11th Grade ELA – Pre-test Assessment 6 Copy

1. Question

Part A

The passage begins with the narrator’s description of Akakiy as someone whose arrival in the department no one can remember. How does this description contribute to the passage as a whole?

A. It highlights the incompetence of the other workers in Akakiy’s department.
B. It casts doubt on the sympathy that some of Akakiy’s colleagues appear to show him.
C. It calls into question the motives of the people who hired Akakiy.
D. It establishes the lack of connection between Akakiy and his colleagues.

2. Question

Part B

Which quotation from the passage has the same effect as the description referred to in Part A?

A. “The porter not only did not rise from his seat when he passed, but never even glanced at him, any more than if a fly had flown through the reception-room.” (paragraph 1)
B. “And he took it, looking only at the paper, and not observing who handed it to him, or whether he had the right to do so; simply took it, and set about copying it.” (paragraph 1)
C. “. . . one young man, a new comer, who, taking pattern by the others, had permitted himself to make sport of Akakiy, suddenly stopped short, as though all about him had undergone a transformation, and presented itself in a different aspect.” (paragraph 2)
D. “It is not enough to say that Akakiy laboured with zeal: no, he laboured with love.” (paragraph 3)

3. Question

Part A

In paragraph 1, the author describes behavior that “is customary amongst well-bred officials.” How is this description important to the passage as a whole?

A. It explains the narrator’s beliefs about the way Akakiy’s colleagues should treat each other.
B. It suggests the extent to which Akakiy has failed to perform well in his position.
C. It hints at the ways in which Akakiy believes his situation to be worse than it is.
D. It magnifies the isolation and humiliation that characterize Akakiy’s situation.

4. Question

Part B

Which quotation has the most similar effect to that of the answer to Part A in how it contributes to the passage?

A. “When and how he entered the department, and who appointed him, no one could remember. However much the directors and chiefs of all kinds were changed, he was always to be seen in the same place, the same attitude, the same occupation; so that it was afterwards affirmed that he had been born in undress uniform with a bald head.” (paragraph 1)
B. “The young officials laughed at and made fun of him, so far as their official wit permitted; told in his presence various stories concocted about him, and about his landlady, an old woman of seventy; declared that she beat him; asked when the wedding was to be; and strewed bits of paper over his head, calling them snow. But Akakiy Akakievitch answered not a word, any more than if there had been no one there besides himself.” (paragraph 2)
C. “Enjoyment was written on his face: some letters were even favourites with him; and when he encountered these, he smiled, winked, and worked with his lips, till it seemed as though each letter might be read in his face, as his pen traced it. If his pay had been in proportion to his zeal, he would, perhaps, to his great surprise, have been made even a councillor of state.” (paragraph 3)
D. “So he was ordered to make a report of an already concluded affair, to another department: the duty consisting simply in changing the heading, and altering a few words from the first to the third person. This caused him so much toil, that he broke into a perspiration, rubbed his forehead, and finally said, ‘No, give me rather something to copy.’ After that they let him copy on forever.” (paragraph 4)

5. Question

Part A

In paragraph 2, how is the introduction of the “young man, a new comer” important to the passage as a whole?

A. It allows the narrator to provide a broader commentary on what Akakiy’s mistreatment shows about people’s behavior.
B. It permits insight into the motivations Akakiy’s colleagues have for teasing him so mercilessly.
C. It suggests that the reader needs to view the events of the story from Akakiy’s perspective.
D. It provides insight into Akakiy’s thoughts that is not otherwise available.

6. Question

Part B

Which quotation from paragraph 2 most directly supports the answer to Part A?

A. “But Akakiy Akakievitch answered not a word, any more than if there had been no one there besides himself.”
B. “. . . amid all these annoyances he never made a single mistake in a letter.”
C. “Some unseen force repelled him from the comrades whose acquaintance he had made, on the supposition that they were well-bred and polite men.”
D. “. . . many a time afterwards, in the course of his life, shuddered at seeing how much inhumanity there is in man, how much savage coarseness is concealed beneath delicate, refined worldliness . . .”

7. Question

Part A

As used in paragraph 3, what does the word zeal suggest about Akakiy?

A. He is a good-natured worker.
B. He executes his work with precision.
C. He takes pains to indicate to others that he is working.
D. He is extremely passionate about his work.

8. Question

Part B

Which quotation from paragraph 3 best illustrates the meaning of the word zeal as it is used in the paragraph?

A. “. . . he found a varied and agreeable employment.”
B. “Enjoyment was written on his face . . .”
C. “. . . to his great surprise . . .”
D. “. . . have been made even a councillor of state.”

9. Question

Part A

How does the description of Akakiy throughout paragraph 2 add to the development of Akakiy’s character?

A. It reveals his concerns beyond the workplace but shows he has no opportunity to deal with these concerns.
B. It reveals his physical troubles and shows how these troubles have impacted his ability to work.
C. It reveals his potential for advancement as a worker but shows he has no desire for advancement.
D. It reveals his true feelings about his work and shows why he does not feel comfortable expressing these feelings.

10. Question

Part B

Which pair of quotations from paragraphs 2 and 3 best supports the answer to Part A?

A. “It would be difficult to find another man who lived so entirely for his duties.” / “This caused him so much toil, that he broke into a perspiration, rubbed his forehead, and finally said, ‘No, give me rather something to copy.’”
B. “. . . it seemed as though each letter might be read in his face, as his pen traced it.” / “One director being a kindly man, and desirous of rewarding him for his long service, ordered him to be given something more important than mere copying.”
C. “If his pay had been in proportion to his zeal, he would, perhaps, to his great surprise, have been made even a councillor of state.” / “. . . it is impossible to say that no attention was paid to him.”
D. “It is not enough to say that Akakiy laboured with zeal . . .” / “After that they let him copy on forever.”

11th Grade ELA – Pre-test Assessment 6 Copy

Justice August 19, 2017