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I love John Steinbeck's books. I've reread them many times since my childhood. I was lucky to be introduced to
Steinbeck's work before I was forced to read it in high school; otherwise, I'd probably hate his writing as much
as I hate all the other books that I studied in school.
But there I go, off on a tangent again.
In The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck points out that people who have known
struggle survive hard times better and
thrive in good times. He suggests that experiencing hardship provides a key—a level of grit, if you will—that
enables people to grow exponentially once the hardship has been removed because they apply the lessons they
learned to the new, positive situation. In other words, when people overcome a challenge, they often learn how
to achieve a better outcome.
Twenty years ago, when my life came crashing down after my company eliminated my high-level position, I felt
sorry for myself, as most people would. But my best friend Leslie dragged me to a medical supply shop owned by
her aunt. A nurse by trade, this battle-axe aunt had become frustrated with the poor-quality medical equipment
her geriatric patients received and opened her own shop to provide supplies that met her exacting standards.
Despite her extensive medical training, her business knowledge was nonexistent. Sample equipment loitered
haphazardly wherever space was available. A dusty oxygen cylinder sat stolidly in the window display, as if this
lone sentinel could entice potential customers to push open the uninspiring glass door and experience the
wondrous freedom awaiting within. The store was located on a side street with little traffic. This shop had as
much chance of success as I had of maintaining my extravagant lifestyle without income.
Yet, my attention was grabbed by an antique wheelchair. This ancient contraption seemed to speak to me of
circumstances far worse than my own. At the time, I needed a reminder that the bottom could always be lower.
Leslie asked her aunt to hire me, but that stalwart lady told her that she preferred to hire someone with
medical experience, not to mention more style. She looked me up and down, likely judging my sweats and sneakers,
and finally decided to direct all her comments to Leslie. It was as if I were not standing in front of her, as
if she were explaining to a nonresponsive patient's family what was necessary for their relative's well-being.
Leslie, always my biggest supporter, was adamant. She explained that I had grown up in a family of nurses, that
I had been pre-med in college myself, and that I would not be intimidated by medical jargon. I also knew
marketing, I interjected, and would love to help her bring in more business. She thought it over briefly and
then decided (telling Leslie instead of me) that she would hire me temporarily until she found someone with
better qualifications.
What I didn't know at the time was that the first person she hired, a young man with a nursing degree, had found
being on his feet for eight hours a day and lugging equipment back and forth to be too much manual labor. He
left without giving notice. The second person she hired, a woman who had been a nursing assistant for several
years, had a great deal of trouble showing up for work consistently.
If either of these two medical professionals had a better work ethic, my life would have taken a different path.
I didn't realize how my work habits guided my fate until a few years ago when the aunt happened to mention it.
She had not believed for one second that I would last in the position. She claimed my success was due to her
excellent training.
I worked for the high-standards healer for twenty years while the business increased eight-fold, thanks to my
marketing expertise. It just goes to show that success is possible when difficulties can be overcome.
1. This excerpt is licensed by UWorld.
Passage Vocabulary | |
---|---|
Word | Definition |
adamant | very determined; not giving in |
contraption | device; gadget |
entice | attract by inspiring hope or desire |
exacting | requiring careful attention and precision |
exponentially | increasing very quickly |
extravagant | spending much more than necessary |
geriatric | old; elderly |
grit | courage in the face of hardship or danger |
haphazardly | having no plan, order, or direction |
immobility | state of not moving or being unable to move |
interjected | interrupted what someone else was saying with a comment |
loitered | remained in an area for no obvious reason |
notice | statement that an agreement or job will end at a specified time |
sentinel | person or thing that watches or stands as if watching |
stalwart | very loyal and dedicated |
stolidly | in a way that shows little or no emotion |
stringent | very strict or severe |
tangent | abrupt change of topic |
thrive | grow or develop successfully |
trade | job; occupation |
Which of the following choices best describes the passage?
Summarize the passage's main ideas and select the answer that describes that information.
Consider answering questions about the entire passage last, after gaining a better understanding of its discussion.
P1-3 | Reflect on the lesson of the classic novel The Grapes of Wrath: hardships help people grow because they apply what they've learned to a new situation |
P4-10 | Give a personal account that discusses how the narrator experienced the hardship of being unemployed and overcame it by growing her skills in a new job |
Based on this information, the choice that best describes the passage is A reflection on one writer's classic novel leads into a personal account that reinforces that reflection.
(Choice A) Although the narrator does mention The Grapes of Wrath, the passage does not describe the plot (events) of Steinbeck's novel or his life.
(Choice B) Although the passage contains the narrator's anecdote (short, personal story) about how she began working at a medical supply store, she doesn't relate her story to another character's life.
(Choice C) The relative mentioned in the passage is the aunt of the narrator's friend. But the friend doesn't tell her aunt any significant episode (important event) in the narrator's life. She only asks her aunt to hire the narrator.
Things to remember:
Note the main events in the passage and choose the answer that accurately describes those events.
In the figure above, line s is parallel to line t. What is the value of x ?
When parallel lines are intersected by a transversal, the pairs of corresponding angles they form are congruent.
It is given that lines s and t are parallel, so the corresponding angles below must both measure x°. Notice that the corresponding x° angle also forms a straight line with the 32° angle.
Angles that combine to form a straight line have measures that sum to 180°. To find the value of x, set the sum of x and 32 equal to 180 and solve for x.
- x + 32 = 180 Angles that combine to form a straight line have measures that sum to 180
- x = 148 Subtract 32 from both sides
The value of x is 148.
Note: It is also possible to use the pair of 32° corresponding angles to find the value of x.
(Choice A) 32 may result from mistaking the x° angle and the 32° angle as alternate interior angles (instead of supplementary angles).
(Choice B) 58 may result from mistaking the x° angle and the 32° angle as complementary angles (instead of supplementary angles).
(Choice C) 122 may result from mistakenly adding 90 to the given 32° angle.
Things to remember:
- When parallel lines are intersected by a transversal, the following pairs of angles are formed:
- Angles that combine to form a straight line have measures that sum to 180°.
Alternate Method:
It is also possible to use the fact that when parallel lines are intersected by a transversal, the pairs of alternate interior angles they form are congruent.
It is given that s and t are parallel lines, so the alternate interior angles below must both measure 32°. Notice that the alternate interior 32° angle also combines to form a straight line with the x° angle.
Angles that combine to form a straight line have measures that sum to 180. To find the value of x, set the sum of x and 32 equal to 180 and solve for x.
- x + 32 = 180 Angles that form a straight line have measures that sum to 180
- x = 148 Subtract 32 from both sides.
The value of x is 148.
Things to remember:
- When parallel lines are intersected by a transversal, the following pairs of angles are formed:
- Angles that combine to form a straight line have measures that sum to 180°.
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