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Unit 3: Realism and Naturalism (1865-1914)

Study guide for CLEP CLEP American Literature — Unit 3: Realism and Naturalism (1865-1914). Practice questions, key concepts, and exam tips.

106

Practice Questions

14

Flashcards

4

Key Topics

Key Concepts to Study

literary realism (Twain, James, Howells)
naturalism (Crane, Dreiser, London)
regionalism and local color
Emily Dickinson's poetry

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 5 questions from this unit. Sign up for full access to all 106.

Q1MEDIUM

What can be inferred about Alice's character based on her reaction to the White Rabbit?

A) She is cautious and prefers to observe from a distance.
B) She is curious and willing to take action to satisfy her curiosity.
C) She is dismissive of unusual events and does not bother to investigate.
D) She is frightened by the White Rabbit and tries to avoid it.
E) She is overly concerned with following rules and tries to stop the White Rabbit
Show Answer

Answer: B — Alice's decision to follow the White Rabbit and investigate its unusual behavior suggests that she is curious and willing to take action.

Q2MEDIUM

The author suggests that our understanding of the physical world is based on

A) direct and unmediated experience of objects
B) inferences drawn from sensory data
C) emotions and personal biases
D) societal and cultural norms
E) random chance and probability
Show Answer

Answer: B — The author argues that the 'real table' is not immediately known to us, but must be inferred from sense-data.

Q3MEDIUM

Which novel is set on a whaling ship and features the obsessive hunt for a white whale?

A) The Old Man and the Sea
B) Moby-Dick
C) The Sea-Wolf
D) White-Jacket
E) Typee
Show Answer

Answer: B — Moby-Dick is correct because Moby-Dick is about the hunt for a white whale.

Q4MEDIUM

What can be inferred about the narrator's relationship with his sister, Mrs. Joe Gargery, based on the passage?

A) The narrator feels affection and respect for his sister.
B) The narrator is indifferent to his sister's actions and behavior.
C) The narrator feels intimidated and possibly fears his sister.
D) The narrator is unaware of his sister's treatment of him and others.
E) The narrator feels grateful for his sister's strict guidance and discipline.
Show Answer

Answer: C — The narrator mentions his sister's 'hard and heavy hand' and her habit of laying it upon her husband and him, suggesting a fearful or intimidated relationship.

Q5MEDIUM

Wrote Sister Carrie, a novel about urban life

A) Frank Norris
B) Theodore Dreiser
C) Stephen Crane
D) William Dean Howells
E) Henry James
Show Answer

Answer: B — Theodore Dreiser is correct because Dreiser wrote Sister Carrie, while Norris wrote McTeague, a novel about the decline of the American Dream.

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Study Tips for Unit 3: Realism and Naturalism (1865-1914)

  • Focus on understanding concepts, not memorizing facts — CLEP tests application
  • Practice with timed questions to build exam-day speed
  • Review explanations for wrong answers — they reveal common misconceptions
  • Use flashcards for key terms, practice questions for deeper understanding

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