Name: Date: Hour:
Language Arts 1 – Mid-term Study Guide
The Cask of Amontillado
1) Identify the following vocabulary words: retribution, explicit, termination, subsided
2) What types of mood(s) can the reader experience while reading this literary piece?
3) Who are the main characters?
4) What are their roles in this story?
5) Why would Poe use catacombs as the main setting for this story?
6) What is amontillado?
7) What has Montresor done to Fortunato?
8) What descriptions of Fortunato shape your impression of him the most?
9) Why does Montresor keep urging Fortunato to turn back?
10) At what point in the story may Poe portray Montresor to be the most disturbing and sinister?
The Most Dangerous Game
11) Identify the following vocabulary words: futile, bizarre, palpable, grotesque, naïve
12) How do the words in the title of the story create suspense?
13) “Sometimes I think evil is a tangible thing-with wave lengths, just as sound and light have.” What does this quote reveal to be the meaning of tangible?
14) Who is the conflict(s) between in The Most Dangerous Game?
15) What can you conclude about the feelings Rainsford has for animals at the beginning of the story?
16) How does the shot that Rainsford hears while on the yacht add suspense to the story?
17) What happens to Rainsford after he hears a gunshot while on the yacht?
18) “The first thing Rainsford’s eyes discerned was the largest man Rainsford had ever seen.” What does discerned mean?
19) What happened to Zaroff at the end of the story? How can you tell what happened?
20) What words can you use to describe Zaroff’s character?
The Interlopers
21) Identify the following vocabulary words: precipitous, medley, languor, condolences, succor
22) What was the reason for the feud between Ulrich and Georg?
23) What was the effect of the beech tree falling over?
24) What is an example of an internal conflict in the story?
25) What is an example of an external conflict in the story?
26) Why would the two men decide to end their feud as the story goes on?
27) Is it ironic that wolves showed up at the end of the story (and assuming they killed both men)?
28) What is it about human nature that leads to feuds like the one in this story?
29) What can you conclude about Ulrich and Georg’s characters from their harsh exchange they had with each other at first?
30) Will it ever be possible for feuds such as Ulrich and Georg’s to ever end over time? Why or why not?
Casey at the Bat
31) Identify the following vocabulary words: pallor, wreathed, writhing, tumult
32) What type of athlete/player would you say Casey is? Why?
33) How might Casey’s attitude have affected his game at the end?
34) Why is this poem still discussed today in sports when it was written over 120 years ago?
35) How might defeat add to a player’s popularity?
36) What is the outcome of Casey’s turn at bat?
37) At what point in the poem is the climax presented?
38) At what point in the poem is the anticlimax presented?
39) What are the expectations for Casey when he comes to bat?
40) What was the name of Casey’s team?
The Odyssey
41) Identify the following vocabulary words: plundered, dispatched, bereft, ardor, dissemble, bemusing, equity, contempt
Identify the following characters:
42) Odysseus 43) Zeus 44) Poseidon 45) Circe 46) Athena 47) Telemachus 48) Cyclops 49) Calypso
50) Apollo 51) Tiresias 52) Antinous 53) Scylla/Charybdis 54) Sirens 55) Penelope
Identify the main occurrences at the following events:
56) Land of Ismarus 57) Land of Lotus Eaters 58) Cyclops Island 59) Land of the Dead
60) Circe’s Hall 61) Cattle of the Sun God 62) The Suitors 63) The Challenge
64) Odysseus’ Revenge 65) Penelope’s Test
66) What are some of Odysseus’ internal conflicts?
67) What are some of Odysseus’ external conflicts?
68) What might or should a leader of a crew, like Odysseus, consider before going on a long journey?
69) What significant role does Odysseus’ home play in his epic journey?
70) Who fought in the Trojan War?
71) What are some positive and negative traits Odysseus demonstrates on Cyclops’ Island?
72) Whom does Odysseus encounter in the Land of the Dead?
73) Why does Odysseus choose to sail toward Scylla rather than Charybdis?
74) Why is Odysseus unable to keep his men from killing the cattle?
75) Did the members of the crew deserve the punishment they received for killing the cattle?
76) Is it a coincidence that Argus dies just when Odysseus returns? Explain
77) Why do you think Antinous treats Odysseus so badly?
78) What does Odysseus tell Penelope about himself?
79) Even though some suitors are more at fault than others, why would Odysseus want to take equal revenge
on all of them?
80) Why does Penelope feel the need to test Odysseus, even though he has abandoned his disguise?
Grammar and more
Subject-verb agreement
81) Either the physicians in this hospital or the chief administrator (is/are) going to have to make a decision.
82) Kara Wolters, together with her teammates, (present/presents) a formidable opponent on the basketball
court.
83) He seems to forget that there (is/are) things to be done before he can graduate.
Pronoun-antecedent
84) During early rehearsals, an actor may forget (his or her/their) lines.
85) The Washington team was opportunistic; (it/they) took advantage of every break.
86) Neither the pilot nor the attendants gave (his or her/their) opinion about the mishap.
Context clues
87) The Johnsons had a plethora of apricots this year, and were more than willing to share their harvest with
anyone who asked.
a. gift b. surplus c. deficiency
88) I tried to remain interested and connected, but she was so loquacious that I had to excuse myself after half
an hour, or risk glazing over and losing the thread of the conversation.
a. boring b. talkative c. annoying
89) By creating an analogy between her own past experiences and the example outlined on the essay test,
Cara was able to write a more personalized essay.
a. comparison b. structure c. illustration
90) I am so glad we went to see the opening of the artist's work at Leitner's Galleries. What a formidable new
talent!
a. polite b. young c. impressive