HIGH SCHOOL ASSESSMENT REVIEW

READING, REVIEWING & RESPONDING TO TEXTS

100

Snow covered the dust,
softened the
fences,
soothed the parched lips
of the land.

In these lines soothed means

A. cushioned

B. lightened

C. quieted

D. relieved

What is D. relieved

200

“Good Hotdogs” is a poem about the memory of rushing to the store with a close friend to buy hotdogs after school. The speaker provides many sensory details to describe the experience.


Which of these phrases best identifies the main focus of the poem?

A. a fond memory

B. favorite foods

C. a forgotten friend

D. childhood beliefs

What is A. a fond memory

300

Louise, who is a great believer in the benefits of physical exercise, had the idea that it would be a pleasant excursion for us to walk from her house across Tallahassee to her friend’s house.


The narrator most likely uses the words “pleasant excursion” in this sentence to suggest that her sister’s idea is

A. brilliant

B. insightful

C. ridiculous

D. scary

What is C. ridiculous

400

And perhaps I, the parent, needed...oh, who knows? All I really know is that the fireflies appreciated my effort that night.

Which word best describes the tone of these lines?

A. apologetic

B. instructive

C. mournful

D. satisfied

What is D. satisfied

500

“Good Hotdogs” is a poem about the memory of rushing to the store with a close friend to buy hotdogs after school. The speaker provides many sensory details to describe the experience.

The poet’s use of short phrases and the absence of punctuation throughout the poem create

A. anxiety

B. confusion

C. excitement

D. humor

What is C. excitement

COMPOSING IN A VARIETY OF MODES

100

After reading poems and essays about the natural world, students in Mrs. Edwards’ English class wrote essays about nature. The following item is about activities the students completed while planning and researching their essays.

George identified the following topics to include in his essay.

common behaviors of birds
enjoyment of bird watching

Which of these topics would be most appropriate for George to add to his list?

A. most interesting birds

B. birds in national forests

C. global warming and birds

D. titles of books about birds

What is A. most interesting birds

200

Read the sentence. Then choose the clearest and most effective revision of the sentence.

I was excited when I saw myself on the six o'clock news, and I called all my friends, and they turned on their televisions.


A. Excited, I called my friends, and when I saw myself on the six o'clock news, they turned on their televisions.

B. Excited, I saw myself on the six o'clock news, and I called my friends, and they turned on their televisions.

C. Excited, I called my friends to tell them to turn on their televisions when I saw myself on the six o'clock news.

D. Excited, I saw myself, and I called my friends to tell them to turn on their televisions when I was on the six o'clock news.

What is C. Excited, I called my friends to tell them to turn on their televisions when I saw myself on the six o'clock news.

300

Jessica used information from an Internet site about famous Marylanders in her essay.

All of these would be included in the bibliographic citation for the Internet site EXCEPT

A. the title of the article

B. the Internet site address

C. the title of the Internet site

D. the number of related links

What is D. the number of related links

400

After reading a novel set in the future, students were asked to write about significant changes that occurred in the last two centuries. Pedro decided to write about changes in communication technology.

Which of these would most likely contain useful information about Pedro's essay topic?

A. a list of types of communication technology devices

B. an Internet article about using technology efficiently

C. a book about the history of communication technology

D. a table of data showing the falling cost of new technology

What is C. a book about the history of communication technology

500

Saeed would like to add a list of resources about saving the Chesapeake Bay to the end of his essay.

Which of these resources would be best to add to his list?

A. www.aboutthechesapeakebay.gov

B. www.chesapeakebaypreservationfoundation.org

C. A Guidebook to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

D.An Encyclopedia of the Wildlife of America’s Inlets and Bays

What is B. www.chesapeakebaypreservationfoundation.org

CONTROLLING LANGUAGE

100

When the wave dug into the sand, it formed a brown tube or a golden one.

In this sentence, the pronoun it refers to

A. the wave

B. the sand

C.a brown tube

D. a golden one

What is A. the wave

200

Which of these is an incomplete sentence that should be revised?

A. All a bird-watcher needs: a pad, a pen, and a bird guidebook, which usually can be found at a public library.

B. Beginners just need to write descriptions of the birds they see and then find those birds in the guidebook.

C. Before long, those beginners will become experts on local birds.

D. This terrific hobby almost guarantees that there will always be something interesting to see.

What is A. All a bird-watcher needs: a pad, a pen, and a bird guidebook, which usually can be found at a public library.

300

1. Jim entered the kitchen.
2. Jim’s heart fell.
3. Jim saw Mama in the black skirt.


Which of these most effectively combines the ideas into one sentence?


A. Jim entered the kitchen, his heart fell, and he saw Mama in the black skirt.

B. Since Jim saw Mama in the black skirt entering the kitchen, his heart fell.

C. Seeing Mama in the black skirt while entering the kitchen, Jim’s heart fell.

D. As Jim entered the kitchen, his heart fell because he saw Mama in the black skirt.

What is D. As Jim entered the kitchen, his heart fell because he saw Mama in the black skirt.

400

Sailor and Canton were bred with other dogs.

Which sentence clearly and effectively adds supporting details to Sentence 8?

A. Sailor and Canton were strong swimmers, and they were bred with other dogs that had hunting abilities which is what was wanted in their offspring.

B. Sailor and Canton were strong swimmers and were bred with other dogs to develop hunting abilities in their offspring.

C. Sailor and Canton, they were strong swimmers who were bred with other dogs with hunting abilities in order to develop those hunting abilities in their offspring.

D. Sailor and Canton, strong swimmers, were bred with other dogs because they wanted hunting abilities in their offspring.

What is B. Sailor and Canton were strong swimmers and were bred with other dogs to develop hunting abilities in their offspring.

500

In 1807, the crew of a Baltimore ship the Canton saw an English ship sinking at sea.


What is the correct way to edit the underlined portion of Sentence 5?

A. ship the Canton, saw

B. ship, the Canton saw

C. ship, the Canton, saw

D. Best as it is

What is C. ship, the Canton, saw

EVALUATING CONTENT, ORGANIZATION, & LANGUAGE USE OF TEXTS

100

A lot of snow fell in the mountains last night during the storm.


Revise for a more descriptive style.


A. Snow fell heavily during the night, during the storm, in the mountains.

B. A lot of snow fell in the mountains, and it fell last night during a storm.

C. According to the latest weather observations, snowfall was heavy in the mountains during the storm last night.

D. Glistening flakes of snow fell all night during the storm, covering the mountains with a carpet of white.

What is D. Glistening flakes of snow fell all night during the storm, covering the mountains with a carpet of white.

200

People are irritating when they listen to their favorite kind of music but won’t listen to other types of music.


Revise to the least critical tone.

A. People can annoy others when they listen only to their favorite music but won’t listen to other types of music.

B. People are in danger of angering others when they insist on their favorite music despite other available music.

C. People who like a certain kind of music should be willing to recognize the value of other types of music as well.

D. People can be considered narrow-minded when they refuse to consider other types of music besides their own favorite tunes.

What is C. People who like a certain kind of music should be willing to recognize the value of other types of music as well.

300

White light that hits a prism changes into colors ranging from red to violet.


Revise to the most descriptive style.

A. When a beam of white light strikes a prism, colors ranging from red to violet are created.

B. A beam of white light that goes through a prism breaks into different colors ranging from red to violet.

C. When white light moves through a prism, the beam is broken into colors that range from red to violet.

D. As a beam of white light passes through a prism, it spreads out in a rainbow of colors that range from red to violet.

What is D. As a beam of white light passes through a prism, it spreads out in a rainbow of colors that range from red to violet.

400

Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.


The poet most likely includes these lines to

A. predict social change in the future

B. tell where he will eat the next day

C. express anger for past treatment

D. warn uninvited guests to stay away

What is A. predict social change in the future

500

Then, while we watched in stunned reverence, the strange beast found its bearings and began to reveal a determined, crabby grace.


The author most likely includes the phrase “determined crabby grace” to suggest

A. the difficulty with which Buster moved

B. the complexity of Buster's movements

C. the strength required for Buster to move

D. the cramped manner of Buster's movements

What is B. the complexity of Buster's movements

GRAMMAR

100

Which one of the following sentences uses the apostrophe correctly?

A. She enjoyed the movie and told me it’s scenery reminded her of her hometown.

B. You really ought to take up fly-fishing—it’s a very relaxing hobby.

C. This is a fine piece of furniture, and it’s merits speak for themselves.

D. She wants to study music in all of it’s various genres.

What is B. You really ought to take up fly-fishing—it’s a very relaxing hobby.

200

In which one of the following sentences is the semicolon used correctly?

A. There were five items on the kitchen counter; a coffeemaker, a bag of beans, a grinder, a sugar bowl, and a cracked cup.

B. At first I couldn’t make out what kind of bird it was, but as it swooped low, I recognized it by its markings; a peregrine falcon.

C. I still need to take History 101; Math 410; and Biology 243.

D. In the nineties, everyone was listening to grunge; today, everyone seems to tune in to hip-hop.

What is D. In the nineties, everyone was listening to grunge; today, everyone seems to tune in to hip-hop.

300

It's a really big assignment. I'm going to have to ______ in a lot of hard work.

A. set

B. call

C. put

D. get

What is C. put

400

Select the sentence that represents the correct subject and verb agreement.


A. Bob and Sam is in a hurry.

B. Bob need to get home by noon.

C. Sam want to leave now.

D. Bob and Sam are on time.

What is D. Bob and Sam are on time.

500

Everyone recognizes the name Oprah.
The subject is

A. Everyone

B. name

C. Oprah

What is A Everyone