All Common Core: 9th Grade English Language Arts Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Reading: Informational Text
Passage 2: Adapted from Woodrow Wilson’s “War Message to Congress” ("Address of The President of the United States Delivered at a Joint Session of The Two Houses of Congress") (April 2, 1917)
On the third of February last I officially laid before you the extraordinary announcement of the Imperial German Government that on and after the first day of February it was its purpose to put aside all restraints of law or of humanity and use its submarines to sink every vessel that sought to approach either the ports of Great Britain and Ireland or the western coasts of Europe or any of the ports controlled by the enemies of Germany within the Mediterranean.
That had seemed to be the object of the German submarine warfare earlier in the war, but since April of last year, the Imperial Government had somewhat restrained the commanders of its undersea craft in conformity with its promise then given to us that passenger boats should not be sunk and that due warning would be given to all other vessels which its submarines might seek to destroy when no resistance was offered or escape attempted, and care taken that their crews were given at least a fair chance to save their lives in their open boats. The precautions taken were meager and haphazard enough, as was proved in distressing instance after instance in the progress of the cruel business, but a certain degree of restraint was observed.
The new policy has swept every restriction aside. Vessels of every kind, whatever their flag, their character, their cargo, their destination, their errand, have been ruthlessly sent to the bottom: without warning and without thought of help or mercy for those on board, the vessels of friendly neutrals along with those of belligerents. Even hospital ships and ships carrying relief to the sorely bereaved and stricken people of Belgium, though the latter were provided with safe conduct through the proscribed areas by the German Government itself and were distinguished by unmistakable marks of identity, have been sunk with the same reckless lack of compassion or of principle.
I was for a little while unable to believe that such things would in fact be done by any government that had hitherto subscribed to humane practices. [International maritime law] the German Government has swept aside under the plea of retaliation and necessity and because it had no weapons which it could use at sea except these which it is impossible to employ as it is employing them without throwing to the winds all scruples of humanity or of respect for the understandings that were supposed to underlie the intercourse of the world. I am not now thinking of the loss of property involved, immense and serious as that is, but only of the wanton and wholesale destruction of the lives of noncombatants, men, women, and children, engaged in pursuits which have always, even in the darkest periods of modern history, been deemed innocent and legitimate. Property can be paid for; the lives of peaceful and innocent people cannot be. The present German submarine warfare against commerce is a warfare against mankind.
It is a war against all nations. American ships have been sunk, American lives taken, in ways which it has stirred us very deeply to learn of, but the ships and people of other neutral and friendly nations have been sunk and overwhelmed in the waters in the same way. There has been no discrimination. The challenge is to all mankind. Each nation must decide for itself how it will meet it. The choice we make for ourselves must be made with a moderation of counsel and a temperateness of judgment befitting our character and our motives as a nation. We must put excited feeling away. Our motive will not be revenge or the victorious assertion of the physical might of the nation, but only the vindication of right, of human right, of which we are only a single champion.
In which of the following excerpts, underlined in the passage, does the author most directly universalize the conflict with the German navy in order to play up its significance?
"The precautions taken were meager and haphazard enough, as was proved in distressing instance after instance in the progress of the cruel business, but a certain degree of restraint was observed."
"American ships have been sunk, American lives taken, in ways which it has stirred us very deeply to learn of . . ."
"The present German submarine warfare against commerce is a warfare against mankind."
"Property can be paid for; the lives of peaceful and innocent people cannot be."
"The present German submarine warfare against commerce is a warfare against mankind."
This question asks you to identify which of the presented statements does not "universalize the conflict with the German navy in order to play up its significance." What exactly is meant by "universalize"? To "universalize" something is to make it seem more universal, or more general. The question specifies that the author does this at some point in the passage in order to make the conflict with the German navy look extremely significant. With that in mind, let's now consider the four answer choices.
"Property can be paid for; the lives of peaceful and innocent people cannot be." - This sentence is comparing the relative replaceability of things and people. It is criticizing Germany for attacking innocent people on ships, but it is sticking with describing what has actually happened, not generalizing that conflict to play up its significance.
"American ships have been sunk, American lives taken, in ways which it has stirred us very deeply to learn of . . ." - This sentence is stating the simple facts that German submarines have sunk American ships and killed United States citizens. This excerpt doesn't state anything about these events as being indicative of even larger problems, so it is not the correct answer.
"The precautions taken were meager and haphazard enough, as was proved in distressing instance after instance in the progress of the cruel business, but a certain degree of restraint was observed." - This sentence is discussing the considerations Germany previously offered peaceful ships. It is relating events and criticizing the country for not adhering to the considerations it promised vessels, but it does not universalize the conflict.
"The present German submarine warfare against commerce is a warfare against mankind." - This is the correct answer. This statement universalizes and plays up the significance of the conflict with the German navy. It directly states that the conflict ("The present German submarine warfare against commerce") is indicative of a larger, more general conflict ("is a warfare against mankind.")
Example Question #1 : Reading: Informational Text
Adapted from George Washington’s Farewell Address (1796)
[Before this point in the text, Washington has declined to run as a candidate in the next election for President of the United States.]
Here, perhaps, I ought to stop. But a solicitude for your welfare, which cannot end but with my life, and the apprehension of danger, natural to that solicitude, urge me, on an occasion like the present, to offer to your solemn contemplation, and to recommend to your frequent review, some sentiments which are the result of much reflection, of no inconsiderable observation, and which appear to me all-important to the permanency of your felicity as a people. These will be offered to you with the more freedom, as you can only see in them the disinterested warnings of a parting friend, who can possibly have no personal motive to bias his counsel.
Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts, no recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm the attachment.
The unity of government which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you. In contemplating the causes which may disturb our Union, it occurs as matter of serious concern that any ground should have been furnished for characterizing parties by geographical discriminations, Northern and Southern, Atlantic and Western; whence designing men may endeavor to excite a belief that there is a real difference of local interests and views. One of the expedients of party to acquire influence within particular districts is to misrepresent the opinions and aims of other districts. You cannot shield yourselves too much against the jealousies and heartburnings which spring from these misrepresentations; they tend to render alien to each other those who ought to be bound together by fraternal affection.
. . .
Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake, since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government. But that jealousy to be useful must be impartial; else it becomes the instrument of the very influence to be avoided, instead of a defense against it. Excessive partiality for one foreign nation and excessive dislike of another cause those whom they actuate to see danger only on one side, and serve to veil and even second the arts of influence on the other. Real patriots who may resist the intrigues of the favorite are liable to become suspected and odious, while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people, to surrender their interests.
The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us stop. Europe has a set of primary interests which to us have none; or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves by artificial ties in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities.
Our detached and distant situation invites and enables us to pursue a different course. If we remain one people under an efficient government, the period is not far off when we may defy material injury from external annoyance; when we may take such an attitude as will cause the neutrality we may at any time resolve upon to be scrupulously respected; when belligerent nations, under the impossibility of making acquisitions upon us, will not lightly hazard the giving us provocation; when we may choose peace or war, as our interest, guided by justice, shall counsel.
Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation? Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor or caprice?
In offering to you, my countrymen, these counsels of an old and affectionate friend, I dare not hope they will make the strong and lasting impression I could wish. But, if I may even flatter myself that they may be productive of some partial benefit, some occasional good; that they may now and then recur to moderate the fury of party spirit, to warn against the mischiefs of foreign intrigue, to guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism; this hope will be a full recompense for the solicitude for your welfare, by which they have been dictated.
The author warns his audience against three things, which are listed as answer choices here. Against which of the following does he NOT warn his audience?
The biases created by regional political parties
Preferring the preservation of peace over the preservation of liberty
The dangers of becoming embroiled in international politics
Preferring one foreign country over another
Preferring the preservation of peace over the preservation of liberty
One way to approach this question is to briefly summarize each paragraph in the passage. Doing this helps clarify the main topics that Washington discusses, including the things against which he warns his audience.
Paragraph 1: Introduction to warnings and recommendations; emphasis on perspective and motivations
Paragraph 2: Love of liberty emphasized, but no warning given
Paragraph 3: Warning against party politics that could divide the states from one another
Paragraph 4: Warning against influence of other countries and liking or disliking particular countries
Paragraph 5: Discussion of negative aspects of getting involved in treaties
Paragraph 6: Discussion of positive results of remaining politically neutral
Paragraph 7: Rhetorical questions emphasizing positive results of remaining neutral
Paragraph 8: Conclusion, repetition of emphasis of perspective and motivations
Considering the general topics the passage covers, it becomes apparent that three things Washington warns his audience about are party politics potentially dividing the states, having preferences for or against one other country over another, and getting involved in international politics and treaties. These correspond with three of the answer choices. The only answer choice that does not relate to any of Washington's warnings in the passage is, "Preferring the preservation of peace over the preservation of liberty." This is the correct answer. While Washington discusses "love of liberty" in the third paragraph, he does not offer any warnings related to this topic. Instead, Washington suggests that since both he and his audience understand love of liberty, little needs to be said about it and no warning needs to be offered about it.
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All Common Core: 9th Grade English Language Arts Resources
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