50 POINTS. 8th Ela. 2 QUESTIONS
Reread paragraphs 54-59 of “The Monkey’s Paw” and paragraphs 48–51 of The Conjure-Man Dies: A Mystery Tale of Dark Harlem.
From “The Monkey’s Paw” by W. W. Jacobs
Mr. White took the paw from his pocket and eyed it dubiously. “I don’t know what to wish for, and that’s a fact,” he said, slowly. “It seems to me I’ve got all I want.”
“If you only cleared the house, you'd be quite happy, wouldn't you?” said Herbert, with his hand on his shoulder. “Well, wish for two hundred pounds, then; that’ll just do it.”
His father, smiling shamefacedly at his own credulity, held up the talisman, as his son, with a solemn face, somewhat marred by a wink at his mother, sat down at the piano and struck a few impressive chords.
“I wish for two hundred pounds,” said the old man distinctly.
A fine crash from the piano greeted the words, interrupted by a shuddering cry from the old man. His wife and son ran toward him.
“It moved,” he cried, with a glance of disgust at the object as it lay on the floor.
From The Conjure-Man Dies: A Mystery Tale of Dark Harlem by Rudolph Fisher
“Jinx,” answered the one who called himself Bubber. “We jes’ come here to get this Frimbo’s advice ‘bout a little business project we thought up.
“Jinx went in to see him. I waited in the waitin’ room. Presently Jinx come bustin’ out pop-eyed and beckoned to me. I went back with him—and there was Frimbo, jes’ like you found him. We didn’t even know he was over the river.”
“Did he fall against anything and strike his head?”
“No, suh, doc.” Jinx became articulate. “He didn’t do nothin’ the whole time I was in there. Nothin’ but talk. He tol’ me who I was and what I wanted befo’ I could open my mouth. Well, I said that I knowed that much already and that I come to found out sump’m I didn’t know. Then he went on talk’, tellin’ me plenty. He knowed his stuff all right. But all of a sudden he stopped talkin’ and mumbled sump’m ‘bout not bein’ able to see. Seem like he got scared, and he say, ‘Frimbo, why don’t you see?’ Then he didn’t say no more. He sound’ so funny I got scared myself and jumped up and grabbed that light and turned it on him—and there he was.”
!!!Part A!!!
Based on the passages, which of the following best describes a theme that is being developed in both texts?
Answer choices for the above question
A. Love conquers all.
B. Be cautious with “magic.”
C. Violence is never the answer.
D. Don’t trust strangers.
Part B
Which of the following lines BEST reveals the theme selected in Part A?
Answer choices for the above question
A. From The Conjure-Man Dies: “‘We jes’ come here to get this Frimbo’s advice ‘bout a little business project we thought up.’”
B. From “The Monkey’s Paw”: “‘If you only cleared the house, you'd be quite happy, wouldn't you?’ said Herbert, with his hand on his shoulder.”
C. From The Conjure-Man Dies: “‘Did he fall against anything and strike his head?’”
D. From “The Monkey’s Paw”: “‘I wish for two hundred pounds,’ said the old man distinctly. A fine crash from the piano greeted the words, interrupted by a shuddering cry from the old man.”
Passage excerpts.