Grammar & Usage
Identify the correct possessive form:
The ___ performance earned a standing ovation."
Options: actors, actor's, actors'
actor's
What device is used in "The classroom was a zoo" and what basic effect does it create?
Metaphor
It creates a sense of disorder comparing student behaviors to that of animals.
Where does the comma go?
"Before leaving the house she grabbed her keys and phone."
Before leaving the house, she grabbed her keys and phone.
What purpose does an inciting incident serve?
Starts the central conflict that propels the plot
Infer the meaning of "lumic" in:
"The lumic glow of the lantern softened the harsh outlines of the town."
glowing/bright
Clause Classification:
Is the underlined phrase an independent clause or a dependent clause?
Although she practiced for weeks, she still felt nervous.
Dependent Clause
Tone recognition:
"The teacher sighed, glanced at the clock, and prepared another stack of tests."
What is the tone and which word(s) create it?
"Sighed, glances, and prepared."
A sense of tiredness/exhaustion.
Combine without changing meaning:
"She finished her essay. She realized she had forgotten to proofread it."
After she finished her essay, she realized she had forgotten to proofread it.
Give a possible motivation for a character who repeatedly refuses help and describe one action that shows that motivation.
Desire for independence/pride. Character continues to try to fix a hole in a sinking ship that continues to widen.
Explain difference between "childlike" and "childish" and give one context to use each.
"Childlike" = positive innocence/wonder (use: "childlike curiosity")
"Childish" = negative immaturity (use: "childish tantrum").
Subject-verb Agreement:
Each of the students ___ (have/has) a different opinion about the novel.
has
Mixed figurative language:
Write two sentences that use both personification and an metaphor about writing.
Example:
The old typewriter sighed with relief as my ideas poured through it; it became a veteran as it took the onslaught of my words.
For academic audience, which word is stronger and why: "help" or "facilitate"?
Use stronger word in a sentence.
"Facilitate" is more formal and precise for academic contexts.
Example: "The new software will facilitate data analysis."
Write a concise theme for a story where a student learns to value honesty after sharing a lie online.
Honesty is necessary to maintain trust and self-respect in digital relationships.
In two sentences, why does preserving original food names matter when writing about other cultures?
(Things Fall Apart- Fufu & Egusi)
Preserving original food names respects cultural identity and conveys authenticity; it also educates readers about distinct traditions rather than erasing them.
Pronoun clarity:
Revise this sentence to fix an ambiguous pronoun:
"When Maria told Ana that she would not attend, she was disappointed.
When Maria told Ana that she would not attend, Ana was disappointed.
Explain how an author’s tone influences reader trust in an informational text; give one brief example.
Tone shapes perceived objectivity—an objective, measured tone builds trust; an exaggerated or biased tone undermines it.
Shapes how words are interpreted.
Revise informal sentence into formal academic wording:
"You guys need to do your homework if you want better grades."
Students should complete their homework to improve their grades.
Describe how first-person narration changes understanding vs. third-person omniscient; include example.
First-person provides intimate access to a narrator's thoughts and bias (limited perspective); third-person omniscient provides multiple characters' internal states and broader context.
What is the difference between a words connotation and denotation?
Connotation: the meaning a word takes on.
Denotation: the definition or real meaning of a word.
Parallel structure & style:
Rewrite the following so it uses parallel structure:
He likes hiking, to swim, and biking on weekends.
He likes hiking, swimming, and biking.
He likes to hike, to swim, and to bike.
Compare simile and irony. Explain how each can create humor versus seriousness, with one short example each.
Simile: humorous when exaggerated ("He ran like a caffeinated squirrel"); serious when solemn ("Her grief hit like winter wind").
Irony: humorous when gap between expectation/reality creates wit (e.g., "The fire station burned down"); serious when it highlights tragic contradictions (e.g., a peace treaty signed by warmongers then broken)
Reduce this sentence by ~30–40% while preserving meaning:
"Due to the fact that there was an unexpected delay in the production schedule, the company chose to postpone the release of the new model."
Because of an unexpected production delay, the company postponed the new model's release.
Choose a character from any book we've read in class. How do symbolism, dialogue, and setting develop that character?
I will decide if you are right or not!!!
Break down a word using Morphology!
What is the meaning of Predisposition?