Questions 1–4 are based on the following passage.

I think I knew General Washington intimately and thoroughly; and were I called on to delineate his character,
it should be in terms like these.
His mind was great and powerful, without being of the very first order; his penetration strong, though not so
acute as that of a Newton, Bacon, or Locke; and as far as he saw, no judgment was ever sounder. It was slow in
(5) operation, being little aided by invention or imagination, but sure in conclusion. Hence the common remark of
his officers, of the advantage he derived from councils of war, where hearing all suggestions, he selected
whatever was best; and certainly no general ever planned his battles more judiciously.

1. Why does the author write the first two lines (1–2)
before writing about Washington?
A. as simply an introduction to establish his topic
B. to serve as a notification that he is about to
expose Washington
C. to prepare the reader for the limitations he
found in Washington
D. to qualify himself as one who is knowledge-
able enough to fully present the subject
5. What may be inferred about Washington’s
2. Which of the following best describes the
treatment of Washington in this passage?
A. presented only those aspects of Washington
that are deemed positive
B. reflected primarily on the negative sides of
Washington
C. presented both the positives and the flat sides
of Washington
D. reflected upon the personality of Washington as
opposed to his accomplishment
4. What does the author mean by the term
“penetration” as used in line (3)?
A. power to read minds
B. ability to enter or pass through objects
C. genius to engage those who are of a first
order mind
D. ability to assess and figure out difficult tasks
judgment based on the passage?
A. He was quick to decide and held to his
decision.
B. He was slow and methodical, but committed.
C. He ignored input from the greatest minds of
the day when deciding.
D. He rushed to judgment before considering
the consequences.

3. What may we infer about the author as it

relates to the assessment of Washington’s
mind?
A. He knew enough of the top minds of his
day and could relate them to Washington.
B. He was informed from sufficient sources
as to make a relative comparison to those
with first order minds.
C. He believed he had the ability to properly
assess the abilities of Washington’s mind
and could appropriately compare it to those
he could recognize as having a mind of the
very first order.
D. A mind of the very first order was indeed a
rarity and that only he and a very few others,
certainly not Washington, possessed such
a mind.