Things Good Test Takers Do and Know
Parts of Speech
Figurative Language
Poetry
Open Response
100

What does a wise student read before beginning to read a MCAS passage?

All the directions and all multiple choice questions.

100

What part of speech is a person, place, idea or thing?

A noun.

100

What is a form of figurative language that compares two things 

BUT DOES NOT use the words "like" or "as"

 EXAMPLE: Love is a beautiful rose.

Metaphor

100
Just like prose is chunked in paragraphs, poems are chunked into these
stanzas
100
What should the first sentence (topic sentence) of your open response should do?
It should restate the question.
200

What does a Wise Tester highlight in the questions and the text?

In a question, wise testers highlight the WHERE and WHAT in a question. 

In the text, wise testers highlight the answers to questions. They DO NOT highlight random sentences or words that do not answer questions.

200
What describes the noun? (Example: The FUZZY, BLUE blanket was on the couch.)
adjectives
200

What is a form of figurative language that directly compares two things by using the words "like" or "as"? EXAMPLE: Her eyes sparkle like diamonds.

Similes

200
What is the pattern rhymes in a poem called? EXAMPLE: abab, abba, abcb
rhyme scheme
200
How many examples should you include in your open response?
At least three examples.
300

What story elements make up plot?

Conflict, Rising Action, Climax and Falling Action

Conflict=problems in story

climax=most important/exciting event

falling action= wrapping up story usually has a resolution to the characters problem (s)

300

What is the verb in the following sentence: 

The child thought about her dog all day.

thought (to think)

300
What is a form of figurative language that gives human traits to objects, animals or ideas? EXAMPLE: The rain danced on the roof all night long.
Personification
300
What is the name of the musical beat to a poem?
rhythm
300

Name a pre-writing activity that will help you organize your thoughts before you begin writing your open response.

Creating a graphic organizer like a t-chart or boxes with bullets or list characters, settings, problem-solution or adventure your character will go on,

400

Name the four reasons why an author writes something (author's purpose):

1. to entertain 2. to express feelings 3. to inform 4. to persuade

400
Use a pronoun in place of the capitalized nouns: ANGELICA and RUBEN swept the entire classroom.
They
400
What is obvious and intentional exaggeration? EXAMPLE: I am so hungry I could eat a horse.
hyperbole
400
What is the name of the poetry device which begins two or more consecutive words with the same letter and sound? EXAMPLE: Two terrible tigers tortured two tiny turtles.
alliteration
400

Restate the following MCAS open response prompt: Based on the article, describe how roller coasters have changed over time. Support your answer with important details from the article.

Roller coasters have changed over time.

500

How does a wise tester double-check their MCAS test?

They  reread each story, reread each multiple choice and make sure they picked the best answer, and reread the open response question and their response to make sure they have done their absolute best on the entire test!!!!

500

What is the adverb in the following sentence: 

Joe quickly walked home from school. 

quickly

500
What do you call a word that imitates (sounds like) the sound it represents? EXAMPLE: buzz, bang, crackle, pop
onomatopoeia
500
Matching the final sound in two or more words is called? Example: rose, hose, doze, toes
rhyme
500

It is important that your open response has a good balance of your own words and direct quotes from the text. Remember the whole point is for you to explain HOW your evidence proves your answer. What sentence frames can you use to create this balance?

In paragraph ______ it states "_____________________." This shows _________________________________.

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