Common Core ELA 11 (All Pre-tests for
"Dark Romanticism") UPDATED Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Read the excerpt from a short story.
They had laughed at the shabbiness of the hotel. "Oh well," they'd said, "we aren't going to
spend any time inside." And they had not. They'd spent the day and evening sightseeing and
had not retreated to their rooms until they were spent. Now Ana appraised her modest
accommodations, remembering how the window in her room had amused her friends, as it
offered a view of a brick wall not six inches away. "You get what you pay for!" they'd
exclaimed, closing the heavy curtains.
The window captured Ana's attention again. As she readied for bed, she heard a persistent
tapping coming from outside. Ana reasoned with herself, reminded herself that only small
bird or bug in distress could fit in such a space. The tapping suggested otherwise, and she
turned to investigate.
How does the excerpt exemplify the ideas King describes in "Danse Macabre"? - Correct
Answer- It allows readers to approach a "forbidden door."
Read the excerpt from "The Adventure of the Mysterious Picture."
"And now for the haunted chamber," said the Irish captain, taking his candle.
"Aye, who's to be the hero of the night?" said the gentleman with the ruined head.
"That we shall see in the morning," said the old gentleman with the nose: "whoever looks
pale and grizzly will have seen the ghost."
"Well, gentlemen," said the Baronet, "there's many a true thing said in jest."
,How does the excerpt exemplify Gothic fiction? - Correct Answer- by involving the narrator
with an odd cast of characters
Read the excerpt from "The Adventure of the Mysterious Picture."
The expression was that of agony—the agony of intense bodily pain; but a menace scowled
upon the brow, and a few sprinklings of blood added to its ghastliness. Yet it was not all these
characteristics—it was some horror of the mind, some inscrutable antipathy awakened by this
picture, which harrowed up my feelings.
What technique does Irving use to build suspense in the excerpt? - Correct Answer- The word
choice darkens the tone.
Read the excerpt from a short story.
I stood against the far wall of the shabby lobby avoiding eye contact with the doorman as my
dad checked us in for the night. We'd hoped to make it as far as Scranton, but the weather had
interfered, leaving us instead at an eyesore of a truck-stop motel. My ear buds were jammed
in as far as comfort would allow in a vain attempt to block out the motel's vibe. Still, I could
not ignore the looming presence of the doorman. He stood in the dim portico, sweeping and
re-sweeping a pile of lint on the floor, watching the parking lot with his watery eyes, and
occasionally signaling to the whiskered clerk behind the desk.
What technique does the author use to build suspense in the excerpt? - Correct Answer- Odd
characters are introduced.
Which excerpt from "The Adventure of the Mysterious Picture" conveys the eerie tone of the
passage? - Correct Answer- As I heard the wind moan among the trees, I caught a reflection
of this accursed visage in the pane of glass, as though it were staring through the window at
me.
Read the excerpt from "The Adventure of the Mysterious Picture."
How was this vile nervous fit, for such I now persuaded myself it was, to be conquered? I
determined to force myself not to look at the painting but to undress quickly and get into bed.
I began to undress, but in spite of every effort I could not keep myself from stealing a glance
every now and then at the picture; and a glance was now sufficient to distress me. Even when
my back was turned to it, the idea of this strange face behind me, peering over my shoulder,
was insufferable.
How does the excerpt exemplify Gothic fiction? - Correct Answer- by revealing an unhinged
psychological state
Read the excerpt from a short story.
, The downy pillow covered his ears but did not mask the sound. Sleep eluded him for hours,
and he heard it still: a persistent scraping in the corner of his room. Sitting upright at last, he
peered into the darkness. It was as he'd suspected. His uncle's trunk, an old army footlocker,
was the source of the sound. Fine then, he could resolve this mystery. He swung his legs to
the floor with conviction.
How does the excerpt exemplify the ideas King describes in "Danse Macabre"? - Correct
Answer- It allows readers to approach a "forbidden door."
Read the excerpt from a short story.
The beach teemed with tourists from boardwalk to shore. A canopy of colorful umbrellas
covered the sand. Each was preoccupied with his own happy task, and none noticed the figure
as it emerged from the surf. Its skin was blistered and raw, and it lumbered awkwardly in the
foam. Its hideous eyes hungrily appraised the masses.
How does the excerpt exemplify the ideas King describes in "Danse Macabre"? - Correct
Answer- It provides a "single powerful spectacle" for the imagination's eye.
Read the excerpt from a short story.
At least ten minutes had passed since the last locker door slammed. I had lurked long enough
in the deserted shower stall, ruminating on my devious plan. I emerged to see the vacant
room I'd anticipated. Within minutes, I had deciphered the locker combination and opened it
without witness. This was my chance to reclaim what was rightfully mine, and I felt my
heartbeat escalate.
Which best describes the tone of the excerpt? - Correct Answer- secretive
Read the excerpt from a short story.
The young docent welcomed the class to the museum, explaining that the east wing was
under construction and he'd be leading them to the first exhibit. His fingers leapt to his name
tag as he nervously introduced himself as "Liam, a student of the arts." Then he bade the
group follow him. They traversed a vaulted hall lined with hulking objects, each one
obscured by a faded tarpaulin. Some of the items stretched across the floor, others cast long
shadows on the museum walls.
What technique does the author use to build suspense in the excerpt? - Correct Answer-
intentionally omitting setting details
Read this excerpt from chapter 2 of The Scarlet Letter.
