This passage is from a 2018 novel. Evan and his partner, Nicole, are Anishinaabe and live in an Indigenous community in Canada known as a reserve. Evan has just returned home from hunting for food. (1) 'You hungry?' Nicole asked. (2) 'Yeah, I just noticed,' Evan replied. (3) 'Well, I put a plate in the fridge for you. (4) You just gotta throw it in the microwave. (5) You're lucky the kids saved you some.' (6) She nudged him toward the fridge, and he took out the plate. (7) His stomach growled as he waited for the meal to heat up. (8) Evan Whitesky and Nicole McCloud had been in each other's lives since childhood. (9) He could trace the path of his own life by his signpost memories of her, and she could do the same. (10) He remembered the first time he saw her, swimming at the lake the summer before kindergarten began. (11) She wore a light blue bathing suit and her wet hair was tied into a long ponytail. (12) Her older sister Danielle was watching her. (13) Nicole was smiling and laughing. (14) They crossed paths again on their first day of kindergarten. (15) She still teased him about the awkward outfit he wore that day: baggy overalls and a red T-shirt with fading yellow cartoon characters on the front and a bowl haircut that made his head look big. (16) He was shy and didn't talk much most of the morning, and shortly before the school day broke at noon, he cried for his mother. (17) He went home with wet cheeks and a runny nose. (18) Being somewhat unacquainted at such a young age was unusual in a community as small as theirs. (19) Their parents knew one another but weren't close friends or relatives—his mom and her dad both came from different reserves in the South. (20) Basically, they weren't cousins, and that perhaps destined them to bond as curious friends in elementary school and become a couple by high school. (21) Innocent attraction became intense passion and, despite a year apart when Nicole went to college in the South, it eventually evolved into the loving partnership that bore two beautiful young children. (22) The eldest, Maiingan, was five and had school in the morning. (23) Three-year-old Nangohns was still at home with Nicole. (24) The kids were what pushed Evan through the bush on the hunt. (25) Feeding them always motivated him to see the task through. (26) The microwave beeps interrupted his thoughts and he pulled open the door to grab his plate, sitting down across from Nicole, who'd come to the table to join him.
What is a central theme of the passage?
- A. No two people are likely to recall the same event in the same way.
- B. One person can have a profound effect on another person's life.
- C. Individuals can endure great obstacles by working together for a common purpose.
- D. The lives of most adults differ greatly from the futures they'd imagined as children.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
Option B highlights the profound impact one person can have on another's life, which is a central theme of the passage. This theme emphasizes the interconnectedness of human experiences and relationships, illustrating how individuals can inspire or change each other. Option A, while relevant, focuses on subjective memory rather than the transformative power of relationships. Option C discusses teamwork and shared goals, which may be present but does not capture the essence of individual influence. Option D reflects on the disparity between childhood dreams and adult realities, which, although poignant, diverges from the primary theme of personal impact and connection.
Option B highlights the profound impact one person can have on another's life, which is a central theme of the passage. This theme emphasizes the interconnectedness of human experiences and relationships, illustrating how individuals can inspire or change each other. Option A, while relevant, focuses on subjective memory rather than the transformative power of relationships. Option C discusses teamwork and shared goals, which may be present but does not capture the essence of individual influence. Option D reflects on the disparity between childhood dreams and adult realities, which, although poignant, diverges from the primary theme of personal impact and connection.
Other Related Questions
Which choice best describes the passage's overall structure?
- A. It shifts from a domestic setting to an outdoor setting, then back to a domestic setting.
- B. It shifts from a lighthearted situation to a serious situation, then back to a lighthearted situation.
- C. It shifts from the characters' present to their past, then back to the characters' present.
- D. It shifts from one character's perspective to another's, then back to the first character's perspective.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
The passage effectively transitions between the characters' present experiences and their past memories, allowing readers to understand their motivations and growth. This structure enhances character development and emotional depth. Option A is incorrect as it suggests a shift in physical settings rather than temporal ones. Option B misrepresents the tone of the passage; while there may be moments of levity, the primary focus is on the characters' reflections. Option D incorrectly emphasizes perspective shifts; the passage primarily centers on time rather than viewpoint changes. Thus, the movement between present and past is the key structural element.
The passage effectively transitions between the characters' present experiences and their past memories, allowing readers to understand their motivations and growth. This structure enhances character development and emotional depth. Option A is incorrect as it suggests a shift in physical settings rather than temporal ones. Option B misrepresents the tone of the passage; while there may be moments of levity, the primary focus is on the characters' reflections. Option D incorrectly emphasizes perspective shifts; the passage primarily centers on time rather than viewpoint changes. Thus, the movement between present and past is the key structural element.
Which of the following, if true, would best serve to challenge Ogburn and Thomas’s belief that the discovery of calculus is an example of the 'phenomenon' mentioned in the first sentence?
- A. Uncovering the existence of a journal that Newton kept while working with calculus
- B. Learning that scientists other than Newton and Leibniz had also made substantial progress on calculus
- C. Finding a previously unknown letter between Newton and Leibniz discussing calculus that predated its commonly assumed discovery
- D. Identifying a minor error in Newton’s original mathematical calculations
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
Option C effectively challenges Ogburn and Thomas's belief by providing evidence that the commonly accepted timeline of calculus's discovery may be inaccurate. A letter predating the established discovery suggests that the ideas behind calculus were circulating earlier than believed, undermining the notion of a singular "phenomenon." Option A, while intriguing, does not directly contest the timing of the discovery; it merely adds context to Newton's process. Option B introduces other contributors but does not dispute the significance of Newton and Leibniz's roles. Option D points out an error in calculations, which does not challenge the overall legitimacy of the discovery itself.
Option C effectively challenges Ogburn and Thomas's belief by providing evidence that the commonly accepted timeline of calculus's discovery may be inaccurate. A letter predating the established discovery suggests that the ideas behind calculus were circulating earlier than believed, undermining the notion of a singular "phenomenon." Option A, while intriguing, does not directly contest the timing of the discovery; it merely adds context to Newton's process. Option B introduces other contributors but does not dispute the significance of Newton and Leibniz's roles. Option D points out an error in calculations, which does not challenge the overall legitimacy of the discovery itself.
Which is the best version of the underlined portion in sentence 11 (reproduced below)? Although Powers had been born in Georgia and remained in the same region, throughout her life, her quilt exhibited a number of stylistic similarities to the large, appliquéd cotton cloths used in festivals by the Fon people of Dahomey.
- A. (as it is now)
- B. region throughout her life,
- C. region throughout her life
- D. region, throughout her life
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
Option C eliminates unnecessary words, enhancing clarity and flow. By removing "throughout her life," the sentence remains grammatically correct while emphasizing the relationship between Powers’ origins and her quilt's stylistic influences. Option A retains the original phrasing, which is wordy and less direct. Option B introduces a comma that disrupts the sentence's rhythm, making it awkward. Option D incorrectly retains the comma, which separates elements that should be connected, leading to confusion about the timeline of Powers' life and her quilt's stylistic features.
Option C eliminates unnecessary words, enhancing clarity and flow. By removing "throughout her life," the sentence remains grammatically correct while emphasizing the relationship between Powers’ origins and her quilt's stylistic influences. Option A retains the original phrasing, which is wordy and less direct. Option B introduces a comma that disrupts the sentence's rhythm, making it awkward. Option D incorrectly retains the comma, which separates elements that should be connected, leading to confusion about the timeline of Powers' life and her quilt's stylistic features.
What change needs to be made to sentence 11 (reproduced below) to make the sentence grammatically correct? Most New Yorkers have gotten used to the idea: a recent poll of New York City residents show that two-thirds of them support the bike lanes.
- A. Change 'gotten' to 'got'
- B. Change 'show' to 'shows'
- C. Change 'support' to 'supported'
- D. Change 'lanes' to 'lane'
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
In the sentence, the subject "a recent poll" is singular, so the verb must also be singular to ensure subject-verb agreement. Changing "show" to "shows" corrects this error. Option A incorrectly suggests changing "gotten" to "got," which does not address the grammatical issue present in the sentence. Option C’s suggestion to change "support" to "supported" alters the meaning of the sentence unnecessarily, shifting it from current support to past support. Option D's change from "lanes" to "lane" is irrelevant, as the plural form is appropriate given the context of multiple bike lanes in the city.
In the sentence, the subject "a recent poll" is singular, so the verb must also be singular to ensure subject-verb agreement. Changing "show" to "shows" corrects this error. Option A incorrectly suggests changing "gotten" to "got," which does not address the grammatical issue present in the sentence. Option C’s suggestion to change "support" to "supported" alters the meaning of the sentence unnecessarily, shifting it from current support to past support. Option D's change from "lanes" to "lane" is irrelevant, as the plural form is appropriate given the context of multiple bike lanes in the city.