Vocabulary I
What does the word indifference most nearly mean?
A. Intense passion
B. Hatred
C. Strong unity
D. Lack of concern
D. Lack of concern
The word connoisseur refers to:
A. A casual beginner
B. A wealthy leader
C. An expert with refined taste
D. A strict authority figure
C. An expert with refined taste
A portmanteau is best described as:
A. A figure of speech that contradicts itself
B. A new word formed by blending two words
C. The ordinary language spoken by people
D. A humorous misuse of a word
B. A new word formed by blending two words
What does diction mean in literature?
A. The way a sentence is arranged
B. A type of satire used in plays
C. A contradiction between ideas
D. The author’s choice of words
D. The author’s choice of words
Please read the excerpt from “On Living,” and review the question that follows.
Living is no laughing matter:
you must live with great seriousness
like a squirrel, for example—
I mean without looking for something beyond and above living,
I mean living must be your whole occupation.
What overall tone is conveyed in the excerpt?
A. Playful and carefree
B. Serious and reflective
C. Angry and resentful
D. Light and humorous
B. Serious and reflective
Which word means “to make a problem worse”?
A. Assimilate
B. Exacerbate
C. Heed
D. Persist
B. Exacerbate
Which word best describes “a calm study space that supports focused learning”?
A. Vernacular
B. Mere
C. Conducive
D. Fervent
C. Conducive
Which of the following BEST defines syntax?
A. The study of word origins
B. Harsh criticism of society
C. A pun involving misused words
D. The arrangement of words and phrases to form sentences
D. The arrangement of words and phrases to form sentences
Which of the following is a portmanteau?
A. Brunch (breakfast + lunch)
B. Jumbo shrimp
C. To boldly go where no man has gone before
D. Crash course
A. Brunch (breakfast + lunch)
Please read the excerpt from “On Living,” and review the question that follows.
Living is no laughing matter:
you must live with great seriousness
like a squirrel, for example—
I mean without looking for something beyond and above living,
I mean living must be your whole occupation.
What literary device is used in the line “like a squirrel, for example”?
A. Hyperbole
B. Alliteration
C. Simile
D. Metaphor
C. Simile
The word tenure refers to:
A. A period of holding a position
B. A type of punishment
C. A sudden outburst
D. An emotional breakdown
A. A period of holding a position
Which of these situations shows someone being fastidious?
A. A student quickly writes an essay without checking it
B. A chef rearranges every plate until it looks perfect
C. A teacher ignores errors in a report
D. A group chats without taking notes in class
B. A chef rearranges every plate until it looks perfect
Which of the following is an example of satire?
A. A dictionary definition of a word
B. A fairy tale with magical creatures
C. A news article reporting election results
D. A political cartoon mocking government spending
D. A political cartoon mocking government spending
Which of the following BEST illustrates a paradox?
A. “The car is blue.”
B. “He is as fast as a cheetah.”
C. “Less is more.”
D. “The teacher graded papers.”
C. “Less is more.”
Please read the excerpt from “On Living,” and review the question that follows.
Living is no laughing matter:
you must live with great seriousness
like a squirrel, for example—
I mean without looking for something beyond and above living,
I mean living must be your whole occupation.
Which line best showcases the effect of the author’s command that “living must be your whole occupation”?
A. It emphasizes that life requires full dedication.
B. It suggests that work is more important than relationships.
C. It implies that humans should live exactly like animals.
D. It shows that life is easy and carefree.
A. It emphasizes that life requires full dedication.
Someone who is articulate is best described as:
A. Unable to explain themselves
B. Good at expressing ideas clearly
C. Quick to lose focus
D. Deeply confused
B. Good at expressing ideas clearly
Which situation BEST demonstrates subjugation?
A. A country forcing another group to follow its laws and culture
B. A student studying for three hours straight
C. A person resisting temptation to spend money
D. A teacher giving students a quiz
A. A country forcing another group to follow its laws and culture
Which example shows how syntax can change meaning?
A. “Only she loves him.” vs. “She only loves him.”
B. “Cat” and “dog” mean different animals.
C. “Laugh” and “funny” are synonyms.
D. “Happy” can also mean “joyful.”
A. “Only she loves him.” vs. “She only loves him.”
Why do authors often use satire in their writing?
A. To describe landscapes and settings in detail
B. To confuse readers with contradictions
C. To highlight serious issues through humor and exaggeration
D. To show the origin of words in language
C. To highlight serious issues through humor and exaggeration
Please read the poem, “Sadie and Maud,” and review the question that follows.
Maud went to college.
Sadie stayed at home.
Sadie scraped life
With a fine-tooth comb.
She didn’t leave a tangle in.
Her comb found every strand.
Sadie was one of the livingest chits
In all the land.
Sadie bore two babies
Under her maiden name.
Maud and Ma and Papa
Nearly died of shame.
When Sadie said her last so-long
Her girls struck out from home.
(Sadie had left as heritage
Her fine-tooth comb.)
Maud, who went to college,
Is a thin brown mouse.
She is living all alone
In this old house.
What symbolic meaning does the “fine-tooth comb” carry in the poem?
A. A symbol of wealth and privilege
B. A metaphor for Sadie’s joyful approach to life and how she embraced experiences
C. A symbol of Maud’s quiet education
D. A literal comb passed down to her daughters
B. A metaphor for Sadie’s joyful approach to life and how she embraced experiences
Which sentence uses the word misogyny correctly?
A. The students showed misogyny when they worked together in solidarity.
B.She felt misogyny after passing her test.
C. His misogyny for basketball made him train harder.
D. The book highlighted how misogyny shaped female characters’ experiences.
D. The book highlighted how misogyny shaped female characters’ experiences.
Which scenario BEST illustrates someone being incorrigible?
A. A student who keeps interrupting the teacher even after being corrected many times
B. An athlete who practices daily and steadily improves
C. A musician who learns a new instrument quickly
D. A child who apologizes and changes their behavior after a warning
A. A student who keeps interrupting the teacher even after being corrected many times
Which statement BEST explains what a malapropism is?
A. A word that combines the sounds and meanings of two other words (brunch = breakfast + lunch)
B. A humorous or unintentional misuse of a word, often because it sounds similar to the correct word
C. A phrase that contradicts itself but still reveals a truth (“less is more”)
D. The author’s intentional choice of words to create tone or style
B. A humorous or unintentional misuse of a word, often because it sounds similar to the correct word
In the following dialogue, which line BEST demonstrates a malapropism?
A. Student: “The teacher gave us a pop quiz, and I felt nervous because I hadn’t studied.”
B. Student: “I love science class because we learn about photosynthesis and ecosystems.”
C. Student: “Our principal said the school needs more parent inventions to improve communication.”
D. Student: “The soccer team won their game by two goals.”
C. Student: “Our principal said the school needs more parent inventions to improve communication.”
Please read the poem, “Sadie and Maud,” and review the question that follows.
Maud went to college.
Sadie stayed at home.
Sadie scraped life
With a fine-tooth comb.
She didn’t leave a tangle in.
Her comb found every strand.
Sadie was one of the livingest chits
In all the land.
Sadie bore two babies
Under her maiden name.
Maud and Ma and Papa
Nearly died of shame.
When Sadie said her last so-long
Her girls struck out from home.
(Sadie had left as heritage
Her fine-tooth comb.)
Maud, who went to college,
Is a thin brown mouse.
She is living all alone
In this old house.
What is the main contrast between Sadie and Maud in the poem?
A. Sadie lives fully and leaves a legacy, while Maud is isolated despite her education.
B. Both women reject their family but in different ways.
C. Sadie is ashamed of her children, while Maud is proud of her parents.
D. Maud enjoys her life at home, while Sadie struggles in college.
A. Sadie lives fully and leaves a legacy, while Maud is isolated despite her education.