Story Elements
Name the main character, setting, and one event from "Charlotte's Web."
Wilbur (the pig) is the main character, the setting is Zuckerman's farm, and one event is Charlotte writing words in her web to save Wilbur.
Add the prefix "un-" to these words to make them mean the opposite: happy, tied, fair
unhappy, untied, unfair
Identify whether this is a simile or metaphor: "Her voice was music to my ears."
This is a metaphor because it directly states that her voice IS music, without using "like" or "as."
Label each statement as FACT or OPINION:
The Earth orbits around the Sun = FACT
Pizza is the best food ever = OPINION
Choose the best transition word to connect these sentences: "I wanted to go to the park. ________, it started to rain." Options: However, Therefore, Furthermore
However
In a story, the main character faces a problem with a bully at school. What story element is being described?
Conflict
Choose the correct meaning of the underlined prefix: The runner was disqualified from the race.
The prefix "dis-" means "not" or "the opposite of" - so disqualified means "not qualified" or "removed from qualification."
What point of view is being used in this passage? "I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the giant turtle. I ran to tell my friends about it."
First-person point of view (using "I" and telling the story from one person's perspective)
What is the theme of this short story?: A girl who always practices piano finally wins a competition, while her talented friend who never practices loses.
Hard work and dedication pay off in the end. (Or: Success comes from effort, not just natural talent.)
What does the idiom "hit the books" mean?
To study or work hard on schoolwork
Explain the difference between internal and external conflict. Give an example of each.
Internal conflict happens within a character (their thoughts, feelings, decisions). Example: A character feeling scared about moving to a new school. External conflict happens between a character and something outside themselves. Example: A character trying to survive in a snowstorm.
Match these words with their correct meanings:
Invisible
Impossible
Nonstop
Disappear
Identify the type of figurative language in this sentence: "The wind whispered through the trees, telling secrets of the forest."
This is personification because it gives the wind human qualities (the ability to whisper and tell secrets).
Identify two supporting details from this paragraph that help prove that dolphins are intelligent animals:
"Dolphins are considered highly intelligent. They can recognize themselves in mirrors, which shows self-awareness. Scientists have observed dolphins using tools like sponges to protect their snouts while foraging on the ocean floor. They also have complex communication systems and can learn new behaviors quickly."
Supporting details include: 1) They can recognize themselves in mirrors, showing self-awareness, and 2) They use tools like sponges to protect their snouts while foraging.
Choose the correct meaning of the word "present" in each sentence:
How does the setting of a story influence the plot?
The time when a story takes place affects what's possible in the plot, and where a story happens creates specific opportunities and challenges.
The word "import" can be a noun or a verb with different meanings. Create two sentences that demonstrate both uses.
Noun: "The car was an expensive import from Germany." Verb: "The company will import coffee beans from Brazil.
Explain how an author's choice of third-person limited point of view affects what the reader knows about the characters.
In third-person limited, we only know the thoughts and feelings of one character, while other characters' thoughts remain unknown to us. This creates mystery about other characters' motivations and helps build suspense. It also allows readers to connect deeply with the main character while maintaining some distance.
Read the following paragraph and determine what supporting detail is NOT relevant to the main idea: "Recycling is important for our planet. It reduces the amount of waste in landfills. Recycling saves energy compared to making products from raw materials. Many celebrities endorse recycling programs on social media. It also conserves natural resources for future generations."
The irrelevant supporting detail is "Many celebrities endorse recycling programs on social media," as this doesn't directly explain why recycling is important for the planet.
elect the best transitions to improve the flow of this paragraph: "_____, plants need sunlight to grow. _____, they require water and nutrients from the soil. _____, different plants need different amounts of each resource. Cacti, _____, need very little water compared to ferns."
Options: First, Second, However, For example, Therefore, In conclusion
First, Second, However, For example
n literature, the "falling action" and "resolution" are sometimes confused. Explain the difference between these two parts of plot structure and identify which typically comes first in a story's sequence.
The falling action follows the climax and shows the immediate effects of how the main conflict was addressed. It begins to tie up loose ends and shows declining tension. The resolution (or denouement) comes last and reveals the final outcome for characters and situations after all conflicts are settled. Falling action always comes before resolution in the story sequence.
Here are new questions for the Word Wizardry and Language Masters categories:
WORD WIZARDRY - $500 (Extra Hard)
Question: For each word below, add the correct prefix (un-, dis-, in-, im-, or non-) to create a word with the given definition:
intransparent
disagree
nontoxic
Write two sentences about a storm that each use different types of figurative language (simile, metaphor, personification, or idiom).
Examples might include: "The wind howled like an angry wolf through the trees" (simile). "The lightning was a photographer, taking flashbulb pictures of the landscape" (metaphor/personification).
Read this paragraph:
"The American bald eagle was chosen as the national symbol in 1782. It represents strength and freedom. Eagles can spot prey from nearly a mile away. They can fly up to 30 miles per hour and dive at speeds over 100 miles per hour. Many people believe this magnificent bird was the perfect choice to represent America."
Identify the main idea, distinguish between facts and opinions, and explain which supporting details are most effective in developing the main idea.
The main idea is that the bald eagle was chosen as America's national symbol. Facts include: chosen in 1782, can spot prey from a mile away, can fly 30 mph and dive at 100+ mph. Opinions include: "represents strength and freedom" and "was the perfect choice." The most effective supporting details are those that demonstrate the eagle's impressive abilities (vision and speed), as these factual details support why it might have been chosen as a symbol of strength and freedom.
Read these sentences with missing transition words: "The team practiced every day. _______, they lost the championship. _______, they decided to practice even harder next season. _______, their dedication impressed their coach."
Choose the BEST transitions from this list to make the paragraph logical: however, therefore, meanwhile, in addition, nevertheless, furthermore
The team practiced every day. However, they lost the championship. Therefore, they decided to practice even harder next season. Furthermore, their dedication impressed their coach.