501 Critical Reading Questions

a. a paradox.
b. dramatic irony.
c. onomatopoeia.
d. flashback.
e. figurative language.
248.
In line 17, Thomas asks for help because
a. he can’t stop crying.
b. he wants to be a better guitar player.
c. he wants to be able to rescue people with his music.
d. he can’t remember the words to the song.
e. no one wants to listen to him play.
Questions 249–256 are based on the following passage.
In this excerpt from John Steinbeck’s 1936 novel In Dubious Battle, Mac and
Doc Burton discuss “the cause” that leads hundreds of migratory farm
workers to unite and strike against landowners.
Mac spoke softly, for the night seemed to be listening. “You’re a mystery
to me, too, Doc.”
“Me? A mystery?”
“Yes, you. You’re not a Party man, but you work with us all the time;
you never get anything for it. I don’t know whether you believe in what
we’re doing or not, you never say, you just work. I’ve been out with you
before, and I’m not sure you believe in the cause at all.”
Dr. Burton laughed softly. “It would be hard to say. I could tell you
some of the things I think; you might not like them. I’m pretty sure you
won’t like them.”
“Well, let’s hear them anyway.”
“Well, you say I don’t believe in the cause. That’s not like not believ-
ing in the moon. There’ve been communes before, and there will be
again. But you people have an idea that if you can establish the thing, the
job’ll be done. Nothing stops, Mac. If you were able to put an idea into
effect tomorrow, it would start changing right away. Establish a com-
mune, and the same gradual flux will continue.”
“Then you don’t think the cause is good?”
Burton sighed. “You see? We’re going to pile up on that old rock
again. That’s why I don’t like to talk very often. Listen to me, Mac. My
senses aren’t above reproach, but they’re all I have. I want to see the
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