Sample Reading: Literature Passages | The Complete SAT Course - Class 10 PDF Download

Introduction

Key Concepts

• Literary Elements and Techniques: Understanding the author's use of literary elements and techniques, such as characterization, setting, plot, theme, point of view, tone, and symbolism, is essential for analyzing literary texts.
• Structure and Organization: Analyzing the structure and organization of a text can help you determine its meaning and purpose. This includes understanding how the text is divided (e.g., chapters, stanzas, acts) and recognizing patterns and relationships among different parts of the text.
• Vocabulary and Diction: It's important to understand the meaning of words and phrases in context, as well as recognize the impact of the author's word choice (diction) on the tone and meaning of the text.
• Inference and Interpretation: To fully understand a text, you must be able to make inferences and interpret the author's intended meaning based on evidence from the text.
• Literary Analysis: This involves evaluating how the author's use of literary elements, techniques, and structure contributes to the overall meaning and impact of the text.

This passage is excerpted from Louisa May Alcott, Rose in Bloom, originally published in 1876.
Three young men stood together on a wharf one bright October day awaiting the arrival of an ocean steamer with an impatience which found a vent in lively skirmishes with a small lad, who pervaded the premises like a will-o'-the-wisp and afforded much amusement to the other groups assembled there.

“They are the Campbells, waiting for their cousin, who has been abroad several years with her uncle, the doctor,” whispered one lady to another as the handsomest of the young men touched his hat to her as he passed, lugging the boy, whom he had just rescued from a little expedition down among the piles.

“Which is that?” asked the stranger.

“Prince Charlie, as he's called a fine fellow, the most promising of the seven, but a little fast, people say,” answered the first speaker with a shake of the head. “Are the others his brothers?”

“No, cousins. The elder is Archie, a most exemplary young man. He has just gone into business with the merchant uncle and bids fair to be an honor to his family. The other, with the eyeglasses and no gloves, is Mac, the odd one, just out of college.”

“And the boy?”

“Oh, he is Jamie, the youngest brother of Archibald, and the pet of the whole family. Mercy on us he'll be in if they don't hold on to him!”

The ladies' chat came to a sudden end just there, for by the time Jamie had been fished out of a hogshead, the steamer hove in sight and everything else was forgotten. As it swung slowly around to enter the dock, a boyish voice shouted, “There she is! I see her and Uncle and Phebe! Hooray for Cousin Rose!” And three small cheers were given with a will by Jamie as he stood on a post waving his arms like a windmill while his brother held onto the tail of his jacket.

Yes, there they were, Uncle Alec swinging his hat like a boy, with Phebe smiling and nodding on one side and Rose kissing both hands delightedly on the other as she recognized familiar faces and heard familiar voices welcoming her home.

“Bless her dear heart, she's bonnier than ever! Looks like a Madonna doesn't she? with that blue cloak round her, and her bright hair flying in the wind!” said Charlie excitedly as they watched the group upon the deck with eager eyes.

“Madonnas don't wear hats like that. Rose hasn't changed much, but Phebe has. Why, she's a regular beauty!” answered Archie, staring with all his might at the dark-eyed young woman with the brilliant color and glossy black braids shining in the sun.

“Dear old Uncle! Doesn't it seem good to have him back?” was all Mac said, but he was not looking at “dear old uncle” as he made the fervent remark, for he saw only the slender blond girl nearby and stretched out his hands to meet hers, forgetful of the green water tumbling between them.

During the confusion that reigned for a moment as the steamer settled to her moorings, Rose looked down into the four faces upturned to hers and seemed to read in them something that both pleased and pained her. It was only a glance, and her own eyes were full, but through the mist of happy tears she received the impression that Archie was about the same, that Mac had decidedly improved, and that something was amiss with Charlie.  There was no time for observation, however, for in a moment the shoreward rush began, and before she could grasp her traveling bag, Jamie was clinging to her like an ecstatic young bear.  She was with difficulty released from his embrace to fall into the gentler ones of the elder cousins, who took advantage of the general excitement to welcome both blooming girls with affectionate impartiality. Then the wanderers were borne ashore in a triumphal procession, while Jamie danced rapturous jigs before them even on the gangway.

Archie remained to help his uncle get the luggage through the Custom House, and the others escorted the damsels home. No sooner were they shut up in a carriage, however, than a new and curious constraint seemed to fall upon the young people, for they realized, all at once, that their former playmates were men and women now.

Q.1. Which choice best summarizes the passage?
(a) The passage provides an explanation of relationships within a family.
(b) The passage presents a revelation about children growing older.
(c) The passage captures a conversation regarding reuniting cousins.
(d) The passage describes an anecdote about traveling by ship.

Correct Answer is Option ()

Q.2. Over the course of the passage, the attitude of the cousins shifts from
(a) preoccupation to constraint.
(b) apprehension to embarrassment.
(c) anticipation to reticence.
(d) contemplation to diffidence.

Q.3. Which statement best characterizes the relationship among the reunited cousins?
(a) They are excited to get back to their ordinary lives and friendships.
(b) They have changed too dramatically to find anything in common.
(c) The younger cousins help put the older cousins at ease.
(d) Their growing up has put limitations on their relationships.

Q.4. As used in line 3 (“vent”) , “vent” most nearly means
(a) opening.
(b) outlet.
(c) crack.
(d) passage.

Q.5. The conversation between the lady and the stranger in lines 6–23

(““They are the Campbells, waiting for their cousin, who has been abroad several years with her uncle, the doctor,” whispered one lady to another as the handsomest of the young men touched his hat to her as he passed, lugging the boy, whom he had just rescued from a little expedition down among the piles.”)

 (“They . . . him”) serves primarily to
(a) show how the town locals tend to gossip about the family.
(b) establish the relationships among the reuniting family.
(c) introduce the traits of the family members who are waiting.
(d) demonstrate the lady’s lack of knowledge about the family.

Q.6. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
(a) lines 6–7(“They are the Campbells, waiting for their cousin, who has been abroad several years with her uncle, the doctor,””) (“They . . . doctor”)
(b) lines 12–13(““Prince Charlie, as he's called a fine fellow, the most promising of the seven, but a little fast, people say,” ”) (“Prince . . . say”)
(c) lines 16–18(“The elder is Archie, a most exemplary young man. He has just gone into business with the merchant uncle and bids fair to be an honor to his family. ”) (“The . . . family”)
(d) lines 21–23(““Oh, he is Jamie, the youngest brother of Archibald, and the pet of the whole family. Mercy on us he'll be in if they don't hold on to him”) (“Oh . . . him”)

Q.7. Archie’s comments in lines 40–41
(““Madonnas don't wear hats like that. Rose hasn't changed much, but Phebe has. Why, she's a regular beauty!””)
 (“Madonnas . . . beauty”) primarily indicate that he
(a) disagrees strongly with Charlie.
(b) finds Phebe to be beautiful.
(c) thinks Rose looks like a Madonna.
(d) feels distracted by Rose and Phebe.

Q.8. The description (lines 45–48
(“ was all Mac said, but he was not looking at “dear old uncle” as he made the fervent remark, for he saw only the slender blond girl nearby and stretched out his hands to meet hers, forgetful of the green water tumbling between them.”)
) that follows Mac's comment in line 44
(““Dear old Uncle! Doesn't it seem good to have him back?””)
("Dear . . . back") reveals that Mac is
(a) not actually paying attention to his uncle.
(b) unaware of the possibility of falling in the ocean.
(c) more excited to see his uncle than he is to see Rose.
(d) distracted by all the excitement in the crowd.

Q.9. It can be inferred that Rose is "both pleased and pained" when she views her cousins from the ship because she
(a) feels exhausted and confused after a long journey by sea.
(b) believes her cousins don’t recognize her anymore.
(c) senses that her relationship with her cousins has changed.
(d) concludes that her cousins’ lives have gotten better without her.

Correct Answer is Option ()

Q.10. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
(a) lines 52–56(“It was only a glance, and her own eyes were full, but through the mist of happy tears she received the impression that Archie was about the same, that Mac had decidedly improved, and that something was amiss with Charlie.”) (“It . . . Charlie”)
(b) lines 56–59(“ There was no time for observation, however, for in a moment the shoreward rush began, and before she could grasp her traveling bag, Jamie was clinging to her like an ecstatic young bear.”) (“There . . . bear”)
(c) lines 59–62(“ She was with difficulty released from his embrace to fall into the gentler ones of the elder cousins, who took advantage of the general excitement to welcome both blooming girls with affectionate impartiality. ”) (“She . . . impartiality”)
(d) lines 66–70(“No sooner were they shut up in a carriage, however, than a new and curious constraint seemed to fall upon the young people, for they realized, all at once, that their former playmates were men and women now.”) (“No . . . now”)

Q.11. As used in line 62
(“affectionate impartiality”)
, the phrase “affectionate impartiality” most nearly means
(a) restraint.
(b) aloofness.
(c) tenderness.
(d) Enthusiasm.

(The following passage is from Jane Austen's novel "Pride and Prejudice")
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.

"My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day, "have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?"

Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.

"But it is," returned she; "for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it."

Mr. Bennet made no answer.

"Do not you want to know who has taken it?" cried his wife impatiently.

"You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it."

This was invitation enough.

"Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much delighted with it that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week."

"What is his name?"

"Bingley."

"Is he married or single?"

"Oh! single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!"

"How so? How can it affect them?"

"My dear Mr. Bennet," replied his wife, "how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them."

"Is that his design in settling here?"

"Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes."

"I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better, for as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley may like you the best of the party."

Q.1. What general assumption is made about a single man in possession of a good fortune?
(a) He is looking for a wife.
(b) He is lonely.
(c) He is selfish.
(d) He is not interested in marriage.

Correct Answer is Option (a)

Q.2. Why is the man considered as the rightful property of one of the daughters in the surrounding families?
(a) Because he is rich and single.
(b) Because he is related to them.
(c) Because he has expressed interest in marrying.
(d) Because the families are in need of money.

Correct Answer is Option (a)

Q.3. What news does Mrs. Bennet share with Mr. Bennet?
(a) Netherfield Park is let at last.
(b) Mrs. Long is moving away.
(c) One of their daughters is getting married.
(d) A single man with a large fortune is coming to town.

Correct Answer is Option (a)

Q.4. What is the name of the man who has taken Netherfield Park?
(a) Mr. Morris
(b) Mr. Bennet
(c) Mr. Bingley
(d) Mr. Long

Correct Answer is Option (c)

Q.5. What is Mr. Bingley's marital status?
(a) Married
(b) Single
(c) Divorced
(d) Widowed

Correct Answer is Option (b)

Q.6. What does Mrs. Bennet suggest Mr. Bennet do as soon as Mr. Bingley arrives?
(a) Invite him to dinner.
(b) Visit him.
(c) Send him a gift.
(d) Ask him about his intentions.

Correct Answer is Option (b)

Q.7. How does Mr. Bennet respond to his wife's suggestion to visit Mr. Bingley?
(a) He agrees immediately.
(b) He says he will think about it.
(c) He refuses to go.
(d) He suggests sending the girls instead.

Correct Answer is Option (d)

Q.8. How does Mrs. Bennet describe Mr. Bingley's reaction to Netherfield Park?
(a) He was indifferent.
(b) He was disappointed.
(c) He was delighted.
(d) He was confused.

Correct Answer is Option (c)

Q.9. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
(a) lines 17-19 ("Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much delighted with it that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately;")
(b) lines 29-30 ("that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week.")
(c) lines 35-36 ("What a fine thing for our girls!")
(d) lines 48-49 ("You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them.")

Correct Answer is Option (a)

Q.10. What does Mrs. Bennet suggest Mr. Bennet do as soon as Mr. Bingley arrives?
(a) Invite him to dinner.
(b) Visit him.
(c) Send him a gift.
(d) Ask him about his intentions.

Correct Answer is Option (b)

Q.11. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
(a) lines 49-50 ("Is that his design in settling here?")
(b) lines 51-53 ("Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes.")
(c) lines 53-55 ("I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better,")
(d) lines 55-57 ("for as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley may like you the best of the party.")

Correct Answer is Option (b)

Conclusion