11-12 Grade – Unit 4 Assessment – RI.11-12.10, W.11-12.1, W.11-12.3, SL.11-12.4, SL.11-12.6, L.11-12.3, L.11-12.4a

A student has written a narrative essay. Read the paragraph from her essay and the directions that follow.

My first time traveling abroad was to study Italian in Venice, Italy. Venice is known for its beautiful architecture, brightly colored buildings, historic churches and waters that serve as roads. In fact, water taxis transport people from one area of Venice to the next. However, Venice is probably most famous for its gondola rides.

1. The student needs to add another paragraph. What should the next paragraph cover?

A student has written a narrative essay. Read the essay and the directions that follow.

My older sister once joked that applying for college was like having a part-time job. At least, I thought she was joking. Now that I am a senior in high school, I realize the amount of time that I must dedicate to my college search and application process. Coupled with preparing for my classes and senior activities, this process has taken up a significant amount of time. In addition, I have to make sure that I don’t overextend myself and cause my grades to suffer.

2. What statement best clarifies the problem the author is attempting to solve in the passage?

Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

“Dr. Bauer and I have known each other for many years. In fact, he was the first person I met when I arrived at medical school. And ever since then, it has been a pleasure, a privilege, and an honor to work alongside one of the most intelligent, dynamic, and generous people to ever grace the medical profession. This award here is in recognition of his many contributions to the field of pediatric medicine, of his years of hard work and dedication. And I think I stand alongside everyone else in this room when I say: may there be many more such years to come. Thank you.”

3. Which sentence would best serve as the opening line for this speech at an awards banquet?

4. In which of these contexts would formal English most likely be found?

Read the excerpt from Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson and answer the question that follows.

from Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

He was concealed by this time, behind another tree trunk; but he must have been watching me closely, for as soon as I began to move in his direction he reappeared and took a step to meet me, Then he hesitated, drew back, came forward again and at last, to my wonder and confusion, threw himself on his knees and held out his clasped hands in supplication.

At that I once more stopped.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“Ben Gunn”, he answered, and his voice sounded hoarse and awkward, like a rusty lock, “I’m poor Ben Gunn, I am; and I haven’t spoke with a Christian these three years”.

I could now see that he was a white man like myself, and that his features were even pleasing. His skin, wherever it was exposed, was burnt by the sun; even his lips were black; and his fair eyes looked quite startling in so dark a face.

Of all the beggar-men that I had seen or fancied, he was the chief for raggedness. He was clothed with tatters of old ship’s canvas and old sea cloth; and this extraordinary patchwork was all held together by a system of the most various and incongruous fastenings. Brass buttons, bits of stick, and loops of tarry gaskin. About his waist he wore an old brass-buckled leather belt, which was the one thing solid in his whole accoutrement.

“Three year!” I cried. “Were you shipwrecked?”

“Nay mate,” said he- “marooned”.

I had heard the word, and I knew it stood for a horrible kind of punishment common enough among the buccaneers, in which the offender is put ashore with a little powder and shot and left behind on some desolate and distant island.

5. What is the meaning of the word supplication, appearing at the end of the first paragraph?

Read the excerpt from Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson and answer the question that follows.

from Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

He was concealed by this time, behind another tree trunk; but he must have been watching me closely, for as soon as I began to move in his direction he reappeared and took a step to meet me, Then he hesitated, drew back, came forward again and at last, to my wonder and confusion, threw himself on his knees and held out his clasped hands in supplication.

At that I once more stopped.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“Ben Gunn”, he answered, and his voice sounded hoarse and awkward, like a rusty lock, “I’m poor Ben Gunn, I am; and I haven’t spoke with a Christian these three years”.

I could now see that he was a white man like myself, and that his features were even pleasing. His skin, wherever it was exposed, was burnt by the sun; even his lips were black; and his fair eyes looked quite startling in so dark a face.

Of all the beggar-men that I had seen or fancied, he was the chief for raggedness. He was clothed with tatters of old ship’s canvas and old sea cloth; and this extraordinary patchwork was all held together by a system of the most various and incongruous fastenings. Brass buttons, bits of stick, and loops of tarry gaskin. About his waist he wore an old brass-buckled leather belt, which was the one thing solid in his whole accoutrement.

“Three year!” I cried. “Were you shipwrecked?”

“Nay mate,” said he- “marooned”.

I had heard the word, and I knew it stood for a horrible kind of punishment common enough among the buccaneers, in which the offender is put ashore with a little powder and shot and left behind on some desolate and distant island.

6. What is the meaning of the word incongruous, appearing in line 14?

A student has written a letter to her state representative. Read the letter and the directions that follow.

Dear Representative Charliene Thomas:

I am amazed by some of the awesome things that you have done since taking office last year. Our state deserves more committed and honest representatives. In the past, there has been too much scandal and corruption which is one of the reasons why I am writing you. I majorly need a summer job. In fact, most of my friends do, too. There are more teenagers looking for jobs than there are jobs. This would help us to stay focused until the next school year starts.

I really hope that you can help us out. We will definitely tell our parents how cool you are and as soon as I turn eighteen, I will vote for you.

Sincerely,

Addison Mathemens

7. True or False: The writer’s tone is appropriate for her task and for her audience

A student has written a claim for her paper. Read her claim and the direction that follows.

Claim: The United States federal government should substantially increase its funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

8. What evidence would most likely support this student’s claim?

Read the following excerpt from “I Have a Dream” by Martin Luther King and answer the question that follows.

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of “interposition” and “nullification” — one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

9. What is the effect of repetition in the passage? Select all that apply.

Read the following sentences and the direction that follows.

The pretentious celebrity answered the new reporter’s questions with short, abrasive answers. As the interview proceeded, she clearly expressed her displeasure and annoyance with the questions being asked.

10.  What does the word pretentious mean?

You have been working on the first draft of your semester paper for English for the last three weeks. You submitted your draft to your teacher and are now reviewing her comments. There is a lot of positive feedback, but she did leave you a revision note that reads, “For improved flow and clarity, you’ll need to work on your synthesis in this section.”

11. Which of the following edits would address your teacher’s concerns about synthesis?

Read the following excerpt from an informational text and directions that follow.

“CCTV: Friend or Foe” by Edward Larson  

Closed Circuit TV (CCTV)  is becoming very popular in Europe and in some urban cities across America. CCTVs are cameras that are strategically placed so that they capture the movements and actions of the people being surveyed. Whereas some people see these as an infringement on their privacy, others embrace them as a form of law enforcement that help to keep people safe.

Recently, they have proven to be instrumental in some high profile crime cases. The cameras have been used to identify and eventually capture criminals. Whether you agree with using CCTVs or not, they are a growing part of our society’s sense of safety.

12. True or False: Like literary texts, informational texts often revolve around characters.

You are preparing for a presentation for your speech class. Your topic is the tragic flaw in literature

13. Which question should you first ask when preparing your presentation?