Read Between the Lines
Characterization
When the teacher announced the group project, Mateo immediately pulled out a notebook. “Okay, who wants to research? I can organize everything,” he said, already making a list.
What does Mateo's behavior reveal about him?
A. He dislikes working with others.
B. He is organized and takes initiative.
C. He is confused about the assignment.
D. He wants someone else to lead.
B. He is organized and takes initiative.
Conflict Type
Maya desperately wants to audition for the musical, but she worries that she will embarrass herself.
What kind of conflict is this?
A. Character vs. character
B. Character vs. nature
C. Character vs. self
D. Character vs. technology
C. Character vs. self
Tone
“Of course the printer stopped working five minutes before the project was due,” Eli muttered, dropping his backpack onto the floor.
The tone is best described as—
A. grateful
B. frustrated
C. joyful
D. peaceful
B. frustrated
Connotation
Which word has the MOST positive connotation?
A. skinny
B. scrawny
C. slender
D. bony
C. slender
Slender is more flattering while skinny is more neutral
Concrete Noun
Which word is a common, concrete noun?
The student placed her notebook beside the computer.
A. placed
B. notebook
C. beside
D. her
B. notebook
Inference
Lena checked the clock for the fourth time. She had packed her bag twenty minutes ago, but she still sat beside the window watching every car that passed.
What can the reader reasonably infer?
A. Lena is waiting for someone or something.
B. Lena has forgotten where she needs to go.
C. Lena enjoys watching traffic.
D. Lena wants to unpack her bag.
A. Lena is waiting for someone or something.
External Conflict
Heavy snow blocks the only road leading out of the mountain town.
What type of conflict is MOST clearly shown?
A. Character vs. self
B. Character vs. nature
C. Character vs. society
D. Character vs. character
B. Character vs. nature
Diction
Compare:
Sentence 1: The dog walked across the yard.
Sentence 2: The dog crept silently across the deserted yard.
How does the diction in Sentence 2 change the feeling?
A. Itremoves description of the setting
B. It makes the setting humorous to laugh at the dog.
C. It makes the dog seem excited to play.
D. It creates greater tension or suspense.
D. It creates greater tension or suspense.
Symbolism
Question: Throughout a story, a character keeps an unopened train ticket while dreaming about leaving her hometown.
The train ticket could symbolize—
A. hunger
B. escape
C. anger
D. friendship
B. escape
Action Verb
Which word functions as the action verb?
Cameron carried the groceries into the kitchen.
A. Cameron
B. carried
C. groceries
D. kitchen
B. carried
Point of View
Jordan stepped onto the stage. He could feel his hands shaking, although he hoped no one else noticed. The audience seemed enormous from beneath the bright lights.
How does the narration affect the reader?
A. It reveals the thoughts of every character.
B. It allows the reader to understand Jordan's private nervousness.
C. It prevents the reader from knowing how Jordan feels.
D. It makes the passage completely objective.
B. It allows the reader to understand Jordan's private nervousness.
Larger Conflict
Nia wants to become a mechanic, but people in her community repeatedly tell her that girls should choose a “more appropriate” career.
The larger conflict is best described as—
A. ambition versus social expectations
B. friendship versus financial pressure
C. intelligence versus technology
D. family loyalty versus nature
A. ambition versus social expectations
Mood Through Imagery
Warm sunlight spilled across the porch. Bees drifted between the flowers while music floated from an open window.
What mood does the imagery MOST strongly create?
A. threatening
B. peaceful
C. furious
D. hopeless
B. peaceful
Theme
Question: Marcus lies about breaking his neighbor's window. His friend is blamed instead. After watching his friend get punished, Marcus finally admits what happened and accepts the consequences.
Which theme is BEST supported?
A. Success always requires competition.
B. Rules prevent people from being happy.
C. Friends should never disagree.
D. Telling the truth can require courage.
D. Telling the truth can require courage.
Linking Verb
Which sentence contains a linking verb?
A. The students raced outside.
B. The soup smells delicious.
C. Maria opened the box.
D. The dog chased the ball.
B. The soup smells delicious.
Complex Character
At first, Keisha refuses to enter the art contest because she thinks everyone else's work will be better. Later, she submits her painting even though she is still nervous.
Which description BEST explains Keisha?
A. Static and confident
B. Flat and unimportant
C. Complex because she experiences conflicting emotions
D. Unchanging because she remains nervous
C. Complex because she experiences conflicting emotions
Turning Point
For weeks, Malik avoids telling his coach that his knee is injured. During the championship game, the pain becomes unbearable. He finally asks to be removed from the game and tells the coach the truth.
Which event serves as a turning point?
A. Malik joins the team.
B. The championship begins.
C. Malik finally admits that he is injured.
D. The coach schedules another practice.
C. Malik finally admits that he is injured.
Sentence Structure
She reached for the handle.
Stopped.
Listened.
Nothing.
Why might an author use these short sentences?
A. To slow the moment and build suspense.
B. To provide historical background of the character.
C. To explain the setting scientifically.
D. To make the passage sound formal.
A. To slow the moment and build suspense.
Irony
Question: A fire station burns down because its fire alarm was not working.
Why is this ironic?
A. A fire station is normally associated with preventing or stopping fires.
B. Fire alarms are difficult to repair.
C. Buildings sometimes catch fire.
D. Firefighters work long hours.
A. A fire station is normally associated with preventing or stopping fires.
Action or Linking?
Noah looked exhausted after practice.
What is the function of looked?
A. Adverb
B. Linking verb
C. Common noun
D. AdverbAction verb
D. Action verb
Character Change
Read the mini-passage:
At the beginning of summer, Ezra refused to visit his grandfather's workshop. He thought woodworking was old-fashioned and boring. After discovering a half-finished chair his grandfather had begun years earlier, Ezra quietly began working on it every afternoon.
What change occurs in Ezra?
dismissive/uninterested to interested
begins to care more
he has more of a connection
Plot Development
Read:
Ava has spent months trying to win the student election because she believes becoming president will finally make people respect her. Just before voting begins, she learns that her best friend secretly created most of Ava's campaign ideas. Ava must decide whether winning is more important than admitting the truth.
What new conflict develops?
Internal conflict between winning and honesty
Author's Craft
The storm had passed, but water still dripped from every branch. Then, between the clouds, a thin strip of sunlight appeared.
Why might the author place the sunlight after the storm?
A. To introduce a new character to the readers through characterization
B. To prove sunlight causes storms by using symbolism
C. To contrast difficulty with the possibility of improvement
D. To make the setting less important
C. To contrast difficulty with the possibility of improvement
Author’s Purpose
Question: A story repeatedly shows workers being punished for speaking about unsafe working conditions. By the ending, the workers realize that remaining silent allows the dangerous conditions to continue.
What is the author's likely larger purpose?
A. To explain how factories are constructed by giving more details about how unsafe they are.
B. To question systems that silence people with less power
C. To prove every workplace is dangerous and workers are miserable
D. To entertain readers with workplace accidents
B. To question systems that silence people with less power
Punctuation for Effect
Which revision BEST uses punctuation to create hesitation?
A. “I know the answer,” Jayla said.
B. “I...I think I know the answer,” Jayla said.
C. Jayla said that she knew the answer.
D. Jayla knew the answer and raised her hand.
B. “I...I think I know the answer,” Jayla said.