he Outcasts of Poker FlatBret Harte1 As Mr. John Oakhurst, gambler, stepped into the main street of Poker Flat on the morning of the twenty-third of November, 1850, he was conscious of a change in its moral atmosphere since the preceding night. Two or three men, conversing earnestly together, ceased as he approached, and exchanged significant glances. There was a Sabbath lull in the air which, in a settlement unused to Sabbath influences, looked ominous.2 Mr. Oakhurst's calm, handsome face betrayed small concern in these indications. Whether he was conscious of any predisposing cause was another question. "I reckon they're after somebody," he reflected; "likely it's me." He returned to his pocket the handkerchief with which he had been whipping away the red dust of Poker Flat from his neat boots, and quietly discharged his mind of any further conjecture.3 In point of fact, Poker Flat was "after somebody." It had lately suffered the loss of several thousand dollars, two valuable horses, and a prominent citizen. It was experiencing a spasm of virtuous reaction, quite as lawless and ungovernable as any of the acts that had provoked it. A secret committee had determined to rid the town of all improper persons. This was done permanently in regard of two men who were then hanging from the boughs of a sycamore in the gulch, and temporarily in the banishment of certain other objectionable characters. I regret to say that some of these were ladies. It is but due to the sex, however, to state that their impropriety was professional, and it was only in such easily established standards of evil that Poker Flat ventured to sit in judgment.4 Mr. Oakhurst was right in supposing that he was included in this category. A few of the committee had urged hanging him as a possible example, and a sure method of reimbursing themselves from his pockets of the sums he had won from them. "It's agin justice," said Jim Wheeler, "to let this yer young man from Roaring Camp--an entire stranger--carry away our money." But a crude sentiment of equity residing in the breasts of those who had been fortunate enough to win from Mr. Oakhurst overruled this narrower local prejudice.5 Mr. Oakhurst received his sentence with philosophic calmness, none the less coolly that he was aware of the hesitation of his judges. He was too much of a gambler not to accept Fate. With him life was at best an uncertain game, and he recognized the usual percentage in favor of the dealer.6 A body of armed men accompanied the deported wickedness of Poker Flat to the outskirts of the settlement. Besides Mr. Oakhurst, who was known to be a coolly desperate man, and for whose intimidation the armed escort was intended, the expatriated party consisted of a young woman familiarly known as the "Duchess"; another, who had won the title of "Mother Shipton"; and "Uncle Billy," a suspected sluice-robber and confirmed drunkard. The cavalcade provoked no comments from the spectators, nor was any word uttered by the escort. Only, when the gulch which marked the uttermost limit of Poker Flat was reached, the leader spoke briefly and to the point. The exiles were forbidden to return at the peril of their lives.Question 1Which best describes the author's perspective toward the outcasts of Poker Flat in this passage?ResponsesA The author is extremely critical of each of the outcasts.The author is extremely critical of each of the outcasts.B The author is indifferent to the fates of each of the outcasts of Poker Flat.The author is indifferent to the fates of each of the outcasts of Poker Flat.C The author believes the outcasts are less than humans and deserve mistreatment.The author believes the outcasts are less than humans and deserve mistreatment.D The author sympathizes with the outcasts and pities their being scapegoated by the town of Poker Flat.

Which best describes the author's perspective toward the outcasts of Poker Flat in this passage?ResponsesA The author is extremely critical of each of the outcasts.The author is extremely critical of each of the outcasts.B The author is indifferent to the fates of each of the outcasts of Poker Flat.The author is indifferent to the fates of each of the outcasts of Poker Flat.C The author believes the outcasts are less than humans and deserve mistreatment.The author believes the outcasts are less than humans and deserve mistreatment.D The author sympathizes with the outcasts and pities their being scapegoated by the town of Poker Flat.

What caused the people of Poker Flat to be ‘after somebody’?ResponsesA A citizen was in big trouble.A citizen was in big trouble.B A citizen caused a fight in town.A citizen caused a fight in town.C Somebody had committed a murder and fled to the town of Poker Flat to escape capture.Somebody had committed a murder and fled to the town of Poker Flat to escape capture.D The town had lost several thousand dollars, two valuable horses, and a prominent citizen.The town had lost several thousand dollars, two valuable horses, and a prominent citizen.

Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shrivelled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dog-days; and didn’t thaw it one degree at Christmas.10Select the correct answer.How does the author develop the character in this excerpt? A. through the use of descriptive detail B. through the character’s actions C. through the use of dialogue D. through the character’s thoughts

King John and the Abbot of CanterburyAn ancient story I’ll tell you anon,Of a notable prince, that was called King John;He ruled over England with main and might,But he did great wrong, and maintained little right.And I’ll tell you a story, a story so merry,Concerning the Abbot of Canterbury;How for his housekeeping and high renown,They rode post to bring him to London town.A hundred men, as the King heard say,The Abbot kept in his house every day;And fifty gold chains, without any doubt,In velvet coats waited the Abbot about.“How now, Father Abbot? I hear it of thee,Thou keepest a far better house than me;And for thy housekeeping and high renown,I fear thou work’st treason against my crown.”“My Liege,” quoth the Abbot, “I would it were known,I am spending nothing but what is my own;And I trust your grace will not put me in fear,For spending my own true-gotten gear.”“Yes, yes, Father Abbot, thy fault is high,And now for the same thou needst must die;And except thou canst answer me questions three,Thy head struck off from thy body shall be.“Now first,” quo’ the King, “as I sit here,With my crown of gold on my head so fair,Among all my liegemen of noble birth,Thou must tell to one penny what I am worth.“Secondly, tell me, beyond all doubt,How quickly I may ride the whole world about;And at the third question thou must not shrink,But tell me here truly, what do I think?”“O, these are deep questions for my shallow wit,And I cannot answer your Grace as yet;But if you will give a fortnight’s space,I’ll do my endeavour to answer your Grace.”“Now a fortnight’s space to thee will I give,And that is the longest thou has to live;For unless thou answer my questions three,Thy life and thy lands are forfeit to me.”Away rode the Abbot all sad at this word;He rode to Cambridge and Oxenford;But never a doctor there was so wise,That could by his learning an answer devise.Then home rode the Abbot, with comfort so cold,And he met his shepherd, a-going to fold:“Now, good Lord Abbot, you are welcome home;What news do you bring us from great King John?”“Sad news, sad news, Shepherd, I must give;That I have but three days more to live.I must answer the King his questions threeOr my head struck off from my body shall be.“The first is to tell him, as he sits there,With his crown of gold on his head so fairAmong all his liegemen of noble birth,To within one penny, what he is worth.“The second, to tell him, beyond all doubt,How quickly he may ride this whole world about;And at question the third, I must not shrink,But tell him there truly, what does he think?”“O, cheer up, my lord; did you never hear yetThat a fool may teach a wise man wit?Lend me your serving-men, horse, and apparel,And I’ll ride to London to answer your quarrel.“With your pardon, it oft has been told to meThat I’m like your lordship as ever can be:And if you will but lend me your gown,There is none shall know us at London town.”“Now horses and serving-men thou shalt have,With sumptuous raiment gallant and brave;With crozier, and mitre, and rochet, and cope,Fit to draw near to our father, the pope.”“Now welcome, Sir Abbot,” the King he did say,“’Tis well thou’re come back to keep thy day;For if thou canst answer my questions three,Thy life and thy living both saved shall be.“And first, as thou seest me sitting here,With my crown of gold on my head so fair,Among my liegemen of noble birth,Tell to one penny what I am worth.”“For thirty pence our Saviour was soldAmong the false Jews as I have been told;And twenty-nine is the worth of thee;For I think thou art one penny worse than he.”The King, he laughed, and swore by St. Bittle,“I did not think I was worth so little!Now secondly tell me, beyond all doubt,How quickly I may ride this world about.”“You must rise with the sun, and ride with the sameUntil the next morning he riseth again;And then your Grace need never doubtBut in twenty-four hours you’ll ride it about.”The King, he laughed, and swore by St. Jone,“I did not think I could do it so soon!Now from question the third thou must not shrink,But tell me truly, what do I think?”“Yea, that I shall do, and make your Grace merry:You think I’m the Abbot of Canterbury.But I’m his poor shepherd, as plain you may see,That am come to beg pardon for him and for me.”The King, he laughed, and swore by the mass,“I’ll make thee Lord Abbot this day in his place!”“Now nay, my Liege, be not in such speed;For alas! I can neither write nor read.”“Four nobles a week, then I’ll give to thee,For this merry jest thou hast shown to me;And tell the old Abbot, when thou gettest home,Thou hast brought a free pardon with thanks from King John.”—by AnonymousThe rhyme scheme used in the poem isaa-b-a-b ba-a-b-bca-b-c-b da-b-b-a

By the Honourable ROBERT DINWIDDIE, Esq; His Majesty's Lieutenant Governor…To all Sheriffs, Constables, and other His Majesty's Liege People, Greeting. WHEREAS Dick, a Negroe Man Slave, belonging to Tunstall Hack, of the County of Northumberland, in the Night of the third of July last past, entered the Dwelling House of his said Master, and grievously wounding him with a Broad-Ax, In the left Shoulder and Arm, with an Intent to murder his said Master, and hath since fled from Justice: The said Dick is a well-set, artful, and cunning Fellow, about forty Years of Age, five Feet seven or eight Inches high, broad Shoulders, large Hips, a small Waist, Bow Legs, and flat Feet, his Teeth very open before, has some grey Hairs in his Head and Beard, and several Scars on his Head; he understands going by Water, Shoe-making, Carpenters Work, and Sawing. THESE are therefore in His Majesty's Name, to command and require all Sheriffs, Constables, and other His Majesty's Liege People, within this Colony, to make diligent Search and Pursuit…within their several Counties and Precints, after the said Dick; and him having found, to apprehend and carry before the next Justice of the Peace, that he may be dealt with according to Law. And I do desire the Governours of the neighbouring Colonies and Provinces, to be assisting in bringing the said Dick to Justice…The said Dick is outlawed, and a Reward of Three Pistoles is to be given to any Person that shall apprehend him in this Colony…Dinwiddie, Robert. "Advertisement Seeking Runaway." The Virginia Gazette. "Williamsburg." 15 September, 1752.The excerpt best reflects which of the following characteristics of enslaved people in the 18th century?Elimination ToolSelect one answerAThey generally accepted the institution of slavery.BThey were taught to read and write.CThey were highly skilled workers in many different areas.DThey only lived in urban areas.