Comprehension
Vocabulary
Word Connotation
Phrases & Clauses
Comprehension
100

Explain why Michael and Stella came to the island.

They fell overboard from a boat and washed up onto the beach.

100

The word defy's meaning in the following sentence:

The child tried to defy the parent when it was time to go to bed.

resist or go against

100

This word completes the sentence with a negative connotation.

He had to ____ him to do his homework.

nag; remind; tell; urge

nag

100

______ Jaime puts her shoes on, we can all go to the library.

Although; As soon as; As though; Rather than

As soon as

100

Explain why it is difficult for Michael to light the fire when he sees the junk, Chinese boat, sailing by.

His hands are shaking because he is both excited and exhausted.

200

The passage is written from this point of view.

It is first-person, or Michael's point of view.

200

The meaning of permeated in the following sentence:

The food coloring permeated all of the water in the jar.

spread throughout

200

This word completes the sentence with a negative connotation.

I was startled by the_____ sound of the birds.

Chirping; screeching; trilling; twittering

screeching

200

________ all the club members are here, we can begin our meeting.

Unless; Now that; So that; Even though

Now that

200

This is what happens when Michael is yelling and thrashing in the sea.

A jellyfish attacks him

300

Explain why the beginning of the passage is  mostly about Michael's thoughts and actions.

Michael doesn't understand what Kensuke is saying, so he spends most of his of time trying to figure things out on his own.

300

The meaning of venture in the following sentence:

We ventured into the old house to see if it was haunted.

enter in an adventurous or risky way

300

This word completes the sentence with a positive connotation.

We camped at the first site that was____.

abandoned; available; deserted; forsaken

available

300

Grace can't go to the baseball game ______ she hasn't studied for the math test yet.

after; because; although; before

because

300

This is a positive effect of Michael getting hurt.

He learns to trust Kensuke.

400

After Michael is paralyzed, his thoughts show this about his opinion of Kensuke.

He's starting to see the world through Kensuke's eyes or see him as a father.

400

The meaning of rigid in the following sentence:

The dead mouse was rigid.

inflexible or hard

400

This word completes the sentence with a positive connotation.

I watched my sister _______ proudly across the stage at the awards ceremony.

Creep; shuffle; stride; trudge

stride

400

_____ your button falls off, sew it back on.

If; So that; Until; Whether 

If

400

Michael says, "He would hold me and sing me softly back to sleep."  This part of the story paints this image in the reader's mind:

a person taking care of a friend
a father taking care of his child
a nurse taking care of a patient
a man taking care of a pet

a father taking care of his child

500

The description of Kensuke's cave shows this about Michael's feelings toward Kensuke.

He is becoming interested in Kensuke.

500

The meaning of sparsely in the following sentence:

Rural communities are sparsely populated.

thinly or few

500

This word completes the sentence with a positive connotation.

We loved staying for a week in a ______ by the lake.

Cottage; hut; shack; shed

cottage

500

I went for a bicycle ride today ____ it was snowing

unless; whether; so that; even though

even though

500

Toward the end of the passage, Michael says he wants to see his parents, but he no longer misses them.  This shows:

Michael longs for his parents' touch.
Michael no longer wants to go home.
Michael now feels comfortable living with Kensuke. Michael is very homesick.

Michael now feels comfortable living with Kensuke.

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