Perspective & Context
Lena looked at the new homework rule and smiled. “This will help me remember my assignments,” she said.Marcus shook his head. “I think it's unfair. Some students have responsibilities at home and may not have time to finish extra work.”
What does the passage contain? What is your evidence?
A. Two perspectives
B. A rhyme scheme
C. One audience
D. A diagram
Answer: A
Evidence: Lena views the rule as helpful, while Marcus views it as unfair
Join Us at Pine Creek Park!
Pine Creek Park needs our help! Join us this Saturday at 9:00 a.m. to pick up litter, plant flowers, and clean the walking trails. Bring a water bottle and wear comfortable shoes. Together, we can make our neighborhood park cleaner and safer!
What is the author's primary purpose? Defend your answer with evidence.
A. Tell a fantasy story
B. Entertain readers
C. Describe a character
D. Persuade people to participate
Answer D
Speaker must prove:
The passage directly invites readers to join the cleanup and tells them what to bring/do.
Why Sleep Matters
How Sleep Helps the Brain
Sleep gives the brain time to process information.
How Sleep Helps the Body
Sleep gives the body time to rest and recover.
Healthy Sleep Habits
Going to bed at the same time each night can help create a healthy routine.
Question:
Why does the author use headings? Defend your answer with evidence.
A.To create rhyme
B. To organize the information into sections
C. To show dialogue
D. To identify the narrator
Answer: B
Evidence: Each heading tells readers what information they will find in that section.
How does the author's use of Jordan's thoughts and actions develop the text? Defend your answer with evidence
A It provides a bibliography.
B. It creates a heading.
C. It states the main idea.
D.. It develops Jordan's characterization
Answer: D
Evidence: Jordan's thoughts and physical reactions show that he is nervous before the audition.
Read the passage.
October 15
The lights went out just after dinner. At first, we thought the electricity would return quickly, but the storm had damaged several power lines. By morning, the electricity was still out, and the neighborhood had become very cold.
Which context BEST helps the reader understand the diary entry?
A. A recipe the writer likes
B. The writer's favorite shoes
C. The writer's favorite sport
D. What caused the blackout and how long it lasted
Answer D
Evidence: The storm caused the power outage, and the length of the outage explains why conditions became difficult.
Bus Information
Students who ride Bus 214 should arrive at their bus stop by 7:10 a.m. The bus will arrive at school around 7:35 a.m. Families should check the website each morning for updates about delays or schedule changes.
Who is the MOST likely audience? Defend your answer with evidence.
A. Novelists
B. Professional athletes
C. Tourists
D. Students and families
Answer: D
Evidence: The passage gives students and families information about getting to school.
The History of the School Garden
2021: Students planned the garden.
2022: The first plants were grown.
2023: Families began volunteering.
2024: The garden produced enough vegetables to share with the cafeteria.
Question:
How does the timeline contribute to the text? Defend your answer with evidence.
A. It creates an informal tone.
B. It proves everything happened in one day.
C. It shows the order in which events happened.
D. It replaces the written information.
Answer: C
Evidence: The dates allow readers to follow the garden's development from 2021 to 2024.
“We should take the trail by the river,” Ana said.
“No way,” Malik replied. “The map says the bridge is closed.”
“Then we'll have to find another route,” Ana said.
How does the dialogue develop the plot?
A. It introduces or deepens a conflict.
B. It provides a text feature.
C. It defines an unknown word.
D. It creates the setting.
Answer: A
Evidence: Ana and Malik disagree about which route to take, creating a problem they must solve.
Read the passage: Carlos wanted to save his money for a new bicycle. His brother Mateo wanted to spend their money on tickets to a concert.
“We have been saving for months,” Carlos said.
“But the concert is this weekend!” Mateo replied.
How do the characters' perspectives interact? What's your evidence?
A. Their different priorities create disagreement.
B. They completely agree.
C. The setting disappears.
D. The genre changes.
Answer: A
Evidence: Carlos prioritizes saving while Mateo prioritizes spending the money now.
Why Bees Matter
Bees help pollinate many of the plants that produce fruits and vegetables. However, bees can have difficulty finding food in areas with few flowering plants. You can help by planting flowers such as sunflowers, lavender, and other plants that provide food for bees.
Which TWO purposes does the author develop? Defend your answer.
A. Inform readers about bees and encourage them to help
B. Entertain readers and confuse them
C. Narrate a story and frighten readers
D. Compare bees and criticize gardeners
Answer: A
Evidence: The first two sentences inform readers about bees, while the final sentence encourages readers to plant flowers.
Marcus walked slowly through the empty school hallway after the final bell. The lights flickered above him. A locker door creaked open even though no one was nearby. Marcus stopped and listened
What mood is created by the author's word choices?
A. Eerie
B. Cheerful
C. Peaceful
D. Celebratory
Answer: A
Evidence: Words such as empty, flickered, creaked, and no one was nearby create an unsettling feeling.
Eli stared at the locked gate. He knew the race would begin in ten minutes, but he wasn't sure which path to take. He stopped to study the map before moving forward.
Question:
How can Eli's characterization influence the pacing?
A.It only describes the setting
B. His hesitation always speeds up the plot.
C.. His hesitation slows the action.
D. Characterization cannot affect events.
Answer: C
Evidence: Eli pauses to study the map instead of immediately moving, slowing the action before the race.
Read the passage:
Two weeks after Hurricane Elena damaged the town, the mayor spoke at a community meeting. Several roads were still blocked, and many families needed temporary housing. The mayor thanked volunteers and explained plans to repair roads and help families find safe places to stay.
How does the context influence the speech? Defend your answer with evidence.
A. It removes the author's purpose.
B. It causes the speech to focus on mythology.
C. It causes the speech to focus on recovery, safety, and community needs.
D. It makes the audience irrelevant
Answer: C
Evidence: The hurricane damage and families' needs directly explain why the mayor discusses recovery and safety.
Using the Library Database
Need reliable information for your next research project? Log in to the school library database and select a topic from the search menu. You can narrow your results by choosing books, articles, or videos. Ask the librarian if you need help finding information.
Who is the MOST likely audience? Defend your answer with evidence
A. Chefs
B. Home buyers
C. Students needing research help
D. Tourists travelling to Italy
Answer: C
Evidence: The passage refers to a research project, school library database, and librarian.
Read the passage:
After school, Maya strolled across the courtyard toward her friend's house. She smiled and waved to students along the way.
If the author changed the sentence to say, “Maya stormed across the courtyard,” her movement would seem very different.
Question:
How does replacing “strolled” with “stormed” change the meaning?
A. It makes Maya's movement seem more forceful or angry.
B. It makes Maya seem calmer.
C. It changes the passage into a weather report.
D. It creates no change.
Answer: A
Evidence: Strolled suggests relaxed movement, while stormed suggests forceful movement and can communicate anger
Why Recycling Matters
Recycling can reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills. For example, paper, metal, and certain plastics can often be collected and processed into new materials. When communities recycle these materials, fewer usable resources are thrown away. In short, recycling is one way communities can reduce waste.
Question:
Which expository techniques does the author use?
A. Main idea, facts/details, and closure
B. Dialogue, conflict, and setting
C. Rhyme and stanza
D. Characterization and plot
Answer: A
Evidence: The article introduces a main idea, provides supporting information, and ends by restating the main point.
Read the passage:
At first, Nia refused to ask her teammates for help. “If I need help, everyone will think I can't do it,” she thought. When the project became difficult, she finally asked her teammates for ideas. Together, they solved the problem and finished the project.
How does Nia's perspective develop? Defend your answer with evidence.
A. She begins to see collaboration as useful.
B. She never changes her perspective.
C. She decides teamwork is harmful.
D. She stops caring about the project.
Answer: A
Evidence: At first she sees asking for help negatively, but after working with her team, she recognizes that collaboration helped solve the problem.
Every Drop Counts
A dripping faucet can waste gallons of water over time. Long showers and leaving water running while brushing your teeth can also increase water use. Turn off the faucet while brushing and take shorter showers to help reduce unnecessary water waste.
Why does the author include BOTH facts about water waste AND tips for reducing it? Defend your answer with evidence .
A. To inform readers about a problem and encourage action
B. To create a story about historical fiction
C. To hide the author's purpose
D. To develop a character
Answer: A
Evidence: The first part explains the problem; the final sentence gives readers actions they can take.
A New Technology Lab
The town library had only six computers, and students often had to wait for an available computer after school. A survey showed that many students did not have reliable internet access at home.
A New Solution
The library converted an unused meeting room into a technology lab with fifteen computers.
Extended Hours
The library also began staying open later on school nights so students could complete research and assignments.
Question:
How do the headings “A New Solution” and “Extended Hours” contribute to the author's purpose?
A. They provide details about the history of the library.
B. They create a fictional story about students using computers.
C. They organize the information by showing the different ways the library responded to students' needs.
D. They make the author's argument less clear by adding unrelated information.
Answer C is correct because the headings organize the library's responses into two sections. ‘A New Solution’ explains the new computers, while ‘Extended Hours’ explains the library's schedule change
Read the passage:
Community Gardens
The garden behind the community center provides fresh vegetables for nearby families. Neighbors also work together to plant, water, and care for the garden. On Saturday mornings, people from several blocks meet there to share gardening tips and harvest vegetables.
Question:
Which TWO details BEST support the idea that community gardens benefit neighborhoods?
A. Fresh produce and shared space for neighbors
B. Green fences and a six-letter word
C. Packets and brown soil
D. Gates and signs
Answer: A
Evidence: The passage specifically explains that families receive fresh vegetables and neighbors work together in the shared space.