squire is more interested in traveling than in pleasing his lady. C.The reader expects the Squire to be training for battle rather than playing music. D.Chaucer depicts the Squire first as a wild horseman and then as a polite cadet. 11.Reread lines 11–15. The Squire’s style of dress suggests that he is A.youthful and vain B.timid and scholarly C.rugged and unkempt D.strange and mysterious 12.Which one of the Squire’s character traits emerges in lines 21–22? A.bravery B.innocence C.respectfulness D.leadership 13.Chaucer’s gently ironic depiction of the Squire comes from the contrast between the young man’s A.artistic talents and his well-groomed appearance B.occupation as a knight in training and his personal interests C.average height and his impressive athletic abilities D.love of family and his loyalty to his country 14.Which lines in the excerpt characterize the Squire as a well-educated nobleman? A.lines 1–3 B.lines 4–6 C.lines 7–10 D.lines 16–18 WRITTEN RESPONSE Short ResponseWrite three or four sentences to answer this question. 15.List three character traits of the Squire. Cite line references from the excerpt to support your choices. Extended ResponseWrite two or three paragraphs to answer this question. 16.Chaucer compares the Squire to different things in nature. Identify two of these comparisons and explain what they reveal about the Squire. ©2015 arhivinfo.ru Все права принадлежат авторам размещенных материалов.
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