The boats docked in the bay bobbed up and down with waves crashing ferociously at the old pier. The old wooden pier stood stubborn and unyielding without budging under the thrashing force. Ashore, the gray skies dampened everyone’s spirits and muffled out the screeching gusty wind for days on end. Even the lively multihued buildings appeared unobtrusive in the cold, wet, and blustery afternoon. Sebastian noticed there was not much going on around him. Tourists mustn’t have liked the chill in the air and gone downtown to traverse the mall, museum, or movie theater or whatever fancied their imagination. What would become of us if the business didn’t pick up? thought Sebastian, huddled over a thick hot cup of cocoa as he warmed his gaunt fingers numbed from the cold. His scrawny face simultaneously showed signs of indifference and anxiety. He needed three more rounds to the island with a full load to keep afloat. “Hey!” A loud voice jolted him out of his thoughts. Sebastian jumped to his feet and turned around, spilling the now lukewarm drink over his faded green parka and fake Sherpa blanket. He sheepishly attempted to wipe the brown mess from his sleeves, but it became messier in his awkward but sincere efforts. He let it go and turned his focus on the loud voice. “Can you take us down to the island and back?” asked the man, stepping out from a clamorous group of ten or so people. “Hi! My name is Ray Bearden. I am the head of a science expedition team from the Marine Research Institution.” “We need to get there as soon as possible! There’s more of us coming soon,” shouted a tall woman from the crowd, without giving the perplexed Sebastian a chance to reply. She was carrying massive apparatus in her hands and quite naturally appeared irritated and impatient.  “Yes, sir… I mean, ma’am…” replied Sebastian impatiently, half forgetting who he was responding to in this exchange.  The crowd ripped out a peal of hearty laughter that rang through the dim skies like a dazzling ray of sunlight wiping out all the grayness from the horizon, even though just momentarily. At least, this is what Sebastian felt, alert and spirited from the prospect of keeping up his revenue and making some extra. He rubbed the sticky brown stain on his jacket a little more fervently. His dull eyes gleamed with delight, and his face didn’t appear so scrawny after all. QuestionHow does the interaction between Sebastian and Ray Bearden develop the theme of the story?ResponsesA It suggests a developing friendship for the two.It suggests a developing friendship for the two.B It shows that Sebastian has been positive all along.It shows that Sebastian has been positive all along.C It shows that people can be mean to each other. It shows that people can be mean to each other. D It presents a favorable opportunity for Sebastian.It presents a favorable opportunity for Sebastian.

The dock was soon covered with the usual crowd of curious onlookers, as the arrival of a ship is always a great event in the town of Marseilles. This was especially true when, like the Pharaon, it has been built in the city and belongs to a local shipowner.Meanwhile the vessel was approaching the harbor, but so slowly and with such an air of melancholy that the onlookers, sensing misfortune, began to wonder if an accident happened on board. However, the experienced seamen among them saw that if there had been an accident, it could not have happened to the ship herself, for she had every appearance of being under perfect control. Standing beside the pilot, who was preparing to steer the ship through the narrow harbor, was a young man. With vigilant eyes and rapid gestures, he watched every movement of the ship and repeated each of the pilot's orders.The vague anxiety hovering over the crowd affected one man so much that he could not wait until the ship entered the harbor. This man leaped into a small boat and ordered the boatman to row him out to meet the Pharaon.4Select the correct texts in the passage.Which two phrases convey unease in the excerpt?excerpt adapted from The Count of Monte Cristoby Alexander DumasThe dock was soon covered with the usual crowd of curious onlookers, as the arrival of a ship is always a great event in the town of Marseilles. This was especially true when, like the Pharaon, it has been built in the city and belongs to a local shipowner.Meanwhile the vessel was approaching the harbor, but so slowly and with such an air of melancholy that the onlookers, sensing misfortune, began to wonder if an accident happened on board. However, the experienced seamen among them saw that if there had been an accident, it could not have happened to the ship herself, for she had every appearance of being under perfect control.

excerpt adapted fromThe Count of Monte Cristoby Alexander DumasThe dock was soon covered with the usual crowd of curious onlookers, as the arrival of a ship is always a great event in the town of Marseilles. This was especially true when, like the Pharaon, it has been built in the city and belongs to a local shipowner.Meanwhile the vessel was approaching the harbor, but so slowly and with such an air of melancholy that the onlookers, sensing misfortune, began to wonder if an accident happened on board. However, the experienced seamen among them saw that if there had been an accident, it could not have happened to the ship herself, for she had every appearance of being under perfect control. Standing beside the pilot, who was preparing to steer the ship through the narrow harbor, was a young man. With vigilant eyes and rapid gestures, he watched every movement of the ship and repeated each of the pilot's orders.The vague anxiety hovering over the crowd affected one man so much that he could not wait until the ship entered the harbor. This man leaped into a small boat and ordered the boatman to row him out to meet the Pharaon.22What is the mood of the passage? A. angry B. mysterious C. critical D. confident E. tranquil

Hemingway's depressive tone may be expressed through what element of The Old Man and the Sea? aThe way the fisherman perseveres despite obstacles. bThe fisherman's thoughts about missing the boy. cThe name of the boat the fisherman sails in dThe terse, matter-of-fact language

We returned to the ship, then we took our casks, filled them with water, slept on shore, and the next morning set sail. About noon, a most violent whirlwind arose, lifting the ship above the water, and did not let us down into the seas but kept us suspended like puppets in mid-air for seven days and nights; on the eighth we saw a massive tract of land, like an island, round and remarkably full of light; we got on shore and found that it was inhabited. As night fell, other islands became visible, some were enormous, others minuscule, and all a fiery color. As we advanced, we were suddenly seized by the Hippogypi, who are men carried upon vultures, which they ride as we do horses. These vultures have three heads, and are immensely large; one of their feathers is bigger than a ship mast! The Hippogypi have orders, it seems, to fly around the kingdom, and if they find any stranger, to bring him to the king: they took us therefore and carried us before him. As soon as he saw us, he guessed by our attire what we were, saying "You are Grecians," and we told him we were.     "How did you arrive here?"     We told him what had happened, and he told us his own history, informing us that he also was a man, his name was Endymion, that he had been taken away from earth and brought to this place where he reigned as sovereign. "If I succeed in the war which I am now engaged in against the inhabitants of the sun, you will be happy here." We asked him what the quarrel was about.     "Phaeton, the king of the sun, has been at war with us for ages. I had the intention of sending some of my subjects to establish a colony in Lucifer, which was uninhabited: but Phaeton, out of envy, put a stop to it, by opposing me; we were overcome, our forces at that time being unequal to theirs. I have now resolved to renew the war and establish my colony."2Which excerpt from the passage best supports the idea that Endymion was taken from his home against his will? A.  . . . he had been taken away from earth and brought to this place . . .  B.  . . . they took us therefore and carried us before him. C. "I have now resolved to renew the war and establish my colony." D.  . . . he guessed by our attire what we were, saying "You are Grecians," . . . Reset

We returned to the ship, then we took our casks, filled them with water, slept on shore, and the next morning set sail. About noon, a most violent whirlwind arose, lifting the ship above the water, and did not let us down into the seas but kept us suspended like puppets in mid-air for seven days and nights; on the eighth we saw a massive tract of land, like an island, round and remarkably full of light; we got on shore and found that it was inhabited. As night fell, other islands became visible, some were enormous, others minuscule, and all a fiery color. As we advanced, we were suddenly seized by the Hippogypi, who are men carried upon vultures, which they ride as we do horses. These vultures have three heads, and are immensely large; one of their feathers is bigger than a ship mast! The Hippogypi have orders, it seems, to fly around the kingdom, and if they find any stranger, to bring him to the king: they took us therefore and carried us before him. As soon as he saw us, he guessed by our attire what we were, saying "You are Grecians," and we told him we were.     "How did you arrive here?"     We told him what had happened, and he told us his own history, informing us that he also was a man, his name was Endymion, that he had been taken away from earth and brought to this place where he reigned as sovereign. "If I succeed in the war which I am now engaged in against the inhabitants of the sun, you will be happy here." We asked him what the quarrel was about.     "Phaeton, the king of the sun, has been at war with us for ages. I had the intention of sending some of my subjects to establish a colony in Lucifer, which was uninhabited: but Phaeton, out of envy, put a stop to it, by opposing me; we were overcome, our forces at that time being unequal to theirs. I have now resolved to renew the war and establish my colony."4Which detail from the last two paragraphs of the passage best develops the theme that desire for control can lead to violence? A. " . . . we were overcome, our forces at that time being unequal to theirs." B. "I have now resolved to renew the war and establish my colony." C. "If I succeed in the war which I am now engaged in . . . you will be happy here." D. " . . . but Phaeton, out of envy, put a stop to it, by opposing me . . . "Reset Next