American Lit and Language Skills Second Semester Test

Name: ID:

Email:

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

“An Episode of War” is the story of

a.	a young soldier named Willie.	c.	the Battle at Gettysburg.
b.	how a lieutenant lost his arm.	d.	the conflict between a soldier and a doctor.

In “An Episode of War,” details such as the rubber blanket, neat squares of coffee,
breast-work, puffs of white smoke in the woods, and even an ashen looking man smoking a corncob pipe all serve to heighten the of the story.

a.	naturalism	c.	romanticism
b.	sentimentalism	d.	realism

Realism is the name given to a literary movement that

a.	was the foundation for Romanticism.	c.	focused on ordinary people faced with the harsh realities of everyday life.
b.	focused on showing that people’s lives are often shaped by forces they can’t understand or control.	d.	grew out of Naturalism.

What serves as a hospital in “An Episode of War”?

a.	an old horse barn	c.	an old schoolhouse
b.	a group of ambulances	d.	a former jailhouse

In “An Episode of War,” what happens before the lieutenant is reunited with his
family?

a.	He has been wounded several more times.	c.	He has lost his wounded arm through amputation.
b.	He has deserted the army and made his way home.	d.	He has refused to let the doctor treat his wounded arm.

In “The Outcasts of Poker Flat,” the outcasts are forced to leave Poker Flat by which group of people?

a.	the churchgoing citizens	c.	cheated, angry card players
b.	a secret committee of townspeople	d.	the town council

Which of the following is NOT an accurate description of John Oakhurst?

a.	he cheats at cards	c.	he is coolheaded
b.	he never drinks while gambling	d.	he is a gentleman, as gamblers go

How does Mother Shipton die?

a.	from frostbite	c.	from a heart attack
b.	by a suicidal shooting	d.	from intentional starvation

In “The Outcasts of Poker Flat,” why does Tom Simson like John Oakhurst?

a.	Tom considers John a surrogate father.	c.	Tom thinks Oakhurst is a kindly minister.
b.	The gambler treated Tom well after a card game.	d.	Oakhurst does not object to Tom’s marrying Piney.

10.

The irony of John Oakhurst’s death in “The Outcasts of Poker Flat,” is that he

a.	should have been the last one to die	c.	knew he had lost his bet and cashed in his chips.
b.	represented the strongest of the party but was actually the weakest	d.	had encouraged Uncle Billy to go for help

11.

Which of the following indicates the outcome of events in “The Outcast of Poker Flat”?

a.	four people freeze to death; one survives	c.	Two choose to die; two freeze to death; one survives
b.	All five members freeze to death	d.	three starve to death; two commit suicide

12.

The goal of the group in “The Outcasts of Poker Flat,” was to reach this town:

a.	Roaring Creek	c.	Redwood Junction
b.	Napa Valley	d.	Sandy Bar

13.

In “The Outcasts of Poker Flat,” the author, Bret Harte, treats the story’s main characters:

a.	realistically	c.	objectively
b.	sentimentally	d.	absurdly

14.

In “To Build a Fire,” there is an external conflict between

a.	the beauty of nature and the cruelty of nature	c.	society and the individual
b.	human beings and nature	d.	instinct and civilization

15.

In “To Build a Fire,” the man’s most crucial lack of knowledge concerns

a.	the nature of extreme winter cold	c.	the proper way to make a fire
b.	the desertedness of the Yukon trail	d.	the need for a gun and supplies

16.

What is the man’s reason for building the first fire in “To Build a Fire”?

a.	to thaw his frozen lunch	c.	to dry his wet feet
b.	to warm his chilled dog	d.	to warm himself and his lunch

17.

Why does the man choose to build his second fire under a spruce tree?

a.	to escape the biting wind	c.	for easy access to fuel
b.	as a shelter from falling snow	d.	to protect his tiny fire

18.

In “To Build a Fire,” the man, in an attempt to save his life, tries all of the following EXCEPT

a.	running to the camp where his companions are	c.	warming his hands by beating them against his sides
b.	killing the dog and warming his hands in its body	d.	burrowing into a snowdrift with the dog

19.

The man’s death in “To Build a Fire,” was caused by every factor EXCEPT

a.	extremely frigid temperatures	c.	getting wet in the underground spring
b.	not having any food with him	d.	being alone in the wilderness

20.

Until the end of “To Build a Fire,” the man’s attitude toward the advice provided by the old-timer at Sulphur Creek was on of:

a.	respect	c.	confusion
b.	curiosity	d.	ridicule

21.

Jim doesn’t want Huck to see the dad man’s face in the flooded house because it

a.	is a mess	c.	is Pap
b.	is Tom’s father	d.	has been shot in the face

22.

Huck justifies his stealing by saying

a.	he needs it	c.	Tom Sawyer does it
b.	he is just borrowing it	d.	the owner doesn’t need it

23.

Huck finally gets rid of the Duke and Dauphin when

a.	they sell Jim	c.	he shoves them overboard
b.	they are lynched	d.	he gives them “the slip” and escapes

24.

Tom’s prize trophy from helping Jim escape is

a.	a tin pan	c.	Jim’s freedom
b.	the reward money	d.	a bullet

25.

Huck and Jim attribute their bad luck to

a.	the work of witches	c.	killing a spider
b.	touching a snakeskin	d.	looking a new moon

26.

Whenever Huck thinks about helping Jim to freedom he feels

a.	proud	c.	apathetic
b.	confused and ashamed	d.	happy

27.

One of Mark Twain’s most useful methods to achieve “local color” is his

a.	use of dialect	c.	complicated theme
b.	long descriptive passages	d.	none of these

28.

The feud between the Grangerfords and the Shepherdsons is caused by

a.	cowardice	c.	Miss Emmeline’s marriage to Harney
b.	a water right dispute	d.	none of these

29.

The Great Gatsby takes place shortly after

a.	World War II	c.	The First World War
b.	the Spanish American War	d.	the Korean War

30.

The setting of The Great Gatsby is for the most part

a.	on Long Island	c.	in the Middle West
b.	on the Pacific Coast	d.	in Europe

31.

The time period of The Great Gatsby is sometimes referred to as the

a.	Jazz Age	c.	Classical Age
b.	Atomic Age	d.	Romantic Age

32.

F Scott Fitzgerald’s wife’s name was

a.	Mary	c.	Zita
b.	Zelda	d.	Virginia

True/False
Indicate whether the statement is true or false.

33.

At the beginning of “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” Peyton Farquhar is about to be hanged.

34.

In “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” Peyton Farquhar is arrested by Northern troops because an enemy has accused him of spying.

35.

Peyton Farquhar’s character, in “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” is a peace-loving man who wants nothing to do with the Civil War.

36.

As he stands on the gallows and is about to be hanged, Farquhar is surprised to learn that he can free his hands.

37.

Farquhar becomes lost in the desert on the way home to his family.

38.

Peyton Farquhar’s escape from the gallows in “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” takes place entirely in his imagination.

39.

Farquhar’s character survives, and is reunited with his family at the end of “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.”

40.

Gatsby runs over Myrtle Wilson with his car.

41.

Daisy is impressed by Gatsby’s party in West Egg.

42.

Tom buys a puppy for Myrtle in New York City.

43.

Dr. T.J. Eckelberg is a frequent guest at Gatsby’s parties.

44.

Gatsby was a German spy during World War I.

45.

George Wilson plans to move west with his wife Myrtle.

46.

Jordan Baker was a bridesmaid at Tom and Daisy’s wedding.

47.

East Egg is the home of the established and fashionable wealthy.

48.

Gatsby attended Oxford University.

49.

There is a green light at the end of Gatsby’s dock.

50.

Nick is a distant second cousin to Tom Buchanan.

51.

Meyer Wolfsheim attends Gatsby’s funeral.

Matching: The questions below apply to The Great Gatsby.

a.	DAISY BUCHANAN	i.	MEYER WOLFSHEIM
b.	DAN CODY	j.	MICHAELIS
c.	DR. TJ ECKLEBURG	k.	MR. MCKEE
d.	GEORGE WILSON	l.	MYRTLE WILSON
e.	HENRY GATZ	m.	NICK CARRAWAY
f.	JAY GATSBY	n.	OWL-EYES
g.	JORDAN BAKER	o.	TOM BUCHANAN
h.	KLIPSPRINGER

52.

The chief character in the book.

53.

The woman loved by the chief character.

54.

Husband of the chief character’s love interest

55.

The narrator of the story.

56.

The “other woman” who lives above a garage.

57.

A professional sportswoman

58.

Gatsby’s business acquaintance who fixed the World Series

59.

Gatsby’s father

60.

Myrtle’s husband

61.

A coffee shop owner

62.

A mooching piano player

63.

Impressed by Gatsby’s library

64.

Photographer neighbor

65.

An oculist with “God’s eyes”