May 2010- Literature

Test Preparation SAT Subject Test Preparation
81

<p>Here’s the poem:
WEIGHING the stedfastness and state<br>
Of some mean things which here below reside,<br>
Where birds like watchful Clocks the noiseless date<br>
And Intercourse of times divide,<br>
Where Bees at night get home and hive, and flowrs 5
Early, aswel as late,<br>
Rise with the Sun, and set in the same bowrs; </p>

<pre><code>I would (said I) my God would give
</code></pre>

<p>The staidness of these things to man! for these<br>
To his divine appointments ever cleave, 10
And no new business breaks their peace;<br>
The birds nor sow, nor reap, yet sup and dine,<br>
The flowres without clothes live,<br>
Yet Solomon was never drest so fine. </p>

<pre><code>Man hath stil either toyes, or Care, 15
</code></pre>

<p>He hath no root, nor to one place is ty’d,<br>
But ever restless and Irregular<br>
About this Earth doth run and ride,<br>
He knows he hath a home, but scarce knows where,<br>
He sayes it is so far 20
That he hath quite forgot how to go there. </p>

<pre><code>He knocks at all doors, strays and roams,
</code></pre>

<p>Nay hath not so much wit as some stones have<br>
Which in the darkest nights point to their homes,<br>
By some hid sense their Maker gave; 25
Man is the shuttle, to whose winding quest<br>
And passage through these looms<br>
God order’d motion, but ordain’d no rest.</p>

<p>Contemptuous definitely seems like the second best answer, but it connotes intense anger that just doesn’t seem like it’s in the poem to me. The author addresses God asking him to improve man’s situation, so it seemed like he was more sympathetic of man than contemptuous.</p>

82

<p>corey, if you are attending college next year, why are you taking Subject Tests?</p>

83

<p>he could be a junior. seniors year starts in september 2010, ends in 2011 june. college starts in 2011 september which is next year.</p>

84

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<p>When I said “next year,” I meant next school year; his location is “UNC '14.”</p>

85

<p>“Where birds like watchful Clocks the noiseless date
And Intercourse of times divide,”</p>

<p>Wouldn’t this indicate that the birds break time into intervals?</p>

<p>Does anyone remember what they answered for the question that asked what the meaning of “mean” was for the “Man” poem?</p>

<p>I would contend that the answer is sympathetic, not contemptuous. Even though the narrator talks about man not having wit in the last stanza, the entire poem encompasses the idea that man does not have the steadiness and provision of animals, and a plea for God to give mankind these things. While a couple lines may indicate contempt, the poem as a whole is a reflection on mankind’s pitiful state (especially in comparison to animals) and it therefore more sympathetic throughout.</p>

86

<p>I don’t think it’s saying the birds are dividing the time so much as that time is dividing itself. It would also seem antithetical to the theme of the poem if they were marking intervals of time. Also, it says ‘noiseless’ and the answer choice specifically mentions singing.</p>

<p>The answer for mean was humble.</p>

<p>Also, the author of the last poem argued against compromise.</p>

87

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<p>I had to take the math 2 for placement and I figured I’d go ahead and retake the Lit to try and beat my previous score. I am one of the weirdos who enjoys testing, particularly the SAT Lit test (except math because I’m bad at it, lol).</p>

<p>Oh, and I’m a girl. ; )</p>

88

<p>The roman numeral question on Rosencranz and Guildenstern was not all three. Guildenstern would not have thought life imitates art since he’s talking about how unrealistic it was.</p>

89

<p>What was the exact wording of the answer to the adversity question? I think I put an answer that was about how it always accompanied our joys.</p>

90

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<p>My apologies.</p>

91

<p>The two I had trouble choosing between was adversity accompanies our joy vs. adversity heightens our joys. Both are true but I went with the former because it seemed more relevant.</p>

92

<p>Upon looking at it further I’m thinking more and more that the right answer was birds marking time intervals(unfortunately for me). I think I misunderstood the syntax of the two lines. Still not sure either way though.</p>

93

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<p>I don’t know about this one either, I kept thinking “birds can’t tell time, how could they be marking intervals of time?” haha I believe I put something about continuous movement because birds are very active and seem to be continually moving. My answer really didn’t have anything to do with the poem. I just had a lot of trouble with the poetry on this test.</p>

94

<p>I had a really hard time with this question as well. The marking intervals answer seemed somewhat illogical to me. But I wasn’t sure that I could find concrete evidence that supported any of the other choices. I was really tempted to put something along the lines of continuous movement or disregard of their own future because it made sense. But one thing I’ve learned about Lit (the hard way, I might add) is that it is really tempting to add in something that you feel the poem should mean rather than what it actually says. </p>

<p>Oh, and the whole idea of the “Clocks” also seemed to support the idea that the birds divide intervals of time. Of course, I’m not even close to be sure…</p>

95

<p>@Corey91- I didn’t put continous movement cause Man was predestined for the continous movement right?(Well anyway, that’s why I didn’t pick the continually moving option even though the clock was continually moving)</p>

96

<p>Oh for the tone- I picked nonchalant. I didn’t feel the speaker was too angry with Man though- he was like objective or something. What do you guys think?</p>

97

<p>what would be considered a good score on litt!!?</p>

98

<p>Hm, does anyone have an idea what the curve will look like?
What was the October 2009 curve (seeing that it was the same test)?</p>

99

<p>“What was the October 2009 curve (seeing that it was the same test)?”</p>

<p>WHAT? It’s the same test??</p>

100

<p>Is the curve going to be bad cause it was a recycled test??</p>