Reading Comprehension
Summary Writing
Literary Analysis
Extended Response to Reading
Directed Writing and Composition
100
What is the difference between explicit and implicit meanings?
Explicit meaning: something that has been expressed directly
Implicit meaning: something suggested or hinted at but not actually directly stated or expressed
100
What is the general idea/summary of a text called?
Overview
100
List every type of sensory imagery.
Auditory, gustatory, olfactory, tactile, and visual
100
List 5 different types of texts.
Article, journal, magazine, pamphlet, report, letter, e-mail, blog, speech, essay, diary
100
What is the first sentence of a paragraph called in informative writing?
Topic sentence
200
In your own words, what does "luxuriate in the presence" mean in this excerpt?
"For her, this was always a blissful time of day. She knew he didn't want to speak much until the first drink was finished, and she, on her side, was content to sit quietly, enjoying his company after the long hours alone in the house. She loved to luxuriate in the presence of this man, and to feel-almost as a sunbather feels the sun-that warm male glow that came out of him to her when they were alone together."
Greatly enjoy/indulge in the company
200
List three tips for writing a summary.
- Identify the main idea of a text and write about it first, before anything else
- Describe the main points covered in the text
- Don't go into the details of the text, leave that for an analysis
- Use reporting verbs to show that these are the author's ideas, not yours
- Do not include your own ideas and opinions of the text
200
What is the difference between evoking and provoking emotion?
Evoking: bring forth emotions and memories from inside the reader that they have felt before
Provoking: stimulate emotions as a reaction to something
200
List three tips for writing an extended response to reading.
- Highlight parts of the text that are relevant to answering the question
- Break down each bullet point into separate paragraphs to show you are addressing each of them
- Don't just re-state what is in the text, but develop them further with your own thoughts
- Use the appropriate tone, style, and register
200
What is the difference between descriptive and narrative writing?
Descriptive writing: sensory, imagery-based writing that does not have a particular plotline
Narrative writing: story-driven, character-driven writing
300
Identify a word in this excerpt that is antonymous to "orderly".
"The children assembled first, of course. School was recently over for the summer, and the feeling of liberty sat uneasily on most of them; they tended to gather together quietly for a while before they broke into boisterous play and their talk was still of the classroom and the teacher, of books and reprimands. Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones, and the other boys soon followed his example, selecting the smoothest and roundest stones."
"Boisterous"
300
Identify the main idea of the excerpt.
"A new hearing device uses a magnet to hold the detachable sound-processing portion in place. Like other aids, it converts sound into vibrations, but it is unique in that it can transmit the vibrations directly to the magnet and then to the inner ear. This produces a clearer sound. The new device will not help all hearing-impaired people—only those with hearing loss caused by infection or some other problem in the middle ear. It will probably help no more than 20 percent of all people with hearing problems. Those people who have persistent ear infections, however, should find relief and restored hearing with this new device."
A new hearing aid has been invented that can help some, but not all, hearing-impaired people.
300
Identify the literary device used in this excerpt.
"Well now, one winter it was so cold that all the geese flew backward and all the fish moved south and even the snow turned blue. Late at night, it got so frigid that all spoken words froze solid before they could be heard. People had to wait until sunup to find out what folks were talking about the night before."
Hyperbole: "...geese flew backward/fish moved south/snow turned blue/spoken words froze solid"
300
Identify the type of text this excerpt is.
"Hey readers!
When I look in the produce section of a grocery store, I can clearly identify which products are labelled “organic” and which ones are not. But the most notable difference between these products is the price. The organic version of a product often looks identical to the conventional one beside it, so why is it so much more expensive? Well, based on my own research on the evolution of organic food and consumer opinions, consumers may believe that organic food is healthier, and therefore better, than conventional food.
From an article written by Catherine Carstairs – a University of Guelph professor – I learned that the organic food craze started to really take off in the 1970s (2012). That's pretty recent!"
Blogpost
300
Identify what point in a narrative arc that you may find this excerpt in:
"I wiped my brow, relieved I had finally finished baking the cake. Even through all the mess, the excessive frosting, clumpy batter, missing supplies, and my irritating brother annoying me throughout the process--I had done it. Like the final leg of a race, with the banner of the finish line in sight, I brought the cake over to Ria, ready to hear her judgement."
Falling action
400
Identify 1 piece of explicit information and 1 piece of implicit information about Carter in this excerpt:
"Carter came by later while Sam was chopping wood. Carter lifted his hat as if he were waiting for an appointment with the town priest, and then removed it completely as if he were talking to his mother. He pulled out a pile of paper from his back pocket and held it out.
'Don't pick up your mail often, do you?'
Sam took it without a glance and dropped the envelopes onto the bench.
'Never,' he replied and waited for Carter to say why he was here. The fact it was Carter's house was no explanation and they both knew it. Carter twisted his hat round and round, licking his lips and clearing his throat.
'I've brought my son with me on this trip. He's had some trouble at school.' Mr Carter's eyes flicked up, blinked rapidly and then shifted back to the hat occupying his hands. 'Not much trouble out here for a young boy.' He attempted a laugh but it came out like a dog's bark."
Explicit information: Carter has a son
Implicit information: Carter is nervous
400
In your own words, explain how the writer felt at Delphi based on this excerpt:
"When we first began to explore the site at Delphi, I realised: there was a power here, although I couldn’t tell what it was. Divine? Man-made? Geological?
Certainly, the sheer majesty of Mount Parnassus was striking. I stopped and gazed down the
winding Sacred Way below me. With the mountain at my back and the valley below, I understood
utterly how the ancients had believed this was the centre of the world. I watched the students on
the path spiralling above me, jaw-dropped of the timeless magnificence of the surroundings.
At the top of the site, a small path opened out to an enormous stadium – the site of the Pythian
Games, which rivalled only the Olympic Games in importance for the Ancient Greeks. The stadium
was flanked on both sides by benches carved out of stone. We stood and stared, overwhelmed
by its size and the fact that it had stood there for 2500 years. No one spoke. It was all more, much
more, than we’d expected."
The writer:
- felt the place had a power
- felt amazed by the place
- felt captivated by the place
400
Describe the difference between the characterization of the narrator and John.
"I meant to be such a help to John, such a real rest and comfort, and here I am a comparative burden already!
Nobody would believe what an effort it is to do what little I am able—to dress and entertain, and order things.
I suppose John never was nervous in his life. He laughs at me so about this wallpaper!
At first he meant to repaper the room, but afterwards he said that I was letting it get the better of me, and that nothing was worse for a nervous patient than to give way to such fancies.
He said that after the wallpaper was changed it would be the heavy bedstead, and then the barred windows, and then that gate at the head of the stairs, and so on.
“You know the place is doing you good,” he said, “and really, dear, I don’t care to renovate the house just for a three months’ rental.”
“Then do let us go downstairs,” I said, “there are such pretty rooms there.”
Then he took me in his arms and called me a blessed little goose, and said he would go down cellar if I wished, and have it whitewashed into the bargain."
Characterization of the narrator:
- Sees themself as a burden
- Physically weak
- Nervous of their surroundings
- Somewhat infantilized by John
Characterization of John:
- Something of a caretaker for the narrator
- Capable, in the narrator's eyes
400
Identify the purpose, audience, and tone of:
- An article
- A journal entry
- A report
An article:
Purpose: To inform, explain, entertain, or persuade (depends on the topic)
Audience: General public, magazine/newspaper readers, online blog audience
Tone: Semi-formal to formal (depends on publication)
A journal entry
Purpose: To reflect on personal experiences, emotions, and thoughts
Audience: Yourself (diary-style)
Tone: Personal, informal
A report
Purpose: To present information, findings, and recommendations formally
Audience: An organization, school, newspaper, or local authority
Tone: Formal, objective, concise
400
Identify 3 examples of characterization in this excerpt and explain what it says about this character:
"Aaron huffed in irritation as he blew away the dust left underneath the coffee table books. When was the last time anyone had thought to look under these and clean it up? He wiped his nose hastily, looking for his satchel. He unzipped it and dug around for a mask--surely he had brought a few of them along on this trip. He could catch all sorts of disease just from breathing the air, probably. Especially to somewhere like his elder sister's dinky, dirty, little house, decrepit as it already was. Aaron furrowed his brows at the wrinkled socks underneath the sofa.
"Disgraceful," he muttered. He didn't understand how his sister could even be comparable to him in their parents' eyes."
- Neat/tidy: "blew away the dust"/insistent on cleaning every crevice
- Arrogant: "didn't understand how his sister could even be comparable to him"/looking down upon his sister
- Germaphobe: "dug around for a mask"/fear of catching diseases
500
In your own words, explain three reasons why doctors may struggle in their work and how it affects them.
"National Doctors’ Day occurs every year. It’s meant to bring attention to the service of all doctors – living or dead. We should all appreciate their contribution to individual health and medical progress. But the day may also be a time to reflect on the wellbeing of doctors themselves. A doctor needs to be well, both mentally and physically, in order to make others well.
Doctors suffer from ‘burnout’ which typically includes physical or emotional exhaustion, feeling drained and demotivated in work that once excited them. This may also cause doctors to feel a lower sense of fulfilment and become more detached from their work. Of course, this impacts negatively on patients too.
Doctors have some of the most high-intensity, demanding jobs out there – exacerbated by double shifts, emotional stress, and staying on their feet for hours on end. As hospitals try to cram as many patients into one day as possible, doctors often face overwhelming schedules with rarely a chance to breathe, eat, or sleep. Sleep deprivation among doctors poses risks to both individual health and public safety. More reasonable working hours could improve care for all.
Doctors are under immense pressure to maintain a strong demeanour, making it harder for them to reach out for help. ‘The stigma is sometimes difficult to overcome, but finding time to seek help will help us, help our families, our friends, and our patients,’ writes Dr. Lea Su about her own struggle with illness during medical school and training.
Perhaps if National Doctors’ Day actually meant a day off for all doctors, or more reward than a lunch organised by their employers, it really could make a tangible difference?"
Reason 1: Doctors may be emotionally or physically exhausted, which subsequently may make them feel distant and under-fulfilled in their work.
Reason 2: Doctors work intense, long hours, which may thus cause them to lose sleep and may affect their focus, their physical health, and their patients' treatment.
Reason 3: Doctors are expected to be mentally strong and capable, and expressing themselves as otherwise is stigmatized. Thus, they may feel scared to ask for support.
500
Write a 50-100 word summary of this text.
"Ostia Antica is not far from the centre of Rome, and makes a pleasant half-day (allow longer if you want to lunch there or are particularly interested in archaeology). To get there, take the suburban train line to Ostia from Piramide Station. The train journey takes about 20 minutes. The archaeological area is close to the station, over a footbridge.
Although it is now four kilometres inland, Ostia was originally developed as a sea port, prior to the silting up of the estuary of the River Tiber. Ostia increased in importance approximately 2400 years ago, becoming a major naval and trading base. As Rome’s port, the town had obvious commercial significance, and expanded in size and grandeur to match this position. However, about 1700 years ago, its place was taken by a new port at Fiumicino, and within the next couple of centuries Ostia had begun its decline. The Tiber was no longer navigable, the roads were overgrown, and Ostia sank into muddy oblivion.
Nowadays much of the old town has been excavated, and visitors can wander and explore at will; a street plan can be obtained from the ticket kiosk. There is a lot to see. Major sites include the Roman Theatre (there are plays put on here in the summer), the impressive Forum, a large baths complex and several temples. Many of the buildings are preserved up to the second storey, giving a powerful sense of the past.
There are impressive mosaics and columns everywhere, but highlights include the smaller domestic details: the fishmonger’s marble slab, the bar with its wares illustrated on the wall, the communal public toilets, the residential villas with peaceful courtyards.
The old village of Ostia, with a papal fortress, is just down the road from the Roman town. Modern Ostia – Ostia Lido – is further away, by the sea. It is a construction of modern apartment blocks and boulevards with little atmosphere and – thanks to high fences – not much of a sea view either."
[Results dependent on final answer]
500
Identify a literary device in this excerpt and analyze its effect.
"Margot stood alone. She was a very frail girl who looked as if she had been lost in the rain for years and the rain had washed out the blue from her eyes and the red from her mouth and the yellow from her hair. She was an old photograph dusted from an album, whitened away, and if she spoke at all her voice would be a ghost."
Imagery: "...rain had washed out the blue from her eyes/red from her mouth/yellow from her hair"
Effect: It makes Margot seem pale and not really there or not alive, ghost-like
Metaphor: "She was an old photograph" compares the girl, Margot, to a photograph
Effect: It makes Margot seem unreal in present time, as if she was a memory instead of a current living person
500
You are writing an article about whether celebrities are worth admiring. Write three details and develop them based on this excerpt.
The Truth About Celebrities: Role Models or Just Models?
"Every day we hear news about a billion topics: disasters, terrors, injustices. These topics are important, but they don't regularly make headlines. Why? Of all things, the attention is given to celebrities.
Celebrities are greedy. They get rich because of their fame and only aim to get richer. Do they even help the greater society?
Celebrities are also selfish and only care about themselves. They just want attention and when they get it, they gain more fame. There are lots of things people should care about, but celebrities are only concerned with their own statuses and how they look in popular media. Let's not forget, we don't even know celebrities personally. How can we see them as people to look up to?"
Detail 1: Celebrities are greedy
Development: "help the greater society" -> Do celebrities contribute to society? Do they donate their wealth?
Detail 2: Celebrities are selfish
Development: "lots of things people should care about" -> Celebrities should care about other people/should care about other causes outside of them
Detail 3: We don't know celebrities personally
Development: The danger of parasocial relationships/celebrities may be hiding a lot behind closed doors
500
Write a descriptive response with each sense based on this picture, without using the following words: see, smell, hear, taste, touch.
[Results dependent on final answer]