Word Choice
I listened to the steady pitter-patter of rain on my bedroom window and the wind, a wolf howling at the night sky, as they got louder and louder.
In the sentence, what is the wind being compared to?
A.) a bedroom window
B.) the steady rain
C.) a wolf howling
D.) the night sky
Which source for research about water pollution is least likely to contain reliable information?
A.) a government website
B.) a personal website
C.) a newspaper website
D.) a university website
B.) A personal website
Which sentence correctly uses a comma to separate coordinate adjectives?
A.) My father bought a new, wood desk for his office.
B.) A red, rusty gate blocked the opening of the trail.
C.) A cool, chocolate milkshake tastes great on a hot day.
D.) My sister drives a bright, pink minivan to work every day.
B.) A red, rusty gate blocked the opening of the trail.
What is the effect of listing different types of workers and what they are doing in “I Hear America Singing”?
A.) It shows that the workers are not paying attention to their jobs.
B.) It illustrates that the workers’ unique songs create harmony.
C.) It shows that each worker does a task similar to the others.
D.) It highlights that the workers’ voices create an odd sound.
B.) It illustrates that the workers’ unique songs create harmony.
Which line best conveys a tone of concern for the reader?
A.) Why haven’t you written back to me? You are driving me crazy!
B.) Your long silence has been so upsetting that I have a stomach ache.
C.) I’m worried because I haven’t heard from you in over a month.
D.) Don’t feel like you have to stay in touch, because I’m very busy, too.
C.) I’m worried because I haven’t heard from you in over a month.
Read the paragraph.
When I was a kid, my family rented a small house in Florida. It was a short walk down a weed-choked path to the small lake where my sister and I liked to go fishing. One day, just as the sun rose above the trees, we walked down the path and realized our way was blocked by a fallen tree. As we approached, the tree moved. This was no tree, this was a __________ alligator. We had seen small alligators now and then, but nothing like this.
Which word most precisely describes the alligator?
A.) big
B.) grand
C.) huge
D.) bulky
C.) Huge
To develop a claim in a blog, a student should
A.) include related facts and details.
B.) discuss several different topics.
C.) avoid the use of multimedia.
D.) avoid the use of quotations from experts.
A.) include related facts and details.
Which sentence correctly uses a comma to join an independent and dependent clause?
A.) When you reach your destination please, give me a call to check in.
B.) I will plant the vegetable garden, after I’m done mowing the grass.
C.) My cousin who is a black belt in karate, taught me a lesson in self-defense.
D.) Although I had been looking forward to the concert, I was just too tired to go.
D.) Although I had been looking forward to the concert, I was just too tired to go.
Read the excerpt from “I Hear American Singing.”
Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,
The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck,
Which is one way that Walt Whitman uses repetition in this excerpt?
A.) by beginning each line with the same word
B.) by ending each line with a type of worker
C.) by beginning each line with a type of worker
D.) by ending each line with the same word
C.) by beginning each line with a type of worker
Read the sentence.
Hello, everyone, I am here today to _______ about our school mascot.
Choose the phrase that creates the most welcoming tone in the sentence.
A.) argue with you
B.) persuade you
C.) talk to you
D.) reason with you
C.) talk to you
Read the sentence.
Cy listened intently as the speaker rallied the crowd from the stage, a wise owl perched on a strong branch.
In this sentence, what is the speaker compared to?
A.) a stage
B.) a branch
C.) an owl
D.) a lecture
C.) An owl
Which blog is most likely intended to inform readers?
A.) a blog asking people to volunteer at a school fundraiser
B.) a blog explaining how to build a skateboard ramp
C.) a blog arguing for a new community theater
D.) a blog describing the funny actions of a pet parrot
B.) a blog explaining how to build a skateboard ramp
Which sentence correctly uses commas to offset a phrase in the sentence?
A.) It may take me months, if not years, to train for a marathon.
B.) My dog a poodle named, Toby, will do tricks for food.
C.) My cousin who lives in another state, will visit us, this fall.
D.) I went, to a late-night rock concert, with my best friend.
A.) It may take me months, if not years, to train for a marathon.
Read the excerpt from “The Girl Who Silenced the World for Five Minutes.”
In my life, I have dreamt of seeing the great herds of wild animals, jungles, and rain forests full of birds and butterflies, but now I wonder if they will even exist for my children to see.
Did you have to worry about these little things when you were my age?
Suzuki most likely asks this question to make her audience feel
A.) disappointed.
B.) ashamed.
C.) helpless.
D.) annoyed.
B.) ashamed.
Read the sentence.
In my _______ opinion, we should change our school mascot from a rabbit to a bear.
Choose the word that creates the most respectful tone in the sentence.
A.) correct
B.) modest
C.) brilliant
D.) inferior
B.) modest
Read the sentence.
Last week, Luis bought a peppy car that he loves to drive around the neighborhood.
The word neighborhood is an example of:
A.) a noun.
B.) a verb.
C.) an adjective.
D.) an adverb.
A.) a noun.
Which source likely has the most reliable information about climate change.
A.) http://www.climatestudies.com/
B.) http://www.earthchanges.org/
C.) http://www.climatechange.wiki/
Which sentence correctly uses a comma to join independent clauses?
A.) Carlo loves riding the roller coaster, but I prefer the merry-go-round.
B.) It’s unlikely that you will do well on the test, without studying.
C.) Marcia is good at sculpting clay and, I am good at carving wood.
D.) The weather forecast looks good, so, you should have a great trip.
A.) Carlo loves riding the roller coaster, but I prefer the merry-go-round.
Read this excerpt from "The Girl Who Silenced the World for Five Minutes.”
I'm only a child, yet I know if all the money spent on war was spent on ending poverty and finding environmental answers, what a wonderful place this earth would be!
Based on this excerpt, Suzuki most likely believes that
A.) money spent on war is money well spent.
B.) peace costs more than war and poverty.
C.) more money would help solve the problem of poverty.
D.) the Earth would be a perfect place without war.
C.) more money would help solve the problem of poverty.
Read the introduction from “The Girl Who Silenced the World for Five Minutes.”
Hello, I'm Severn Suzuki speaking for E.C.O.—The Environmental Children's Organisation.
We are a group of twelve and thirteen-year-olds from Canada trying to make a difference: Vanessa Suttie, Morgan Geisler, Michelle Quigg and me. We raised all the money ourselves to come six thousand miles to tell you adults you must change your ways. Coming here today, I have no hidden agenda. I am fighting for my future.
Which word pair best describes the tone Severn Suzuki uses in her introduction?
A.) worried and confused
B.) disappointed and upset
C.) satisfied and happy
D.) honest and direct
D.) honest and direct
Read the paragraph.
Andrey and I will meet at the restaurant before we go to the concert. After eating, _______ will go the concert hall, which is _______ the Arts Center Building.
What two parts of speech will complete the sentence?
A.) pronoun, preposition
B.) preposition, preposition
C.) pronoun, interjection
D.) preposition, conjunction
A.) pronoun, preposition
Someone who wants to write a blog about water pollution should research:
A.) information from other people’s blogs.
B.) quiz and poll results from a personal website.
C.) facts and statistics from a state's website.
D.) online comments about a newspaper article.
C.) facts and statistics from a state's website.
Which address is capitalized correctly?
A.) 4201 east Ridgeview Way, Chicago, Illinois
B.) 4201 East Ridgeview way, chicago, Illinois
C.) 4201 east Ridgeview way, Chicago, illinois
D.) 4201 East Ridgeview Way, Chicago, Illinois
D.) 4201 East Ridgeview Way, Chicago, Illinois
Read this excerpt from Eleanor Roosevelt’s "What I Hope to Leave Behind."
As I see it we can have no new deal until great groups of people, particularly the women, are willing to have a revolution in thought; are willing to look ahead . . . are willing to give up constant competition.
By repeating the phrase “are willing” three times, Roosevelt creates a tone of
A.) politeness.
B.) firmness.
C.) triumph.
D.) cooperation.
B.) firmness.
Read the excerpt.
I used to like being called a “Rabbit,” after our school mascot, when I ran on our school track team, but I _______ when the district cut our budget.
Choose the phrase that best creates an angry, blaming tone in the sentence.
A.) couldn’t do track
B.) couldn’t run anymore
C.) had to leave the team
D.) was robbed of track
D.) was robbed of track