AnswersNY-Common Core ELA 12Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart”

Part 1: A Comedy of Manners: The Importance of Being Earnest Answers

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Read the excerpt from Act I of The Importance of Being Earnest.Jack. My dear Algy, you talk exactly as if you were a dentist. It is very vulgar to talk like a dentist when one isn’t a dentist. It produces a false impression.

A
witty wordplay
B
a commentary on marriage
C
a comparison of country and city life
D
concern with appearance over morality
2
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Which line from The Importance of Being Earnest is an example of a commentary on marriage?

A
“I don’t play accurately—any one can play accurately—but I play with wonderful expression.”
B
“The very essence of romance is uncertainty. If ever I get married, I’ll certainly try to forget the fact.”
C
“The bread and butter is for Gwendolen. Gwendolen is devoted to bread and butter.”
D
“It is a very ungentlemanly thing to read a private cigarette case.”
3

Jack.

J
Jack confesses that he has come to the city to propose.
J
Jack scolds Algernon for not being romantic.
A
Algernon pokes fun at his friend Jack for falling in love and becoming interested in Gwendolen.
A
Algernon pokes fun at the fact that marriage in his society often is based on social rules, not romance.
4

Lady Bracknell.

h
her concern with a party instead of Mr. Bunbury’s health
h
her interest in playing classical music at her reception
h
her jealousy over Algernon’s friendship with the sickly Mr. Bunbury
h
her concern about the health of Algernon’s friend
5

Read the excerpt from Act I of The Importance of Being Earnest.Jack. Oh, Gwendolen is as right as a trivet. As far as she is concerned, we are engaged. Her mother is perfectly unbearable. Never met such a Gorgon . . . I don’t really know what a Gorgon is like, but I am quite sure that Lady Bracknell is one. In any case, she is a monster, without being a myth, which is rather unfair . . . I beg your pardon, Algy, I suppose I shouldn’t talk about your own aunt in that way before you.Algernon. My dear boy, I love hearing my relations abused. It is the only thing that makes me put up with them at all. Relations are simply a tedious pack of people, who haven’t got the remotest knowledge of how to live, nor the smallest instinct about when to die.

A
In traditional society, Algernon would be expected to defend his aunt. Instead, he speaks freely about his feelings toward family.
B
In traditional society, Algernon would be expected to speak kindly to Jack. Instead, he is harsh in his response.
C
Algernon rises to his aunt’s defense when Jack becomes critical of her personality.
D
Algernon explains that his aunt is difficult, but that Gwendolen is a favorite cousin.
6

Read this sentence from a report on Oscar Wilde.Oscar Wilde’s humor points out that many people are not who they appear to be, which is a critique on the emphasis placed on appearance in society.

“
“From little Cecily, with her fondest love to her dear Uncle Jack.”
“
“There is no objection, I admit, to an aunt being a small aunt . . .”
“
“You are the most earnest-looking person I ever saw in my life.”
“
“Well, my name is Ernest in town and Jack in the country . . .”
7

Jack.

J
Jack is joking about his marriage proposal.
J
Jack tells Gwendolen that he loves no one else.
G
Gwendolen is happy that Jack has finally asked her to marry him.
G
Gwendolen says that her brother proposes to all her friends.
8

Read the excerpt from Act I of The Importance of Being Earnest.[Lady Bracknell.] I have always been of opinion that a man who desires to get married should know either everything or nothing. Which do you know?Jack. [After some hesitation.] I know nothing, Lady Bracknell.Lady Bracknell. I am pleased to hear it. I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone. The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever.

A
marriage
B
education
C
tradition
D
government
9

Which line from The Importance of Being Earnest shows the difference between city and country living?

“
“Why cucumber sandwiches? Why such reckless extravagance in one so young? Who is coming to tea?”
“
“Yes, that is all very well; but I am afraid Aunt Augusta won’t quite approve of your being here.”
“
“When one is in town one amuses oneself. When one is in the country one amuses other people. It is excessively boring.”
“
“If you don’t take care, your friend Bunbury will get you into a serious scrape some day.”
10

The tone of Oscar Wilde’s critique in The Importance of Being Earnest is

A
aggressive.
B
serious.
C
humorous.
D
angry.
11

Which of these are features of a comedy of manners? Select four answers. witty wordplayscientific explanationsconcern with appearancesdifferences between social classesdifferences between country and city life

A
witty wordplay
B
scientific explanations
C
concern with appearances
D
differences between social classes
E
differences between country and city life
12

Read the excerpt from Act I of The Importance of Being Earnest.[Algernon.] [Jack puts out his hand to take a sandwich. Algernon at once interferes.] Please don’t touch the cucumber sandwiches. They are ordered specially for Aunt Augusta. [Takes one and eats it.]Jack. Well, you have been eating them all the time.Algernon. That is quite a different matter. She is my aunt. [Takes plate from below.] Have some bread and butter. The bread and butter is for Gwendolen. Gwendolen is devoted to bread and butter.

A
Jack attempts to take a sandwich.
B
Jack makes Algernon angry by eating bread and butter.
C
Algernon scolds Jack for eating sandwiches while eating them himself, satisfying his own needs.
D
Algernon offers Jack Gwendolen’s bread and butter because he knows that Jack loves Gwendolen.
13

Which line from The Importance of Being Earnest highlights the divide between the social classes in Victorian society?

“
“Really, if the lower orders don’t set us a good example, what on earth is the use of them?”
“
“What else should bring one anywhere? Eating as usual, I see, Algy!”
“
“I have invented an invaluable permanent invalid called Bunbury, in order that I may be able to go down into the country whenever I choose.”
“
“I know. You are absurdly careless about sending out invitations. It is very foolish of you. Nothing annoys people so much as not receiving invitations.”
14

Lady Bracknell.

s
speak unhappily of her own marriage.
s
speak lovingly of her own husband.
i
imply that young women do not have a choice in their own marriages.
i
imply that marriages are happiest when based on romantic love.
15

Algernon.

A
Algernon holds his servant to an unreasonable standard because he expects the lower classes to be good examples for the upper class.
A
Algernon excuses his servant after Lane provides refreshments, and the two men chat about marriage and family life.
L
Lane defends marriage while Algernon jokes about it.
L
Lane lectures Algernon about his disrespectful attitude.
16

Algernon.

a
an example of class differences
a
a comparison of country and city life
a
a commentary on marriage
a
an illustration of clever wordplay
17

Jack.

J
Jack has trouble listening and speaking.
J
Jack rejects all of Algernon’s suggestions.
A
Algernon states that he is hungry once again.
A
Algernon says it is hard work to live in this leisurely manner.

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