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“The Fall of the House of Usher” and “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe
Selection Test A
Critical Reading Identify the letter of the choice that best answers the question.
1. In “The Fall of the House of Usher,” which word best describes the single effect
created by the opening description of the house?
A. interest
B. gloom
C. enthusiasm
D. sorrow
2. Which choice below best restates this long sentence from “The Fall of the House
of Usher”?
Feeble beams of encrimsoned light made their way through the trellised panes, and
served to render sufficiently distinct the more prominent objects around; the eye,
however, struggled in vain to reach the remoter angles of the chamber or the
recesses of the vaulted and fretted ceiling.
A. Not enough light came through the windowpanes, and I had trouble seeing
even the larger objects in the room.
B. The light that came through the windows was so dim that it made everything
in the room seem shadowy.
C. The dim light coming through the windows lit up the larger objects, but my
eye could not see anything in the corners of the room.
D. The reddish light coming through the windows helped my eyes focus on
everything in the room.
3. In “The Fall of the House of Usher,” what does the narrator find to be the expla-
nation for his host’s sad situation?
A. the condition of the old house
B. the unending gloomy weather
C. his sister’s mortal illness
D. his own failing health
4. Which passage best represents the single effect of “The Fall of the House of
Usher?”
A. “. . . I scanned more narrowly the real aspect of the building.”
B. “. . . with the first glimpse of the building, a sense of insufferable gloom per-
vaded my spirit.”
C. “. . . there grew in my mind a strange fancy—a fancy so ridiculous . . .”
D. “. . . a light step on an adjoining staircase arrested my attention.”

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Name Date

5. Which choice below best restates this long sentence from “The Fall of the House
of Usher”?
Oppressed, as I certainly was, upon the extraordinary coincidence, by a thousand
conflicting sensations, in which wonder and extreme terror were predominant, I still
retained sufficient presence of mind to avoid exciting, by an observation, the
sensitive nervousness of my companion.
A. Though I was oppressed by many feelings, the feeling of terror and nervous-
ness were the two strongest.
B. I was overcome by many difficult emotions and was unable to avoid upset-
ting my friend.
C. I felt many different responses, but realized that my friend, had not observed
it at all.
D. Though the coincidence overcame me with many feelings, including terror, I
was careful to avoid upsetting my friend.
6. In “The Raven,” which of these elements contributes to the poem’s single effect?
I. the repetition of words
II. the meter
III. the five-line stanzas
IV. the poet’s sorrow
A. I, II, III
B. I, III, IV
C. II, III, IV
D. I, II, IV
7. When the poet in “The Raven” thinks that Lenore may be at his door, what are
his feelings?
A. fear and anguish
B. hope and doubt
C. anger and disgust
D. curiosity and relief
8. Which of these identifies a main cause and effect relationship in “The Raven”?
A. poetry and happiness
B. loss and heartbreak
C. sleeplessness and illness
D. strange visitors and dreams

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Vocabulary and Grammar

9. In which of these sentences is the meaning of the word sentience expressed?

A. The rocky crag stood in eternal silence over the town.
B. The forest floor rustled with scurrying forms of life.
C. The deep well reflected the old house in its waters.
D. The portraits in the dark room were barely visible.
10. Which of the phrases below uses coordinate adjectives?
A. “As of someone gently rapping, rapping . . .”
B. “In there stepped a stately Raven . . .”
C. “Much I marveled this ungainly fowl . . .”
D. “And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling . . .”
Essay

11. In what ways are Roderick and Madeline Usher, and the house in which they live,
alike? Are they healthy and lively, or dying and decaying? Why have they fallen into
the state of health they are in? Write a brief essay to compare the siblings and the
house from “The Fall of the House of Usher.”

12. Many writers often use birds as symbols of hope, freedom, and light. In what differ-
ent way does Poe use the image of the raven in his poem, “The Raven”? Write a brief
essay to give your opinion about what the raven symbolizes in Poe’s poem. Use at
least two examples from the poem to support your opinion.

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