Regents Exam Question for Task I

Look at Part 1 and follow along while I read the Overview and The Situation.

For this part of the test, you will listen to a speech about an author’s memories of an island in the South Carolina, answer some multiple-choice question, and write a response based on the situation described below. You will hear the speech twice. You may take notes anytime you wish during the readings.

Your English class is learning about authors whose lives are strongly influenced by a specific place. Your teacher has asked you to write an essay about author Pat Conroy and the way in which his life was influenced by a specific place. In preparation for writing your essay, listen to a speech by Pat Conroy about his memories of an island in South Carolina. Then use relevant information from the speech to write your essay.

Now I will read the passage aloud to you for the first time.

Now read the passage aloud with appropriate expression, but without added comment.

See a sample essay

Regents Exam Question for Task I

Overview: For this part of the test, you will listen to a speech about an author’s memories of an island in south Carolina, answer some multiple-choice question, and write a response based on to situation described below. You will hear the speech twice. You may take notes anytime you wish during the reading.

The situation: Your English class is learning about authors whose lives are strongly influenced by a specific place. Your teacher has asked you to write an essay about author Pat Conroy and the ways in which his life was influenced by a specific place. In preparation for writing your essay, you will listen to a speech Pat Conroy made about his memories of an island in South Carolina. Then use relevant information from this speech to write your essay.

Your task: write an essay for your English class showing how Pat Conroy’s life was influenced by a specific place.

• Tell your audience what they need to know to help them understand how Pat Conroy’s life was influenced by a specific place
• Use specific, accurate, and relevant information from the speech to support your discussion
• Use a tone and level of language appropriate for an essay for English class
• Organize your ideas in a logical and coherent manner
• Be sure to indicate any words taken directly from the speech by using quotation marks or referring to the speaker
• Follow the conventions of standard written English

Directions: Use your notes to answer the following question about the passage read to you. The question may help you thing about ideas and information you might use in your writing. You may return to this question anytime you wish.

1. The speaker’s opening lines serve to

1. list a series of problems
2. acknowledge a source of inspiration
3. describe a play of organization
4. argue a point of view

1. Pat Conroy’s first trip to Fripp Island, at age 15, was for the purpose of

1. hiding 3. fishing

2. writing 4. studying

2. The phrase "pristine as time itself" implies that Conroy was impressed by the island’s

1. history 3. size

2. potential 4. purity

3. According to Conroy, plants on the island are affected by

1. hurricanes 3. snowstorms

2. drought 4. earthquakes

4. According to Conroy, what was happening not long after his graduation?

1. The beach was becoming polluted.
2. The island was becoming developed.
3. His mother was dying.
4. His friends were leaving.

1. Conroy associates his mother with the

1. marsh 3. turtles

2. bridge 4. waves

2. Conroy implies that his house near the lagoon is a good place to

1. watch ships 3. observe wildlife

2. entertain company 4. play golf

 

3. According to Conroy, he tries to "inhabit the soul of things" as a way to

1. recreate the details of the island
2. improve the design of the bridge
3. protect the use of the beaches

Review The situation and read Your Task and the Guidelines. Then write your response.

Note: The operational examination will include only 5-6 question on part 1. Additional questions are included here to suggest a fuller range of possible question types.