It was late in the afternoon, and the light was waning; there was a difference in the look of the tree shadows out in the yard. Somewhere in the distance cows were lowing, and a little bell was tinkling; now and then a farm wagon tilted by, and the dust flew; some blue-shirted laborers with shovels over their shoulders plodded past. There seemed to be a gentle stir arising over everything for the mere sake of subsidence—a premonition of rest and hush and night.     This soft commotion was over Louisa Ellis also. She had been peacefully sewing all the afternoon; now she quilted her needle carefully into her work, which she folded precisely and laid in a basket. Louisa could not remember that ever in her life she had mislaid one of these little feminine appurtenances, which had become, from use and constant association, a part of her personality.     Louisa tied a green apron around her waist, got out a flat straw hat with a green ribbon, and then she went into the garden with a little blue crockery bowl, to pick some currants for her tea. After the currants were picked, she sat on the back doorstep and stemmed them, collecting the stems carefully in her apron, and afterwards throwing them into the chicken coop; she looked sharply at the grass beside the step to see if any had fallen there.     Louisa was slow and still in her movements; it took her a long time to prepare her tea, but when ready it was set forth with as much grace as if she had been a veritable guest to her own self. The little square table stood exactly in the center of the kitchen and was covered with a starched linen cloth whose border pattern of flowers glistened. Louisa used china every day—something which none of her neighbors did. They whispered about it among themselves because their daily tables were laid with common crockery, their sets of best china stayed in the parlor closet, and Louisa Ellis was no richer nor better bred than they, but still she would use the china.4Which themes does the author develop in the passage? A. Gardens are sources of nourishing food, and a well-set table can be like a fine work of art. B. Life on a farm is often lonely, and people may not understand others' good intentions. C. Leisure can bring a sense of peace, and each person has unique skills and talents. D. Routine can provide a sense of delight, and the good things in life can beautify the ordinary.

Read the passage from Part 2 of “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.That was clever, for really I wasn’t alone a bit! As soon as it was moonlight, and that poor thing began to crawl and shake the pattern, I got up and ran to help her.I pulled and she shook, I shook and she pulled, and before morning we had peeled off yards of that paper.A strip about as high as my head and half around the room.And then when the sun came and that awful pattern began to laugh at me I declared I would finish it today!Which best describes the narrator’s point of view in this passage?Group of answer choicesShe feels trapped by a society and a marriage that have worsened her mental illness.She is excited to free both herself and the woman from the terrible wallpaper.She thinks her terror is taking over, because she cannot escape the yellow wallpapered room.She believes she is going completely insane, so she begins to obey her delusions.

During a dull, dark, and soundless day in autumn, when the clouds hung oppressively low, I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of country. At length I found myself, as the shades of the evening drew on, within view of the melancholy House of Usher. I know not how it was but, with the first glimpse of the building, a sense of insufferable gloom pervaded my spirit. I looked upon the scene before me; upon the mere house, and the simple landscape—upon the bleak walls—upon the vacant eye-like windows, upon a few rank marsh plants, and upon a few white trunks of decayed trees with an utter depression of soul which I can compare to no earthly sensation. What was it, I paused to think, what was it that so unnerved me about the House of Usher? It was possible, I reflected, that a mere different arrangement of the scene, of the details of the picture, would be sufficient to modify, or perhaps to annihilate its capacity for sorrowful impression. Then, acting upon this idea, I reined my horse to the precipitous brink of a black and lurid lake near the dwelling, and gazed down upon the warped reflection of the marsh plants, and the ghastly tree-stems, and the vacant eye-like windows.     Nevertheless, in this mansion of gloom I now proposed to take a sojourn of several weeks. Its proprietor, Roderick Usher, had been one of my friends in boyhood. Although, many years had passed since we last met. A letter, however, had reached me in a distant part of the country. A letter from him, which had required nothing less than a personal reply. Usher's letter spoke of illness,of a mental disorder which oppressed him and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best and indeed his only personal friend. His desire being, that through my cheerfulness, I could help to alleviate his malady. It was the way in which it was said, it was the heart that went with his request, which allowed me no room for hesitation; and I accordingly obeyed forthwith.3Which detail from the passage develops the theme that true friends can always be counted upon in times of need? A. A letter, however, had reached me in a distant part of the country. B. Nevertheless, in this mansion of gloom I now proposed to take a sojourn of several weeks. C. Its proprietor, Roderick Usher, had been one of my friends in boyhood. D. Usher's letter spoke of illness,of a mental disorder which oppressed him and of an earnest desire to see me . . .

It is a sultry day; the sun has drunk    The dew that lay upon the morning grass;    There is no rustling in the lofty elm    That canopies my dwelling, and its shade5   Scarce cools me. All is silent, save the faint    And interrupted murmur of the bee,    Settling on the sick flowers, and then again    Instantly on the wing. The plants around    Feel the too potent fervors: the tall maize10    Rolls up its long green leaves; the clover droops   Its tender foliage, and declines its blooms.    But far in the fierce sunshine tower the hills,    With all their growth of woods, silent and stern,    As if the scorching heat and dazzling light15    Were but an element they loved. Bright clouds,    Motionless pillars of the brazen heaven,—   Their bases on the mountains—their white tops    Shining in the far ether—fire the air    With a reflected radiance, and make turn20    The gazer's eye away. For me, I lie    Languidly in the shade, where the thick turf,    Yet virgin from the kisses of the sun,    Retains some freshness, and I woo the wind   That still delays its coming. Why so slow,25    Gentle and voluble spirit of the air?    Oh, come and breathe upon the fainting earth    Coolness and life. Is it that in his caves    He hears me? See, on yonder woody ridge,    The pine is bending his proud top, and now30    Among the nearer groves, chestnut and oak    Are tossing their green boughs about. He comes!   Lo, where the grassy meadow runs in waves!    The deep distressful silence of the scene    Breaks up with mingling of unnumbered sounds35    And universal motion. He is come,    Shaking a shower of blossoms from the shrubs,    And bearing on their fragrance; and he brings   Music of birds, and rustling of young boughs,    And sound of swaying branches, and the voice40    Of distant waterfalls. All the green herbs    Are stirring in his breath; a thousand flowers,   By the road-side and the borders of the brook,    Nod gayly to each other; glossy leaves    Are twinkling in the sun, as if the dew45    Were on them yet, and silver waters break    Into small waves and sparkle as he comes.4Which recurring themes are revealed throughout the poem? A. The elements of water and air are essential to life, and nature's beauty is a bountiful gift to all. B. Nature makes people feel humbled, and the earth and sun are equal friends to humankind. C. Nature causes an emotional response, and solitude makes one understand what is important. D. Living things inspire creativity and pleasure, and nature's simplicity presents a beautiful ideal.

It is a sultry day; the sun has drunk    The dew that lay upon the morning grass;    There is no rustling in the lofty elm    That canopies my dwelling, and its shade5   Scarce cools me. All is silent, save the faint    And interrupted murmur of the bee,    Settling on the sick flowers, and then again    Instantly on the wing. The plants around    Feel the too potent fervors: the tall maize10    Rolls up its long green leaves; the clover droops   Its tender foliage, and declines its blooms.    But far in the fierce sunshine tower the hills,    With all their growth of woods, silent and stern,    As if the scorching heat and dazzling light15    Were but an element they loved. Bright clouds,    Motionless pillars of the brazen heaven,—   Their bases on the mountains—their white tops    Shining in the far ether—fire the air    With a reflected radiance, and make turn20    The gazer's eye away. For me, I lie    Languidly in the shade, where the thick turf,    Yet virgin from the kisses of the sun,    Retains some freshness, and I woo the wind   That still delays its coming. Why so slow,25    Gentle and voluble spirit of the air?    Oh, come and breathe upon the fainting earth    Coolness and life. Is it that in his caves    He hears me? See, on yonder woody ridge,    The pine is bending his proud top, and now30    Among the nearer groves, chestnut and oak    Are tossing their green boughs about. He comes!   Lo, where the grassy meadow runs in waves!    The deep distressful silence of the scene    Breaks up with mingling of unnumbered sounds35    And universal motion. He is come,    Shaking a shower of blossoms from the shrubs,    And bearing on their fragrance; and he brings   Music of birds, and rustling of young boughs,    And sound of swaying branches, and the voice40    Of distant waterfalls. All the green herbs    Are stirring in his breath; a thousand flowers,   By the road-side and the borders of the brook,    Nod gayly to each other; glossy leaves    Are twinkling in the sun, as if the dew45    Were on them yet, and silver waters break    Into small waves and sparkle as he comes.3Which recurring themes are revealed throughout the poem? A. Nature makes people feel humbled, and the earth and sun are equal friends to humankind. B. Living things inspire creativity and pleasure, and nature's simplicity presents a beautiful ideal. C. Nature causes an emotional response, and solitude makes one understand what is important. D. The elements of water and air are essential to life, and nature's beauty is a bountiful gift to all.

n stories, there is often a clear beginning, middle and end.Match the parts of the story up with the correct answer. A strong woodcutter heard the screams and rushed into the cottage, holding his axe high. He saw what the wicked wolf had done and brought his axe down mercilessly upon the cruel creature's head. The wolf died instantly and Little Red Riding Hood was safe.One day, Little Red Riding Hood decided to visit her grandmother in the old cottage in the middle of the wood. It was a beautiful day, and not a cloud was in the sky. She hummed as she skipped along the forest path.As she wandered deeper into the wood, the branches became thicker and blocked out most of the sunlight. Little Red Riding Hood, therefore, could not see that she was being followed by a wicked wolf.