Category: Writing

MODULE 1: PARTS OF SPEECH ADJECTIVES 1g An adjective is a word used to modify a noun or pronoun. To modify means “to describe or to make more definite.” Adjectives modify nouns or pronouns by telling what kind, which one, or how many (how much). What kind? helpful librarian, cool breeze Which one? that star, final exam, next day How many? more work, two steps, less time The most frequently used adjectives are a, an, and the. These words are called articles. A and an are indefinite articles. They refer to any one of a general group. A is used before words beginning with a consonant sound; an is used before words beginning with a vowel sound. An is also used before words beginning with the consonant h when the h is not pronounced. EXAMPLES Pressed between the pages of the book was a single rose petal. We saw an interesting film about African history. Having dinner with the president is an honor. The is the definite article. It refers to a particular person, place, thing, or idea. EXAMPLE The last song of the evening was a slow, sad one. Sometimes nouns are used as adjectives. EXAMPLES What caused the train wreck? [Train, usually a noun, is used as an adjective to modify the noun wreck.] The restaurant manager donates food to a local shelter. [Restaurant, usually a noun, is used as an adjective to modify the noun manager.] NOTE Some pairs or groups of nouns are considered compound nouns. By checking a dictionary, you can avoid confusing a noun that is used as an adjective with a noun that is part of a compound noun. COMPOUND NOUNS space station, soy sauce, goose egg, Mexico City EXERCISE 5 Identifying Adjectives in Sentences Underline the adjectives in each of the sentences below, and double underline the word or words each adjective modifies. Do not include a, an, or the. EX. 1. The Polos set out for China in 1271 A.D. to visit the Mongol emperor, Kublai Khan. 1. Their long journey took them over vast deserts. 2. The Polo brothers, Niccolo and Maffeo, were Venetian merchants, and Marco was Niccolo’s son. 3. The Polos were bringing holy oil from Jerusalem to Kublai Khan. 4. They traveled through the Pamir Mountains, which had higher peaks than any other mountains they crossed. 5. At night, they used the stars to tell them the correct direction to head. 6. That trip brought the Polos to wondrous places. 7. The Polos spent a year in Campichu, a grand city full of golden statues. 8. Marco Polo described the Gobi Desert as having sandy hills and valleys and containing no food at all. 9. In 1275 A.D., the Polos arrived at the Khan’s summer palace in the eastern city of Shangtu. 10. Their historic journey had taken over three years. 11. Kublai Khan employed Marco Polo as a foreign official of the Asian empire. 12. On one trip Marco went to Yunnan province. 13. As a traveling official, Marco was expected to be a keen and truthful observer. 14. Later, he told incredible tales about mysterious China. 15. A curious writer, Rustichello, made Marco’s travels famous in a book, Description of the World. 16. The book was the first record of a European’s impression of Chinese civilization. 17. Some descriptions were of places that Marco only heard about from other people. 18. Marco’s experience inspired European explorers to go to the East. 19. It seems clear that Marco was courageous and resourceful. 20. The Polos returned to Venice twenty-four years after they left it.

1. What is a characteristic of all types of celebratory speeches? A.They are personal. B.They are abstract. C.They are speaker oriented. D.They are unstructured. 2. What are three things a person should do when giving a toast? A. Explain who they are, describe what the honor is, and explain the reason for the speaking occasion. B. Express gratitude for being asked to toast, express how much the event means to them, and recognize others that helped them. C. Keep the speech short, include only two or three main points, and keep the mood cheerful. D. Detail the speaker’s credentials, give a background of their life, and acknowledge the upcoming speaker’s interest in the speech topic. 3. What is a vocation? A. the work a person does for a paycheck B. a sense of duty to a chosen career C. the work a person wants to do, not the work a person has to do D. a job completed over the long term of one’s working career 4. What is the most common type of speaking in the workplace? A. larger presentations B. one-on-one speeches C. formal speeches, company-wide D. speeches before small audiences or in small groups 5. The STAR method helps interviewees respond to what aspects of past behavior during a behavioral interview? A. summary, talent, activity, and response B. situation, task, action, and result C. scenario, time, achievement, and resonance D. synopsis, talk, attitude, and response 6. What is a good way to prepare for a screening interview? A. Research the organization. B. Schedule the interview over lunch at a popular restaurant. C. Prepare a short slide presentation discussing career goals. D. Dress comfortably. 7. A task-oriented person in a small group discussion participates in which way? A. moderates the moods and feelings of other group members B. shapes the flow of the discussion C. minimizes group conflict D. contributes to group goals by taking notes or procuring supplies 8. What are the two common elements that celebratory speeches share? A. to recognize accomplishments and to inspire further achievement B. to bring a community together and to focus on the present C. to praise past actions and to unify constituents D. to celebrate what has been lost and to encourage mourning 9. What two things should a speaker do when giving a speech of introduction? A. Express a cheerful mood and explain fulfillment of speech expectations B. Express gratitude and explain the speaking occasion. C. Explain who they are and acknowledge the upcoming speaker’s interest in the speech topic. D. Explain what the honor is and what the honor means to them personally. 10. What is one of the five functions of a eulogy? A. to make a tribute to the deceased B. to inspire mourners to share stories C. to focus the mourners’ attention on the present D. to help mourners reflect on their mortality

Naturalist plays like The Stronger were influenced by advances in which branches of science?
• A. Genetics and neurology
• B. Early modernism and heredity
• C. Darwinian evolution and psychology
• D. Psychobiology and psychiatry
Art that explores interest in the occult, evil, death, and dreams is often associated with
• A. naturalism.
• B. the early modernist movement.
• C. realism.
• D. the symbolist movement.
How does Stepan’s attitude toward Ivan change over the course of the play?
• A. He first wants Ivan to propose to Natalya, but by the end, he doesn’t want Natalya to marry Ivan.
• B. He hates Ivan for taking Oxen Meadows from him, but they eventually come to a calm agreement.
• C. He is suspicious of Ivan’s motives at the start, but he comes to love Ivan.
• D. He is first very friendly with Ivan, but he becomes frustrated with Ivan over time.
Which line of dialogue best describes Mrs. X’s sense of superiority over Miss Y at the beginning of the play?
• A. “Home is the best of all, the theatre next and children -well, you don’t understand that.”
• B. “I embroidered them myself-1 can’t bear tulips, but he wants tulips on everything.”
• C. “It’s sinful to sit here and make fun of one’s husband this way when he is kind and a good little man.”
• D. “It makes me feel as I did one time when I saw a bridal party in a Paris restaurant.”
Both Strindberg and Chekhov saw dishonesty in
• A. the practice of religion.
• B. Naturalist theater.
• C. the work of Charles Darwin.
• D. other Modernist writers.
Naturalist plays sometimes feature human behavior like a form of competition in which one person tries to gain power over another by using words and actions as weapons.
• A. proposing marriage
• B. evolution
• C. physical fighting
• D. psychological warfare
What realization does Mrs. X come to as she speaks to Miss Y?
• A. Miss Y has a relationship with Mrs. X’s husband.
• B. Miss Y has bought better Christmas presents than Mrs. X has.
• C. Mrs. X is self-conscious about her abilities as an actress.
• D. Miss Y is living the life that Mrs. X has always wanted.
Which practice in theatrical realism continues to be common in acting today?
• A. Using slapstick humor and exaggerated physical comedy
• B. Using Stanislavski’s Method approach to acting
• C. Using thoughtful, flowery monologues to express a character’s inner motivations to the audience
• D. Using unnaturally quick-paced dialogue to mimic everyday conversations
What characteristics best describe a farce?
• A. Serious and thought-provoking
• B. Introspective and quiet
• C. Extravagant and flamboyant
• D. Comical and exaggerated
What’s the meaning of an aside in a play?
• A. A character has a natural response to a circumstance in the play.
• B. A character speaks lines that weren’t originally in the script.
• C. A character speaks to the audience to reveal their true feelings.
• D. A character says something at a perfect moment to create a desired effect.
By the end of The Stronger, which character is the stronger one?
• A. Miss Y
• B. Both are equally strong.
• C. Mrs. X
• D. The ending is ambiguous.
How does the writer of a play help the audience understand what’s going on when the play starts?
• A. Through the dialogue
• B. With extensive narration
• C. Through body language
• D. With an insert in the playbill
LOMOV: It’s cold . . . I’m trembling all over, just as if I’d got an examination before me. The great thing is, I must have my mind made up. If I give myself time to think, to hesitate, to talk a lot, to look for an ideal, or for real love, then I’ll never get married . . . . Brr! . . . It’s cold!
Natalya Stepanovna is an excellent housekeeper, not bad-looking, well-educated . . . . What more do I want?
This excerpt from The Proposal is an example of what kind of dramatic device?
• A. Stage directions
• B. Farce
• C. Inner monologue
• D. Fast-paced dialogue
As a potential wife for Ivan, Natalya best represents a/an
• A. perfect partner.
• B. dream come true.
• C. romantic love.
• D. acceptable choice.
What is the function of Ivan’s monologue between the first two sections of the play?
• A. To inform the audience that Natalya isn’t thinking about marriage but only about her family’s land
• B. To show off his affectionate relationship with Stepan and how quickly that relationship changes
• C. To show that he stubbornly plans to defend himself and his family when Natalya challenges him
• D. To inform the audience of his motivations for proposing and to set up the coming action
What’s the difference between realism and naturalism in the theater?
• A. Realism takes inspiration from everyday environments and situations, but naturalism goes a step further and tries to imitate life as closely as possible.
• B. Realism insists that the old ways of thinking are best, but naturalism says truth can be found by trusting the latest scientific breakthrough.
• C. Realism employs dialogue that sounds just like people speak in real life, but naturalism uses more complex, elevated language.
• D. There’s no difference between realism and naturalism.
Why are some Modernist plays called “theater of mood”?
• A. The plays were designed to make the audience angry.
• B. The Russian modernists were highly emotional people.
• C. The plays were melodramas that featured highly exaggerated emotions.
• D. The staging of the play reflected the feelings of the characters.
What’s the definition of a theatrical quart d’heure like Strindberg’s The Stronger)?
• A. A play using minimal stage decorations, props, or scenery
• B