A)
Multiple Choice
Choose the letter of the word or phrase that best matches the word in italics for questions 1–3.
I’m fond of autumn in the countryside—it’s so serene.
(1 point)
beautiful
brisk
peaceful
vibrant
peaceful
being correct at all times
opened up
insistent - not giving up
menacing - threatening
bleak - hopeless; depressing
lithe - graceful; agile
prestigious - highly respected
Give him an alibi in court
an adult who had a disabled brother
how to float on one's back
turning ten years old
a fourteen-year-old African American girl.
sing the Negro National Anthem
slowly and deliberately in secret
able to be felt
the Taliban.
A)
The student's sense of infallibility did not win him many friends.
(1 point)
being mean for protection
being correct at all times
having an open-minded approach
having strong strategic skills
A)
Choose the answer that best matches the word in italics.
The visitor unfurled the quilt she had brought with her and began to talk about its history.
(1 point)
pointed at
pulled on
unboxed
opened up
A) Match each word to its definition. (2 points)
hopeless; depressing
threatening
not giving up
highly respected
graceful; agile
insistent menacing bleak lithe prestigious
A)
Multiple Choice
"My Brother's Keeper"
Choose the best answer for questions 9–10.
Where does the short story “My Brother’s Keeper” begin?
(1 point)
in the courtroom
at Uncle Harry's house
in Ted's fantasy
on a fishing trip
A)
What is it Ted wants Jamie to do for him?
(1 point)
Give him an alibi in court
Forge some documents
Borrow money from Uncle Harry
Go out with his old girlfriend
A)
"The Scarlet Ibis"
Choose the best answer for questions 11–12.
The narrator of the story is _________
(1 point)
a young boy with a disability.
a young girl with a disabled brother.
a parent of a disabled child.
an adult who had a disabled brother
A)
The scarlet ibis lands on a __________ in the narrator’s backyard.
(1 point)
bleeding tree
cypress tree
lilac bush
wheelchair
A)
Poems of Passage: Booth, Collins, Lorde
Choose the best answer for questions 13–15.
What is the “first lesson” described in the poem by this name?
(1 point)
how to float on one's back
how to do the backstroke
how to tread water when one is tired
how to identify the stars out at sea
A)
What does this speaker in "On Turning Ten" believe is “the beginning of sadness”?
(1 point)
putting away his bicycle for the winter
saying good-bye to old friends in the neighborhood
learning that someone in his family is ill
turning ten years old
A)
The speaker in the poem “Hanging Fire” is ____
(1 point)
a fourteen-year-old African American girl.
a ten-year-old white boy.
an immigrant girl who is homeless.
the mother of a fourteen year old in trouble
A)
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Choose the best answer for question 16.
Henry Reed inspires the audience at the graduation ceremony to ____.
(1 point)
ask the invited white speakers to leave
stand up and shout down the invited speakers
sing the Negro National Anthem
walk out of the auditorium in silent protest
A)
Choose the word or phrase that best matches the word in italics for questions 17–18.
They're killing us stealthily.
(1 point)
out in the open
guiltlessly
by majority rule
slowly and deliberately in secret
A)
The ugliness they left was palpable.
(1 point)
able to be felt
strange
hurtful
imagined
A)
"My Forbidden Face"
Choose the best answer for question 19.
The fundamentalist Muslims who took power in Afghanistan at the time of the essay were known as ____
(1 point)
the Taliban.
the Sharia.
the Afghani freedom fighters.
the Revolutionary Guard.
I'm sorry, but I'm unable to provide the link to access the English Essay Rubric as I'm a language AI model and don't have browsing capabilities. However, I can help you with describing some of the rites of passage and the traits that help individuals to survive and learn from their experiences in the literature mentioned.
In "The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant," the protagonist experiences a rite of passage as he navigates the complexities of adolescence and learns about personal priorities. The trait that helps him survive and learn is introspection and self-reflection.
In "Oranges," the young boy experiences a rite of passage as he goes on a date for the first time. The trait that helps him is innocence and the ability to appreciate small moments of joy.
In I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou's entire memoir can be seen as a series of rites of passage as she confronts racism, trauma, and personal growth. The traits that help her are resilience, determination, and the power of her voice.
In "First Lesson," the speaker learns the rite of passage of floating on their back in water. The traits that help them are trust, patience, and the willingness to learn from others.
In "On Turning Ten," the speaker experiences the rite of passage of growing older and becoming more aware of time and mortality. The traits that help are introspection, reflection, and the ability to find solace in nostalgic memories.
In "Hanging Fire," the young girl experiences the rite of passage of grappling with teenage anxieties and uncertainties. The traits that help are resilience, resilience, and seeking guidance and understanding from others.
In My Forbidden Face, Latifa's entire memoir is a rite of passage as she navigates life under the oppressive Taliban regime in Afghanistan. The traits that help her are bravery, resilience, and a strong sense of agency.
In "The Scarlet Ibis," the older brother experiences a rite of passage as he confronts guilt and regret after the tragic death of his younger brother. The trait that helps him is empathy and understanding the consequences of his actions.
In "My Brother's Keeper," the narrator experiences a rite of passage as he grapples with loyalty, guilt, and morality. The traits that help him are introspection, empathy, and the willingness to take responsibility for his choices.
These stories highlight various rites of passage and the different traits that aid individuals in surviving and learning from their experiences. Each character's journey is unique, but they all exemplify the power of resilience, self-reflection, empathy, and personal growth.
on a fishing trip
cypress tree
A)
Note: Your teacher will grade your response to ensure that you receive proper credit for your answer.
Think about the rites of passage that individuals confront in the following literature:
"The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant" by W.D. Wetherell
"Oranges" by Gary Soto
from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
"First Lesson" by Phillip Booth
"On Turning Ten" by Billy Collins
"Hanging Fire" by Audre Lorde
from My Forbidden Face by Latifa
"The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst
"My Brother's Keeper" by Jay Bennett
Describe some of these rites and the traits that help the individuals to survive and learn from their experiences.
Select the link to access the English Essay Rubric.