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“Dreams”
Reading Comprehension – Short Stories
Directions: Read the story. Then answer the questions below.

The relationship between my mother, sister and me had been cold

and inimical for as long as I could remember.

To me, my mother was irrational, hurling hurtful invectives for the slightest
infraction. “Don’t matter,” my mother grumbled when I asked her where she
moved my watercolor paints. “It ain’t like you got talent.” The time our mailbox got
knocked off she somehow got it in her head that I was the culprit. “Never
respected nothin’,” I heard her say. And my sister took my mother’s side against
me every time. Five years my senior, Tammy seemed not to have a brain in her
head. She dithered about everything, incapable of making any firm decision. No
matter how often my mother deprecated her— “dumb, ugly, fat”—Tammy made
futile attempts to fawn her way back into mother’s good graces.

My father would pontificate, “You three are more alike than you know.”

In April of 2000, my mother kicked us both out of the house. (Dad had been
exiled many years before.) After that, my sister and I went our separate ways. It
was then that I began having recurring dreams.

In one, I am running to catch up with a woman. Each time I get near, I trip and
fall. Another woman, smiling and shouting my name, comes with great
alacrity and offers her hand, but when I reach to grab it, she disappears.

In another, a female professor hands me a test. Although I have spent hours

studying for it, I know none of the answers. The professor derides me for my
poor performance. I watch while she relays my ignorance to the class with comic
hilarity.

These dreams were not hard to understand. In fact, it was just the opposite; they
were pellucid, and absent any knowledge of dream interpretation, I was still able
to devise their significance. I knew that they both reflected the pugnacious
relationship I shared with my mother and sister.

However, there was one dream I could never quite construe. I bite into an apple.
All my teeth fall out. I had this dream far more than any of the others.

Years later, in an effort to heal our fractious relationship, Mom, Tammy and I
elected to go to counseling together. After several sessions, I told my dream
about teeth tumbling out of my head.

“My God, Crystal,” said my mother. “I’ve had the exact same dream many times.”

“Me, too,” said Tammy solemnly.

Breakthrough? No idea. But I was reminded of the words of my now-dead father.
Maybe the three of us are more alike than we know.

Questions:

1) Which is most likely to make a 2) As used in paragraph 2, which is the

relationship inimical (paragraph 1)? best synonym for invectives?

A. great pathos A. insults

B. frequent maledictions B. names
C. magnanimous gestures C. profanity
D. ingenious discussions D. words
E. heated debates E. misfortunes

3) If the story were true, which would best describe its genre?

A. literary essay, based on a piece of literature

B. memoir essay, centered on a significant memory from the past
C. persuasive essay, characterized by choosing a side and refuting other
arguments
D. expository essay, meant to inform the reader of a body of knowledge
E. satire, in which human folly and vice are held up to scorn, derision, or
ridicule

4) The father's comment in paragraph 3 5) What is the tone of this story?

is best described as
A. matter-of-fact
A. hyperbole, an obvious B. sentimental
exaggeration for effect C. pompous
B. a paradox, an idea that contains D. uncertain
two conflicting concepts E. comical
C. symbolism, using one thing to
represent something else
D. foreshadowing, a hint at what is
to come
E. a simile, comparing two or more
things using like or as

6) How does the relationship between the narrator, her mother, and her sister
seem to change from the beginning of passage to end?

A. from brusque to florid

B. from egregious to impassive
C. from enervating to rejuvenating
D. from destructive to collaborative
E. from convivial to estranged
 F.
G.

Questions (continued):

7) As used in paragraph 7, which is the best antonym for pellucid?

A. dirty
B. frightening
C. enlightening
D. strange
E. unclear

8) "The professor derides me for my poor performance."

Which of the following is the best way to rewrite the above sentence (from
paragraph 7) while keeping its original meaning the same?

A. The professor is in disbelief due to my poor performance.

B. The professor laughs mockingly at my poor performance.
C. The professor announces my poor performance.
D. The professor gives me a failing grade for my poor performance.
E. The professor gives me a tutorial because of my poor performance.

9) "I bite into an apple. All my teeth fall out."

Which of the following is the best way to rewrite the above sentences (from
paragraph 9) while keeping their original meaning the same?

A. I bite into an apple, so all my teeth fall out.

B. I bite into an apple, yet all my teeth fall out.
C. I bite into an apple, and all my teeth fall out.
D. I bite into an apple, because all my teeth fall out.
E. I bite into an apple, but all my teeth fall out.

10) Which of the following words from the story has/have a negative
connotation?
I. deprecated (paragraph 2)
II. alacrity (paragraph 5)
III. pugnacious (paragraph 7)
A. I only
B. II only
C. I and III
D. II and III
E. I, II, and III
Questions (continued):

11) If the professor in the narrator's dream (paragraph 7) represented someone

in her life, who would that person most likely be, and why?

A. the sister, because she was described in the passage as dithering

B. the mother, because she was described in the passage as mean-spirited
C. the narrator, because she seems to be testing everyone in the passage
D. the father, because he understood that that the three women were alike
E. herself, because she was hyper-aware of her own problems

12) Breakthrough? No idea.

Which is the best way to rewrite the above sentence fragments so that they
are grammatically correct, while keeping their original meaning as used in
the final paragraph?

A. Breakthrough, no idea.
B. Was this a breakthrough? I have no idea.
C. If this was a breakthrough; I have no idea.
D. I had no idea. This was a breakthrough.
E. Breakthrough or not, I have no idea.

What kind of dreams do you have? What do they mean—anything? Explain.

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Answers and Explanations

1) B
inimical (adjective): hostile; unfriendly.

In paragraph 1, the narrator says, “The relationship between my mother,

sister and me had been cold and inimical for as long as I could remember.”
The narrator explains that her mother would say hurtful things and blame her
for things she didn’t do. The narrator also says, “My sister took my mother’s
side against me every time.” Since the narrator’s mother and sister were
hurtful to the narrator, their relationship with the narrator is hostile. Therefore,
the reader can infer that inimical means hostile. Maledictions are calling
curses on someone or telling lies about someone. Frequently cursing
someone or telling lies about them is certain to make a relationship hostile, or
inimical. Therefore (B) is the best answer.

Pathos is a feeling of sympathy or sorrow for others, or a quality that arouses

such sympathy. Great sympathy for others will not make a relationship
hostile, so great pathos is not likely to make a relationship inimical. Therefore
(A) is incorrect. A magnanimous gesture is something noble and generous
done as an indication of intention. Generosity will not make a relationship
hostile, so magnanimous gestures will not make a relationship inimical.
Therefore (C) is incorrect. Ingenious discussions are brilliant, imaginative
conversations. Brilliant conversations seem likely to lead to a happy
relationship, not a hostile one. Therefore (D) is incorrect. Heated debates are
highly emotional discussions of opposing points. While an emotional
discussion may occasionally lead to hostility, heated debates will not
invariably do so. Therefore (E) is not the best answer.

2) A
invectives (noun) abusive or rude expressions.

In paragraph 2, the narrator says, “To me, my mother was irrational, hurling
hurtful invectives for the slightest infraction. ‘Don’t matter,’ my mother
grumbled when I asked her where she moved my watercolor paints. ‘It ain’t
like you got talent.’” Since the mother is saying something mean to the
narrator, we can infer that invectives are abusive or rude expressions. Insults
are offensive remarks. Since abusive or rude expressions are offensive
remarks, insults is a good synonym for invectives. Therefore (A) is the correct
answer.

Names are the words we call people and things. The mother insulted the
narrator, but did not call her names. Therefore (B) is incorrect. Profanity is
vulgar language. While the mother’s language is rude, there is no evidence in
the story that it is vulgar, so profanity is not a synonym for invectives.
Therefore (C) is incorrect. Words are not inherently hurtful; they can be
hurtful, but they can also praise. Words is too general to be a synonym for
invectives. Therefore (D) is incorrect. Misfortunes mean incidents of bad luck
or disastrous events. The narrator may experience her relationship with her
 mother as a misfortune, but her mother does not hurl misfortunes at her
daughter. Therefore (E) is incorrect.

3) B
The story begins with the narrator’s description of the difficult relationship
between her, her mother, and her sister. Then, the narrator tells the reader
about her recurring dreams. Finally, the narrator recounts a counseling
session during which the narrator, her mother and sister discovered that they
were all having the same dream. All the events in the passage are taken from
the narrator’s life, so this story is a memoir, centered on the narrator’s
memories of her past. Therefore (B) is correct.

The story does not provide information to support answer choices (A), (C),
(D), or (E). Therefore they are incorrect.

4) D
At the beginning of the story, the narrator describes the strained relationship
between her, her mother and her sister. Then, in paragraph 3, the narrator’s
father says, “You three are more alike than you know.” Later in the story, the
narrator tells the reader about a counseling session in which she, her mother
and her sister discover they all have the same recurring dreams. Since the
father’s comment that the three women were alike is shown to be true later in
the story, the comment hints at what is to come in the story. The comment
foreshadows what is to come. Therefore (D) is the best answer.

The statement does not contain an exaggeration. Therefore (A) is incorrect.

While there is conflict between the narrator and her mother and sister, the
father’s comment does not contain two conflicting ideas. Therefore (B) is
incorrect. The meaning of the father’s statement is apparent on the surface. It
does not use something to represent something else. Therefore (C) is
incorrect. The father’s comment includes more than two people, but it does
not compare them. This means the comment is not a simile. Therefore (E) is
incorrect.

5) A
The author recounts facts from her life with little emotion, focusing on what
happened and not how she feels about it. This means the tone is matter-of-
fact. Therefore (A) is correct.

A sentimental tone is one colored by emotion instead of the facts. Since the
narrator is factual without being emotional, the tone is not sentimental.
Therefore (B) is incorrect. Pompous means irritatingly or affectedly self-
important. The narrator does not give undue importance to her story, or
alienate the reader with her tone. Therefore (C) is incorrect. The narrator
does not seem uncertain about the story she tells. Therefore (D) is incorrect.
The story is not funny in any aspect, so the tone is not comical. Therefore (E)
is incorrect.

6) D
 In the first half of the story, the narrator describes how terrible the relationship
is between her, her mother, and her sister. Since the three treated each other
so badly, the relationship can be described as destructive. However, at the
end of the story we learn that the women are trying to heal their relationship
through counseling. Since the women are working together to improve their
relationship, their relationship is collaborative. The relationship changes from
destructive to collaborative. Therefore (D) is correct.

Something that is brusque is rudely blunt. Something florid is flowery and

ornate. These words usually describe someone’s mannerisms or way of
speaking. They do not generally describe relationships between people.
Therefore (A) is incorrect. Something egregious is absolutely terrible or
shocking. Something impassive is devoid of emotion. Although the
relationship was certainly terrible at the beginning, the story does not indicate
that the relationship changed to become emotionless. Therefore (B) is
incorrect. Something enervating takes the strength out of something else, or
weakens it. Something rejuvenating gives energy and renews something.
While the relationship between the women was terrible and may have sapped
them of their vitality, the story does not tell us the relationship becomes a
positive one that strengthens them. Therefore (C) is incorrect. A convivial
relationship is one that is sociable and happy, while an estranged relationship
is one that has become hostile or indifferent. Here, the relationship started out
hostile and seems to be changing for the better. Therefore (E) is incorrect.

7) E
pellucid (adjective): clear in meaning.

In paragraphs 5 and 6, the narrator describes her recurring dreams. In

paragraph 7, she says, “These dreams were not hard to understand. In fact, it
was just the opposite; they were pellucid, and absent any knowledge of
dream interpretation, I was still able to devise their significance.” We can infer
from this information that the narrator found the dreams easy to understand.
Even knowing nothing about how to interpret dreams, the narrator knew what
the dreams meant. Since the dreams were easily understood, pellucid means
clear. The opposite of clear is unclear, so unclear is a good antonym for
pellucid. Therefore (E) is the best answer.

Pellucid means clear. It can be clear so as to let light through or clear in

meaning. In the context of the passage, pellucid means clear in meaning.
This means dirty is the opposite of clear in some contexts, but not here.
Therefore (A) is incorrect. Something frightening is scary. Scary is not the
opposite of clear, so frightening is not an antonym for pellucid. Therefore (B)
is incorrect. Something enlightening gives information or insight. This is
different from something that is clear, but not opposite, so enlightening is not
an antonym for pellucid. Therefore (C) is incorrect. Something strange is odd
or weird. This is different from clear, but not opposite, so strange is not an
antonym for pellucid. Therefore (D) is incorrect.

8) B
deride (verb) to mock or jeer.
 In paragraph 6, the narrator describes a dream where she has studied for a
test yet knows none of the answers. The narrator says, “The
professor derides me for my poor performance. I watch while she relays my
ignorance to the class with comic hilarity.” Since the professor makes fun of
the narrator’s ignorance, we can infer that derides means mocks or ridicules.
The sentence The professor laughs mockingly at my poor performance best
retains the meaning of the original sentence. Therefore (B) is correct.

While the professor does announce the narrator’s poor performance to the
class, announce is a neutral word which does not convey the idea of mocking.
Therefore (C) is incorrect. The passage does not provide information to
support answer choices (A), (D), or (E). Therefore they are incorrect.

9) C
The sentence, I bite into an apple and all my teeth fall out, combines the 2
sentences while retaining the original meaning, which is that her teeth fall out
after she bites into an apple. Therefore (C) is correct.

The narrator’s teeth do not necessarily fall out because she bites into the
apple. Therefore (A) is incorrect. The narrator’s teeth do not fall out despite
biting into an apple. Therefore (B) is incorrect. Biting into an apple is not
something anyone would do because his or her teeth had fallen out.
Therefore (D) is incorrect. Biting into an apple would not protect teeth from
falling out, so it does not make sense to combine the sentences with but.
Therefore (E) is incorrect.

10) C
deprecate (verb): to belittle.
alacrity (noun): quickness and willingness.
pugnacious (adjective): belligerent.

In paragraph 2, the narrator says of her sister, “my mother deprecated her—
‘dumb, ugly, fat.’” Since the mother has called the sister terrible things, we
can infer that deprecated means to belittle. This has a negative connotation,
so it supports option (I). In paragraph 5, the author is describing a recurring
dream. She says, “I trip and fall. Another woman, smiling and saying my
name, comes with great alacrity and offers her hand, but when I reach to
grab it, she disappears.” Since the woman is smiling and shouting the
narrator’s name, she is encouraging the narrator to take her hand. We can
infer from this that alacrity is willingness. Willingness to help has a positive
connotation, so this eliminates option (II). The narrator describes the terrible
relationship she has with her mother and sister. Then she tells the reader
about her recurring dreams, which she believes reflect this relationship. In
paragraph 7, the narrator says, “I knew that they both reflected the
pugnacious relationship I shared with my mother and sister.” Since we know
the relationship between the women was belligerent, we can infer that
pugnacious means belligerent. This has a negative connotation, so it supports
option (III). Therefore (C) is correct.
11) B
The mother is described as mean-spirited, calling one daughter names and
telling the other that she has no talent. Later, the professor in the narrator’s
dream also behaves in a mean-spirited way, making fun of the narrator in
front of the class. The professor most likely represents the mother. Therefore
(B) is correct.

The passage does not provide information to support answer choices (A), (C),
(D) or (E). Therefore they are incorrect.

12) B
Near the end of the story, the narrator tells her mother and sister about her
dreams during a counseling session, and they tell her they have the same
dreams. The narrator says, “Breakthrough? No idea.” We can infer from this
information that the narrator does not know whether learning that they share
the same dreams is a breakthrough in their relationship. This same meaning
is clear in the statements, Was this a breakthrough? I have no idea. Therefore
(B) is correct.

The sentence, Breakthrough, no idea is nonsensical. Therefore (A) is

incorrect. The sentence, If this was a breakthrough; I have no idea is
grammatically incorrect. A semicolon cannot combine a dependent clause
with an independent clause. Therefore (C) is incorrect. The sentences, I had
no idea. This was a breakthrough, do not retain the meaning of the original
sentences. Written this way, the narrator is saying that she had no idea that
her mother and sister had the same dreams and learning this information was
a breakthrough, which changes the original meaning. Therefore (D) is
incorrect. The sentence, Breakthrough or not, I have no idea, tells us that
whether or not there was a breakthrough doesn’t matter, because the narrator
does not have an idea. This also changes the original meaning. Therefore (E)
is incorrect.
●●●ReadTheory.Org © 2010 Name________________
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“Fried”
Reading Comprehension – Short Stories
Directions: Read the story. Then answer the questions below.

My cell phone rings again. It is futile to ignore it anymore; Valerie is

persistent. When Valerie wants something, she will continue to bedevil me until
I acquiesce.

“Hello,” I answer.

“State Fair, Bobbie?” she asks in her singsong voice. “When are we heading out?
Only two more days left!”

I abhor the State Fair. The boisterous crowds, the insanely long lines and the
impossibility of finding a clean restroom all combine to make this an event that I
dread.

For Valerie, my best friend since the angst of middle school, the State Fair is a
sign that divine powers really do exist.

“Really, Bobbie, where else can you pet a cow, ride a horse, fall ten stories, see
the world’s smallest person and eat fried macaroni and cheese?” Valerie asks
gleefully.

“Hell?” I guess.

The fried food at the State Fair is a gastronomical nightmare on its own. I once
tried a fried pickle at the fair and was sick to my stomach for hours. And a fried
donut hamburger with bacon, cheese AND a greasy egg? How could that not
be deleterious?

I have not seen Valerie for a good month; our schedules are both so hectic. My
hatred of the State Fair becomes inconsequential compared to my desire
to hang with Val.

Alas, I ignore my anti-fair bias for the umpteenth year.

“Pick me up at noon,” I say and hang up the phone.

Questions:

1) As used in paragraph 1, which is 2) As used at in paragraph 1, what

the best synonym for futile? does it mean to acquiesce?

A. arduous A. to give in
B. enervating B. to speak kindly
C. preposterous C. to pay attention
D. ineffective D. to answer the phone

3) " I abhor the State Fair." 4) According the passage, Valerie

regards the state fair with
Which of the following is the best
way to rewrite the above sentence A. ambivalence
(from paragraph 4) while keeping its B. condescension
original meaning as used in the C. jubilance
story? D. nonchalance

A. I really dislike the State Fair.

B. I am bored by the State Fair.
C. I have no time for the State Fair.
D. I am uncertain about the State
Fair.

5) Logically speaking, which of the 6) "And a fried donut hamburger with

following might otherwise be bacon, cheese AND a greasy
included in Bobbie’s description of egg?"
foods to be found at the state fair?
Technically speaking, which of the
I. fried candy bars following grammatical errors are
II. candy apples committed in the above sentence
III. ripe red tomatoes from paragraph 8?
A. I only I. There is no subject.
B. I and III II. There is no predicate.
C. II and III III. It is a sentence fragment.
D. I, II, and III
A. I only
B. II only
C. II and III
D. I, II, and III
Questions (continued):
7) Why might the author have chosen 8) As used in paragraph 8, which is
to capitalize all the letters in the the best antonym for deleterious?
word "AND" when writing about the
donut hamburger in paragraph 8? A. amicable
B. beneficial
A. to make sure the reader C. fortuitous
understood it was a list D. pathetic
B. to show that a greasy egg was
the last ingredient
C. to highlight that the sentence
was intentionally written
incorrectly
D. to emphasize how many
ingredients were on the
hamburger

9) In paragraph 9, the word hang is
used
A. as a hyperbole, meaning an
exaggeration
B. as a slang expression, meaning
informal language
C. as an analogy, meaning a
comparison between two things
D. as a denotation, meaning the
literal definition of a word
10) Near the end of the passage,
what does the author's use of the
word umpteenth suggest?
A. the fair has been around for a
long time
B. this is the last time Bobbie will
agree to go to the fair
C. Bobbie goes to the State Fair
with Val frequently
D. this is the first time Bobbie has
agreed to go with Val

Would you like to attend the State Fair as described in the story? Explain.

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Answers and Explanations

1) D
futile (adjective): having no useful result.

In paragraph 1, Bobbie says, “My cell phone rings again. It is futile to ignore it
anymore; Valerie is persistent. When Valerie wants something, she will
continue to bedevil me until I acquiesce.” The reader can infer from this that
Bobbie believes that Valerie will continue to bother Bobbie until Bobbie
agrees to something. Since it is futile to ignore the phone because Valerie will
simply continue to bother Bobbie, we can infer that futile means having no
useful result, or ineffective. Therefore (D) is correct.

Something that is arduous demands great effort or labor. It does not appear
difficult for Bobbie to ignore the phone. Therefore (A) is incorrect. Something
that is enervating is weakening. It does not weaken Bobbie to ignore the
phone. Therefore (B) is incorrect. Something preposterous is absurd or
contrary to reason. Continuing to ignore the phone may not be successful, but
it is not absurd. Therefore (C) is incorrect.

2) A
acquiesce (verb): to consent or comply.

In paragraph 1, Bobbie says, “Valerie is persistent. When Valerie wants

something, she will continue to bedevil me until I acquiesce.” The reader can
infer from this that Bobbie thinks that Valerie will keep on trying until Bobbie
does what Valerie wants, so acquiesce means to give in or to comply.
Therefore (A) is correct.

Valerie is persistent and wants Bobbie to agree to do something. Valerie is

not waiting until Bobbie speaks kindly, she is waiting until Bobbie gives in.
Therefore (B) is incorrect. We know that Valerie is calling because Valerie
wants something. Valerie must want Bobbie to do something more than
merely pay attention. Therefore (C) is incorrect. Bobbie says that Valerie will
keep bothering Bobbie until she gives in when Valerie “wants something.” In
this case, giving in means answering the phone, but in other, more general
cases, giving in might mean something different. Answering the phone is too
specific. Therefore (D) is incorrect.

3) A
abhor (verb): to detest or regard with horror or loathing.

Near the middle of the passage, Bobbie says, “I abhor the State Fair. The
boisterous crowds, the insanely long lines and the impossibility of finding a
clean restroom all combine to make this an event that I dread.” The reader
can infer from this information that Bobbie dreads the fair because of the
crowds, long lines and dirty bathrooms. Since all of these things are bad, the
reader can understand that to abhor the fair is to dislike the fair. Therefore (A)
is correct.
 While Bobbie makes it clear that there are many things she does not like
about the fair, Bobbie does not say that she wants to skip the fair because it
would make her bored. Therefore (B) is incorrect. Near the end of the
passage, Bobbie says that her schedule is hectic. Bobbie says this to explain
why she has not seen Valerie in a long time, not to explain why Bobbie does
not want to go to the fair. The reasons she doesn’t want to go to the fair are
the crowds, lines, and dirty bathrooms. Therefore (C) is incorrect. Bobbie
knows that she does not want to go to the fair. Bobbie is not uncertain.
Therefore (D) is incorrect.

4) C
In the middle of the story, Bobbie tells us that “for Valerie, my best friend
since the angst of middle school, the State Fair is a sign that divine powers
really do exist.” The phrase “a sign that divine powers really do exist” is used
to express the idea that Valerie thinks that the fair is a special, wonderful
event. Next, Valerie gleefully asks, “Really, Bobbie, where else can you pet a
cow, ride a horse, fall ten stories, see the world’s smallest person and eat
fried macaroni and cheese?” Since Valerie speaks about the events of the fair
gleefully, the reader can infer that Valerie is excited about the fair. Jubilance
is a feeling of extreme joy. Since Valerie is clearly excited about and looking
forward to the fair, we can say that Valerie regards the state fair with
jubilance. Therefore (C) is correct.

Ambivalence means having conflicting feelings about something. Valerie

seems to have nothing but positive feelings about the fair, so Valerie does not
regard the fair with ambivalence. Therefore (A) is incorrect. Condescension is
regarding something with disdain. Since Valerie loves the fair, Valerie does
not regard the fair with condescension. Bobbie regards the fair with
condescension, but the question asks about Valerie’s opinion. Therefore (B)
is incorrect. Nonchalance is a casual lack of concern. Valerie does not lack
concern for the fair – she is excited about the fair. Therefore (D) is incorrect.

5) A
Near the end of the passage, Bobbie says, “The fried food at the State Fair is
a gastronomical nightmare on its own. I once tried a fried pickle at the fair and
was sick to my stomach for hours. And a fried donut hamburger with bacon,
cheese AND a greasy egg? How could that not be deleterious to your
health?” Bobbie describes the food at the state fair as mostly fried, decadent
and especially bad for you. Fried candy bars sound especially decadent and
unhealthy. This supports option (I). A candy apple is not unusually decadent
or unhealthy. It also is not fried. This eliminates option (II). Ripe red tomatoes
are actually healthy. This eliminates option (III). Therefore (A) is correct.

6) C
Sentences are made up of two main components: the subject, which is the
person or thing doing the action, and the predicate, which includes the verb
and objects or phrases governed by the verb. For example, consider the
sentence “The dog slept on the chair.” “The dog” is the subject, and “slept on
 the chair” is the predicate. Therefore, in the sentence “And a fried donut
hamburger with bacon, cheese AND a greasy egg,” there is only a subject
(the things listed). This eliminates option (I). There is no predicate because
there is no verb. This supports option (II). Also, since complete sentences
are made up of both a subject and a predicate, the fact that this sentence only
has a subject means that it is a sentence fragment. This supports option (III).
Therefore (C) is correct.

7) D
Bobbie describes the food at the fair as a “nightmare.” Then, Bobbie
describes the fried donut hamburger, asking, “How could that not be
deleterious to your health?” Bobbie is trying to tell the reader that she dislikes
the food at the fair because it is incredibly unhealthy. In order to do that,
Bobbie emphasizes that not only is the burger fried, on a donut, with bacon
and cheese – it also has a fried egg. Bobbie wants to emphasize to the
reader that she found the number of unhealthy ingredients in the burger
shocking. Therefore (D) is correct.

Bobbie is listing the ingredients. Capitalizing “and” does not emphasize the
fact it is a list. The commas and the structure of the sentence already do that.
Therefore (A) is incorrect. The egg is the last ingredient on the list, whether
Bobbie emphasizes it or not. Therefore (B) is incorrect. The fact that the word
“and” was emphasized did not draw attention to the fact that the sentence
was a fragment, and thus grammatically incorrect. Therefore (C) is incorrect.

8) B
deleterious (adjective): injurious to health; having a harmful effect.

After listing the many unhealthy ingredients of a fried donut burger, Bobbie
asks, “How could that not be deleterious?” Since the donut burger was clearly
unhealthy, the reader can infer that the burger is harmful to your health.
Therefore, the word deleterious means harmful. An antonym for harmful is
beneficial, or helpful. Therefore (B) is correct.

Amicable means friendly. Food cannot be friendly or unfriendly. Therefore (A)

is incorrect. Fortuitous means lucky. Lucky is not an antonym for harmful or
deleterious. Therefore (C) is incorrect. Something that is pathetic evokes pity
or sympathy. Pathetic is not an antonym for deleterious. Therefore (D) is
incorrect.

9) B
hang (verb) (slang): to see someone socially.

Near the end of the passage, Bobbie says, “I have not seen Valerie for a
good month; our schedules are both so hectic. My hatred of the State Fair
becomes inconsequential compared to my desire to hang with Val.” The
reader can infer from these statements that Bobbie has not seen Valerie for a
long time, and although Bobbie hates the fair, it doesn’t matter because
 Bobbie wants to spend time with Valerie.” Hang is used as a slang expression
here, meaning to spend time with Valerie. Therefore (B) is correct.

Hang is not used as an exaggeration here. Therefore (A) is incorrect. There is

no comparison between two things. Therefore (C) is incorrect. The literal
meaning of the word hang is to suspend with no support from below. Bobbie
is talking about going to the fair with Valerie. Bobbie is not going to literally
hang in the air with Valerie. Therefore (D) is correct.

10) C
umpteenth (adjective) (slang): large number.

Near the end of the passage, Bobbie says that she hasn’t seen Valerie in a
long time and that Bobbie’s desire to hang with Valerie overrides Bobbie’s
hatred of the fair. Bobbie says, “Alas, I ignore my anti-fair bias for
the umpteenth year.” The reader can infer from this information that Bobbie
is going to the fair, even though she dislikes it. Since Bobbie says that she is
doing this for the “umpteenth” year, the reader can also infer that Bobbie has
ignored her hatred of the fair in favor of seeing her friend many times before.
Therefore (C) is correct.

Bobbie is ignoring her dislike of the fair for the umpteenth time, but that does
not tell us how long the fair has been around. Therefore (A) is incorrect.
Although Bobbie does not like the fair, she has gone many times before and
Bobbie is going to the fair now. Thus we have no reason to believe that this
will be the last time. Therefore (B) is incorrect. We know that Bobbie has
agreed to go with Valerie to the fair for many years. Therefore (D) is incorrect.
●●●ReadTheory.Org © 2010 Name________________
EnglishForEveryone.Org © 2008 Date________________

“Remains of a Marriage”
Reading Comprehension – Short Stories
Directions: Read the story. Then answer the questions below.

“Leave it.”

Kelsey could not begin to fathom what she was hearing. In fact, a part
of her began to feel she was in some sort of dream, unable to emerge to
wakefulness.

Even the contractor appeared flabbergasted. His mouth stayed in a half-open

position, like a marionette waiting for its strings to be tugged.

“Yes. Leave it,” Robert said again, speaking to the notion that someone in the
room had asked him to clarify his words. No one had, but Robert understood the
silence.

What were the chances that an Indian burial ground would be found on the
bucolic site where Robert and Kelsey had chosen to build their dream home?
Why in the world would Robert not want to have the remains carted away,
thought Kelsey. The last thing they needed were Indian poltergeists meandering
around their home while the two of them were trying to renovate their marriage.

Kelsey, usually deferential to her husband, knew that now was the time to make
her position heard.

She tried to cajole Robert away from the direction he was heading. “Sweetheart,”
she cooed. “We don’t want to build on a site with human remains. It would be
irreverent to the dead.”

Immediately, she saw contempt in Robert’s eyes; it was a subtle reminder of how
he often viewed her as superficial and self-absorbed.

“What would be irreverent,” said Robert, his voice dripping with condescension,
“would be to desecrate these Native graves and move them from their final
resting place. Remember the culture.”

No, Kelsey did not “remember the culture.” She could not care less about the
culture. However, Robert, the history professor, was obviously enthralled by the
contractor’s findings. He had an innate way of understanding other cultures and
other people that amazed Kelsey. He did not have that gift with her.

But something inside Kelsey said this was too much. She believed
wholeheartedly in ghosts and could not imagine a life of them haunting her,
rattling her cupboards, and shaking her floorboards.

Kelsey had an unnerving sensation that problems were ahead.

Questions:

1) Which of the following best explains 2) As used at the beginning of the

how Kelsey feels at the beginning of story, which is the best synonym
the story? for flabbergasted?

A. unable to comprehend the A. dumbfounded

current situation B. hostile
B. unable to comprehend the C. querulous
decision of her husband D. unimpressed
C. unaware of the problem at hand
D. unwilling to confront a potentially
life-threatening ordeal

3) In paragraph 2, the author writes, “His mouth stayed in a half-open position,

like a marionette waiting for its strings to be tugged.” Which of the following
literary techniques is used in this quotation?

A. allusion, characterized by a casual reference to a literary or historical

figure
B. simile, characterized by a comparison between two unlike things using
“like” or “as”
C. denotation, characterized by the usage of the literal definition of a word
D. hyperbole, characterized by a gross exaggeration

4) The title of this passage makes use of which literary device?

A. a pun, where one word has two meanings that are both used at the same
time
B. irony, where the words used mean the opposite of what they say
C. foreshadowing, which hints at what is to come later in the story
D. overstatement, where something is exaggerated for effect

5) Kelsey wants to have the remains 6) If Kelsey had chosen to

removed because be deferential (paragraph 6) to her
husband, what would she have
I. She is afraid of ghosts. likely told him regarding his plans?
II. Robert wants to leave them
there. A. "Good idea."
III. She respects Native cultures. B. "Don't be silly."
A. I only C. "I'll leave you."
B. I and II D. "I’m not sure."
C. I and III
D. I, II, and III
Questions (continued):

7) Which adjective best describes 8) What about Robert seems to keep

Kelsey and Robert’s marriage? him from wanting to move the
gravesite?
A. busy
B. appalling A. He is controlling.
C. strained B. He fears the Indians.
D. good-natured C. He cares about cultural history.
D. He is afraid of ghosts.

9) In paragraph 7, the author writes, “She tried to cajole Robert away from the
direction he was heading."Which of the following is the best way to rewrite the
above sentence while keeping its original meaning as used in the story?

A. She tried to compromise with Robert to go the other direction.

B. She tried to force Robert to change directions.
C. She tried to entice Robert away from the direction he was heading.
D. She tried to threaten Robert about the direction he was heading.

10) As used at the end of the story, which is the best antonym for desecrate?

A. honor
B. excavate
C. defile
D. criticize

Whose side are you on— Robert’s or Kelsey’s? Explain.

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Answers and Explanations

1) B
In the story, we learn that an Indian burial ground has been found on the site
where Kelsey and Robert are building their home. In paragraph 1, Robert tells
the contractor to leave the burial ground as it is. But Kelsey believes in
ghosts, and can’t imagine living on top of an intact burial ground. That is why
in paragraph 2, the author says, “Kelsey could not begin to fathom what she
was hearing. In fact, a part of her began to feel she was in some sort of
dream, unable to emerge to wakefulness.” Kelsey does not comprehend why
anyone would leave human remains in the ground under his or her house.
Kelsey does not understand Robert’s decision to tell the contractor to leave
the remains as they are. Therefore (B) is correct.

The current situation is that an Indian burial ground has been found on the
property where Kelsey and Robert are building a house. Since Kelsey knows
they are there and wants to have the remains removed from the property, she
clearly comprehends what is happening. Therefore (A) is incorrect. Again,
Kelsey knows that there is a burial ground on the property. Therefore (C) is
incorrect. Since the issue is a burial ground, no one’s life is at stake. The
situation is not life-threatening. Therefore (D) is incorrect.

2) A
There is an Indian burial ground where Robert and Kelsey want to build their
house. Robert thinks the remains should be left as they are, a decision which
Kelsey thinks is shocking. In paragraph 3, the author says, “Even the
contractor appeared flabbergasted. His mouth stayed in a half-open position,
like a marionette waiting for its strings to be tugged.” Since the contractor
stood there with his mouth hanging open after learning Robert’s wish, we can
understand that the contractor cannot believe Robert’s sentiment.
Dumbfounded means overcome with confusion or disbelief. Therefore (A) is
correct.

Someone is hostile if it they are angry. Angry and disbelieving are different,
so hostile is not a synonym for flabbergasted. Therefore (B) is incorrect.
Querulous means in a grumbling or peevish way. Peevish and disbelieving
are also different. Therefore (C) is incorrect. When someone is unimpressed,
he or she does not have a favorable opinion. While someone who can’t
believe what they are hearing might not have a favorable opinion,
flabbergasted and unimpressed are not the same. Therefore (D) is incorrect.

3) B
A simile is a comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as.” The
sentence in question compares the contractor to a “marionette waiting for its
strings to be tugged.” It also uses the word “like.” The sentence contains a
simile. Therefore (B) is correct.

The passage does not contain information to support answer choices (A), (C),
or (D). Therefore they are incorrect.
4) A
The word remains can mean a corpse. It can also be used to describe what is
left of something after other parts have gone away. Since the story is about
building a house over a burial mound and about the deterioration of Kelsey
and Robert’s marriage, the title uses the word remains for both of its
meanings: the corpses under their house, and what is left of their marriage.
This means the title is a pun. Therefore (A) is correct.

Since the words in the title do not convey a meaning different than what they
say, the title is not ironic. Therefore (B) is incorrect. Generally, titles do not
contain hints about what is to come later in the story. The title is not
foreshadowing. Therefore (C) is incorrect. The title does not use exaggeration
for effect. Therefore (D) is incorrect.

5) A
Robert wants to leave the remains in the ground and build over them.
However, Kelsey wants the remains removed. In paragraph 11, the author
says Kelsey “believed wholeheartedly in ghosts and could not imagine a life
of them haunting her, rattling her cupboards, and shaking her floorboards.”
Using this information, we can infer that Kelsey wants to have the remains
removed because she is afraid of ghosts. This supports option (I). Robert
wants to leave the remains where they are. Kelsey tries to convince Robert
that the remains should be moved, but nothing in the passage suggests that
she does this simply to spite Robert. This eliminates option (II). In paragraph
10, the author says that Kelsey “could not care less about the culture.” This
means that the reason Kelsey wants the remains removed is not to respect
the culture, because she does not care about it. This eliminates option (III).
Therefore (A) is correct.

6) A
deferential (adjective): showing respect; submissive.

In paragraph 6, the author says, “Kelsey, usually deferential to her husband,

knew that now was the time to make her position heard.” Since Kelsey is
going to voice her own position, she is taking charge. Since she is doing this
even though she is usually deferential, we can infer that deferential is the
opposite of taking charge, so deferential means submissive. If Kelsey had
chosen to be deferential to Robert, she would have done what he wanted to
do. Someone who is willing to do what someone else wants would be likely to
say, “Good idea.” Therefore (A) is correct.

If Kelsey said, “Don’t be silly,” she would be telling Robert that his idea is silly.
Telling someone his idea is silly is disparaging. This is not being deferential.
Therefore (B) is incorrect. If Kelsey said, “I’ll leave you,” she would be giving
him an ultimatum. This is not being submissive to his wishes. Therefore (C) is
incorrect. Being unsure about going along with someone’s wishes is not the
same as being deferential. Therefore (D) is incorrect.

7) C
 In paragraph 5, the author says that Kelsey and Robert “were trying to
renovate their marriage.” In paragraph 8, the author says that Robert “often
viewed her as superficial and self-absorbed.” In paragraph 10, we see that
while Robert is gifted at “understanding other cultures and other people,” he
“did not have that gift” with Kelsey. From this information, we can infer that
Robert and Kelsey have problems with their relationship and they are trying to
work on it. When a relationship is difficult, it is strained. Therefore (C) is
correct.

Kelsey and Robert are building a house together, but the passage does not
tell us that they do many things together. We cannot tell from the information
in the passage that their marriage is busy. Therefore (A) is incorrect. Things
seem tense between Kelsey and Robert, but they are not terrible to each
other in an offensive way. This means their marriage is not appalling.
Therefore (B) is incorrect. While Kelsey and Robert are not obviously cruel to
each other, they are not easygoing and cheerful with each other either.
Therefore (D) is incorrect

8) C
In paragraph 9, Robert says that moving the graves from their final resting
place would be irreverent. He tells Kelsey to “remember the culture.” In
paragraph 10, we learn that Robert is a history professor. The narrator also
writes, “He had an innate way of understanding other cultures and other
people that amazed Kelsey.” Since Robert is a history professor, he cares
about history. The fact that Robert understands and is concerned with other
cultures tells us that Robert cares about culture. Since Robert cares about
culture and history and thinks that moving the graves is irreverent, we can
infer Robert does not want to move the graves because he cares about
cultural history. Therefore (C) is correct.

While Kelsey usually deferred to Robert, the passage does not tell us that
Robert is controlling. Therefore (A) is incorrect. Robert is interested in the
Indians, not afraid of them. Therefore (B) is incorrect. Kelsey is afraid of
ghosts, not Robert. Therefore (D) is incorrect.

9) C
cajole (verb): to try to get someone to do what you want by flattery or
coaxing.

In paragraph 7, Kelsey tries to cajole Robert away from his position. She tells
him that leaving the bodies “would be irreverent to the dead.” She does this
because Robert is a history professor and is sensitive to ancient culture. We
can infer from this information that Kelsey is trying to make moving the graves
seem more appealing to Robert so that he will change his mind. She also
“cooed” at him, which is using a sweet, coaxing tone of voice. This means
Kelsey tries to entice Robert away from his original stance. Therefore (C) is
correct.

Either the remains stay in the ground or they are removed. There is no place
for compromise. Therefore (A) is incorrect. To force someone is to make him
 do something against his will. Kelsey is trying to get Robert to willingly do
what she wants. Therefore (B) is incorrect. Kelsey does not threaten Robert.
Therefore (D) is incorrect.

10) A
desecrate (verb): to violate the sanctity of something.

In paragraph 9, Robert says that moving the bodies would be irreverent and
would desecrate the graves. He tells Kelsey, “Remember the culture.” Since
Robert is sensitive to the culture and thinks it would be irreverent to move the
graves, we can infer that to desecrate the graves means to violate the sacred
nature of the graves. To honor something means to show respect for
something. Since respecting something is the opposite of violating something,
honor is a good antonym for desecrate. Therefore (A) is correct.

To excavate is to uncover something by digging. Since Robert thinks that

digging up the graves is desecrating them, excavate is not a good antonym
for desecrate. Therefore (B) is incorrect. To defile something is to pollute it or
to corrupt it. This is similar to desecrate. Therefore (C) is incorrect. To criticize
is to evaluate something or to find fault with something. This is different than
violating something sacred, but not opposite, so criticize is not a good
antonym for desecrate. Therefore (D) is incorrect.
●●●ReadTheory.Org © 2010 Name________________
EnglishForEveryone.Org © 2008 Date________________

“Seeing Through”
Reading Comprehension – Short Stories
Directions: Read the story. Then answer the questions below.

Jeffrey brushed quickly past an elderly woman waiting on the platform ahead of
him to get onto the subway. He wanted to be sure to get a seat to read his New
Economics Journal. As the train screeched out of the station, he lifted his head
from the business news and stared at the man directly across from him.

A fierce wave – a tsunami – of antipathy came over him. Jeffrey knew this man,
knew him all too well. They had become bitter enemies.

Their eyes locked.

As the train reached full speed, the cacophony of speeding wheels against the
winding rails and of the wildly vibrating subway car filled Jeffrey’s ears. To this
frenetic beat, Jeffrey listed in his head all the reasons that this man, whose eyes
he gravely stared into, whose image seemed to appear nearly everywhere he
went, had become anathema to him.

He had climbed the upper echelons of the Wall Street firm using an imperious
manner with his subordinates: issuing directives; ordaining idiosyncratic decrees;
generally making certain everyone knew he was the boss.

Despite his impoverished upbringing, he had become ostentatious. Flush with

cash from the lucrative deals he made on Wall Street, he had purchased a yacht
and a home in Versailles. He used neither. But, oh, how he liked to say he had
them. Meanwhile—Jeffrey knew—this man’s father was on the verge of being
evicted from his decrepit tenement apartment in the South Bronx.

What bothered Jeffrey most about this man was that he never even attempted to
make amends for his evil ways.

Could this man change? Jeffrey did not know. But maybe, just maybe, he could
try.

The train screeched to Jeffrey’s stop at Battery Park. He gave the man one last
hard look. “See you around,” he mumbled to himself. And he knew he would—
the wrinkled brow, that part of graying hair, those cold metallic eyes in a subway
window reflection—were his own.

It would take years of hard work and self-contemplation, but Jeffrey would once
again encounter this man on the train, and marvel at what a kinder person he
had become.
Questions:
1) Which best describes Jeffrey's attitude in this passage?

A. anxious
B. studied
C. unfortunate
D. self-aware
E. self-pitying

2) A fierce wave – a tsunami – of antipathy came over him.

Given the imagery in this sentence, which word would be the best substitute
for came?

A. angled
B. drizzled
C. rained
D. washed
E. trampled

3) As used in paragraph 2, which word 4) Using the story as a guide, it can be

is the best antonym for antipathy? inferred that

A. ambivalence A. Jeffrey has few friends

B. desperation B. Jeffrey likes to be the boss
C. admiration C. Jeffrey has had a difficult life
D. infatuation D. Jeffrey is capable of change
E. happiness E. Jeffrey rides the subway
frequently

5) "As the train reached full speed, the cacophony of speeding wheels against
the winding rails and of the wildly vibrating train filled Jeffrey’s ears."
Which literary technique is used in the above sentence (from paragraph 4)?

A. metaphor, a direct comparison between two things which does not use like
or as
B. analogy, an extended comparison showing the similarities between two
things
C. imagery, characterized by appealing to a sense or combination of senses
D. irony, characterized by a contrast or incongruity between what is stated
and what is meant
E. personification, characterized by something being described as if it had
human qualities
Questions (continued):

6) Which of the following best 7) As used in paragraph 4, anathema

describes the main conflict in this is best defined as a(n):
passage?
A. curse
A. man versus man B. vision
B. man versus himself C. embarassment
C. man versus society D. antagonist
D. man versus machine E. problem
E. man versus nature

8) As used in paragraph 5, to have an 9) As used in paragraph 6, which is the

imperious manner means to be: best synonym for ostentatious?

A. ignorant A. assiduous
B. stoic B. extravagant
C. simpering C. modest
D. unaffected D. miserly
E. domineering E. refined

10) What is made clear by the end of story?

I. The man that Jeffery dislikes is himself.
II. Jeffery was eventually able to become a better person.
III. Jeffery’s father lives in the South Bronx.
A. I only
B. II only
C. I and II
D. II and III
E. I, II, and III

Have you ever had feelings similar to Jeffery’s? Were you able to change?

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Answers and Explanations

1) D
Self-aware means aware of one’s own emotions and behaviors. In the
passage, Jeffrey realizes that he has become someone he does not like. He
thinks about how this has happened. Near the end of the story, he thinks
about changing. Then we learn that in time Jeffrey becomes “a kinder
person.” Since Jeffrey is thinking about what kind of person he is and how he
became that way, his attitude in the passage is self-aware. Therefore (D) is
correct.

Anxious means apprehensive or worried about a future matter. Jeffrey is not

concerned with a future matter, so his attitude is not anxious. Therefore (A) is
incorrect. Studied means well thought out or practiced. Jeffrey is thinking
about his life, but his thoughts do not appear to be practiced, so his attitude is
not studied. Therefore (B) is incorrect. Unfortunate means unsuccessful or
unlucky. Jeffrey may not like himself, but he has been very successful.
Therefore (C) is incorrect. Self-pitying is feeling sorry for oneself. In this story,
Jeffrey seems to truly dislike himself, but he does not feel sorry for himself, so
his attitude cannot be described as self-pitying. Therefore (E) is incorrect.

2) D
A tsunami is an enormous wave. If something has washed over someone, it
has flowed over them. Since the action of a wave can be described as
flowing, washed is a good substitute for came in this sentence. Therefore (D)
is correct.

Angled means bent at an angle or slanted. A giant wave does not approach at
an angle. Therefore (A) is incorrect. Drizzled means slowly poured down in
small amounts. Since a tsunami is huge and moves over, not down, it is not
slowly poured out. Therefore (B) is incorrect. Something that rained down
came down more quickly and forcefully than something that drizzled, but it still
came down, unlike a wave. Therefore (C) is incorrect. Trampled means to
have beaten something down by stepping on it. Waves do not have feet to
beat things down. Therefore (E) is incorrect.

3) C
antipathy (noun): an intense feeling of dislike or disgust.

In paragraph 2, Jeffrey suddenly feels antipathy for a man who is his bitter
enemy. Since the man Jeffrey feels antipathy for his enemy, someone he
absolutely hates, the reader can infer that antipathy is a strong feeling of
dislike. Admiration is a feeling of esteem, wonder and respect. Since this is
the opposite of intense dislike, admiration is a good antonym for antipathy.
Therefore (C) is correct.

Ambivalence is the coexistence of conflicting feelings. Conflicting feelings are

not the opposite of feelings of dislike, so ambivalence is not an antonym for
antipathy. Therefore (A) is incorrect. Desperation is a feeling of near
 hopelessness. Feeling hopeless is not the opposite of dislike, so desperation
is not an antonym for antipathy. Therefore (B) is incorrect. Infatuation is a
feeling of exaggerated but short-lived passion. While feeling passionate about
someone is certainly different than disliking them, infatuation is always
temporary. Dislike can be permanent. This means that infatuation is not an
antonym for antipathy. Therefore (D) is incorrect. Happiness is a feeling of
joy. Dislike and joy are different, but not opposite, so happiness is not an
antonym for antipathy. Therefore (E) is incorrect.

4) D
Much of the story is about what a terrible person Jeffrey has become.
However, we learn at the end that he eventually changes into “a kinder
person.” Since Jeffrey was once a selfish person, and then became a kinder
person, he has changed. One must be capable of change in order to change,
so we have evidence that Jeffrey is capable of change. Therefore (D) is
correct.

While the story does indicate that Jeffrey has become someone who doesn’t
like himself, it does not give the reader any information about whether he has
many friends. Therefore (A) is incorrect. In the middle of the passage, we
learn that Jeffrey “had climbed the upper echelons of the Wall Street firm
using an imperious manner with his subordinates: issuing directives;
ordaining idiosyncratic decrees; generally making certain everyone knew he
was the boss.” This tells us that Jeffrey got to his current position by acting
like the boss, but tells us nothing about whether he liked being the boss.
Therefore (B) is incorrect. In the middle of the story, we learn that Jeffrey had
an “impoverished upbringing,” but that does not necessarily tell us that his life
was difficult. Since the only other information we have about Jeffrey’s life is
that he is wealthy and powerful, the story does not indicate that he has had a
difficult life. Therefore (C) is incorrect. In the beginning of the story, Jeffrey
boards the subway. At the end of the story, we learn that Jeffrey sees himself
on the train once more years later. This information does not allow the reader
to determine how often he rides the subway. Therefore (E) is incorrect.

5) C
Cacophony is the unpleasantness of a certain sound or sounds. The
sentence appeals to the reader’s sense of hearing by describing in detail the
components of the train that work together to create a loud, unpleasant but
distinctive noise. The sentence uses imagery to create a sensory experience
for the reader based on hearing. Therefore (C) is correct.

There is no comparison between two things. Therefore (A) is incorrect. The

sentence does describe several things, but it does so to give the reader a
sense of the sounds they make, not to compare them to each other.
Therefore (B) is incorrect. There is no incongruity between what is stated and
what is meant. Therefore (D) is incorrect. The sentence does not describe
any of the objects as if they were human. Therefore (E) is incorrect.

6) B
 In the story, Jeffrey sees himself and thinks about the person he has become.
He detests that person, and so detests himself. Near the end of the passage,
he wonders, “Could this man change? Jeffrey did not know. But maybe, just
maybe, he could try.” The reader can infer from this that Jeffrey is not sure if
he can become the kind of person he wants to be. As stated at the end of the
passage, his change “would take years of hard work and self-contemplation.”
What Jeffrey has to overcome here is his own selfishness. In order to change,
Jeffrey has to overcome himself, so the conflict in this passage is man versus
himself. Therefore (B) is correct.

The story does not provide information to support answer choices (A), (C),
(D), and (E). Therefore they are incorrect.

7) A
anathema (noun): a curse; a person or thing detested.

In paragraph 4, Jeffrey lists the reasons the man he saw across from him
“had become anathema to him.” The story goes on to describe the man’s
poor treatment of subordinates during his ascent in a Wall Street firm and tells
how the man spent money on things just to impress other people. In
paragraph 7, the passage states, “What bothered Jeffrey most about this man
was that he never even attempted to make amends for his evil ways.” The
reader can infer from this information that anathema is something terrible or
detested—a curse. Therefore (A) is correct.

A vision is an image produced by the imagination. In paragraph 4, the story

does say that the man’s “image seemed to appear nearly everywhere
[Jeffrey] went.” However, the reasons the man was anathema to Jeffrey are
listed in the next 3 paragraphs. The man is not anathema to Jeffrey because
he is a vision from Jeffrey’s imagination. Therefore (B) is incorrect. Jeffrey
detests the man he sees, but the man does not appear to be a source of
embarrassment to him. Therefore (C) is incorrect. An antagonist is someone
who directly opposes another person. Jeffrey hates the man, but it is because
of the life the man leads, not because the man directly opposes him, so the
man is not an antagonist. Therefore (D) is incorrect. Again, though Jeffrey
hates the man, the man does not do anything that makes the man a problem
for Jeffrey. Therefore (E) is incorrect.

8) E
imperious (adjective): overbearing, arrogant and domineering.

In paragraph 5, the story states, “He had climbed the upper echelons of the
Wall Street firm using an imperious manner with his subordinates: issuing
directives; ordaining idiosyncratic decrees; generally making certain everyone
knew he was the boss.” This means that the man gave orders, created
peculiar rules and did whatever he could to let people know that he was in
charge. The reader can infer from this information that someone with an
imperious manner tends to order others around. Someone who orders others
around is domineering. Therefore (E) is correct.
 Someone who is ignorant is unaware. The man was imperious because he
ordered others around, not because he was unaware. Therefore (A) is
incorrect. Someone who is stoic does not display emotion. The man ordered
everyone around, but we do not know if the man acted without emotion.
Therefore (B) is incorrect. Someone who is simpering smiles in a silly, self-
conscious way. It is unlikely an arrogant man giving orders with such authority
would smile in a silly way. Therefore (C) is incorrect. Someone who is
unaffected is genuine. The man’s manner was overbearing, not genuine.
Therefore (D) is incorrect.

9) B
ostentatious (adjective): a showy display intended to impress others.

In paragraph 6, it says, “Despite his impoverished upbringing, he had become

ostentatious.” We then learn that the man had bought a yacht and home in
Versailles that he liked to tell people about. The reader can infer from this that
the man grew up without any money, then used his later wealth to buy
extravagantly expensive things just for show, which means that ostentatious
is a display to impress others. Extravagant means unnecessarily showy or
wasteful, so it is a good synonym for ostentatious. Therefore (B) is correct.

Assiduous means persistent and diligent. Since persistent and showy are not
similar, assiduous is not a synonym for ostentatious. Therefore (A) is
incorrect. Modest means not showy and unpretentious, which is the opposite
of ostentatious, so modest is not a synonym for ostentatious. Therefore (C) is
incorrect. Miserly means lacking generosity, which is different than a showy
display, so miserly is not a synonym for ostentatious. Therefore (D) is
incorrect. Refined means elegant and free from vulgarity. Since being showy
is vulgar, refined is not a synonym for ostentatious. Therefore (E) is incorrect.

10) E
At the beginning of the story, Jeffrey sees a man on the train. Then, in
paragraph 9, it says, “He gave the man one last hard look. ‘See you around,’
he mumbled to himself. And he knew he would—the wrinkled brow, that part
of graying hair, those cold metallic eyes in a subway window reflection—were
his own.” The reader can understand from this information that Jeffrey is
looking at his reflection in the subway window and the man he dislikes is
Jeffrey himself. This supports option (I). For much of the story, Jeffrey is
described as a terrible person. In paragraph 8, he wonders if he could
change. In paragraph 10, it says, “It would take years of hard work and self-
contemplation, but Jeffrey would once again encounter this man on the train,
and marvel at what a kinder person he had become.” We know that the man
on the train is Jeffrey himself. We also know that Jeffrey was an unlikable
man. Since the man has become kinder after years of hard work, we know
that Jeffrey did change to become a better person. This supports option (II).
In paragraph 6, it says that the “man’s father was on the verge of being
evicted from his decrepit tenement apartment in the South Bronx. The reader
can infer that the man’s father lived in the South Bronx. The man is Jeffrey
himself, so the man’s father is Jeffrey’s father, which means Jeffrey’s father
lives in the South Bronx. This supports option (III). Therefore (E) is correct.