MCAS Questions
Strategies
Writing
Literally Figurative
Misc.
100

When is the English MCAS

April 3rd and 4th -Wednesday, Thursday

100

What should you do before reading the passages?

Read the questions, especially the writing prompts!

100

If you are really struggling with a text-based essay, what is the bare minimum you need to have?

Introduction

1-2 Body Paragraphs

Conclusion

100

What is it called when the author hints at something that will happen later on in the story?

Foreshadowing

100

What is the THEME of this quote?

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.. until you climb into his shoes and walk around in them" 

Don't judge a book by its cover.

People have more going on than you may know.

200

Who grades MCAS?

English teachers!
200

What does Ms. Carroll want to see on your desk during the writing portion of MCAS?

Graphic Organizer / Plan Sheet

200

Is the following prompt a text-based essay or narrative? 

Explain how the students in the poem see the rain as both good and bad. Support your answer with important details from the poem.

Text-Based Essay

200

What does the idiom/saying in this text suggest?

"Valeria has a lot on her plate: she is attending college, has a full-time job as a waitress, and volunteers at the animal shelter."

That she has a lot of responsibilities.

200

The ring you sometimes see around the sun or moon is called a halo. It is believed to be caused by the scattering of sunlight by tiny ice crystals very high in the sky. High clouds of ice crystals in the sky are called cirrus clouds or cirrostratus if they form a layer. These often form in front of warm fronts that bring rain. That means a halo around the sun or moon is often a warning that rain may come. 

The passage is mainly about:

A. the reasons the sun rises. 

B. how halos are formed. 

C. a warning that rain may come.

 D. warm fronts that bring rain.

B. how halos are formed.

300

What are the two types of writing you will see on MCAS?

Text-Based (Essay)

Narrative (Story)

300

Name a strategy to use while answering multiple choice questions.

Process of Elimination / Slash the Trash

Predict

Jail the Detail

Etc...

300

Is this a Text-Based Essay or Narrative?

Write a continuation of “The Lottery” using details from the story.  Describe what you think might happen after Bill Hutchinson’s family wins the lottery.  What does the family win, and how will the story conclude?

Narrative

300

What does the personification in this text suggest?

"Stefan tried to ignore his unfinished essay, but it glared at him from across the room."

It bothered him that his essay was unfinished. 

300

Last night, someone broke all the windows of the empty Kizer building. This is the fourth building in Farrell Square to be damaged at night. The old neighborhood has seen better times. In the past, it was the center of activity in the city. People could go to the park, go shopping, or catch a movie. Now, the screen of the old theater is covered in graffiti. Many of the old shops are now abandoned. The park is overgrown with weeds. 

What conclusion can the reader make from the reading? 

A. Many people used to work in the Kizer building. 

B. Most people want to live near the park. 

C. Many people have moved to other parts of the city. 

D. Kids don't respect their neighborhoods.

C. Many people have moved to other parts of the city.

400

What does MCAS stand for?

Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

400

What should you do the night before MCAS?

Get a good night sleep

Charge Chromebook

400

What type of word helps to show organization at the beginning of a paragraph?

Transition Word

400

What does the metaphor in this text suggest?

"When Cooper lost his job, he was devastated. The only light in the sea of darkness was hopefully getting a new career!"

There was a benefit to Cooper's job loss. 

400

As Amy walked down the sidewalk on her way to school, she noticed that Robby dropped a 20 dollar bill. As Robby continued on his way to school, Amy bent down and picked up the 20 dollar bill. She imagined all the things she could spend it on... ice cream, a new shirt, candy. Then, she imagined how Robby would feel realizing he lost it. She sighed and jogged her way to Robby to give him his money back.

What is the theme?

Be a good person

Don't take what is not yours

Treat people the way you want to be treated

500

What should you do before you submit your work?

Double-check your work and REREAD YOUR WRITING

500

What should you do if you don't know the answer?

Go back into the text. Take your best educated guess. You have a 25% of getting it correct. You are not rewarded or penalized for wrong answers.

500

What are the four parts of C in ACE?

Context

Introduce

Quote or Evidence

Citation (Author 42).

500

What is personification?

Giving human/person like qualities to objects or non-human things.

500

I will supersede Michael as president of the student government. It was time for him to move on anyway.

Supersede most likely means:

A. invite

B. take the place of

c. share

d. examine



B. take the place of

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