SSATMiddle Level Reading : Determining Authorial Purpose in Poetry Passages
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 :How To Make Inferences Based On Poetry Passages
Adapted from "No Harm Meant" inChatterbox Periodicaledited by J. Erskine Clark (1906)
两个小狗与善良的心,但笨拙的little toes,
Were feeling rather sleepy, so they settled for a doze;
But underneath the very ledge on which they chanced to be,
A large and stately pussy cat was basking dreamily.
A short half-hour had hardly passed, when one pup made a stir,
And stretching out a lazy paw, just touched the tabby's fur;
'Twas nothing but an accident, yet, oh! the angry wail!
The flashing in the tabby's eye, the lashing of her tail!
"Who's that that dares to serve me so?" she cried with arching back.
"I'll teach you puppies how to make an unprovoked attack!"
One puppy started to his feet with terror in his eyes,
The other said, as soon as pluck had overcome surprise:
"I'm really very sorry, ma'am, but honestly declare
I hadn't any notion that a pussy cat was there."
But just like those who look for wrong in every one they see,
She left the spot, nor deigned to take the pup's apology.
“The flashing in the tabby’s eye” demonstrates__________.
the dogs' fear at the anger of the cat
the cat’s anger at having suffered an affront
the author’s belief in the aggressive nature of cats
the cat’s good-humor during the uncomfortable situation
the cat’s relaxed belief that it was probably an accident
the cat’s anger at having suffered an affront
In context, “the flashing in the tabby’s eye” occurs shortly after she is “attacked." This part of the poem is surrounded by other descriptions of her anger, so it makes sense that it is meant to be an example of the “cat’s anger at having been attacked.” A “flashing in the eye” is an English idiom that means的愤怒或实际意义,可以看到我n someone’s eyes. To provide further help, “suffered an affront” meansbeen attacked or been insulted.
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