Nonfiction/Informational Reading
Which sentence BEST supports the idea that playing a sport requires a lot of personal sacrifice?
A. Making a team sport requires plenty of skill.
B. Players must be willing to practice on a daily basis.
C. Some teams require a nominal fee to play.
D. Being a part of a team is a rewarding experience.
B. Players must be willing to practice on a daily basis.
“What's your name?" Cherry asked. "Ponyboy Curtis." I replied. "That's an original and lovely name,” She said.
"My dad was an original person," I said. "I've got a brother named Sodapop, and it even says so on his birth certificate.”
What does this conversation reveal to the reader?
A. Ponyboy wishes he had another name.
B. Ponyboy is proud of the original names in his family.
C. Cherry thinks Ponyboy and Sodapop have funny names.
D. Ponyboy is unable to locate his own birth certificate.
B. Ponyboy is proud of the original names in his family.
Watching the commercial featuring Jennifer Aniston, Bella coveted her purple Maybelline mascara.
A. disliked
B. watched
C. desired
D. criticized
C. desired
When I hand in my chemistry take-home final, Mr. Hopper shakes my hand with meaning. He tries to catch my darting eyes. I brush the hair off of my forehead. Try staring back.
“Maybe if I look him in the eye”, I think, “He’ll decide he doesn’t need to say anything. Maybe if I look him in the eye he’ll decide to bump up my grade.”
-Excerpt from The Things a Brother Knows by Dana Reinhardt
3. The narrator in this story probably has earned what kind of grade?
A. The top score in the class
B. A low score
C. An “A”
D. He earned a zero because he never did the work
B. A low score
“How was your day, Alice?” asked Ron.
“Oh, it was just an ordinary day,” replied Alice.
“Don’t patronize me, Alice, I know where you have been.”
The use of the word “patronize” indicates that –
A. Alice is bored.
B. Rob is suspicious.
C. Rob is pleased.
Rob is suspicious.
Which idea about animal shelters would be the BEST to highlight in an advertisement?
A. A large fee may be charged for adopting an animal.
B. Shelters often have a variety of dog breeds available.
C. Background information about a pet may not be available.
D. Cats and dogs often require a series of medical injections.
B. Shelters often have a variety of dog breeds available.
How does an author build suspense in a story?
A. by hinting at an exciting event to come
B. by providing a solution to a problem
C. by locating the story in another country
D. by providing dynamic characters
A. by hinting at an exciting event to come
Cate found her red blouse in a pile of discarded clothes. What does “discarded” mean?
A. not wanted
B. not clean
C. unusual
D. wrinkled
A. not wanted
Screech! Karen stomped on the gas pedal the moment the light turned green. She looked over her left shoulder and zigged past a semi-truck. She zoomed ahead and looked over her right shoulder and then zagged past a motorbike. She glanced at the clock on the console and darted into the parking lot. Whipping into a parking spot, she grabbed her suitcase and ran through the lot, up the escalator, and into the terminal. Her heavy suitcase was bumping and bouncing the whole way. Just as she entered the terminal, she heard an announcement over the loudspeaker, "Final boarding call for flight 205 to JFK..." Karen looked at her ticket and then at the line to get through the security checkpoint, which wrapped around several turnstiles and slithered like a lethargic snake. Karen sighed and then slowly walked to the customer service desk.
Why is Karen in a hurry?“I have to get this done,” Carissa thought to herself as she pounded away at the keyboard. “This computer throws a fit every time I try to use it. I need to finish the report before noon.”
What is emphasized with the personification in this excerpt?
A. How much Carissa has to get done.
B. The trouble Carissa is having with the computer.
C. How much time Carissa has left to finish the report.
B. The trouble Carissa is having with the computer.
Which sentence expresses an opinion?
A. Plumeria trees are tropical and need warm weather in order to survive.
B. Plumeria trees can grow up to 20 feet tall.
C. Plumeria flowers come in red, white or yellow.
D. Plumeria trees will make any garden look better.
D. Plumeria trees will make any garden look better.
Which triggers the rising action in a story?
A. When the characters and setting are revealed.
B. When the solution to the problem is evident.
C. When the problem of the story is introduced.
D. When the lesson of the story is revealed.
C. When the problem of the story is introduced.
What is the root word of “prestigious”?
A. prestig
B. gous
C. prestige
D. ous
C. prestige
Then Charles Darnay’s attorney, Mr. Stryver, began to cross-examine the witness.
-Excerpt from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
5. Where is this scene taking place?
A. A farm
B. A palace
C. A court room
D. A school
C. A court room
The committee put forth a motion to restrict recycling to only glass and plastic.
Which dictionary definition BEST matches the word “motion” in this sentence?
A. The action or process of moving or being moved.
B. A formal proposal presented to a legislature or agency.
C. To direct or command someone with a movement of the hand or head.
D. A type of transformation involving various mathematical studies.
B. A formal proposal presented to a legislature or agency.
The look of pain and sorrow on Ella’s face didn’t stop me. I told her what I thought despite her small gasp and the tears that were waiting to fall. It was something that had to be said.
The narrator’s actions BEST demonstrate her –
A. determination to make her friend feel better.
B. persistence to say what she wants despite the feelings of others.
C. ability to remain positive despite the circumstances.
D. indecision on whether or not to hurt Ella’s feelings.
B. persistence to say what she wants despite the feelings of others.
Michelle Obama, who often calls herself the mom in chief, is taking on the new role of motivator in chief.
After nearly three years of limiting her time in the public sphere, she is suddenly ubiquitous: headlining seven fund-raisers in October, promoting new initiatives for veterans and her husband’s stalled jobs bill.
-Excerpt from “First Lady’s Mission: Energizing the Campaign”. The New York Times, 11/18/11
Based on the article, what can you infer ubiquitous means?
A. disappearing
B. acting foolish
C. everywhere
D. in college taking classes
C. everywhere
The girls are ready for the meet. They get on their mark, the horn sounds, and they dive in. Mary Stanton starts out on par with the others. Slowly she inches ahead.
-Excerpt from Jamestown Reading Navigator, InClass Reader
What is Mary Stanton competing in?
A. Track
B. Swimming
C. Volleyball
D. Basketball
B. Swimming
Living Free features a boy named Mark who learns about courage, independence, and the need for companionship while attempting to live in a forested area of New York state.
First person point of view allows the author to –
A. emphasize the struggles Mark faces in the mountain.
B. show the thoughts of Mark’s family about his trip.
C. highlight the difference between the country and the city.
D. share Mark’s thoughts and feelings about his adventure.
D. share Mark’s thoughts and feelings about his adventure.
“Suddenly, the silence became more oppressive. An SS officer had come in and, with him, the smell of the Angel of Death. We stared at his starch military uniform.”
What does the figurative language in this excerpt BEST convey?
A. fear
B. silence
C. smell
D. anger
A. fear
Phone rang. If it’s Dave the Laugh, I am going to give him the full force of my glaciosity. I hate boys.
-Excerpt from Away Laughing on a Fast Camel by Louise Rennison
6. What does the narrator mean by the word glaciosity?
A. anger/bitterness
B. love/passion
C. tears/sadness
D. joy/happiness
A. anger/bitterness
A Florida Program has found that the threat of legal penalties can reduce teen smoking up to 40%. In Florida counties where underage smoking laws are strictly enforced and penalties include being fined or losing a driver’s license, students were far less likely to smoke than were students in lower-enforcement areas.
-Excerpt from InTime magazine, 2011
From this article, we can infer that:
A. School anti-smoking programs reduce smoking
B. Parent involvement reduces teen smoking
C. Paying fines and getting tickets reduces teen smoking
D. High attendance at school reduces teen smoking
C. Paying fines and getting tickets reduces teen smoking