Selection: L-24

L-24

Grade level: 12

Word count: 2818 words

Author: Geoffrey Chaucer

Synopsis: The General Prologue is the first part of a text written by Geoffrey Chaucer. Here, the first half of the Prologue is presented.

Excerpt: There was also in our company a nun, a PRIORESS, called Madam Eglantine, a demure and simply-smiling lady; she could chant by heart the whole of the divine service, sweetly entuning it through her nose; she spoke French well and properly as it is spoken at the school of Stratford-le-Bow, but the French of Paris was to her unknown. Her table manners were precisely well bred and delicate; she never let a morsel fall from her lips nor let a stain of sauce drip upon her napkin; she was very cheerful, pleasant, and amiable in bearing, and took great pains to behave in impeccable fashion, to be stately in manner, and to appear worthy of reverence. She kept several little dogs, which she fed with roast meat, or milk, and fine bread, but she wept if one of them died or if someone hit it smartly with a stick; so charitable and piteous was her nature that a dead or bleeding mouse in a trap would wring her heart. Her cloak was exquisitely sewn; on her arm was a pair of beads of small coral, garnished with green, from which depended a handsome gold brooch, with a great A engraved upon it, and underneath, the motto, "Amor vincit Omnia" ("Love conquers all").

Question: The Prioress was the head of a priory, or a religious house. In this excerpt, Chaucer included descriptions of her "well-bred and delicate" table manners, her "impeccable fashion," and her devotion to her little dogs to whom she fed "roast meat, or milk, and fine bread" to imply

1. she was more concerned about appearing aristocratic than being pious.
2. her dedication to charity was surpassed only by her dedication to prayer.
3. most religious leaders did not know how to behave in a social setting.
4. a person who mistreats animals is very likely to mistreat other people.

Selection: L-43

L-43

Grade level: 12

Word count: 2405 words

Author: Peter Kupfer

Synopsis: One man's talent for painting led to one of the biggest frauds to hit the art world.

Excerpt: "I made a knife to cut fruit," Qian added, "but if others use it to kill, blaming me is unfair."

Question: What did Qian mean when he said this?

1. He may have created the fake paintings, but he should not be held accountable for selling them.
2. While he was creating forgeries, he was also making legitimate art using knives and fruit.
3. He thinks that forgery is not a serious crime, but killing someone is a horribly serious crime.
4. He would have preferred to be a chef than an artist.