Analyze Word Choice and Literary Allusions Practice Test

Read the excerpt and answer the question.

In the cafeteria, the rumor didn’t spread—it slithered. It slid from table to table, leaving behind little patches of silence where laughter had been. By the time it reached Cam, it had grown teeth. He stared at his tray, appetite gone, while voices hissed his name. Across the room, his best friend started to stand, then hesitated, as if friendship were suddenly a risky bridge. Cam felt the walls press closer, and he wished he could peel off his skin and step out of himself.

How would replacing the word “slithered” with “traveled” change the tone?

Read the excerpt and answer the question.

Coach handed Malik the ball and nodded toward the free-throw line. The gym was loud, but inside Malik everything went quiet, the way it does right before thunder. He bounced the ball once, twice. The scoreboard glared. He thought of David facing Goliath—small hands, big fear, one chance. Malik’s palms were damp, yet his focus narrowed to the rim, a bright circle floating in the air. He shot. The ball rose, hung, and then dropped cleanly through the net.

What is the purpose of the allusion to David and Goliath?