Fiction
Question 1
The Glass Jar
Every summer, Nadia and her grandfather collected fireflies in a glass jar and set them free before bed. He always said the jar was magic — not because of the fireflies, but because watching them reminded him that small things could fill a darkness. Nadia never quite understood what he meant, but she loved the ritual all the same.
The summer after her grandfather passed, Nadia found herself standing in the backyard alone, holding the jar. She caught one firefly, then another, watching the soft pulse of light against the glass. For the first time, she understood what he had meant — that some lights are brightest when everything else has gone quiet.
Which detail from the text best supports the inference that the jar holds emotional significance for Nadia?
A. Nadia caught one firefly, then another.
B. Her grandfather said the jar was magic not because of the fireflies.
C. The summer after her grandfather passed, Nadia stood in the backyard alone, holding the jar.
D. She watched the soft pulse of light against the glass.
(C) The summer after her grandfather passed, Nadia stood in the backyard alone, holding the jar.
Text Evidence: "The summer after her grandfather passed, Nadia found herself standing in the backyard alone, holding the jar."
Question 7
The Life of a Coral Reef
Coral reefs cover less than one percent of the ocean floor, yet they support approximately 25 percent of all marine species. This remarkable density of life is made possible by a partnership between coral animals and microscopic algae called zooxanthellae, which live inside coral tissue. The algae use sunlight to produce food that nourishes the coral, while the coral provides the algae with shelter and nutrients.
Rising ocean temperatures threaten this balance. When water becomes too warm, corals expel their algae in a process called bleaching. Without the algae, the coral loses its color and its main food source. If temperatures remain elevated, the coral dies, taking with it the habitat of thousands of species. Scientists estimate that half of the world's coral reefs have already been lost.
According to the text, which statement about coral bleaching is best supported by evidence?
A. Coral bleaching occurs when algae begin producing too much food for the coral to absorb.
B. Bleached coral immediately dies and cannot recover under any conditions.
C. Coral bleaching happens when warm water causes coral to expel their algae, removing their main food source.
D. Scientists have developed a reliable method for reversing coral bleaching in most reefs.
(C) Coral bleaching happens when warm water causes coral to expel their algae, removing their main food source.
Text Evidence: "When water becomes too warm, corals expel their algae in a process called bleaching. Without the algae, the coral loses its color and its main food source."
Question 10
How Sound Travels
Sound is created when an object vibrates, pushing the molecules around it back and forth in a wave. These pressure waves travel outward from the source in all directions, and when they reach our ears, they cause our eardrums to vibrate in the same pattern — which our brains interpret as sound. The speed at which sound travels depends on the medium through which it moves: sound travels faster through water than air, and faster through solid materials like steel than through water.
Two key properties describe any sound wave: frequency and amplitude. Frequency refers to how many wave cycles occur per second, measured in hertz (Hz), and determines the pitch we hear — high frequency produces a high-pitched sound, low frequency a low-pitched one. Amplitude measures the size or intensity of the wave and corresponds to the volume or loudness of a sound. Together, these two properties explain why a whisper and a shout can carry the same note but feel entirely different.
As used in the passage, what does the word "medium" most likely mean?
A. A material or substance through which something travels
B. A type of communication, such as radio or television
C. An average or middle amount of something
D. A person who communicates with the natural world
(A) A material or substance through which something travels
Text Evidence: "The speed at which sound travels depends on the medium through which it moves: sound travels faster through water than air, and faster through solid materials like steel than through water."
EOG questions often ask: "What can you infer about the character based on the passage?"
What does it mean to infer something from a text?
Question 2
The Understudy
For three years, Camille had practiced every role in the play but never performed. She was always the understudy — close enough to feel the stage lights but never under them. When the lead broke her ankle two hours before opening night, the director turned to Camille. She felt her stomach drop, then lift.
She walked onto that stage with her heart hammering and her lines perfectly in place. When the final curtain fell, the audience rose to its feet. Camille stood in the light she had waited so long for and realized that preparation had been its own kind of performance all along.
What is the central theme of this story?
A. Performing in front of an audience always leads to success.
B. Only those who have natural talent will ever shine on stage.
C. Injuries can create unexpected opportunities for athletes and performers.
D. Years of quiet preparation make a person ready when opportunity arrives.
(D) Years of quiet preparation make a person ready when opportunity arrives.
Text Evidence: "She walked onto that stage with her heart hammering and her lines perfectly in place" and "preparation had been its own kind of performance all along."
Question 11
The Hidden Cost of Fast Fashion
Fast fashion — the practice of producing large quantities of cheap, trend-driven clothing for mass consumption — has transformed the global clothing industry over the past three decades. Brands release new collections weekly instead of seasonally, keeping prices low by manufacturing in countries with minimal labor protections. The result is clothing that is designed to be worn a few times and discarded, filling landfills with synthetic fibers that can take hundreds of years to break down.
The environmental toll extends beyond landfills. The fashion industry is responsible for approximately 10 percent of global carbon emissions, more than international aviation and shipping combined. It is also the second-largest consumer of water worldwide, with a single pair of jeans requiring roughly 2,000 gallons of water to produce. Understanding these costs begins with recognizing how purchasing decisions — however small — connect to systems operating at a global scale.
How does the author develop the central idea across the two paragraphs?
A. The first paragraph presents a solution to fast fashion, and the second paragraph explains why the solution is difficult.
B. Both paragraphs describe the same environmental problem using identical types of evidence.
C. The first paragraph defines the problem and traces its causes; the second paragraph deepens the argument by presenting specific data about broader environmental damage.
D. The first paragraph focuses on consumers, and the second focuses on clothing manufacturers.
(C) The first paragraph defines the problem and traces its causes; the second paragraph deepens the argument by presenting specific data about broader environmental damage.
Text Evidence: Paragraph 1 defines fast fashion and explains its causes (cheap production, disposability). Paragraph 2 expands the argument with statistics: "10 percent of global carbon emissions" and "2,000 gallons of water to produce" a pair of jeans.
Question 14
The Cartographer
She draws the coastline from memory,
each inlet a sentence she has spoken before.
The mountains are meticulous — every ridge
a word she chose with care and did not change.
I ask if maps are ever wrong.
She says they are always incomplete,
that the land keeps moving and the pen is slow,
and a map is only honest at the moment it is made.
Based on context clues in the poem, what does the word "meticulous" most likely mean?
A. Drawn in bold, dark lines so they are easy to see
B. Done with great care and attention to detail
C. Quickly sketched without concern for accuracy
D. Larger than the surrounding features on the map
(B) Done with great care and attention to detail
Text Evidence: "The mountains are meticulous — every ridge / a word she chose with care and did not change."
EOG questions often ask: "What is the author trying to convey in this paragraph?"
What does the word convey mean as used in EOG test questions?
A) To hide or leave out important information
B) To repeat the same idea many times
C) To communicate or express an idea or feeling
D) To argue against a different point of view
C) To communicate or express an idea or feeling
Question 3
Different Directions
Marcus and his older brother Devontae had always wanted different things. Marcus saved every dollar he earned to start a business one day; Devontae spent freely, convinced that money was for living, not storing. When their parents needed a new furnace in January, Devontae looked at Marcus with an expression that was equal parts guilt and surprise.
Marcus paid for it without saying a word about being right. He simply handed over the money and went back to his room to start saving again. It was only later, when Devontae knocked on his door and said thank you, that Marcus let himself smile — not from pride, but from understanding that sometimes the lesson teaches itself.
How do Marcus and Devontae's different approaches to money affect the events of the story?
A. Marcus's habit of saving creates the conflict and ultimately resolves the family's crisis.
B. Devontae's spending habits lead to the two brothers having a serious argument.
C. Both brothers contribute equally to solving the family's problem.
D. Marcus's saving causes their parents to rely on him instead of Devontae.
Correct Answer: (A) Marcus's habit of saving creates the conflict and ultimately resolves the family's crisis.
Text Evidence: "When their parents needed a new furnace in January... Marcus paid for it without saying a word."
Question 8
Why Bees Matter
Honeybees are responsible for pollinating roughly one-third of the food supply in the United States, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and the crops that feed livestock. Without bees moving pollen from flower to flower, most of these plants would fail to reproduce. Beyond food, bees support the wildflowers and plants that other animals depend on for habitat and food, creating a web of ecological relationships that extends far beyond any single garden.
In recent decades, honeybee populations have declined dramatically due to habitat loss, pesticides, parasites, and disease. A phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder, in which worker bees abandon the hive and disappear, has wiped out millions of colonies. Researchers and farmers are working together to develop practices that protect bee populations — from planting pollinator gardens to reducing pesticide use near flowering crops — because the health of the food supply is inseparable from the health of the bees.
Which statement best SUMMARIZES the main idea of this passage?
A. Honeybees are interesting insects that produce honey and live in large colonies.
B. Colony Collapse Disorder is the most serious problem currently threatening the world's food supply.
C. Honeybees are essential to the food supply and ecosystems, and protecting declining bee populations is a critical concern.
D. Researchers have already solved the problem of bee population decline through pollinator gardens and reduced pesticide use.
(C) Honeybees are essential to the food supply and ecosystems, and protecting declining bee populations is a critical concern.
Text Evidence: "Honeybees are responsible for pollinating roughly one-third of the food supply" and "the health of the food supply is inseparable from the health of the bees."
Question 4
Before the Test
The clock has teeth tonight,
and it chews through every minute I have left.
My notes are a flock of scattered birds —
words I thought I knew flying out of reach.
But I sit at the desk and sharpen the pencil
and breathe the way my mother taught me to breathe.
The clock still ticks, but I am taller than its ticking,
and the birds come home to roost before the morning.
In the poem, what does the metaphor "the clock has teeth" most likely mean?
A. The speaker is frightened of clocks and avoids looking at them.
B. Time feels threatening and consuming as the deadline approaches.
C. The speaker wishes there were more hours in the day to study.
D. Clocks are described as animals that make sounds at night.
(B) Time feels threatening and consuming as the deadline approaches.
Text Evidence: "The clock has teeth tonight, / and it chews through every minute I have left."
EOG questions often ask: "Which phrase from the paragraph best helps the reader determine the meaning of the word?"
What are context clues?
A) The title and headings that introduce a passage
B) Words or phrases in the surrounding text that help explain the meaning of an unknown word
C) A list of vocabulary words printed at the end of the test
D) The punctuation marks used inside a sentence
B) Words or phrases in the surrounding text that help explain the meaning of an unknown word
Question 5
The River Between
The valley had always been divided — not by a fence or a border, but by the river that ran down its middle. Families on the east bank and the west bank traded at the same market, attended the same school, and argued over the same weather, but neither side had ever built a bridge. It had never seemed necessary, and perhaps that was the point.
The spring flood of 1922 changed everything. When the eastern bank's grain stores were swallowed by the rising water, it was the families from the west who waded across with bags of flour and dried beans on their shoulders. The river was still there the next morning — but somehow, it was narrower than before.
How does the final sentence — "The river was still there the next morning — but somehow, it was narrower than before" — contribute to the story's meaning?
A. It suggests the flood physically changed the width of the river.
B. It shows that the families on both banks have moved closer to the river.
C. It implies that the distance between the two communities has been reduced by an act of generosity.
D. It explains that the flood ended and conditions returned to normal.
(C) It implies that the distance between the two communities has been reduced by an act of generosity.
Text Evidence: "When the eastern bank's grain stores were swallowed by the rising water, it was the families from the west who waded across with bags of flour and dried beans on their shoulders."
Question 9
From Peanuts to Patents: George Washington Carver
George Washington Carver was born into slavery in Missouri around 1864. Orphaned as an infant and raised by his former enslavers, Moses and Susan Carver, he faced extraordinary barriers to education. He was turned away from one college because of his race before eventually enrolling at Iowa State Agricultural College, where he became the first Black student to earn a degree and later a master's degree.
Carver went on to develop more than 300 products derived from peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans, helping Southern farmers diversify their crops after years of cotton-depleted soil. His work at the Tuskegee Institute connected scientific research directly to the needs of poor farming communities, making him one of the most practical and beloved scientists of his era.
How did Carver's early experiences with barriers to education connect to his later work?
A. His early struggles had little connection to his scientific work, which was motivated mainly by curiosity.
B. Facing racial exclusion inspired Carver to conduct research that directly benefited the marginalized farming communities he understood from personal experience.
C. Carver avoided working with poor communities because his education had distanced him from them.
D. His years at Iowa State were focused entirely on peanut research, which is what made him famous.
(B) Facing racial exclusion inspired Carver to conduct research that directly benefited the marginalized farming communities he understood from personal experience.
Text Evidence: "His work at the Tuskegee Institute connected scientific research directly to the needs of poor farming communities." .
Question 16
"After the Storm"
The old man sat on the porch after the rain,
watching water collect in the wheel ruts of the road.
He did not go inside for a long time.
When my mother asked him what he was thinking,
he said, "Nothing."
But his hands stayed folded in his lap
like something that had finally let go.
Which detail from the poem best supports the inference that the old man is feeling grief or loss?
A. He sat on the porch after the rain had ended.
B. He watched the water collect in the wheel ruts of the road.
C. He said 'Nothing' when his mother asked what he was thinking.
D. His hands stayed folded in his lap like something that had finally let go.
D. His hands stayed folded in his lap like something that had finally let go.
Text Evidence: "His hands stayed folded in his lap / like something that had finally let go." The simile compares his hands — and by extension, his emotional state — to something releasing its grip, suggesting quiet grief or resignation after a long struggle.
David stared at the pile of homework on his desk. His backpack was a black hole, swallowing every pencil, eraser, and worksheet he ever needed. No matter how many times he searched, nothing came back out.
Which type of figurative language is used in the italicized sentence, and what does it mean?
A. A simile — it compares the backpack to a black hole using the word like to show the backpack is very large.
B. A metaphor — it directly compares the backpack to a black hole to show that things go in and never come back out.
C. Personification — it gives the backpack human qualities by saying it swallows things on purpose.
D. Hyperbole — it exaggerates how messy Marcus's room is to make the reader feel sorry for him.
C. Personification — it gives the backpack human qualities by saying it swallows things on purpose.
Question
Two Seats on the Bus
Jaylen slid into the window seat before anyone else could claim it. He had taken this exact seat every day for two years — it was his, by habit if not by right. When a girl with a violin case stopped beside him and asked if the aisle seat was free, he nodded once and returned to his phone, hoping she wouldn't talk.
From her seat, Amara watched the passing streets and hummed softly to herself. She didn't seem to notice or care that the boy beside her had barely acknowledged her. To her, every bus ride was a rehearsal — a chance to hear the rhythms of the world before she set them to music. To him, it was twenty minutes of quiet that he had no intention of sharing.
How does the author show a difference in point of view between Jaylen and Amara?
A. Amara thinks Jaylen is unfriendly and plans to sit somewhere else tomorrow.
B. The author reveals Jaylen's desire for privacy while showing Amara's ability to find meaning in the same shared space.
C. Both characters feel uncomfortable during the bus ride and prefer to be alone.
D. Jaylen eventually changes his attitude when he hears Amara humming.
(B) The author reveals Jaylen's desire for privacy while showing Amara's ability to find meaning in the same shared space.
Text Evidence: "To her, every bus ride was a rehearsal" and "To him, it was twenty minutes of quiet that he had no intention of sharing." The author uses parallel 'To her... To him...' framing to directly contrast their inner experiences of the identical situation.
Question 13
Screen Time and Children
A widely cited 2019 report from the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended limiting recreational screen time for children aged 6 and older to two hours per day, citing studies that linked excessive screen use with sleep disruption, reduced physical activity, and lower academic performance. The recommendation was based on correlational research — studies that showed relationships between screen time and these outcomes without establishing that screens were the direct cause.
A number of child development researchers have challenged these guidelines, arguing that the evidence is weaker than the recommendations suggest. They point out that the correlational studies did not control for other factors — such as poverty, lack of access to other activities, or pre-existing behavioral challenges — that might explain the outcomes. They argue that the type and quality of screen content matters far more than total screen time, and that overly rigid guidelines may create unnecessary guilt for families whose children use screens productively.
Which statement best describes how the author presents the evidence in this passage?
A. The author presents only the findings of the 2019 report and argues that its guidelines should be followed.
B. The author presents the original recommendation and then explains how other researchers have questioned the strength of its evidence.
C. The author uses personal opinion to argue that screen time guidelines are too strict for most families.
D. The author presents two opposing views and then states which position is more scientifically reliable.
Correct Answer: (B) The author presents the original recommendation and then explains how other researchers have questioned the strength of its evidence.
Text Evidence: "A number of child development researchers have challenged these guidelines, arguing that the evidence is weaker than the recommendations suggest."
Question 17
"Two Daughters"
The elder daughter memorized the recipes,
kept them in a binder by the stove,
followed every measurement exactly.
Her bread rose every time.
The younger daughter cooked without looking,
a pinch of this, a handful of that,
buring things sometimes, laughing after.
Her bread tasted different each time.
Their mother said both loaves were her favorite.
But she always reached for the warm one first —
the imperfect one, the one that smelled
like something alive.
How do the two daughters' approaches to cooking reflect differences in their characters?
A. The elder daughter is more talented at cooking, while the younger daughter is still learning.
B. The elder daughter values precision and control, while the younger daughter embraces risk and spontaneity.
C. The younger daughter is rebellious and does not care about quality, while the elder daughter follows the rules.
D. Both daughters have the same character, but they learned cooking from different sources.
B. The elder daughter values precision and control, while the younger daughter embraces risk and spontaneity.
Text Evidence: Elder: "memorized the recipes...followed every measurement exactly." Younger: "cooked without looking, a pinch of this, a handful of that, burning things sometimes, laughing after."
Question 15
After the Argument
Theo hadn't spoken to his father in three days. The silence between them had grown into something solid, a wall built from words neither of them had been able to take back. At dinner, they passed the salt and the bread and looked just past each other, as if direct eye contact might make things worse.
On the fourth morning, his father left a cup of coffee on Theo's desk before he was awake — black, no sugar, exactly the way Theo had started drinking it that year. It was a small thing. But Theo sat with the warm cup between his palms and thought that sometimes an apology arrives in a shape that has nothing to do with words.
In the story, the silence between Theo and his father is described as "a wall built from words neither of them had been able to take back." This metaphor suggests that —
A. Theo and his father have never had a conversation that went well.
B. Arguments leave lasting barriers between people that are difficult to break down.
C. Theo is planning to forgive his father as soon as he apologizes with words.
D. The father does not understand how much his words have hurt Theo.
(B) Arguments leave lasting barriers between people that are difficult to break down.
Text Evidence: "The silence between them had grown into something solid, a wall built from words neither of them had been able to take back."