Language & Meaning
Figurative language communicates a meaning that is not completely ______.
literal
Our evidence framework is: ______ → ______ → ______.
CLAIM → EVIDENCE → EXPLANATION
Central idea is the ______ an informational text develops across its details.
main idea or main point
In an argument, a claim is the ______ the author wants the audience to accept.
position or idea
Open form means a poem does NOT follow a fixed pattern. It does NOT mean the poem has no ______.
structure
“By lunch, the rumor had become a wildfire.” Identify the figurative language.
Metaphor
Nico promises himself he will not audition. He sits in the back while names are called. Then he sees his younger sister holding a sign: “TRY ONCE.” Nico folds the audition form, unfolds it, and finally walks toward the stage. What internal conflict is Nico experiencing?
Nico wants to audition or try, but he is afraid or hesitant to do it.
Public libraries increasingly lend more than books. Many provide internet access, technology classes, meeting spaces, and job-search tools. These services can be especially important for people without reliable technology at home. As community needs change, libraries often adapt the resources they provide. What is the central idea?
Libraries adapt by providing a variety of services that meet changing community needs.
Our school should create a quiet indoor lunch space. In a survey of 180 students, 62% said they sometimes want a quieter place during lunch. The library cannot consistently serve this purpose because it is often used for classes and meetings. What is the claim?
The school should create a quiet indoor lunch space.
What is the difference between rhythm and meter?
Rhythm is the overall beat or flow of language. Meter is a regular, repeated pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.
What does wildfire suggest about the rumor beyond its literal meaning?
The rumor spreads rapidly, is difficult to control, and may cause harm.
Cite the strongest evidence for Nico's internal conflict and explain it.
Nico folds and unfolds the audition form. This shows his hesitation and uncertainty about whether to audition.
Identify TWO details from the library mini-text that develop the central idea.
Possible answers include internet access, technology classes, meeting spaces, job-search tools, or services for people without reliable technology at home.
Identify ONE piece of evidence from the argument and explain whether it is relevant.
Example: The survey showing that 62% of students sometimes want a quieter lunch space is relevant because it directly shows student demand for the proposed space.
“The train arrives—
bright windows,
quick voices,
doors opening.
Then:
one whistle
one long pull
and empty tracks.”
Identify TWO structural choices.
Possible answers include short lines, a stanza break, punctuation, changes in line length, or parallel phrases.
Why does describing a city as restless create a different tone than calling it busy?
Restless suggests agitation or uneasiness, while busy is more neutral.
State a theme supported by Nico's actions.
Courage can mean acting even when you are afraid or uncertain.
Explain how ONE of those details develops the central idea.
Example: Providing internet access shows that libraries respond to community technology needs, supporting the idea that libraries adapt their services.
Is the evidence sufficient to prove that the school should create the quiet lunch space? Explain.
Not fully. The evidence shows interest and a problem with the current option, but more information is needed about available space, cost, supervision, frequency of use, or other stakeholders.
Explain how TWO structural choices in the train poem work together to affect pacing, mood, or meaning.
Example: The quick, short images make the arrival feel active, while the stanza break and slower second section shift the poem toward departure and emptiness.
“Silence wrapped around the room like a heavy blanket.” Explain how the comparison shapes BOTH mood and meaning.
The simile makes the silence feel heavy, oppressive, and difficult to escape, creating a tense or uncomfortable mood.
How do Nico's actions AND his sister's sign work together to develop the theme and advance the plot?
His sister's sign encourages him to try, and Nico eventually walks toward the stage despite his fear. Together, these actions develop the theme of courage and move the plot toward his audition.
Write a one-sentence objective summary of the library mini-text.
Modern libraries adapt to community needs by offering technology, spaces, and other services beyond lending books.
What additional evidence would most strengthen the argument, and why?
Answers may include data about available space, cost, student or staff interest, expected use, or supervision. Strong evidence should address a missing question about the need or feasibility of the proposed space.
How does the shift after “Then:” change the train poem? Cite evidence and explain the effect.
The poem shifts from a busy arrival to a slower departure and sense of emptiness. “one whistle / one long pull / and empty tracks” slows the pacing and creates a reflective or lonely mood.