Sunday, August 18, 2013

1897 AP Test Multiple Choice Answers and Reflection



1987 AP Test Multiple Choice
1.) E/C
2.) A
3.) C
4.) E
5.) D
6.) D
7.) D/E
8.) B
9.) C/E
10.) C
11.) D
12.) B
13.) B
14.) B/C 
15.) A
16.) B
17.) C
18.) E
19.) E/A
20.) E/B
21.) D/E
22.) B/E
23.) E/A
24.) E/A
25.) C
26.) E
27.) D
28.) C
29.) B/A
30.) B
31.) B/D
32.) B
47.) B
48.) C/A
49.) E/C
50.) D
51.) B/C
52.) A/B
53.) E
54.) C/B
55.) D/A
56.) B
57.) C
58.) D
59.) E
60.) B
61.) A


Self Reflection on Multiple Choice
Passage One:
Questions missed: 1, 7, 9, 14
I missed these questions because I misunderstood the authors feelings throughout the text.  Every one of these questions were about what the author felt or the author's purpose.

Passage Two:
Questions missed: 19-24, 29, 31
Almost all of these questions wanted me to refer back to the text which I feel is good practice because I always have trouble with these.  I tried to time myself and felt rushed having to go back and look for answers so I wasn't very thorough.

Passage Three:
Questions missed: 48, 49, 51, 52, 54, 55
I always have trouble with questions like 49 that have multiple right answers.  For number 52 I didn't understand the question.  I didn't know the meaning of the word "desultory." 
Desultory: lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm.
The rest of the questions I missed in this passage were once again ones referring back to the text.

Easy Questions:
Almost all the questions with literary terms were really easy.
Examples: 3, 13, 15, 30, 32, 61
Other questions that I found easy were ones that took quotes from the text and asked you their meaning.
Examples: 2, 5, 6, 10, 26, 50

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Essay Assignment #1

     The idea of exile, as claimed by Edward Said, is a very interesting one.  Most people see it as an interesting topic to discuss, but when put in the place of someone being exiled the topic becomes almost tragic.  Being forced to leave your home with no option to return can make someone feel alienated; which is exactly what Nathan Price did to his daughter Leah in the Poisonwood Bible.  Leah's father, whom she looked up to, betrayed her and put her and their whole family in a dangerous situation leaving Leah feeling lost and alone.  Although, Edward Said also states that exile can be enriching. Even though Leah initially experienced the negative effects of being exiled, she was later able to rediscover herself and experience a new world through her own eyes.  She was able to create a new live separate from the one that she was forcibly exiled from.  The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver is a literary example of how exile can be alienating and enriching in the same experience.

     Being put in Leah's situation can be very frightening.  Once Nathan decided that the Price family would be moving to the Congo they had to immediately leave their past life behind, bringing with them only their memories and a few essential tools.  When being exiled there is nothing of your past life to hold onto.  There is also no hope for return.  When the Price family was informed that they were in danger Nathan refused to let his family leave until his mission was complete.  In their new location the Price family was also outcasted.  They looked, acted, and talked different than the natives which made them constantly feel unwelcome.  The Price family struggled to fit in and were never accepted which made them feel alienated.

     Being outcasted can also be an enriching learning experience.  Leah was able to grow culturally by living a completely different life than she was used to.  She learned to provide for herself and her family with very little resources.  Being exiled also forces you to meet new people.  If it weren't for Leah's father forcing their family to leave, she would have never met her best friend and later husband, Anatole.  By experiencing and putting up with the intense feeling of alienation that exile can bring, Leah overcame and created a new life for herself in Africa.

     Edward Said's opposing definition of the term exile forces readers to really think deep into its meaning and effects on people.  The Poisonwood Bible is a perfect example of how exile can be defined as aliening and enriching at the same time.

    

Poetry Assignment #1

Questions based on a poem recited during a Levi comercial.

1. From what poem/author does this commercial borrow (without credit)?
  • The Laughing Heart by Charles Bukowski
2. Why might the use of this poem by a corporation be considered ironic?
  •  The irony is in the fact that this poem is written toward an audience that feels like they have no hope in life; an audience that generally wouldn't have money to spend on a nice pair of Levi jeans.
3. Does the poem reflect the reputation of the author? Why/why not?
  • The poem does reflect the author's reputation.  Charles Bukowski is known for writing about the social, cultural and economic issues of Los Angeles, his home city.  His poetry is known to speak to individuals.  This particular poem gives hope of finding light in a life you don't particularly feel is very bright.  It could be aimed towards people living in the slums that feel that there is no way out.
4. How did you find the answers to #1 & #3? Describe your research process and your sources in detail.
  • I found the answer to question one by typing the first line of the poem into a Google search.  I then went to this website ( http://thebestamericanpoetry.typepad.com/the_best_american_poetry/2008/11/the-laughing-he.html) where there was a full version of the poem and a link for more information about the author.  When I found that the provided link about the author didn't have the information that I was looking for in question three, I googled the authors name and got my information off of Wikipedia. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bukowski)

MY BIG QUESTION

If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?

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