By the Waters of Babylon

Name

By the Waters of Babylon

Multiple Choice

Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

Critical ReadingIdentify the letter of the choice that best answers the question.

____ 1. In “By the Waters of Babylon,” how is John's society different from the one that came before it?

a. / Priests govern the society.
b. / Technology is more advanced.
c. / People eat only plants.
d. / There is no warfare.

____ 2. In “By the Waters of Babylon,” why does John go to the Place of the Gods?

a. / to become more powerful
b. / to seek knowledge
c. / to find metal
d. / to anger his father

____ 3. In “By the Waters of Babylon,” John sees the city “as it had been when the gods were alive.” What is he seeing?

a. / a view of another planet
b. / New York City as it had been
c. / the future
d. / a myth

____ 4. In “By the Waters of Babylon,” what does John finally realize about the gods?

a. / that they did not know how to read
b. / that they used magic to cook and wash
c. / that they still lived in the city
d. / that they were people

____ 5. What creates irony in “By the Waters of Babylon”?

a. / John finally understands the truth about the gods.
b. / John goes to the Place of the Gods even though it is forbidden.
c. / The narrator knows more about the “Place of the Gods” than the reader does.
d. / The reader knows more about the “Place of the Gods” than John does.

____ 6. Which sentence from “One Thousand Dollars” or “By the Waters of Babylon” reflects first-person point of view?

a. / After a time, I myself was allowed to go into the dead houses and search for metal.
b. / “I thank you very much, sir,” said Gillian, and out he went to his cab.
c. / The towers are not all broken—here and there one still stands.
d. / Without touching the envelope, Mr. Tolman went to a door and called his partner, Sharp.

____ 7. Which is true of both “One Thousand Dollars” and “By the Waters of Babylon”?

a. / They are set in the past.
b. / They are set in the future.
c. / They are set in a different time period from our own.
d. / They are set in our own time period.

____ 8. Which is a theme of both “One Thousand Dollars” and “By the Waters of Babylon”?

a. / Things are not always what they seem to be.
b. / If you do what is forbidden, you will pay the price.
c. / Love can change the world.
d. / Life is not always fair.

____ 9. In “By the Waters of Babylon,” which period represents “the beginning of time” for John's society?

a. / before the evolution of the human species
b. / before the onset of the Industrial Revolution
c. / after human beings learned to use fire
d. / after the destruction of modern civilization

____ 10. John's references to gods and magic in “By the Waters of Babylon” suggest that

a. / John is young.
b. / his people lack knowledge of technology.
c. / the People of the Hills are social outcasts.
d. / the Great Burning was a recent event.

____ 11. What conclusion can be drawn from this passage from “By the Waters of Babylon”?

There was also the shattered image of a man or a god. It had been made of white stone and he wore his hair tied back like a woman's. His name was ASHING.…

a. / The image is a statue of Washington.
b. / The gods had a leader named ASHING.
c. / Some people considered Washington a god.
d. / The gods had greater respect for men than for women.

____ 12. John's discovery that the “gods” were men makes him realize that

a. / he can no longer be considered a priest.
b. / his people are capable of similar feats.
c. / New York City was once a sacred place.
d. / the Hill People are completely insignificant.

____ 13. The point of view used in “By the Waters of Babylon” causes the reader to

a. / strongly identify with John.
b. / judge the narrator to be ignorant.
c. / believe in magic.
d. / see the world in a new way.

____ 14. How are Gillian in “One Thousand Dollars” and John in “By the Waters of Babylon” alike?

a. / Both take actions that others may perceive to be foolish.
b. / Neither is treated fairly by his elders.
c. / Both allow fear and uncertainty to determine their actions.
d. / Neither comes to understand an important truth.

____ 15. Both “One Thousand Dollars” and “By the Waters of Babylon” are set

a. / in New York City, and in the past.
b. / in Europe, and in the future.
c. / in New York City, and in a different time period from our own.
d. / in Europe, and in our own time period.

Essay

16. In an essay, choose an alternate point of view for either “One Thousand Dollars” or “By the Waters of Babylon.” Explain how the story would have been different if this alternate point of view had been used. In your opinion, would this point of view have made the story better, or did the author choose the most effective point of view to begin with?