English II
Practice Assessment
Copyright © 2023, Texas Education Agency. All rights reserved. Reproduction of all or portions of this work is prohibited without express
written permission from the Texas Education Agency.
English II
Practice Assessment
Copyright © 2023, Texas Education Agency. All rights reserved. Reproduction of all or portions of this work is prohibited without express
written permission from the Texas Education Agency.
ENGLISH II
English II
Page 3
ENGLISH II
English II
Page 4
Read the selection and choose the best answer to each
question.
from Villages in the Sky
by Ellen Garin
Lost and Found!
1 One December morning in 1888, Richard Wetherill and
his brother-in-law, Charles Mason, were riding along a mesa
in the mountains of southwestern Colorado searching for lost
cattle. Their breath turned to vapor in the cold December
morning air, and the snow on the ground crunched under their
horses’ hooves.
2 The cowboys followed the cattle tracks until they heard
the lowing of their cattle. After they had counted the herd, they
looked around at the spectacular views. As they looked across
the vast canyon, something caught their attention. There,
nestled high up under an overhanging cliff on the other side of
the canyon, was something quite amazing. The cowboys rode
around to the other side of the canyon, dismounted, and climbed
down the cliff on foot to get a closer look. They were about to
make an important discovery.
The Cliff Dwellings at Mesa Verde
3 Wetherill and Mason had discovered a large cliff dwelling
that had been abandoned hundreds of years ago by ancient
Pueblo people. It had been built into an alcove where chunks
of sandstone had fallen off the cliff, creating an overhang. The
overhang protected the cliff dwelling from the weather, which is
why it was intact hundreds of years later.
4 Like apartment houses today, the dwellings were multilevel,
housing many families. People needed to climb up or down
ladders to reach lower and upper levels of the cliff dwellings.
Living areas in the complex were about six by eight feet. Their
ceilings were made of wood planks, and some homes had
colorful wall paintings. The low height of the doorways indicates
that people then were shorter than they are today.
5 Below the living area, and reached only by ladder, was
a round room called a kiva (KEE-vuh), which was used for
ceremonial purposes.
© Scott macneill
English II
Page 5
6 The cliff dwellers were clever builders. They constructed
ventilation shafts inside the kivas for fresh air, and each replace
had a deector in front of it that helped to circulate the heat
and the fresh air. The underground kiva stayed at 50 degrees
Fahrenheit year-round. It was cool in the heat of summer, and
only a small re was needed to keep it warm in winter.
7 The kiva’s roof formed a courtyard above, which was an
area used for working and gathering together. There, women
dried food for storage, wove cloth and baskets, and tanned hides
from the animals the hunters brought home. People gathered
in the courtyard to trade stories while children played and dogs
and turkeys wandered about.
The Ancestral Puebloans
8 For about 700 years, Mesa Verde was a thriving community
of many thousands of Native American people now referred to
as Ancestral Puebloans. These people were master builders,
skilled craftsmen, and adept farmers of a difcult, dry land. They
also traded surplus goods and food with other Native American
communities.
© Scott macneill
English II
Page 6
9 The earliest Ancestral Puebloan settlements date back to
the year 600. For most of their time in the Mesa Verde area,
these people lived in houses and farmed on top of the mesa.
Their rst villages consisted of homes called pit houses, which
were constructed by digging a shallow pit in the ground. A roof
was made by crossing poles over the top of the pit and then
covering the poles with branches, grass, or tree bark. The walls
of the pit house were often lined with clay or stones.
10 Eventually, the Ancestral Puebloans began building
homes above ground that were constructed of adobe and were
sometimes two or three stories tall. The people farmed the
land on top of the mesa, where they grew crops such as corn,
beans, and squash. The mesa got little rainfall and was not
easy land to farm. However, the farmers were expert in dryland
farming, creating check dams
1
and channels to direct rainwater
to their crops.
11 The people gathered wild plants to supplement the food
they grew, and they hunted animals such as rabbits and deer.
They also used turkeys for food, bone for tools, and feathers for
clothing. Dogs were kept as pets and for protection.
1
A check dam is a small dam constructed across a drainage ditch or channel to regulate water
ow and limit erosion.
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Page 7
12 Then around 1100, these [Ancestral Puebloans] mastered
the art of masonry. During the next hundred years they built
remarkable cliff dwellings such as Cliff Palace. Now the Ancestral
Puebloans no longer lived on top of the mesa. Their homes were
built into the side of the cliff. People had to climb up to the mesa
using footholds and handholds carved into the side of the cliff to
tend their crops or hunt for food.
13 Around 1270, the Ancestral Puebloans left Mesa Verde,
although we are not entirely sure why they left. We do know
that these people settled the area that is now the home of
the modern Pueblo tribes, including the Hopi, Zuni, Acoma,
and Laguna.
Copyright © Highlights for Children, Inc., Columbus, Ohio. All rights reserved.
6518
English II
Page 8
1 Which statement best expresses the thesis of the excerpt?
A
Ancestral Puebloans were attracted to the cliffs of Colorado
centuries ago.
B
Ancestral Puebloans left behind the ruins of their communities
in the cliffs.
C
Ancestral Puebloans were innovators who created a ourishing
civilization.
D
Ancestral Puebloans lived in complex communities in
southwestern Colorado.
59486
2 Which quotation from the excerpt best supports the conclusion that
the Ancestral Puebloans made efcient use of limited resources?
A
The low height of the doorways indicates that people then were
shorter than they are today. (paragraph 4)
B
However, the farmers were expert in dryland farming, creating
check dams and channels to direct rainwater to their crops.
(paragraph 10)
C
Now the Ancestral Puebloans no longer lived on top of the mesa.
(paragraph 12)
D
Around 1270, the Ancestral Puebloans left Mesa Verde, although
we are not entirely sure why they left. (paragraph 13)
59484
English II
Page 9
3 In paragraphs 9, 10, and 12, the details support the key idea that the
Ancestral Puebloans —
A
developed new construction skills
B
frequently faced challenges in surviving
C
often moved in search of a better home
D
outgrew the available resources
59483
4 Which detail from the section titled “The Cliff Dwellings at Mesa Verde”
(paragraphs 3–7) supports the key idea that social interaction was
important to Ancestral Puebloan communities?
A
The size of the living areas
B
The location of the kiva
C
The function of the courtyard
D
The proximity of the dwellings
59482
5 Why does the author most likely include the illustrations in the excerpt?
Select TWO correct answers.
`
To explain how the Ancestral Puebloans used different resources
`
To show how the Ancestral Puebloans designed and built structures
`
To demonstrate the challenges of building dwellings in the cliff
`
To show how the different parts of the cliff dwellings t together
`
To contrast different types of buildings built by the Ancestral
Puebloans
59491
English II
Page 10
6 Read this quotation from paragraph 8.
For about 700 years, Mesa Verde was a thriving community
of many thousands of Native American people now referred
to as Ancestral Puebloans. These people were master
builders, skilled craftsmen, and adept farmers of a difcult,
dry land.
How does the author’s choice of words in this quotation contribute
to the tone of the excerpt?
A
Phrases such as “thriving community” and “skilled craftsmen”
create an admiring tone.
B
Phrases such as “adept farmers” and “difcult, dry land” create a
somber tone.
C
Phrases such as “many thousands” and “Native American people”
create a precise tone.
D
Phrases such as “about 700 years” and “now referred to” create an
accessible tone.
59495
7 What is the most likely reason the author wrote this excerpt?
A
To persuade the reader to visit an important archaeological site
to learn about an ancient society
B
To provide information about how an ancient society managed to
prosper in an inhospitable region
C
To describe the impact of an ancient civilization on the history of
a populated region
D
To share the history of how two cowboys accidentally discovered
the ruins of an ancient civilization
59488
English II
Page 11
8 How does the author organize the section titled “The Ancestral
Puebloans” (paragraphs 8–13) to develop the thesis?
A
By describing the events that forced the Ancestral Puebloans to
adapt to changes in their environment
B
By listing the agricultural skills necessary to master farming the
land in the Mesa Verde area
C
By explaining how the Ancestral Puebloans altered the natural
landscape in ever more signicant ways
D
By recounting the establishment of increasingly complex and
sophisticated structures in the Mesa Verde area
59487
9 Which idea about society is developed in the excerpt?
A
Communities form in order to satisfy the human desire for
new experiences.
B
Civilizations are dened by specic beliefs and economic goals.
C
People adapt to environmental conditions to help their
civilizations thrive.
D
People are more likely to survive in communities than on their own.
59480
English II
Page 12
Read the selection and choose the best answer to each
question.
Volunteering Is Its Own Reward
1 In his 1961 inaugural address, John F. Kennedy famously
declared, “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what
you can do for your country.” With his introduction of the Peace
Corps later that year, President Kennedy initiated an era of
service and volunteerism that remains as active as ever.
2 Today, dedicated Americans still serve communities
throughout the world as Peace Corps volunteers. What’s more,
over the decades new government-sponsored programs have
emerged that carry on and expand the mission to serve.
AmeriCorps and Senior Corps, for example, have touched the
lives of millions by engaging youth and senior citizens alike
much closer to home, in their own communities.
3 These large-scale government-sponsored programs
typically require a signicant time commitment, but there are
also plenty of other opportunities for busy people who still
want to do their part. Charities and civic organizations allow
time-strapped volunteers to help out where they are needed.
Participants can deliver meals to seniors, spend time with dogs
in animal shelters, and visit people in hospitals. They can even
beautify public parks.
4 According to the Corporation for National and Community
Service’s research report Volunteer Growth in America,
volunteerism is on the rise. For people over age 65, the rate
has increased 64 percent since 1974. Perhaps even more
surprisingly, the rate for adults aged 45–64 has increased
almost 30 percent.
5 This dramatic increase, however, raises an interesting
question. At the risk of sounding cynical, what is in it for
the volunteers?
6 For ambitious youth who want to pad their résumés
with good deeds, the answer may seem obvious. The same
could be said for retirees with plenty of time on their hands.
But what about busy adults with families and full-time jobs?
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Page 13
Or hardworking students with demanding schedules? Why should
they make time to do unpaid labor? For those already stressed
out and stretched to the limit, why offer to do extra work?
7 The answer, actually, is quite simple. It’s good for you.
Helping others doesn’t build stress—it relieves it. People who
engage in volunteer activities are happier and stay in good
health longer than those who don’t.
8 Stephanie Watson, of Harvard Women’s Health Watch,
argues that volunteering not only delivers mental health benets
by making people feel socially connected and less lonely, but it
also may help people live longer. “A growing body of evidence,”
she writes, “suggests that people who give their time to others
might also be rewarded with better physical health—including
lower blood pressure and a longer lifespan.”
9 Rodlescia Sneed, who conducted a study in 2013 on
volunteering, notes that volunteering appears to lower stress.
“Many people nd volunteer work to be helpful with respect to
stress reduction, and we know that stress is very strongly linked
to health outcomes,” she says. Sneed’s study found a correlation
between doing 200 hours of volunteer work per year and having
lower blood pressure.
10 Studies have also shown a link between helping others
and being happy. A study conducted by the London School
of Economics and published in Social Science and Medicine
found that the more people volunteered, the happier they
were. Compared to people who never volunteered, people who
volunteered once a month were 7 percent more likely to report
being “very happy.” People who volunteered once a week were
16 percent more likely to report being “very happy.”
11 A 2012 study in the journal Health Psychology had a
particularly interesting result. Like other studies, it found
participants who volunteered on a regular basis lived longer.
But what made this study unique was that it examined the
motives of the participants. The participants “who volunteered
for self-oriented reasons” did not live any longer than those
who did not volunteer at all. In other words, to get the health
benets of volunteering, the volunteers had to be doing it for the
right reasons. They had to be motivated by a genuine desire to
help others and not by a desire to make themselves feel better.
English II
Page 14
12 If this study is to be believed, altruism truly is its own
reward. Paradoxically, the best way to look after number one
may actually be by not trying to look after number one.
13 Volunteering creates connections, builds communities,
and makes everyone involved healthier and happier. It not
only helps those being helped, it helps the helpers as well. By
asking what you can do for others, you may nd what you can
do for yourself.
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Page 15
10 In paragraph 12, what does the word Paradoxically mean?
A
Improbable but humorous
B
Impressive but selsh
C
Contradictory yet accurate
D
Competent yet inconsistent
59344
11 What is the best summary of the information in paragraphs 1 through 4?
A
The Peace Corps served as an inspiration for the AmeriCorps and
Senior Corps programs, which allow volunteers to serve near their
homes. Some volunteers work with senior citizens and hospital
patients. Others work with animals or in outdoor areas. Some
adult age groups are volunteering more today than in 1974.
B
Since President John F. Kennedy created the Peace Corps in 1961,
American volunteerism has been widespread. Millions of people
have volunteered in government programs around the world and
throughout the United States. Many people have also volunteered
in local programs run by charities and civic organizations.
Volunteerism rates today show signicant increases since
the 1970s.
C
The Peace Corps was started by President John F. Kennedy in
1961, and since then volunteerism in the United States has greatly
increased. Americans also continue to volunteer around the world
in the Peace Corps. The Corporation for National and Community
Service has reported that volunteerism for people over age 65
has increased.
D
When President John F. Kennedy created the Peace Corps in 1961,
he began an era of volunteerism. Volunteers serve around the
world and throughout the United States. Some volunteer programs
require a large amount of time. Some programs utilize youth and
senior citizens. It is surprising that volunteerism has increased for
middle-aged adults.
59349
English II
Page 16
12 The information in paragraphs 9 through 11 supports which conclusion?
A
People who nd that volunteering increases their happiness most
likely recruit other volunteers.
B
Family members who volunteer together regularly most likely
share the same motives for volunteering.
C
Future research studies most likely will focus on how volunteers
deal with stress experienced while volunteering.
D
Multiple occurrences of volunteering most likely are needed to
produce health benets in the volunteer.
59346
13 Which group is most likely the author’s intended audience?
A
Skeptical people who are unsure about devoting the time to
be a volunteer
B
Generous people who treasure the joy that comes from doing
good deeds
C
Seless people who believe in doing something virtuous with
their lives
D
Ambitious people who are eager to look good to potential employers
59356
14 Which statement best expresses the author’s claim about volunteerism?
A
People should volunteer in order to help themselves as well
as others.
B
Volunteering is a declining American tradition.
C
Volunteering their time is a sacrice more people should make.
D
People who volunteer deserve good health.
59350
English II
Page 17
15 What is the most likely reason the author includes contrasting ideas
about stress in paragraph 7?
A
To restate a key point more vividly
B
To question conicting evidence
C
To emphasize an unusual perspective
D
To challenge an opposing viewpoint
59352
16 Which quotation from the article shows that people who volunteer only
to boost their résumés are unlikely to experience increased well-being
as a result?
A
For those already stressed out and stretched to the limit, why offer
to do extra work? (paragraph 6)
B
Rodlescia Sneed, who conducted a study in 2013 on volunteering,
notes that volunteering appears to lower stress. (paragraph 9)
C
Like other studies, it found participants who volunteered on a
regular basis lived longer. (paragraph 11)
D
In other words, to get the health benets of volunteering, the
volunteers had to be doing it for the right reasons. (paragraph 11)
59348
English II
Page 18
17 What effect does the shift in tone between paragraphs 6 and 7 have
on the author’s argument?
A
The shift from a doubtful tone in paragraph 6 to a patronizing one
in paragraph 7 undermines the sincerity of the argument.
B
The shift from a dubious tone in paragraph 6 to a reassuring one
in paragraph 7 refocuses the direction of the argument.
C
The shift from a cynical tone in paragraph 6 to an indignant one in
paragraph 7 strengthens the force of the argument.
D
The shift from an analytical tone in paragraph 6 to a self-condent
one in paragraph 7 builds a logical foundation for the argument.
59358
English II
Page 19
18 Read the article “Volunteering Is Its Own Reward.” Based on the
information in the article, write a response to the following:
Write a letter to your principal in which you argue who would
benet most from a volunteering program at school: student
participants or members of the community they could serve.
Write a well-organized letter that responds to this prompt. Use
specic evidence from the article to support your answer.
Remember to —
• clearly state your opinion
• organize your writing
• develop your ideas in detail
• use evidence from the selection in your response
• include a counterargument
• use correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar
Manage your time carefully so that you can —
• review the selection
• plan your response
• write your response
• revise and edit your response
Record your answer in the box provided.
91418
English II
Page 20
English II
Page 21
English II
Page 22
Read the next two selections and answer the questions that
follow.
This story takes place in an industrial city of northern Italy in the
early 1950s.
from “The City Lost in the Snow”
by Italo Calvino
translated by William Weaver
1 That morning the silence woke him. Marcovaldo pulled
himself out of bed with the sensation there was something
strange in the air. He couldn’t gure out what time it was,
the light between the slats of the blinds was different from
all other hours of day and night. He opened the window: the
city was gone; it had been replaced by a white sheet of paper.
Narrowing his eyes, he could make out, in the whiteness, some
almost-erased lines, which corresponded to those of the familiar
view: the windows and the roofs and the lamp-posts all around,
but they were lost under all the snow that had settled over them
during the night.
2 “Snow!” Marcovaldo cried to his wife; that is, he meant to
cry, but his voice came out mufed. As it had fallen on lines and
colors and views, the snow had fallen on noises, or rather on the
very possibility of making noise; sounds, in a padded space, did
not vibrate.
3 He went to work on foot; the trams were blocked by the
snow. Along the street, making his own path, he felt free as
he had never felt before. In the city all differences between
sidewalk and street had vanished; vehicles could not pass, and
Marcovaldo, even if he sank up to his thighs at every step and
felt the snow get inside his socks, had become master, free to
walk in the middle of the street, to trample on ower beds, to
cross outside the prescribed lines, to proceed in a zigzag.
4 Streets and avenues stretched out, endless and deserted,
like blanched chasms between mountainous cliffs. There was no
telling whether the city hidden under that mantle was still the
same or whether, in the night, another had taken its place. Who
could say if under those white mounds there were still gasoline
pumps, newsstands, tram stops, or if there were only sack
upon sack of snow? As he walked along, Marcovaldo dreamed of
English II
Page 23
getting lost in a different city: instead, his footsteps were taking
him straight to his everyday place of work, the usual shipping
department, and, once he had crossed the threshold, the worker
was amazed at nding himself among those walls, the same as
ever, as if the change that had cancelled the outside world had
spared only his rm.
5 There, waiting for him, was a shovel, taller than he was.
The department foreman, Signor Viligelmo, handing it to him,
said: “Shoveling the snow off the sidewalk in front of the
building is up to us. To you, that is.” Marcovaldo took the shovel
and went outside again.
6 Shoveling snow is no game, especially on an empty
stomach; but Marcovaldo felt the snow was a friend, an element
that erased the cage of walls which imprisoned his life. And he
set to work with a will, sending great shovelfuls of snow ying
from the sidewalk to the center of the street.
7 The jobless Sigismondo was also lled with gratitude for
the snow, because having enrolled in the ranks of the municipal
snow-shovelers that morning, he now had before him a few days
of guaranteed employment. But this feeling, instead of inspiring
in him vague fantasies like Marcovaldo’s, led him to quite
specic calculations, to determine how many cubic feet of snow
had to be shoveled to clear so many square feet. In other words,
he aimed at impressing the captain of his team; and thus—his
secret ambition—at getting ahead in the world.
8 Now Sigismondo turned, and what did he see? The stretch
of road he had just cleared was being covered again with snow,
by the helter-skelter shoveling of a character panting there on
the sidewalk.
Excerpt from MARCOVALDO OR THE SEASONS IN THE CITY by Italo Calvino, translated by William Weaver.
Copyright © 1963 by Giulio Einaudi Editore, s.p.a., English translation copyright © 1983 by Houghton Mifin
Harcourt Publishing Company and Martin Secker & Warburg, Ltd. Reprinted by permission of Houghton Mifin
Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
English II
Page 24
London Snow
by Robert Bridges
When men were all asleep the snow came ying,
In large white akes falling on the city brown,
Stealthily and perpetually settling and loosely lying,
Hushing the latest trafc of the drowsy town;
5 Deadening, mufing, stiing its murmurs failing;
Lazily and incessantly oating down and down:
Silently sifting and veiling road, roof and railing;
Hiding difference, making unevenness even,
Into angles and crevices softly drifting and sailing.
10 All night it fell, and when full inches seven
It lay in the depth of its uncompacted lightness,
Its clouds blew off from a high and frosty heaven;
And all woke earlier for the unaccustomed brightness
Of the winter dawning, the strange unheavenly glare:
15 The eye marvelled—marvelled at the dazzling whiteness;
The ear hearkened to the stillness of the solemn air;
No sound of wheel rumbling nor of foot falling,
And the busy morning cries came thin and spare.
Then boys I heard, as they went to school, calling,
20 They gathered up the crystal manna to freeze
Their tongues with tasting, their hands with snowballing;
Or rioted in a drift, plunging up to the knees;
Or peering up from under the white-mossed wonder,
“O look at the trees!” they cried, “O look at the trees!”
25 With lessened load a few carts creak and blunder,
Following along the white deserted way,
A country company long dispersed asunder:
When now already the sun, in pale display
Standing by Paul’s high dome,
1
spread forth below
30 His sparkling beams, and awoke the stir of the day.
For now doors open, and war is waged with the snow;
And trains of sombre men, past tale of number,
Tread long brown paths, as toward their toil they go:
But even for them awhile no cares encumber
35 Their minds diverted; the daily word is unspoken,
The daily thoughts of labour and sorrow slumber
At the sight of the beauty that greets them, for the charm
they have broken.
“London Snow” by Robert Bridges—Public Domain
6515
1
The dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral is a prominent feature of London’s skyline.
English II
Page 25
19 Read the dictionary entry.
blanch \ˈblanch\ v
1. to scald in hot water or steam 2. to bleach by the
exclusion of light 3. to make to appear ashen or pale
4. to react with extreme surprise or shock
Which denition best matches the meaning of blanched in
paragraph 4?
A
Denition 1
B
Denition 2
C
Denition 3
D
Denition 4
92032
20 Which statement best reects how the cultural setting inuences
Sigismondo’s attitude in the excerpt from “The City Lost in the Snow”?
A
The competition between snow shovelers makes Sigismondo
excited to prove himself to Marcovaldo.
B
The fast-paced urban environment explains why workers like
Sigismondo must keep the city moving.
C
The scarcity of jobs makes Sigismondo appreciate the temporary
employment the snow provides.
D
The industrialization of the city leads Sigismondo to feel ambitious
about his future opportunities.
59426
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Page 26
21 Read the question carefully. Then record your answer in the
box provided.
How does the rising action in paragraphs 3 and 4 develop a
theme in the excerpt? Support your answer with evidence from
the excerpt.
59431
22 How do the events described in paragraphs 1 and 2 contribute to the
plot of the excerpt from “The City Lost in the Snow”?
A
They establish the snowfall as a rare, almost magical happening.
B
They introduce the confusion Marcovaldo feels throughout
the story.
C
They provide a sense of approaching danger to Marcovaldo and
his neighbors.
D
They suggest that the storm has created a unique, unfathomable
mystery.
92034
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Page 27
23 How does the setting of “an industrial city of northern Italy” affect the
plot in the excerpt from “The City Lost in the Snow”?
A
The shipping department workplace suggests Marcovaldo feels
condent that his position at work will improve.
B
The snow-covered city on Marcovaldo’s walk to work inspires him
to imagine a life without restrictions.
C
The deserted city streets emphasize the reason Marcovaldo must
walk slowly on his way to work.
D
The hidden Italian streets convey the importance of Marcovaldo’s
job to clear the snow from the sidewalks.
59427
24 The author uses irony in paragraph 8 of the excerpt from “The City
Lost in the Snow” most likely to show that —
A
Sigismondo’s efforts are being erased by the efforts of a
fellow worker
B
Sigismondo’s crew is unable to keep up with the rapidly
accumulating snow
C
the snow continues to pile up as the workers race to gain favor
with their boss
D
the speed at which the workers must shovel is beginning to cause
them distress
92031
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Page 28
25 How does the language the author uses in paragraph 4 contribute to
the mood in the excerpt from “The City Lost in the Snow”?
A
It creates empathy for people who walk to work.
B
It suggests hope that there will be progress for the worker.
C
It emphasizes the sense of fantasy that ends abruptly.
D
It reveals a feeling of warmth that contrasts with the cold outside.
59430
26 What does the use of alliteration in lines 1 through 9 of the poem
“London Snow” convey to the reader?
A
The soothing lull of the falling snow
B
The shadowy gloom of the endless snow at night
C
The dangers hidden by the thick snow
D
The exciting thrill of watching the snow fall
59436
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Page 29
27 Read lines 15 and 16 of the poem “London Snow.”
The eye marvelled—marvelled at the dazzling whiteness;
The ear hearkened to the stillness of the solemn air;
How does the gurative language in these lines reveal the
speaker’s attitude toward the snow?
A
By suggesting that human productivity is hampered by the
unexpected weather
B
By conveying how the sight of snow is more appealing than the
void of sound
C
By describing how the individual senses are affected by dramatic
changes in nature
D
By showing that the newly fallen snow conceals the bleakness of
everyday life
59438
28 What is most likely the poet’s purpose for using contrast to present
the ideas in lines 31 through 37 of the poem “London Snow”?
A
To describe the advancements of society despite the dangers
of nature
B
To reveal the freedom people feel when they live close to nature
C
To show the ability of nature to alter the landscape of society
D
To illustrate the tranquility nature brings to the lives of people
59437
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Page 30
29 How does the language in paragraphs 1 and 2 of the excerpt from
“The City Lost in the Snow” DIFFER from the language in lines 1
through 9 of the poem “London Snow”?
A
The language in the excerpt emphasizes the surprise of a
character, while the language in the poem suggests the sadness
of the speaker.
B
The language in the excerpt conveys the fear of a character, while
the language in the poem reveals the excitement of the speaker.
C
The language in the excerpt conveys the enthusiasm of a
character, while the language in the poem reveals the calmness
of the speaker.
D
The language in the excerpt emphasizes the objectivity of a
character, while the language in the poem suggests the bias
of the speaker.
59442
30 Which sentence best expresses a SIMILARITY between the excerpt
from “The City Lost in the Snow” and the poem “London Snow”?
A
Newly fallen snow can bring a welcome change to everyday life.
B
Forces in nature can be hostile and compel people to work harder.
C
Nature constantly reminds people that progress is only an illusion.
D
Heavy snowfall isolates people from one another.
59447
English II
Page 31
31 This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
Part A
Read these quotations from the excerpt from “The City Lost in the
Snow” and the poem “London Snow.”
He opened the window: the city was gone; it
had been replaced by a white sheet of paper.
(paragraph 1 of “The City Lost in the Snow”)
Hiding difference, making unevenness even,
(line 8 of “London Snow”)
What does the imagery in BOTH quotations suggest?
A
A heavy snowfall affects everyone in a city equally.
B
A heavy snowfall can be destructive to city landmarks.
C
A heavy snowfall can transform the appearance of a city.
D
A heavy snowfall provides opportunities to everyone in a city.
Part B
Which line from the poem “London Snow” supports the answer
to Part A?
A
Deadening, mufing, stiing its murmurs failing; (line 5)
B
Silently sifting and veiling road, roof and railing; (line 7)
C
It lay in the depth of its uncompacted lightness, (line 11)
D
But even for them awhile no cares encumber (line 34)
59440
English II
Page 32
32 What is the DIFFERENCE in the way the newly fallen snow affects the
working men in the excerpt from “The City Lost in the Snow” and the
working men in the poem “London Snow”?
A
While the laborers in the excerpt compete for scarce jobs shoveling
the snow, the laborers in the poem feel that the snow has made
their work much harder.
B
While the laborers in the excerpt feel overwhelmed by the
increased workload due to the snow, the laborers in the poem
trudge through the snow without noticing it.
C
While the laborers in the excerpt worry about the monumental
task of shoveling the snow, the laborers in the poem think of the
snow as a part of their daily struggles.
D
While the laborers in the excerpt appreciate opportunities brought
by the snow, the laborers in the poem nd the snow a short
distraction from the drudgery of their day.
59443
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English II
Page 33
English II - REVISING
Page 34
Read the selection and choose the best answer to each
question.
Heike wrote the following paper about an amazing athletic feat. She
would like you to read her paper and look for revisions she needs to
make. Then answer the questions that follow.
Pushing Past Adversity
(1) Swimmers have been both inspired and challenged by the strip
of water known as the English Channel. (2) In fact, this slice of
ocean has been traversed by more than 2,000 swimmers between
England and France. (3) About 40 have swum the channel twice
without stopping, and four individuals have even swum three
consecutive laps of the channel. (4) Sarah Thomas did something
even more remarkable. (5) She is a world-class swimmer who
hoped to set a record.
(6) The swim took 37-year-old Thomas a little more than 54 hours,
which is 2 full days plus another 6 hours of nonstop swimming.
(7) Her accomplishment was even more remarkable because
she is a cancer survivor, having recovered just a year before her
impressive swim. (8) By dedicating the swim to other survivors,
she hoped to be an inspiration. (9) Her determination to overcome
adversity was a critical factor in completing this incredible feat.
(10) Due to weather conditions, swimmers have only a two-week
window in which they can cross the English Channel. (11) But
Thomas wanted to make the journey four times. (12) That made
selecting a time to cross even more difcult. (13) To protect her
skin from the cold, she covered her body in grease. (14) A light was
attached to Thomas’s back so that the support team, who followed
alongside her in a boat, could see her in the dark.
(15) To make sure she had sustenance, the team threw her a bottle
with a liquid mixture inside that gave her energy and kept her
awake. (16) The bottle was attached to a rope, which allowed the
team to retrieve it and rell it. (17) During the trip, Thomas had
to deal with jellysh stings, mouth and throat pains, and keeping
food down. (18) She wanted to give up at one point, but they
encouraged her to keep going. (19) The most difcult challenge
was still to come, however; it was a surprising shift in the weather.
English II - REVISING
Page 35
(20) On the fourth leg of the crossing, the currents pushed Thomas
off the path she had so carefully planned. (21) She wasn’t initially
aware that the currents were causing trouble, but around 3:00 a.m.
one of her crew let her know that she still had another three hours
to go. (22) Her mother and her husband were actually a part of her
crew as well. (23) “I had expected to be done by 3:00 a.m., so it
was a stunning blow,” Thomas later recalled. (24) “However, we had
come that far already, and it never crossed my mind that I wouldn’t
swim until I had solid ground below my feet again.”
(25) Thomas reached solid ground around 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday and
was greeted by a large group of enthusiastic supporters. (26) She
commented that she felt both numb and stunned. (27) The journey
that should have been about 84 miles long turned out to be closer to
134 miles, so after celebrating with chocolate, she said she planned
to sleep for the rest of the day. (28) “I’m pretty tired right now,”
she admitted.
(29) Sarah Thomas accomplished something that had never been
done before. (30) “Swimming a channel is lled with hours of
nothing,” Thomas said, “on moments of incredible.”
6226
English II - REVISING
Page 36
33 Sentence 2 needs to be revised. In the box provided, rewrite
sentence 2 in a clear and effective way.
90980
34 Which sentences can replace sentences 4 and 5 to create a more
effective controlling idea for this paper?
A
However, one swimmer, Sarah Thomas, has managed to go above
and beyond all the rest. She set a new record by swimming the
English Channel four times without stopping.
B
But Sarah Thomas is a swimmer who yearned to do more. She has
faced some challenging circumstances in her life and felt condent
she was ready to tackle the English Channel.
C
As a result, Sarah Thomas was able to accomplish something no
swimmer had ever accomplished. She swam across the English
Channel and set an impressive record.
D
Yet Sarah Thomas was able to complete a swim that was an
incredible feat. She made it across the English Channel with the
help of a small team and was proud of her accomplishment.
56267
English II - REVISING
Page 37
35 Heike wants to add this sentence to the third paragraph of her paper
(sentences 10–14).
Finally, on Sunday, September 15, 2019, weather
predictions looked favorable, and she set out early
that morning.
Where is the best place to insert this sentence?
A
After sentence 10
B
After sentence 11
C
After sentence 12
D
After sentence 13
56270
36 Sentence 18 contains an indenite reference that affects the clarity of
the sentence. What is the best way to revise sentence 18?
A
Change She to They
B
Change but to and
C
Change they to crew members
D
Change her to another teammate
56272
English II - REVISING
Page 38
37 Which sentence in the fth paragraph (sentences 20–24) contains
unnecessary information and should be removed?
A
Sentence 20
B
Sentence 21
C
Sentence 22
D
Sentence 23
56274
38 Heike would like to replace sentence 30 with a more appropriate and
relevant quotation. Which of the following can replace sentence 30 to
help emphasize a main point of this paper and bring the paper to a
more effective conclusion?
A
As a Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation committee
reported, “It was an outstanding feat of endurance and triumph
over adversity. It is, quite simply, the English Channel swim of
our age.”
B
“If you want to swim across the English Channel from England to
France—you have to leave your doubt on the beach in England,”
endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh once said.
C
“There are so many stories of people swimming in the same spot
for hours until the tide turns,” says Colin Hill, a race organizer and
member of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.
D
“She started swimming when she was just a little tyke but
didn’t know about open-water swimming until after college,”
her stepfather Kent Maxson commented.
56276
English II - REVISING
Page 39
Read the selection and choose the best answer to each
question.
Julia wrote a story to tell about a girl’s surprise opportunity. Read
Julia’s draft and look for revisions she needs to make. Then answer
the questions that follow.
A Surprise Stop
(1) Art class had always been Natalia’s favorite elective. (2) She
preferred it over theater, music, and even gym. (3) She loved
everything about it—clay, map pencils, markers, papier-mâché—but
painting was her greatest interest.
(4) Natalia’s eighth-grade art teacher had a Georgia O’Keeffe
painting hanging on the wall in her classroom. (5) Natalia admired
it daily and tried to paint owers that looked similar to O’Keeffe’s.
(6) At home she studied other works by the artist and routinely
marveled at her talent. (7) Natalia was in awe of O’Keeffe’s
paintings of New York and its skyscrapers. (8) The owers and
landscapes of New Mexico most inspired the teenager. (9) She
worked hard to perfect her paintings, trying to get them to resemble
those of Georgia O’Keeffe.
(10) At the beginning of ninth grade, Natalia’s new art teacher
encouraged each student to create a project of their choice.
(11) Mrs. Rojas said they were free to utilize any materials but
that they needed to make something that highlighted their talent.
(12) Hoping to impress her new teacher, Natalia chose oil paints and
began working diligently to create a piece that reected her skills.
(13) When the painting was nearly complete, Mrs. Rojas walked by
and said, “That’s quite impressive, Natalia; it looks like an O’Keeffe
piece.” (14) Beaming, Natalia felt the pride swelling up in her heart.
(15) Eventually Natalia took the painting home and proudly hung
it on her bedroom wall. (16) Her parents didn’t seem to be as
impressed as her teacher had been, which was a bit disappointing
to Natalia, but she assumed it was because she already had so
many paintings hanging in her room. (17) In addition to this,
Natalia continued to work on her technique and learn more about
Georgia O’Keeffe.
English II - REVISING
Page 40
(18) Summer came, and it was time for Natalia’s family to take
their annual road trip to visit family in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
(19) Early one Saturday morning, Mom, Dad, and Natalia climbed
into the car to start the three-and-a-half-hour journey from their
home in El Paso to Aunt Jackie’s house in Albuquerque. (20) A
little more than two hours into the trip, Natalia settled in for a nap,
hoping they’d be at their destination by the time she woke up.
(21) When she awoke, however, she was confused. (22) Instead,
they were driving through a quaint neighborhood, and before long
she noticed a sign that read “Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.” (23) They
weren’t in Albuquerque! (24) They were in Santa Fe! (25) Finally
Natalia could tell that they weren’t going to Aunt Jackie’s rst.
(26) As the trio walked in the front doors of the building, Natalia’s
heart beat with anticipation. (27) Moving through room after room
slowly, paintings hung neatly on white walls. (28) The art that she
had seen only in books was right before her eyes. (29) Looking
closely at each masterpiece, she focused on the detail and tried
to absorb as much as she could. (30) The family spent the entire
afternoon marveling at O’Keeffe’s oil paintings and watercolors.
(31) When it was nally time to leave, Natalia hugged her dad and
thanked him. (32) He had gone an hour out of the way to surprise
Natalia with a visit to her favorite artist’s museum. (33) He had
wanted to surprise his daughter with a special visit. (34) As the
family began the drive toward their original destination, Natalia
reached into her backpack. (35) She pulled out her sketchbook,
newly inspired for her next painting.
6227
English II - REVISING
Page 41
39 What is the most effective way to combine sentences 7 and 8?
A
Natalia, who was in awe of O’Keeffe’s paintings of New York and
its skyscrapers, was a teenager most inspired by the owers and
landscapes of New Mexico.
B
Natalia was in awe of O’Keeffe’s paintings of New York and its
skyscrapers, but it was the owers and landscapes of New Mexico
that most inspired the teenager.
C
Being in awe of O’Keeffe’s paintings of New York and its
skyscrapers, the owers and landscapes of New Mexico most
inspired the teenager Natalia.
D
Because Natalia was in awe of O’Keeffe’s paintings of New York
and its skyscrapers, the teenager was most inspired by the owers
and landscapes of New Mexico.
56279
40 Julia has used a weak transitional phrase at the beginning of
sentence 17. Select the ONE phrase that BEST replaces In addition
to this in this sentence.
A
As the year went on
B
In response to her teacher
C
While her parents watched
D
After so much disappointment
, Natalia continued to work on her
technique and learn more about Georgia O’Keeffe.
90981
English II - REVISING
Page 42
41 Which sentence would best follow sentence 21?
A
According to her watch, they should have already arrived at her
aunt’s house in Albuquerque.
B
This was a long road trip, so no one had been surprised when she
had decided to sleep for a good while.
C
She was unsure about a number of things as she rubbed her eyes
and looked out the window.
D
As usual there was a lot of trafc on the highway to Albuquerque,
so her dad had been driving slowly.
56285
42 Julia would like a more effective closing for the fth paragraph
(sentences 18–25). Which sentence can replace sentence 25 to help
Julia accomplish this goal?
A
When Natalia’s dad opened his car door, he asked everyone to
gather their things and quickly follow him inside.
B
After a great deal of confusion, Natalia put the clues together and
deduced that they were not going to go to her aunt’s house yet.
C
Natalia understood that they had traveled to the museum and
would subsequently be late getting to her aunt’s.
D
When Natalia’s dad turned around and asked her if she would like
to go into the museum, she squealed in delight.
56286
English II - REVISING
Page 43
43 What is the most effective way to revise sentence 27?
A
Through room after room she moved slowly, paintings hung neatly
on white walls.
B
She moved slowly through room after room of paintings hung
neatly on white walls.
C
As she moved slowly through room after room, paintings on white
walls hung neatly.
D
She moved slowly through room after room of paintings on white
walls that hung neatly.
56287
44 Julia has included a sentence in the last paragraph (sentences 31–35)
that repeats information. Which sentence should be deleted from
this paragraph?
A
Sentence 32
B
Sentence 33
C
Sentence 34
D
Sentence 35
56288
English II - EDITING
Page 44
Read the selection and choose the best answer to each
question.
Vijay is writing a paper about an exciting event that took place in
Pennsylvania. Read these paragraphs from the beginning of Vijay’s
paper and look for corrections he needs to make. Then answer the
questions that follow.
Skyscraper Games by Kids
(1) On June 10, 2019, the mood in downtown Philadelphia was
festive. (2) Music lled the air as people socialized and enjoyed
yummy treats from food trucks. (3) At 8:30 p.m., it was time for
the main attraction. (4) A few lucky individuals took their spots,
picked up their joysticks, and began playing a giant video game on
a 29-story glass skyscraper. (5) The video game had been created
by students at a Philadelphia middle school who had recently learned
to program. (6) They were excited to share their game with others.
(7) The unique event was known as Skyscraper Games by Kids,
it was the brainchild of Frank Lee. (8) He teaches digital media
and video game design at Philadelphia’s Drexel University. (9) Lee
had twice before used the same skyscraper as a giant video game
screen. (10) In 2013 he had obtained permission to manipulate
the building’s LED lights to display the video game Pong. (11) City
residents stood near the skyscraper and used their controllers to
bounce a dot back and forth. (12) The next year, Lee programmed
the lights to create a skyscraper-sized version of Tetris, a game
that involves rotating oddly-shaped blocks to make it t together.
(13) The Tetris display was 119,600 square feet so big that it could
be seen all over Philadelphia.
6230
English II - EDITING
Page 45
45 What is the correct way to write sentence 7?
A
The unique event, known as Skyscraper Games by Kids, was the
brainchild of Frank Lee.
B
Known as Skyscraper Games by Kids. It was a unique event and
the brainchild of Frank Lee.
C
The unique event, known as Skyscraper Games by Kids. It was the
brainchild of Frank Lee.
D
Known as Skyscraper Games by Kids, a unique event that was the
brainchild of Frank Lee.
56314
46 What change, if any, should be made in sentence 10?
A
Change he to it
B
Change manipulate to mannipulate
C
Change building’s to buildings’
D
No change is needed.
56315
47 What change needs to be made in sentence 12?
A
Change the comma after Tetris to a semicolon
B
Change involves to will involve
C
Change rotating to rotatting
D
Change it to them
56316
English II - EDITING
Page 46
48 What change should be made in sentence 13?
A
Insert a dash after feet
B
Change so big to it was so big
C
Change it to they
D
Change could be seen to had been seen
56317
Peter
Tsai
Photography/Alamy Stock Photo
English II - EDITING
Page 47
Read the selection and choose the best answer to each
question.
Charles is writing a paper about some interesting towers in Austin,
Texas. Read these paragraphs from the body of Charles’s paper and
look for corrections he needs to make. Then answer the questions
that follow.
Still Shining After All These Years
(1) The rst tower was lit in Hyde Park, a streetcar suburb that
was then on the north edge of town. (2) It gave light to a
3,000-foot-diameter space, stood 165 feet tall, had a base of 15 feet,
and weighed approximatly 5,000 pounds. (3) Similar towers were
put into operation soon afterward.
(4) The moon towers, which is what people now call the structures,
is no longer a practical source of light. (5) They are, however, a
special part of Austin’s history. (6) In 1976 the famous towers
were added to an ofcial list known as the National Register of
Historic Places. (7) In the early 1990s, the towers were carefully
deconstructed and completely restored. (8) The city celebrated
their return with a festival.
English II - EDITING
Page 48
(9) Though hotels and skyscrapers tower over them today, the moon
towers have left a legacy. (10) They have inspired a documentary,
The Last of the Moonlight Towers that pays homage to this part of
Austin’s history. (11) The Moontower Comedy Festival is a popular
yearly tradition. (12) But an even more popular tradition is the
Zilker Park holiday tree, which uses a moon tower as its trunk.
6231
English II - EDITING
Page 49
49 What change needs to be made in sentence 2?
A
Change It to They
B
Delete the comma after space
C
Change had to has
D
Change approximatly to approximately
56327
50 What change needs to be made in sentence 4?
A
Delete the comma after towers
B
Change call to called
C
Change is to are
D
Change practical to practacal
56331
51 What change needs to be made in sentence 10?
A
Change documentary to documentery
B
Insert a comma after Towers
C
Change that to who
D
Change Austin’s to Austins’
56325
BE SURE YOU HAVE RECORDED ALL OF YOUR
ANSWERS IN THE TEST BOOKLET.
English II - EDITING
Page 50
STOP
BE SURE YOU HAVE RECORDED ALL OF YOUR
ANSWERS IN THE TEST BOOKLET.
52 What change should be made in sentence 12?
A
Change But to While
B
Change is to was
C
Change Zilker Park holiday tree to Zilker Park Holiday Tree
D
Change its to it’s
56335
STAAR
English II
PRACTICE
STAAR
English II
PRACTICE
