Name Date Origin of a Nation

Unit Test

Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question.

from The Canterbury Tales

by Geoffrey Chaucer
translated by Nevill Coghill
In the medieval church, a pardoner was a member of the clergy who had authority from the pope to grant indulgences—
certificates of forgiveness for sin—to people who showed great charity. In practice, however, many pardoners were unethical
and sold their certificates to make money for the church or themselves.
“The Pardoner’s Prologue”
“My lords,” he said, “in churches where I preach
I cultivate a haughty kind of speech
And ring it out as roundly as a bell;
I’ve got it all by heart, the tale I tell.
5 I have a text, it always is the same
And always has been, since I learnt the game.
Old as the hills and fresher than the grass,
Radix malorum est cupiditas. . . .
“I preach, as you have heard me say before,
10 And tell a hundred lying mockeries more.
I take great pains, and stretching out my neck
To east and west I crane about and peck
Just like a pigeon sitting on a barn.
My hands and tongue together spin the yarn
15 And all my antics are a joy to see.
The curse of avarice and cupidity
Is all my sermon, for it frees the pelf.
Out come the pence, and specially for myself,
For my exclusive purpose is to win
20 And not at all to castigate their sin.
Once dead what matter how their souls may fare?
They can go blackberrying, for all I care! . . .
“And thus I preach against the very vice
I make my living out of—avarice.
25 And yet however guilty of that sin
Myself, with others I have power to win
Them from it, I can bring them to repent;
But that is not my principal intent.
Covetousness is both the root and stuff
30 Of all I preach. That ought to be enough.
“Well, then I give examples thick and fast
From bygone times, old stories from the past.
A yokel mind loves stories from of old,
Being the kind it can repeat and hold.
35 What! Do you think, as long as I can preach
And get their silver for the things I teach,
That I will live in poverty, from choice?
That’s not the counsel of my inner voice!
No! Let me preach and beg from kirk to kirk
40 And never do an honest job of work,

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No, nor make baskets, like St. Paul, to gain

A livelihood. I do not preach in vain.
There’s no apostle I would counterfeit;
I mean to have money, wool and cheese and wheat
45 Though it were given me by the poorest lad
Or poorest village widow, though she had
A string of starving children, all agape.
No, let me drink the liquor of the grape
And keep a jolly wench in every town!
50 “But listen, gentlemen; to bring things down
To a conclusion, would you like a tale?
Now as I’ve drunk a draft of corn-ripe ale,
By God it stands to reason I can strike
On some good story that you all will like.
55 For though I am a wholly vicious man
Don’t think I can’t tell moral tales. I can!
Here’s one I often preach when out for winning. . . .”
from “The Pardoner’s Tale”
It’s of three rioters I have to tell
Who, long before the morning service bell,
Were sitting in a tavern for a drink.
And as they sat, they heard the hand-bell clink
5 Before a coffin going to the grave;
One of them called the little tavern-knave
And said “Go and find out at once—look spry!—
Whose corpse is in that coffin passing by;
And see you get the name correctly too.”
10 “Sir”, said the boy, “no need, I promise you;
Two hours before you came here I was told.
He was a friend of yours in days of old,
And suddenly, last night, the man was slain,
Upon his bench, face up, dead drunk again.
15 There came a privy thief, they call him Death,
Who kills us all round here, and in a breath
He speared him through the heart, he never stirred.
And then Death went his way without a word.
He’s killed a thousand in the present plague,
20 And, sir, it doesn’t do to be too vague
If you should meet him; you had best be wary.
Be on your guard with such an adversary,
Be primed to meet him everywhere you go,
That’s what my mother said. It’s all I know.”
25 The publican joined in with, “By St. Mary,
What the child says is right; you’d best be wary,
This very year he killed, in a large village
A mile away, man, woman, serf at tillage,
Page in the household, children—all there were.

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30 Yes, I imagine that he lives round there.

It’s well to be prepared in these alarms,
He might do you dishonor.” “Huh, God’s arms!”
The rioter said, “Is he so fierce to meet?
I’ll search for him, by Jesus, street by street.
35 God’s blessed bones! I’ll register a vow!
Here, chaps! The three of us together now,
Hold up your hands, like me, and we’ll be brothers
In this affair, and each defend the others,
And we will kill this traitor Death, I say!
40 Away with him as he has made away
With all our friends. God’s dignity! Tonight!”
They made their bargain, swore with appetite,
These three, to live and die for one another
As brother-born might swear to his born brother
45 And up they started in their drunken rage
And made towards this village which the page
And publican had spoken of before.
Many and grisly were the oaths they swore,
Tearing Christ’s blessed body to a shred;
50 “If we can only catch him, Death is dead!”
When they had gone not fully half a mile,
Just as they were about to cross a stile,
They came upon a very poor old man
Who humbly greeted them and thus began,
55 “God look to you, my lords, and give you quiet!”
To which the proudest of these men of riot
Gave back the answer, “What, old fool? Give place!
Why are you all wrapped up except your face?
Why live so long? Isn’t it time to die?”
60 The old, old fellow looked him in the eye
And said, “Because I never yet have found,
Though I have walked to India, searching round
Village and city on my pilgrimage,
One who would change his youth to have my age.
65 And so my age is mine and must be still
Upon me, for such time as God may will.
“Not even Death, alas, will take my life;
So, like a wretched prisoner at strife
Within himself, I walk alone and wait
70 About the earth, which is my mother’s gate,
Knock-knocking with my staff from night to noon
And crying, ‘Mother, open to me soon!
Look at me, mother, won’t you let me in?
See how I wither, flesh and blood and skin!
75 Alas! When will these bones be laid to rest?

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Mother, I would exchange—for that were best—

The wardrobe in my chamber, standing there
So long, for yours! Aye, for a shirt of hair
To wrap me in!’ She has refused her grace,
80 Whence comes the pallor of my withered face.
“But it dishonored you when you began
To speak so roughly, sir, to an old man,
Unless he had injured you in word or deed.
It says in holy writ, as you may read,
85 ‘Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head
And honor it.’ And therefore be it said
‘Do no more harm to an old man than you,
Being now young, would have another do
When you are old’—if you should live till then.
90 And so may God be with you, gentlemen,
For I must go whither I have to go.”
“By God,” the gambler said, “you shan’t do so,
You don’t get off so easy, by St. John!
I heard you mention, just a moment gone,
95 A certain traitor Death who singles out
And kills the fine young fellows hereabouts.
And you’re his spy, by God! You wait a bit.
Say where he is or you shall pay for it,
By God and by the Holy Sacrament!
100 I say you’ve joined together by consent
To kill us younger folk, you thieving swine!”
“Well, sirs,” he said, “if it be your design
To find out Death, turn up this crooked way
Towards that grove, I left him there today
105 Under a tree, and there you’ll find him waiting.
He isn’t one to hide for all your prating.
You see that oak? He won’t be far to find.
And God protect you that redeemed mankind,
Aye, and amend you!” Thus that ancient man.
110 At once the three young rioters began
To run, and reached the tree, and there they found
A pile of golden florins on the ground,
New-coined, eight bushels of them as they thought.
No longer was it Death those fellows sought,
115 For they were all so thrilled to see the sight,
The florins were so beautiful and bright,
That down they sat beside the precious pile.
The wickedest spoke first after a while.
“Brothers,” he said, “you listen to what I say.
120 I’m pretty sharp although I joke away.
It’s clear that Fortune has bestowed this treasure
To let us live in jollity and pleasure.
Light come, light go! We’ll spend it as we ought.
God’s precious dignity! Who would have thought
125 This morning was to be our lucky day?”

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1 As part of the frame story of The Canterbury Tales, “The Pardoner’s Prologue” —

A heightens the suspense

B provides comic relief
C offers moral guidance
D foreshadows the ending

2 What is the moral conflict created by the author portraying the Pardoner’s exploitation of other people in
this way?

F He reveals that giving alms only saves some souls, and this increases the uncertainty that comes with
limited knowledge about the afterlife.
G He warns people that churches could be run by sinful clergy members, and churches should be a place of
protection and solace.
H He warns that hypocrites can prosper almost as much as devout churchgoers.
J He emphasizes the large gap in social and economic classes that the church reinforces.

3 What effect does the simile in lines 11–14 of “The Pardoner’s Prologue” have on the tone of the passage?

A It gives the passage an air of solemnity.

B It lends a comical tone to the passage.
C It adds to the sanctimonious tone of the passage.
D It provides an ominous tone to the passage.

4 How does the Pardoner’s eagerness to preach morality influence the theme of the “The
Pardoner’s Prologue”?

F It shows the Pardoner’s sincere desire to guide souls to heaven, advancing the theme of eternal salvation.
G It demonstrates the Pardoner’s devotion to his goal of collecting alms, advancing the theme of charity.
H It illuminates the Pardoner’s pretense of piety as opposed to his true nature, advancing the theme
of hypocrisy.
J It calls attention to the Pardoner’s need to be the center of attention, advancing the theme of narcissism.

5 How does the first-person point of view in lines 18–22 of “The Pardoner’s Prologue” contribute to
his  characterization?

A It gives the reader the opportunity to sympathize with the Pardoner’s attitude.
B It allows the author to reveal the Pardoner’s true nature in the Pardoner’s own words.
C It calls attention to the Pardoner’s concern for those he swindles.
D It shows the Pardoner’s deep regret for his greed and hypocrisy.

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6 From lines 23–24 of “The Pardoner's Prologue”, the reader can infer that the Pardoner feels —

F hatred for those he defrauds

G troubled by his inconsistency
H envious of those richer than he
J untroubled by his hypocrisy

7 Chaucer’s characterization of the Pardoner in “The Pardoner’s Prologue” allows the reader to infer that the
medieval church —

A was completely worldly rather than spiritual

B was not effective for ordinary people
C was an institution in which some abuses occurred
D was characterized by simple beliefs

8 The description of his victims in lines 44–47 of “The Pardoner’s Prologue” conveys the Pardoner’s —

F callousness
G irreverence
H ambivalence
J contempt

9 Lines 1–3 of “The Pardoner’s Tale” mark the transition between the —

A medieval parable and autobiographical tale

B dialogue and the Pardoner’s narrative voice
C rising action and change in setting
D frame story and the Pardoner’s story

10 The figurative comparison in line 15 of “The Pardoner’s Tale” emphasizes Death’s —

F suddenness
G violence
H stealth
J greed

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11 What can be inferred from lines 102–113 about the fate of the three young men?

A They will spend the gold wisely to make their lives better.
B They will go back to see if the old man can find them more gold.
C They will stop looking for Death because they are afraid.
D They will discover that the gold leads them to Death.

12 Which of the following best describes the function of the very poor old man met by the three rioters?

F He serves as a dramatic foil to the three greedy young rioters.

G He serves the plot by directing the men to the goal they have chosen.
H He serves as a symbolic figure representing traditional wisdom.
J He serves as the moral voice of the person telling the story.

13 What was Chaucer’s likely purpose in portraying the Pardoner this way?

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Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question.

from Beowulf
translated by Burton Raffel
. . . Then he stopped, seeing the hall
Crowded with sleeping warriors, stuffed
With rows of young soldiers resting together.
And his heart laughed, he relished the sight,
5 Intended to tear the life from those bodies
By morning; the monster’s mind was hot
With the thought of food and the feasting his belly
Would soon know. But fate, that night, intended
Grendel to gnaw the broken bones
10 Of his last human supper. Human
Eyes were watching his evil steps,
Waiting to see his swift hard claws.
Grendel snatched at the first Geat
He came to, ripped him apart, cut
15 His body to bits with powerful jaws,
Drank the blood from his veins and bolted
Him down, hands and feet; death
And Grendel’s great teeth came together,
Snapping life shut. Then he stepped to another
20 Still body, clutched at Beowulf with his claws,
Grasped at a strong-hearted wakeful sleeper
—And was instantly seized himself, claws
Bent back as Beowulf leaned up on one arm.
That shepherd of evil, guardian of crime,
25 Knew at once that nowhere on earth
Had he met a man whose hands were harder;
His mind was flooded with fear—but nothing
Could take his talons and himself from that tight
Hard grip. Grendel’s one thought was to run
30 From Beowulf, flee back to his marsh and hide there:
This was a different Heorot than the hall he had emptied.
But Higlac’s follower remembered his final
Boast and, standing erect, stopped
The monster’s flight, fastened those claws
35 In his fists till they cracked, clutched Grendel
Closer. The infamous killer fought
For his freedom, wanting no flesh but retreat,
Desiring nothing but escape; his claws
Had been caught, he was trapped. That trip to Heorot
40 Was a miserable journey for the writhing monster!
The high hall rang, its roof boards swayed,
And Danes shook with terror. Down
The aisles the battle swept, angry
And wild. Heorot trembled, wonderfully
45 Built to withstand the blows, the struggling
Great bodies beating at its beautiful walls;
Shaped and fastened with iron, inside

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And out, artfully worked, the building

Stood firm. Its benches rattled, fell
50 To the floor, gold-covered boards grating
As Grendel and Beowulf battled across them.
Hrothgar’s wise men had fashioned Heorot
To stand forever; only fire,
They had planned, could shatter what such skill had put
55 Together, swallow in hot flames such splendor
Of ivory and iron and wood. Suddenly
The sounds changed, the Danes started
In new terror, cowering in their beds as the terrible
Screams of the Almighty’s enemy sang
60 In the darkness, the horrible shrieks of pain
And defeat, the tears torn out of Grendel’s
Taut throat, hell’s captive caught in the arms
Of him who of all the men on earth
Was the strongest.
65 That mighty protector of men
Meant to hold the monster till its life
Leaped out, knowing the fiend was no use
To anyone in Denmark. All of Beowulf’s
Band had jumped from their beds, ancestral
70 Swords raised and ready, determined
To protect their prince if they could.

14 The use of alliteration in line 7 emphasizes Grendel’s —

F evil
G greed
H strength
J violence

15 Which characteristic of an epic poem is best reflected in this passage from Beowulf?

A The hero embodies traits reflecting the culture of the time.

B The setting is vast and includes many nations.
C The hero often fights supernatural creatures.
D The hero is of high birth and maintains a high status in society.

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16 In the historical period in which this epic fight took place, Beowulf most likely used only his
bare hands because —

F there were no worthy weapons in Medieval times

G defeating an enemy by physical strength alone was much admired in Medieval times
H using weapons on such an undemanding foe would cause his honor to be questioned
J he severely underestimated the strength of his opponent

17 The kennings in lines 24–26 focus on —

A Grendel’s fear
B Beowulf’s strength
C Beowulf’s heroism
D Grendel’s wickedness

18 How does Grendel’s behavior contribute to the overall theme?

F Grendel’s eagerness to continue fighting shows that courage is the theme of the epic.
G Grendel’s murderous acts contribute to the theme of a struggle between good and evil.
H Grendel’s destructive rampages show that the theme of the epic is intractable violence.
J Grendel’s custom of eating his victims is evidence that the theme of the epic is cannibalism.

19 Among the following lines from the passage, which is the best evidence that Heorot was no stranger to
physical combat?

A Then he stopped, seeing the hall / Crowded with sleeping warriors

B The sounds changed, the Danes started / In new terror
C The high hall rang, its roof boards swayed, / and Danes shook with terror
D Built to withstand the blows, the struggling / Great bodies beating at its walls

20 Among the following choices, which is a kenning, and to whom does it refer?

F human eyes refers to Beowulf

G guardian of crime refers to Grendel
H the monster refers to Grendel
J that mighty protector of men refers to Hrothgar

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21 Which is the best inference you can make about the meaning of line 31?

A Grendel was in the kingdom but not at Heorot with Beowulf.

B It was necessary that Grendel leave Heorot at once.
C Grendel had caused so much destruction at Heorot that he no longer recognized it.
D Grendel looked upon Heorot as a threatening place once Beowulf arrived.

22 The descriptions of Heorot in lines 47–50 show that Anglo-Saxon culture valued —

F craftsmanship
G tradition
H comradeship
J courage

23 Which of the following lines provide a clue to the ultimate fate of Heorot?

A Lines 41–44
B Lines 44–46
C Lines 47–51
D Lines 52–56

24 In lines 60–64, the use of alliteration emphasizes Grendel’s —

F agony
G hatred
H cowardice
J monstrousness

25 Lines 68–71 show that the Anglo-Saxon culture valued —

A strength
B loyalty
C weapons
D violence

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26 Cite examples from the passage that exemplify specific characteristics of an epic poem, and
identify each of these characteristics. Explain why the author probably told the story of Beowulf
in the form of an epic poem.

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Use your knowledge of usage to choose the best answer to each question.

Vocabulary: Usage
27 In line 1 of “The Pardoner’s Tale,” the word rioters is used to describe three young characters.

riot \rī'әt\ n 1. A violent disturbance made by a large group of people behaving in a wild, disordered way.
2. A brilliant and sometimes confusing display: a riot of colors. v 3. To make merry in a wild, boisterous
way. n slang 4. A person or thing that is extremely funny.
In the dictionary entry below, which meaning of riot forms the basis of this word?

A Meaning 1
B Meaning 2
C Meaning 3
D Meaning 4

28 Line 24 in “The Pardoner’s Tale” refers to a Page in the household.

page \pāj\ n 1. One side of a sheet of paper, as in a book. 2. A male servant, a boy in training to be a
knight. v 3. To mark the pages of a book with numbers. 4. To try to locate (someone) by calling his or
her  name.
Which meaning of page is used here?

F Meaning 1
G Meaning 2
H Meaning 3
J Meaning 4

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Use your knowledge of multiple-meaning words to choose the best answer to each question.

Vocabulary: Multiple-Meaning Words

29 Which definition most closely matches the way the word principal is used in line 28 of the excerpt from The
Canterbury Tales?

principal \prĭn'sә-pәl\ adj 1. first in rank or importance n 2. a main actor or performer 3. the amount of a
debt or investment minus the interest 4. the chief person responsible
A Definition 1
B Definition 2
C Definition 3
D Definition 4

30 Which definition most closely matches the meaning of the word kind as it is used in line 34 of the excerpt from
The Canterbury Tales?

kind \kĩnd\ adj 1. tender-hearted 2. showing friendliness n 3. with goods rather than money (to pay bills
in kind) 4. sort, type, variety
F Definition 1
G Definition 2
H Definition 3
J Definition 4

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Use your knowledge of context clues to choose the best answer to each question.

Vocabulary: Context Clues

31 Reread lines 110–113 from “The Pardoner’s Tale.” Which word or phrase from these lines provides the best
context clue about the meaning of the word florins in line 112?

A tree
B golden
C New-coined
D eight bushels

32 Reread lines 31–34 of “The Pardoner’s Prologue” from The Canterbury Tales. Which word provides the best
context clue to the meaning of the word bygone in line 32?

F examples
G old
H past
J yokel

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Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question.

Revising and Editing

(1) Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Talesis a collection of stories told by pilgrims who are journeying to the
shrine of St. Thomas Becket at Canterbury. (2) Such pilgrimages were common in the Middle Ages. (3) They often served
to bring people from different backgrounds together. (4) Chaucer’s pilgrims, who form such a heterogeneous group,
include representative medieval social classes, but they are also presented as real people with real biographies. (5)
Chaucer’s pilgrims are introduced to the reader in “The Prologue” of The Canterbury Tales. (6) By describing people from
all walks of life, the narrator of “The Prologue” paints a picture of fourteenth-century England.
(7) The Canterbury Tales displays the entire range of medieval society: the nobility, clergy, learned professions,
skilled workers, tradesmen, and laborers. (8) Each pilgrim represents a group. (9) Perhaps that is why the narrator
does not refer to them by their names. (10) He instead identifies the pilgrims by their class, like the Knight; or by their
occupation, like the Merchant; or by their situation in life, like the Wife of Bath.
(11) The first pilgrim the narrator introduces is the Knight. (12) The treatment of this nobleman is a good example
of how the narrator combines the general and the particular.
(13) He starts by describing the Knight as a “worthy” man. (14) This quality might seem ordinary to a modern
reader. (15) One modern translation renders this term as “excellent” and another as “most distinguished.” (16) Some of
the other qualities the narrator attributes to the Knight, such as chivalry, are also indefinite to a modern reader.
(17) But the narrator doesn’t stop with these rather generic qualities; he also presents the Knight as an individual.
(18) This nobleman becomes much more than a mere fact of social history. (19) The narrator describes the Knight’s
military career in very specific detail. (20) He mentions all the foreign places where the Knight has fought, both near
and far, such as Spain, Egypt, Turkey, and Russia. (21) The narrator also depicts him fighting fiercely in tournaments,
which were a knight’s dangerous recreation and in which the Knight “always killed his foe.” (22) However, despite all his
soldiering, this tough, deadly fighter has remained as “meek as a maiden.” (23) In this way, the Knight becomes more
than a mere role model for chivalrous behavior. (24) He starts to exist as a real person with a full biography.

33 Which is the BEST way to connect sentences 2 and 3 with a subordinating conjunction?

A Although such pilgrimages were common in the Middle Ages, they often served to bring people from
different backgrounds together.
B Because such pilgrimages were common in the Middle Ages, they often served to bring people from
different backgrounds together.
C Until such pilgrimages were common in the Middle Ages, they often served to bring people from different
backgrounds together.
D If such pilgrimages were common in the Middle Ages, they often served to bring people from different
backgrounds together.

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34 How might you revise the syntax of sentence 4 for a more engaging effect?

F Chaucer’s pilgrims form such a heterogeneous group. They include representative medieval social classes,
but they are also presented as real people with real biographies.
G Chaucer’s pilgrims form such a heterogeneous group, and include representative medieval social classes,
and are also presented as real people with real biographies.
H Chaucer’s pilgrims form such a heterogeneous group and include representative medieval social classes.
However, they are also presented as real people with real biographies.
J Chaucer’s pilgrims form such a heterogeneous group. They include representative medieval social classes.
They are also presented as real people. They have real biographies.

35 Choose the BEST way to revise sentence 6 by adding a more specific adjective.

A By describing people from all walks of life, the narrator of “The Prologue” paints a comprehensive picture of
fourteenth-century England.
B By describing people from all walks of life, the narrator of “The Prologue” paints a surprising picture of
fourteenth-century England.
C By describing people from all walks of life, the narrator of “The Prologue” paints an interesting picture of
fourteenth-century England.
D By describing people from all walks of life, the narrator of “The Prologue” paints a detailed picture of
fourteenth-century England.

36 Which is the BEST way to revise the syntax of sentence 7 using parallel structure?

F The Canterbury Tales displays the entire range of medieval society. These include the nobility, clergy, learned
professions, skilled workers, tradesmen, and laborers.
G The Canterbury Tales displays the entire range of medieval society—from the nobility and clergy, to the
learned professions and skilled workers, to the tradesmen and laborers.
H The Canterbury Tales displays the entire range of medieval society. The reader meets the nobility, clergy,
learned professions, skilled workers, tradesmen, and laborers.
J The Canterbury Tales displays the entire range of medieval society, including the nobility and clergy, the
learned professions and skilled workers, and the tradesmen and laborers.

37 How might you revise the syntax of sentence 10 for a more informal effect?

A He instead identifies the pilgrims by their class, like the Knight; occupation, like the Merchant; or situation in
life, like the Wife of Bath.
B He instead identifies the pilgrims by their class, such as the Knight; by their occupation, such as the
Merchant; or by their situation in life, such as the Wife of Bath.
C He instead identifies the pilgrims by their class like the Knight. Or occupation like the Merchant. Or situation
in life like the Wife of Bath.
D He instead identifies the pilgrims by their class, like the Knight. Or he identifies them by their occupation,
like the Merchant. Or he identifies them by their situation in life, like the Wife of Bath.

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Name Date Origin of a Nation
Unit Test

38 Choose the BEST way to connect sentences 11 and 12 with a coordinating conjunction.

F The first pilgrim the narrator introduces is the Knight, and the treatment of this nobleman is a good
example of how the narrator combines the general and the particular.
G The first pilgrim the narrator introduces is the Knight, but the treatment of this nobleman is a good
example of how the narrator combines the general and the particular.
H The first pilgrim the narrator introduces is the Knight, yet the treatment of this nobleman is a good example
of how the narrator combines the general and the particular.
J The first pilgrim the narrator introduces is the Knight, so the treatment of this nobleman is a good example
of how the narrator combines the general and the particular.

39 How would you clarify sentence 14 by adding more specific adjectives?

A This quality might seem general and uninteresting to a modern reader.

B This quality might seem bland and boring to a modern reader.
C This quality might seem everyday and vague to a modern reader.
D This quality might seem common and indefinite to a modern reader.

40 Which is the BEST way to clarify the meaning of sentences 14 and 15 with a subordinating conjunction?

F This quality might seem ordinary to a modern reader, because one modern translation renders this term as
“excellent” and another as “most distinguished.”
G This quality might seem ordinary to a modern reader, if one modern translation renders this term as
“excellent” and another as “most distinguished.”
H This quality might seem ordinary to a modern reader, although one modern translation renders this term as
“excellent” and another as “most distinguished.”
J This quality might seem ordinary to a modern reader, while one modern translation renders this term as
“excellent” and another as “most distinguished.”

41 Choose the BEST way to clarify sentence 16 by adding a more specific adverb.

A Some of the other qualities the narrator attributes to the Knight, such as chivalry, are also puzzlingly
indefinite to a modern reader.
B Some of the other qualities the narrator attributes to the Knight, such as chivalry, are also simply indefinite
to a modern reader.
C Some of the other qualities the narrator attributes to the Knight, such as chivalry, are also largely indefinite
to a modern reader.
D Some of the other qualities the narrator attributes to the Knight, such as chivalry, are also probably
indefinite to a modern reader.

Grade 12 18 Origin of a Nation Unit Test

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Name Date Origin of a Nation
Unit Test

42 How could you revise the syntax of sentence 20 to use parallel structure?

F He mentions all the foreign places where the Knight has fought. They are both near and far, such as Spain,
Egypt, Turkey, and Russia.
G He mentions all the foreign places both near (Spain and Egypt) and far (Turkey and Russia) where the
Knight has fought.
H He mentions all the foreign places where the Knight has fought. The Knight has fought both near and far,
such as Spain, Egypt, Turkey, and Russia.
J He mentions all the places where the Knight has fought. He talks about the foreign places both near and
far, such as Spain, Egypt, Turkey, and Russia.

43 Which is the BEST way to revise the syntax of sentence 21 for a more engaging effect?

A The narrator also depicts him fighting fiercely in tournaments. The Knight “always killed his foe” in these
dangerous recreations.
B The narrator also depicts him fighting fiercely in tournaments. These were a knight’s dangerous recreation,
and the Knight “always killed his foe.”
C The narrator also depicts the Knight fighting fiercely in tournaments, which were a knight’s dangerous
recreation. He “always killed his foe.”
D The narrator also depicts him fighting fiercely. In tournaments that were a knight’s dangerous recreation, the
Knight “always killed his foe.”

44 Choose the BEST way to revise the syntax of sentences 23 and 24 using parallel structure.

F In this way, the Knight becomes more than a mere role model for chivalrous behavior, but starts to exist as
a real person with a full biography.
G In this way, the Knight becomes more than a mere role model for chivalrous behavior. He starts to exist. He
is a real person with a full biography.
H In this way, the Knight becomes more than a mere role model for chivalrous behavior, and starts to exist as
a real person. He has a full biography.
J In this way, the Knight becomes more than a mere role model for chivalrous behavior. He starts to exist as a
real person. He has a full biography.

Grade 12 19 Origin of a Nation Unit Test

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Answer Key: Origin of a Nation: The Anglo-
Saxon and Medieval Periods Unit Test
Item Correct Depth of
Number Answer Knowledge
1 B 2
2 G 2
3 B 2
4 H 2
5 B 2
6 J 2
7 C 2
8 F 2
9 D 2
10 H 2
11 D 2
12 G 2
Chaucer was warning that some members of the clergy were corrupt. The Pardoner was preaching against avarice, but he
13 was clearly a greedy and dishonest man. This very likely demonstrates how Chaucer felt about pardoners, or at the very 3
least presents a stereotype of pardoners from the time period.
14 G 2
15 C 2
16 G 2
17 D 2
18 G 2
19 D 2
20 G 2
21 D 2
22 F 2
23 D 2
24 F 2
25 B 2
The lines that show Beowulf and Grendel fighting show characteristics of an epic poem. Lines 41–64 deal with a hero
fighting a supernatural creature, while lines 24–26 and 60–64 show the exceptional strength of the hero. These are
26 two major elements of epic poetry. One reason the author might have chosen to tell the story as an epic is because epics 3
feature universal themes, such as good versus evil (a major theme in Beowulf ), and they also feature perilous journeys and
challenges, elements that interest most people.

Grade 12 Ti Answer Key

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Answer Key: Origin of a Nation: The Anglo-
Saxon and Medieval Periods Unit Test
Item Correct Depth of
Number Answer Knowledge
27 C 2
28 G 2
29 A 2
30 J 2
31 C 2
32 H 2
33 B 2
34 H 2
35 A 2
36 J 2
37 C 2
38 F 2
39 B 2
40 H 2
41 A 2
42 G 2
43 C 2
44 J 2

Grade 12 Tii Answer Key

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.