Reading across genres & Vocabulary
As the storm rolled in, the wind gnawed at the trees, tugging at their branches until they creaked. Maya pulled her jacket tighter and hurried home.
Based on the context, what is the BEST meaning of gnawed in this sentence?
A. Bit the trees into tiny pieces
B. Pushed and pulled at something over and over
C. Quietly blew past the trees
D. Protected the trees from breaking
B. Pushed and pulled at something over and over
A passage explains how hurricanes form by describing:
Warm water heating the air
Air rising into the atmosphere
Winds beginning to spin
The storm growing stronger over time
What is the PRIMARY text structure used in this passage?
A. Cause and Effect
B. Compare and Contrast
C. Problem and Solution
D. Sequence
D.
The bell rang as rain slammed against the windows. Students rushed inside, shaking water from their jackets while thunder growled overhead.
Which TWO literary elements are clearly established in this passage?
A. Character and theme
B. Setting and mood
C. Point of view and plot
D. Conflict and resolution
B.
“As a doctor with over 20 years of experience treating children, I strongly believe students should get more sleep before school.”
Which rhetorical appeal is the speaker primarily using?
A. Pathos
B. Logos
C. Ethos
D. Bandwagon
c
“The leaves whispered secrets as the wind passed through the trees.”
Which type of figurative language is used?
A. Metaphor
B. Simile
C. Personification
D. Allusion
C
During tryouts, my heart was a drum, pounding louder with every step I took on the court.
Coach’s whistle cut through the air like a knife, sharp and sudden.
Which answer choice best explains how the figurative language in BOTH sentences contributes to the tone?
A. It creates a calm tone by showing how relaxed the narrator feels.
B. It creates a tense tone by showing how intense and nerve-wrecking tryouts are.
C. It creates a funny tone by exaggerating how silly basketball tryouts can be.
D. It creates a confusing tone by making the reader unsure what is happening.
B. It creates a tense tone by showing how intense and nerve-wrecking tryouts are.
Many students believe that talent alone leads to success. However, research shows that students who set goals, practice consistently, and reflect on mistakes improve more over time than those who rely only on natural ability.
What is the BEST statement of the central idea of this passage?
A. Some students are naturally talented.
B. Practicing every day is tiring.
C. Success is mostly determined by effort and goal-setting, not just talent.
D. Mistakes should always be avoided.
C.
In a story, a boy lies to avoid trouble, but the lie grows bigger and causes him to lose his best friend. By the end, he admits the truth and apologizes.
Which statement BEST expresses the theme of the story?
A. Friends like honesty
B. Lying causes serious consequences
C. Boys get into trouble
D. Apologies are hard
B
“Students should have longer lunch periods because studies show that students who eat balanced meals perform better in class.”
Which part of the statement is the evidence?
A. Students should have longer lunch periods
B. Because studies show
C. Students who eat balanced meals perform better in class
D. Lunch is important
c
The fireworks went BOOM! and the crowd gasped as colors burst across the night sky.
Which TWO literary devices are MOST clearly used in this sentence?
A. Onomatopoeia and imagery
B. Metaphor and allusion
C. Simile and personification
D. Inference and synthesis
A
Text 1 (Narrative): A short story about a boy who struggles with failing a science test, studies with a friend, and eventually improves his grade.
Text 2 (Informational): An article explaining strategies students can use to recover from low grades, such as meeting with teachers, studying with peers, and setting goals.
Which statement is the BEST objective summary that connects BOTH texts?
A. Both texts show that science is the hardest school subject.
B. Both texts explain that failing a test means you are not smart enough to succeed.
C. Both texts show that students can improve their grades by using specific strategies and not giving up after failure.
D. Both texts describe how teachers should give less homework so students do better.
C. Both texts show that students can improve their grades by using specific strategies and not giving up after failure.
An article explains that when forests are cut down:
Animals lose their homes
The soil becomes weaker
Flooding becomes more common
The air becomes more polluted
Which statement BEST explains how the structure supports the central idea of the article?
A. The sequence of events shows the order of deforestation.
B. The compare-and-contrast structure shows forests versus cities.
C. The cause-and-effect structure shows how one action leads to many environmental problems.
D. The problem-and-solution structure shows how deforestation is easily fixed.
C.
Read the passage:
I watched my brother step onto the stage, his hands shaking as the crowd grew silent. I wanted to shout encouragement, but my voice felt trapped in my chest.
Which statement BEST describes the point of view and its effect?
A. First-person POV, which limits the reader to the narrator’s emotions and observations
B. Third-person omniscient POV, which reveals everyone’s thoughts
C. Second-person POV, which places the reader inside the action
D. Third-person limited POV, which follows multiple characters
A
“Year after year, students are trapped in overcrowded classrooms, robbed of the attention they desperately deserve.”
Which explanation BEST describes how the word choice supports the author’s argument?
A. The author uses neutral language to calmly explain the issue.
B. The author uses emotional language to create urgency and sympathy for students.
C. The author uses technical language to sound more knowledgeable.
D. The author uses humor to make the issue seem less serious.
b
Jamal’s words hit me like a thunderclap, and suddenly the room felt colder.
What can the reader BEST infer about how the speaker feels?
A. Calm and relaxed
B. Shocked and hurt
C. Joyful and excited
D. Playful and amused
B
You read these two texts about social media:
Text A: Poem – A poem describes social media as a “shiny mirror” that only shows “the best angles” and “filters out the truth.” The speaker sounds uneasy about how people hide their real selves online.
Text B: Article – An informational article explains both the benefits (staying connected, sharing ideas) and risks (privacy issues, comparing yourself to others) of social media, using facts and expert quotes.
Which statement BEST explains how the authors’ purposes and perspectives are different?
A. Both authors want to entertain readers by making jokes about social media.
B. The poem mainly expresses a negative, cautious perspective, while the article has a more balanced purpose: to inform readers about both pros and cons.
C. The poem is written to convince readers to use social media more, while the article is written to entertain readers with funny stories.
D. The poem and article both have the same purpose and perspective: to explain why social media should be banned.
B. The poem mainly expresses a negative, cautious perspective, while the article has a more balanced purpose: to inform readers about both pros and cons.
Two authors write about school uniforms:
Author 1 argues that uniforms improve focus and reduce bullying.
Author 2 explains the history of school uniforms and how policies differ around the world.
Which statement BEST explains the difference in the authors’ purposes and perspectives?
A. Both authors share the same perspective and purpose.
B. Author 1’s purpose is to persuade using a positive viewpoint, while Author 2’s purpose is to inform using a neutral perspective.
C. Author 1’s purpose is to entertain, while Author 2’s purpose is to persuade.
D. Author 1 is negative about uniforms, while Author 2 is emotional.
B.
The clock ticks loud in the empty room,
Each second marching like a drum.
How does the poet’s use of sound devices and figurative language MOST contribute to the meaning?
A. It creates humor by making the clock seem silly
B. It emphasizes how time moves slowly and heavily
C. It shows that the speaker enjoys being alone
D. It proves the poem is about music
B
“According to the National Sleep Foundation, teenagers need at least 8–10 hours of sleep each night. Yet many students are forced to wake up before sunrise for school. Imagine trying to learn while exhausted every day. That’s why school should start later.”
Which rhetorical strategies is the author using?
(Choose the BEST answer.)
A. Only ethos
B. Only pathos
C. Logos and pathos
D. Ethos and bandwagon
c
The principal’s message was short and clipped: “We need results. Now.”
Students shifted in their seats as the room fell silent.
Which statement BEST explains how diction and syntax contribute to the tone?
A. The long, flowing sentences create a relaxed and friendly tone.
B. The informal word choice makes the principal seem cheerful and playful.
C. The short, abrupt sentences and commanding diction create a tense, urgent tone.
D. The complex sentence structure makes the message confusing and unclear.
C
You read two texts about competition:
Text 1: Short Story – A girl named Lila loses a big race. At first, she feels “crushed” and “defeated,” but later she decides to keep training, telling herself, “This loss is just the starting line.”
Text 2: Editorial – The author argues that competition can help students grow. The writer uses phrases like “healthy pressure” and “opportunities to learn from failure.”
Which TWO statements BEST explain how the authors use word choice (connotation) to develop a similar idea about competition?
A. Both texts use negative words like “crushed” and “defeated” to show that competition always harms students.
B. Both texts use language that shows failure can lead to growth, such as “starting line” and “opportunities to learn from failure.”
C. The story uses only positive words about competition, while the editorial uses only negative words.
D. The story’s phrase “this loss is just the starting line” and the editorial’s phrase “healthy pressure” suggest that challenges can be the beginning of improvement, not the end.
B and D
You read an editorial arguing that students should start school later. The author claims that later start times improve focus, grades, and mental health. The author includes:
Data showing teens get more sleep
A quote from a sleep scientist
A story about one student feeling less tired
Which TWO choices BEST support the author’s argument with credible evidence?
A. The personal story about one tired student
B. The data showing teens get more sleep
C. The quote from a sleep scientist
D. The author’s opinion that mornings are “the worst”
B &C
Poem: A speaker describes climbing a mountain alone, struggling upward but refusing to stop despite fear and exhaustion.
Short Story: A girl trains for months after failing repeatedly at a sport. The story is told in third-person limited, showing only her thoughts.
Which TWO statements BEST explain how theme and point of view work together across BOTH texts?
A. Both texts develop the theme that perseverance leads to growth.
B. Both texts use first-person narration to show the character’s struggles.
C. The poem’s first-person perspective creates a personal struggle, while the story’s third-person limited still allows readers to closely experience the character’s determination.
D. The poem focuses on nature, while the story focuses only on competition, so they do not share a theme.
A & C
Text 1: Uses statistics about student stress levels and GPA changes.
Text 2: Tells an emotional story about a student who cried nightly due to overwhelming homework.
Which TWO statements BEST analyze the authors’ rhetorical choices?
A. Text 1 relies more on logos to convince the reader using data.
B. Text 2 relies more on pathos by appealing to the reader’s emotions.
C. Both texts rely only on ethos to prove their points.
D. Neither text attempts to persuade the reader.
a &b
Text A (Informational): An article explains that access to clean parks increases physical activity, mental health, and community connection.
Text B (Narrative): A story about a boy who begins visiting a new neighborhood park daily and becomes more confident, healthier, and more socially connected.
Which statement BEST synthesizes ideas from BOTH texts?
A. Parks are places where people play sports and relax.
B. The article supports exercise, and the story is about a boy who likes to be outside.
C. Both texts show that access to parks can improve people’s health and well-being in multiple ways.
D. The story proves that only children benefit from parks.
C