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.
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.
Other Related Questions
The passage is an example of which rhetorical strategy?
- A. Claim–evidence
- B. Compare–contrast
- C. Quotation–analysis
- D. Definition–example
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
The passage employs a definition followed by an example, illustrating concepts clearly. This strategy effectively clarifies ideas by providing context through real-world applications, enhancing understanding. Option A, claim-evidence, focuses on supporting assertions with data, which is not the primary approach here. Option B, compare-contrast, would involve analyzing similarities and differences, which is absent in the text. Option C, quotation-analysis, centers on interpreting cited material, whereas the passage defines terms directly rather than quoting sources. Thus, the use of definition and example stands out as the dominant rhetorical strategy.
The passage employs a definition followed by an example, illustrating concepts clearly. This strategy effectively clarifies ideas by providing context through real-world applications, enhancing understanding. Option A, claim-evidence, focuses on supporting assertions with data, which is not the primary approach here. Option B, compare-contrast, would involve analyzing similarities and differences, which is absent in the text. Option C, quotation-analysis, centers on interpreting cited material, whereas the passage defines terms directly rather than quoting sources. Thus, the use of definition and example stands out as the dominant rhetorical strategy.
Which choice most effectively combines sentences 7 and 8 (reproduced below) at the underlined portion? Another panel depicted icicles forming on the breath of a mule and a man with a sack of frozen meal. The unusual weather on February 10, 1895, when temperatures fell below zero in Georgia.
- A. meal, highlighting the unusual weather
- B. meal, by the weather that was unusual
- C. meal, that the weather was unusual
- D. meal, when the unusual weather
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
Option A effectively combines the sentences by using "highlighting," which clearly indicates that the icicles and frozen meal illustrate the unusual weather conditions. This maintains a strong connection between the imagery and the context of the weather event. Option B introduces "by the weather that was unusual," which is awkward and less direct, weakening the connection between the two ideas. Option C's phrasing, "that the weather was unusual," is vague and does not create a clear link between the images and the weather conditions. Option D, while somewhat effective, lacks the clarity of A, as "when the unusual weather" does not emphasize how the images relate to the weather event.
Option A effectively combines the sentences by using "highlighting," which clearly indicates that the icicles and frozen meal illustrate the unusual weather conditions. This maintains a strong connection between the imagery and the context of the weather event. Option B introduces "by the weather that was unusual," which is awkward and less direct, weakening the connection between the two ideas. Option C's phrasing, "that the weather was unusual," is vague and does not create a clear link between the images and the weather conditions. Option D, while somewhat effective, lacks the clarity of A, as "when the unusual weather" does not emphasize how the images relate to the weather event.
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.
In context, what does the final sentence suggest about Native American ceremonial texts?
- A. Understanding them requires a highly developed memory.
- B. Their inclusion of complicated and detailed material is traditional.
- C. They are important in the everyday lives of many Native Americans.
- D. Their use of repetition cannot be explained as an aid to memorization.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
The final sentence suggests that repetition in Native American ceremonial texts serves a purpose beyond mere memorization, indicating a deeper significance in their cultural context. Option A is incorrect because the emphasis is not on memory development but on the intrinsic value of repetition. Option B misinterprets the role of complexity; while tradition is important, the sentence highlights repetition's unique function rather than the intricacy of content. Option C overlooks the specific focus on repetition, which is the core of the final sentence, rather than the broader context of everyday importance.
The final sentence suggests that repetition in Native American ceremonial texts serves a purpose beyond mere memorization, indicating a deeper significance in their cultural context. Option A is incorrect because the emphasis is not on memory development but on the intrinsic value of repetition. Option B misinterprets the role of complexity; while tradition is important, the sentence highlights repetition's unique function rather than the intricacy of content. Option C overlooks the specific focus on repetition, which is the core of the final sentence, rather than the broader context of everyday importance.