BEGIN WRITING YOUR ESSAY IN SECTION 1 OF THE ANSWER SHEET.. Questions 9-10 are based on the following passage.. Questions 11-12 are based on the following passage.. In line 7, the word “
Trang 1Practice Test 2
Trang 21 A 1 A 1
ESSAY Time — 25 minutes
Turn to Section 1 of your answer sheet to write your ESSAY
“he essay gives you an opportunity to show how effectively you can develop and express ideas You should, therefore, take
are to.develop your point of view, present your ideas logically and clearly, and use language precisely
cour essay must be written on the lines provided on your answer sheet—you will receive no other paper on which to write
fou will have enough space if you write on every line, avoid wide margins, and keep your handwriting to a reasonable size
Xemember that people who are not familiar with your handwriting will read what you write Try to write or print so that what
‘ou are Writing is legible to those readers
tou have twenty-five minutes to write an essay on the topic assigned below DO NOT WRITE ON ANOTHER TOPIC
\N OFF-TOPIC ESSAY WILL RECEIVE A SCORE OF ZERO
(hink carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below
Author Betty Friedan wrote in The Feminine Mystique, “The only way for a woman, as for
a man, to know herself as a person, is by a creative work of her own.” Others feel that seif-
understanding comes from without: Harvard psychologist Ellen J Langer states, “In the
perspective of every person lies a lens through which we may better understand ourselves.”
Carl Jung, founder of analytical psychology, is more specific about the role of others in our
self-awareness when he states that “Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an
Assignment: In your opinion, what must we do in order to truly understand ourselves? Plan and write an essay
in which you develop your point of views on this issue Support your position with reasoning and
examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations
)0 NOT WRITE YOUR ESSAY IN YOUR TEST BOOK You will receive credit only for what you write on your answer
heet
BEGIN WRITING YOUR ESSAY IN SECTION 1 OF THE ANSWER SHEET
If you finish before time is called, you may check your work on this section only |
Do not turn to any other section in the test
PRACTICE TEST 2 @ 115
Trang 3Directions: For this section, solve each problem and decide which is the best of the choices given Fill in the corresponding
circle on the answer sheet You may use any available space for scratchwork
r
1 The use of a calculator is permitted
2 All numbers used are real numbers
3 Figures that accompany problems in this test are intended to provide information useful in solving the problems They are drawn as accurately as possible EXCEPT when it is stated in a specific problem that the figure is not drawn to scale All figures lie in a plane unless otherwise indicated
4, Unless otherwise specified, the domain of any function fis assumed to be the set of all real numbers x for which F(x) is a real number
number of degrees of arc in a circle is 360
sum of the measures in degrees of the angles of a triangle is 180
Trang 4If r and / are positive integers and r + 12 = h?,
which of the following could be the value of r ?
(A) 6¥2 (B) 12 (C) 6+6V2
Trang 5In the figure above, C is the center of the circle and
lies on AB What is the area of the circle?
118 @ 11 PRACTICE TESTS FOR THE NEW SAT & PSAT
10 If ris the remainder when 80 is divided by 9 and n
is the remainder when r is divided by 3, what is the value of rn ?
(A) 0
(B) 2 (C) 6
(A) 12xn
(B) „2D
(C) 12?
(D) 4°+Ð~—n (E) 4'+8
12 The average (arithmetic mean) of three consecutive even integers a, b, and c is 8 What is the median of the set {a, b, c, 20}?
(A) 8 (B) 9
(C) 10 (D) 11 (E) 12
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE-
Trang 6
13 The table above shows the results of a survey of 300
people at an amusement park Each person chose
exactly one ride as his or her favorite If 10 people
were undecided, and x and y are both positive inte-
gers, what is the greatest possible value of y ?
Note: Figure not drawn to scale
The figure above is composed of two semi-circles and one triangle What is the perimeter of the figure?
(A) 67+ 10
(B) 7m+7 (C) 7x +10 (D) 14n+7 (E) 147+ 10
4 Inacertain flower shop, only 3 vases of flowers
and | wreath can be displayed in the front window
at one time If there are 10 vases of flowers and
4 wreaths to choose from, how many different
arrangements of vases and wreaths are possible?
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
PRACTICE TEST 2 @ 119
Trang 7
17 If(¢+1)?=—b, where b and c are both real
numbers, which of the following statements could
Regional Headquarters Profits Per Quarter
(in thousands of dollars)
ma East
[==] West [EE North
18 From second to third quarter, the total profits for
East Regional Headquarters increased by what
(A) 6
(B) 7
(C) 9
(D) 10 (E) 12
20 The points A, B, C, D, and E lie along the number line above Which of the following could represen the result when the coordinate of point A is multi- plied by the square of the coordinate of point B ?
(A) A (B) B (C) Cc (D) D (E) E
STOP
If you finish before time is called, you may check your work on this section only
Do not turn to any other section in the test
120 @ 11 PRACTICE TESTS FOR THE NEW SAT & PSAT
Trang 8Each sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank
indicating that something has been omitted Beneath
the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled A
through E Choose the word or set of words that, when
inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the
sentence as a whole
Example:
Hoping to - the dispute, negotiators proposed
a compromise that they felt would be - to both
labor and management
(A) enforce useful
1 In Eastfield, the conductor of the town’s orchestra
is a very - citizen, even more renowned than the mayor or the police chief
(A) dictatorial (D) rebellious (B) prominent (E) duplicitous (C) fastidious
2 Some experts - that driving while talking on
a cell phone is dangerous and - because it prevents drivers from devoting their full attention
to the road
(A) rescind foolhardy (B) deny perilous (C) contend harmless (D) contest inconvenient (E) assert distracting
3 The hallmark of a great - is his ability to -
listeners by telling a vivid story using only words
(A) pragmatist subjugate (B) raconteur entrance
(C) sage excoriate
(D) prodigy opine (E) dullard obfuscate
122 ® 11 PRACTICE TESTS FOR THE NEW SAT & PSAT
It is not uncommon for members of the clergy to conclude a public speaking engagement with
(A) atantrum (B) an imprecation (C) abenediction (D) a precaution (E) a fable
The - climate made everyone - , even the most energetic who were not normally affected by heat and humidity
(A) melancholy dejected (B) tropical affable (C) temperate facile (D) oppressive torpid (E) ominous cogent
In the 1860’s, author Leo Tolstoy was - with his family in the Tula region of Russia; while com fortably established there, he wrote War and Peac (A) ensconced
(C) avowed (B) circumscribed
(D) coerced (E) castigated Frequently capricious and - when she went shopping, Charo was occasionally frugal and coul not be considered wholly -
(A) unequivocal excessive (B) reticent querulous (C) quirky bellicose (D) beguiling idiosyncratic (E) impulsive profligate
~e==mr even when offstage, the famous comic, known as much for his quips as his glamorous life style, ironically told the interviewer he lived a ver
— life
(A) Facetious mundane (B) Greedy pompous (C) Asinine whimsical (D) Arrogant commonplace (E) Humorous sonorous
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
Trang 93.3 3 3 3 3 3 3
4
3
The passages below are followed by questions based on their content; questions following a pair of related passages may also
be based on the relationship between the paired passages Answer the questions on the basis of what is stated or implied in the
passages and in any introductory material that may be provided
Questions 9-10 are based on the following passage Questions 11-12 are based on the following passage
Although many people associate slavery with the plight of African Americans in eighteenth- and the home.” It is no wonder, then, that many modern art nineteenth-century America, many different races and
museums adopt an angular, bare, or industrial design Line ethnicities have been enslaved throughout history The
They are not attempting to create a neutral space for the 5 Slavs, an Eastern European people, were the predominant
ut; they provide the distinctively un-cozy, anti-domestic historical victims The exploitation of the Slavs in ancient
space modern art requires These spaces allow the Rome was justified by religious doctrines of the time,
utists to discuss aesthetic ideas, but, more important, which held that it was acceptable to subjugate foreigners
hey create a proper setting for subversive, socially Thus, over time, the name “Slav” began to be used to
leconstructing art 10 mean “foreigner.” Gradually, the terms “foreigner” and
“slave” became interchangeable, with both words arising from the unfortunate situation of the Slavs
Art critic Walter Benjamin defined Modernism as
“a movement that constructed itself in opposition to
9, The author would most likely agree with which of
the following statements about Modern art?
The author most likely mentions the plight of African Americans in order to
(A) It usually mocks the design elements of most il
homes
(B) It can have both artistic and social value
(C) It gives meaning to the otherwise bare and
industrial space in which it is displayed
(D) It is usually concerned more with shapes
(A) establish a contrast between a commonly held view and a broader historical perspective indicate that the plight of African Americans was similar to that of the Slavs
(B)
and design elements than with social (C) show how the institution of slavery has
(E) It is most subversive when hung in a home (D) demonstrate a connection between the
practices of eighteenth-century America and
10 In line 7, the word “requires” implies that those of Eastern Europe
(A) certain types of galleries inspire artists to (E) evoke a historical precedent for the treatment
art must never be displayed in the home
certain types of galleries complement the 12,
attitude of most Modern art
art must be displayed in a certain type of
gallery in order to be called Modern
Modern artists will only display work in a
certain type of gallery
(B)
(C) In the context of the passage as a whole, the last
sentence serves to
(B) summarize the information relayed earlier in the passage
(C) provide information that calls into question the author’s main thesis
(D) relate the etymology of a particular term to the historical events that produced it
(E) equate the origins of a certain word with the origins of another, unrelated word
Trang 1021
22
3 3 3 3 3
Which of the following best describes the differ- 23
ence between the discussions of Keats in the two
passages?
(A) Passage 1 describes philosophical aspects of
his poetry, whereas Passage 2 gives a brief
sketch of his life
(B) Passage 1 claims that his poetry was
underrated, whereas Passage 2 states that he
had a difficult and tragic life
(C) Passage | asserts that he was ideologically 24,
uncertain, whereas Passage 2 describes him
as the most important Romantic poet
(D) Passage | describes him as both Romantic and
Rationalist, whereas Passage 2 claims that
he was more a doctor than a poet
(E) Passage 1 details the politics of his poetry,
whereas Passage 2 provides an overview of
critical response to his work
Both passages indicate that Keats
(A) thought that the imperfections of humanity
could be easily transcended
(B) was an anomaly among Romantic poets for
his use of religious imagery
(C) underwent great physical and emotional
suffering near the end of his life
(D) considered an understanding of the physical
world important to his poetry
(E) was comparable to Shakespeare in his ability
to invent realistic characters
STOP
Which of the following phrases best captures a meaning for the word “romantic” with which both
of the authors would be most likely to agree?
(A) “true genius” (line 6) (B) “rational nature” (line 8) (C) “creatively neutral” (line 32) (D) “ideal beauty” (line 25) (E) “morbid fascination” (ine 78) Which of the following questions is NOT explicitly answered by either passage?
(A) What was the cause of Keats’s death?
(B) Why did Keats see idealism as self- contradictory?
(C) How was Keats’s early poetry received?
(D) Where was Keats born?
(E) Who was Keats’s literary hero?
If you finish before time is called, you may check your work on this section only
Do not turn to any other section in the test
126 @ 11 PRACTICE TESTS FOR THE NEW SAT & PSAT
Trang 11Directions: This section contains two types of questions You have 25 minutes to complete both types For questions 1-8, solve each problem and decide which is the best of the choices given Fill in the corresponding circle on the answer sheet |
You may use any available space for scratchwork
( 1 The use of a calculator is permitted
2 All numbers used are real numbers
3 Figures that accompany problems in this test are intended to provide information useful in solving the problems They are drawn as accurately as possible EXCEPT when it is stated in a specific problem that the figure is not drawn to scale All figures lie in a plane unless otherwise indicated
= A=lbh V=lwh V=enrh c?= a?+ b? 3
1 If x? +y++/9 =16— y+c, what is the value of 2 What is the slope of the line given by 2y = 6x + 8?
Trang 12PAYROLL FOR WEEK ENDING JUNE 7 6 What is the value of g when 3d — 2g = 17 and
Employee Hours Hourly Pay 2q + 2d=—32?
Alyssa 12 $12.00 (A) 9
Ben 10 $11.75 (B) 6
Damon 12 $9.75 (BE) -13
3 How much more money did Chaula earn than
Alyssa for the week ending June 7 ?
@) $ 7 Wfis a positive integer, fg > 0, and 6f+ 2g = 25,
then what is the sum of all possible values of g ?
(A) 1 (B) 10 (C) 20
(D) 40
(E) 60
4 Ifw, x, y, and z are consecutive positive integer
multiples of 6 such that z>y>x>w, then x + zis
how much greater than w + y?
5 A,B, C, D, and E are all distinct points that lie in
the same plane If AB || CD and AC || BD , then
which of the following is a set of points all of
which could lie on the same line?
(A) {A, B,C, BE}
Trang 13BOoOoRBOAOaAAGBE
Note: Figure not drawn to scale
8 Inthe figure above, SU is tangent to the circle with
center R at point T If ST has a length of 40 and the
area of the circle is 817, what is the length of SR ?
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
130 @ 11 PRACTICE TESTS FOR THE NEW SAT & PSAT
Trang 14page on which you have answered questions 1-8
Each of the remaining 10 questions requires you to solve the problem and enter your answer by marking the
circles in the special grid, as shown in the examples below You may use any available space for scratchwork
Answer: 12 Answer: 2.5 Either position is correct
result = SA co x Cà co s @ Note: You may start your answers
in any column, space permitting
‘D DIDICD DD QDI Columns not needed should be left
blank
* Mark no more than one circle in any column * Decimal Answers: If you obtain a decimal answer
* Because the answer sheet will be machine- with more digits than the grid can accommodate,
scored, you will receive credit only if the circles it may be either rounded or truncated, but Mt must
are filled in correctly fill the entire grid For example, if you obtain
* Although not required, it is suggested that you an answer such as 0.6666 , you should record
your result as 666 or 667 A less accurate value
write your answer in the boxes at the top of the
such as 66 or 67 will be scored as incorrect
columns to help you fill in the circles accurately
* Some problems may have more than one correct Acceptable ways to grid 2 are:
answer In such cases, grid only one answer 3
* No question has a negative answer 2l/!15!'.l6@'6@l6@' lelel7
¢ Mixed numbers such as 33 must be gridded as O ee = Ce Se ‘& ¬© s2 oe eo
9, If (27), = 28 what is the value of x? 10 The product of two positive numbers is 24 and their
difference is 5 What is the sum of the-two numbers?
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
PRACTICE TEST 2 @ 131
Trang 1513 If2<x<3 and—2<y<-1 andifa=0.2x and
b =—4y, what is one possible value of a+ b?
12 The fare for a taxi ride is $3 plus 30 cents per mile
If the fare for a trip to Norwalk is $8.10, how far, in
miles, is the trip?
132 @ 11 PRACTICE TESTS FOR THE NEW SAT & PSAT
14 A bag of dry concrete covers an area of 9 square feet If only whole bags of dry concrete can be pur- chased, how many bags must be purchased to pave
a sidewalk that is 3.5 feet wide and 225 feet long?
15 The members of set O are the integer solutions of
the inequality 3x — 4 < 11, and the members of set
P are the integer solutions of the inequality
—4x + 5 <—7 What is one member of the intersection of O and P ?
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
Trang 16ji HH
6 Ifthe length of a rectangle is one-third the perim- 18 The average (arithmetic mean) of 6 distinct num-
eter of the rectangle, then the width of the rectangle bers is 71 One of these numbers is —24, and the rest
is what fraction of the perimeter? of the numbers are positive If all of the numbers
are even integers with at least two digits, what is the greatest possible value of any of the 6 numbers?
7 If tis a positive integer, and 18r is the cube of an
integer, then what is the least possible value of f ?
STOP
If you finish before time is called, you may check your work on this section only
Do not turn to any other section in the test
PRACTICE TEST 2 @ 133
Trang 17) ¬ Ð CC © = ©)
SECTION 5 Time — 25 minutes
24 Questions
Turn to Section 5 of your answer sheet to answer the questions in this section
Directions: For each question in this section, select the best answer from among the choices given and fill in the correspond-
inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the (C) biography (D) didacticism
construction of the convention center with its
Hoping to - the dispute, negotiators proposed decision to repeal the formerly harsh zoning laws
that blocked the center’s development
(A) banned (B) admonished (C) shirked
(B) end divisive
(C) overcome unattractive
(D) extend satisfactory
(E) resolve acceptable ADODS
a compromise that they felt would be - to both
labor and management
1 Recent research in linguistics suggests that some
language skills are not - skills, but are passed
down through our genetic code
(A) communicative (B) fluent (C) acquired
(D) hereditary (&) challenging
2 Zoos were originally - only by extreme
animal-rights activists, but lately mainstream media
sources have voiced - about the animals’
(E) emphasized fluctuations
~ 3 The senator has a - personality: His confi-
dence and demeanor impress at first glance
(A) prepossessing (B) varied
Trang 18Boo 5 = 5 cS 5 ¬ 5
The passages below are followed by questions based on their content; questions following a pair of related passages may also’
be based on the relationship between the paired passages Answer the questions on the basis of what is stated or implied in the
passages and in any introductory material that may be provided
Juestions 6-9 are based on the following passages 7
-assage 1
The human genome consists of some twenty-three
airs of chromosomes Twenty-two of these pairs come
nsome rough semblance of order, more or less lined up
rom smallest to largest The final pair determines the
ex of the individual: Women get two X chromosomes,
vhile men get one X and one smaller Y chromosome
tach chromosome consists of numerous genes but,
nterestingly, genes with similar functions don’t 8
ecessarily cluster together And while some might
uppose that hunians would have the most chromosomes,
here are many species that have more
assage 2
James Watson and Francis Crick are often credited
vith the discovery of the structure of DNA, the acid that
tic information in chromosomes This is only
j _ as their research relied heavily on the work
fRosalind Franklin, a chemist who used a technique
lied X-ray crystallography to discover DNA’s structure
Vatson avd Crick used Frankiin’s research without her
nowledge to prove their description of DNA Watson
nd Crick were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1962; Franklin
il never receive such recognition, as she died in 1958
6 The primary purpose of Passage 1 is to
(A) explore the functions of different genes and
(D) provide a basis for comparison between
humans and other species
(E) give a brief overview of the human genome
a,
It can be inferred from the second passage that (A) the Nobel Prize is not awarded to deceased candidates
(B) Franklin resented Watson and Crick (C) Watson and Crick never did their own research (D) Watson and Crick did not know how to use
Trang 19
Questions 10-18 are based on the following passage
The following excerpt focuses on the first meeting between
two families for tea, This excerpt was taken from a late
nineteenth-century American novel discussing class dis-
tinctions during that time period
Esther Fletcher grew accustomed to her new economic
position and got on quite well with the other women of
similar social standing in the town, meeting for lunch or
| Line tea when there was little to be done around the house
5 Even though the Fletcher family had lost its estate and
servants when the business collapsed, Esther was happy
in this provincial role and not often bothered by the
domestic disturbances of her simpler life It'all seerned
so trivial compared to the heartache she had already
10 endured
Her daughter Mary would often join her at these
social gatherings and therefore was also well known in
the community Mary had adjusted quite beautifully, as it
was in this new location that she was able to develop the
15 cutting-edge sharpness she was once known for and shape
it into a savvy gracefulness envied by all the other young
ladies Mary’s acquaintance was in fact desired by many
in this new town’s social circle She had, on occasion,
been called upon by members of the upper echelons
20 of society that had heard of her, this wise and graceful
beauty, daughter of the great falien Silas Fletcher So,
though it stunned Mary a little (who had yet to develop
the egotism that often accompanied such attention), it was
no surprise to her mother when they received an invitation
25 to tea at the Morrison estate with Isabel Morrison, sister
of the well-known Henry Morrison
Esther and Mary no longer fussed over society as
they once did because they could rest in the knowledge
that everyone knew of their tragic financial downfall
30 and there was no need to pretend otherwise With only
modest preparations made, the day soon came, and Esther
_ and Mary maintained their mild excitement as they
stepped into the carriage It was a pleasant but brisk fall
afternoon, the wind blowing the leaves off the trees and
35 giving Esther only minor difficulties as she gathered her
clothing into the carriage Mary had no such trouble, as it
seemed her heightened sense of grace and elegance had
translated to her physical being as well
“Mother, I do hope that Isabel Morrison is as pleasant
40 as her brother made her out to be at the train station.”
“T’m sure she will be I have heard only good things
about the Morrison family, and Isabel especially is ~~
known for having a kind and gentle heart But Mary,
dear, are you sure it is Isabel whose acquaintance you are
“Why, Mother, you know me better than that, to tl
I would get my hopes up over a silly little thing like tl [have no intentions beyond those of tea and a sociabl time.”
Sure enough, as if to spite her efforts of denial, the was Henry Morrison standing on the porch He stood flanked by stately columns and two servants, speakin;
to them with his back turned to the drive The servant then quickly entered the house and Henry turned.arou gracefully to greet his guests with a genuine, spontan smile, as if their coming was a pleasant surprise
“Good afternoon, ladies I had just come home my from the office and figured I could stand-a moment or two in this lovely fall afternoon waiting your arrival.” gestured to the amber trees around him
“Good afternoon, Mister Morrison Mary and I, tc have been enjoying this lovely weather It was so nice your sister to invite us here for tea.”
“Indeed Won’t you come in? Isabel is waiting in tl parlor.”
“With pleasure.”
Henry escorted them through the airy entryway to the parlor silently, not knowing exactly what to say Tl parlor was filled with afternoon sun and vibrant colors and in the center stood Isabel Morrison, pleasant as th setting that surrounded her
“Isabel, Mary and Esther are here to make your acquaintance Mary, Esther, this is my sister Isabel.” Isabel curtsied politely It was obvious she was Henry’ sister Impeccably dressed with a clean, fresh, youthfu look about her face, one could not discern which was the older of the two, though in fatt Isabel was several years older than her brother Her satiny brunette hair a creamy skin made her beautiful in the uncommon way unlike Mary’s classically beautiful light features Esth took an instant liking to her
10 The overall tone of this passage is best describe (A) frankly cautionary
(B) noticeably annoyed (C) silently morose (D) gently optimistic (E) subtly mocking
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
⁄
Trang 20
(A) a well-to-do background with an established
income from business
(B) a haughty clan with endless funds
(C) arural area with meager wealth
(D) a European estate with guaranteed income
(E) an urban center with sufficient means
The author employs the phrase “no longer fussed
over society” (line 27) to imply they had previously 17
(A) put on airs to fit into a high society setting
(B) passed judgment on those of other social |
classes
(C) concerned themselves with impressing and
pleasing others
(D) pretended to be members of the upper class
(EZ) dressed extravagantly so as to be considered
Which of the following is implied by the narrator
in lines 50-56 (“Sure enough ”)?
(A) Henry is a dashing, amicable, and hospitable
young man
(B) Mary does have hopes regarding Henry
beyond afternoon tea
(C) Servants were never permitted to greet visitors
in the eighteenth century
(D) Columns were a necessary component of
architecture in the eighteenth century
(E) Esther and Mary were in denial at their good
fortune of having been invited to tea
The author uses the imagery of Henry standing
“flanked by stately columns and two servants”
(line 52) to evoke
(A) the social status of the Morrisons
(B) the rigidity of Henry Morrison’s persona
(C) the strength provided by numbers
‘(D) the intimidation felt by the Fletchers
(E) the stateliness of the Morrisons’ house
The author attributes all of the following conclu- sions to Isabel’s appearance EXCEPT
(A) Esther felt amicably toward Isabel (B) Henry and Isabel could appear to be the same age
(C) Mary is more beautiful than Isabel (D) Isabel was in harmony with the ambiance of the parlor
(E) Isabel had fine taste in clothing According to the passage, Mary Fletcher and Henry Morrison met for the first time
(A) in the parlor at the Morrison’s abode (B) at the local train station , (C) on the porch flanked by columns and servants, (D) during the carriage ride to the Morrisons’
house (E) at his office in town The passage is primarily concerned with (A) the etiquette of the eighteenth century (B) the ensuing romance between two people from different social classes
(C) the lesson that one can never be too careful in matters of financial security
(D) the resilience of the human spirit to rise after a fall and adapt to new surroundings
(E) the workings of social networks and importance of befriending the upper class
Trang 21Questions 19-24 are based on the following passage
The following is an excerpt from the diary of Thomas
Wentworth Higginson (1823-1911) the commanding
officer of the First South Carolina Volunteers, the first
slave regiment mustered into the service of the United
States during the Civil War
Had an invitation reached me to take command of a
regiment of Kalmuck Tartars', it could hardly have been
more unexpected I had aiways looked for the arming of
the blacks, and had always felt a wish io be associated
with them, had read the scanty accounts of General
Hunter’s abortive regiment, and had heard rumors of
‘General Saxton’s renewed efforts But the prevalent
tone of public sentiment was still opposed to'any such
attempts; the government kept very shy of the experiment,
and it did not seem possible that the time had come when
it could be fairly tried
I therefore obtained from the War Department,
through Governor Andrew, permission to go and report to
General Saxton, without at once resigning my captaincy
Fortunately it took but a few days in South Carolina to
make it clear that all was right, and the return steamer
took back a resignation of a Massachusetts commission
Thenceforth my lot was cast altogether with the black
troops, except when regiments or detachments of white
soldiers were also under my command, during the two
years following
These details would not be worth mentioning except
as they show this fact: that I did not seek the command
of colored troops, but it sought me And this fact again
is only important to my story for this reason, that under
these circumstances I naturally viewed the new recruits
rather as subjects for discipline than for philanthropy
I had been expecting a war for six years, ever since the
Kansas troubles, and my mind had dwelt on military
matters more or less during all that time Fortunately,
I felt perfect confidence that they couid be so trained,
having happily known, by experience, the qualities
of their race, and knowing also that they had home
and household and freedom to fight for, besides that
abstraction of “the Union.” Trouble might perhaps be
expected from white officials, though this turned out far
less than might have been feared; but there was no trouble
to come from the men, I thought, and none ever came
On the other hand, it was a vast experiment of indirect
philanthropy, and one on which the result of the war and
the destiny of the negro race might rest; and this was
enough to tax all one’s powers I had been an abolitionist
too long, and had known and loved John Brown too well,
not to feel a thrill of joy at last on finding myself in the
position where he only wished to be
138 @ 11 PRACTICE TESTS FOR THE NEW SAT & PSAT
Of discipline there was great need, that is, of order and regular instruction Some of the men had already been under fire, but they were very ignorant of drill and camp duty The officers, being appointed from a dozen different States, and more than as many regiments, infantry, cavalry, artillery, and engineers, had all that diversity of methods which so confused our army in those early days The first need, therefore, was of an unbroken interval of training During this period, which fortunately lasted nearly two months, [ rarely left the camp, and got J occasional leisure moments for a fragmentary journal, to send home, recording the many odd or novel aspects of the new experience Camp-life was a wonderfully strange
sensation to almost all volunteer officers, and mine lay
among eight hundred men suddenly transformed from slaves into soldiers, and representing a race affectionate, enthusiastic, grotesque, and dramatic beyond all others Being such, they naturally gave material for description There is nothing like a diary for freshness, at least so I think, and I shall keep to the diary through the days of camp-life, and throw the later experience into another form Indeed, that matter takes care of itself; diaries and letter-writing stop when field-service begins
I am under pretty heavy bonds to tell the truth, and only the truth; for those who look back to the newspaper correspondence of that period will see that this particular regiment lived for months in a glare of publicity, such
as tests any regiment severely, and certainly prevents all subsequent romancing in its historian As the scene of the only effort on the Atlantic coast to arm the negro, our camp attracted a.continuous stream of visitors, military and civil A battalion of black soldiers, a spectacle since
so common, seemed then the most daring of innovations, and the whole demeanor of this particular regiment was watched with microscopic scrutiny by friends and foes
I felt sometimes as if we were a plant trying to take root, but constantly pulled up to see if we were growing The slightest camp incidents sometimes came back to us, magnified and distorted, in letters of anxious inquiry from remote parts of the Union It was no pleasant thing
to live under such constant surveillance; but it guaranteed the honesty of any success, while fearfully multiplying the penalties had there been a failure A single mutiny, such as has happened in the infancy of a hundred regiments, a single miniature Bull Run, a stampede of desertions, and it would have been all over with us; the party of distrust would have got the upper hand, and there might not have been, during the whole contest, another effort to arm the negro
'A nomadic people from Central Asia
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE