Question

passage i
the thing thats so hard to explain to our friends is that most of us who specialize in writing humor for young children have cracked the adult field and, having cracked it, have decided definitely that we prefer to uncrack it. we are writing for the so - called brat field by choice. for, despite the fact this brands us as pariahs, despite the fact this turns us into literary untouchables, there is something we get when we write for the young that we never can hope to get in writing for you ancients. to be sure, in some ways you are superior to the young. you scream less. you burp less. you have fewer public tantrums. you ancients are, generally speaking, slightly more refined. but when it comes to trying to amuse you***! have you ever stopped to consider what has happened to your sense of humor?

1. as used in this passage, the word “pariah” is

(a) complimentary
(b) uncomplimentary
(c) neither complimentary nor uncomplimentary
(d) indifferent

1. the tone of the writer is

(a) light
(b) serious
(c) direct
(d) scathing

1. the writer implies that

(a) a writer may be successful with childrens books but unsuccessful with adults books
(b) successful writers of childrens books can also write successfully for adults
(c) adults have a good sense of humor
(d) writers of childrens books would write for adults and make more money if they could

1. in the selection, the author uses “ancients” to mean

(a) adults
(b) senior citizens
(c) people over 50
(d) ancient greeks and romans

1. the writers major purpose in this selection is to

(a) explain that adults have more refinement but less humor than children
(b) explain why he writes for children
(c) poke fun at children
(d) ridicule the writers of childrens books

1. in the first two sentences the author counters the argument that

(a) writing childrens books is more desirable than writing adults books
(b) writing adults books is more desirable than writing childrens books
(c) childrens books are called the brat field
(d) children have not developed a sense of humor
passage j
nevada lies on the leeward side of the sierra nevada. storms traveling eastward from the pacific coast drop most of their rain and snow on the western, or pacific, side of the sierra nevada. the little rain or snow that falls on the nevada side of these high mountains comes chiefly in winter.

1. one may infer from the passage that

(a) the sierra nevada is a high mountain
(b) the sierra nevada is a mountain range
(c) the sierra nevada causes much rain and snow in nevada
(d) the sierra nevada is dangerous to cross

1. nevada is on the

(a) western side of the sierra nevada
(b) northern side of the sierra nevada
(c) eastern side of the sierra nevada
(d) all of the above

Explanation:

1. "Pariah" refers to an outcast. It is an uncomplimentary term.
2. The writer uses a light - hearted tone while discussing writing for children versus adults.
3. The passage implies that a writer can be successful with children's books but not with adults' books as they prefer writing for children.
4. In the context, "ancients" refers to adults.
5. The writer's main purpose is to explain why he writes for children.
6. The first two sentences counter the argument that writing adults' books is more desirable.

For Passage J:

1. The passage mentions high mountains (Sierra Nevada), so it can be inferred that it is a high mountain.
2. Nevada lies on the leeward (eastern) side of the Sierra Nevada.

Answer:

Passage I:

1. B. uncomplimentary
2. A. light
3. A. a writer may be successful with children’s books but unsuccessful with adults’ books
4. A. adults
5. B. explain why he writes for children
6. B. writing adults’ books is more desirable

Passage J:

1. A. the Sierra Nevada is a high mountain
2. C. eastern side of the Sierra Nevada