Passage 1

Question

Read "Richard Nixon's Resignation Speech" by President Richard M. Nixon prior to answering the following questions.
Question 1
What is Nixon's MAIN purpose in writing and giving this speech? (1 point)
Responses

To encourage the American public to support President Ford.
To encourage the American public to support President Ford.

To solidify his legacy as a statesman for peace rather than as a corrupt politician.
To solidify his legacy as a statesman for peace rather than as a corrupt politician.

To announce his resignation and admit his guilt in order for redemption.
To announce his resignation and admit his guilt in order for redemption.

To defend his innocence and clear his name without facing consequences.
To defend his innocence and clear his name without facing consequences.
Question 2
What does the word "abhorrent" as used in paragraph 6 mean? (1 point)
Responses

saddening
saddening

accepted
accepted

untrustworthy
untrustworthy

repellant
repellant
Question 3
PART A: Which TWO of the following best identify the central ideas of this speech? (2 points)
Responses

Nixon admits he did do some things wrong but deserves less critical scrutiny because he only did them in the best interest of the American people.
Nixon admits he did do some things wrong but deserves less critical scrutiny because he only did them in the best interest of the American people.

Nixon is resigning in order to avoid impeachment, which would tarnish his image.
Nixon is resigning in order to avoid impeachment, which would tarnish his image.

America will come to regret its focus on Nixon's corruption instead of his foreign diplomacy skills as America faces a world-wide nuclear proliferation crisis.
America will come to regret its focus on Nixon's corruption instead of his foreign diplomacy skills as America faces a world-wide nuclear proliferation crisis.

While Nixon is resigning amid scandal, he does not have any regrets because he only acted in America's best interest.
While Nixon is resigning amid scandal, he does not have any regrets because he only acted in America's best interest.

Getting caught up in scandals prevents actual political progress from occurring.
Getting caught up in scandals prevents actual political progress from occurring.

While Nixon's administration achieved major peace milestones, in order to protect those milestones the Ford Administration must continue to address important issues.
While Nixon's administration achieved major peace milestones, in order to protect those milestones the Ford Administration must continue to address important issues.
Question 4
PART B: Which TWO phrases from the text best support the answers to Part A? (2 points)
Responses

"To continue to fight through the months ahead for my personal vindication would almost totally absorb the time and attention of both the President and the Congress in a period when our entire focus should be on the great issues of peace abroad and prosperity without inflation at home." (Paragraph 7)
"To continue to fight through the months ahead for my personal vindication would almost totally absorb the time and attention of both the President and the Congress in a period when our entire focus should be on the great issues of peace abroad and prosperity without inflation at home." (Paragraph 7)

"I would say only that if some of my judgments were wrong -- and some were wrong -- they were made in what I believed at the time to be the best interests of the nation." (Paragraph 12)
"I would say only that if some of my judgments were wrong -- and some were wrong -- they were made in what I believed at the time to be the best interests of the nation." (Paragraph 12)

"And to those who have not felt able to give me your support, let me say I leave with no bitterness toward those who have opposed me," (Paragraph 13)
"And to those who have not felt able to give me your support, let me say I leave with no bitterness toward those who have opposed me," (Paragraph 13)

"They have been a time of achievement in which we can all be proud, achievements that represent the shared efforts of the administration, the Congress and the people. But the challenges ahead are equally great." (Paragraph 14)
"They have been a time of achievement in which we can all be proud, achievements that represent the shared efforts of the administration, the Congress and the people. But the challenges ahead are equally great." (Paragraph 14)

"We must keep as our goal turning away from production for war and expanding production for peace so that people everywhere on this earth can at last look forward, in their children's time, if not in our own time, to having the necessities for a decent life." (Paragraph 18)
"We must keep as our goal turning away from production for war and expanding production for peace so that people everywhere on this earth can at last look forward, in their children's time, if not in our own time, to having the necessities for a decent life." (Paragraph 18)

"There is one cause above all to which I have been devoted and to which I shall always be devoted for as long as I live." (Paragraph 22)
"There is one cause above all to which I have been devoted and to which I shall always be devoted for as long as I live." (Paragraph 22)
Question 5
What statement best describes how Nixon responds to his enemies? (1 point)
Responses

He will forgive them so long as they support President Ford in fighting back communism.
He will forgive them so long as they support President Ford in fighting back communism.

He will not be bitter towards them because they were punished by their own foolishness.
He will not be bitter towards them because they were punished by their own foolishness.

He will not be bitter towards them because they wanted what was best for Americans.
He will not be bitter towards them because they wanted what was best for Americans.

He will forgive them for their errors so that America can heal.
He will forgive them for their errors so that America can heal.
Passage 2
Read "Hurricane" by Mary Oliver prior to answering the following questions.
Question 6
Which statement best describes the theme of the poem? (1 point)
Responses

There is a correct time and an incorrect time for everything to occur.
There is a correct time and an incorrect time for everything to occur.

It is hard to predict when bad things will happen.
It is hard to predict when bad things will happen.

It is understandable to be afraid of natural disasters.
It is understandable to be afraid of natural disasters.

Humans can learn from the perseverance of the natural world.
Humans can learn from the perseverance of the natural world.
Question 7
The poet most likely repeats the words "The back of the hand to everything" to — (1 point)
Responses

show how both the actual hurricane and the metaphorical hurricane were similarly destructive.
show how both the actual hurricane and the metaphorical hurricane were similarly destructive.

express a feeling of surprise about the way the speaker's life turned out differently than expected.
express a feeling of surprise about the way the speaker's life turned out differently than expected.

demonstrate the way that the trees and the speaker both found ways to fight back.
demonstrate the way that the trees and the speaker both found ways to fight back.

describe how events in nature are cyclical and often repeat throughout history.
describe how events in nature are cyclical and often repeat throughout history.
Question 8
The lines "But listen now to what happened / to the actual trees" (Lines 17-18) suggest the speaker — (1 point)
Responses

wants to shift the reader's attention to something unexpected.
wants to shift the reader's attention to something unexpected.

remembers something new and wants to share it with the reader.
remembers something new and wants to share it with the reader.

thinks that the reader is neglecting what the speaker is saying.
thinks that the reader is neglecting what the speaker is saying.

hopes the reader understands the difference between their experience and the trees.
hopes the reader understands the difference between their experience and the trees.
Question 9
How does the theme of the poem develop through the final lines of the poem (Lines 21-27)? (1 point)
Responses

The theme of isolation is emphasized as the speaker reflects on the loneliness left in the storm’s wake.
The theme of isolation is emphasized as the speaker reflects on the loneliness left in the storm’s wake.

The poem's theme of destruction is reinforced as the speaker mourns the irreversible loss caused by the storm.
The poem's theme of destruction is reinforced as the speaker mourns the irreversible loss caused by the storm.

The theme of resilience emerges as nature begins to rebuild, showing the cycle of destruction and renewal.
The theme of resilience emerges as nature begins to rebuild, showing the cycle of destruction and renewal.

The theme of fear intensifies as the speaker describes the lingering dread of future storms.
The theme of fear intensifies as the speaker describes the lingering dread of future storms.

Answer 1

Here are the suggested answers based on your passages:

Passage 1

Question 1: What is Nixon's MAIN purpose in writing and giving this speech?
Response: To announce his resignation and admit his guilt in order for redemption.

Question 2: What does the word "abhorrent" as used in paragraph 6 mean?
Response: repellant

Question 3: PART A: Which TWO of the following best identify the central ideas of this speech?
Responses:

1. Nixon is resigning in order to avoid impeachment, which would tarnish his image.
2. While Nixon is resigning amid scandal, he does not have any regrets because he only acted in America's best interest.

Question 4: PART B: Which TWO phrases from the text best support the answers to Part A?
Responses:

1. "To continue to fight through the months ahead for my personal vindication would almost totally absorb the time and attention of both the President and the Congress in a period when our entire focus should be on the great issues of peace abroad and prosperity without inflation at home." (Paragraph 7)
2. "I would say only that if some of my judgments were wrong -- and some were wrong -- they were made in what I believed at the time to be the best interests of the nation." (Paragraph 12)

Question 5: What statement best describes how Nixon responds to his enemies?
Response: He will not be bitter towards them because they were punished by their own foolishness.

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Passage 2

Question 6: Which statement best describes the theme of the poem?
Response: Humans can learn from the perseverance of the natural world.

Question 7: The poet most likely repeats the words "The back of the hand to everything" to –
Response: show how both the actual hurricane and the metaphorical hurricane were similarly destructive.

Question 8: The lines "But listen now to what happened / to the actual trees" (Lines 17-18) suggest the speaker –
Response: wants to shift the reader's attention to something unexpected.

Question 9: How does the theme of the poem develop through the final lines of the poem (Lines 21-27)?
Response: The theme of resilience emerges as nature begins to rebuild, showing the cycle of destruction and renewal.

Feel free to adjust any choices based on your interpretation of the texts.