Plot
The falling action demonstrates Alex's character development through:
A) His initial anger toward Lily
B) His competitive spirit about the contest
C) His compassionate response after Lily breaks the frame
D) His criticism of Lily's costume choice
C) His compassionate response after Lily breaks the frame
Which words from the passage help the reader understand the meaning of elaborate in paragraph 2?
A. had won the contest two years in a row
B. his nearly-finished robot costume
C. Alex thought her costume was too "girly
D. complete with glittery wings and a plastic crown.
D. complete with glittery wings and a plastic crown.
The author most likely wants readers to understand that:
A) Winning is the most important thing
B) Siblings always fight
C) Competitive relationships can still include compassion
D) Halloween costumes are stressful
C) Competitive relationships can still include compassion
What change if any should be made to the following sentence?
"It was the night before Halloween and 12-year-old Alex was scrambling like a chicken with its head cut off to finish his costume."
A. Change Halloween to halloween
B. Add a comma before and
C. Take out It was the night before Halloween
D. Change Alex to alex
B. Add a comma before and
Lily’s reaction to breaking the picture frame contributes to the resolution of the story by all of the following EXCEPT -
A. Causing Alex to feel sympathy for Lily and help her.
B. Shifting Alex’s focus from his own costume to Lily’s.
C. Providing an opportunity for Alex and Lily to work together.
D. Showing how Lily was able to find her costume’s wand.
D. Showing how Lily was able to find her costume’s wand.
Read the dictionary entry below.
pore -
(1) n. a small opening in the skin (2) n. a small opening in a leaf (3) v. to read or study with study attention (4) v. to think strongly about
Which definition of pore is most likely used in paragraph 1?
A. Definition 1
B. Definition 2
C. Definition 3
D. Definition 4
C. Definition 3
7. What is the author's purpose in writing this story? CHOOSE TWO.
A. To entertain the reader with a Halloween-themed tale
B. To teach a lesson about the importance of family
C. To persuade the reader to enter a costume contest
D. To explain to the reader how to make a robot costume
E. To show the benefits of working together as a team
A. To entertain the reader with a Halloween-themed tale
B. To teach a lesson about the importance of family
What change should be made to the following sentence?
As alex stood back to admire his nearly-finished robot costume he heard a loud crash from downstairs.
A. Change alex to Alex
B. Insert a comma after costume
C. Change stood to stands
D. Change from to inside
A. Change alex to Alex
Which line from the text signifies a turning point in the story?
A. The prize was a pizza party for the winner's entire homeroom class.
B. "Lily!" he yelled, rushing down to the kitchen.
C. He put his arm around Lily and helped her clean up the mess.
D. The two siblings worked together to make sure Lily's costume was flawless as well.
C. He put his arm around Lily and helped her clean up the mess.
The word "catastrophe" in the title most likely suggests:
A) A minor inconvenience
B) A complete and dramatic failure
C) A typical Halloween experience
D) An expected outcome
B) A complete and dramatic failure
How does the sibling relationship between Alex and Lily change by the end of the story?
A) They become completely antagonistic
B) They show mutual support despite competition
C) They stop talking to each other
D) They decide to quit the contest
B) They show mutual support despite competition
What revision would improve the sentence: "Though they were competitive, they also supported each other, and that's what really mattered."?
A) Though they were competitive, they still supported each other.
B) They were competitive, but they supported each other, and that's what really mattered.
C) Despite being competitive, they supported each other, which mattered most.
D) What mattered most was that they supported each other, despite being competitive.
D) What mattered most was that they supported each other, despite being competitive.
What is the primary conflict introduced in the exposition of the story?
A) Alex and Lily fighting over Halloween costumes
B) Alex's competitive desire to win the school costume contest
C) The challenge of creating a complex robot costume
D) Sibling rivalry about winning the pizza party prize
B) Alex's competitive desire to win the school costume contest.
"Determined" in the context of Alex's costume preparation most closely reveals:
A) Uncertainty and hesitation
B) Emotional volatility
C) Unwavering commitment and focused intentionality
D) Passive acceptance
C) Unwavering commitment and focused intentionality
The author uses third-person limited point of view in order to -
A. Show how Alex’s perspective changes throughout the story
B. Convince the reader that Alex’s costume is better than Lily’s
C. Describe how Alex and Lily’s costumes are similar to each other
D. Convey the competitive nature of Alex and Lily’s relationship
A. Show how Alex’s perspective changes throughout the story.
4. What is the MOST appropriate transition between the second and third paragraphs?
A) Suddenly
B) Meanwhile
C) However
D) Consequently
C) However
Which of the following is the best summary of the passage?
A. Alex builds a robot costume to win a contest, while his sister Lily makes a fairy costume. Lily breaks a picture frame as she looks for her wand, and she begins to cry when Alex comes downstairs.
B. It is the day before Halloween, and Alex is rushing to finish his robot costume for the school costume contest. He is determined to win the contest because the winner gets a pizza party for their class.
C. Alex and Lily compete against each other in the school's annual Halloween costume contest. Alex is confident that he can beat Lily because he thinks her costume is too girly, while his costume is creative.
D. Alex is working hard on his costume for the school’s annual Halloween costume contest, but he is distracted when Lily breaks a picture frame. Alex is angry with Lily at first, but then he and Lily work together to ensure both of their costumes are perfect for the contest.
D. Alex is working hard on his costume for the school’s annual Halloween costume contest, but he is distracted when Lily breaks a picture frame. Alex is angry with Lily at first, but then he and Lily work together to ensure both of their costumes are perfect for the contest.
Which line from the text suggests that Alex is competitive?
A. It was the night before Halloween, and 12-year-old Alex was scrambling to finish his costume.
B. Alex had won the contest two years in a row, and he wasn't about to let his younger sister Lily beat him this time.
C. Seeing his sister so upset made Alex feel guilty for getting angry.
D. The two siblings worked together to make sure Lily's costume was flawless as well.
B. Alex had won the contest two years in a row, and he wasn't about to let his younger sister Lily beat him this time.
Alex's character development is most evident through his:
A) Shift from happy to sad
B) Shift from excited to disappointed
C) Shift from anger to understanding
D) Shift from lonely to friendly
C) Shift from anger to understanding
What is the BEST way to combine these sentences:
"He pored over the instructions for making a realistic-looking robot outfit. Taping metallic sheets to the cardboard box that would be his 'torso.'"
A) He pored over the instructions for making a realistic-looking robot outfit, taping metallic sheets to the cardboard box that would be his "torso."
B) He pored over the instructions, and taping metallic sheets to the cardboard box that would be his "torso."
C) He pored over the instructions for making a realistic-looking robot outfit and taped metallic sheets to the cardboard box that would be his "torso."
D) He pored over the instructions, taping metallic sheets to the cardboard box that would be his "torso."
C) He pored over the instructions for making a realistic-looking robot outfit and taped metallic sheets to the cardboard box that would be his "torso."