Question

walden pond by henry david thoreau
^1 i left the woods. ^2 perhaps, i had several more lives to live, and could not spare any more time for that one. ^3 how easily we fall into a particular route, and make a beaten track for ourselves. ^4 i had not lived there a week before my feet wore a path from my door to the pond - side; and though it is five or six years since i trod it, it is still quite distinct. ^5 it is true, i fear, that others may have fallen into it, and so helped to keep it open.
^6 the surface of the earth is soft and impressible by the feet of men. ^7 it is the same with the paths that the mind travels. ^8 how worn and dusty, then, must be the highways of the world, how deep the ruts of tradition and conformity!
^9 i did not wish to take a cabin passage, hidden in a ship, but rather go up to the mast and deck of the world, for there, i could best see the moonlight amid the mountains. ^10 i do not wish to go below now.

1. __ the tone of this text is _.

a. thoughtful and formal
b. humorous and informal
c. sarcastic and informal
d. sad and formal

1. __ the main idea is _.

a. living in the woods can be boring
b. life has many paths to take
c. people like to follow in others paths
d. a ride on a ship is better on the upper deck

1. ____ which sentence is the best evidence for use of figurative language to express the theme?

a. sentence 4
b. sentence 6
c. sentence 8
d. sentence 10

Explanation:

1. For question 18: The text reflects on life paths and conformity with deliberate, reflective language that is formal in structure, matching thoughtful and formal tone.
2. For question 19: The text draws a parallel between physical paths and mental/traditional paths, emphasizing that people tend to follow established, worn paths of others.
3. For question 20: Sentence 6 uses a metaphor comparing physical earth paths to mental/conceptual paths, which is figurative language directly supporting the theme of conformity and life's paths.

Answer:

1. A. thoughtful and formal
2. C. people like to follow in others' paths
3. B. sentence 6