My Own PathI am Black. I am a woman.I’m a legacy and a tapestry.I’m a perfect bouquetthat grew in the pavement,breaking through stone,through glass, silt, and defacement.With the day looming over me,I feel the heat of my need.I am done with subservience,and I’m picking up speed.I walk out the front door with a flourishing swish.I take all that I have,every hunger, hope, and wish.I am the power that I represent.I am absolute, one hundred percent.Each hardship, each roadblock,every wall that seeks to contain memay slow me but will never restrain me.None of it held me, nor will it ever.I do not concede, no not I, no never.I was raised to break ceilings,and I’m dressed to impress.I know that my own path is the absolute best.Let your cold eyes wash over my back,for the chill does not touch mewhen I am on the attack.Only ever a woman and unabashedly Black,I wouldn’t change if I could,because there’s nothing I lack.The history of my familyis burned into my skin,but it only serves as a windowto the beauty within.Where injustice would ring,it will find me waiting.Eager to leave its ugly facepopped, cracked, and deflating.
Read the following stanza from My Own Path.
None of it held me, nor will it ever.
I do not concede, no not I, no never.
I was raised to break ceilings,
and I’m dressed to impress.
I know that my own path is the absolute best.
Which definition BEST describes the meaning of to break ceilings as it is used in this context?
A.
to be confident and powerful
B.
to overcome barriers to advancement
C.
to remodel houses
D.
to fight social injustices
B. to overcome barriers to advancement
Which sentence contains proper punctuation?
A.
The fast, laser printer had my report ready in seconds.
B.
Everyone spent several hours studying for the difficult, algebra test.
C.
The busy, parking lot was filled with cars and trucks.
D.
No one wanted to leave the refreshing, cool pool on such a hot day.
B. Everyone spent several hours studying for the difficult, algebra test.
The sentence below contains two errors in grammar usage. Read the sentence and the question that follows.
Kelsey knew that, after working for days in the hot sun, her garden looked better then it had last year.
Which version of the sentence has been correctly edited for grammar usage?
A.
Due to working for days in the hot sun, Kelsey's garden looked better than it had last year.
B.
Kelsey knew that, after working for days in the hot sun, her garden looked better than it had last year.
C.
After Kelsey had worked for days in the hot sun, she knew her garden looked better than it had last year.
D.
Kelsey knew her garden looked better than it had last year, after she had worked on it for days in the hot sun.
C. After Kelsey had worked for days in the hot sun, she knew her garden looked better than it had last year.
Which word would best fit in the blank in the sentence that follows?
The fire department used water drawn from a __________ to put out the fire.
A.
barometer
B.
hydrant
C.
filter
D.
generator
B. hydrant
What is the use and meaning of the underlined portion of the sentence below?
Kayla rolled her eyes and said, "I have heard this story a thousand times before."
A.
It is a simile comparing the story to something that has been heard many times before.
B.
It is imagery used to show how Kayla feels about having to listen to the story again.
C.
It is a metaphor used to compare Kayla to the story she has heard many times before.
D.
It is a hyperbole to illustrate how the narrator feels about having to listen to the story.
B. It is imagery used to show how Kayla feels about having to listen to the story again.
Read this sentence.
Martina tried to complete the job application, but the form was long and difficult and she did not know the answers to some of the questions.
Which word in this sentence best helps you understand the meaning of application?
A.
complete
B.
form
C.
long
D.
questions