English IV Midterm Exam Study Guide 2012 ~ Ponder There are 160 multiple-choice questions on the midterm exam. It is your responsibility to attend tutorials (during lunch every day and after school on Fridays) if you need help or clarification on this study guide. If you complete this study guide in its entirety I will drop your lowest quiz grade and give you extra credit on the exam. Part I: Vocabulary Be able to define the following words 1. Distraught 2. Nebulous 3. Commensurate 4. Admonish 5. Phlegmatic 6. Purloin 7. Glib 8. Nefarious 9. Lampoon 10. Banal 11. Guise 12. Abjure 13. Malice 14. Equivocator 15. Abomination 16. Writhe 17. Gorge 18. Purge 19. Talons 20. Affliction Part II: Anglo-Saxons and British History Know the following 1. Name the tribes that invaded the British Isles. 2. How did the Roman Conquest benefit the Britons? 3. When did the Norman Conquest occur? 4. Why did William the Conqueror invade England? 1
5. Define wyrd. Explain how it applies to a fatalistic belief about life. 6. Define barbaric. Which tribe that invaded England was considered barbaric? 7. Which English (old, middle, modern) is Beowulf an example of? 8. What role did monasteries play in society? 9. How does the influence of the Anglo-Saxons survive today? Part III: Beowulf Know the basic plot and details below 1. Who was the first writer of Beowulf? 2. Describe the opening scene of Beowulf. 3. Why are Beowulf s soldiers unable to harm Grendel? 4. Describe the battle between Beowulf and Grendel. 5. What is a kenning? Give two examples of kenning for Grendel. 6. Who does Grendel s mother kill when she comes to Herot? 7. Who is Wiglaf? What adjectives describe him? Part IV: Prepositional Phrases Be able to identify prepositions, prepositional phrases, adjective phrases, and adverb phrases 1. Prepositions Shows a relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in the sentence. It usually gives information about time, place, or direction - Circle the prepositions in the following phrases: Under the blue sky, Near the ancient wood, Beside the trickling stream, On the grassy bank, Under a bright umbrella, In the month of May 2
2. Prepositional Phrases Consists of a preposition, its object, and any modifiers of the object It will end with a noun or a pronoun EX Astronomers have made many discoveries about the galaxy. About is the preposition. Underline the prepositional phrases in the following sentences: 1. The Milky Way looks beautiful on a clear night. 2. I enjoy star gazing from a nearby hilltop. 3. Stars emit huge amounts of light. 4. For centuries, people have looked into the heavens. 3. Adjective Phrases When the prepositional phrase modifies a noun or a pronoun Look at the word the phrase is modifying. If that word is a noun/pronoun, the phrase is an adjective phrase. It tells which one, how many, and what kind EX The rock sample from the moon is 746 million years old. From the moon is describing the sample. Since sample is a noun, this is an adjective phrase. 4. Adverb Phrases When the prepositional phrase modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb Look at the word the phrase is modifying. If that word is a verb, adjective, or an adverb, the phrase is an adverb phrase. It tells how, when, where, how often, and to what extent EX Whales behave with great intelligence. With great intelligence is describing behave. Since behave is a verb, this is an adverb phrase. 5. PRACTICE Underline the prepositional phrase once. Underline the word it modifies twice. Then write ADJ if it is an adjective phrase, or ADV if it is an adverb phrase. 1. Where would we be without creative geniuses? 2. Consider the wonders of the modern medical world. 3. The microwave was invented in 1946. 4. Its invention in 1978 revolutionized technology. 3
Part VI: Macbeth Know the basic plot and details below 1. What is the setting? 2. What is Lady Macbeth s role in the murder of Duncan? 3. Who is Fleance? Why is he important in this story? 4. Who met the witches with Macbeth the first time? 5. Who was the first to betray Duncan? 6. What is the prophecy for Banquo? 7. What is the prophecy for Macbeth? 8. Who is heir to the throne after Duncan (the Prince of Cumberland)? 9. How was Macduff born? Why is this important? 10. Who are the sons of Duncan? Where do they flee? 11. What is Inverness? Where is it located? 12. What country helps Macduff and Malcolm? 13. What is Lady Macbeth s fate? Part VII: Participles Be able to identify participles, participial phrases, and the object it modifies. 1. Participles It is a verb form (-ing or ed) that is used as an adjective It is not an action verb! EX- The thrashing winds of the tropical storm damaged our city park. Thrashing is describing winds. Damaged is a verb it is the action, therefore, not a participle. 4
Underline the participle in each of the sentences. Underline the word it modifies twice. - Our excited meteorologists told us the name of the storm was Clive. - It was the first storm in recorded history to reach our town. - The worried townspeople hastily nailed up boards and filled sandbags. - Uprooted trees had fallen on the playground. - Several energized volunteers worked together to cut up the fallen trees. 2. Participial Phrases Consists of a participle and any modifiers or complements the participle has. The entire phrase is used as an adjective. EX Donning her mask, the catcher prepared for the big game. Donning her mask is the participial phrase that describes the catcher. Underline the participial phrase in each of the sentences. Underline the word it modifies twice. - This bowl, carved in the hills of Tennessee, is quite unique. - Given all the facts, we reached our decision quickly. - The power lines damaged by the storm needed repairs. - The cat, seeing movement in the bushes, crouched low in the grass. - Covered by a cloth napkin, the loaf of bread was still warm in the basket. Part VIII: Gerunds Be able to identify gerunds, direct objects, and indirect objects. Subject: Direct Object: Indirect Object: Gerunds Jogging is a popular exercise. That device makes driving safer. Ellen gives studying her undivided attention. 1. Gerunds Is a verb form (ending in ing) that acts as a noun The function of a noun is as a subject, direct object, or an indirect object. - Gerund Phrase a noun phrase made up of a gerund plus any compliments of the gerund plus any modifiers to either the compliment or the gerund. EX I like playing baseball. Playing baseball is the gerund phrase. 5
2. Direct Objects Receives the action or shows the result of the action It answers the question What or Whom about the verb EX Paul built a doll house for Hailey. House is the direct object because it receives the action, built (verb), by Paul (subject). What did Paul build? A House (direct object) 3. Indirect Objects There must be a direct object in order for there to be an indirect object It answers the questions to whom or for whom is the action done EX Susan gave me the report. Me is the indirect object because it answers to whom was the report given? To whom did Susan give the report? To me (indirect object) Underline the gerund phrases once and the gerund twice. Then write how is it used: S = subject, DO = direct object, IO = indirect object 1. Playing paddle tennis is a new sport for me. 2. A doubles game, paddle tennis requires practicing. 3. My tennis strategy of hitting the ball hard did not work well. 4. Our winter enjoyment is playing paddle tennis. 5. One problem in winter is getting enough exercise. Part IX: Gerund or Participle? Gerund ends in ing that acts as a noun (review part 8) Participle ends in ing or ed and acts as an adjective (review part 7) For each underlined word, decide if it is a G = gerund or P = participle. 1. Helen enjoys sketching children. 2. The singing children smiled in delight. 3. Traveling gives me a chance to see the world. 4. The traveling circus will come to Houston next month. 5. Visiting relatives can be a stressful event. Part X: Parts of Speech You will be expected to be able to identify and define all of the following: 1. Noun 2. Pronoun 6
3. Verb 4. Adjective 5. Adverb 6. Preposition 7. Conjunction 8. Interjection Label the underlined word(s) in each sentence 1. Most of the cowhands who took part in the historic cattle drives remain nameless. 2. Cowboys were instrumental in opening trails that were later used by the men and women who settled the frontier. 3. Railroads soon began to crisscross the country; the cowboy was no longer needed to drive cattle. 4. Hey! Did you know that ranchers still hire cowboys to brand and herd cattle, repair fences, and do many other jobs? 5. On Sunday, the neighbor s dog barked all night. 6. To our surprise, the zebras cantered noisily across the path. 7. A painting that always gives me a feeling of serenity hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Part XI: Irregular Past Tense Verbs The key word above is IRREGULAR it changes in an unexpected manner for the past tense Know the past tense forms for each of the following words: Verb Go Do Come Mean Shine Quit Teach Sit Singular Past Tense (he ) Plural Past Tense (they ) Verb Steal Cry Break Flee Hang Bring Burst Get Fly See Singular Past Tense (he ) Plural Past Tense (they ) 7
Part XII: Essay Question We will be doing the essay portion of the test the week before the exam. If you come with a rough draft for this portion, you will receive extra credit. Please read the directions carefully. Prompt: Each of the topics below will be a separate paragraph in this paper. You must also include an introduction and a conclusion. Follow the outline below to receive full credit. 1: Introduction Make a general statement about the life lessons we (the audience) can learn from reading Macbeth. You must mention the title of the play and the author. 2: Macbeth is a play about ambition and lust for power Determine if you agree or disagree with that statement and provide reasons for your answer. You must use text evidence and societal evidence to back up your opinion. Must be at least 5 sentences long. 3: Macbeth is a play about conscience and insanity. Determine if you agree or disagree with that statement and provide reasons for your answer. You must use text evidence and societal evidence to back up your opinion. Must be at least 5 sentences long. 4: Macbeth is a play about the powers of good and evil. Determine if you agree or disagree with that statement and provide reasons for your answer. You must use text evidence and societal evidence to back up your opinion. Must be at least 5 sentences long. 5: Conclusion Explain the importance of learning life lessons through literature rather than first hand. What particular lesson is of the most importance to you based upon the reading of Macbeth? Why? 8