Writing Prompts
What is the prompt asking you to do?
There is much discussion about the use of pesticides and their impact on the bee population.
Think about the ideas of BOTH passages. Then write an explanatory essay in your own words explaining why people have conflicting opinions about the use of pesticides.
Be sure to use information from BOTH passages in your explanatory essay.
Write an explanatory essay explaining why people have conflicting opinions about the use of pesticides using ideas from both passages.
The sentence below contains a spelling error.
I did not mock the candidate's reason for his absense because he seemed so honorable.
Which word is NOT spelled correctly?
A. mock
B. candidate's
C. absense
D. honorable
C. absense
Correct spelling is "absence"
What is one benefit of GMOs that BOTH authors acknowledge?
A. that genetic modifications can make crops more affordable
B. that GMO crops can be engineered to survive droughts
C. that genetic modifications can help people overcome allergies
D. that GMO crops have greater nutritional value
The correct answer is choice (B) that GMO crops can be engineered to survive droughts. Both authors mention this as a benefit of GMOs. Choice (A) is mentioned only in the first passage. Choices (C) and (D) show misinterpretations of information from the second passage.
Read the sentence.
I would of answered the phone if I had heard it ringing.
Which revision corrects the error in this sentence?
A. I would have answered the phone if I had heard it ringing.
B. Hearing it ringing, I would of answered the phone.
C. I would of answered the phone if I had been hearing it ringing.
D. If I had heard it ringing, I’d of answered the phone.
The correct answer is choice (A) I would have answered the phone if I had heard it ringing. The words I would have correct the common mistake of using of in place of have within the sentence. Choices (B), (C), and (D) are all incorrect as they contain grammatical errors and do not correct the errors in the sentence.
Which sentence does NOT have an error in pronoun use?
A. Caleb is six years older than I.
B. Our aunt visited Kiana and I yesterday.
C. Who did Amelia share her lunch with today?
D. Did Damian or me score the highest grades in class?
The correct answer is choice (A) Caleb is six years older than I. This sentence has no errors in pronoun use. It requires the subjective pronoun I. Choice (B) is incorrect because it has an error in pronoun use. It needs the objective pronoun me instead of I because the pronoun is the direct object of the verb visited. Choice (C) is incorrect because it has an error in pronoun use. It needs the objective pronoun whom instead of who because the pronoun is the object of the preposition with. Choice (D) is incorrect because it has an error in pronoun use. It needs the subjective pronoun I because it is part of the sentence’s subject.
Constructed-Response
Explain how Maura changes from the beginning to the end of the story. Use details from the story to support your answer.
How would you start your answer?
Maura changes from the beginning to the end of the story by...
(FAT-C, RACE)
The Moon by Emily Dickinson
The moon was but a chin of gold
A night or two ago,
And now she turns her perfect face
Upon the world below.
Her forehead is of amplest blond;
Her cheek like beryl stone;
Her eye unto the summer dew
The likest I have known.
Her lips of amber never part;
But what must be the smile
Upon her friend she could bestow
Were such her silver will!
And what a privilege to be
But the remotest star!
For certainly her way might pass
Beside your twinkling door.
Her bonnet is the firmament,
The universe her shoe,
The stars the trinkets at her belt,
Her dimities of blue.
Which line from the poem BEST expresses the poet’s opinion of the moon?
A. Upon the world below.
B. Her lips of amber never part;
C. And what a privilege to be
D. Her dimities of blue.
C. And what a privilege to be
The word privilege demonstrates that the poet is appreciative of her location and would be even if she were the remotest star hoping to see the moon.
How does the author of “Are GMOs Really Safe?” support an argument about GMOs and pesticides?
A. by stating that GMOs require increasing amounts of pesticides
B. by suggesting that GMOs can process pesticides in a healthy way
C. by claiming that pesticides damage GMO crops more than non-GMO crops
D. by explaining that organic pesticides can be used effectively on GMOs
The correct answer is choice (A) by stating that GMOs require increasing amounts of pesticides. This is correct as the author explains how GMO superbugs become resistant to pesticides, so more pesticides are required. Choices (B), (C), and (D) are misinterpretations of information from the passage.
Read the draft of a letter to the school newspaper.
Dear Editor,
1 I appreciate the article you printed in the March newspaper about school clubs and extracurriculars. 2 It is important to highlight ways students can become more involved in school activities. 3 Not everyone is tuned in to whatever’s going on, right? 4 Your proposal, to host an open house for clubs and extracurriculars, makes a lot of sense. 5 That way, students are not depending on sheer luck or knowing the “right” person to get into a club or activity. 6 Students can see what’s available, talk to others who are involved, and then decide for themselves if they want to join.
Which revision would maintain the formal style of the letter?
A. Change sentence 1 to “I support your March article about clubs and extracurricular activities.”
B. Change sentence 2 to “It is really important to show students ways they can do more things at school.”
C. Change sentence 3 to “Not all students are fully aware of the range of activities they can join.”
D. Change sentence 4 to “Your open house proposal of an open house for clubs is a very good idea.”
The correct answer is choice (C) Change sentence 3 to “Not all students are fully aware of the range of activities they can join.” This sentence would maintain the formal tone present in the rest of the letter. Choice (A) is incorrect because it is less cogent than the original and the original did not need more formal language. Choice (B) is incorrect because it is more vague than the sentence it is replacing and is no more formal. Choice (D) is incorrect because it rephrases the sentence and is repetitive.
What is the BEST way to combine the sentences to make the relationship between the ideas clear?
Eve went to a hockey game tonight. It was her first hockey game. She went with her parents. She was impressed by the speed of the players. She was also impressed by the skill of the players.
A. Along with her parents, Eve went to her first hockey game where the speed of the players and their skill impressed her.
B. The speed and skill of the players impressed Eve when she attended her first hockey game tonight along with her parents.
C. Because she had never seen a hockey game before, Eve was impressed by the speed and skill of the players, and so were her parents.
D. Having never seen a hockey game until tonight with her parents, Eve was impressed by the speed of the players and the skill of the players.
The correct answer is choice (B) The speed and skill of the players impressed Eve when she attended her first hockey game tonight along with her parents. This sentence preserves the meaning of the original sentences and best clarifies the relationship between the ideas. Choice (A) is incorrect because “the speed of the players and their skill” is awkward; “the speed and skill of the players” would be a better combination. Choice (C) is incorrect because it indicates a false cause/effect relationship; we do not know if Eve was impressed because this was her first hockey game. Choice (D) is incorrect because “the speed of the players and the skill of the players” is unnecessarily and awkwardly repetitive.
Extended Constructed-Response
Write a conclusion to the story in which Maura goes home with her mother and expresses what she learned from her day on the farm.
Be sure to include what Maura and her mother say to each other and what Maura plans to do after they talk.
Write a conclusion to the story in which Maura goes home with her mother and expresses what she learned from her day on the farm that includes what Maura and her mother say to each other and what Maura plans to do after they talk.
Constructed-Response
How are the viewpoints of “GMOs Can Feed the World” and “Are GMOs Really Safe?” different?
Use details from BOTH passages to support your answer. Write your answer on the lines on your answer document.
How would you start your answer?
The viewpoints of "GMOs Can Feed the World" and "Are GMOs Really Safe?" are different because...
Based on this sentence from the story, what can the reader conclude about Grandpa?
“Just until I find it,” he said, “and you’re part of my search team.”
A. He is strict.
B. He is sensitive.
C. He is organized.
D. He is determined.
The correct answer is choice (D) He is determined. The context reveals that Grandpa has been looking for the ring for a long time, yet he is still determined to find it. Choices (A) and (B) are incorrect because although other details in the story support these traits, this example does not. Choice (C) is incorrect; the context of the quoted sentence does not support this conclusion about Grandpa.
Which sentence uses the underlined pronoun correctly?
A. Has Max itself looked at the directions to the party?
B. It was clear that the council members herself supported the plan.
C. Have you seen the homework assignment ourselves?
D. It might be fun for the kids to make the cupcakes themselves.
The correct answer is choice (D) It might be fun for the kids to make the cupcakes themselves. Themselves is the intensive pronoun that agrees with the plural kids. Choices (A), (B), and (C) are incorrect because they do not agree in gender, number, or both.
Which sentence could be added to the end of the paragraph and BEST maintain a consistent style?
Like humans, animals need to visit their doctors regularly. Veterinarians provide regular shots that keep pets healthy. Veterinarians also check pets’ teeth, just like dentists do, to make sure they have no dangerous plaque. Veterinarians can even provide grooming services to keep your pets’ nails at a comfortable length.
A. I always take my pet to the vet to make sure it is healthy.
B. If you take your pet to the vet, be ready to have an active, happy pet!
C. With regular visits to the veterinarian, pets can enjoy long and healthy lives.
D. Provided one visits with veterinarians quite regularly, pets will maintain their health.
The correct answer is choice (C) With regular visits to the veterinarian, pets can enjoy long and healthy lives. This moderately formal, but not stiff, style is most consistent with the rest of the paragraph. Choices (A) and (B) are incorrect because they break the style with pronouns that are in the wrong voice and sound too informal (I and you). Choice (D) is incorrect because it is overly formal and stiff due to the use of the indefinite pronoun one instead of a personal pronoun, and it has a dramatic change in tone.
Constructed-Response
Why does the author MOST LIKELY include the section “Health Concerns”?
Use details from the article to support your answer. Write your answer on the lines on your answer document.
How would you start your answer?
The author most likely included the section "Health Concerns" because...
Extended Writing-Response
WRITING TASK
There is currently a discussion about the benefits and risks of consuming foods that have been genetically modified.
Think about BOTH sides of the discussion. Then write an argumentative essay in your own words supporting either side. In your essay, you will argue for or against the use of GMOs.
Be sure to use information from BOTH passages in your argumentative essay.
How would you start your answer?
Provide a hook (question), provide an answer for the hook, and a thesis statement.
What is the MAIN purpose of this paragraph from the story?
I followed Grandpa into the double garage that was his workshop. Tidy shelving, cupboards, and tool benches lined the perimeter. It did not resemble our garage, which was like a huge junk drawer with just enough space carved out for one car.
A. It teaches Maura the importance of being orderly.
B. It identifies Grandpa’s workshop as the main setting of the story.
C. It contrasts the organizational styles of Grandpa and Maura’s parents.
D. It suggests that Maura’s mother inherited her habits from her father.
The correct answer is choice (C) It contrasts the organizational styles of Grandpa and Maura’s parents. Grandpa’s garage is neat and tidy, while Maura’s mother’s garage is messy and disorganized. Choice (A) is incorrect because the mere observation of Grandpa’s garage does not teach Maura a lesson. Choice (B) is incorrect because the characters are not in the garage for the majority of the action, so the garage is not the main setting. Choice (D) is incorrect because Maura’s mother has a messy garage, not an organized one like Grandpa’s.
Read the draft of a student’s letter to the city council.
Dear Council Members,
My friends and I are excited about the new hike and bike trail being built from Old Bridge Park to downtown. However, we noticed on the map for the proposed route that the bike trail will stop on North Ferguson, a couple blocks short of Main Street. We would like to ask you to consider extending the bike trail all the way to Main Street. Main Street has more stores and bus routes, and it is many people’s destination when they go downtown. Having the bike trail extend farther would provide a safe path for people who need to catch a bus or do other activities on Main Street.
Which sentence BEST concludes the letter?
A. I think we all know what is the right thing to do for the citizens of our city.
B. I hope that you will seriously consider this request and reach out to the community for more input.
C. I wonder if you have really imagined how difficult it will be to get to Main Street with no bike trail?
D. I thank you in advance for agreeing to my proposal and extending the bike trail another two blocks
The correct answer is choice (B) I hope that you will seriously consider this request and reach out to the community for more input. This choice finishes the letter in a formal style, and it hits the right note of encouragement. Choice (A) is incorrect because it is both vague and overstates the implied stakes. Choice (C) is incorrect because ending with an indirect question does not suit the purpose of a conclusion. Choice (D) is incorrect because it is presumptuous and unwarranted.
Which sentence needs commas to set off parenthetical information?
A. Jon Molinar who attended our middle school is a professional hockey player.
B. I am the student who works in the office before school and during fifth period.
C. The person who wrote the poem for the yearbook is my friend Miguel Weaver.
D. We need a volunteer who is willing to create posters advertising the spelling bee.
The correct answer is choice (A) Jon Molinar who attended our middle school is a professional hockey player. The phrase “who attended our middle school” is parenthetical and must be set off with commas. Choices (B), (C), and (D) all have phrases that begin with “who,” but these phrases are not parenthetical.
Constructed-Response
Based on the sections “Public Opinion” and “Health Concerns,” what is the author’s point of view about daylight saving time?
Use details from the article that clearly show how the author reveals his or her viewpoint. Write your answer on the lines on your answer document.
How would you start your answer?
Based on the sections "Public Opinion" and "Health Concerns," the author's point of view about daylight saving time is...
Constructed-Response
How does the author illustrate the importance of limiting light when changing one’s internal clock?
Use details from the article to support your answer. Write your answer on the lines on your answer document.
How would you start your answer?
The author illustrated the importance of limiting light when changing one's internal clock by...
Part A
Which statement BEST expresses a theme of the story?
A. Being kind to others is its own reward.
B. Growing up is a challenge for everyone.
C. Spending time with others can ease feelings of loneliness.
D. Working hard when faced with difficulties can lead to success.
Part B
Which sentence from the story BEST supports the answer in Part A?
A. We took the metal detector to the edge of the pasture, and Grandpa held the contraption out in front of him.
B. I took the shovel and dug while Grandpa searched the upturned soil and fished out a penny.
C. In the first few hours, we only managed to find coins, rusty nails, and an old fork.
D. They all looked better than that hair clip had, so maybe there was potential for them after all.
The correct answer is choice (D) Working hard when faced with difficulties can lead to success and choice (D) They all looked better than that hair clip had, so maybe there was potential for them after all. This is a theme that recurs throughout the story as Maura finds renewed enthusiasm for her art projects and understands that the time spent with her grandfather and the metal detector produces treasures, even though she thinks it is more trouble than it is worth initially. The answer choice for Part B of the item shows text that supports this theme. In Part A, choice (A) is incorrect because Maura never behaves in an unkind manner. Choice (B) is incorrect because it is made clear that Maura believes her mother had “... been born good at everything.” Choice (C) is incorrect because there is no indication that Maura is lonely. The incorrect options in Part B support incorrect answer options in Part A.
Taia is conducting research on the 1936 Olympic Games, but her research questions are drawing limited results.
Which research question would provide the MOST information about this topic?
A. Which city hosted the 1936 Olympics?
B. What were some highlights of the 1936 Olympics?
C. Which countries participated in the 1936 Olympics?
D. How many medals were awarded at the 1936 Olympics?
The correct answer is choice (B) What were some highlights of the 1936 Olympics? This inquiry will yield moderately broad results. Choices (A), (C), and (D) are incorrect because these inquiries will yield extremely limited results.
Read the paragraph.
1 In the late 1800’s, when he was travelling by train, the artist Claude Monet saw the town of Giverny, France. 2 He decided to try to live there. 3 He eventually bought a house, and he spent years growing colorful gardens, which inspired his paintings. 4 He also worked on creating a beautiful pond filled with waterlilies. 5 I often painted very large landscapes of what I saw outdoors. 6 Many of Monet’s works are on display in museums around the world.
Which sentence contains an incorrect pronoun?
A. sentence 2
B. sentence 3
C. sentence 4
D. sentence 5
The correct answer is choice (D) sentence 5. This sentence shifts to a first-person pronoun when the rest of the paragraph shows a need for a third-person pronoun. Choices (A), (B), and (C) are all incorrect because they maintain a third-person pronoun.