"THe Test"
... answering the questions, which is illustrated by the simile “like prey surrounded by vultures.” His extreme intelligence makes the solutions “drawn to [him],” although the difficulty of battling the test for “eternity” still exists. In the end, the boy does conqueror the challenge by pinning “[the answers] to [his] paper,” thus leaving the test “defeated.” The puzzling aspect is the last question, “which car do I want?” This student has done exceedingly well on the SSAT and has many options for college. His perfect score allows him to attend almost anywhere, yet he still faces the same dilemma as “the thousands” of others- what school to go to. From the view point of high school students, “The Test” expresses common concerns for exams. Many feel that their scores on placement tests, such as the SSAT, determine the outcome of their lives, and therefore build angst. If they score well then “the keys to the world [are in their] hand,” however choosing too many “Incorrect” answers could “close doors for life.” These tests often spilt students into two main categories, those who know the material, and those who do not. The “knowledgeable ones” race through questions, almost chasing the answers with their minds, like “a mental butterfly chase.” One student in particular feels the pressure of a...