Arguments
What are the five main parts of an argument?
Claim, Evidence, Counterclaim, Rebuttal, Conclusion
Which poetic device is being used in the following line: "The wind whispered warnings as it wandered through the willows"?
A. Simile
B. Metaphor
C. Alliteration
D. Onomatopoeia
Bonus: What non-listed form of figurative language do you see?
C. Alliteration
Bonus: Personification
Which of the following best describes how a flashback functions in narrative writing?
A. It reveals events that will happen in the future
B. It creates suspense by withholding key information
C. It provides background information about past events
D. It shows multiple perspectives of the same event
C. It provides background information about past events
Identify the figurative language technique used in the following sentence:
Her words hung in the air like heavy fog, obscuring the truth.
A. Hyperbole
B. Simile
C. Onomatopoeia
D. Personification
B. Simile
Which set of words would be MOST appropriate for an 8th-grade student to use when writing a formal literary analysis?
A. awesome, stuff, really, got
B. illustrates, demonstrates, conveys, emphasizes
C. shows, tells, says, does
D. cool, interesting, nice, good
B. illustrates, demonstrates, conveys, emphasizes
What makes evidence in an argument "relevant"?
A. It comes from a famous person
B. It directly relates to and supports the claim being made
C. It contains emotional language that persuades the reader
D. It includes many statistics and numbers
B. It directly relates to and supports the claim being made
Which of the following statements BEST describes the purpose of stanzas in poetry
a. Stanzas are used only to make poems look visually appealing on the page
b. Stanzas are used primarily to indicate where readers should pause
c. Stanzas help organize ideas and create rhythm in poetry
d. Stanzas are only used in free verse poetry to replace traditional structure
c. Stanzas help organize ideas and create rhythm in poetry
The old clock on the mantel ticked loudly in the silence of the room. Sarah paced back and forth, glancing repeatedly at the front door. Earlier that day, her brother had promised to return before sunset with news about their father. Now, the last rays of sunlight had disappeared, and still, there was no sign of him.
Which narrative technique is most prominently used in this passage?
A. Flashback
B. Foreshadowing
C. Internal monologue
D. Setting to create suspense
D. Setting to create suspense
Which statement correctly identifies the type of figurative language used in the sentence and its effect?
Her voice was ice when she discovered the broken vase.
A. Simile; it compares her voice to ice using "like" or "as" to show her anger
B. Hyperbole; it exaggerates the coldness of her voice to emphasize her extreme anger
C. Metaphor; it directly compares her voice to ice to convey her cold anger
D. Personification; it gives human qualities to her voice to show emotion
C. Metaphor; it directly compares her voice to ice to convey her cold anger
Which of the following sentences demonstrates the most precise use of disciplinary vocabulary?
A. The story had a lot of symbolism and other literary stuff.
B. The protagonist's internal conflict reflects the author's thematic focus on identity.
C. The main character was sad because of what happened in the book.
D. The writer used good words to show the character's feelings.
B. The protagonist's internal conflict reflects the author's thematic focus on identity.
Which of the following is an example of a counterclaim in an argument?
A. Providing statistics that support your main point
B. Acknowledging an opposing viewpoint before refuting it
C. Concluding your argument with a call to action
D. Introducing your topic with background information
B. Acknowledging an opposing viewpoint before refuting it
My love is like a red, red rose
That's newly sprung in June;
My love is like the melody
That's sweetly played in tune.
Which figurative language technique is PRIMARILY used in these lines?
A. Personification
B. Simile
C. Metaphor
D. Hyperbole
B. Simile
"You'll never succeed," her stepmother sneered, slamming the door as she left. Ella stared at her reflection in the cracked mirror, remembering her father's words before he died: "Kindness has power that cruelty can never defeat." She straightened her shoulders and began to prepare for the competition.
What does this passage reveal about the character of Ella?
A. She is easily influenced by negative opinions
B. She values her stepmother's advice
C. She draws strength from her father's wisdom
D. She is primarily motivated by revenge
C. She draws strength from her father's wisdom
In which scenario would hyperbole be the MOST effective literary device to use?
A. A scientific report explaining the distance between planets
B. A personal narrative describing how nervous you felt before a performance
C. A historical essay about World War II
D. A set of instructions for assembling furniture
B. A personal narrative describing how nervous you felt before a performance
The discovery was inexplicably delayed, despite clear evidence that had been available for months. When questioned, the research team cited "procedural complications" but offered no specific explanation for the oversight.
Based on context clues, what does "inexplicably" suggest about the delay?
A. It was intentionally concealed
B. It was reasonably justified
C. It was without logical explanation
D. It was entirely accidental
C. It was without logical explanation
The following paragraph contains a claim, evidence, and a conclusion. Identify each element:
"School uniforms should be required in all public schools. A 2019 study of 500 schools showed that those with uniform policies had 25% fewer disciplinary incidents than schools without uniforms. Additionally, interviews with teachers revealed that students spent less time comparing clothing and more time focusing on academics. Clearly, implementing a uniform policy would improve both behavior and academic performance in our schools."
A. Claim: first sentence; Evidence: second and third sentences; Conclusion: last sentence
B. Claim: last sentence; Evidence: first and second sentences; Conclusion: third sentence
C. Claim: second sentence; Evidence: first and third sentences; Conclusion: last sentence
D. Claim: first sentence; Evidence: first and second sentences; Conclusion: none present
A. Claim: first sentence; Evidence: second and third sentences; Conclusion: last sentence
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
''Tis some visitor,' I muttered, 'tapping at my chamber door—
Only this and nothing more.'
What sound device is repeatedly used throughout this stanza?
A. Alliteration
B. Consonance
C. Internal rhyme
D. Onomatopoeia
C. Internal Rhyme
Passage 1: The detective examined the room carefully, noting the overturned chair, the half-empty coffee cup, and the open window. Something had happened here, and recently.
Passage 2: Heart pounding, Maria raced up the stairs two at a time. Behind her, she could hear heavy footsteps gaining on her. The door to the attic was just ahead—if only she could reach it in time.
How do these passages differ in their approach to creating tension?
A. Passage 1 uses setting details to create mystery, while Passage 2 uses action and pacing to create urgency
B. Passage 1 uses dialogue, while Passage 2 uses description
C. Passage 1 uses first-person point of view, while Passage 2 uses third-person point of view
D. Passage 1 uses flashback, while Passage 2 uses foreshadowing
A. Passage 1 uses setting details to create mystery, while Passage 2 uses action and pacing to create urgency
The news of the team's victory spread through the school like wildfire.
Which statement best explains how this figurative language achieves its purpose?
A. It emphasizes how destructive the news was to the school
B. It suggests the news caused actual damage to the school
C. It conveys how quickly and extensively the news traveled
D. It indicates that the news was unexpected and unwelcome
C. It conveys how quickly and extensively the news traveled
The archaeological team made a startling discovery beneath the ancient temple. Artifacts dating back nearly 3,000 years revealed sophisticated metallurgical techniques that scholars had previously believed emerged centuries later. This finding will necessitate a reevaluation of the timeline of technological development in the region.
Which word best describes the tone of this paragraph?
A. Humorous
B. Skeptical
C. Academic
D. Nostalgic
C. Academic
Electric cars are clearly superior to gas-powered vehicles in every way. Anyone who still drives a gas car is either uninformed or doesn't care about the environment. The science is settled on this issue, and there's no reason to continue this debate.
Which type of bias is most evident in this passage?
A. Confirmation bias - only considering evidence that supports the author's view
B. Appeal to authority bias - relying too heavily on expert opinions
C. False dichotomy bias - presenting only two extreme options
D. Bandwagon bias - suggesting something is true because many people believe it
A. Confirmation bias - only considering evidence that supports the author's view
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
What effect does the repetition of the final line create?
A. It suggests the speaker is confused about where they are
B. It emphasizes the speaker's reluctance to leave and the long journey ahead
C. It indicates the speaker is falling asleep while reciting the poem
D. It shows that the speaker has forgotten what they were trying to say
B. It emphasizes the speaker's reluctance to leave and the long journey ahead
The old man had warned them not to enter the cave during a full moon. "Strange things happen when the silver light touches the ancient stones," he had said, his eyes clouded with cataracts but somehow still piercing. Now, as the moonlight streamed through the cave opening, illuminating strange symbols on the wall that hadn't been visible before, Jamie remembered the warning with a shiver.
What narrative device creates the sense of impending danger in this passage?
A. Dialogue
B. Foreshadowing
C. Imagery
D. Personification
B. Foreshadowing
Knowledge is the key that unlocks countless doors of opportunity. Each book you read is a stepping stone on the path to wisdom. Your mind is a garden where ideas grow when properly nurtured.
How do the metaphors in this excerpt help achieve the speaker's purpose?
A. They create a formal tone to intimidate the audience
B. They use concrete images to help the audience understand abstract concepts
C. They establish the speaker as an authority figure who cannot be questioned
D. They deliberately confuse the audience to make them think more deeply
B. They use concrete images to help the audience understand abstract concepts
The painting hung, inexplicably in the most obscure corner of the gallery, despite being the artist's most celebrated work. Critics speculated about the curator's decision, but no official explanation was provided for this puzzling placement.
What is the BEST interpretation of how the word "inexplicably" functions in this passage?
A. It emphasizes the curator's deliberate attempt to hide the artwork
B. It suggests the decision defies logical understanding or explanation
C. It indicates the painting was accidentally placed in the wrong location
D. It reveals the author's disapproval of the gallery's organization
B. It suggests the decision defies logical understanding or explanation