These are the times that try men’s souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it NOW, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: ’Tis dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods, and it should be strange indeed, if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but ‘to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER,’ and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious, for so unlimited a power can belong only to GOD. ****What is the author’s purpose in referring to ‘the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot’?

All the pious ideas that had been so long forgotten, returned; he recollected the prayers his mother had taught him, and discovered a new meaning in every word; for in prosperity prayers seem but a mere medley of words, until misfortune comes and the unhappy sufferer first understands the meaning of the sublime language in which he invokes the pity of heaven! He prayed, and prayed aloud, no longer terrified at the sound of his own voice, for he fell into a sort of ecstasy. He laid every action of his life before the Almighty, proposed tasks to accomplish, and at the end of every prayer introduced the entreaty oftener addressed to man than to God: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us." Yet in spite of his earnest prayers, Dantes remained a prisoner. ****Which statement best states the author's implied opinion of prayer?

Even the morning air is sultry today. I would have fished for my breakfast last night before sunset, but I knew that it would surely spoil before morning. Drinking my water warm has taken some getting used to. It’s funny how we take certain things like ice for granted. If I become desperate I can always resort to eating the freeze dried rations, but that defeats my purpose for being here to begin with. Besides, they are about as edible as the tough, dry bark in a long dead tree. I think I have almost learned to track the time by the rays of the sun. Time, like water, seems to sit in a pot unable to boil if your eye isn’t constantly on it. Time seems to be the only thing that man hasn’t learned to control; but I am sure some genius like Fred Johnson is currently working on it, while sitting in a cubicle checking the four thousand emails on his Palm Pilot. As for me, I think I will lean back on this dune and nap a while before I head out to catch some lunch. ****What does this passage suggest about the writer?

No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as any manner of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. ***How do people interact with each other, according to the speaker?

To Whom It May Concern: Chris studied under my supervision as a student during his sophomore, junior and senior years at Dutch Fork High School. His responsibilities included designing and constructing both architectural and mechanical models, producing drawings using both computer software and traditional methods, in addition to some teamwork activities. During the course of his studies, Chris proved himself to be an able student, a hard worker, and a talented designer. I was quite impressed by Chris's ability to complete all work assigned to him on time, if not before it was due. His research was always thorough, and his details always accurate. I sometimes allow my students to do some special projects, but Chris’s talents prompted me to assign him more activities than the norm. He worked diligently on several special projects for special needs students at this school. His drawings and project proposals are always clear and concise. Overall, Chris is a very conscientious and able person. I certainly believe he has what it takes to make an outstanding engineering student. I strongly recommend Chris for any endeavors that he would pursue. Sincerely, ****Based on the text, what logical inference can be made?

Trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. Recurrent episodes of ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection in early childhood provoke chronic conjunctival inflammation (active trachoma). This inflammation leads to scarring of conjunctival tissue, which causes the eyelids to roll in (entropion) and the lashes to scratch the surface of the eye (trachomatous trichiasis [TT]). Ultimately, blinding corneal opacification (CO) develops from the persistent abrasion of lashes and secondary bacterial infection. ****What is the most serious result of active trachoma?

The researchers randomly assigned 1,300 people living in Ethiopia (the country with the highest rates of trachoma and trichiasis) to receive trichiasis surgery using silk sutures (removed at 7–10 days) or absorbable sutures (left in place); the other details of the surgery were identical for all the patients. The trial's primary outcome was recurrent trichiasis (one or more lash touching the eye) at 1 year. Secondary outcomes included the rate of recurrence, visual acuity, corneal opacity, and conjunctival inflammation at 2 years, and surgical complications. At 1 year, 18.2% of the patients in the absorbable suture group and 19.7% in the silk suture group had developed recurrent trichiasis. That is, the prevalence of recurrence in the two groups was similar. There was also no difference in the rate of trichiasis recurrence between the groups 2 years after surgery. Moreover, the two groups did not differ in terms of corneal opacity and visual acuity, conjunctival inflammation, or surgical complications. ****Which question is addressed in the eighth paragraph?

THE time you won your town the race We chaired you through the market-place; Man and boy stood cheering by, And home we brought you shoulder-high. To-day, the road all runners come,5 Shoulder-high we bring you home, And set you at your threshold down, Townsman of a stiller town. Smart lad, to slip betimes away From fields where glory does not stay,10 And early though the laurel grows It withers quicker than the rose. Eyes the shady night has shut Cannot see the record cut, And silence sounds no worse than cheers15 After earth has stopped the ears: Now you will not swell the rout Of lads that wore their honours out, Runners whom renown outran And the name died before the man.20 So set, before its echoes fade, The fleet foot on the sill of shade, And hold to the low lintel up The still-defended challenge-cup. And round that early-laurelled head25 Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead, And find unwithered on its curls The garland briefer than a girl's. ****What is one generalization that can be made based on this poem?