Regents Exam Reading Comprehension

The first paragraph creates a sense of

• submission

• urgency

• frustration

• hopelessness

The use of the word “although” in line 12 signals Mrs. Bishop’s

• disapproval

• enthusiasm

• nervousness

• resilience

The “soft, pleasant sadness” (line 40) Mrs. Bishop experiences while listening to the man cough indicates that she is

• discouraged by the illnesses spread on the subway

• inclined to help those in need

• pressured to act graciously in uncomfortable situations

• reassured by those who are less fortunate than she

Lines 44 through 46 convey Mrs. Bishop’s

• confidence

• insincerity

• optimism

• hostility

Mrs. Bishop’s thoughts in lines 6 through 8 contrast with her statements in lines 64 and 65, revealing that she

• exaggerates her feelings to manipulate her husband

• hoards her money to cheat her friends

• demonstrates her neediness to agitate her husband

• flaunts her wealth to impress her friends

The details in lines 74 through 76 suggest that Mr. Bishop is

• puzzled

• uneasy

• suspicious

• selfish

The figurative language in lines 84 and 85 reveals that Mrs. Bishop is

• confused about her values

• relieved of her discontent

• forced to face reality

• pleased to learn the truth

In which lines is the central idea of the passage most clearly revealed?

• “there was a discolored callous on his second finger where he probably held his pencil” (lines 31 and 32)

• “but there was nothing smart about Maude and the uniforms never looked right” (lines 49 and 50)

• “He reached in his pocket and took out a small roll of crumpled bills” (lines 60 and 61)

• “It looked dreadfully like the sleeve of the overcoat she had seen in the subway” (line 83)

The primary conflict in the passage is Mrs. Bishop’s

• perception of herself

• relationship with Maude

• reluctance to help others

• friendship with Lila Hardy

The figurative language used in lines 9 through 11 suggests the

• anticipation of life’s challenges

• questioning of life’s meaning

• appreciation of patience

• importance of solitude