Reading Comprehension
What is the main conflict in a story where a student must choose between friendship and honesty?
Internal conflict – the student struggles with a moral decision.
Identify the subject in this sentence: “The cat jumped on the windowsill.”
The cat
A type of writing that presents an argument and supports it with evidence.
What is argumentative writing?
This type of structure shows how two or more things are alike and different.
Compare & Contrast
This means giving full attention to the speaker without interrupting.
What is active listening?
The café buzzed with the quiet hum of conversation, though most faces were tilted toward glowing screens. A couple sat across from each other, hands wrapped around warm mugs, but their eyes rarely met. Messages chimed softly, thumbs moved in practiced rhythm, and laughter seems quieter than it used to be. Outside, a child tugged at her father’s sleeve, pointing at a passing dog, but he barely looked up from his phone. In the corners of the room, moments flickered—small chances to connect—fading behind the glass of illuminated devices.
What is the overall tone of the passage?
A) Joyful and optimistic
B) Angry and confrontational
C) Melancholic and reflective
D) Neutral and factual
C) Melancholic and reflective
In the sentence “She loves swimming,” the word “swimming” is a type of verbal functioning as this part of speech.
What is a noun?
This type of writing involves explaining or narrating a topic such as a historical event, scientific experiment, or technical process, while organizing and analyzing relevant information to convey ideas and concepts clearly.
What is an informative/explanatory text?
Words like "problem," "solution," "conflict," and "resolve" help show what structure?
Problem and Solution
Speakers often organize speeches using this 3-part structure.
What is introduction, body, and conclusion?
“I’m fine,” Mara said quickly, staring at the last ember. Her voice trembled, barely louder than the wind.
In “The Last Ember,” this character claims to be "fine," but her trembling voice and focus on the fading fire suggest she’s hiding deeper fears.
Who is Mara?
"The dog ___ through the park."
A) run
B) runs
C) running
D) ran
What is 'runs'?
What format do we use in essays?
MLA format
This text structure tells events in the order they happened. What is it?
What is chronological order?
How should you respond to a classmate’s opposing viewpoint in a debate?
What is by respectfully disagreeing and providing evidence for your position?
Samantha loved the stars. One night, after reading about astronomy, she attended a lecture by Dr. Greene. His clear explanation of star formation and galaxies inspired her to pursue astronomy.
How does the author’s structure support Samantha’s growing interest in astronomy?
The author uses a chronological structure to show how Samantha’s interest grows, with Dr. Greene’s lecture serving as the key moment that inspires her.
What’s the correct way to punctuate this sentence: “I went to the store but they were closed.”
I went to the store, but they were closed.
A statement that expresses the main idea of an essay.
What is a thesis statement?
What is one purpose of using headings and graphics in an informative text?
A. To make the text look longer
B. To help organize ideas and make them easier to understand
C. To replace all writing in the text
D. To confuse the reader
B. Headings and visuals guide the reader and break down complex info for better comprehension.
In a class debate, one student shares an opinion about school uniforms that you disagree with.
What is the most appropriate way to respond?
A. “That’s dumb. No one likes uniforms.”
B. “I see your point, but I disagree because uniforms limit student expression.”
C. “Whatever, I’m not listening to that.”
D. “You’re wrong. Everyone hates uniforms.”
B. “I see your point, but I disagree because uniforms limit student expression.”
In a story about a boy and an injured bird, this theme is conveyed through the boy’s patience and the bird’s gradual recovery, ultimately showing how their bond helps heal both of them.
What is the theme of the passage?
What is healing takes time and kindness?
"Walking down the hallway, the loud fire alarm startled Jason."
What is the best way to revise this sentence to correct the misplaced modifier?
A. Walking down the hallway, Jason was startled by the loud fire alarm.
B. Jason walking down the hallway, the loud fire alarm startled him.
C. Jason, the loud fire alarm startled while walking down the hallway.
D. The loud fire alarm startled Jason walking down the hallway.
A. Walking down the hallway, Jason was startled by the loud fire alarm.
The process of checking a draft for grammar and punctuation errors.
What is proofreading?
A student is writing about climate change and uses a comparison between two cities. What does this choice show about their writing skills?
A. They’re avoiding facts
B. They are using classification instead of real info
C. They’re applying comparison/contrast to highlight differences and deepen understanding
D. They misunderstood the assignment
C. Comparing real examples shows advanced thinking and analysis—key to strong informative writing!
Avoiding filler words like “um” or “like” helps improve this.
What is fluency?