Discover Fun & Interactive Middle School Learning Resources

adapted from Agnes Grey by Anne Bront My footsteps were the first to press the firm, unbroken sands. Nothing before had trampled them since last night's flowing tide had obliterated the deepest marks of yesterday. The sand was fair and even, except where the subsiding water had left behind it the traces of dimpled pools and little running streams. Refreshed, delighted, invigorated, I walked along, forgetting all my cares, feeling as if I had wings to my feet. I could go at least forty miles without fatigue and experience a sense of exhilaration to which I had been an entire stranger since the days of early youth. About half-past six, however, the grooms began to come down to air their masters' horses. First one, and then another, till there were some dozen horses and five or six riders. But, that did not trouble me, for they would not come as far as the low rocks which I was now approaching. When I had reached these, and walked over the moist, slippery sea-weed (at the risk of slipping into one of the numerous pools of clear, salt water that lay between them), to a little mossy mound with the sea splashing round it, I looked back again to see who next was stirring. Still, there were only the early grooms with their horses, and one gentleman with a little dark speck of a dog running before him, and one water-cart coming out of the town to get water for the baths. 5 Select the correct answer. Where does the story take place? A. on the beach B. near a swimming pool C. in a stable D. on a village street
Passage 2: "Columbus" Behind him lay the gray Azores, Behind the Gates of Hercules; Before him not the ghost of shores; Before him only shoreless seas.5 The good mate said: "Now must we pray, For lo! the very stars are gone. Brave Adm'r'l, speak; what shall I say?" "Why, say, 'Sail on! sail on! and on!'" "My men grow mutinous day by day; 10 My men grow ghastly, wan and weak." The stout mate thought of home; a spray Of salt wave washed his swarthy cheek. "What shall I say, brave Adm'r'l, say, If we sight naught but seas at dawn?"15 "Why, you shall say at break of day: 'Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!'" They sailed and sailed, as winds might blow, Until at last the blanched mate said: "Why, now not even God would know20 Should I and all my men fall dead. These very winds forget their way, For God from these dread seas is gone. Now speak, brave Adm'r'l, speak and say"- He said: "Sail on! sail on! and on!" 25 They sailed. They sailed. Then spake the mate: "This mad sea shows his teeth to-night. He curls his lip, he lies in wait, He lifts his teeth, as if to bite! Brave Adm'r'l, say but one good word:30 What shall we do when hope is gone?" The words leapt like a leaping sword: "Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!" Then, pale and worn, he kept his deck, And peered through darkness. Ah, that night35 Of all dark nights! And then a speck- A light! A light! At last a light! It grew, a starlit flag unfurled! It grew to be Time's burst of dawn. He gained a world; he gave that world40 Its grandest lesson: "On! sail on!" ( now the questions )In Passage 2, there are two main characters speaking: the brave Admrl and the good mate. Select the line from the poem that best illustrates the central concern of the good mate.For lo! the very stars are gone (line 6) My men grow ghastly, wan and weak (line 10) The stout mate thought of home; a spray (line 11)If we sight naught but seas at dawn? (line 14)
Passage 2: "Columbus"Behind him lay the gray Azores,Behind the Gates of Hercules;Before him not the ghost of shores;Before him only shoreless seas.5 The good mate said: "Now must we pray,For lo! the very stars are gone.Brave Adm'r'l, speak; what shall I say?""Why, say, 'Sail on! sail on! and on!'" "My men grow mutinous day by day;10 My men grow ghastly, wan and weak."The stout mate thought of home; a sprayOf salt wave washed his swarthy cheek."What shall I say, brave Adm'r'l, say,If we sight naught but seas at dawn?"15 "Why, you shall say at break of day:'Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!'"They sailed and sailed, as winds might blow,Until at last the blanched mate said:"Why, now not even God would know20 Should I and all my men fall dead.These very winds forget their way,For God from these dread seas is gone.Now speak, brave Adm'r'l, speak and say"-He said: "Sail on! sail on! and on!"25 They sailed. They sailed. Then spake the mate:"This mad sea shows his teeth to-night.He curls his lip, he lies in wait,He lifts his teeth, as if to bite!Brave Adm'r'l, say but one good word:30 What shall we do when hope is gone?"The words leapt like a leaping sword:"Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!"Then, pale and worn, he kept his deck,And peered through darkness. Ah, that night35 Of all dark nights! And then a speck-A light! A light! At last a light!It grew, a starlit flag unfurled!It grew to be Time's burst of dawn.He gained a world; he gave that world40 Its grandest lesson: "On! In the Passage 2, which word supports the possibility that the sailors are losing faith in Columbus?mutinous (line 9)ghastly (line 10)swarthy (line 12)blanched (line 18)
In the Passage 2, what is the main action of the poem?A)A discovery ship sails out into the middle of the unknown.B)The admiral tells the crew to keep sailing although they only see ocean.C)The sailors prepare daily to overthrow the captain and take over the ship. D)The sailors fear they may be lost or possibly sailing into some great danger. (the poem)Passage 2: "Columbus"Behind him lay the gray Azores,Behind the Gates of Hercules;Before him not the ghost of shores;Before him only shoreless seas.5 The good mate said: "Now must we pray,For lo! the very stars are gone.Brave Adm'r'l, speak; what shall I say?""Why, say, 'Sail on! sail on! and on!'" "My men grow mutinous day by day;10 My men grow ghastly, wan and weak."The stout mate thought of home; a sprayOf salt wave washed his swarthy cheek."What shall I say, brave Adm'r'l, say,If we sight naught but seas at dawn?"15 "Why, you shall say at break of day:'Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!'"They sailed and sailed, as winds might blow,Until at last the blanched mate said:"Why, now not even God would know20 Should I and all my men fall dead.These very winds forget their way,For God from these dread seas is gone.Now speak, brave Adm'r'l, speak and say"-He said: "Sail on! sail on! and on!"25 They sailed. They sailed. Then spake the mate:"This mad sea shows his teeth to-night.He curls his lip, he lies in wait,He lifts his teeth, as if to bite!Brave Adm'r'l, say but one good word:30 What shall we do when hope is gone?"The words leapt like a leaping sword:"Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!"Then, pale and worn, he kept his deck,And peered through darkness. Ah, that night35 Of all dark nights! And then a speck-A light! A light! At last a light!It grew, a starlit flag unfurled!It grew to be Time's burst of dawn.He gained a world; he gave that world40 Its grandest lesson: "On!