Critical Reading Section Reading Comprehension: Purpose and Inference

Purpose and Inference Questions To answer these questions, it is important to read the entire passage. It can also be helpful to read the question stems (only! – not the answers!) before reading the passage. These questions move chronologically through the passage and do NOT necessarily increase in difficulty.

These questions will use phrases such as: Purpose Questions These questions will use phrases such as: the author mentions [blank] in order to . . . this part of the passage serves to . . . Here you must understand the author’s reasoning for using a particular phrase in the context of the passage as a whole

These questions will use phrases such as: Inference Questions These questions will use phrases such as: the author suggests that . . . this part of the passage suggests that . . . Although the author does not directly state these answers, the clues to reach these conclusions are directly in the passage

1. The author mentions Mrs 1. The author mentions Mrs. Mallard’s “heart trouble” (line 1) in order to A. support the doctor’s accurate diagnosis at the end of the story B. set the mood of the story as tragic C. establish both her physical health and her restrained marriage D. characterize the female characters as fragile and submissive E. foreshadow the death of Mr. Mallard on the train

1. The author mentions Mrs 1. The author mentions Mrs. Mallard’s “heart trouble” (line 1) in order to (POE) A. support the doctor’s accurate diagnosis at the end of the story B. set the mood of the story as tragic C. establish both her physical health and her restrained marriage D. characterize the female characters as fragile and submissive E. foreshadow the death of Mr. Mallard on the train

1. The author mentions Mrs 1. The author mentions Mrs. Mallard’s “heart trouble” (line 1) in order to (POE) A. support the doctor’s accurate diagnosis at the end of the story B. set the mood of the story as tragic C. establish both her physical health and her restrained marriage D. characterize the female characters as fragile and submissive E. foreshadow the death of Mr. Mallard on the train

1. The author mentions Mrs 1. The author mentions Mrs. Mallard’s “heart trouble” (line 1) in order to (POE) A. support the doctor’s accurate diagnosis at the end of the story B. set the mood of the story as tragic C. establish both her physical health and her restrained marriage D. characterize the female characters as fragile and submissive E. foreshadow the death of Mr. Mallard on the train

1. The author mentions Mrs 1. The author mentions Mrs. Mallard’s “heart trouble” (line 1) in order to A. support the doctor’s accurate diagnosis at the end of the story B. set the mood of the story as tragic C. establish both her physical health and her restrained marriage D. characterize the female characters as fragile and submissive E. foreshadow the death of Mr. Mallard on the train

2. As used in line 3, “veiled” most nearly means A. covered B 2. As used in line 3, “veiled” most nearly means A. covered B. protected C. roundabout D. exposed E. concealed

2. As used in line 3, “veiled” most nearly means A. covered B 2. As used in line 3, “veiled” most nearly means A. covered B. protected C. roundabout D. exposed E. concealed (used in the sentence)

2. As used in line 3, “veiled” most nearly means A. covered B 2. As used in line 3, “veiled” most nearly means A. covered B. protected C. roundabout D. exposed (opposite definition) E. concealed (used in the sentence)

2. As used in line 3, “veiled” most nearly means A 2. As used in line 3, “veiled” most nearly means A. covered (common definition) B. protected C. roundabout D. exposed (opposite definition) E. concealed (used in the sentence)

2. As used in line 3, “veiled” most nearly means A 2. As used in line 3, “veiled” most nearly means A. covered (common definition) B. protected C. roundabout D. exposed (opposite definition) E. concealed (used in the sentence)

3. As used in line 10 , “wild abandonment” most nearly means A 3. As used in line 10 , “wild abandonment” most nearly means A. restraint B. grief C. lunacy D. defeat E. release

3. As used in line 10 , “wild abandonment” most nearly means A 3. As used in line 10 , “wild abandonment” most nearly means A. restraint (opposite definition) B. grief C. lunacy D. defeat E. release

3. As used in line 10 , “wild abandonment” most nearly means A 3. As used in line 10 , “wild abandonment” most nearly means A. restraint (opposite definition) B. grief C. lunacy (common definition) D. defeat E. release

3. As used in line 10 , “wild abandonment” most nearly means A 3. As used in line 10 , “wild abandonment” most nearly means A. restraint (opposite definition) B. grief C. lunacy (common definition) D. defeat E. release

4. The author mentions the “open window” (line 13) in order to A 4. The author mentions the “open window” (line 13) in order to A. suggest Louise’s life has been carefree and open B. provide a frame through which Louise views images of freedom C. hint how often she would sit in the armchair and dream of being somewhere else D. serve as her escape from her strained marriage E. foreshadow the oncoming spring rain

4. The author mentions the “open window” (line 13) in order to A 4. The author mentions the “open window” (line 13) in order to A. suggest Louise’s life has been carefree and open B. provide a frame through which Louise views images of freedom C. hint how often she would sit in the armchair and dream of being somewhere else D. serve as her escape from her strained marriage E. foreshadow the oncoming spring rain

4. The author mentions the “open window” (line 13) in order to A 4. The author mentions the “open window” (line 13) in order to A. suggest Louise’s life has been carefree and open B. provide a frame through which Louise views images of freedom C. hint how often she would sit in the armchair and dream of being somewhere else (NO PROOF) D. serve as her escape from her strained marriage E. foreshadow the oncoming spring rain

4. The author mentions the “open window” (line 13) in order to A 4. The author mentions the “open window” (line 13) in order to A. suggest Louise’s life has been carefree and open B. provide a frame through which Louise views images of freedom C. hint how often she would sit in the armchair and dream of being somewhere else (NO PROOF) D. serve as her escape from her strained marriage E. foreshadow the oncoming spring rain

4. The author mentions the “open window” (line 13) in order to A 4. The author mentions the “open window” (line 13) in order to A. suggest Louise’s life has been carefree and open B. provide a frame through which Louise views images of freedom C. hint how often she would sit in the armchair and dream of being somewhere else D. serve as her escape from her strained marriage E. foreshadow the oncoming spring rain

5. As used in line 18, “crying” most nearly means A. weeping B 5. As used in line 18, “crying” most nearly means A. weeping B. moaning C. singing D. broadcasting E. selling

5. As used in line 18, “crying” most nearly means A 5. As used in line 18, “crying” most nearly means A. weeping (common definition) B. moaning C. singing D. broadcasting E. selling

5. As used in line 18, “crying” most nearly means A 5. As used in line 18, “crying” most nearly means A. weeping (common definition) B. moaning C. singing (used in the next sentence) D. broadcasting E. selling

5. As used in line 18, “crying” most nearly means A 5. As used in line 18, “crying” most nearly means A. weeping (common definition) B. moaning C. singing (used in the next sentence) D. broadcasting E. selling

6. The description of Louise’s “fair, calm face” (line 25) serves to A 6. The description of Louise’s “fair, calm face” (line 25) serves to A. characterize her as clear thinking and optimistic of her future B. foreshadow her weak health C. show how childlike and immature her behaviors are D. contrast her fatal, startled reaction to Mr. Mallard’s entrance E. show how two-faced Louise can be

6. The description of Louise’s “fair, calm face” (line 25) serves to A 6. The description of Louise’s “fair, calm face” (line 25) serves to A. characterize her as clear thinking and optimistic of her future B. foreshadow her weak health C. show how childlike and immature her behaviors are D. contrast her fatal, startled reaction to Mr. Mallard’s entrance E. show how two-faced Louise can be

6. The description of Louise’s “fair, calm face” (line 25) serves to A 6. The description of Louise’s “fair, calm face” (line 25) serves to A. characterize her as clear thinking and optimistic of her future B. foreshadow her weak health C. show how childlike and immature her behaviors are D. contrast her fatal, startled reaction to Mr. Mallard’s entrance (NO PROOF) E. show how two-faced Louise can be

6. The description of Louise’s “fair, calm face” (line 25) serves to A 6. The description of Louise’s “fair, calm face” (line 25) serves to A. characterize her as clear thinking and optimistic of her future B. foreshadow her weak health C. show how childlike and immature her behaviors are D. contrast her fatal, startled reaction to Mr. Mallard’s entrance E. show how two-faced Louise can be

7. In lines 34-38 the author suggests that A 7. In lines 34-38 the author suggests that A. Louise fears the uncertainty of her future as a widow B. the opportunity to begin anew is reinvigorating to Louise C. she hated her husband and looks forward to a new life D. the thought of a woman being independent at this time period is trivial E. she has been wanting this new freedom for some time now

7. In lines 34-38 the author suggests that A 7. In lines 34-38 the author suggests that A. Louise fears the uncertainty of her future as a widow B. the opportunity to begin anew is reinvigorating to Louise C. she hated her husband and looks forward to a new life D. the thought of a woman being independent at this time period is trivial E. she has been wanting this new freedom for some time now

7. In lines 34-38 the author suggests that A 7. In lines 34-38 the author suggests that A. Louise fears the uncertainty of her future as a widow B. the opportunity to begin anew is reinvigorating to Louise C. she hated her husband and looks forward to a new life D. the thought of a woman being independent at this time period is trivial E. she has been wanting this new freedom for some time now

7. In lines 34-38 the author suggests that A 7. In lines 34-38 the author suggests that A. Louise fears the uncertainty of her future as a widow B. the opportunity to begin anew is reinvigorating to Louise C. she hated her husband and looks forward to a new life D. the thought of a woman being independent at this time period is trivial E. she has been wanting this new freedom for some time now

7. In lines 34-38 the author suggests that A 7. In lines 34-38 the author suggests that A. Louise fears the uncertainty of her future as a widow B. the opportunity to begin anew is reinvigorating to Louise C. she hated her husband and looks forward to a new life D. the thought of a woman being independent at this time period is trivial E. she has been wanting this new freedom for some time now

8. In line 71 the author suggests that A 8. In line 71 the author suggests that A. the doctors believe that Louise died of a broken heart B. what kills Louise is the realization that her dreams of a new life are now lost C. Louise truly loved her husband more than the thought of being free without him D. Louise had died from heart failure before her body collapsed down the stairs E. Brently Mallard had not been killed on the train

8. In line 71 the author suggests that A 8. In line 71 the author suggests that A. the doctors believe that Louise died of a broken heart B. what kills Louise is the realization that her dreams of a new life are now lost C. Louise truly loved her husband more than the thought of being free without him D. Louise had died from heart failure before her body collapsed down the stairs E. Brently Mallard had not been killed on the train (FACT not an INFERENCE)

8. In line 71 the author suggests that A 8. In line 71 the author suggests that A. the doctors believe that Louise died of a broken heart B. what kills Louise is the realization that her dreams of a new life are now lost C. Louise truly loved her husband more than the thought of being free without him D. Louise had died from heart failure before her body collapsed down the stairs E. Brently Mallard had not been killed on the train (FACT not an INFERENCE)

8. In line 71 the author suggests that A 8. In line 71 the author suggests that A. the doctors believe that Louise died of a broken heart B. what kills Louise is the realization that her dreams of a new life are now lost C. Louise truly loved her husband more than the thought of being free without him D. Louise had died from heart failure before her body collapsed down the stairs E. Brently Mallard had not been killed on the train (FACT not an INFERENCE)

8. In line 71 the author suggests that A 8. In line 71 the author suggests that A. the doctors believe that Louise died of a broken heart B. what kills Louise is the realization that her dreams of a new life are now lost C. Louise truly loved her husband more than the thought of being free without him D. Louise had died from heart failure before her body collapsed down the stairs E. Brently Mallard had not been killed on the train