TAR
Context Clues
Random
Central Idea
100
A universal ___________ is usually one or two words. There are typically many ___________ in a story.
Universal Topic/Universal Idea
100
The boy lingered in the stands after the concert. He was hoping to watch the band members pack up.
What does "lingered" mean?
stayed
100
Who is Mrs. Rosales' favorite baseball team?
The New York Yankees
100
The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry
Della had very little money, but she desperately wanted to give Jim a meaningful Christmas gift. She decided to sell her beautiful long hair, one of the things she valued most, so she could buy him something special.
What theme is beginning to develop in this passage?
A. Money is necessary for happiness.
B. People should be careful about what they give away.
C. Love can require personal sacrifice.
D. Expensive gifts are the best way to show love.
C. Love can require personal sacrifice. ✅
200
The central idea is a _________ about life that the author wants the reader to understand.
message/moral/lesson
200
My objective was to get to work on time each day, so I would not get fired.
What does "objective" mean?
goal
200
Where is Mrs. Rosales' favorite place to be?
outside/on a mountain/camping
200
“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin
After hearing that her husband had died, Louise went alone to her room. Although she knew she should feel only grief, she began to recognize another feeling growing inside her: freedom. She imagined the years ahead belonging entirely to herself.
What central idea is revealed through Louise’s reaction?
A. Personal freedom can be deeply important to someone who feels restricted.
B. Grief always causes people to behave unpredictably.
C. Being alone makes difficult situations worse.
D. People often regret the choices they make in marriage.
A. Personal freedom can be deeply important to someone who feels restricted. ✅
300
True or false: in 11th grade, the only skill you need to be able to do well is determine a clear and concise central idea in a text.
False: You must be able to determine a clear and concise central idea in a text AND explain how the author expresses it using a writing strategy/literary device.
300
Our hockey team was far superior than any other team in the league. We had not lost a game yet!
What does "superior" mean?
the best
300
O say can you see.....
by the dawn's early light!
300
The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant
Mathilde dreamed constantly of wealth, elegant rooms, and expensive clothing. Although she had a comfortable home and a loving husband, she remained unhappy because her life did not match the luxurious one she believed she deserved.
What theme is developed through Mathilde’s dissatisfaction?
A. Wealth is the only way to achieve happiness.
B. Hard work eventually leads to financial success.
C. People should always pursue their dreams.
D. Constantly desiring what others have can prevent people from appreciating their own lives.
D. Constantly desiring what others have can prevent people from appreciating their own lives. ✅
400
The gymnast was so agile. I was amazed at the graceful way she moved during the floor routine.
What does "agile" mean?
flexible, able to bend and move in many ways
400
The capital of The United States of America is....
Washington, D.C.
400
“The Tell-Tale Heart” – Edgar Allan PoeThe narrator insisted that he was perfectly sane. Yet night after night, he secretly entered the old man’s room and watched him sleep. He claimed that he loved the man and wanted none of his money; it was the old man’s pale, strange eye that he could not tolerate.
What central idea is suggested by the contradiction between the narrator’s words and actions?
People may be unable to recognize, or admit, the truth about themselves.
500
Fill in the blanks of the following statement:
The 1.____________ uses the 2.____________ ____________ of foreshadowing to convey the 3.____________ ____________ that greed can influence people to make risky decisions, causing unfavorable outcomes.
1. author/writer
2.literary device/writing strategy
3. central idea
500
Keep your speech concise to save time. We have many students who need to present their reports.
What does "concise" mean?
short
500
Spell your other english teacher's last name!
S-C-A-L-A-B-R-I-N-I
500
“The Open Boat” – Stephen Crane
After struggling for hours against the sea, the exhausted men looked toward the distant shore. They had worked together, suffered together, and fought desperately to survive. Yet the waves continued without concern for whether any of them lived or died.
What complex theme is developed through the men’s struggle against the sea?
Nature is indifferent to human suffering, even when people desperately seek meaning or fairness in their experiences.