CSET English Subtest 1 Practice

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1. A researcher often refers to documents
that are available both in printed form
and on the Internet. In which of the
following situations would it be most
helpful for the researcher to access the
electronic version of a document?

Explanation

It would be most helpful for the researcher to access the electronic version of a document when they want to locate specific words or phrases in the text. By using the search function in the electronic version, the researcher can easily find and navigate to the desired information, saving time and effort compared to manually searching through a printed version.

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About This Quiz
CSET English Subtest 1 Practice - Quiz

This practice quiz is designed for those preparing for the CSET English subtest 1, focusing on analysis and interpretation of various literary texts and styles.

2. Read the excerpt below from Patrick Henry's speech of March 23, 1775, to a meeting of his fellow Virginians; then answer the two questions that follow.
 
I know of no way of judging the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years, to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House?

Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with these warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation—the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motives for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been for so long forging.

12. Which of the following is the main claim
being advanced in the excerpt?

Explanation

The main claim being advanced in the excerpt is that the conduct of the British reflects their hostile intent. The speaker questions the British ministry's actions and intentions, pointing out the contradiction between their gracious reception of the colonists' petition and their warlike preparations. The speaker suggests that the accumulation of navies and armies is meant to force the colonists into submission and to bind them with chains. This implies that the British ministry's actions are not driven by a desire for love and reconciliation, but rather by a hostile intent towards the colonists.

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3. In ancient Greek drama, the technique
of deus ex machina may best be
described as:

Explanation

Deus ex machina is a technique in ancient Greek drama where the problems faced by the characters are resolved through divine intervention. This means that a god or goddess would suddenly appear on stage and resolve the conflicts or challenges faced by the characters. It is a way to introduce a supernatural element into the plot and provide a convenient solution to the problems. This technique allows for a quick resolution without interrupting the flow of the story.

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4. Read the poem below, "song at the african middle class" by Molara Ogundipe-Leslie; then
answer the question that follows.

we charge through the skies of disillusion,
seeking the widening of eyes, we gaze at chaos,
speak to deadened hearts and ears stopped with
commerce. We drift around our region of clowns,
walking on air as dreams fly behind our eyes.
we forage among broken bodies, fractured minds
to find just ways retraced and new like beaten cloth.

and if they come again
will they come again?
and if they come again
will they dance this time?
will the new egungun1 dance once more
resplendent in rich-glassed cloth?
will they be of their people's needs,
rise to those needs, settle whirling rifts
salve, O, festering hearts?
will they say when they come
O my people, O my people, how to love you delicately?

1egungun: a masqueraded dancer who dances in a religious ritual with the intention of making contact with the supernatural

This poem best addresses which of the following concerns of contemporary African writers?

Explanation

The poem "song at the african middle class" by Molara Ogundipe-Leslie addresses the spiritual and emotional bankruptcy that arises from the loss of traditional values and aspirations of wealth. The poem speaks of disillusionment, chaos, and deadened hearts caused by the influence of commerce. It also mentions the need to find new ways and settle rifts in order to reconnect with the needs of the people. The mention of the egungun dance, a religious ritual, emphasizes the longing for a return to traditional cultural practices and the restoration of spiritual richness.

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5. Read the passage below from "An Ox Looks at Man," a poem by Carlos Drummond de Andrade; then answer the question that follows.

The narrator of the poem is an ox; in the passage below, the ox considers the place of humans in the world.

All their1 expression lives in their eyes—and loses itself
to a simple lowering of lids, to a shadow.
And since there is little of the mountain about them—
nothing in the hair or in the terribly fragile limbs
but coldness and secrecy—it is impossible for them
to settle themselves into forms that are calm, lasting,
and necessary. . . .

1their: throughout the passage, the third-person pronouns (their, them) refer to human beings

This passage most clearly illustrates
which of the following poetic devices?

Explanation

The passage personifies the ox, giving it the ability to observe and reflect on human behavior. Through the ox's perspective, it criticizes humanity for its lack of connection to the natural world. The ox describes humans as cold, secretive, and unable to settle into calm and lasting forms. This personification emphasizes the stark contrast between the ox's understanding of the world and the behavior of humans, highlighting their disconnection from nature.

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6. Read the poem below, "I Am Through" by Nguyen Trai; then answer the question that follows.

I am through living with others and their tricks.
I stay in the country, care only to be left alone.
Bamboo and plum trees do not betray you,
Monkeys and cranes are tolerant of independent souls.
I pick chrysanthemums, tend orchids:
Their fragrance stays in my coat.
I step on the moon in search of my plum trees,
The snow wets my kerchief.
My ears are attuned to the harp music of the brook.
As for friends, a green mountain is enough for me.

Which of the following best describes the
mood of the poem?

Explanation

The poem expresses the speaker's rejection of urban life and desire for solitude in the countryside. However, this rejection is not portrayed as a deprivation but rather as a source of solace and contentment. The speaker finds solace in the beauty of nature, symbolized by the bamboo, plum trees, monkeys, cranes, chrysanthemums, orchids, moon, and snow. The fragrance of the flowers stays with the speaker, indicating a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. The speaker's attunement to the music of the brook and the appreciation of the green mountain as a friend further emphasize the speaker's enhanced awareness and appreciation of nature's beauty, which helps to ease his anger and disappointment.

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7. Which of the following best describes the
role of revision in the writing process?

Explanation

Revision is not limited to a specific phase of the writing process. It is a continuous and ongoing activity that can happen at any stage of the process. Whether it is during the initial drafting phase, the second-draft phase, or even during editing, revision involves making changes, improvements, and adjustments to the content, structure, and style of the writing. It is an essential part of the writing process that helps refine and enhance the overall quality of the work.

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8. Read the passage below from Troilus and Cressida, a play by William Shakespeare; then answer the two questions that follow.

In the following passage, the speaker is Ulysses, one of the Greek commanders in the war against the Trojans.

When that the general is not like the hive
To whom the foragers1 shall all repair,
What honey is expected? . . .
The heavens themselves, the planets, and this centre2
Observe degree, priority, and place, . . .
And therefore is the glorious planet Sol3
In noble eminence enthron'd and spher'd
Amidst the other; whose med'cinable4 eye
Corrects the [ill aspects] of [planets evil],
And posts5 like the commandment of a king,
Sans6 check, to good and bad. But when the planets
In evil mixture to disorder wander,
What plagues and what portents, what mutiny!

1foragers: workers (drones)
2this centre: the earth
3Sol: the sun (king of planets)
4med'cinable: healing, restorative
5posts: speeds
6sans: without

3. This passage most clearly reflects the
Elizabethan world view in its assertion
that:

Explanation

The passage mentions the heavens, planets, and the earth, and describes how they all observe degree, priority, and place. It further explains that the glorious planet Sol is placed in noble eminence among the other planets and has the power to correct the ill aspects of other planets. This implies that there is a cosmic hierarchy in which every element, including human society, has its proper role. Therefore, the passage reflects the Elizabethan world view that human society is part of a cosmic hierarchy.

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9. A draft research paper includes a passage
that is a direct quotation from a primary
source. When reviewing the draft, the
researcher decides to interject a phrase in
the quoted material to explain a term that
may not be familiar to modern readers.
Which of the following procedures
should the researcher use to differentiate
the inserted phrase from the quoted
material?

Explanation

The correct procedure to differentiate the inserted phrase from the quoted material is to enclose the inserted phrase in brackets. This allows the reader to easily identify the added explanation and distinguish it from the original quotation.

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10. A critic analyzing a text from a formalist
perspective is likely to be concerned
primarily with the ways in which:

Explanation

A critic analyzing a text from a formalist perspective is likely to be concerned primarily with the ways in which the text's individual literary elements contribute to a coherent whole. Formalism focuses on the internal structure and form of the text, emphasizing elements such as plot, character development, symbolism, and language. By examining how these elements work together to create a unified and cohesive piece of literature, the formalist critic seeks to understand the aesthetic qualities and artistic merit of the text. This approach disregards external factors such as cultural values, historical context, or author's intentions, and instead focuses solely on the text itself.

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11. In this passage Patrick Henry develops
the question-and-answer organization
of the speech by using rhetorical
questions to:

Explanation

Patrick Henry develops the question-and-answer organization of the speech by using rhetorical questions to highlight the contradiction between the peaceful demeanor of the British and their aggressive actions. By posing these questions, Henry draws attention to the inconsistency between the British government's conciliatory words and their belligerent behavior, effectively exposing their true intentions and urging the American colonists to take action against them.

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12. Literary works by postmodern British
writers such as Angela Carter, Salman
Rushdie, and Jeanette Winterson
generally tend to share which of the
following characteristics?

Explanation

The correct answer is the use of fragmented narrative structures with multiple shifts in consciousness, chronology, and location. Postmodern British writers like Angela Carter, Salman Rushdie, and Jeanette Winterson are known for their experimental and non-linear storytelling techniques. They often employ fragmented narratives that jump between different perspectives, time periods, and settings. This style reflects the postmodern belief in the instability of truth and the subjective nature of reality. By using these narrative techniques, these writers challenge traditional storytelling conventions and explore the complexities of human experience.

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13. The ideas suggested in this passage most
clearly reflect the political context of
Shakespeare's time by:

Explanation

The passage reflects the political context of Shakespeare's time by affirming the power of central authority as a unifying force to prevent political fragmentation. This suggests that during Shakespeare's time, there may have been a need for strong central authority to maintain stability and prevent conflicts caused by warring factions. This aligns with the political climate of the era, where monarchs held significant power and sought to maintain control over their realms.

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14. Read the passage below from Deephaven, a novel by Sarah Orne Jewett; then answer the question that follows.

In the novel, the narrator and her friend Kate, who live in Boston, spend the summer in a rural
community where Kate spent time as a child. In the excerpt below, the friends travel to a small town nearby to see a small circus.

The circus was like all other circuses, except that it was shabbier than most, and the performers seemed to have less heart in it than usual. They did their best, and went through with their parts conscientiously, but they looked as if they never had had a good time in their lives. The audience was hilarious, and cheered and laughed at the tired clown until he looked as if he thought his speeches might possibly be funny, after all. We were so glad we had pleased the poor thing; and when he sang a song our satisfaction was still greater, and so he sang it all over again. Perhaps he had been associating with people who were used to circuses.

Which of the following best describes the
use of a literary device in this passage?

Explanation

The passage uses comic irony to highlight the narrator and her companion's delight in observing the circus performers and audience. Despite the shabby appearance and lack of enthusiasm from the performers, the audience cheers and laughs, finding joy in the tired clown's performance. The narrator and her companion are pleased to have pleased the clown and are even more satisfied when he sings a song. This creates a sense of irony as the performers seem uninterested, while the audience and the narrator find amusement and delight in the circus.

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15. Which of the following best describes
a primary aim of postcolonial literary
criticism?

Explanation

The primary aim of postcolonial literary criticism is to investigate questions relating to the cultural differences among texts. This involves analyzing the ways in which texts from different cultures and regions express their unique perspectives, experiences, and cultural identities. Postcolonial literary criticism seeks to challenge the dominant Western literary tradition and highlight the voices and narratives of marginalized and colonized peoples. By examining cultural differences among texts, this approach aims to promote a more inclusive and diverse understanding of literature.

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A researcher often refers to documentsthat are available both in...
Read the excerpt below from Patrick Henry's speech of March 23, 1775,...
In ancient Greek drama, the techniqueof deus ex machina may best...
Read the poem below, "song at the african middle class" by Molara...
Read the passage below from "An Ox Looks at Man," a poem by Carlos...
Read the poem below, "I Am Through" by Nguyen Trai; then answer the...
Which of the following best describes therole of revision in the...
Read the passage below from Troilus and Cressida, a play by William...
A draft research paper includes a passagethat is a direct quotation...
A critic analyzing a text from a formalistperspective is likely to be...
In this passage Patrick Henry developsthe question-and-answer...
Literary works by postmodern Britishwriters such as Angela Carter,...
The ideas suggested in this passage mostclearly reflect the political...
Read the passage below from Deephaven, a novel by Sarah Orne Jewett;...
Which of the following best describesa primary aim of postcolonial...
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