Texas Assessment Practice

assess

Taking this practice test

will help you assess your

knowledge of these skills

and determine your

readiness for the Unit Test.

review

After you take the practice

test, your teacher can help

you identify any standards

you need to review.

DIRECTIONS Read these selections and answer the questions that follow.

from Defense of the Constitutions of Government in Massachusetts During the Revolution by John Adams

It is become a kind of fashion among writers, to admit, as a maxim, that if you could be always sure of a wise, active, and virtuous prince, monarchy would be the best of governments. But this is so far from being admissible, that it will forever remain true, that a free government has a great advantage over a simple monarchy. The best and wisest prince, by means of a freer communication with his people, and the greater opportunities to collect the best advice from the best of his subjects, would have an immense advantage in a free state over a monarchy. A senate consisting of all that is most noble, wealthy, and able in the nation, with a right to counsel the crown at all times, is a check to ministers, and a security against abuses, such as a body of nobles who never meet, and have no such right, can never supply. Another assembly, composed of representatives chosen by the people in all parts, gives free access to the whole nation, and communicates all its wants, knowledge, projects, and wishes to government; it excites emulation among all classes, removes complaints, redresses grievances, affords opportunities of exertion to genius, though in obscurity, and gives full scope to all the faculties of man; it opens a passage for every speculation to the legislature, to administration, and to the public; it gives a universal energy to the human character, in every part of the state, such as never can be obtained in a monarchy.

There is a third particular which deserves attention both from governments and people. In a simple monarchy, the ministers of state can never know their friends from their enemies; secret cabals undermine their influence, and blast their reputation. This occasions a jealousy ever anxious and irritated, which never thinks the government safe without an encouragement of informers and spies, throughout every part of the state, who interrupt the tranquillity of private life, destroy the confidence of families in their own domestics and in one another, and poison freedom in its sweetest retirements. In a free government, on the contrary, the ministers can have no enemies of consequence but among the members of the great or little council, where every man is obliged to take his side, and declare his opinion, upon every question. This circumstance alone, to every manly mind, would be sufficient to decide the preference in favor of a free government.

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Take it at thinkcentral.com.KEYWORD: HML11-292

Practice

Test

292 unit 1: exploring american literature

READING 1B Analyze textual context to draw conclusions about the nuance in word meanings. 7 Draw conclusions about how an author’s sensorylanguage creates imagery.8 Make inferences and draw conclusions about the author’s purpose in historical contexts. 9C Make subtle inferences and complex conclusions about the ideas in text and their organizational patterns. 9D Make logical connections between and among multiple texts. 10 Make inferences and draw conclusions about persuasive text. WRITING

13C Revise drafts to clarify meaning and achieve specific rhetorical purposes. 13D Edit drafts for grammar, mechanics, and spelling. ORAL AND WRITTEN

CONVENTIONS 17A Use and understand the function of different types of clauses and phrases.

For more practice, see Texas Assessment Practice Workbook.

from Boston Tea Party by George Hewes

It was now evening, and I immediately dressed myself in the costume of an Indian, equipped with a small hatchet, which I and my associates denominated the tomahawk, with which, and a club, after having painted my face and hands with coal dust in the shop of a blacksmith, I repaired to Griffin’s wharf, where the ships lay that contained the tea. When I first appeared in the street after being thus disguised, I fell in with many who were dressed, equipped and painted as I was, and who fell in with me and marched in order to the place of our destination. . . .

We then were ordered by our commander to open the hatches and take out all the chests of tea and throw them overboard, and we immediately proceeded to execute his orders, first cutting and splitting the chests with our tomahawks, so as thoroughly to expose them to the effects of the water.

In about three hours from the time we went on board, we had thus broken and thrown overboard every tea chest to be found in the ship, while those in the other ships were disposing of the tea in the same way, at the same time. We were surrounded by British armed ships, but no attempt was made to resist us.

We then quietly retired to our several places of residence, without having any conversation with each other, or taking any measures to discover who were our associates; nor do I recollect of our having had the knowledge of the name of a single individual concerned in that affair, except that of Leonard Pitt, the commander of my division, whom I have mentioned. There appeared to be an understanding that each individual should volunteer his services, keep his own secret, and risk the consequence for himself. No disorder took place during that transaction, and it was observed at that time that the stillest night ensued that Boston had enjoyed for many months. . . .

Another attempt was made to save a little tea from the ruins of the cargo by a tall, aged man who wore a large cocked hat and white wig, which was fashionable at that time. He had sleightly slipped a little into his pocket, but being detected, they seized him and, taking his hat and wig from his head, threw them, together with the tea, of which they had emptied his pockets, into the water. In consideration of his advanced age, he was permitted to escape, with now and then a slight kick.

The next morning, after we had cleared the ships of the tea, it was discovered that very considerable quantities of it were floating upon the surface of the water; and to prevent the possibility of any of its being saved for use, a number of small

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assessment practice 293

Reading Comprehension

Use “Defense of the Constitutions of Government in Massachusetts During the Revolution” (p. 292) to answer questions 1–6.

1 Which position on government does Adams favor?

A Monarchies are the best form of government because they have wise and virtuous rulers.

B Writers should be consulted when a country forms its government because they are well informed.

C A free state is the best form of government because its ideas and opinions come from the people.

D Only the best and wisest prince who communicates with his subjects should rule a nation.

2 The words enemies, informers, and spiesin paragraph 2 appeal to the emotion of —

F anger H fear

G excitement J guilt

3 Which claim does Adams make about a free government in paragraph 2?

A The best way to run a free government is with a large assembly and a small one.

B Members of a free government often take a tough-minded approach to governing.

C People who serve in a free government have similar opinions.

D The leaders in a free government usually have few hidden enemies.

4 “Every manly mind” in paragraph 2 is an example of which persuasive technique?

F An appeal by association

G An appeal to authority

H An ethical appeal

J Loaded language

5 Which quote is an example of loaded language?

A monarchy would be the best of governments

B such as a body of nobles who never meet

C gives free access to the whole nation

D poison freedom in its sweetest retirements

6 This excerpt reflects the view of colonists who —

F believed that political rivalries would destroy the British monarchy

G questioned British rule and tried to form a new government

H upheld the ideals of a monarchy

J had simple ideas about government

boats were manned by sailors and citizens, who rowed them into those parts of the harbor wherever the tea was visible, and by beating it with oars and paddles so thoroughly drenched it as to render its entire destruction inevitable.

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Texas Assessment Practice

Use “Boston Tea Party” (pp. 293–294) to answer questions 7–12.

7 Which descriptive details most clearly place this account in its historical context?

A Tomahawk, chests of tea, coal dust

B Armed ships, hatches, small boats

C Evening, three hours, next morning

D Sailors, citizens, aged man

8 This narrative is a primary source because it is —

F a political argument

G a participant’s report

H an accurate history

J a published document

9 This account by a colonial shoemaker calls attention to —

A an alliance between Native Americans and tradespeople

B a lack of leadership during the Revolutionary War

C the tension between wealthy and poor people in the colonies

D the role of the common people in the Revolution

10 The colonists most likely dressed as Native Americans to —

F honor Native American traditions

G forge an alliance against the British

H protect themselves from the British

J cause economic problems in the colonies

11 The descriptive anecdote in paragraph 5 suggests that —

A tea was a prized commodity among the colonists in Boston

B the elderly were treated with disrespect in colonial times

C many participants thought the Boston Tea Party was amusing

D violent attacks were characteristic of the Boston Tea Party

12 The descriptive details in this account emphasize that the Boston Tea Party was —

F poorly planned

G carried out in secret

H led by Native Americans

J authorized by the British

Use both selections to answer question 13.

13 Both primary sources give the reader insight into the —

A origins of the United States

B benefits of a constitution

C advantages of a monarchy

D fashions of the period

SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS Write three or four sentences to answer this question.

14 Cite three details from George Hewes’s account that identify it as a primary source.

Write two or three paragraphs to answer this question.

15 What argument does John Adams make in paragraph 1 in favor of an assembly of representatives? Cite three reasons he givesto support his argument.

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Vocabulary

Use context clues and your knowledge of specialized vocabulary to answer the following questions based on “Defense of the Constitutions of Government in Massachusetts During the Revolution.”

1 What is the most likely meaning of the word monarchy as it is used in paragraph 1?

A A state headed by a leader who usually rules by hereditary right

B A body of elected officials who hold the supreme power in a nation

C A small group of persons who rule together

D A government that shares power with the people

2 What is the most likely meaning of the word cabals as it is used in paragraph 2?

F Social clubs

G Religious denominations

H Groups of conspirators

J Military organizations

3 What is the most likely meaning of the word ministers as it is used in paragraph 2?

A Church leaders

B Public officials

C Foreign diplomats

D Business tycoons

Use context clues and your knowledge of multiple-meaning words to answer the following questions based on the excerpt from “Boston Tea Party.”

4 Which meaning of the word execute is used in paragraph 2?

F Carry out

G Create

H Kill

J Validate

5 Which meaning of the word several is used in paragraph 4?

A Distant

B Separate

C Humble

D More than two or three

6 Which meaning of the word measures is used in paragraph 4?

F Actions

G Dimensions

H Legislative bills

J Quantities

296

Texas Assessment Practice

Revising and EditingDIRECTIONS Read this passage and answer the questions that follow.

(1) George Washington hired engineer Pierre L’Enfant to plan a new capitol city.

(2) The new city would be called Federal City and would be located in Maryland.

(3) L’Enfant was later fired. (4) Surveyor Andrew Ellicott redrew the plans but upheld

much of L’Enfant’s vision. (5) By 1800, President John Adams had moved into the

White House. (6) It was far from finished. (7) It was damp. (8) The city was later

renamed. (9) Today, Washington, D.C., reflects L’Enfants vision of a city of open space.

1 What change, if any, should be made in sentence 1?

A Change engineer to Engineer

B Insert a comma after L’Enfant

C Change capitol to capital

D Make no change

2 What is the most effective way to combine sentences 3 and 4 to form a compound-complex sentence?

F L’Enfant was later fired, but when surveyor Andrew Ellicott redrew the plans, he upheld much of L’Enfant’s vision.

G L’Enfant was later fired, and surveyor Andrew Ellicott redrew the plans but upheld much of L’Enfant’s vision.

H When redrawing the plans, surveyor Andrew Ellicott upheld much of L’Enfant’s vision, even though L’Enfant was fired.

J Much of L’Enfant’s vision was upheld by surveyor Andrew Ellicott, who redrew the plans after L’Enfant was fired.

3 What is the most effective way to combine sentences 5 and 6 to form a complex sentence?

A By 1800, President John Adams had moved into the White House, even though it was far from finished.

B By 1800, President John Adams had moved into the White House, but it was far from finished.

C By 1800, President John Adams had moved into the White House; however, it was far from finished.

D By 1800, President John Adams had moved into the White House; it was far from finished.

4 Which prepositional phrase should be added to the end of sentence 8 to add descriptive detail?

F Even as it grew

G After Washington’s death

H To reflect Washington’s involvement

J Washington, D.C.

5 What change, if any, should be made in sentence 9?

A Spell out D.C.

B Change L’Enfants to L’Enfant’s

C Change reflects to reflected

D Make no change 34/0

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