Commonly Confused Words
Which their/there/they're is the possessive form?
Their
Paragraph:
_____. They are loyal, friendly, and always excited to see you. Whether you're playing fetch or going for a walk, dogs make wonderful companions. Many people even consider their dogs part of the family.
Choices:
A) Many people are allergic to dogs.
B) Dogs are one of the most popular pets in the world.
C) Some dogs are used to guard houses.
D) My friend has a dog named Max.
B) Dogs are one of the most popular pets in the world
5. Which sentence does NOT belong in the paragraph?
Sentences:
A) Ancient Egyptians used hieroglyphs to record stories and events.
B) Pyramids were built as tombs for pharaohs and were carefully designed.
C) Many early civilizations built complex systems of roads and bridges.
D) Archaeologists study artifacts to learn about life in ancient Egypt.
C) Many early civilizations built complex systems of roads and bridges.
As I stepped onto the stage, my heart pounded in my chest. I couldn’t see much past the bright lights, but I knew the audience was watching. I took a deep breath and began to speak, hoping my voice wouldn’t shake.
Choices:
A) First-person
B) Second-person
C) Third-person limited
D) Third-person omniscient
A) First-person
(Clues: Uses "I" and gives direct access to the narrator’s thoughts.)
1. Choose the TWO nouns in the sentence below.
The puppy chased a butterfly across the garden.
Choices:
A) puppy
B) chased
C) butterfly
D) across
Correct Answer: A) puppy, C) butterfly
Which form of your/you're is used to mean 'you are'?
You're
2. Choose the best closing sentence for the paragraph.
Paragraph:
Volcanoes can be found all over the world. Some are dormant and haven’t erupted in hundreds of years. Others are active and may erupt at any time. Scientists study volcanoes to learn more about how they work and to keep people safe.
Choices:
A) Volcanoes are also known as mountains.
B) I once saw a volcano in a movie.
C) That’s why volcanoes are important to understand.
D) Some volcanoes are made of ice.
C) That’s why volcanoes are important to understand.
1. Which sentence does NOT belong in the paragraph?
Sentences:
A) Volcanoes are usually found near tectonic plate boundaries.
B) Earthquakes can also cause damage to roads and buildings.
C) Lava from eruptions can destroy everything in its path.
D) Volcanic eruptions can also create new land over time.
B) Earthquakes can also cause damage to roads and buildings.
You wake up to the sound of your alarm buzzing loudly. It’s still dark outside, but you know you have to get moving. You drag yourself out of bed and shuffle to the bathroom.
Choices:
A) First-person
B) Second-person
C) Third-person omniscient
D) Third-person limited
B) Second-person
(Clues: Uses “you,” placing the reader directly in the character’s shoes.)
2. Choose the ONE adverb in the sentence below.
She sang beautifully during the school concert.
Choices:
A) sang
B) beautifully
C) school
D) concert
B) beautifully
Which form of to/too/two means 'also/excessive'?
Too
6. Choose the best opening sentence for the paragraph.
Paragraph:
_____. Some insects use camouflage to blend into their environment. Others have bright colors to warn predators that they are poisonous. These adaptations help insects survive in the wild.
Choices:
A) Insects are gross and should be avoided.
B) Many insects have clever ways to protect themselves.
C) Some animals, like lions, also use camouflage.
D) Bees can sting people when they feel threatened.
B) Many insects have clever ways to protect themselves.
2. Which sentence does NOT belong in the paragraph?
Sentences:
A) I used to have a pet hamster named Muffin who loved carrots.
B) Hamsters sleep during the day and are more active at night.
C) They like to run on wheels and burrow in bedding.
D) Hamsters are small animals often kept as pets.
A) I used to have a pet hamster named Muffin who loved carrots.
3. Which best describes the narrator's point of view and reliability?
Samantha always thought she was the smartest kid in class. No one else ever raised their hand as often or finished tests as quickly. In her mind, the others were just too slow to keep up.
Choices:
A) First-person, unreliable
B) Third-person omniscient, reliable
C) Third-person limited, possibly biased
D) Second-person, unreliable
C) Third-person limited, possibly biased
(Clues: Third-person uses “she,” but we only get Samantha’s thoughts, suggesting limited POV — and her overconfidence shows bias.)
3. Choose the TWO adjectives in the sentence below.
The old tree stood next to a wooden bench in the park.
Choices:
A) tree
B) old
C) wooden
D) park
Correct Answer: B) old, C) wooden
Led or Lead: He _ the blind man to the ice cream shop.
Led
7. Choose the best closing sentence for the paragraph.
Paragraph:
Learning to play an instrument takes practice and patience. At first, it may seem frustrating, especially when you're just starting out. But over time, your skills improve and you start to enjoy the music you're making.
Choices:
A) That’s why I stopped playing guitar after one week.
B) Playing music is something everyone should be forced to try.
C) In the end, sticking with it can be very rewarding.
D) Instruments are usually made of wood or brass.
C) In the end, sticking with it can be very rewarding.
2. Which sentence does NOT belong in the paragraph? (Very Hard)
Sentences:
A) The invention of the printing press made books more accessible and increased literacy in Europe.
B) Paper was originally invented in China long before it reached Europe.
C) As books became cheaper to produce, new ideas spread more quickly across continents.
D) The printing press played a major role in the Reformation and the rise of modern education.
B) Paper was originally invented in China long before it reached Europe.
4. What is the point of view in this paragraph, and how do you know?
Ella frowned as she stared out the window. The rain hadn’t stopped all day, and she missed playing outside. Her brother, watching her quietly from the hallway, wanted to cheer her up but didn’t know how.
Choices:
A) First-person, because we hear Ella’s thoughts
B) Third-person omniscient, because we hear both Ella’s and her brother’s thoughts
C) Third-person limited, because we only know Ella’s thoughts
D) Second-person, because it involves “you”
(Clues: Narrator gives us thoughts from both Ella and her brother, which shows omniscient POV.)
B) Third-person omniscient, because we hear both Ella’s and her brother’s thoughts
4. Choose the THREE verbs in the sentence below.
He ran, jumped, and laughed as the rain poured down.
Choices:
A) ran
B) jumped
C) laughed
D) rain
Correct Answer: A) ran, B) jumped, C) laughed
Accept or Except: Will you please _ my help?
Accept
8. Choose the best opening sentence for the paragraph.
Paragraph:
_____. Some foods give us energy quickly, like fruit and bread. Others, like nuts or cheese, keep us full for longer. Choosing a healthy mix of foods helps our bodies work their best.
Choices:
A) Nutrition labels are sometimes confusing.
B) Everyone should try new foods when they travel.
C) The food we eat plays an important role in how we feel.
D) I ate a peanut butter sandwich for lunch today.
C) The food we eat plays an important role in how we feel.
1. Which sentence does NOT belong in the paragraph? (Very Hard)
Sentences:
A) The ocean covers over 70% of the Earth’s surface and plays a vital role in climate regulation.
B) Coral reefs, often called the "rainforests of the sea," support thousands of marine species.
C) Plastic pollution is a serious issue that affects marine life and water quality.
D) Rivers are important sources of freshwater for many communities and ecosystems.
D) Rivers are important sources of freshwater for many communities and ecosystems.
5. What makes the narrator in this paragraph unreliable?
Of course I won the race. I’m the fastest kid in school — probably in the whole city! No one even came close to catching me. Sure, Jake says he was ahead for a while, but he must be confused.
Choices:
A) The narrator uses second-person and is clearly mistaken
B) The narrator brags a lot and dismisses others’ opinions, suggesting bias
C) The narrator is in third-person and sounds unsure
D) The narrator gives us everyone's thoughts, so it must be accurate
B) The narrator brags a lot and dismisses others’ opinions, suggesting bias
(Clues: First-person narrator shows overconfidence and rejects another perspective, suggesting unreliable narration due to bias or exaggeration.)
5. Choose the ONE adverb in the sentence below.
Lena almost missed the bus because she arrived late.
Choices:
A) missed
B) bus
C) arrived
D) late
Correct Answer: D) late