CSET Subtest 1 Practice Test
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Which of the following forms of fixed or closed verse originated in Italy but was introduced to England, where it was developed and established as an English literary tradition?
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Sonnet
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Ballad
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Villanelle
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Limerick
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The CSET Subtest 1 Practice Test assesses knowledge of literary forms, movements, and traditions. It includes questions on sonnets, slave narratives, bildungsroman, modernism, regionalism, and neoclassical literature, highlighting key literary skills and cultural insights.
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- 2.
Which of the following excerpts is most characteristic of the traditional American literary form called the slave narrative?
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The girl belonged to a class—unhappily but too extensive—the very existence of which, should make men's hearts bleed. Barely past her childhood, it required but a glance to discover that she was one of those children, born and bred in neglect and vice, who have never known what childhood is: who have never been taught to love and court a parent's smile, or to dread a parent's frown.
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The stench of the hold, while we were on the coast, was so intolerably loathsome, that it was dangerous to remain there for any time, and some of us had been permitted to stay on the deck for the fresh air; but now that the whole ship's cargo were confined together, it became absolutely pestilential. The closeness of the place, and the heat of the climate, added to the number in the ship, being so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself, almost suffocated us.
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It is possible for a race or an individual to have mental development and yet be so handicapped by custom, prejudice, and lack of employment as to dwarf and discourage the whole life. This is the condition that prevails among the race in many of the large cities of the North; and it is to prevent this same condition in the South that I plead with all the earnestness of my heart.
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A resistless feeling of depression falls slowly upon us, despite the gaudy sunshine and the green cotton-fields. This, then, is the Cotton Kingdom,—the shadow of a marvellous dream. And where is the King? Perhaps this is he,—the sweating ploughman, tilling his eighty acres with two lean mules, and fighting a hard battle with debt. So we sit musing, until . . . there comes a fairer scene suddenly in view,—a neat cottage snugly ensconced by the road, and near it a little store.
Correct Answer
A. The stench of the hold, while we were on the coast, was so intolerably loathsome, that it was dangerous to remain there for any time, and some of us had been permitted to stay on the deck for the fresh air; but now that the whole ship's cargo were confined together, it became absolutely pestilential. The closeness of the place, and the heat of the climate, added to the number in the ship, being so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself, almost suffocated us.Explanation
An American slave narrative is an autobiographical account of life as a slave. As part of the account, the narrator typically provides vivid descriptions of the horrors of
slavery, including the appalling transatlantic Middle Passage that many African slaves were forced to endure. During a slave ship's passage, the human "cargo were confined together," in extremely close quarters belowdecks, creating "absolutely pestilential" conditions.Rate this question:
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- 3.
Literary works such as James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Gustave Flaubert's A Sentimental Education, and Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain provide examples of which of the following traditional novelistic forms?
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Nouveau roman or "new novel"
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Social novel
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Bildungsroman or "novel of formation"
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Historical novel
Correct Answer
A. Bildungsroman or "novel of formation"Explanation
The subject of a bildungsroman, or "novel of formation,"
typically has to do with the moral, spiritual, or intellectual development of a young protagonist. The novels A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, A Sentimental Education, and The Magic Mountain all have as their central characters a child or a young adult who, over the course of the story, and through varied and extensive life experiences, matures and eventually cultivates a distinct personal identityRate this question:
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- 4.
Read the poem below; then answer the question that follows. Now begins the cryOf the guitar,Breaking the vaults Of dawn.Now begins the cryOf the guitar.UselessTo still it.ImpossibleTo still it.It weeps monotonouslyAs weeps the water,As weeps the windOver snow.ImpossibleTo still it.It weepsFor distant things,Warm southern sandsDesiring white camellias.It mourns the arrow without a target,The evening without morning.And the first bird deadUpon a branch.O guitar!A wounded heart,Wounded by five swords.The style and subject matter of this poem are most characteristic of works from which of the following movements in world literature?
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Classicism
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Romanticism
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Realism
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Modernism
Correct Answer
A. ModernismExplanation
The modernist movement in literature developed during the
turbulent events of the early to middle twentieth century. In response to the devastation of war, and feeling disconnected from the traditions of the past, many modern writers infused their works with an extreme sense of uncertainty, disillusionment, and despair. The language and imagery used in this poem ("cry," "weeps," "mourns," "useless," "impossible," and "evening without morning") invoke the inevitability of death and create a stark and unsettling atmosphere, which is characteristic of modernist poetry.Rate this question:
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- 5.
Literary works by American authors associated with the "local color" style of writing, or regionalism, such as Sarah Orne Jewett, Kate Chopin, and Bret Harte, served primarily which of the following functions?
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Describing the unique physical landscape of a place and the distinctive customs, dialect, and way of thinking of those who live there
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Explaining the special appeal of a geographic area and the reasons that people have for deciding to settle and work there
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Inspiring those who live in rural areas to venture beyond their isolated communities and explore diverse people, places, and cultures
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Promoting a simple, agrarian lifestyle, the importance of family, and a focus on personal happiness rather than material wealth
Correct Answer
A. Describing the unique physical landscape of a place and the distinctive customs, dialect, and way of thinking of those who live thereExplanation
"Local color" writing typically includes detailed descriptions of a particular region and of the unique—and sometimes eccentric—customs, dress, and manner of speaking and thinking of those who inhabit the region. The technique gives the narrative an air of authenticity and serves to pique the curiosity of readers.Rate this question:
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- 6.
Literary works by British writers of the neoclassical period such as Alexander Pope, John Dryden, and Samuel Johnson tend to share which of the following characteristics?
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A fondness for satire and an inclination to make generalizations about the world in the form of aphoristic verse
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The use of stock imagery and alliterative verse to tell tales of kings, knights, and epic battles
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An idealistic view of the world and a preoccupation with the close examination of inner feelings and emotions
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The use of symbolism and an impressionistic, broad-stroke style to express ideas indirectly
Correct Answer
A. A fondness for satire and an inclination to make generalizations about the world in the form of aphoristic verseExplanation
Neoclassical writers took as their primary subject human
beings and what human beings possess in common—their shared thoughts, feelings, experiences, and characteristics. In their works, Pope, Dryden, and Johnson made general observations about human beings, and in doing so, often produced adages with satiric overtones (e.g., "Man never thinks himself happy, but when he enjoys those things which others want or desire."—Pope).Rate this question:
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- 7.
One significant feature of literature written for young adults is that the stories tend to:
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Explore the various educational and professional choices that people make rather than the particular skills and interests that led them to pursue their goals
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Focus on the thoughts and experiences of an individual character and convey a sense of immediacy rather than nostalgia.
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Provide a straightforward approach for solving a social problem rather than a long explication of the roots and complexities of the problem.
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Inquire into the motivations and actions of a wide range of characters and convey a sense of levity rather than deep seriousness.
Correct Answer
A. Focus on the thoughts and experiences of an individual character and convey a sense of immediacy rather than nostalgia.Explanation
Young adult literature usually features a teenage protagonist and provides reflections on and interpretations of his or her particular point of view. Also, the action or
events in a work of young adult literature tend to occur quickly. The dialogue is direct, sometimes confrontational, and the story takes place over a relatively short period of time, such as a summer vacation or school trip.Rate this question:
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- 8.
Read the excerpt below from "Spring and All," a poem by William Carlos Williams; then answer the question that follows. By the road to the contagious hospitalunder the surge of the bluemottled clouds driven from thenortheast—a cold wind. Beyond, thewaste of broad, muddy fields brown with dried weeds, standing and fallenpatches of standing waterthe scattering of tall treesAll along the road the reddishpurplish, forked, upstanding, twiggystuff of bushes and small treeswith dead, brown leaves under themleafless vines— The style and subject matter in this excerpt are most characteristic of poetry from which of the following literary movements?
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Imagist
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Symbolist
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Parnassian
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New formalist
Correct Answer
A. ImagistExplanation
Imagist poetry is typically written in free verse, draws on a wide range of subject matter, is expressed in common speech, and relies on a clear, concentrated image to convey meaning. In this excerpt, a singular image (a bleak, roadside landscape) is presented in plain language ("broad, muddy fields / brown with dried weeds") and in no particular metrical or verse form.Rate this question:
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- 9.
Read the excerpt below from A Tale of a Tub, a work of fiction by Jonathan Swift; then answer the question that follows. For great turns are not always given by strong hands, but by lucky adaption, and at proper seasons; and it is of no import where the fire was kindled, if the vapor has once got up into the brain. For the upper region of man is furnished like the middle region of the air; the materials are formed from causes of the widest difference, yet produce at last the same substance and effect. Mists arise from the earth, steams from dunghills, exhalations from the sea, and smoke from fire; yet all clouds are the same in composition as well as consequences, and the fumes issuing from a jakes1 will furnish as comely and useful a vapor as incense from an altar. Thus far, I suppose, will easily be granted me; and then it will follow, that as the face of nature never produces rain but when it is overcast and disturbed, so human understanding, seated in the brain, must be troubled and overspread by vapors, ascending from the lower faculties to water the invention and render it fruitful. In this excerpt, Swift primarily satirizes which of the following aspects of late seventeenth- and early eighteenth-century rationalism?
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A belief in the power of human reasoning to reveal truth
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The spread and growing acceptance of the scientific method
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The erosion of unquestioning acceptance of religious doctrine
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A faith that humanity necessarily progresses toward perfection
Correct Answer
A. A belief in the power of human reasoning to reveal truthExplanation
The rationalism of the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries held that all truths, especially religious ones, were accessible and comprehensible through pure human reason; reason was in itself a source of knowledge superior to and independent of sense perceptions. In this excerpt, Swift mocks the rationalist view by equating the knowledge that reason supposedly brings with rising "vapor" or "smoke" and asserting that the sources of the vapor or smoke are immaterial ("it is of no import where the fire was kindled"). So, with pure reason only—i.e., without the power of discernment—the "exhalations from the sea" become equivalent to the "steams from dunghills," which is a ridiculous notion.Rate this question:
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- 10.
In Theatre of the Absurd, the characters often use dislocated, repetitious, and clichéd speech primarily to:
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Illustrate the essentially illogical, purposeless nature of the human condition.
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Re-create the workings of the subconscious.
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Mock the exaggerated dignity and wisdom of modern, self-professed intellectuals.
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Reinforce the comedic action of farcical plots.
Correct Answer
A. Illustrate the essentially illogical, purposeless nature of the human condition.Explanation
All Literature of the Absurd imparts the idea that the existence and actions of human beings are, in effect, senseless, useless, and therefore absurd. In Theatre of the Absurd, then, the characters' speech reflects this senselessness, as in Waiting for Godot, one of the characters remarks, "Nothing happens, nobody comes, nobody goes, it's awful."Rate this question:
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- 11.
Read the passage below from "The Open Boat," a short story by Stephen Crane; then answer the question that follows. As each slaty wall of water approached, it shut all else from the view of the men in the boat, and it was not difficult to imagine that this particular wave was the final outburst of the ocean, the last effort of the grim water. There was a terrible grace in the move of the waves, and they came in silence, save for the snarling of the crests. Which of the following statements describes most accurately how a literary or rhetorical technique is used in this passage?
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Personification is used to portray the ocean as an unsympathetic creature intent on destroying the men in the boat.
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Metaphors related to industry and machinery are used to compare the ocean to a never-ending production line.
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Words connoting dizziness and disorientation are used to illustrate the desperate situation of the men in the boat.
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Hyperbole is used to emphasize the the vastness of the ocean and the relative insignificance of the men in the boat.
Correct Answer
A. Personification is used to portray the ocean as an unsympathetic creature intent on destroying the men in the boat.Explanation
In this passage, the ocean is quite clearly personified as a pitiless, wrathful being bent on crushing the men in the boat. The ocean has a "slaty," "grim" aspect and a furious attitude, evinced by the constant "snarling of the crests" and the "final outburst" of one of its waves.Rate this question:
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- 12.
Use the information below to answer the question that follows. A writer has taken the notes below in preparation for writing one section of a report on the earth's major ecosystems. • Oceans make up the earth's largest ecosystem, covering around 75% of the planet's surface. • Scientists divide ocean ecosystems by depth and distance from shore, into four zones: the intertidal zone, the pelagic zone, the benthic zone, and the abyssal zone. • The marine biome—or major ecological and environmental community—includes the oceans, coral reefs, and estuaries. • The oceans absorb and store heat, a capacity that helps to stabilize the earth's temperatures and climates. • By some measures, oceans have greater biodiversity than any other ecosystem. Given the information provided in these notes, the writer will be best prepared to develop this section of the report by:
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Comparing and contrasting the earth's ecosystems and biomes.
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Constructing a hypothesis about the ocean ecosystem.
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Illustrating the characteristics of ecosystems and biomes.
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Presenting an extended definition of the ocean ecosystem.
Correct Answer
A. Presenting an extended definition of the ocean ecosystem.Explanation
For a report on the earth's major ecosystems, a writer would find extended definitions to be an effective mode of development, especially if writing for an audience of nonspecialists. Each section of the report would include an extended definition of one of the earth's ecosystems—in this case, the ocean ecosystem. This section would begin with a formal sentence definition that establishes a focus (e.g., "Oceans make up the earth's largest ecosystem, covering around 75% of the planet's surface"), followed by several shorter definitions that clarify or elaborate on the first, formal definition. The overall objective would be to explain the complex term ocean ecosystem to a lay audience by anticipating and responding to various questions about it: What is the ocean ecosystem? What are some of the things it does? How significant is it to the planet?Rate this question:
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- 13.
Read the excerpt below from "The Lady in the Looking Glass: A Reflection," a short story by Virginia Woolf; then answer the question that follows. So she stood thinking. Without making any thought precise—for she was one of those reticent people whose minds hold their thoughts enmeshed in clouds of silence—she was filled with thoughts. Her mind was like her room, in which lights advanced and retreated, came pirouetting and stepping delicately, spread their tails, pecked their way; and then her whole being was suffused, like the room again, with a cloud of some profound knowledge, some unspoken regret, and then she was full of locked drawers, stuffed with letters, like her cabinets. To talk of "prizing her open" as if she were an oyster, to use any but the finest and subtlest and most pliable tools upon her was impious and absurd. One must imagine—here was she in the looking glass. A literary critic using a psychoanalytic approach would most likely focus on which of the following interpretations of the figurative language used in this excerpt?
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The connection drawn between the character's ideas and the lights in her room suggests that reason illuminates the truth while emotion obscures it.
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The references to the movements of dancers and birds implies that the character is incapable of serious, sustained intellectual inquiry.
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The description of the character's mind as "full of locked drawers" illustrates the degree to which she represses disagreeable thoughts.
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The implied comparison between the character's mind and a pearl hidden inside an oyster suggests that intelligence is a commodity.
Correct Answer
A. The description of the character's mind as "full of locked drawers" illustrates the degree to which she represses disagreeable thoughts.Explanation
Psychoanalytic criticism is based on the idea that literary works can reflect the imagined fulfillment of the author's thoughts and desires that are denied in real, everyday life or are prohibited by social or cultural standards—i.e., thoughts and desires that are censored by the self, or repressed. In this excerpt, the narrator is "filled with thoughts," most of which go unspoken or are repressed. However, she is still sometimes able to imagine these thoughts playing out freely—they "came pirouetting and stepping delicately, spread their tails, pecked their way. . . ."Rate this question:
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- 14.
Morality plays rely mainly on which of the following literary devices to dramatize the battle between the forces of good and evil in the human soul?
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Irony
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Hyperbole
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Allegory
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Paradox
Correct Answer
A. AllegoryExplanation
Morality plays, popular in Europe during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, were dramatized allegories of the representative Christian life. The protagonist usually represents humankind while other characters symbolize or personify various virtues and vices, such as the Four Daughters of God (Mercy, Justice, Temperance, and Truth).Rate this question:
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- 15.
Use the information below to answer the question that follows. A writer has drafted the paragraph below as part of a narrative about a transformational experience. I'll never forget the first time I taught. I was in graduate school, working on a master's degree in English, and I thought that teaching a section of Freshman Writing would be an easy way to earn a little extra money. The summer before, I gave teaching hardly a thought, preferring to focus on reading ahead for my grad courses. After all, I figured, how hard could teaching freshmen how to write really be? On day one, I ran off photocopies of my syllabus and headed to class whistling a happy tune. _______________________ I froze in my tracks. The room was filled to overflowing with students looking up expectantly at me. I glanced at my pathetic little pile of papers and regretted doing so little to prepare. While I wrote my name on the board, I struggled to compose myself. Then I swallowed my panic, turned around, and started the greatest adventure of my life. To control the flow and pace of the narrative, which of the following clausal modifiers should the writer use in the blank in this paragraph?
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Because I was so nervous,
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After I settled down at my desk,
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When I realized how foolish I'd been,
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As I strolled through the door,
Correct Answer
A. As I strolled through the door,Explanation
In this paragraph, the phrase "As I strolled through the door" works most sensibly and effectively in the blank. This clausal modifier, paired with the independent clause "I froze in my tracks," works best to set up a sudden change in the formerly relaxed and casual manner of the narrator. This modifier also makes the most sense chronologically, since the narrator cannot experience feelings of nervousness or foolishness or settle himself down at the desk until after strolling through the door of the classroom and then freezing in his tracks.Rate this question:
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