ENGLISH 4A END OF SEMESTER TEST

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ENGLISH 4A END OF SEMESTER TEST

QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS

• Which sentence best explains why modern English reflects

the influence of several languages?Between AD 500 and 1200, invaders from several countries conquered parts of Britain.

Explanation: Modern English is a blend of influences from

Anglo-Saxon (Germanic), Norman French (Romance), Latin, and Celtic languages due to successive invasions—Angles, Saxons, Vikings, and Normans—between AD 500 and 1200, shaping its vocabulary and grammar.

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• Match the words that have the same denotations.
• Favored - Lucky
• Drenched - Soaked
• Grinned - Smiled
• Scoffed - Mocked
• Elated - Happy

Explanation: Denotation is the literal meaning of a word.

"Favored" aligns with "lucky" (preferred or fortunate),

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"drenched" with "soaked" (wet through), "grinned" with "smiled" (facial expression of joy), "scoffed" with "mocked" (ridiculed), and "elated" with "happy" (joyful).

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• What is the reason for the tragic end of the hero Beowulf?

Hubris

Explanation: In *Beowulf*, the hero’s tragic end stems from

hubris—excessive pride—leading him to face the dragon alone despite his age, rejecting aid, and underestimating the foe, resulting in his death.

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• Which three parts of this excerpt from *Beowulf* relate to a

warrior code?"His friend to avenge than with vehemence wail him. / Glory ere death. / To battle-thane noble lifeless lying 'tis at last most fitting." Explanation: These lines reflect the Anglo-Saxon warrior code: (1) "His friend to avenge" emphasizes loyalty and vengeance for

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comrades; (2) "Glory ere death" highlights the pursuit of honor over survival; (3) "To battle-thane noble lifeless lying 'tis at last most fitting" underscores the nobility of dying in battle.

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• What do these lines from *Sir Gawain and the Green Knight*

reveal about the character of Sir Gawain?He is modest

Explanation: Without specific lines provided, Gawain’s

character is generally revealed as modest through his reluctance to boast about his virtues or deeds, contrasting with the chivalric expectation of pride, as seen in his courteous and self-effacing demeanor.

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• Match the characters from *Sir Gawain and the Green

Knight* to the archetypes they represent.

• The trickster - Morgan le Faye
• The temptress - Bertilak’s wife

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• The hero on a quest - Sir Gawain
• The hospitable host - Bertilak of Hautdesert

Explanation: Morgan le Faye manipulates events (trickster),

Bertilak’s wife tests Gawain’s chastity (temptress), Gawain seeks honor through his quest (hero), and Bertilak offers hospitality (host).

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• Read this excerpt from "The Nun's Priest's Tale" in Chaucer’s

*The Canterbury Tales*. Which sentence in the following description identifies the style used in the excerpt?"I New Iscariot, O new Ganelon! O false dissimulator, Greek Sinon That brought down Troy all utterly to sorrow! O Chanticleer, accursed be that morrow" The narrator mocks the narrative style of epic poetry by applying it to a beast fable.

Explanation: The style parodies epic poetry’s grandiose tone—

invoking traitors like Judas (Iscariot), Ganelon, and Sinon— applied humorously to a rooster, Chanticleer, in a beast fable.

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