Question

Large black flies the size of acorns buzzed in swarms around our small group and bit hard
wherever they could land. The air was thick and hot in late August, and the breeze had all
but vanished as the sun neared the horizon across the wide expanse of the frigid waters of
Lake Superior. Here in the wilderness of the Porcupine Mountains, in Michigan’s Upper
Peninsula, I truly felt transported to another world, even if the nagging flies made me
sometimes miss the comforts of my home in Milwaukee, a six-hour drive south.
(2) We were four days into a six-day backpacking trip with a group led by my friend Jim, a more
experienced backpacker who had suggested I join his group on their annual trip. I was drawn
to the 87 miles of trails, the scenic views of Lake Superior, and the largest old-growth
northern hardwood forest west of the Adirondack Mountains.
(3) Our campsite was set just inside the line of trees that borders the rocky beach of Lake
Superior. Tempting though it was at the end of a day’s hike to wash off the accumulation of
sweat and trail dirt with a quick plunge in the lake, even a newcomer like myself had learned
a little caution. Though summer was at its height, the water of the greatest of the Great
Lakes still held its glacial cold. The shock of skin slapping ice-cold water was an excruciating
reminder of the lake’s elemental power.
(4) Instead, we contented ourselves that night with enjoying the food and the company, both of
which were sweeter given the day’s long hike and our relative isolation. The crackle of the
evening fire and the chatter of dinner conversation combined to create a soundtrack that
seemed to echo across the lake. Finally, the embers of the fires fading, we each retired to
our tents to rest up for another day’s hike. We were back out on the trail in the morning. The wind had picked up again, providing a
welcome relief from the heat of exertion and a guard against the buzzing flies. We walked
along in twos up another Porcupine mountain, gaining height with each step, and pausing at
the occasional overlook. There is nothing quite like cresting a ridge and seeing through the
trees an endless expanse of water, too calm to be the sea, too tumultuous to be mistaken for
any typical lake. The sun sparkled off the waves, and the rocks along the beach seemed to
glow. It took my breath away.


Which lines present the most vivid impressions of the setting described in the
passage? Choose three that apply.
a. Large black flies the size of acorns buzzed in swarms around our small
group and bit hard wherever they could land. (paragraph 1)
b. The air was thick and hot in late August, and the breeze had all but
vanished as the sun neared the horizon across the wide expanse of the
frigid waters of Lake Superior. (paragraph 1)
c. We were four days into a six-day backpacking trip with a group led by my
friend Jim, a more experienced backpacker who had suggested I join his
group on their annual trip. (paragraph 2)
d. The sun sparkled off the waves, and the rocks along the beach seemed to
glow. (paragraph 5)
e. We were back out on the trail in the morning. (paragraph 5)

Answer 1

a, b, and d

- a and b give strong sensory details (sight, touch, temperature, and atmosphere).
- d provides vivid visual imagery of the lake and shoreline.