Question

Read the excerpt below, and then answer the questions that follow.

Background: This excerpt from Bullfinch's Mythology tells part of the tale of Jason and the Golden Fleece. King Phelias has ordered Jason to obtain the Golden Fleece. In the land of Colchis, Jason marries Medea, a sorceress and daughter of the king, Aeetes. Aeetes owns the Golden Fleece and promises it to Jason if he plows a field with fire-breathing oxen, sows a field with dragon teeth, and defeats the sleepless dragon that guards the Golden Fleece.

The brazen-footed bulls rushed in, breathing fire from their nostrils that burned up the herbage as they passed.

The sound was like the roar of a furnace, and the smoke like that of water upon quick-lime. Jason advanced boldly to meet them. His friends, the chosen heroes of Greece, trembled to behold him. Regardless of the burning breath, he soothed their rage with his voice, patted their necks with fearless hand, and adroitly slipped over them the yoke, and compelled them to drag the plough. The Colchians were amazed; the Greeks shouted for joy. Jason next proceeded to sow the dragon's teeth and plough them in. And soon the crop of armed men sprang up, and, wonderful to relate! No sooner had they reached the surface than they began to brandish their weapons and rush upon Jason. The Greeks trembled for their hero, and even she who had provided him a way of safety and taught him how to use it, Medea herself, grew pale with fear. Jason for a time kept his assailants at bay with his sword and shield, till, finding their numbers overwhelming, he resorted to the charm which Medea had taught him, seized a stone and threw it in the midst of his foes. They immediately turned their arms against one another, and soon there was not one of the dragon's brood left alive. The Greeks embraced their hero, and Medea, if she dared, would have embraced him too.
It remained to lull to sleep the dragon that guarded the fleece, and this was done by scattering over him a few drops of a preparation which Medea had supplied. At the smell he relaxed his rage, stood for a moment motionless, then shut those great round eyes, that had never been known to shut before, and turned over on his side, fast asleep. Jason seized the fleece and with his friends and Medea accompanying, hastened to their vessel before Aeetes the king could arrest their departure, and made the best of their way back to Thessaly, where they arrived safe, and Jason delivered the fleece to Pelias, and dedicated the "Argo" to Neptune.

#1. The story of Jason, as shown in this excerpt and based on its similarity to a text called The Odyssey, is most likely classified as-
A. a drama
B. an epic
C. a short story
D. a narrative

#2. Which detail from the excerpt best justifies your answer for #1?
A. Jason tames the bull, and the conflict is resolved at the end.
B. Jason faces a series of difficult tasks, and the text has mythological elements.
C. No one really knows who wrote about Jason and the Argonauts.
D. Jason married Medea and never cheated on her.

#3. Which characteristic does Jason most clearly display in this excerpt that is similar to that of Odysseus?
A. charm
B. arrogance
C. bravery
D. obedience

#4. Which detail below best supports your answer for #3?
A. "They immediately turned their arms against one another."
B. "Jason advanced boldly to meet the men."
C. "Jason delivered the fleece to Pelias and dedicated the Argo to Neptune."
D. "...before the Kind Aeetes could arrest their departure."

#5. Both this excerpt and The Odyssey begin "in medias res. "What does it mean to start a story in medias res?
A. The story begins entirely with dialogue.
B. The story begins with a poetic prologue.
C. The story begins in the middle with the action already underway.
D. The story begins at the final resolution and then goes back in time to show how the whole story unfolded.

#6. If this story contained a flashback to get readers caught up like The Odyssey did, what information would it most likely provide?
A. A timeline of Greek history
B. Details from Medea's childhood
C. Stories of Jason's earlier feats and how he got to this point
D. The meaning of symbols in Greek mythology

#7. To which episode of The Odyssey is Jason's story the most similar?
A. Circe's Island
B. Laestrygonia
C. Land of the Dead
D. The Cyclops

#8. In The Odyssey, Odysseus told the Phaeacians that what he did on his journeys wasn't wrong because he
A. was just a simple soldier and didn't have leadership experience
B. didn't have all the tools he needed to do things the right way
C. didn't consent in his heart
D. didn't know where he was going

#9. Which of these characters considered Odysseus highly favorable?
A. Zeus
B. Circe
C. Poseidon
D. Athena

Answer 1

#1. The story of Jason, as shown in this excerpt and based on its similarity to a text called The Odyssey, is most likely classified as-
**B. an epic**

#2. Which detail from the excerpt best justifies your answer for #1?
**B. Jason faces a series of difficult tasks, and the text has mythological elements.**

#3. Which characteristic does Jason most clearly display in this excerpt that is similar to that of Odysseus?
**C. bravery**

#4. Which detail below best supports your answer for #3?
**B. "Jason advanced boldly to meet the men."**

#5. Both this excerpt and The Odyssey begin "in medias res." What does it mean to start a story in medias res?
**C. The story begins in the middle with the action already underway.**

#6. If this story contained a flashback to get readers caught up like The Odyssey did, what information would it most likely provide?
**C. Stories of Jason's earlier feats and how he got to this point**

#7. To which episode of The Odyssey is Jason's story the most similar?
**A. Circe's Island** (Both involve encountering powerful beings and require clever strategies, navigating challenges, and magical elements.)

#8. In The Odyssey, Odysseus told the Phaeacians that what he did on his journeys wasn't wrong because he
**C. didn't consent in his heart**

#9. Which of these characters considered Odysseus highly favorable?
**D. Athena**