1. The mood of the women in “Embroidery” is--
  2. cheerful and hopeful
  3. tense and fearful
  4. fatigued and angry
  5. peaceful and loving
  1. In “Embroidery,” the woman tearing the man from her embroidery foreshadows--
  2. that her embroidery will be totally destroyed in the end
  3. that the bomb will tear her from her world
  4. that she will give up embroidering in the future
  5. that her life tore her from the things she really loved
  1. According to the details and language of the last paragraph of “Embroidery”, the embroidery is symbolic of--
  2. Fear of the unknown
  3. Burning fire
  4. Life itself
  5. Endless love
  1. The author’s purpose in writing “Embroidery” is--
  2. To share the author’s viewpoint on society’s fear of war
  3. To recount the story of three elderly women
  4. To comment on the boredom of domestic life
  5. To persuade readers to labor with their hands, not their heads
  1. Read the excerpt from “Embroidery” below:

“They recounted to themselves the lids they had lifted, the doors they had opened and shut, the flowers they had plucked, the dinners they had made, all with slow or quick fingers, as was their manner or custom. Looking back, you saw a flurry of hands, like a magician’s dream, doors popping wide, taps turned, brooms wielded, children spanked. The flutter of pink hands was the only sound; the rest was a dream without voices.”

What theme did Bradbury attempt to convey in this excerpt?

  1. When people get their hands into the business of others, negative results can occur.
  2. Our greatest impact on the world is made through our everyday actions.
  3. People during the 1950s knew many hand-craft skills that fostered their creativity.
  4. The women in the story find fulfillment in staying busy with mundane tasks.

Analyze the following photograph:

6. How are the women in “Embroidery” and the people in the photograph similar or different? Choose the best answer.

  1. Both the women in “Embroidery” and the people in the photograph took pleasure in everyday life.
  2. Both the women in “Embroidery” and the people in the photograph were outside when the bomb hit.
  3. While the women in “Embroidery” continued their routine lives, the people in the photograph took shelter when threatened.
  4. While the women in “Embroidery” showed great courage, the people in the photograph are afraid of the bomb.

7. Read the following article excerpt AND the short excerpt from “Embroidery”:

The destruction of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by American atomic weapons in August 1945 began an arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union. This lasted until the signing of the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty of November 1990. An entire generation grew up under the shadow of imminent catastrophe. There were widespread fears that humanity could not survive. A single reckless leader, or even a mistake or misunderstanding, could initiate the extinction of mankind. Stockpiles of fearsome weapons were built up to levels far beyond any conceivable purpose, and only seemed to add to the uncertainty and instability of the age.

“‘I believe,’ said the first lady, ‘that our souls are in our hands. For we do everything to the world with our hands. Sometimes I think we don’t use our hands half enough; it’s certain we don’t use our heads.’”

Based on your understanding of these two readings, what do you believe Bradbury would say society should “use our heads” for?

  1. to consider the physical and mental destruction that would come from a nuclear attack
  2. to come up with a cure for cancer and other life-threatening illnesses
  3. to research the major causes of fear or anxiety in today’s culture
  4. to invent a bomb that does less damage but still intimidates our Russian enemies

8. Analyze the following photograph:

Based on the photograph above and your understanding of the Cold War (please revisit the excerpt given in Question 7), why do you think the artist that invented this advertisement chose a turtle as the spokesman for “duck and cover” drills, specifically for children?

  1. because turtles have non-threatening, friendly demeanors
  2. because turtles have incredibly long lifespans
  3. because turtles are slow and steady
  4. because turtles are known for intelligence and cleverness

Mini-Assessment, Technology Pro/Con

English 1

Use your annotated copies of “An Interview with Kurt Vonnegut on Technology” and “Mind Over Mass Media” to answer the questions that follow.

  1. What is the author’s purpose for including paragraphs 1 and 2 in “Mind Over Mass Media”?
  2. to introduce the author’s opinion of technology
  3. to emphasize society’s need for technology
  4. to illustrate the opposing viewpoint of technology
  5. to describe how technology is used in today’s society
  1. Read the sentence below taken from the final paragraph of “Mind Over Mass Media.”

“Fortunately, the Internet and information technologies are helping us manage, search and retrieve our collective intellectual output at different scales, from Twitter and previews to e-books and online encyclopedias.”

How does this sentence support the author’s central argument?

  1. it clarifies the positive effects of technology on today’s society
  2. it introduces the author’s main idea concerning technology
  3. it emphasizes society’s need for technological intervention
  4. it elaborates on the use of online encyclopedias in colleges today
  1. Which sentence does NOT illustrate Vonnegut’s attitude toward the effects of technology on society? Choose the BEST answer.
  2. “I work at home, and if I wanted to, I could have a computer right by my bed, and I’d never have to leave it.”
  3. “Built into human beings is a need, which nobody bothers to even acknowledge, to do something useful. But instead of worrying about what human beings need, we worry about what machines need.”
  4. “Those of us who had imagination circuits built can look in someone’s face and see stories there; to everyone else, a face will just be a face.”
  5. “Electronic communities build nothing. You wind up with nothing.”
  1. What is the main idea of “Mind Over Mass Media”?
  2. People should limit their use of technology for fear of brain deterioration.
  3. Technology is beneficial to society in many ways.
  4. Technology is advancing scientific discoveries with exponential progress.
  5. Social media forges bonds of communication and friendship.
  1. The tone of “An Interview with Vonnegut on Technology” can best be described as -
  2. positive and optimistic
  3. cynical and critical
  4. angry and belligerent
  5. objective and informative
  1. Vonnegut uses word choice and imagery such as “fart around” and “dancing animals” to -
  2. add humor to balance an otherwise negative interview
  3. relate to younger readers so they’ll agree with him
  4. show that he is skilled as a creative speaker
  5. illustrate that he thinks technology is stupid
  1. How are the types of evidence used in “Mind Over Mass Media” and “An Interview with Kurt Vonnegut” different?
  2. “MOMM” uses primarily customer testimonials, but “IKV” relies on scientific data to support its stance
  3. “MOMM” uses empirical evidence, but “IKV” uses someone’s personal experience to argue the main point
  4. “IKV” uses data and statistics, while “MOMM” relies on logical reasoning to support its stance
  5. “IKV” uses empirical evidence, but “MOMM” uses anecodotal evidence to argue the main point
  1. Which opinion would both Vonnegut (“An Interview with Vonnegut and Technology”) and Pinker (“Mind Over Mass Media”) agree with?
  2. technology has become a beneficial part of today’s society
  3. technology has the potential to have a positive effect on the world
  4. technology is hazardous to the future of human relationships
  5. technology is a necessary evil in today’s society

Use the play script “The War of the Worlds” to answer the questions below. CIRCLE at least ONE important keyword in EACH question (this is part of your grade).

  1. What is the primary purpose of the first set of stage directions: “It is 1895. Astronomers notice strange flashes of light coming from Mars. In a town in England, Oglivy and George stare at the sky through a telescope.”
  2. To set a mysterious tone for the play
  3. To inform readers about the play’s setting
  4. To give background information about characters
  5. To explain events in the play from an omniscient point of view
  1. In scene 7, readers learn about George’s ability to think fast under pressure. This characterization is conveyed primarily through ______.
  1. dialogue
  2. stage directions
  3. sound effects
  4. tone
  1. Which word most accurately describes the character of Curtis?
  2. distressed
  3. amusing
  4. composed
  5. Hostile
  1. Which line from the play best demonstrates irony?
  1. “I usually prefer chicken, but this is delicious.”
  2. “I thought I would never see you again.”
  3. “Welcome, Martian! Do not be afraid.”
  4. “The strongest creatures in the universe have been defeated by the common cold.”
  1. Why did Orson Welles choose to present his radio version of "The War of the Worlds" as a news bulletin?
  1. to create mass hysteria
  2. to prepare the public for an alien attack
  3. to entertain the listeners with realistic science fiction
  4. to deceive the public into thinking the earth was being attacked
  1. How did Orson Welles’ “War of the Worlds” play adaptation contribute to his success as a playwright and as an actor?
  2. it showcased his ability to perform well under pressure
  3. it allowed him to display his cynical sense of humor
  4. it gave him the opportunity to show his creative skills to millions of Americans
  5. it introduced Americans to modern science fiction literature

Literary Texts = ______/6

Use the article “The Day Aliens Attacked” to answer the questions below. CIRCLE at least ONE important keyword in EACH question (this is part of your grade).

  1. Which line from the news article “The Day Aliens Attacked” clarifies the events that took place on October 30, 1938?
  1. “But it turns out that there weren’t really any Martians on the loose.”
  2. “People flooded into the streets in a panic.”
  3. “After a few seconds of dead silence, the reporter comes back on the air.”
  4. “This broadcast really happened.”

8. What is the purpose of the first paragraph of “The Day Aliens Attacked”? Choose the BEST answer.

  1. To illustrate the lack of technology during this time period
  2. To transport the reader into the time period in which the event took place
  3. To give the reader a specific personality they must adopt in order to understand the historical event
  4. To add fiction-like elements to a non-fiction text

9. Which sentence from the last three paragraphs of “The Day Aliens Attacked” is MOST lacking in supporting details?

  1. “Actor Orson Welles created the show and read some of the parts.”
  2. “They complained about Welles.”
  3. “He made an announcement at the beginning to explain that the broadcast was fictional.”
  4. “It was part of a radio play based on a famous book called The War of the Worlds, by H.G. Wells.”

10. What is a lesson learned from the story “The Day Aliens Attacked”?

  1. Using realistic text features can convince readers fiction is true.
  2. Readers should always follow up information with fact-checking.
  3. Panic ensues when people are unprepared for an event.
  4. All of the above.