Question

Read the sentence from "How We Entered World War I."

The belief in our safe isolation was reinforced by Wilson, who, bent on pursuing the New Freedom through domestic reform, was irritated by the threatened interference with his program from over seas.

Based on the author's word choice, which statement best explains what the author is suggesting in this sentence?
The phrase "safe isolation" supports the belief that Wilson was doing the right thing by staying out of the war.
The use of the word "irritated" indicates that Wilson was not a strong supporter of the war.
The phrase "bent on pursuing" suggests Wilson was unaware of the looming war.
The phrase "threatened interference” indicates that Wilson was able to intimidate Germany by threatening to enter the war. 2Which sentence contains parallel structure?
Mekhi was finally finished with his chemistry homework.
Mekhi finished his chemistry homework before basketball practice.
Mekhi spent three hours finishing his chemistry homework.
Mekhi finished his chemistry homework and then finished his essay. 3Read the excerpt from "The Yellow Wallpaper."

If a physician of high standing, and one’s own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one but temporary nervous depression—a slight hysterical tendency—what is one to do?
My brother is also a physician, and also of high standing, and he says the same thing.
So I take phosphates or phosphites—whichever it is, and tonics, and journeys, and air, and exercise, and am absolutely forbidden to “work” until I am well again.

What does the narrator’s description reveal about the social context of the story?
Women were able to make their own decisions about working.
Doctors were believed to be unquestionably all-knowing.
Husbands were reluctant to take doctors’ advice.
Wives were considered to be less fragile than husbands. 4Read the poem “Roses,” by George Eliot.

You love the roses—so do I. I wish
The sky would rain down roses, as they rain
From off the shaken bush. Why will it not?
Then all the valley would be pink and white
And soft to tread on. They would fall as light
As feathers, smelling sweet; and it would be
Like sleeping and like waking, all at once!

What is the main style difference between “Roses” and "Night"?
“Roses” uses a more modern form.
“Night” uses a rhyme scheme.
“Night” uses trochaic pentameter.
“Roses” uses iambic pentameter. 5Read the excerpt from "The Lady Maid's Bell."
Then he turned his back on me, and went on talking to his wife; and I knew what that meant, too. I was not the kind of morsel he was after. The typhoid had served me well enough in one way: it kept that kind of gentleman at arm’s-length.
What does the narrator mean when she refers to Mr. Brympton as “that kind of gentleman”?
She does not trust Mr. Brympton.
She believes Mr. Brympton to be impatient.
She thinks Mr. Brympton is too critical.
She does not think Mr. Brympton is handsome.

Answer 1

1) The phrase "safe isolation" supports the belief that Wilson was doing the right thing by staying out of the war.
- The sentence shows Wilson focused on domestic reform and annoyed that overseas events might interfere, which reinforced the idea of staying safely isolated.

2) Mekhi finished his chemistry homework and then finished his essay.
- This sentence uses parallel verb phrases (finished ... and finished ...).

3) Doctors were believed to be unquestionably all-knowing.
- The narrator accepts physicians’ diagnoses (her husband and brother are “of high standing”) and follows their orders, showing social deference to doctors.

4) “Night” uses a rhyme scheme.
- The main stylistic contrast given by the choices is that “Night” follows a regular rhyme pattern, while “Roses” is more irregular in form.

5) She does not trust Mr. Brympton.
- Calling him “that kind of gentleman” and saying typhoid kept him at arm’s-length implies he’s the sort of man she distrusts or wishes to avoid.