Parts of Speech
Author's Purpose/Point of View
Story Elements
Context Clues
Revision
100
The Palm Islands The Palm Islands in Dubai are some of the most amazing man–made wonders of the world. The three palm islands consist of the Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali, and Palm Deira, which are being built on the coast of the United Arab Emirates, in Dubai. They were formed in the shape of a date palm because of its ideal shape for creating maximum beachfront. This immense project, constructed by Nakheel Properties, began in June of 2001. The artificial islands will be built with roads, electricity, sewage, phone lines, water, as well as other major commercial and residential infrastructures. The author's attitude about the Palm Islands can best be described as A concerned. B curious. C indifferent. D impressed.
D impressed.
100
The tone of the excerpt is determined mostly by A analogies. B use of figurative language. C dialogue. D setting.
D setting.
100
The thought of year–round schooling makes some people nervous. This is most likely because they do not understand how year–round schooling works. Students might imagine being stuck at their desks all year. Parents may worry about arranging childcare or planning family trips. However, some basic information will dispel these fears. Which dictionary entry best defines dispel as it is used in "Year–Round Schooling Helps Students, Teachers, and Families."? A to scatter about B to break apart C to drive away D to clear out of an area
C To Drive Away
100
Which of the following has correct punctuation? A It takes a strong, skilled athlete to compete in a decathlon and a truly great champion to win one. B It takes a strong skilled, athlete to compete in a decathlon and a truly great, champion to win one. C It takes a strong, skilled athlete to compete in a decathlon and a truly, great champion to win one. D It takes a strong skilled athlete to compete in a decathlon and a truly, great champion to win one.
A It takes a strong, skilled athlete to compete in a decathlon and a truly great champion to win one.
200
Read the sentence below. I am wearing the necklace that my Aunt Clara gave me for my birthday. The words "that my Aunt Clara gave me" function as an . A adjective clause B adverb phrase C adjective phrase D adverb clause
A adjective clause
200
Some argue that frequent breaks at school can make life more complicated for busy parents. Although parents will need to arrange childcare when their children are on break, they have more freedom to take vacations when it is most convenient. Parents no longer have to wait until summer to visit family or plan enjoyable trips with their kids. Vacationing in the off–season also allows families to avoid high prices and large crowds. What is the purpose of this paragraph of "Year–Round Schooling Helps Students, Teachers, and Parents"? A to point out that many families like to go on vacation together during the school year B to show that frequent breaks during the school year make life more difficult for parents and children C to explain that parents need to arrange for childcare for children on breaks D to explain how frequent breaks in the school year help parents
D to explain how frequent breaks in the school year help parents
200
What caused the fox to run away from the eldest son into the woods? A The fox wanted to find the golden bird for himself. B The fox was trying to show the son where the apples were. C The fox was running from the son because he had shot an arrow at him. D The fox was going to show him where the inn was.
C The fox was running from the son because he had shot an arrow at him.
200
Read this sentence. She ruminated over the question because she wanted to make sure that she understood it. Ruminated means . A pondered B barely read C fought D was indifferent
A pondered
200
Read the paragraph below. (1) Last Tuesday, my class went on a field trip to a museum. (2) Although this museum is in our town, I had never been there before. (3) We had a great time and learned how to weave baskets. (4) We saw an ancient skeleton of a dinosaur. (5) This creature roamed Earth many years ago. (6) My favorite part of the museum was the art gallery because I hope to become a famous artist one day. Which sentence is redundant and should be removed from the paragraph? A sentence 2 B sentence 3 C sentence 4 D sentence 5
D sentence 5
300
Read the sentence below. The students who participate in class will earn the best grades. The clause "who participate in class" functions as a(n) . A adverb B verb C noun D adjective
D adjective
300
A Famous Visitor A Spanish bishop discovered the islands back in 1535 when his ship drifted off course while he was sailing to Peru. The next visitor arrived about thirty–five years later. His name was Abraham Ortelius, and he was a Dutch mapmaker. Ortelius named the islands "Galapagos," which is Spanish for "saddle." He thought that the giant tortoises on the islands had shells that looked like saddles. After Ortelius, only pirates and whale hunters occasionally traveled to the Galapagos. People did not seem to care about the Galapagos until the famous scientist Charles Darwin traveled there in 1835. Darwin sailed from England to the Galapagos on a ship called the H.M.S. Beagle. Darwin was a young college student at the time. He had no idea that the specimens he would collect on the islands would be important to science. Darwin's time on the islands led to several discoveries. One of these discoveries concerned the finches on the islands. During the five weeks that he stayed on the islands, Darwin noticed that different types of finches lived on different islands. At first, he thought that these finches were different species. However, he later learned that they all came from a common ancestor. The size and shape of their beaks had changed over time to make them better suited for the kind of food available on each island. For example, finches on one island had to poke holes in cactuses to find food. These finches developed long thin beaks. Finches on another island ate seeds and nuts on the ground. These finches developed shorter thicker beaks that could easily crack open shells. Darwin later explained his ideas in his famous book The Origin of Species. People now call the finches on the Galapagos "Darwin's finches." Darwin made the Galapagos a household name. What is the purpose of the section "A Famous Visitor"? A to explain why Ortelius named the islands Galapagos B to inform readers about the finches on the Galapagos Islands C to explain how Darwin's discoveries drew attention to the Galapagos Islands D to inform readers about the first people who visited the Galapagos
C to explain how Darwin's discoveries drew attention to the Galapagos Islands
300
Based on the events in the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs, what can the reader assume that the 3rd son will do when he reaches the village? A Listen and follow the fox's advice. B Repeat the mistakes of his brother. C Follow his father's orders. D Wander the woods in hopes to find his brothers.
A Listen and follow the fox's advice.
300
Read the sentences from the passage. I had already spent thirty minutes in the theater, and I was starting to get restless. I was anxious to see the movie. You can tell from the sentence that anxious most likely means ______. A nervous B worried C concerned D eager
D eager
300
Read this sentence. Although smaller in size than most candy bars, it was still delicious, and the fact that it was a free gift made it even better. How should the sentence be rewritten for precision of word choice? A Although smaller in size, the free candy bar was delicious. B The small, free candy bar was good and delicious. C A free gift, the small candy bar tasted good. D The free candy bar was small, but delicious.
D The free candy bar was small, but delicious.
400
Read the sentence below. Since I didn't want to displease Mom, I cleaned the kitchen and my room before going to the basketball game. The underlined portion of the sentence is . A a prepositional phrase B a dependent clause C an adverbial phrase D an independent clause
B a dependent clause
400
In "Jared's Secret Clarinet," the phrase "music can be as sweet as a lullaby or as explosive as a volcano" is an example of A an analogy. B a simile. Ca metaphor. D an idiom.
B a simile.
400
What event in the passage foreshadows the youngest son's success in finding the golden bird? A the youngest brother's eagerness to go after his two eldest brothers B the youngest brother's acceptance of the fox's counsel in the wood C when both of the eldest sons did not return D when the youngest son's father initially would not allow the son to venture out as his brothers had
B the youngest brother's acceptance of the fox's counsel in the wood
400
Read these sentences from the passage. At first, he thought that these finches were different species. However, he later learned that they all came from a common ancestor. The author uses the word ancestor in this sentence to show that the finches all came from the same _______? A reptile B fossil C island D relative
D relative
500
Read the sentence below. My father bought milk and butter when he went to the grocery store. In this sentence, the phrase "to the grocery store" functions as . A an adjective B a verb C a noun D an adverb
D an adverb
500
Which phrase is an example of an idiom? A kept an eye on the musicians B took a bow for the audience C he bowed his head D was angry with himself
A kept an eye on the musicians
500
Read the poem and answer the following question(s). The Road Not Taken By Robert Frost Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I– I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. The theme of this poem deals with A the benefits of traveling alone. B one's sense of direction. C the concept of choice. D change over time.
C the concept of choice.
500
Read these sentences from the passage. At Dog Days Salon you will work with diverse breeds. For example, you might groom a Miniature Poodle and a Great Dane in the same morning and go on to trim the toenails of a Toy Pomeranian before teatime. You can tell from the sentences that diverse means . A expensive dogs B the size of the dogs C many different kinds of dogs D purebred dogs
C many different kinds of dogs
500
Which sentence contains proper punctuation? A The fast, laser printer had my report ready in seconds. B Everyone spent several hours studying for the difficult, algebra test. C The busy, parking lot was filled with cars and trucks. D No one wanted to leave the refreshing, cool pool on such a hot day.
D No one wanted to leave the refreshing, cool pool on such a hot day.
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