For Questions 1–6, read the play excerpt below and answer the questions that follow.
Jaws of the Water
ACT TWO
At rise we see DAD, TINA, and MARK rushing in and out of the living room. Each enters carrying important items—such as sleeping bags, rain gear, and gallons of water—sets them down, and exits. All three come in together, and MOM bursts through the front door.
DAD: Where’s the water now?
MOM: As high as the car’s wheels.
DAD: We’d better go.
MOM: We can’t. The car’s dead.
DAD: What?
MOM: The water is up to the engine; it won’t start.
TINA: Oh, no!
MARK: What can we do?
DAD: I don’t know. (He looks through the window.) It isn’t raining now.
MOM: The water is still rising. The levee must have broken.
TINA: Will we drown?
MARK: Can’t we swim away?
DAD: No! That’s too dangerous. What we need is a boat!
MARK: I wish we had one!
TINA: We’re going to drown!
DAD: (reaching to hug her) No, honey. We’ll just go upstairs. If we have to, we’ll climb onto the roof. (to Mark) Let’s get jugs of water and the camp stove upstairs. I’ll get the canned food out of the basement.
MOM: Be careful! (She smiles and nods as DAD waves a flashlight and exits. MOM turns to MARK and TINA, gripping each child’s shoulder.) Listen to me. None of us is going to be hurt. Do you hear me? No one will be hurt! The worst that will happen is we’ll be cold and wet for a while. (She looks from one to the other.) We’re together, and we’re in our home. We have water and food, and we can climb above the rising water. But just as importantly, we aren’t alone! Other people—our friends and neighbors—are living through this flood with us.
Little by little, everyone will work together to make sure no one is harmed. We’re part of a community. Our family is much larger than just the four of us!
(DAD returns, dripping wet and carrying a box of canned food.)
MARK: Here, let me help you.
1. What is the source of conflict in the play excerpt? (1 point)
The characters are trapped in their home during a flood.
The characters are trying to agree on how to cope with a disaster.
The characters are worried about water and food.
The characters are searching for a member of the family.
2. Why do the stage directions instruct the actor playing Mom to burst through the door and later to grip her children’s shoulders? (1 point)
to show that she is calm about the situation
to communicate her excitement at living through such a thrilling situation
to show that she is able to control the situation
to communicate her worry and the urgency of the situation
3. What do you learn from Mom’s second line of dialogue? (1 point)
The car might be their only way to escape the flood.
The family has no way to escape the flood.
No one is around to help them escape the flood.
She has been looking for a way to escape the flood.
4. Based on what she says, what can you conclude about Tina? (1 point)
She wants to swim to safety.
She is older than Mark.
She has never been in a flood before.
She hates getting wet.
5. One possible theme of this excerpt is “A neighborhood can collaborate in a dangerous situation.” Which of the following quotes from the excerpt best supports this theme? (1 point)
“If we have to, we’ll climb onto the roof.”
“We’re together, and we’re in our home.”
“Our family is much larger than just the four of us!”
“Do you hear me? No one will be hurt!”
Short Answer
Note: Your teacher will grade your response to ensure you receive proper credit for your answer.
6. What can you conclude about Dad’s character from his words and actions? Support your answer with evidence from the play. (5 points)
7. How do Mom’s actions reveal her character? (5 points)
8. What does Mark’s last line of dialogue suggest he has learned from this experience? (5 points)
Multiple Choice
Read the excerpt below and answer the questions that follow.
In all of recent American history, there has been no worse river flooding than what occurred on the Mississippi River between late June and the middle of August in 1993. Record flooding affected communities from Minnesota to Missouri. Iowa and Illinois joined those states as the hardest hammered by the floods. At St. Louis, Missouri, the river crested at 49.6 feet—more than 19 feet above “flood stage.” It was six feet higher than any level that had been recorded before.
Of the 1,300 levees that had been built to contain Mississippi River floods, more than 1,000 failed. Almost 50,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, and more than 70,000 people had to move because of the floods. Damage was estimated to be between 15 and 20 billion dollars. Worst of all, 52 people lost their lives in the great flood of 1993.
9. The author organizes the information in paragraph 2 by (1 point)
listing statistics associated with the flood damage.
comparing and contrasting damage from different floods.
describing how flood damage occurred.
explaining how flood damage could have been prevented.
10. Which sentence from the passage expresses an opinion? (1 point)
In all of recent American history, there has been no worse river flooding than what occurred on the Mississippi River between late June and the middle of August in 1993.
It was six feet higher than any level that had been recorded before.
Damage was estimated to be between 15 and 20 billion dollars.
None of these
11. Which of the following best paraphrases the first sentence of the second paragraph? (1 point)
Mississippians built more than 1,300 levees to contain the river.
More than 1,000 of Mississippi’s 1,300 levees broke during the flood.
No flood has ever caused so much damage to a river’s levees.
Many Midwestern communities were affected when the levees collapsed.
Vocabulary
Multiple Choice
12. An observant person is likely to (1 point)
speak clearly.
notice details.
leave on time.
13. If your friend is being aggravating, he might be (1 point)
talking when you are trying to concentrate.
bringing you a snack when you are studying.
avoiding rehearsal for an upcoming concert.
offering to help you carry your books.
14. What is most likely to collapse? (1 point)
a newly planted garden
a brightly colored umbrella
a freshly baked cake
a poorly built doghouse
15. In which situation is someone likely to feel jubilation? (1 point)
studying before a big test
celebrating at his birthday party
relaxing in a park
cleaning his bedroom
16. Someone who is disgruntled likely feels (1 point)
optimistic.
generous.
depressed.
irritated.
For questions 17–19, refer to the passage below:
Albert Einstein, a world-famous mathematician was born in Bavaria in 1879. He acquired Swiss nationality in 1901 and he began working at the Swiss patent office the next year. Einstein was however also publishing papers in physics. He became famous for his theories of relativity and won the 1921 Nobel Prize for physics. To educate others about his theories Einstein held some teaching positions. These positions were in SwitzerlandPrague and Germany. After Hitler’s rise to power Einstein came to the United States. He lectured at Princeton University in Princeton NJ. This brilliant creative man became a U.S. citizen in 1940.
Directions: Choose the best way to write the underlined words given in the question. If an underlined part contains no error, choose d.
17. was however also (1 point)
was, however, also
was however, also
was, however also
no error
18. Switzerland Prague, (1 point)
Switzerland, Prague,
Switzerland Prague,
Switzerland, Prague
no error
19. power Einstein (1 point)
power Einstein,
power, Einstein,
power, Einstein
no error
For questions 20–22, refer to the passage below:
On February 12 1908 a difficult automobile race was in progress. Six cars left New York for Paris in a route that included the United States, Japan, Russia, Poland, Germany and part of France Met by blizzards and other dangers the racers nevertheless kept on. The German entry reached Paris five months later, and the American entry followed Although the German car came in first, it was given a penalty. As a result of this decision the American car won. The car a Thomas Flyer had gone 13,400 miles in 168 days.
Directions: Choose the best way to write the underlined words given in the question. If an underlined part contains no error, choose d.
20. Germany and part of France (1 point)
Germany, and, part of France.
Germany and, part of France.
Germany, and part of France.
no error
21. followed Although (1 point)
followed, Although
followed. Although
followed. Although,
no error
22. result of this decision (1 point)
result, of this decision,
result, of this decision
result of this decision,
no error
I said I'd check a few of your answers. I checked the first five and only 1 and 4 are right.
Why did post this here? You should know by now that I will not do your tests for you.
I'LL check a few of YOUR answers, though.
HELP MME
help me someone
I checked 17-22, and only 22 was right.
The only way I can help you is to insist that you study, study, study.
1. The correct answer is: The characters are trapped in their home during a flood.
To answer this question, we need to read the dialogue between the characters. They mention that the water is rising, the car won't start because of the water, and they talk about climbing onto the roof. These details indicate that the characters are trapped in their home during a flood.
2. The correct answer is: to communicate her worry and the urgency of the situation.
The stage directions instruct the actor playing Mom to burst through the door and grip her children's shoulders to communicate her worry and the urgency of the situation. These actions show that she is concerned about their safety and wants to convey the seriousness of the flood.
3. The correct answer is: The family has no way to escape the flood.
From Mom's second line of dialogue, we learn that the car won't start because the water is up to the engine. This suggests that the family has no way to escape the flood using the car.
4. The correct answer is: She wants to swim to safety.
Based on Tina's dialogue, "Will we drown? Can't we swim away?" we can conclude that she wants to swim to safety. She expresses concern about drowning and suggests swimming as a possible solution.
5. The correct answer is: "Our family is much larger than just the four of us!"
The quote "Our family is much larger than just the four of us!" best supports the theme of collaboration in a dangerous situation. This quote emphasizes the idea that the family is part of a larger community and that they can work together with their friends and neighbors to overcome the flooding.
Short Answer:
6. From Dad's words and actions, it can be concluded that he is a resourceful and caring character. He suggests going upstairs and climbing onto the roof to stay safe from the flood. He also takes action to gather important supplies like jugs of water, a camp stove, and canned food. This shows that he is proactive in ensuring the family's well-being and is capable of making rational decisions in a time of crisis.
7. Mom's actions reveal her character as someone who is calm and reassuring in a crisis. She bursts through the door to convey the urgency of the situation, but then takes the time to comfort and reassure her children, telling them that they will be safe and reminding them that they are part of a larger community that will support each other. Her actions show that she is a strong and caring presence in the family.
8. Mark's last line of dialogue suggests that he has learned the importance of helping others in a difficult situation. By offering to help Dad carry the box of canned food, Mark demonstrates empathy and a willingness to contribute to the family's collective effort. This implies that he has learned the value of collaboration and supporting each other during challenging times.
9. The author organizes the information in paragraph 2 by listing statistics associated with the flood damage.
10. The sentence "It was six feet higher than any level that had been recorded before" expresses an opinion.
11. The best paraphrase of the first sentence of the second paragraph is "More than 1,000 of Mississippi’s 1,300 levees broke during the flood."
12. An observant person is likely to notice details.
13. If your friend is being aggravating, he might be talking when you are trying to concentrate.
14. A poorly built doghouse is most likely to collapse.
15. Someone is likely to feel jubilation when celebrating at his birthday party.
16. Someone who is disgruntled likely feels irritated.
17. The correct answer is: was, however, also.
18. The correct answer is: Switzerland, Prague.
19. The correct answer is: power, Einstein.
20. The correct answer is: Germany, and part of France.
21. The correct answer is: followed, Although.
22. The correct answer is: result of this decision.
1A
2A
3A
4C
5A
6D
7B
8A
9A
10B
11A
12B
13D
14A
15A
16D
17C
18A
19A
20C
21A
22C