Elizabeth was brooding in her room. She had sought asylum there since spurious gossip about her began circulating at Seagrove Academy last week.
Not that Elizabeth had ever been considered a social butterfly. She preferred to live vicariously through the stories of her more brazen friends: late night partying, fraternizing with boys, childish pranks. Still, she had taken to being more by herself than usual since the allegations surfaced.
She was up for consideration for the highly coveted Blauvelt Award, a scholarship recognizing “academic integrity and promise.” A student had given headmaster Billings an anonymous “tip” that Elizabeth had cheated on several tests this year.
The accusations were laughable. Elizabeth had long been a stellar student at Seagrove. She lacked a natural intelligence – this was true. However, she compensated for this deficit through diligence and perseverance; she was very thorough in her studies and exhibited an almost relentless determination.
Still, the accusations had given the recommendation committee pause. On Friday Elizabeth had been called to Mr. Billings’ grand office, where she was asked copious questions about her recent exams. The experience was quite traumatic.
Seagrove was an elite school. Most of its students came from privileged backgrounds. This was not the case for Elizabeth. Her family had little money.She attended Seagrove on a full scholarship. The Blauvelt Award would help her family pay for college.
So, it was with the same diligence which she applied to her studies that Elizabeth planned to unmask her accuser. She opened the school directory on her bed and began combing through the names.
Seagrove was such a small and insular community. Twenty-one kids would be in her graduating class. Elizabeth knew it was inevitable that the person spreading rumors about her would come to light. It was just a matter of time.
As used at the beginning of the story, which is the best synonym for spurious?
What is the meaning of “diligence and perseverance" as used in paragraph 4?
Which of the following is best described as brazen?
Why would Elizabeth have likely been disqualified from receiving the Blauvelt Award if caught cheating?
How is Elizabeth different than many of her peers?
Seagrove Academy was
What does the reader learn about the student who accused Elizabeth of cheating?
I. The student is a former friend of Elizabeth.
II. The student does not want anyone to know who he or she is.
III.The student is either lying or mistaken.
As used at the end of the story, which is the best antonym for inevitable?
Why is Elizabeth so sure that she will learn who has accused her of cheating?
How did Elizabeth respond to being accused?
You will hear a question or statement and three responses spoken in English. They will not be printed in your test book and will be spoken only one time. Select the best response to the
question or statement and mark the letter (A), (B), or (C) on your answer sheet.
For Example
You will hear : Where is the meeting room?
You will also hear : (A) To meet the new director.
(B) It’s the first room on the right
(C) Yes, at two o’clock
The best response to the question ‘’where is the meeting room?’’ is choice (B), ‘’ It’s the first room on the right,’’ so (B) is the correct answer. You should mark answer (B) on your answer sheet.