Quote:
He was most fifty, and he looked it. His hair was long and tangled and greasy, and hung down, and you could see his eyes shining through like he was behind vines. It was all black, no gray; so was his long, mixed-up whiskers. There warn’t no color in his face, where his face showed; it was white; not like another man’s white, but a white to make a body sick, a white to make a body’s flesh crawl—a tree-toad white, a fish-belly white. As for his clothes—just rags, that was all. He had one ankle resting on t’other knee; the boot on that foot was busted, and two of his toes stuck through, and he worked them now and then. His hat was laying on the floor—an old black slouch with the top caved in, like a lid.
The passage provides a detailed physical description of a man around fifty years old. He has long, greasy, tangled black hair and whiskers, an unnaturally pale and sickly complexion, and is dressed in ragged, worn-out clothing, including a broken boot and a battered hat.
1. How is the man described in the passage?A. He is young, clean, and well-dressed.
B. He is middle-aged with long, messy hair and ragged clothes.
C. He has a neat and tidy appearance with polished shoes.
D. He looks healthy and well-groomed, with a healthy tan.
E. He is a young man with a fashionable sense of style.
The passage opens by stating "He was most fifty" and describes his long, tangled hair, ragged clothes, and busted boot, all indicating a middle-aged man with a disheveled and poor appearance.
Answer: B
2. What does the phrase "a white to make a body’s flesh crawl" most likely mean?A. He has a natural, healthy skin tone.
B. His skin is unnaturally pale, making it unsettling.
C. He has a very dark complexion.
D. His face is covered in dirt.
E. His skin looks sun-kissed and healthy.
The phrase is part of a description that compares his whiteness to a "tree-toad white, a fish-belly white," emphasizing a pale, sickly, and disturbing quality.
Answer: B
3. What can we infer about the man from the description of his clothes?A. He takes great care in his appearance.
B. He is wealthy and dresses in fine clothes.
C. He is poor and his clothes are in bad condition.
D. He is well-dressed but prefers a casual look.
E. He enjoys wearing bright, fashionable clothes.
The passage explicitly states, "As for his clothes, just rags, that was all," and details his broken boot and caved-in hat, strongly suggesting poverty and severe wear.
Answer: C
4. What detail about the man’s boots is mentioned in the passage?A. His boots are new and polished.
B. His boots are broken, and his toes are visible.
C. His boots are a stylish design.
D. His boots are clean and look expensive.
E. His boots are covered in mud and dirt.
The text describes: "the boot on that foot was busted, and two of his toes stuck through."
Answer: B
5. What image does the description of the man’s face create?A. He has a radiant, healthy glow.
B. He looks well-groomed and energetic.
C. His face is pale, sickly, and unnerving.
D. He has a rugged, weathered appearance from hard work.
E. His face is glowing with youth and vitality.
The description uses terms like "a white to make a body sick," "a fish-belly white," and "tree-toad white" to create an image of an unhealthy, pallid, and disturbing complexion.
Answer: C