Mood, Tone, and Meaning

1.

Hush! Be mindful of where you are,

Be careful where you tread,
For you don't want to go too far,
Too far ahead.

Beware! Look all around,

Look everywhere.
Frightful things can be found,
So please take care.

What best describes the tone throughout the poem?

A. formal
B. scornful
C. cautious
D. sincere

2.

The Hallway
The sound of scurrying feet was the last thing Jerry heard as he entered the hallway. Jerry squinted,
trying to make out a shape on the far end, but it was gone when he blinked. He eyed the area cautiously
because he thought there shouldn't be anything out this late at night, including him. What could that have
been? wondered Jerry to himself. Man, I wish I hadn't forgotten my backpack.
Jerry couldn't help but look at every shadow with distrust. Like a frightened mouse, he edged his way
down the hall. Jerry glanced down each hallway that he passed to make it to his locker. Just a little bit
farther, thought Jerry, trying to gain some courage.
There was the sound of shuffling feet again, but it was closer now. Jerry couldn't help but have the
sinking feeling of dread overcome him. He looked over both shoulders with only slits of his eyes showing.
Suddenly, the shape appeared in front of him—this time, it was moving toward him. Oh no! It's heading
my way! What am I supposed to do now? Jerry thought. However, there was very little he could do since
it was right in front of him in the dimly lit hall.

Read the following sentence from the passage.

Jerry couldn't help but look at every shadow with distrust.

How does the word "distrust" contribute to the tone of the passage?
A. The author uses the word so that the reader can imagine hearing the sound.
B. The author uses the word to show that Jerry is suspicious of everything.
C. The author uses the word to demonstrate that the shadows are trusting.
D. The author uses the word to prove that the shadow is a real problem.
 Up on the Mountain
by A. Gautam

Sange Sherpa was too tired to get the yaks to obey him today. Although they were well-fed, the yaks
refused to move at all. Sange tried all the songs he knew and even acted tough toward his cattle.
However, the yaks had minds of their own and took their sweet time getting home.
Exhausted from the journey to the village half a day away, Sange decided to rest for a moment with
the yaks. It was a pleasant afternoon. Snow was melting away and the sun was spreading its red color on
the mountains. Sange opened his cloth bag to chew on some roasted corn. He loved watching the sun
prepare to set for the day while chewing corn. In the mountains, he could see the sun set at around four in
the afternoon—way before the rest of the world. Life is simple, Sange thought. I can live forever like this.
As the yaks rested quietly with Sange, he was slowly falling asleep on the stone. He would have
closed his eyes completely had he not heard the sound of bells ringing from far away. Sange climbed up
on the nearest rock to see where the sound was coming from and saw a bunch of kids running out from a
little building. He saw the kids jumping up and down carrying books in their hands. From a distance, he
could hear them singing a song they perhaps learned from a teacher.
Sange got off the mountain and sank to the ground. Ready or not, he had to take the yaks home. He
wanted to get out of the kids' way before they would pass him. As Sange felt his head and heart become
heavy, he realized he could not live forever grazing cattle.

3. Which detail adds poetic language to the passage?

A. "However, the yaks had minds of their own and took. . ."
B. "Sange got off the mountain and sank to the ground."
C. ". . .the sun was spreading its red color on the mountains."
D. "Sange Sherpa was too tired to get the yaks to obey. . ."

4. With eyes blank with boredom, Cory laughably jerked his head forward as he fell
asleep. It would not have been so noticeable had he not sat in the middle of the classroom.
Everyone surrounding him could see the spectacle. Cory sheepishly looked around and saw
faces looking in his direction. Cory thought, All right. Stay calm. Don't let them see that
you're worried.
Comically, Cory lifted his head and looked fiercely into the teacher's eyes. He did so with
such concentration that it distracted her from her lesson. Cory's teacher raised her eyebrows
and asked, "Is there something wrong, Cory?"
Fumbling for words, Cory answered, "No, nothing's wrong. Your lesson is just too
interesting."
The teacher flashed a pleased smile and continued on to the next lesson. Cory sighed in
relief. That was a close one, thought Cory.

Think about the way the author portrays the character of Cory. What words used in the passage reveal
the author's attitude toward Cory?

A. "spectacle" and "comically"

B. "fiercely" and "lesson"
C. "worried" and "eyebrows"
D. "concentration" and "pleased"

5. June 5, 20—

Dear Diary,

I can't believe I'm going to be turning 13 tomorrow! I'm finally going to be a teenager. It's
going to be so magnificent. My birthday party is going to be the talk of the summer. It will be
thrilling and fantastic because my mom promised to do something different from all my
other parties. I can't wait! It's going to be unbelievable.

There are so many things that I can do once I become a teenager. I can hang out with my
friends longer because my parents will let me stay out a little bit later. I get to babysit my
little brother, so we won't have to get a babysitter. I will be so grown up! Another amazing
thing is that I'll be the first person in my group of my friends to turn 13.

Ah, the joy of a birthday! There will be presents, cake, and friends. I don't think there will be
another day as delightful and blissful as tomorrow will be.

Stacy

In the diary entry, why does Stacy choose to use the words "unbelievable" and "thrilling" to describe her
birthday?

A. to demonstrate that her friends are eager for the party

B. to describe how great she feels about babysitting her brother
C. to express her excitement for her birthday the next day
D. to show that she does not believe that she is turning 13

There is no person like me in my middle school or on Earth. My mom will have to agree with me about
that because she always says there’s no kid like me. She says this as she shakes her head whenever
she witnesses my greatness, which happens almost every day.
I believe my mom because I am special. No one can match my intelligence—not even my teachers
who do not seem to teach me anything at all. I am kind enough to sit and listen to them, yet they have the
nerve to give me a D in each of my classes. The teachers are jealous of my brain. No one else has one
like mine—I am unique. My classmates are jealous of me as well. I try to help them out when they are
doing something wrong. However, they refuse to be helped when I tell them they are doing something so
wrong. I would think anyone would like my assistance.

6. In the passage, why does the author choose to use the words "greatness," "special," and "unique" to
describe himself or herself?

A. to show that the author's mother believes in the him or her

B. to prove that everyone agrees that the author has these qualities
C. to demonstrate how the author is similar to the other people
D. to show that the author thinks highly of himself or herself

Up on the Mountain
by A. Gautam

Sange Sherpa was too tired to get the yaks to obey him today. Although they were well-fed, the yaks
refused to move at all. Sange tried all the songs he knew and even acted tough toward his cattle.
However, the yaks had minds of their own and took their sweet time getting home.
Exhausted from the journey to the village half a day away, Sange decided to rest for a moment with
the yaks. It was a pleasant afternoon. Snow was melting away and the sun was spreading its red color on
the mountains. Sange opened his cloth bag to chew on some roasted corn. He loved watching the sun
prepare to set for the day while chewing corn. In the mountains, he could see the sun set at around four in
the afternoon—way before the rest of the world. Life is simple, Sange thought. I can live forever like this.
As the yaks rested quietly with Sange, he was slowly falling asleep on the stone. He would have
closed his eyes completely had he not heard the sound of bells ringing from far away. Sange climbed up
on the nearest rock to see where the sound was coming from and saw a bunch of kids running out from a
little building. He saw the kids jumping up and down carrying books in their hands. From a distance, he
could hear them singing a song they perhaps learned from a teacher.
Sange got off the mountain and sank to the ground. Ready or not, he had to take the yaks home. He
wanted to get out of the kids' way before they would pass him. As Sange felt his head and heart become
heavy, he realized he could not live forever grazing cattle.

7. Which of these best describes Sange's mood at the beginning of the story?
 A. gloomy
B. lighthearted
C. excited
D. confused

The Unlikely Hero

by A. Gautam

Avi stopped before taking the final step into the center of the maze. He looked back despite the voice
in his head that told him not to do so. Everything behind him was a crisscross pattern of confusion. How
did I even make it up to this point? Avi asked himself.
The center of the maze was a dark, deep hole. Near the hole, vines with white flowers seemed to swirl
into the ground creating an unforgettable picture. For a moment, Avi was captured by beauty. A bird flew
by his shoulder as if it was trying to tell him something.
Avi stood on the edge of the hole and tried not to let the oil lamp slip from his hands. The light of the
lamp was the only thing—besides the song he was singing to himself—that had given him courage to
come this far. "You can do it," Avi told himself out loud. His four words echoed in the maze.
The only thing Avi heard louder than the sound of his heartbeat was the gushing wind. He tried his
best to guard the lamp from the wind and took long, deep breaths. He leaned against the brick wall
behind him and remembered his mother's voice. "I trust you, son. You must return the ring to where it
belongs and rescue your father. He is waiting for you." He remembered he was not alone after all.
Slowly, Avi pulled the golden ring out of his pocket and waited for the clouds to move away from the
moon. He knew he was supposed to hold the ring against the full moon at midnight. As he looked at his
wrist to figure out the time, he discovered that he had forgotten to wear his watch.

8. Based on this passage, can the reader describe the mood of the story as suspenseful?

A. Yes, because the reader keeps guessing what happens next.

B. No, because the reader feels confident that Avi will succeed.
C. No, because the reader is entertained by the plot of Avi's story.
D. Yes, because the reader feels sympathetic for the characters.

It should be a crime for a company to stop making a product that people like me still use. The most
important rule in business is to satisfy your customers. However, when Sweetie Mills decided to no longer
make its sugar cookies, it was not thinking of its customers. Sweetie Mills was being heartless and selfish
in its decision and its thrifty approach.
Instead of producing my beloved sugar cookies, Sweetie Mills is making the foul peanut butter cookies
and the tart lemon bars. No one even enjoys eating those products. I can testify that the sugar cookies
were so tasty and mouth-watering that they could melt in your mouth. For one entire summer, I tested if
they would melt in my mouth, and they really did! So now that Sweetie Mills has destroyed its best
product, I will no longer eat or buy its food.

9. In the passage, why does the author choose to use the words "heartless," "selfish," and "destroyed"
to describe the company Sweetie Mills?

A. to demonstrate that lemon bars and peanut butter cookies are disgusting
B. to show that he or she is strongly dissatisfied with Sweetie Mills' decision
C. to let Sweetie Mills know that its remaining customers have no heart
D. to prove that Sweetie Mills' other products will ruin every summer
 The Unlikely Hero
by A. Gautam

Avi stopped before taking the final step into the center of the maze. He looked back despite the voice
in his head that told him not to do so. Everything behind him was a crisscross pattern of confusion. How
did I even make it up to this point? Avi asked himself.
The center of the maze was a dark, deep hole. Near the hole, vines with white flowers seemed to swirl
into the ground creating an unforgettable picture. For a moment, Avi was captured by beauty. A bird flew
by his shoulder as if it was trying to tell him something.
Avi stood on the edge of the hole and tried not to let the oil lamp slip from his hands. The light of the
lamp was the only thing—besides the song he was singing to himself—that had given him courage to
come this far. "You can do it," Avi told himself out loud. His four words echoed in the maze.
The only thing Avi heard louder than the sound of his heartbeat was the gushing wind. He tried his
best to guard the lamp from the wind and took long, deep breaths. He leaned against the brick wall
behind him and remembered his mother's voice. "I trust you, son. You must return the ring to where it
belongs and rescue your father. He is waiting for you." He remembered he was not alone after all.
Slowly, Avi pulled the golden ring out of his pocket and waited for the clouds to move away from the
moon. He knew he was supposed to hold the ring against the full moon at midnight. As he looked at his
wrist to figure out the time, he discovered that he had forgotten to wear his watch.

10. Which of these best describes Avi's overall mood in the passage?

A. "He leaned against the brick wall behind him and remembered. . ."
B. " 'I trust you, son. You must return the ring to where it belongs. . .' "
C. "A bird flew by his shoulder as if it was trying to tell him. . ."
D. "The only thing Avi heard louder than the sound of his heartbeat. . ."

11.

There is no one
That can be better
Because you are brilliant.
There is nothing
That you cannot do
Because you are unbeatable.
There is no place
That you cannot go
Because you are always welcomed.
There is no person
That can hold you back
Because you are unstoppable.

In the poem, why does the author choose to use the words "brilliant," "unbeatable," and
"unstoppable"?
A. to tell a person to stop
B. to plead with someone
C. to encourage a person
D. to welcome someone
 The Crush
by A. Gautam

As she watched a dove fly outside the window, Paloma smiled and dreamed of Hector. Now that she
was about to become a teenager, Paloma thought she understood what love was all about. She thought
about all the times she teased her grown-up sister who was always talking about her broken heart.
Esperanza, the elder sister, usually watched the moon and the stars and wanted to write poetry. Although
talking about the heart was not so boring anymore for Paloma, she was not her sister. Paloma knew
better than to write poetry or send a card to a guy.
The next morning, Paloma went to school determined not to even look at Hector. "He should not know
I like him," Paloma told herself over and over again. She passed through the hallway and avoided Hector
who was standing only a few feet away from the classroom door. That's good, Paloma thought. Now, if I
can just focus on the classes, I am all set. She entered the class with confidence and chatted away with
her girlfriends. Paloma had her homework and presentation ready for the teacher. In fact, she wanted to
show Hector that she was a smart girl thinking about school and not boys, when the teacher called on
her.
"Hector, sir," Paloma answered without thinking. As she heard the words come out of her mouth, the
world started to crumble around her. Paloma felt the eyes of her classmates glued to her. She did not
know whether to keep sitting in her chair or to run away from the class. As her cheeks felt hotter than pop
tarts fresh out of the toaster, Paloma squeezed the pencil in her palm and waited for someone else to say
something.

12. Which detail from the passage shows that Paloma is trying to be cautious?

A. ". . . Paloma squeezed the pencil in her palm and waited for. . ."
B. "As she watched a dove fly outside the window, Paloma smiled. . ."
C. "Paloma knew better than to write poetry or send a card to. . ."
D. "As her cheeks felt hotter than pop tarts fresh out of the toaster. . ."

13. Which of these best describes how Paloma's mood changes in the story ?

A. from troubled to calm

B. from sorrowful to angry
C. from tragic to comic
D. from cheerful to tensed

The Unlikely Hero

by A. Gautam

Avi stopped before taking the final step into the center of the maze. He looked back despite the voice
in his head that told him not to do so. Everything behind him was a crisscross pattern of confusion. How
did I even make it up to this point? Avi asked himself.
The center of the maze was a dark, deep hole. Near the hole, vines with white flowers seemed to swirl
into the ground creating an unforgettable picture. For a moment, Avi was captured by beauty. A bird flew
by his shoulder as if it was trying to tell him something.
Avi stood on the edge of the hole and tried not to let the oil lamp slip from his hands. The light of the
lamp was the only thing—besides the song he was singing to himself—that had given him courage to
come this far. "You can do it," Avi told himself out loud. His four words echoed in the maze.
The only thing Avi heard louder than the sound of his heartbeat was the gushing wind. He tried his
best to guard the lamp from the wind and took long, deep breaths. He leaned against the brick wall
behind him and remembered his mother's voice. "I trust you, son. You must return the ring to where it
belongs and rescue your father. He is waiting for you." He remembered he was not alone after all.
Slowly, Avi pulled the golden ring out of his pocket and waited for the clouds to move away from the
moon. He knew he was supposed to hold the ring against the full moon at midnight. As he looked at his
wrist to figure out the time, he discovered that he had forgotten to wear his watch.

14. Which of the following indicates a sudden change in the mood of the story?

A. Avi stood on the edge of the hole and tried not to let the oil lamp. . ."
B. "He tried his best to guard the lamp from the wind and took long. . ."
C. "Vines with white flowers seemed to swirl into the ground creating . . ."
D. "As he looked at his wrist to figure out the time, he discovered . . ."

15. Misfortune always seemed to follow poor Emerson everywhere she went. Some of the
things were really out of her control. She could not stop the rain from falling on her science
project. She could not do anything about how the bus was running late for school. Emerson
was a victim of very bad luck.
So, like any other day, Emerson looked unhappily out the bus window as she rode to
school. She was sitting by herself because no one wanted to have her bad luck rub off on
them. All of the other kids were chatting away because they had an English essay due that
day. Emerson was not happy because she had forgotten her paper on her desk at home. It
was just like any other day in her unfortunate world. Sadly, Emerson rummaged through her
backpack to look for her planner, but she suddenly stopped. There! There was her English
paper! She had put her paper in her bag. This day is going to be okay after all! thought
Emerson.

In the passage, why does the author choose to use the words "poor" and "victim" to describe Emerson?

A. to make the character appear less likable to the readers

B. to prove that the character has a very poor memory
C. to demonstrate that the character has very little money
D. to show that the author sympathizes with the character

16. The clapping of the unhinged shutters against the house woke up John
abruptly. That's strange, thought John puzzled by the sound. I could have sworn that I shut
those shutters before I went to sleep.
Still drowsy with sleep, John stumbled out of bed to close the shutters. He was fearless
even though the noise was alarming. However, when he approached the window, the
shutters were tightly hinged to the wall. John's eyebrows furrowed, creating a deep wrinkle
above the bridge of his nose. I must have been hearing things, John said to himself as he
climbed back into his bed.
Just as John was about to drift back to sleep, the shutters began to pound uncontrollably.
This time he woke up bewildered and out of sorts. He got out of bed bravely and looked at
the shutters again, but they were attached to the wall like the time before. John was
baffled . . . until he saw a hand reach out from the window next to his.

Think about the way the author represents the character of John. How does the author reveal his or her
attitude toward John?
 A. The author presents a problem that John has to solve.
B. The author describes the way John gets out of bed.
C. The author narrates every thought that John has.
D. The author uses words like "fearless" and "bravely."

17.

My Brother
My annoying brother likes to drive me crazy.
There is no other who is that lazy.
He whines to Mom and Dad night and day
Until he eventually gets his way.
What is a sister to do
When he screams 'til he's blue?
There is no way to win,
For he gets under your skin.
He does his best to kill all joy.
Oh, how my brother does annoy!

What is the author's attitude toward the person addressed in the poem?
A. The author is jealous of her brother's ability to whine.
B. The author would like to be lazy like her brother.
C. The author finds her brother's behavior bothersome.
D. The author wants to replace her brother with another.

18. Dear Grandma,

The day has finally arrived—the day I get to move from fifth grade to sixth grade! What can
bring more joy than this? According to Mom, moving up a grade means that I am one year
older. She said that I get to do more things because she and Dad can trust me a little bit
more to do things on my own. Plus, it means that I am closer to becoming a true teenager.
Grandma, it is quite wonderful to be a year older.

I am also excited for the change of scenery. Elementary school was great and all, but middle
school will be fantastic. A new building means a chance to explore someplace new. I can't
wait to enter those doors because it will be quite blissful. Don't be surprised if you don't
recognize me when I come and visit you. After all, I am a year older.

Love,
Wylie

What best describes the tone throughout the letter?

A. amused
B. nervous
C. celebratory
D. funny

19.

There is no wonder grander than the Grand Canyon. It sits on the Colorado Plateau. The canyon is so
great that it is even considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World. It is a true delight to see
the vast beauty of the canyon as it stretches an amazing 277 miles.
The Grand Canyon made its remarkable formation about 17 million years ago. Through years of
erosion, the Colorado River carefully carved the mile-deep canyon. The river helped create the different
layers found on the canyon walls. This adds to the wonder of the Grand Canyon. Even the people from
the canyon have rich histories. The Native Americans such as the Navajo have used the canyon for
hundreds of years. Today, the Navajo have a reservation on the eastern side of the Grand Canyon.
Everyone should visit the Grand Canyon once in their lifetime. Come and see why the canyon is one of
the Seven Wonders of the Natural World.

Which of the following words contributes to the admiring tone of the passage?
A. different
B. remarkable
C. carefully
D. vast

20.
 Breakfast food should only be eaten in the morning! Such items such as scrambled eggs, hash
browns, and waffles should only be served during the early hours. Once 11 a.m. rolls around, all breakfast
eating should stop immediately. What kind of world would it be if breakfast could be served at all hours of
the day?
No one would be certain of the time of day because they will be confused—too puzzled to figure it out.
In order to save us from disorder, we should separate all food and eat them during the proper time. That's
the only way to save the world from chaos. With the support from all people around the world, this service
can be done. We will make sure that no one will ever make the mistake of mixing different meals during
the day!

What best describes the tone throughout the passage?

A. insistent
B. happy
C. appreciative
D. calm

21. We must do something about the trash that floats in the Trinity River. It is too unsafe
for the city and for the families who visit the river every year. The trash floats to the surface
and makes the water unsafe so that nothing can survive in it. Even the animals that live on
and near the river need to be saved from the filth. Bits and pieces of the trash invade their
homes and cause great harm. No person and no living thing deserve the effects that the
trash creates when it is thrown carelessly into the river. It is our duty to clean the water. It is
our responsibility to keep what our community holds dear free from harm.

What best describes the tone throughout the passage?

A. nervous
B. amused
C. calm
D. earnest

22.

I don't care if the sky falls down,

For I won't make a frown.
 I am untroubled if the ice cream melts,
For its loss will not be felt.
I am unworried if my room is a mess,
For it will cause no distress.
I am undisturbed if it is dark at night,
For it gives me no fright.
All does not matter to me—
Unconcerned will I be.

In the poem, why does the author choose to use the words "untroubled," "unworried," and
"undisturbed" to describe his or her views?
A. to prove that everyone is afraid of the night-time
B. to reveal that he or she worries about other things
C. to let others know that his or her room is not messy
D. to show his or her disinterest in anything worrisome

There is no person like me in my middle school or on Earth. My mom will have to agree with me about
that because she always says there’s no kid like me. She says this as she shakes her head whenever
she witnesses my greatness, which happens almost every day.
I believe my mom because I am special. No one can match my intelligence—not even my teachers
who do not seem to teach me anything at all. I am kind enough to sit and listen to them, yet they have the
nerve to give me a D in each of my classes. The teachers are jealous of my brain. No one else has one
like mine—I am unique. My classmates are jealous of me as well. I try to help them out when they are
doing something wrong. However, they refuse to be helped when I tell them they are doing something so
wrong. I would think anyone would like my assistance.

23. What best describes the tone throughout the passage?

A. conceited
B. scornful
C. relaxed
D. joyful

24.

A good-bye
with a cheerless sigh
Is a tug on the heart
That seems to tear us apart.

Farewell, dear friend.

There is so much misery to mend
When you are
Oh, so very far.
Far away you will be
And free from me
While I wait for the day
When you come back to stay.
Which of the following words contributes to the sorrowful tone of the passage?
A. friend
B. free
C. cheerless
D. dear

25.

My legs are about to give in. The strain from the sprint has pushed them to their breaking point. My
breathing has become short—now, it is too difficult to breathe. My arms have dropped to my side as my
body droops ever so slightly. Come on and push, I say to myself. Only a few more meters away.
There is a push to go forward, but every step is heavy, a burden. My entire body burns for oxygen, but
there seems to be no ready supply for me. I see the other sprinters try to move ahead, past me, but I
have not come this far to lose. I make for one last push, for the finish line is just up ahead. Lunging
forward, I find my body cross the finish line.

In the passage, why does the author choose to use the words "strain," "droops," and
"burden" to describe the effect of the sprint?
A. to show that a person's legs are always weak
B. to explain how the body needs oxygen to work
C. to demonstrate the correct way to win any race
D. to describe how exhausting a sprint can be

It should be a crime for a company to stop making a product that people like me still use. The most
important rule in business is to satisfy your customers. However, when Sweetie Mills decided to no longer
make its sugar cookies, it was not thinking of its customers. Sweetie Mills was being heartless and selfish
in its decision and its thrifty approach.
Instead of producing my beloved sugar cookies, Sweetie Mills is making the foul peanut butter cookies
and the tart lemon bars. No one even enjoys eating those products. I can testify that the sugar cookies
were so tasty and mouth-watering that they could melt in your mouth. For one entire summer, I tested if
they would melt in my mouth, and they really did! So now that Sweetie Mills has destroyed its best
product, I will no longer eat or buy its food.

26. What best describes the tone throughout the passage?

A. understanding
 B. angry
C. uplifting
D. excited

27. Oh no! thought Kay as she stood foolishly with a few pieces of tissue stuffed into her
nose. She was so ashamed, but she had done nothing to stop the embarrassment. Her nose
had bled just a few moments before, but the only thing that she had done was to push an
unwise amount of tissue up her nose. However, after she stuffed the tissue pieces into her
nose, Kay realized that she was out in the open at the tennis tournament.
Kay questioned herself, What am I supposed to now? Her face reddened as she thought
about it more and more.
There was nothing to hide behind or disguise herself with—all Kay could do was look
down. She had to avoid looking at people in their faces at all cost. She really thought she
could get away with that. Then, her worst nightmare came true. A large crowd of her
classmates entered the area. In her head, Kay pleaded,Please don't recognize me.
"Kay!" yelled one of her classmates.
Kay hesitated and did not turn around. "Kay!" repeated the classmate. "I can see you!"
Ridiculously, Kay lifted her head in response.

Think about the way the author portrays the character of Kay. How does the author reveal his or her
attitude toward Kay?

A. The author shows that a crowd attends the tournament.

B. The author explains how Kay gets a bloody nose.
C. The author describes how loudly Kay's classmate yells.
D. The author uses words like "foolishly" and "unwise."

28.

Hurry! Hurry up! was all Lee could think of as she waited impatiently. She wanted and needed her
cake to bake quickly right now. She had forgotten that she needed one for the birthday party that she was
throwing for her best friend. Lee was so anxious because the party was only 30 minutes away. She really
wanted this party to be the best party ever. And, the cake was critical to a birthday party; it was the
centerpiece.
Lee could only pace back and forth because she couldn't do anything—it was up to the oven now. She
felt so hopeless because she couldn't help speed up the baking. Once in awhile, Lee drummed her
fingers on the counter. Lee was frantic. She watched the time shrink before her eyes—she was slowly
running out of the time. Breathing heavily, Lee looked around her kitchen to see if she could replace the
cake with something else. However, there was nothing! There was no solution but just to wait. . . .
Which of the following words contributes to the desperate tone in the passage?
A. slowly
B. frantic
C. shrink
D. wanted

Up on the Mountain
by A. Gautam

Sange Sherpa was too tired to get the yaks to obey him today. Although they were well-fed, the yaks
refused to move at all. Sange tried all the songs he knew and even acted tough toward his cattle.
However, the yaks had minds of their own and took their sweet time getting home.
Exhausted from the journey to the village half a day away, Sange decided to rest for a moment with
the yaks. It was a pleasant afternoon. Snow was melting away and the sun was spreading its red color on
the mountains. Sange opened his cloth bag to chew on some roasted corn. He loved watching the sun
prepare to set for the day while chewing corn. In the mountains, he could see the sun set at around four in
the afternoon—way before the rest of the world. Life is simple, Sange thought. I can live forever like this.
As the yaks rested quietly with Sange, he was slowly falling asleep on the stone. He would have
closed his eyes completely had he not heard the sound of bells ringing from far away. Sange climbed up
on the nearest rock to see where the sound was coming from and saw a bunch of kids running out from a
little building. He saw the kids jumping up and down carrying books in their hands. From a distance, he
could hear them singing a song they perhaps learned from a teacher.
Sange got off the mountain and sank to the ground. Ready or not, he had to take the yaks home. He
wanted to get out of the kids' way before they would pass him. As Sange felt his head and heart become
heavy, he realized he could not live forever grazing cattle.

29. Toward the end of the story, the author uses a _______ tone to describe Sange.

A. cheerful
B. solemn
C. harsh
D. relaxed
30.

Beloved, be assured
Your memory has endured
What time has tried to erase,
For I cannot forget your face.

Darling, the years fly away

And try as they may;
You do not fade
By any degree or shade.

Precious, do not forget about me

That is my only plea,
For nothing I can do
Will let me forget about you.

What is the author's attitude toward the person addressed in the poem?
A. The author wants to forget the person.
B. The author wishes the person would age.
C. The author holds the person very dear.
D. The author thinks the person is forgetful.

31. Dear Madame Pierre,

The situation is grave, I must say. I do not know how to approach the subject without
creating a bigger problem. I have truly exhausted all my options, so I sadly must inform you
that your dress for the ball will not be ready in time. I have tried my best to make all the
changes that you wanted for the dress. However, the changes cannot be made in the
amount of time you requested.

I am truly sorry for causing you distress at such an important time. I sincerely hope you
accept my apology. I beg you to consider remaining a customer at my store, for you have a
keen eye for design.

My apologies,

Fleur de Lis
Dressmaker

Read the following sentence from the letter.

I beg you to consider remaining a customer at my store, for you have a keen eye for design.

How does the word "beg" contribute to the tone of the letter?

A. The dressmaker uses the word to make the reader sympathize with her problem.
B. The dressmaker uses the word to demonstrate that she needs help with designs.
 C. The dressmaker uses the word to prove that she does not care about the dress.
D. The dressmaker uses the word to show that she is pleading with her customer.

32. Disneyland Park is nothing like it is advertised. That came as a true shock to me
because of its reputation of being one of the best parks in the world. However, Disneyland is
just an ordinary amusement park. Sure, the park stretches about 85 acres in California. And,
people can walk through such places as Tomorrowland, Frontierland, and Fantasyland, but
those things do not impress me much.
My mom told me about how she had ridden on the Skyway to Tomorrowland when she
was a little kid. She said that the ride gave the best view of the park and that it was her
favorite memory from childhood. I couldn't wait to ride on the skyway when I first arrived at
Disneyland. I wanted to have an unforgettable time there like her. However, it was a true
letdown when I heard that the ride had stopped running long ago. That is why Disneyland
Park is nothing like how I imagined it to be.

What is the author's attitude toward Disneyland Park?

A. The author finds the visit to the amusement park enjoyable.

B. The author believes that the amusement park is unforgettable.
C. The author is very critical of the amusement park's reputation.
D. The author is amazed by the different areas found in the park.

33. April 20, 20—

Dear Mr. Johnson,

I am writing to you about the stuff I bought at your store Just for Legs. I purchased
the Genes boot-cut jeans. The jeans are really awful. After one wash in the washing
machine, they were torn. I didn't even get to wear them to my friend Jimmy's party like I
wanted.

No one should ever be sold a product like that. I would like a full refund for the jeans
because they are horrible. Next time, you should really check if the jeans are alright because
it's really uncool to have torn jeans.

Thanks,

Josh

What best describes the tone throughout the letter?

A. amused
B. hurt
C. happy
D. informal
Answers
1. C
2. B
3. C
4. A
5. C
6. D
7. B
8. A
9. B
10. D
11. C
12. C
13. D
14. C
15. D
16. D
17. C
18. C
19. B
20. A
21. D
22. D
23. A
24. C
25. D
26. B
27. D
28. B
29. B
30. C
31. D
32. C
33. D