Mona Lisa

41. What does the poet mean by the phrase “wrought in vain” as it is used in line 4?

• A struggled with technique

• B produced flawed work

• C made no progress

• D became frustrated

42. What is the meaning of the phrase “hastened by” as it is used in line 5?

• A carelessly passed

• B chaotically passed

• C methodically passed

• D quickly passed

43. According to the poem, how much time has passed since da Vinci began painting the “Mona Lisa”?

• A 12 months

• B 36 months

• C 60 months

• D 72 months

44. As it is used in line 10, what does the word tireless indicate about Leonardo da Vinci?

• A He is driven to paint a perfect portrait.

• B He is creatively exhausted and out of ideas.

• C He has spent too much time on the small details.

• D He has been able to skip sleep in order to paint.

45. What can the reader infer from lines 13-16?

• A The poet admires da Vinci’s talent and perfectionism.

• B The poet is impressed with the model’s patience

• C The poet offers advice on finishing touches for the painting.

• D The poet is close friends with da Vinci and able to speak honestly.

46. How do lines 17-28 impact the meaning of the poem?

• A The lines confirm da Vinci’s frustration at not being able to finish the painting.

• B The lines detail the most striking features of the woman da Vinci was painting.

• C The lines explain that the woman’s beauty made da Vinci’s task easy.

• D The lines highlight the realism within da Vinci’s painting.

47. What is the meaning of the word elude as it is used in line 37?

• A confuse

• B distress

• C encourage

• D escape

48. What is the effect of the repetition of the phrase “Mona Lisas” in lines 40 and 49?

• A It contrasts the contented message of the “Mona Lisa” to the stressful lives of most people.

• B It emphasizes the symbolism of the “Mona Lisa” as the goals people strive to achieve in life.

• C It illustrates the impact of the beauty of the “Mona Lisa” on those who view it.

• D It proves that the “Mona Lisa” became an obsessive goal for da Vinci to finish

Questions 49-50 ask about what you read in the passage “Leonardo’s Lady” and the poem “Mona Lisa.” 49. Which quotation from paragraph 4 in the passage provides an explanation for the poet’s statement that it took da Vinci a long time to paint the “Mona Lisa”?

• A “Rumors of Leonardo’s infatuation for this beautiful woman have never been verified, but several other sketches and another painting were found of which she evidently was the model.”

• B “He spent intervals of four years painting ‘Mona Lisa.’”

• C “The sittings were short because he could paint only when Mona smiled.”

• D “The artist is said to have employed musicians and jesters to perform nearby in order to produce the ‘inscrutable smile.’”

50. Which set of lines from the poem supports the author’s claim in paragraph 6 of the passage that the “Mona Lisa” inspired universal interest?

• A “Artist! lay the brush aside; Twilight gathers chill and gray; Turn the picture to the wall, Thou hast wrought in vain today.” (lines 1-4)

• B “But the early morning shineth On thy tireless labors yet, And the portrait stands before thee Till the evening sun has set.” (lines 9-12)

• C “From the living face of beauty Beams the soul’s expressive ray, And with all thy god-like genius This thou never canst portray.” (lines 25-28)

• D “Visions haunt us from our childhood Of a love so pure, so true, Time and tears, and care and anguish, Leave it steadfast, fair and new;” (lines 33-36)