Sadlier Test Prep Level C Unit 1
Sadlier-Oxford VOCABULARY WORKSHOP SAT Practice Worksheet PASSAGE-BASED READING Name Questions 1-4 are based on the following passage. Read the passage and the questions below. Then choose the letter of the best answer for each question.
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
It is highly probable that the name of Dolley Madison would be included on almost any list of the most influential First Ladies in American history. Born Dolly Payne in North Carolina in 1768, she was raised in eastern Virginia and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1790, Dolley married a young Quaker lawyer named John Todd. The couple had two children. By the end of 1793, Dolley Todd had experienced more than her share of tragedy: her husband and one of her young sons had died in an epidemic of yellow fever. At the age of twentyfive, she was a widow with a small child to support. She could hardly have imagined that she was destined to become take her place at the highest levels of government in the new nation. It was Aaron Burr, who would later become Vice President of the United States, who introduced Dolley Todd to James Madison, a longtime bachelor 17 years her senior, in 1794. The two had strongly contrasting personalities: she was outgoing and charming, while he was quiet and scholarly. Perhaps because opposites attract, they married in September 1794. Although they never had children together, they seem to have enjoyed the happiest of marriages. It was after Thomas Jefferson became president in 1801 that Dolley Madison began her acquaintance with the White House. Her husband served as Jefferson’s Secretary of State, and Dolley acted as hostess for the president, who was a widower. When James Madison was elected the nation’s fourth president in 1808, Dolley moved with her husband into the White House in an official capacity. She set many precedents there. An extremely colorful dresser, she wore turbans, charmed visitors, and took an occasional pinch of snuff. Indeed, it was for entertaining that Dolley became famous. The Madisons were the first presidential couple to hold an inaugural ball. Dolley’s receptions were nicknamed “Mrs. Madison’s Crushes,” and she was the first hostess to serve ice cream at White House dinner parties. When the White House came under siege by the British during the War of 1812, the president was with his troops and Dolley was home alone. With
Level C Unit 1
Date impressive courage and presence of mind, she acted to save some priceless national possessions, 50 including a famous portrait of George Washington. After Madison’s two presidential terms, the couple retired quietly in Virginia. James Madison died in 1836, Dolly in 1849. At her funeral, 55 President Zachary Taylor paid her this tribute: “She will never be forgotten, because she was truly our first lady for a half-century.” The title “first lady” stuck, and soon afterwards, when Abraham Lincoln was president, it became the official title 60 for the president’s wife.
1. The disease that killed Dolley Todd’s husband and one of her sons was (A) yellow fever (B) scarlet fever (C) tuberculosis (D) malaria (E) diphtheria 2. According to the passage, which of the following best expresses the contrast between Dolley Madison’s personality and that of her husband James? (A) optimistic vs. pessimistic (B) thoughtless vs. thoughtful (C) outgoing vs. quiet (D) political vs. nonpolitical (E) emotional vs. rational 3. According to the passage, the Madisons were the first presidential couple to (A) sing the Star Spangled Banner (B) take a balloon ride (C) travel to France (D) host an inaugural ball (E) keep a detailed diary 4. From the final paragraph, you can infer that Dolly Madison (A) worried about her legacy to the future (B) was never given her due as First Lady (C) was the first person to be unofficially accorded the title of First Lady (D) did not wish to be called “First Lady” (E) disliked living in the White House
Copyright © by William H. Sadlier, Inc. Permission to duplicate classroom quantities granted to users of VOCABULARY WORKSHOP.
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
It is highly probable that the name of Dolley Madison would be included on almost any list of the most influential First Ladies in American history. Born Dolly Payne in North Carolina in 1768, she was raised in eastern Virginia and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1790, Dolley married a young Quaker lawyer named John Todd. The couple had two children. By the end of 1793, Dolley Todd had experienced more than her share of tragedy: her husband and one of her young sons had died in an epidemic of yellow fever. At the age of twentyfive, she was a widow with a small child to support. She could hardly have imagined that she was destined to become take her place at the highest levels of government in the new nation. It was Aaron Burr, who would later become Vice President of the United States, who introduced Dolley Todd to James Madison, a longtime bachelor 17 years her senior, in 1794. The two had strongly contrasting personalities: she was outgoing and charming, while he was quiet and scholarly. Perhaps because opposites attract, they married in September 1794. Although they never had children together, they seem to have enjoyed the happiest of marriages. It was after Thomas Jefferson became president in 1801 that Dolley Madison began her acquaintance with the White House. Her husband served as Jefferson’s Secretary of State, and Dolley acted as hostess for the president, who was a widower. When James Madison was elected the nation’s fourth president in 1808, Dolley moved with her husband into the White House in an official capacity. She set many precedents there. An extremely colorful dresser, she wore turbans, charmed visitors, and took an occasional pinch of snuff. Indeed, it was for entertaining that Dolley became famous. The Madisons were the first presidential couple to hold an inaugural ball. Dolley’s receptions were nicknamed “Mrs. Madison’s Crushes,” and she was the first hostess to serve ice cream at White House dinner parties. When the White House came under siege by the British during the War of 1812, the president was with his troops and Dolley was home alone. With
Level C Unit 1
Date impressive courage and presence of mind, she acted to save some priceless national possessions, 50 including a famous portrait of George Washington. After Madison’s two presidential terms, the couple retired quietly in Virginia. James Madison died in 1836, Dolly in 1849. At her funeral, 55 President Zachary Taylor paid her this tribute: “She will never be forgotten, because she was truly our first lady for a half-century.” The title “first lady” stuck, and soon afterwards, when Abraham Lincoln was president, it became the official title 60 for the president’s wife.
1. The disease that killed Dolley Todd’s husband and one of her sons was (A) yellow fever (B) scarlet fever (C) tuberculosis (D) malaria (E) diphtheria 2. According to the passage, which of the following best expresses the contrast between Dolley Madison’s personality and that of her husband James? (A) optimistic vs. pessimistic (B) thoughtless vs. thoughtful (C) outgoing vs. quiet (D) political vs. nonpolitical (E) emotional vs. rational 3. According to the passage, the Madisons were the first presidential couple to (A) sing the Star Spangled Banner (B) take a balloon ride (C) travel to France (D) host an inaugural ball (E) keep a detailed diary 4. From the final paragraph, you can infer that Dolly Madison (A) worried about her legacy to the future (B) was never given her due as First Lady (C) was the first person to be unofficially accorded the title of First Lady (D) did not wish to be called “First Lady” (E) disliked living in the White House
Copyright © by William H. Sadlier, Inc. Permission to duplicate classroom quantities granted to users of VOCABULARY WORKSHOP.
