The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone Unit Test

Perris drafts this paragraph for his analysis.

James Cross Giblin, in The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone, effectively explains the struggle to understand the Rosetta Stone using multiple examples of scholars who attempted to decipher it. Giblin details the failed attempts of Kircher, who "let his imagination run wild,” as well as the successes of Champollion, who was proven to be "correct without any doubt.”

How does Perris present suitable evidence for his analysis?

• Perris avoids stating the chronological order in which the scholars studied the stone.

• Perris provides descriptive details about the Rosetta Stone.

• Perris quotes textual evidence that supports his thesis.

• Perris avoids paraphrasing important ideas that are presented in the text about the stone.

The first step in preparing a literary analysis is to

• develop a thesis.

• form an opinion.

• make an idea map.

• read a text

Read this example.

Cherise was assigned to write a literary analysis of a book she read about the civil rights movement. Cherise did not enjoy the book because it was confusing to her. She believed that it introduced characters without explaining who they were and that it jumped too quickly from event to event without giving enough description.

Cherise’s thesis statement for her literary analysis is "Many different people were involved in the important events that started the civil rights movement.”

Which answer best describes Cherise’s thesis statement?

• Cherise’s thesis is acceptable because it expresses an opinion about the subject.

• Cherise’s thesis is acceptable because it summarizes the general points of the text.

• Cherise’s thesis needs revision because it expresses an opinion and should not.

• Cherise’s thesis needs revision because it lacks textual evidence about the topic.

Which statement best describes a literary analysis?

• A literary analysis combines the writer’s own opinions about a text with evidence from the text.

• A literary analysis requires research from many sources of information to support an argument.

• A literary analysis contains only facts from a text and should not contain opinions.

• A literary analysis summarizes a text and makes a recommendation for others to read it

Which of the following words would be found between the dictionary guide words “measure” and “memory”?

• mental

• meal

• member

• metal

• the definition

• the pronunciation

• the origin

• the part of speech

Read this excerpt from The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone by James Cross Giblin.

Champollion spent almost a year and a half in Egypt. On his return home to Paris, he began the huge job of deciphering and organizing all the material he had gathered. Sad to say, he did not live to see the fruits of his labor. On March 4, 1832, while preparing the results of the expedition for publication, he collapsed and died after a series of strokes. He was only forty-one.

Based on the excerpt, what was the effect of Champollion’s visit to Egypt?

• Champollion died at the age of forty-one.

• Champollion returned to Paris.

• Champollion published a book.

• Champollion gathered more knowledge.

The context of a word is

• the definition of the word.

• the circumstances in which the word is used.

• the language the word comes from.

• the reader’s prior knowledge about the word.

Read this excerpt from The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone by James Cross Giblin.

Following a visit to the ruins of Karnak near Thebes, Champollion wrote in his journal: "At last I have visited the palace, or rather the city, of monuments, Karnak. . . . No nation on earth, ancient or modern, has ever conceived architecture on so noble and vast a scale. . . . The Egyptians of old thought like men a hundred feet high."

Based on the details in the excerpt, the reader can infer that

• Champollion was frightened after seeing Karnak.

• Champollion was disappointed after seeing Karnak.

• Champollion was amazed after seeing Karnak.

• Champollion was confused after seeing Karnak.

Read this excerpt from The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone by James Cross Giblin.

Champollion's contributions to the world's knowledge of ancient Egypt did not end with his death, however. Working from Champollion's notes, his brother Jacques-Joseph completed the Egyptian Grammar and Egyptian Dictionary that Champollion had started. The books were published in several volumes during the 1830s and 1840s, and were warmly welcomed by most scholars in France, Germany, England, and other countries.

Based on the details in the excerpt, readers can infer that

• People lost interest in Champollion’s work after his death.

• Champollion’s brother also had an interest in ancient Egypt.

• Champollion’s notes were destroyed after his death.

• Other authors also published books about ancient Egypt.