Question 4: “Although Hawaiian literature is highly heterogeneous in many ways, it is also characterized by considerable thematic _____, linking works by writers such as David Malo and Lisa Linn Kanae to the traditional stories of the Kanaka Maoli, the Native Hawaiian people.”

Question: “Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?”

A) innovation

B) continuity

C) subtlety

D) sophistication

Explanation:

To select the best word, we must note the contrast established by “Although.” The text states that Hawaiian literature “is highly heterogeneous in many ways,” but “it is also characterized by considerable thematic _____.” The diversity is contrasted with a feature that shows connection. The phrase “linking works by writers such as David Malo and Lisa Linn Kanae to the traditional stories of the Kanaka Maoli” suggests a thread of persistence or connection.

• A) innovation: This means the creation of new ideas or methods. This is the opposite of the idea of linking to tradition.
• B) continuity: This means the state of being uninterrupted or a logical connection. This fits perfectly with the idea that modern works are “linked” to traditional stories, showing an unbroken thematic flow.
• C) subtlety: This means the quality of being difficult to perceive or clever. While literature can be subtle, it is not the direct opposite of “heterogeneous” nor does it explain the link to tradition.
• D) sophistication: This means complexity or advancement. Like “subtlety,” it is not a direct contrast to “heterogeneous” and does not clearly explain the link to tradition.

Therefore, “continuity” is the most logical and accurate choice, as it clarifies that despite its diversity, Hawaiian literature maintains a thematic connection to traditional stories.

Answer: B) continuity

Question 5: “Jessica Murray is a researcher who studies canopy soil. Canopy soil is formed in a tree’s branches (its canopy) when dead leaves and other falling things collect. This material breaks down, becoming canopy soil. Canopy soil helps preserve healthy nutrient cycling (how nutrients move through the environment) in rainforests. This benefit is one reason Murray is interested in the canopy soils in large [___] trees in rainforests in Costa Rica.”

Question:“Which choice best describes the text’s overall structure?”

A) It presents an idea and mentions a researcher who disagrees with that idea.

B) It introduces a researcher and gives information about what she researches.

C) It explains a disagreement between researchers and resolves that disagreement.

D) It compares the sizes of two types of trees and explains how they differ.

Explanation:

To determine the overall structure of the text, we must look at how the information is presented.

• The text begins by introducing Jessica Murray as “a researcher who studies canopy soil.” This is an introduction of the researcher.
• The text then explains, “Canopy soil is formed… This material breaks down, becoming canopy soil. Canopy soil helps preserve healthy nutrient cycling… This benefit is one reason Murray is interested in the canopy soils…” This section provides detailed information about her subject of study (canopy soil) and why she studies it.

Now let’s look at the options:

• A) It presents an idea and mentions a researcher who disagrees with that idea. The text does not mention any disagreement or any researcher who disagrees with the presented idea.
• B) It introduces a researcher and gives information about what she researches. This option fits our analysis perfectly. The text introduces Jessica Murray and then provides detailed information about her research on canopy soil.
• C) It explains a disagreement between researchers and resolves that disagreement. Similar to A, there is no disagreement explained or resolved in the text.
• D) It compares the sizes of two types of trees and explains how they differ. The text mentions “large trees” but does not compare the sizes of two types of trees or explain how they differ. The main focus is on canopy soil and Murray’s research.

Therefore, option B most accurately describes the structure of the text.

Answer: B) It introduces a researcher and gives information about what she researches.

Question 6: “The following text is from Louise Erdrich’s 1986 novel The Beet Queen. The narrator discusses her relationship with her young niece, Dot. Celestine, the narrator’s sister-in-law, is Dot’s mother.

Dot was as impatient with babyhood as I. She tried at once to grow out of its helpless softness. Only Celestine was saddened by her daughter’s fierce progress. Day by day, Dot grew stronger. In her shopping cart stroller she exercised to exhaustion, bouncing for hours to develop her leg muscles. Celestine never saw that, because she and only she took pleasure in Dot’s helpless softness.”

Question: “Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?”

A) It makes a prediction about how Celestine will change as she grows older.

B) It offers a detail that shows how Dot is growing stronger.

C) It indicates how sad Celestine is by describing a behavior she engages in.

D) It explores some of the narrator’s psychological characteristics.

Explanation:

The underlined sentence is: “In her shopping cart stroller she exercised to exhaustion, bouncing for hours to develop her leg muscles.”

We need to determine the function of this sentence within the context of the whole passage. The passage describes Dot’s development and the attitudes of the narrator and Celestine toward that development.

• The narrator and Dot are both “impatient with babyhood,” and Dot “tried at once to grow out of its helpless softness.”
• “Day by day, Dot grew stronger.”

The underlined sentence provides a specific example of Dot growing stronger by describing her actions: “she exercised to exhaustion, bouncing for hours to develop her leg muscles.”

Now let’s look at the options:

• A) It makes a prediction about how Celestine will change as she grows older. The underlined sentence describes Dot’s actions, not a prediction about Celestine.
• B) It offers a detail that shows how Dot is growing stronger. This option is very fitting. The underlined sentence provides a specific detail (“exercised to exhaustion, bouncing for hours to develop her leg muscles”) to illustrate the previous statement that “Dot grew stronger.”
• C) It indicates how sad Celestine is by describing a behavior she engages in. The underlined sentence describes Dot’s behavior, not Celestine’s. Although Celestine is sad about Dot’s “fierce progress,” the underlined sentence is not about Celestine’s sadness or behavior.
• D) It explores some of the narrator’s psychological characteristics. The underlined sentence does not focus on the narrator’s psychological characteristics.

Therefore, option B most accurately describes the function of the underlined sentence.

Answer: B) It offers a detail that shows how Dot is growing stronger.

Question 7: “Wakako Yamauchi is best known for And the Soul Shall Dance, her 1977 play about a Japanese American family in Southern California. The play is based on a short story Yamauchi had published three years earlier. Adapting the story wasn’t easy. Theater relies on dialogue between characters, but the original story features little dialogue and instead describes its characters’ silent thoughts. To transform the story into a play, Yamauchi created situations where characters reveal their thoughts by speaking them aloud during conversations with each other.”

Question: “Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?”

A) It describes how Yamauchi chose the actors who performed in the play.

B) It offers information about how Yamauchi adapted her short story into a play.

C) It argues that Yamauchi’s adaptation is better known than her short story.

D) It explains why Yamauchi’s adaptation influenced later playwrights.

Explanation:

The underlined sentence is: “To transform the story into a play, Yamauchi created situations where characters reveal their thoughts by speaking them aloud during conversations with each other.”

To determine the function of this sentence, we must look at the preceding context. The text states that adapting the story was not easy because “Theater relies on dialogue between characters, but the original story features little dialogue and instead describes its characters’ silent thoughts.” The underlined sentence then explains how Yamauchi solved this problem.

• A) It describes how Yamauchi chose the actors who performed in the play. This sentence does not mention choosing actors.
• B) It offers information about how Yamauchi adapted her short story into a play. This option is very fitting. The underlined sentence directly explains the method Yamauchi used to change the original story (little dialogue) into a play (requiring dialogue) by creating situations for characters to reveal thoughts through speech. This is exactly how she “adapted” the story.
• C) It argues that Yamauchi’s adaptation is better known than her short story. The text mentions the play is “best known,” but the underlined sentence is not an argument about the play’s popularity; it is about the adaptation process.
• D) It explains why Yamauchi’s adaptation influenced later playwrights. This sentence does not discuss Yamauchi’s influence on other playwrights.

Therefore, option B most accurately describes the function of the underlined sentence.

Answer: B) It offers information about how Yamauchi adapted her short story into a play.

Question 8: “Mexican textile artist Victoria Villasana weaves stories of triumph, using her unique method of applying colorful yarn to photographs of people. In some works, Villasana focuses on celebrating cultural icons who are people of color, as she does in her depiction of artist Yayoi Kusama. However, in other works, Villasana honors ordinary people, as she does in her captivating portrayal of a woman making tortillas. Villasana sees both of these approaches as ways of depicting the power and interconnectedness of all people.”

Question: “According to the text, what kind of material does Villasana use in her artworks?”

A) Stone

B) Chalk

C) Paint

D) Yarn

Explanation:

The question asks to identify the material Villasana uses in her art, based on the provided text.

The text clearly describes Victoria Villasana’s method: “using her unique method of applying colorful

yarn to photographs of people.”

• A) Stone: The text does not mention the use of stone.
• B) Chalk: The text does not mention the use of chalk.
• C) Paint: The text does not mention the use of paint.
• D) Yarn: The text directly states Villasana uses “colorful yarn.” This is the primary material mentioned for her technique.

Based on the clear information in the text, “Yarn” is the only material from the options that is mentioned.

Answer: D) Yarn

Question 9: “The following text is from José Rizal’s 1891 novel The Reign of Greed (translated by Charles Derbyshire in 1912).

In his solitary retreat on the shore of the sea, whose mobile surface was visible through the open windows, extending outward until it mingled with the horizon. Padre Florentino was relieving the monotony by playing on his harmonium sad and melancholy tunes, to which the sonorous roar of the surf and the sighing of the treetops of the neighboring wood served as accompaniments. Notes long, full, mournful as a prayer, yet still vigorous, escaped from the old instrument. Padre Florentino, who was an accomplished musician, was improvising and, as he was alone, gave free rein to the sadness of his heart.”

Question: “Which choice best states the main idea of the text?”

A) The residence of Padre Florentino is especially isolated.

B) Padre Florentino prefers to play music rather than listen to other music.

C) Padre Florentino has dedicated himself to becoming a skilled musician.

D) The sadness of Padre Florentino’s music reflects his own feelings.

Explanation:

To determine the main idea, we must identify the overarching theme and the primary message the author intends to convey.

The passage describes Padre Florentino in a secluded setting by the sea (“solitary retreat”) and his action: playing the harmonium. The focus of the passage is his emotions as expressed through his music.

• His music is described as “sad and melancholy tunes.”
• The notes are “long, full, mournful as a prayer, yet still vigorous.”
• Most importantly, as an accomplished musician, he “was improvising and, as he was alone, gave free rein to the sadness of his heart.”

This shows a direct connection between Padre Florentino’s inner emotions and the music he plays.

Now let’s look at the options:

• A) The residence of Padre Florentino is especially isolated. While the text describes his home as a “solitary retreat,” this is a detail about the setting, not the main idea of the passage.
• B) Padre Florentino prefers to play music rather than listen to other music. The text says nothing about him preferring to play music over listening to others. He is “an accomplished musician” and is “improvising.”
• C) Padre Florentino has dedicated himself to becoming a skilled musician. The text notes he is “an accomplished musician,” but it does not focus on his dedication to becoming one; it focuses on his expression of emotion through music.
• D) The sadness of Padre Florentino’s music reflects his own feelings. This option encompasses the details about the “sad and melancholy” music and his act of giving “free rein to the sadness of his heart.” This is the main idea linking his actions to his emotions.

Therefore, option D is the best description of the main idea.

Answer: D) The sadness of Padre Florentino’s music reflects his own feelings.