Test: The Reward (Pages 1-2)

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What two factors for success were being discussed at the Club?

   a) Wealth and Luck

   b) Opportunity and Determination

   c) Education and Connections

   d) Youth and Strength

2. According to Jorkens, what quality is most needed for success?

   a) Opportunity

   b) Intelligence

   c) Determination

   d) Wealth

3. What hypothetical challenge did Terbut pose to Jorkens' theory?

   a) Becoming king

   b) Flying to the moon

   c) Becoming skating champion of the Sahara

   d) Finding a lost city

4. What was the 'extraordinary ambition' of the young fellow named Gorgios?

   a) To be king

   b) To be the fastest runner

   c) To be appointed Court acrobat

   d) To become a politician

5. Did the post of Court acrobat exist before Gorgios pursued it?

   a) Yes, but it was vacant

   b) Yes, it was held by an old man

   c) No, it never had existed

   d) The text doesn't say

6. What athletic events had Gorgios won at school?

   a) Swimming and diving

   b) High jump, hurdles, and hundred yards

   c) Skating and skiing

   d) Boxing and wrestling

7. How did Gorgios primarily work towards his goal?

   a) By training constantly

   b) By saving money

   c) By going into politics

   d) By writing letters

8. What argument did Gorgios use to persuade people about the post?

   a) It would entertain the court

   b) It would bring in tourists

   c) It would increase the country's glory and strengthen soldiers

   d) It was a traditional role

9. Did Gorgios achieve his goal quickly?

   a) Yes, within a few years

   b) No, it took a long time

   c) Yes, because he was a great athlete

   d) No, he almost gave up

10. Why was Gorgios ultimately chosen for the newly created post?

    a) He was the best athlete

    b) He bribed the officials

    c) He had worked for it all those years

    d) His parents insisted

11. Who witnessed Gorgios's inauguration ceremony?

    a) Terbut

    b) Gorgios's parents

    c) Jorkens

    d) The Prime Minister

12. What color was the Court acrobat's uniform?

    a) Blue velvet with silver lace

    b) Green silk with gold buttons

    c) Red velvet with gold buttons and lace

    d) White cotton with black trim

13. What had the throne-room been turned into for the ceremony?

    a) A ballroom

    b) A dining hall

    c) A kind of gymnasium

    d) A library

14. What equipment from Gorgios's youth was present on the floor?

    a) High jump poles

    b) Starting blocks

    c) Skates

    d) A row of neat hurdles

15. How did Gorgios appear physically at the ceremony?

    a) Young and strong

    b) Middle-aged and robust

    c) Old, with white hair, thin, leaning on a stick

    d) Athletic and energetic

16. What happened when Gorgios approached the first hurdle?

    a) He jumped over it easily

    b) He tripped and fell

    c) Applause broke out, indicating he didn't need to jump

    d) He ignored it

17. What did the applause signify during the ceremony?

    a) Admiration for his past victories

    b) That no actual athletic activity was expected

    c) Relief that the ceremony was starting

    d) Appreciation for the uniform

18. Where did Gorgios go after making his bows?

    a) Backstage

    b) To the royal platform

    c) To perform on the swings

    d) He was led to a seat

Synonyms (Multiple Choice)

Choose the best synonym for the given word, based on its use in the text.

1. Determination

   a) Luck

   b) Firmness of purpose/Resolve

   c) Chance

2. Afford

   a) Find

   b) Have enough money for

   c) Borrow

3. Organize

   a) Cancel

   b) Arrange/Set up

   c) Watch

4. Motive

   a) Reason for acting

   b) Skill

   c) Opportunity

5. Extraordinary

   a) Simple

   b) Very unusual/Remarkable

   c) Common

6. Athlete

   a) Politician

   b) Person skilled in sports

   c) Speaker

7. Argued

   a) Agreed

   b) Whispered

   c) Questioned/Debated

8. Created

   a) Filled

   b) Brought into existence

   c) Abolished

9. Ambition

   a) Job

   b) Strong desire/Goal

   c) Fear

10. Opposed

    a) Supported

    b) Resisted/Disagreed with

    c) Followed

11. Exhibiting

    a) Hiding

    b) Showing/Displaying

    c) Developing

12. Enable

    a) Prevent

    b) Force

    c) Make able/Allow

13. Duly

    a) Improperly

    b) Properly/Correctly

    c) Quickly

14. Remained

    a) Was started

    b) Was forgotten

    c) Was left over

15. Inaugurate

    a) Dismiss

    b) Formally install/Appoint

    c) Congratulate

16. Magnificent

    a) Plain

    b) Grand/Splendid

    c) Old

17. Principal

    a) Minor

    b) Main/Most important

    c) Former

18. Splendid

    a) Ordinary

    b) Magnificent/Impressive

    c) Quiet

19. Utterly

    a) Slightly

    b) Completely/Totally

    c) Almost

20. Melancholy

    a) Cheerful

    b) Sad/Pensive

    c) Strong

Short Answer Questions

Provide your answers in the text boxes below.

1. What was Jorkens' main argument about achieving success?
2. How did Jorkens counter Terbut's example of the Sahara skating champion?
3. What was Gorgios's specific, unusual ambition?
4. What evidence showed Gorgios had athletic potential in his youth?
5. Why did Gorgios get involved in politics?
6. What key arguments did Gorgios use to convince people to create the Court acrobat post?
7. About how long did it take Gorgios to achieve his ambition?
8. Describe the Court acrobat uniform in detail.
9. What athletic equipment was set up in the throne-room for the inauguration?
10. Describe Gorgios's appearance and posture as he entered the throne-room.
11. What indicated that Gorgios was not expected to perform any actual acrobatics?
12. What was the final action Gorgios took at the ceremony before his ambition was considered achieved?
13. How did Jorkens seem to feel after telling the story of Gorgios?
14. According to Jorkens, what happens to most people in the 'race' of life?