Question
87] THE CLERK: Our orders from the Minister of Munitions is to use gas instead of coal, because it saves
material. Which is it to be?
[88] AUGUSTUS: [bawling furiously at him] Both! Don't criticize your orders: obey them. Yours not to reason
why: yours but to do and die. That's war. [Cooling down.] Have you anything else to say?
[89] THE CLERK: Yes: I want a rise.
[90] AUGUSTUS: [reeling against the table in his horror] A rise! Horatio Floyd Beamish, do you know that
we are at war?
[91] THE CLERK: [feebly ironical] I have noticed something about it in the papers. Heard you mention it
once or twice, now I come to think of it.
[92] AUGUSTUS: Our gallant fellows are dying in the trenches; and you want a rise!
[93] THE CLERK: What are they dying for? To keep me alive, ain't it? Well, what's the good of that if I'm
dead of hunger by the time they come back?
[94] AUGUSTUS: Everybody else is making sacrifices without a thought of self; and you—
[95] THE CLERK: Not half, they ain't. Where's the baker's sacrifice? Where's the coal merchant's? Where's
the butcher's? Charging me double: that's how they sacrifice themselves. Well, I want to sacrifice myself that
way too. Just double next Saturday: double and not a penny less; or no secretary for you [he stiffens himself
shakily, and makes resolutely for the door.]
[...]
1 Which dramatic convention is most evident in Augustus’s reaction to the clerk’s request for a
raise in line 90?
A. Soliloquy
B. Aside
C. Satire
D. Dialogue
2 Which lines best support the conclusion that the clerk is critical of the war and its effects on
society? Select TWO correct answers.
Line 87
Line 91
Line 92
Line 93
Line 95
3 This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
Part A
Based on the information in lines 90-95, the character of the clerk can best be described as:
A. Loyal and patriotic
B. Frustrated and sarcastic
C. Fearful and submissive
D. Optimistic and hopeful
4 Part B
Which quotation from the text best supports the answer to Part A?
A. A rise! Horatio Floyd Beamish, do you know that we are at war? (line 90)
B. Everybody else is making sacrifices without a thought of self; and you— (line 94)
C. Heard you mention it once or twice, now I come to think of it. (line 91)
D. What are they dying for? To keep me alive, ain't it? (line 93)
5 How can the reader infer that war and economic hardship impact Augustus and the clerk's
relationship, and what does this suggest about their differing views on sacrifice and survival?
Support your answer with evidence from the text.
material. Which is it to be?
[88] AUGUSTUS: [bawling furiously at him] Both! Don't criticize your orders: obey them. Yours not to reason
why: yours but to do and die. That's war. [Cooling down.] Have you anything else to say?
[89] THE CLERK: Yes: I want a rise.
[90] AUGUSTUS: [reeling against the table in his horror] A rise! Horatio Floyd Beamish, do you know that
we are at war?
[91] THE CLERK: [feebly ironical] I have noticed something about it in the papers. Heard you mention it
once or twice, now I come to think of it.
[92] AUGUSTUS: Our gallant fellows are dying in the trenches; and you want a rise!
[93] THE CLERK: What are they dying for? To keep me alive, ain't it? Well, what's the good of that if I'm
dead of hunger by the time they come back?
[94] AUGUSTUS: Everybody else is making sacrifices without a thought of self; and you—
[95] THE CLERK: Not half, they ain't. Where's the baker's sacrifice? Where's the coal merchant's? Where's
the butcher's? Charging me double: that's how they sacrifice themselves. Well, I want to sacrifice myself that
way too. Just double next Saturday: double and not a penny less; or no secretary for you [he stiffens himself
shakily, and makes resolutely for the door.]
[...]
1 Which dramatic convention is most evident in Augustus’s reaction to the clerk’s request for a
raise in line 90?
A. Soliloquy
B. Aside
C. Satire
D. Dialogue
2 Which lines best support the conclusion that the clerk is critical of the war and its effects on
society? Select TWO correct answers.
Line 87
Line 91
Line 92
Line 93
Line 95
3 This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
Part A
Based on the information in lines 90-95, the character of the clerk can best be described as:
A. Loyal and patriotic
B. Frustrated and sarcastic
C. Fearful and submissive
D. Optimistic and hopeful
4 Part B
Which quotation from the text best supports the answer to Part A?
A. A rise! Horatio Floyd Beamish, do you know that we are at war? (line 90)
B. Everybody else is making sacrifices without a thought of self; and you— (line 94)
C. Heard you mention it once or twice, now I come to think of it. (line 91)
D. What are they dying for? To keep me alive, ain't it? (line 93)
5 How can the reader infer that war and economic hardship impact Augustus and the clerk's
relationship, and what does this suggest about their differing views on sacrifice and survival?
Support your answer with evidence from the text.
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
1. The dramatic convention most evident in Augustus’s reaction to the clerk’s request for a raise in line 90 is:
**D. Dialogue.**
Augustus's reaction is part of the ongoing conversation between him and the clerk, illustrating the tension and conflict in their perspectives.
2. The lines that best support the conclusion that the clerk is critical of the war and its effects on society are:
**Line 93:** "What are they dying for? To keep me alive, ain't it? Well, what's the good of that if I'm dead of hunger by the time they come back?"
**Line 95:** "Not half, they ain't. Where's the baker's sacrifice? Where's the coal merchant's? Where's the butcher's? Charging me double: that's how they sacrifice themselves."
These lines express the clerk's criticism of the war's impact on individuals who are suffering economically.
3. Part A: Based on the information in lines 90-95, the character of the clerk can best be described as:
**B. Frustrated and sarcastic.**
The clerk's tone and content reveal his frustration with the lack of understanding regarding his financial struggles, as well as his sarcastic remarks about the war.
4. Part B: The quotation from the text that best supports the answer to Part A is:
**D. What are they dying for? To keep me alive, ain't it? (line 93)**
This line illustrates the clerk's frustration and sarcasm, highlighting his struggle for survival in the face of war.
5. The reader can infer that war and economic hardship impact Augustus and the clerk's relationship through their conflicting views on sacrifice and survival. Augustus is portrayed as embodying a sense of duty and patriotism, emphasizing that sacrifices must be made without question. In contrast, the clerk's perspective is shaped by the immediate threat of hunger and financial instability, leading him to demand a raise amidst the war. For example, when the clerk says, "What are they dying for? To keep me alive, ain't it? Well, what's the good of that if I'm dead of hunger by the time they come back?" he reveals his critical view of the war's justification, prioritizing survival over patriotic sacrifice. This clash of priorities suggests a deepening rift in their values: Augustus is focused on the broader social duty, while the clerk grapples with personal survival in the wake of the war's economic repercussions.
**D. Dialogue.**
Augustus's reaction is part of the ongoing conversation between him and the clerk, illustrating the tension and conflict in their perspectives.
2. The lines that best support the conclusion that the clerk is critical of the war and its effects on society are:
**Line 93:** "What are they dying for? To keep me alive, ain't it? Well, what's the good of that if I'm dead of hunger by the time they come back?"
**Line 95:** "Not half, they ain't. Where's the baker's sacrifice? Where's the coal merchant's? Where's the butcher's? Charging me double: that's how they sacrifice themselves."
These lines express the clerk's criticism of the war's impact on individuals who are suffering economically.
3. Part A: Based on the information in lines 90-95, the character of the clerk can best be described as:
**B. Frustrated and sarcastic.**
The clerk's tone and content reveal his frustration with the lack of understanding regarding his financial struggles, as well as his sarcastic remarks about the war.
4. Part B: The quotation from the text that best supports the answer to Part A is:
**D. What are they dying for? To keep me alive, ain't it? (line 93)**
This line illustrates the clerk's frustration and sarcasm, highlighting his struggle for survival in the face of war.
5. The reader can infer that war and economic hardship impact Augustus and the clerk's relationship through their conflicting views on sacrifice and survival. Augustus is portrayed as embodying a sense of duty and patriotism, emphasizing that sacrifices must be made without question. In contrast, the clerk's perspective is shaped by the immediate threat of hunger and financial instability, leading him to demand a raise amidst the war. For example, when the clerk says, "What are they dying for? To keep me alive, ain't it? Well, what's the good of that if I'm dead of hunger by the time they come back?" he reveals his critical view of the war's justification, prioritizing survival over patriotic sacrifice. This clash of priorities suggests a deepening rift in their values: Augustus is focused on the broader social duty, while the clerk grapples with personal survival in the wake of the war's economic repercussions.