ACT
Practice Test 43

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HUMANITIES: J.R.R. Tolkien and Me

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, better known as J.R.R. Tolkien, was many things in his long life, including philologist, writer, and university professor. Of course, today, most people remember him as the

Line 5 author of The Lord of the Rings—a monumental work that became an epic film. A friend introduced me to Tolkien’s writings when I was 10 years old. Aileen gave me a copy of The Hobbit, and told me her father was reading The Lord

10 of the Rings to her and her brother at the dinner table every night after the family had finished eating. I read The Hobbit and was hooked. By the time I was 14, I had read every piece of fiction Tolkien had published. The more I read, the more fascinated I became

15 with not only the world Tolkien had created, but with the man himself. I began to dream of meeting Tolkien. I imagined someday traveling to Oxford University, where he had been a professor of English Language and Literature, and somehow finding the words to tell

20 him how meaningful his writings had been for me. But, growing up in the Midwest, the possibility of traveling to England seemed very remote. Then I discovered that Tolkien had died years before I’d even started reading The Hobbit. I forgot about my dream

25 and got down to the business of school and sports and college applications. I started college as a chemistry major, but by my sophomore year, I was major-less. Somehow, by my junior year, I was accepted into the Honors 30 English program. This introduced me to the Medieval and Renaissance Collegium (MARC). The director of MARC thought I would be a perfect fit for a new diploma program he was developing—an interim program between undergraduate and graduate work.

35 I applied, was accepted, and found myself faced with my old dream: I was headed to England—to Oxford University, the home of my favorite author! Oxford isn’t set up like most American universities. It’s not a single uniform entity. Instead, it’s a

40 collection of 39 independent colleges, each with its own internal structure and activities, with an overlying administration that conducts examinations and confers degrees. Tolkien, for example, had been a professor at

45 Merton College. His close friend, C.S. Lewis, taught at Magdalen College (pronounced: Mawdlin). Most students identify with their college, not with the university. This means that pretty much anyone there wearing an Oxford University sweatshirt is a tourist.

50 I loved Oxford. I loved the tiny streets and the way the trees hid the modern shop fronts, showing only the medieval towers from the rolling hills of a nearby park. Even more, I loved the sense of living history—the way the children would play carelessly under towering

55 trees among centuries-old tombstones in the back-yards of churches, or the stories our housekeeper would tell of Lawrence of Arabia’s ghost who, apparently, lived in our own quarters. When inexplicable drafts would sweep through my room, our housekeeper swore it was

60 Lawrence. I loved walking every Tuesday on my way to my folklore tutorial, past the pub—The Eagle and the Child—where Tolkien met with his best friends to discuss their ideas for writing. The sign on the pub allegedly was the inspiration for Bilbo’s flight with the

65 Giant Eagles. Best of all, I had a professor who had actually known J.R.R. Tolkien himself. Sr. Benedicta was a very smart but very kindly, elderly nun. She was no slouch as an academic and had published several highly regarded books in her

70 field. As a colleague, she had spent time with Tolkien when she was newly hired at St. Stephen’s College. One day, when she had asked me how I liked studying at Oxford, I decided to tell her about my dream. I told her how, when I was a child, I had wanted so badly

75 to meet Tolkien. I had vividly imagined traveling to Oxford, finding his little cottage, passing through the picket fence, past the rose bushes, to finally knock at the great man’s door. I had even imagined him opening it and looking at me. I just could never, ever, think of

80 anything to say that didn’t make me feel like a complete idiot. Sr. Benedicta smiled indulgently at me for a moment, and then said, “He would have encouraged that feeling.” Apparently, most people have this

85 impression of Tolkien as a gentle, grandfatherly sort of man, but, unless you were his grandchild, that wasn’t actually the case. In person, he was frequently severe and not terribly friendly. I suppose it probably made him a better professor. In the end, I was very glad

90 I finally made my pilgrimage to Oxford, but considered it for the best that I never had a chance to thank J.R.R. Tolkien in person.

The point of view from which this passage is narrated is best described as:

  • Solution

    The best answer is A. This passage is written by someone reflecting on her past. Specifically, the author reflects on both her childhood and her college years. According to this information, answer choices B and C can be eliminated. The author mentions Sr. Benedicta, but the author is not Sr. Benedicta. Therefore, answer choice D can be eliminated, making answer choice A best.

Which of the following best summarizes the emotional shift that is presented by the narrator in the passage?

  • Solution

    The best answer is F. Initially, the author discusses her childhood yearning to meet J.R.R. Tolkien. Paragraph 3 details this longing. However, after studying at Oxford as a young adult and experiencing Tolkien’s life second-hand, the author realizes that she does not have to meet him to enjoy his writing.

J.R.R. Tolkien is presented by the narrator as being:

  • Solution

    The best answer is D. The author begins the passage detailing one of J.R.R. Tolkien’s greatest works. “Of course, today, most people think of him as the author of The Lord of the Rings— a monumental work that became an epic film.” This statement indicates the author’s acknowledgement of Tolkien’s talent. Later in the passage, when speaking of Tolkien’s personality, the author says, “Apparently, most people have this impression of Tolkien’s as a gentle, grandfatherly sort of man, but, unless you were his grandchild, that wasn’t actually the case. In person, he was frequently severe and not terribly friendly.” This statement describes Tolkien’s intimidating personality. Together, this information best supports answer choice D.

In the seventh paragraph, the narrator’s attitude towards Oxford is best described as:

  • Solution

    The best answer is G. As stated by the author, “I loved Oxford.” Throughout the seventh paragraph of the passage, the author lists several reasons to support this love for the university. The other answer choices are not supported by the tone or details of the passage.

In the fourth paragraph, the narrator’s attitude toward being unable to meet Tolkien can best be characterized as:

  • Solution

    The best answer is D. In the fourth paragraph of the passage, the author says, “But, growing up in the Midwest, the possibility of traveling to England seemed very remote. Then I discovered that Tolkien had died years before I’d even started The Hobbit. I forgot about my dream and got down to the business of school and sports and college applications.” Based on this information, one can infer that the author came to an understanding of her situation.

It can most reasonably be inferred that by telling Sr. Benedicta about her childhood desire to meet J.R.R. Tolkien, the narrator intends to:

  • Solution

    The best answer is H. As stated by the author, “Sr. Benedicta was a very smart but very kindly, elderly nun. She was no slouch as an academic and had published several highly-regarded books in her field. As a colleague, she had spent time with Tolkien when she was newly hired at St. Stephen’s College. One day, when she had asked me how I liked studying at Oxford, I decided to tell her about my dream.” The author’s decision to share this dream was an effort to connect to Tolkien through Benedicta, which best supports answer choice H.

Which of the following best represents the narrator’s initial opinions about J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings?

  • Solution

    The best answer is B. The author begins the passage with the following, “I was introduced to Tolkien’s writings by a friend when I was 10 years old. Aileen gave me a copy of The Hobbit, and told me her father was reading The Lord of the Rings to her and her brother at the dinner table every night after the family had finished eating. I read The Hobbit and was hooked. By the time I was 14, I had read every piece of fiction Tolkien had published.” Based on this information, one can infer that the author very much enjoyed Tolkien’s writings and she continued reading his works. This best supports answer choice B.

When the narrator says, “When inexplicable drafts would sweep through my room, the housekeeper swore it was Lawrence,” she means that:

  • Solution

    The best answer is F. The author says that she loved “the stories our housekeeper would tell of Lawrence of Arabia’s ghost who, apparently, lived in our own quarters. When inexplicable drafts would sweep my room, our housekeeper swore it was Lawrence.” One can infer from this statement that the housekeeper thought Lawrence of Arabia’s ghost haunted their quarters.

As it is used in line 68, the phrase “she was no slouch as an academic” most nearly means:

  • Solution

    The best answer is C. In the passage, the author says that Sr. Benedicta “was no slouch as an academic,” followed by the statement that the professor had “published several highly-regarded books in her field.” Based on this information, one can infer that Sr. Benedicta was an excellent researcher.

As it is used in line 39, the word uniform most nearly means:

  • Solution

    The best answer is J. The passage states, “Oxford isn’t set up like most American universities. It’s not a single uniform entity. Instead, it’s a collection of 39 independent colleges, each with its own internal structure and activities, with an overlying administration that conducts examinations and confers degrees.” As it is used in this statement, the word uniform means consistent.

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