COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS IN ENGLISH COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMINATION BOARD
(1905) A—Reading and Practice[4] Select one subject from each of the following groups and write upon each a composition at least two pages in length. Be careful to keep to the subject. Pay special attention to the structure of sentences and paragraphs. - Group I
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- A scene from Ivanhoe in which one of the following characters is a principal figure: Robin Hood, Friar Tuck, Wamba, Rowena, Isaac of York.
- The Vicar finds Olivia.
- The scene as it might have appeared to one standing just outside the castle gate, as Sir Launfal emerged from his castle in his search for the Holy Grail.
- The ship of the Ancient Mariner is becalmed.
- Group II
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- Why does Ida finally consent to marry the Prince?
- Was the Dumfries aristocracy justified in "cutting" Robert Burns?
- Show how the Sir Roger de Coverley Papers deal with the foibles of the time of Addison.
- What does the Spectator mean when he says that Sir Roger is "something of a Humourist"? Define Sir Roger's peculiar humor, and contrast it with that of some other character in the Sir Roger de Coverley Papers.
- Group III
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- What elements in the character of Godfrey Cass account for his relief at his wife's death and his failure to care for his child; also for his confession to Nancy and resolve to adopt Eppie?
- Tell the story of the caskets in The Merchant of Venice.
- Which in your opinion is the superior character, Cassius or Antony? Give the reasons for your opinion.
- What qualities in the character of Brutus are brought home to us in the last scene of Julius CÆsar? Trace in the action of the play the influence of any one of these qualities.
B—Study and Practice The candidate is expected to answer four of the questions on this paper, selecting them in accordance with instructions under the headings. I Take one part only, either a or b. a "Sir, let me add, too, that the opinion of my having some abstract right in my favor would not put me much at my ease in passing sentence, unless I could be sure that there were no rights which, in their exercise under certain circumstances, were not the most odious of all wrongs and the most vexatious of all injustice."
- Name each clause by giving the grammatical subject, the verb, and the complement (if any). State the kind of clause. Give the reasons for your statements.
- Parse the italicized words.
b - Comment upon the unity of the following sentence and give the reasons for your opinion.
"At this moment the clang of the portal was heard, a sound at which the stranger started, stepped hastily to the window, and looked with an air of alarm at Ravenswood, when he saw that the gate of the court was shut, and his domestics excluded."
- In each of the sentences printed below tell whether the use of the italicized expression is right or wrong, and give the reason for your decision.
- pThe congregation was free to go their way.
- qHe said that he himself and I should go to-morrow, but that you would not go till next week.
- rSeated on an upright tombstone, close to him, was a strange unearthly figure, whom, Gabriel felt at once, was no being of this world.
- sAfter eating a hearty dinner our carriages were brought to the door.
II Take one part only, either a or b. a "Magnanimity in politics is not seldom the truest wisdom; and a great empire and little minds go ill together. If we are conscious of our station, and glow with zeal to fill our places as becomes our situation and ourselves, we ought to auspicate all our public proceedings on America with the old warning of the church, Sursum corda! We ought to elevate our minds to the greatness of that trust to which the order of Providence has called us."
Write one paragraph or two or more connected paragraphs on the passage given above. Let your answer show (1) the division of Burke's speech in which this passage occurs, (2) the relation of the idea here expressed to his plan for the government of America, (3) the manner in which his motions carry out this plan. b "It appears that Addison, on his death bed, called himself to strict account, and was not at ease until he had asked pardon for an injury which it was not even suspected that he had committed,—for an injury which would have caused disquiet only to a very tender conscience. Is it not then reasonable to infer that, if he had really been guilty of forming a base conspiracy against the fame and fortunes of a rival, he would have expressed some remorse at so serious a crime?"
Write one paragraph or two or more connected paragraphs on the passage given above. Show clearly to what reference is made in the last sentence. III Take one part only, either a or b. a "Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all,
As the weird women promised, and I fear
Thou play'dst most foully for't: yet it was said
It should not stand in thy posterity,
But that myself should be the root and father
Of many kings. If there come truth from them—
As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine—
Why, by the verities on thee made good,
May they not be my oracles as well
And set me up in hope? But hush, no more."
In a paragraph or two show who is the speaker and what the passage suggests respecting his character. Give the meaning of the italicized words and phrases. b "We wish to add a few words relative to another subject on which the enemies of Milton delight to dwell—his conduct during the administration of the Protector."
In a paragraph or two summarize Macaulay's views on the subject indicated in the passage given above.
IV Take one part only, either a or b. a "Mortals, that would follow me,
Love Virtue; she alone is free.
She can teach ye how to climb
Higher than the sphery chime;
Or, if Virtue feeble were,
Heaven itself would stoop to her."
By whom were these words said? to whom? when? where? under what circumstances? Show the relation of these lines to the opening lines of the poem; to the plot of the poem. Answer in a paragraph or two. b In Macaulay's Essay on Milton occurs the following passage: "In none of the works of Milton is his peculiar manner more happily displayed than in the Allegro and the Penseroso. It is impossible to conceive that the mechanism of language can be brought to a more exquisite degree of perfection. These poems differ from others as attar of roses differs from ordinary rose-water, the close-packed essence from the thin, diluted mixture. They are, indeed, not so much poems as collections of hints, from each of which the reader is to make out a poem for himself. Every epithet is a text for a stanza."
Quote from L'Allegro and Il Penseroso several phrases, lines, or passages that exemplify the statements in italics. Give your reasons for the selection of any one of these.
(1907) A—Reading and Practice Select one subject from each of the following groups, and upon each subject you select write at least two pages. Group I - Under what circumstances did "the vision" come to Sir Launfal?
What was "the vision"? What was its effect upon him? - In what respect was Macbeth, though the bravest of the generals, "infirm of purpose"?
- Show how, as the villagers said, "Silas Marner had brought a blessing on himself by acting like a father to a lone, motherless child."
- Compare Ivanhoe with the most interesting story (by some other author) that you have ever read.
Group II - Give an account of the duel between Fitz-James and Roderick Dhu.
- Relate how Sir Bedivere dealt with Excalibur.
- Describe Goldsmith as he probably appeared to Johnson or Garrick or Boswell or Burke.
Group III - Show from the Sir Roger de Coverley Papers that the Spectator spoke truly when he said, "the city is the great field of game for sportsmen of my species."
- Which question or questions on this paper has your training in English best fitted you to answer? Give the reasons for your answer.
- Describe the most dramatic moment (as it seems to you) in The Merchant of Venice.
- What are the chief characteristics that you would emphasize in the presentation of Shylock on the stage? Give the reasons for your answer.
B—Study and Practice Answer four of the questions on this paper, selecting them in accordance with the instructions under the headings. I Take one part only, either a or b. | a | | "Mr. Dance told me to jump down and knock, and Dogger gave me a stirrup to descend by. The door was opened almost at once by the maid. | | | "'Is Dr. Livesey in?' I asked. | | | "No, she said; he had come home in the afternoon, but had gone up to the Hall to dine and pass the evening with the squire. | | | "This time, as the distance was short, I did not mount, but ran with Dogger's stirrup-leather to the lodge gates. Here Mr. Dance dismounted, and taking me along with him, was admitted at a word into the house." | | 1 | State as to each of the verbs in the sentences in the preceding passage whether it is (a) transitive or intransitive, (b) active or passive, (c) regular or irregular. | | 2 | State which of the verbs here used transitively may be used intransitively, and which used intransitively may be used transitively. | | 3 | Give the principal parts of each irregular verb. | | 4 | Name the voice, mood, tense, person, and number of two of the principal verbs. | | 5 | Explain the construction of one infinitive and one participle. | | | What constitutes a sentence? On the basis of your answer to this question, discuss whether the following are properly to be considered sentences. Recast those of the five that you deem unsatisfactory: | | 1 | They were an odd couple and she was at least forty years old. | | 2 | The enemy's troops charged, broke and fled, and we pursued them to the edge of their camp. | | 3 | His father's family having all died many years before. | | 4 | One who stood foremost in every good work, never relaxing his efforts till the cause in which they were enlisted had triumphed. | | 5 | Many years had rolled by, many changes had taken place, but the old elm still stood. |
In answering the questions selected from II, III, and IV, regard each answer as an English composition; give special attention to spelling, punctuation, and the construction not only of sentences and paragraphs but of the whole composition.
II Take one part only, either a or b. | a | Who was on the English throne when Burke delivered his Speech on Conciliation? Was the speech delivered before or after the Stamp Act? Before or after the Declaration of Independence? Who was the English Prime Minister at the time? Did Burke's motions prevail? | | Burke stated that the spirit of liberty among the Americans was "fierce", and that there were but three possible ways of dealing with it: one was, to remove the causes. What were the other two methods? Which of them did Burke advocate, and why? | | b | Contrast at some length the policy of the English ministry with that of Burke as set forth in this speech. |
III Take one part only, either a or b. aFrom the facts in the play justify Cassius's estimate of the Romans: "And why should CÆsar be a tyrant then?
Poor man! I know he would not be a wolf
But that he sees the Romans are but sheep:
He were no lion, were not Romans hinds.
Those that with haste will make a mighty fire
Begin it with weak straws: what trash is Rome,
What rubbish, and what offal, when it serves
For the base matter to illuminate
So vile a thing as CÆsar!"
—Act I, Sc. 3, 103-111.
bDiscuss the speeches of Brutus and Antony at the funeral of CÆsar, showing how each is characteristic of the speaker and of the part each bears in the action of the play.
IV Take one part only, either a or b or c. - Quote from Milton or Shakespeare at least ten consecutive lines (other than those printed on this paper); give their setting and tell why to you the lines seem worth committing to memory.
- Discuss the position of men of letters in the times of Addison and Johnson respectively.
- Give the history of Johnson's Dictionary.
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