Pass Reading Prep

Think about the narrator's choice of words and images in this passage. Which word best describes the narrator's tone?

• hopeful

• angry

• grieving

• serious

What mood does the narrator's description of the setting create for readers?

• a gloomy mood

• a carefree mood

• a hectic mood

• a dreamy, magical mood

Day had broken cold and gray, exceedingly cold and gray, when the man turned aside from the main Yukon* trail and climbed the high earth-bank, where a dim and little-traveled trail led eastard through the fat spruce timberland. It was a steep bank, and he paused for breath at the top, excusing the act ti himself by looking at his watch. It was nine o'clock. There was no sun nor hint of sun, though there was not a cloud in the sky. It was a clear day, and yet there seemed an intangible pall** over the face of things, a subtle gloom that made the day dark, and that was due to the absence of sun, and he knew a few more days must pass before that cheerful orb, due south, would just peep above the skyline and dip immediately from view.

*Yukon: referring to a cold northwestern area of Canada near Alaska

**pall: dark covering

From which part of the story's plot does this passage most likely come?

• rising action

• exposition

• falling action

• climax

The narrator says that "there seemed to an intangible pall over the face of things." Since tangible means "able to be touched or perceived," what does intangible mean? Base your answer on the meaning on the Latin prefix in- as well as the meaning of tangible.

• able to be touched or perceived again

• not able to be touched

• previously able to be touched or perceived

• able to be touched on the outside

From the details in the passage, what do you predict is most likely to happen later?

Read this opening passage from the story "To Build a Fire" by Jack London. Then, answer the question(s).

Day had broken cold and gray, exceedingly cold and gray, when the man turned aside from the main Yukon* trail and climbed the high earth-bank, where a dim and little-traveled trail led eastard through the fat spruce timberland. It was a steep bank, and he paused for breath at the top, excusing the act ti himself by looking at his watch. It was nine o'clock. There was no sun nor hint of sun, though there was not a cloud in the sky. It was a clear day, and yet there seemed an intangible pall** over the face of things, a subtle gloom that made the day dark, and that was due to the absence of sun, and he knew a few more days must pass before that cheerful orb, due south, would just peep above the skyline and dip immediately from view.

*Yukon: referring to a cold northwestern area of Canada near Alaska

**pall: dark covering

• The man will come to a lovely garden.

• The man will return to the comfort of home.

• The man will return to the comfort of home.

• The man will struggle to survive in the cold.

Which of these details should a summary of this passage NOT include?

• the fact that Wright worked in Chicago

• the fact that Wright is an influence on other architects

• an explanation of the causes of the Great Fire of 1871

• the term "prairie style"

Using the context clues and your knowledge of the Latin root -ceed-, what can you conclude is the meaning of the word proceeding in this sentence?

Wright remained there for several years, often quarreling with colleagues, before proceeding to establish his own architecture firm where he could experiment with his own ideas and style.

• coming before

• restoring

• moving ahead

• carrying

Which sentence uses adjectives and adverbs correctly?

• Natalia did real well in the last race.

• Grandma feels rather tiredly today.

• The other runner is moving real quick.

• The first grader behaved badly in class.

What is the meaning of the underlined idiom in this sentence? The big job was not yet finished, but Nathan could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

• a way to prevent damage

• a clever idea

• the end of a difficult task

• signs of danger

Using context clues, choose the correct meaning of the French phrase faux pas in this sentence.

The diplomat studied local customs so that she would not make a faux pas at the important ceremony.

• social mistake

• dishonest statement

• public ceremony

• military battle