Commonly Confused Words
Punctuation
Essay Writing
Academic Vocabulary
ACT Vocabulary
100
It's or Its? ______ time to watch the game!
It's
100
Correct any mistakes: Its time to go watch Jimmys game. I hope it's as exciting as Sarahs' was last week!
It's time to go watch Jimmy's game. I hope it's as exciting as Sarah's was last week!
100
Is the following quote correctly cited? If not, correct it. In Boy's Life Cory explains, "I grew up in a magic town." (4 McCammon).
In Boy's Life Cory explains, "I grew up in a magic Town" (McCammon 4). BONUS: What is the other mistake in the sentence? (nothing to do with citations).
100
What are the three types of irony?
Dramatic irony, verbal irony, situational irony. BONUS: Define each one.
100
Is the word "malleable" used correctly in the following sentence? BONUS: Identify the mistake in this sentence. "The kings rain was threatened because of his malleable nature; he was always giving in to the bad advice of his foolish friends."
Yes, the word is used correctly. BONUS: Rain (water) vs reign (rule)
200
Correct any mistakes: Always be sure to site your webcites correctly!
"cite your websites"
200
Make any necessary corrections to the following: First, I hope to get an A in my English class, and then I hope to have a great break!
Correct as is
200
Italicize, underline, or put in quotations the following: the play Romeo and Juliet, Robert Frost's The Road Not Taken, and the short story Fish Cheeks.
Romeo and Juliet: Italics, "The Road Not Taken," and "Fish Cheeks"
200
An object, person, place, or thing that represents or stands for something else. What is this?
A symbol
200
Correct or incorrect? His hands were so full of copious that he could barely avoid dropping everything.
Incorrect! BONUS: explain why.
300
Whether or weather? The __________ outside is frightful...
Weather
300
Make any necessary changes: “I just can’t play well when I’m always hungry,” he said to his understanding band mates.
Correct as is!
300
What is the purpose of a thesis statement?
To summarize the whole argument of the paper.
300
What is the definition of the word "paraphrase"?
To put an author's words into your own.
300
Which word would make the most sense in the following sentence? "The conflict was so ______________ that negotiations soon became impossible." A: Concord B: Malevolent C: Tenuous D: Intractable
D: Intractable
400
To, two, or too? I really need ____ go ____ school early; I have ___ tests ___ make up. But I don't want _____ get their ____ early!
I really need to go to school early; I have two tests to make up. But I don't want to get their too early! BONUS: Find the OTHER commonly confused word mistake!
400
He picked up his cobalt, blue guitar and we began jamming to the tunes of our favorite musician.
He picked up his cobalt blue guitar, and we began jamming to the tunes of our favorite musician.
400
Assume you are asked to write an argumentative essay on the following topic: "The United States should abolish the death penalty" Which of the following choices would be the BEST example of a good thesis for this prompt? A: The United States should abolish the death penalty. B: The death penalty has been the focus of endless debate in the united states for over a century. C: The death penalty is an immoral, flawed system of punishment and should be abolished in the United States. D: Many have argued that the United states should abolish the death penalty because it is too flawed, while others have argued that its flaws do not outweigh its usefulness.
C
400
What is the difference between indirect and direct characterization?
Indirect: clues/hints about a character's personality Direct: when the reader is directly told about a character's personality BONUS: Name some of the things that can be used to indirectly characterize someone.
400
Correctly use the words "succinct," "obstinate," and "destitute" in a sentence (or sentences).
Read your answer out.
500
Tests are the worst. Their only redeeming feature is that there only one class period long. Its the worst thing in the world not knowing weather you passed the test or not. It seems like my teachers favorite pastime is torturing us with tests.
Tests are the worst. Their only redeeming feature is that they're only one class period long. It's the worst thing in the world not knowing whether you pass the test or not. It seems like my teacher's favorite pastime is torturing us with tests.
500
After the game but before we go home, I really need to pick up milk, paper, and cheese, but I also need to go running outside, and you need to do your homework!
Correct as is! Just stylistically awful.
500
Is the following quote properly integrated? As Cory leaves the classroom, Mrs. Neville looks out over the empty class, sad and distant. "All the empty desks, waiting for next year's class" (McCammon, 97).
No! For two reasons: (1) Better to connect to not separate the quote into its own sentence, join it with your own words into one sentence! (2) Who is speaking? Mrs. Neville? Cory? Narrator? BONUS: Fix the citation mistake.
500
What is the mood of the following passage: "The night was cold and quiet; the sound of the wind pushing against the side of the apartment building was the only noise. As I sat in bed, occasionally glancing at the clock, my mind drifted back to my conversation with my boss. "Fired" has such a sense of finality. How am I going to make rent? I've got a bit of food left in the fridge, and Ramen is cheap. I won't starve for at least a little while... But what will I do when that runs out? I've got to find more work, but it took so long to get the last job. What can I do...? A: Despondent B: Apathetic C: Genial D: Judicious
A: Despondent
500
What are the correct definitions of the words "connotation" and "denotation"?
Connotation: the implied emotional meaning behind a word's literal meaning Denotation: the dictionary (or literal) definition of a word
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