Question

directions: read the following passage. then choose the best answer to questions 22 through 26.
the spectre
the immediate cause... of the prevalence of supernatural stories... was doubtless owing to the vicinity of sleepy hollow. there was a contagion in the very air that blew from that haunted region; it breathed forth an atmosphere of dreams and fancies infecting all the land. several of the sleepy hollow people were present at van tassel’s, and, as usual, were telling out their wild and wonderful legends. many dismal tales were told about funeral trains, and mourning cries and wailings heard and seen about the great tree where the unfortunate major andré was taken.... some mention was made also of the woman in white, that haunted the dark glen... and was often heard to shriek on winter nights before a storm, having perished there in the snow.
the chief part of the stories, however, turned upon the favorite spectre of sleepy hollow, the headless horseman, who... it was said, tethered his horse nightly among the graves in the churchyard.
the sequestered situation of this church seems always to have made it a favorite haunt of troubled spirits. it stands on a knoll, surrounded by locust-trees and lofty elms.... to look upon its grass-grown yard, where the sunbeams seem to sleep so quietly, one would think that there at least the dead might rest in peace.... not far from the church, was... a wooden bridge... thickly shaded by overhanging trees, which cast a gloom about it, even in the daytime.... such was one of the favorite haunts of the headless horseman, and the place where he was most frequently encountered. the tale was told of old brouwer... how he met the horseman... and was obliged to get up behind him; how they galloped... until they reached the bridge; when the horseman suddenly turned into a skeleton, threw old brouwer into the brook, and sprang away over the tree-tops with a clap of thunder.
—from “the legend of sleepy hollow” by washington irving

1. how does the graveyard setting affect the story about the headless horseman?

a. the sunny, quiet churchyard provides a contrast to the frightening spectre.
b. the setting is necessary because it is a story about a ghost whose body was buried there.
c. all the ghost stories mentioned in the passage are set in the graveyard, so this one is too.
d. the story of the horseman is made more frightening because he appears in a secluded graveyard.

1. how can you tell that this passage is a work of fiction?

a. it is written in paragraphs.
b. it includes segments in chronological order.
c. it tells about imaginary events and characters.
d. it uses many details to describe people, places, and events.

1. this passage is from the beginning of a story. what will the rest of the story most likely be about?

a. the headless horseman
b. the sleepy hollow church
c. an evening at van tassel’s
d. the adventures of old brouwer

1. which graphic organizer would be best for recording the characteristics of the headless horseman?

a. concept web
b. time line
c. two - column chart
d. venn diagram

1. how does the writer make clear the transition between the first and second paragraphs?

a. the first paragraph is about stories, and so is the second one.
b. the second paragraph is about the headless horseman, but the first paragraph is not.
c. the word however in the second paragraph tells the reader that the two paragraphs are about opposing topics.
d. the second paragraph introduces the subject of “the chief part of the stories” described in the first paragraph.

Explanation:

Question 22

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: The graveyard is described as a "sequestered situation" and a "favorite haunt of troubled spirits", not sunny and quiet in a way that contrasts to make the spectre frightening. So A is wrong.
• Option B: There's no mention that the Headless Horseman's body is buried in the graveyard. So B is incorrect.
• Option C: Not all ghost stories in the passage are set in the graveyard (e.g., the woman in white haunts the dark glen). So C is wrong.
• Option D: A secluded graveyard is a spooky, isolated place, which would make the story of a headless ghost more frightening. This matches the setting's effect.

We evaluate each option:

• Option A: Being written in paragraphs doesn't indicate fiction (non - fiction can also be in paragraphs). So A is wrong.
• Option B: The passage doesn't present events in chronological order. So B is incorrect.
• Option C: Fiction is about imaginary events and characters. The passage has supernatural elements like the Headless Horseman and ghost stories, which are imaginary. This is the key feature of fiction.
• Option D: Using details to describe people, places, and events is not unique to fiction (non - fiction can also be descriptive). So D is wrong.

We analyze the passage:

• The passage says "The chief part of the stories... turned upon the favorite spectre of Sleepy Hollow, the Headless Horseman". So the rest of the story will likely focus on the Headless Horseman.
• Option B: The church is just a setting, not the main subject.
• Option C: Van Tassel's is a place where people are, but the main focus is the Headless Horseman.
• Option D: Old Brouwer's story is a minor anecdote, not the main subject.

Answer:

D. The story of the horseman is made more frightening because he appears in a secluded graveyard.

Question 23