This passage is excerpted from the 1854 book Walden by Henry David Thoreau, which details Thoreau's experiences living in a cabin alone for two years.
6. In the context of the passage, the phrase "as when you throw two stones into calm water so near that they break each other's undulations" (lines 37-39) is best described as
A. a reference to the author's childhood days when he threw stones into a lake.
B. an analogy used to elaborate on a previous statement.
C. a way to expand on the reasons national boundaries are always changing.
D. a reason that the author and his companion had to continually move their chairs to be heard.
7. As used in line 27, "plow" most nearly means
A. push.
B. furrow.
C. cultivate.
D. walk.
8. What happens when the author does not have enough food for his guests?
A. He shares.
B. He turns them away.
C. He buys more food.
D. They refrain from eating.
9. The passage suggests that housekeepers most likely
A. are stuck in their ways and unable to change.
B. feel that traditions should not change.
C. believe there is a certain protocol that must be followed when hosting guests.
D. feel that pudding and bread are not a suitable meal.
10. What does the author mean when he said that "only the finest sediment was deposited" (lines 84-85) on him?
A. He was living far from town and his visitors were of a higher caliber.
B. He was covered in a fine dust while living in the woods.
C. The pond near his home frequently flooded, leaving sediment in his "best" room.
D. Many people came to see him about the dirty business of trivial matters.
11. What choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
A. Lines 48–50 ("a priceless…order")
B. Lines 75-77 ("I had more…some")
C. Lines 70–72 ("though many…old")
D. Line 79 ("But fewer…business")