Vocab in Context
She was reluctant to speak in front of the class, even though she knew the answer.
What does reluctant most nearly mean?
A. Eager
B. Nervous but willing
C. Unwilling or hesitant
D. Excited
C. Unwilling or hesitant
(1) When preparing raw chicken for cooking, remove as much of the fat as possible to make your entree healthier. (2) Although a small amount of fat might help impart flavor to the cooked chicken, removing the visible fat will reduce calories. (3) Take a few extra moments to trim the skin off the chicken. (4) Other types of meat don’t have skin to remove. (5) Rinse the chicken under cool water and you are all done!
Which sentence needs to be omitted because it is unnecessary and doesn’t help support the purpose?
(4) Other types of meat don't have skin to remove.
Kevin looked back on his summer vacation with regret. He didn’t accomplish any of his summer goals. His intentions were good, especially in the beginning, but he never followed through with his plans. He didn’t spend enough time with his family or his friends. His video games received the most attention.
Which is an objective summary of the excerpt?
A. Kevin should never play video games again.
B. Kevin is irresponsible, and needs to make some changes.
C. Kevin regrets having so many goals to accomplish in the summer.
D. Kevin regrets spending too much time with video games, and too little time with friends and family.
D. Kevin regrets spending too much time with video games, and too little time with friends and family.
Counterclaim paragraphs:
Transition + counterclaim → Evidence + Explain → Transition + ___________ → Evidence + Explain → Concluding sentence.
Rebuttal
"Mr. Waddell gave his class a quiz. Kris sharpened his pencil before starting. "I studied all last night, so I'm prepared," stated Carlos. Alanna did her pre-quiz warm-ups to get the jitters out. Jasmine made sure to say a prayer as the quiz hit her desk. Mrs. Ring crossed her fingers.
What point of view is this passage told from?
A. 1st Person
B. 3rd Person Limited
C. 3rd Person Omniscient
D. 3rd Person Objective
D. 3rd Person Objective
The volcano has become inactive and unchanged for years.
Inactive means:
A. Stagnate
B. Luminous
C. Energetic
D. Boring
A. Stagnate
There is never enough room to pack all of the clothes you want to bring on vacation. On your next trip, remember the fold, roll, and tie method. Soldiers are pros at this technique, and it's also among the best military packing tips to teach yourself. Rather than folding and stuffing your bag, consider rolling your clothing after folding it neatly. This will make more room when packing, because you're tightly rolling your clothing and lessening its capacity.
What is the MAIN structure of this excerpt?
A. Chronological Order
B. Problem and Solution
C. Compare and Contrast
D. Classification – Division
B. Problem and Solution
Since its publication in 1868, Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women has been adapted countless times. Yet the latest film adaptation of Little Women, written and directed by Greta Gerwig, stands apart from the multiple movies, mini-series, and plays that came before it. More than a faithful retelling of Alcott’s novel, Gerwig’s soaring movie is faithful to Alcott’s life—and her legacy as a woman ahead of her time.
What is the main idea?
A. “Little Woman” is a classic novel that is very popular.
B.“Little Woman” has been turned into a movie.
C. The new “Little Woman” movie reflects Alcott’s point of view.
D. Greta Gerwig has directed many famous movies.
C. The new "Little Woman" movie reflects Alcott's point of view.
1) Where (be specific!) should your thesis statement be located in in an essay?
2) What should be included in your thesis statement?
3) How many sentences should your thesis statement be?
2) Reasons
3) One sentence
A literary device where objects, characters, colors, or actions represent abstract ideas, themes, or deeper meanings beyond their literal sense
Symbolism
The politician’s speech was filled with rhetoric, but it lacked clear plans for action.
What does rhetoric most nearly mean in this context?
A. Emotional language meant to persuade
B. Scientific explanation
C. Factual evidence
D. Written instructions
A. Emotional language meant to persuade
Most college students take out student loans. Let’s consider a typical $10,000 loan. Even though you’re responsible for paying back the full $10,000, the amount you’ll receive is $9,893, thanks to the 1.07 percent origination fee. If your educational costs amount to the full $10,000, you’ll need to account for that fee and tack on an additional $107 to the loan. On top of this, you’ll end up paying extra interest on the origination fee as well. This can be confusing to new borrowers.
What can be inferred in this excerpt?
A.People need to consider extra fees and interest when taking out loans.
B.People are always surprised at how much they owe on student loans.
C.Most people take out only $10,000 in loans when they go to college.
D. The origination fee was invented to trick people into taking out loans.
A. People need to consider extra fees and interest when taking out loans.
The dresser in the cellar caught my interest. Somewhere along the way, it had been painted blue. It looked small. And cheap. I remembered it being a much bigger and heavier piece of furniture – more substantial. I recalled standing on the pulls of the bottom drawer to reach the top. Which explained why some of the pulls were missing. I smiled thinking of how I have seen my son scale his dresser in the same way.
Which word BEST explains how the narrator is feeling?
A. Disappointed
B. Nostalgic
C. Annoyed
D. Euphoric
B. Nostalgic
We are the dry wind,
but broken shadows of our former selves.
Left with nothing
but the jealousy in our hearts.
What is the overall tone of this poem?
A. Bitter
B. Excited
C. Formal
D. Humble
A. Bitter
"Mix it all together
And you know that it's the best of both worlds"
- Hannah Montana, The Best of Both Worlds
What kind of figurative language is this?
Idiom
By framing the policy as a “temporary adjustment,” the author downplays its long-term consequences, adopting a tone that borders on disingenuous.
What does disingenuous most nearly mean in this context?
A. Lacking in complexity or detail
B. Not straightforward or honest; misleading
C. Overly emotional and exaggerated
D. Neutral and unbiased
B. Not straightforward or honest; misleading
The youth vote has the potential to be extremely influential in this country. While young voter participation in 2016 declined by 2% from a record 52% at the 2008 election, today the voting population includes almost equal parts millennials and baby boomers. As the boomer electorate decreases in size, experts suggest it is merely a matter of time before millennials become the largest and most powerful group driving future elections in the U.S. Unfortunately, not all who can vote will, meaning that fewer young people get to directly influence issues that might affect their lives for years to come, including college tuition reform and federal job programs.
What is the speaker implying?
A.Millennial voter participation is unnecessary at this time.
B.Baby boomer voting populations are increasing.
C.Young people are not concerned enough about their futures.
D.Millennial voters will change the cost of college tuition.
C. Young people are not concerned enough about their futures.
Mark grabbed his lunch and went to the back of the room. Charles sat down with him, hitting Ben on the head along the way. Kent wiped off the table, his seat, and his tray before sitting down. Alexander laughed about a joke that no one thought was funny.
Which boy can be considered “fastidious”?
A. Mark
B. Charles
C. Kent
D. Alexander
C. Kent
(fastidious - very concerned about matters of cleanliness)
Tiny little secrets
Get buried in the dirt,
And if they were dug up,
Someone would probably get hurt,
So leave them safely there,
To rot amongst the leaves,
Admiring instead,
The truth in summer's green trees.
What is the theme?
A. Focus on the good.
B. Trees are most beautiful in the summertime.
C. Secrets eventually make their way to the surface.
D. People always try to hurt each other.
A. Focus on the good.
Marcus spent all week bragging about how he never procrastinated, proudly reminding everyone that he always finished his work early. When the project was due, he rushed in breathless, empty-handed, asking the teacher for an extension.
What literary device is being used?
A. Repetition
B. Symbolism
C. Irony
D. Oxymoron
C. Irony
Because the witness’s story kept changing, the jury found her testimony dubious.
What does dubious most nearly mean?
A. Convincing
B. Doubtful
C. Candid
D. Modest
B. Doubtful
What obstacles should I avoid when planting my orange tree? Patios will not be a problem because the soil beneath them is usually dry and compacted. Therefore, the roots will not grow into this area as much. You might not expect sewer and water lines to be a problem since they are buried deeply. But, since sewer and water lines tend to be wet, this may cause a problem. Cement walls shouldn’t cause too much trouble.
What can be inferred in this excerpt?
A.Orange trees are more difficult to plant than lemon trees.
B.The soil beneath patios is dryer than beneath cement walls.
C.Tree roots are naturally drawn toward water.
D. Orange trees do not require much water to grow properly.
C. Tree roots are naturally drawn toward water.
The trophy sat on Liam’s shelf, its surface dulled by a thin layer of dust. He passed it every morning without looking, though he always paused to straighten the crooked picture beside it—one taken long before anyone thought to keep score.
What is the most accurate interpretation of the symbolism in this passage?
A. The dusty trophy represents an achievement that has lost personal meaning, while the photograph symbolizes a time valued for connection rather than recognition.
B. The trophy symbolizes Liam’s greatest success, while the photograph represents a forgotten memory.
C. The dust on the trophy suggests neglect caused by Liam’s busy schedule rather than a shift in values.
D. The crooked photograph symbolizes Liam’s desire to improve his past mistakes.
A. The dusty trophy represents an achievement that has lost personal meaning, while the photograph symbolizes a time valued for connection rather than recognition.
I'm Nobody! Who are you?
Are you—Nobody—Too?
Then there's a pair of us!
Don't tell! they'd advertise—you know!
How dreary—to be—Somebody!
How public—like a Frog—
To tell one's name—the livelong June—
To an admiring Bog!
Emily Dickinson
Choose TWO character traits that BEST describe the speaker of this poem.
A. Introspective
B. Cooperative
C. Impulsive
D. Independent
E. Quarrelsome
A. Introspective and D. Independent
His apology was a paper shield, flimsy against the storm he had already set in motion.
What is the most accurate interpretation of the figurative language?
A. The metaphor suggests his apology is weak and ineffective compared to the consequences of his actions.
B. The metaphor suggests his apology protects him from criticism and resolves the conflict quickly.
C. The simile shows that the storm is responsible for the damage rather than his actions.
D. The simile emphasizes that the conflict is minor and easily resolved.
A. The metaphor suggests his apology is weak and ineffective compared to the consequences of his actions.