TDA Prompts
At the end of the passage, the king says to Ram Dhan, “You shall be the royal tutor and teach my sons all you know.” Write an essay analyzing the reasons why the king wants Ram Dhan to be the royal tutor. Use evidence from the passage to support your response.
(PSSA 2018-2019)
What question is the prompt asking?
What are the reasons why the king wants Ram Dhan to be the royal tutor? (Analyze the reasons.)
What does "conflict resolution" mean? What does it mean for something to be resolved?
Conflict resolution is how the "problem" or challenge of the story is solved. This could be how the story ends. When something is resolved, that means it has found a solution.
Which sentence uses informal language?
A. The weather outside is quite chilly today.
B. I gotta go grab my jacket before we head out.
C. We should take an umbrella because it might rain.
D. It is imperative that we arrive on time for the meeting.
B. I gotta go grab my jacket before we head out.
Complete the blank in the following sentence.
I am excited ___ my upcoming trip to Europe.
A. about
B. from
C. during
D. without
A. about
Read these two lines from a stanza of "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud."
"The waves beside them danced, but they
Outdid the sparkling waves in glee."
Name an example of imagery from these lines of the poem.
Either...
"The waves beside them danced"
or
"sparkling waves"
In “Black Blizzards,” the author uses descriptive language to provide information about dust storms and how they are formed. Write an essay analyzing how the author’s craft creates the imagery shown in the text. Use evidence from the text to support your answer.
What question is the prompt asking you?
How does the author's craft create the imagery shown in the text, "Black Blizzards"?
What is the central idea of this passage?
The United States calls its basic unit of currency the “dollar”. The money in Great Britain is called the “pound”. Korea uses the “won”. In Russia you spend “rubles”. Mexico and the Philipines use a “peso”. The country of Zaire calls its currency “Zaires”.
A. money
B. Different countries have different names for their currency.
C. The United States has the dollar, but other countries don't have the dollar.
D. The United States calls its basic unit of currency the “dollar”.
B. Different countries have different names for their currency.
After finishing her meal, Maria decided to _______________ before going out to play.
Choose the most specific words to complete the sentence.
A. wash her hands with soap
B. brush her teeth
C. clean the dishes
D. change her clothes
A. wash her hands with soap
Even though I had studied for hours, I still found the exam challenging, _____ made me realize that simply memorizing isn't always enough.
Which word best completes the sentence?
A. who
B. that
C. which
D. and
C. which
Read this passage.
Some sneakers have a tread that keeps boaters from slipping. Basketball shoes also grip the floor to help players make quick turns. Jogging shoes have arch supports and springy soles to cushion the impact of running. Some sneakers are built for looks alone.
What is the central idea?
A. sneakers
B. Sneakers are designed for different purposes.
C. Basketball shoes and jogging shoes are two types of sneakers.
D. There are many advantages to wearing sneakers.
B. Sneakers are designed for different purposes.
Life can hold many challenges. Write an essay analyzing how Annie Sullivan responded to challenges in the text, “Helen Keler”. Use evidence from the passage to support your response.
What question is the prompt asking you?
How does Annie Sullivan respond to challenges in "Helen Keller"?
B. the actions of butterflies
1) Emily's jaw dropped when she learned she had won the grand prize in the school's art competition. (2) Her painting of a sunset over the ocean was praised by everyone. (3) Emily's artwork will be displayed in the school's gallery for the whole year. (4) What an incredible achievement for such a talented artist.
Which sentence should end with an exclamation point?
A. sentence 1
B. sentence 2
C. sentence 3
D. sentence 4
D. sentence 4
Which conjunction best completes the sentence?
She couldn't decide whether to go to the beach ____ stay home and watch a movie.
A. and
B. or
C. but
D. so
B. or
Which sentence should use quotation marks to indicate a title?
A. The teacher assigned the book Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls for our next reading assignment.
B. The movie, The Lion King, is based on a story from African folklore.
C. My favorite poem is The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost.
D. We visited the Louvre Museum during our trip to Paris, France.
C. My favorite poem is "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost.
The text, “Popular Problems,” and the poem, “Free,” both reveal a theme of "be happy with who you are and what you have." Write an essay analyzing how characters in each text helps to reveal the theme. Use evidence from the text and poem to support your response.
What question is the prompt asking you?
How do the characters in each text help to reveal the theme of "be happy with who you are and what you have?"
A. when certain events occurred
(1) Sarah Anderson is a marine biologist who has been studying dolphins for over a decade. (2) She knows her stuff when it comes to these amazing creatures. (3) Sarah spends hours observing dolphins in their natural habitat and documenting their behaviors. (4) Through her research, she has gained valuable insights into dolphin communication and social structures. (5) Today, Sarah works tirelessly to raise awareness about threats to dolphin populations worldwide.
Which sentence uses informal language and needs to be revised?
A. sentence 1
B. sentence 2
C. sentence 3
D. sentence 5
B. sentence 2
Which conjunction correctly completes the sentence?
He wanted to visit the museum ___ the weather was too hot for outdoor activities.
A. and
B. but
C. because
D. so
C. because
Read the passage.
Baby painted turtles spend all winter in their nests. They have special chemicals in their blood that can keep their blood from freezing. As a result, baby painted turtles can survive freezing temperatures!
Which description states the overall structure of the events presented in the passage?
A. a sequence of events in a baby turtle's life
B. a comparison of baby turtles in the warmer months to those in the winter
C. an effect of the special chemical found in a baby turtle's blood
D. a solution to a decrease in the turtle population due to freezing temperatures
C. an effect of the special chemical found in a baby turtle's blood
In the passage “Black Sunday,” the author tells the shocking story of the biggest dust storm in American history. Write an essay analyzing how the author’s use of text structure helps the reader understand the central idea. Use evidence from the passage to support your response.
What question is the prompt asking you to answer?
How does the author's use of text structure help the reader to understand the central idea?
Read the passage.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1a0xiigkOQM6Y-aXlTGYXrwdvtRgouAeI1LgJzH5sHAY/edit#slide=id.p
What is the theme, or central message?
Actions speak louder than words.
At the zoo, Max couldn't contain his excitement. He eagerly made his way from one exhibit to another, stopping to marvel at the lions, monkeys, and elephants. As he approached the reptile house, his pace slowed, and he peered through the glass with wide eyes. Inside, the snakes slithered around their enclosure, their scales shining in the light. Max watched them in fascination, his curiosity piqued.
Which change most improves the word choice in the third sentence?
A. decreased
B. quickened
C. lingered
D. halted
A. decreased
What is the BEST way to combine these sentences?
(1) The chef prepared the ingredients.
(2) She then started cooking the meal.
A. The chef prepared the ingredients and she then started cooking the meal.
B. Preparing the ingredients, the chef then started cooking the meal.
C. The chef, who started cooking the meal, prepared the ingredients.
D. The chef prepared the ingredients, and then she started cooking the meal.
D. The chef prepared the ingredients, and then she started cooking the meal.
Read the passage.
Heavy rains can cause flooding in small streams. For weather forecasters and local authorities, this flooding can be difficult to predict. Fortunately, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has more than 7,000 streamgages that measure water flow. These streamgages help scientists to monitor water levels in good and bad weather.
Which description states the overall structure of the events presented in the passage?
A. the steps scientists take in order to monitor water levels
B. the solution to how to solve the problem of predicting floods in the area
C. the description of heavy rains and flooding in a specific area
D. the comparison of heavy floods to small streams
B. the solution to how to solve the problem of predicting floods in the area