Vocabulary- Literary Devices
Vocabulary Reading
Main Idea Practice
Poem Practice
100

Alliteration

What is the repetition of initial consonant sound?

100

Topic

What is the overall idea the author is talking about?

100

 People often refer to taxes in terms of their being much too high. In reality, they are probably even higher than you think, because in addition to the federal income tax we are now studying, there are many other Federal, State, and local taxes, including sales taxes, inheritance taxes, state income taxes, personal property taxes, real estate taxes, and others.

These are just some of the most obvious ones.

The main idea is 


a. Taxes are much too high.

b. We pay more taxes than we may realize.

c. Inheritance taxes and real estate taxes are unfair.

d. Some taxes are hidden.

What is "we pay more taxes than we may realize" or B?

100

POEM: He Had His Dream

By Paul Laurence Dunbar

He had his dream, and all through life,

Worked up to it through toil and strife.

Afloat fore'er before his eyes,

It colored for him all his skies:

The storm-cloud dark

Above his bark,

The calm and listless vault of blue

Took on its hopeful hue,

It tinctured every passing beam--

He had his dream.


He labored hard and failed at last,

His sails too weak to bear the blast,

The raging tempests tore away

And sent his beating bark astray.

But what cared he

For wind or sea!

He said, "The tempest will be short,

My bark will come to port."

He saw through every cloud a gleam--

He had his dream.

Why does the poet keep saying “He had his dream”?

a. to have a rhyme

b. to emphasize a theme

c. to tell what the man thought

d. to explain what happened


What is to emphasize a theme?

200

Onomatopoeia

What is a sound word?

200

Main Idea  

what is the author talking about (topic) and their stance/opinion about these ideas?

200

The fact that electronic computers are now used for data processing has led the general public to believe that it is a mysterious, complicated science and that the computers are giant brains. Both of these ideas are false. A computer is basically just a high-speed adding machine that performs the functions it is told to. If the input data are varied even a little, the computer is unable to operate until it is programmed to accept the variations. The business operations it performs are impressive only because of the extremely high speed of manipulation, but most of these operations have been used for decades. Unlike man, the computer performs repetitive calculations without getting tired or bored.

The main idea is...

a. A computer is a high-speed adding machine.

b. A computer is a mysterious giant brain.

c. A computer is impressive because of its high speed.

d. A computer is superior to man in many ways.

What is "A computer is a high-speed adding machine" or A?

200

POEM: He Had His Dream

By Paul Laurence Dunbar

He had his dream, and all through life,

Worked up to it through toil and strife.

Afloat fore'er before his eyes,

It colored for him all his skies:

The storm-cloud dark

Above his bark,

The calm and listless vault of blue

Took on its hopeful hue,

It tinctured every passing beam--

He had his dream.


He labored hard and failed at last,

His sails too weak to bear the blast,

The raging tempests tore away

And sent his beating bark astray.

But what cared he

For wind or sea!

He said, "The tempest will be short,

My bark will come to port."

He saw through every cloud a gleam--

He had his dream.

Why does the poet say “storm-cloud dark”?

a. The man was sad.

b. The sky was cloudy.

c. The man faced problems.

d. The man was worried.


What is the man faced problems?

300

metaphor

What is a comparison not using like or as?

300

Supporting Details 

What are the key details that give further explanation of the topic & main idea?

300

The Louisiana Purchase proved to be one of the shrewdest business pacts in the entire history of the United States. The purchase doubled in the area of the country and provided territory from which fourteen new states were created either wholly or in part. It also gave us control over the mouth of the Mississippi River and opened up the way to foreign trade.

Prior to the purchase, the waterway had been blocked by the Spanish, probably with the approval of Napoleon. The land that was bought was rich in timber, minerals, and natural resources of many kinds. Finally, the cost of the transaction was unbelievably low; the total of $15 million amounted to about four cents an acre.

The main idea is...

a. The Louisiana Purchase was a very good business deal for the U.S.

b. The land bought by the Louisiana Purchase was rich in minerals.

c. The land bought by the Louisiana Purchase was very cheap.

d. Most Americans were very pleased with the purchase.

What is "The Louisiana Purchase was a very good business deal for the U.S." or A?

300

POEM: He Had His Dream

By Paul Laurence Dunbar

He had his dream, and all through life,

Worked up to it through toil and strife.

Afloat fore'er before his eyes,

It colored for him all his skies:

The storm-cloud dark

Above his bark,

The calm and listless vault of blue

Took on its hopeful hue,

It tinctured every passing beam--

He had his dream.


He labored hard and failed at last,

His sails too weak to bear the blast,

The raging tempests tore away

And sent his beating bark astray.

But what cared he

For wind or sea!

He said, "The tempest will be short,

My bark will come to port."

He saw through every cloud a gleam--

He had his dream.

What does it mean when the poet says “He saw through every cloud a gleam”?

a. He was discouraged.

b. He was patient.

c. He had hope.

d. He would have more problems.



What is He had hope?

400

personification

What is a type of metaphor that gives human characteristics to animal object or idea?

400

Imply  

What is to give suggestion to meaning or ideas?

400

There is a common belief that while the dog is man’s best friend, the coyote is his worst enemy. The bad reputation of the coyote traces back to his fondness for small animals; he hunts at night and is particularly destructive to sheep, young pigs, and poultry. Yet it is sometimes wise to encourage coyotes. Provided valuable farm animals are protected, the coyote will often free the property of other animals, like rabbits, which are ruinous to crops and certain trees. He is especially beneficial in keeping down the rodent population. Where coyotes have been allowed to do their work without molestation, ranchers and fruit growers have found them so valuable that they would no more shoot them than they would shoot their dogs.

 a. Under certain conditions the coyote is helpful to man. 

b. The coyote is feared because of his fondness for small animals

 c. Modern ranchers would no sooner shoot coyotes than they would shoot dogs. 

d. The coyote usually prefers rabbits and other rodents to sheep and poultry.

What is "a" or "Under certain conditions the coyote is helpful to man"?

400

POEM: He Had His Dream

By Paul Laurence Dunbar

He had his dream, and all through life,

Worked up to it through toil and strife.

Afloat fore'er before his eyes,

It colored for him all his skies:

The storm-cloud dark

Above his bark,

The calm and listless vault of blue

Took on its hopeful hue,

It tinctured every passing beam--

He had his dream.


He labored hard and failed at last,

His sails too weak to bear the blast,

The raging tempests tore away

And sent his beating bark astray.

But what cared he

For wind or sea!

He said, "The tempest will be short,

My bark will come to port."

He saw through every cloud a gleam--

He had his dream.

Why does the poet write about difficulties?

a. to show that hard work can fail

b. to help people think about problems

c. to discourage people from changing

d. to encourage people to try

What is to encourage people to try?

500

irony

What is it when there is a difference between expectations and reality, most often opposites, used for humor or comparison?

500

Inference 

What is to give clues to the reader so that they can make an educated guess about something

500

In earlier days those who had overseas business which they believed should be discussed personally, took ship and set out across the briny deep. Once aboard they transacted their affairs, engaging in commercial and social matters or conducting government business. Today ships and passengers continue to sail the seven seas, and airplanes soar overhead. But above them all, words speed through the sky – telephone conversations quickly bring together in the most personal fashion people who are separated by thousands of miles. 

a. Overseas telephone service today is ruling out all need for overseas travel. 

b. Nothing can take the place of person-to-person conversation in settling business, social, and government problems. 

c. Many conversations which once required overseas travel can now be conducted by telephone.

d. Even with modern overseas telephone service people continue to travel abroad by ship or by plane.

What is "Many conversations which once required overseas travel can now be conducted by telephone" or C?

500

POEM: He Had His Dream

By Paul Laurence Dunbar

He had his dream, and all through life,

Worked up to it through toil and strife.

Afloat fore'er before his eyes,

It colored for him all his skies:

The storm-cloud dark

Above his bark,

The calm and listless vault of blue

Took on its hopeful hue,

It tinctured every passing beam--

He had his dream.


He labored hard and failed at last,

His sails too weak to bear the blast,

The raging tempests tore away

And sent his beating bark astray.

But what cared he

For wind or sea!

He said, "The tempest will be short,

My bark will come to port."

He saw through every cloud a gleam--

He had his dream.


What line is repeated?

A. He saw through every cloud a gleam

B. He said, "The tempest will be short

C. He had his dream.

D. And sent his beating bark astray.

What is "He had his dream"?

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