NJSLA Basics
This is how long the NJSLA assessment is for Day 1 and Day 2
90 minutes each day (180 minutes in total)
The giant garbage monster moved his grotesque head from side to side as he yelled at the children for stepping on his lawn.
disgusting
What obstacles should I avoid when planting my orange tree? Patios will not be a problem because the soil beneath them is usually dry and compacted. Therefore, the roots will not grow into this area as much. You might not expect sewer and water lines to be a problem since they are buried deeply. But, since sewer and water lines tend to be wet, this may cause a problem. Cement walls shouldn’t cause too much trouble.
What can be inferred in this excerpt?
A. Orange trees are more difficult to plant than lemon trees.
B. The soil beneath patios is dryer than beneath cement walls.
C. Tree roots are naturally drawn toward water.
D. Orange trees do not require much water to grow properly.
C. Tree roots are naturally drawn toward water.
In The Battle of the Bogarts, the three Bogart children battle the wicked King of Summerlin, who steals from the poor. It took three long and challenging battles, but the children defeated the king in the end. The oldest child, Meredith, led the final rebellion with a team of overzealous ostriches. At the end, she was crowned queen. Peace reigned in the City of Emerald for years to come.
What is the theme?
A. There is never a good reason to fight.
B. The importance of being crowned king or queen.
C. In the end, good triumphs over evil.
D. A girl leads a battle.
C. In the end, good triumphs over evil.
(1) As the classroom rhyme goes, Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492 and discovered America. (2) Children enjoy the story of the explorer we celebrate with a federal holiday on the second Monday of every October. (3) As historians have continued to learn and write more about the real life of Christopher Columbus, controversy has arisen over the validity of honoring the explorer as a hero. (4) Historians have uncovered extensive evidence of the damage wreaked by Columbus and his teams, leading to an outcry over emphasis placed upon studying and celebrating him in schools and public celebrations.
During which sentence does the tone of the excerpt begin to change?
Sentence 3:
(3) As historians have continued to learn and write more about the real life of Christopher Columbus, controversy has arisen over the validity of honoring the explorer as a hero.
(1) My school bus is as slow as molasses in winter. (2) It takes forever to get to my stop in the morning. (3) My teeth chatter as I wait in subzero temperatures for it to arrive. (4) It is the bane of my existence. (5) If I could drive at 13 years of age, my life would be much easier.
Which sentence has an example of onomatopoeia?
3) My teeth chatter as I wait in subzero temperatures for it to arrive.
Onomatopoeia is the formation of a word, such as cuckoo, meow, honk, or boom, by imitation of a sound made by or associated with it.
Check the apple's firmness. Pick up the apple and gently press a small area of the fruit's skin. It should be firm to the touch. Avoid apples that are noticeably soft, discolored, or indent easily after you press the skin. Find eight or nine good ones, and bring them to the register. You will need at least that much to make a pie.
The purpose of this excerpt is to -
A. teach someone how to pick out apples.
B. teach someone how to peel an apple.
C. show someone where to purchase apples.
D. encourage someone to make an apple pie.
A. teach someone how to pick out apples.
This is how many reading passages you will see on both days of the NJSLA assessment
3 each day
Dexter wanted to take honors math, but the course load was too laborious alongside his football practices.
a lot of work
Persian cats, with their luxurious coats and open pansy-like faces are the number one breed in popularity. Their sweet, gentle, personalities blend into most households once they feel secure in their new environment. Creatures of habit, they are most at home in an atmosphere of security and serenity, but with love and reassurance, can easily adapt to the most boisterous of households.
Which is an objective summary of the excerpt?
A. Persians look like flowers, and have long coats.
B. Persians like noisy, energetic homes rather than quiet ones.
C. Persian is the only cat breed that can handle noisy households.
D. Persian cats are very popular, and can easily acclimate to most households.
D. Persian cats are very popular, and can easily acclimate to most households
Evidence: " can easily adapt " " gentle, personalities blend into most household."
Samantha wanted a new cell phone. She worked all summer at the local Dairy Queen. She wasn’t able to attend parties, movies, or beach trips because she worked so many hours. By September 1st she had enough money to purchase the phone. When she got it home, she realized it wasn’t much different than the one she had.
Which is the BEST theme?
A. Work hard to achieve goals in life.
B. A young girl works all summer for a cell phone.
C. People should never work summer jobs.
D. Be careful what you wish for.
D. Be careful what you wish for.
We are the dry wind,
but broken shadows of our former selves.
Left with nothing
but the jealousy in our hearts.
What is the overall tone of this poem?
A. Bitter
B. Excited
C. Formal
D. Humble
A. Bitter -
Evidence "Left with nothing
but the jealousy in our hearts."
Romeo and Juliet literally loved each other to death, but if it was taken figuratively, which type of figurative language would it be?
Hyperbole (Exaggeration)
Snoring is a natural event for both people and animals. It can be very annoying to sleep around people who snore. Often, people say it is the “bane of their existence”. Those who are around people who snore suffer from insomnia. This is a sleep disorder that is characterized by having difficulty falling or staying asleep.
What is the structure of this excerpt?
A. Chronological Order
B. Problem and Solution
C. Compare and Contrast
D. Cause and Effect
D. Cause and Effect
Snoring causes insomnia in other people.
Which two writing prompts could you see on Day 1 of the assessment
Narrative Writing or Literary Analysis
I wanted to give the new kid a chance, but when he started telling me that he could ride his skateboard on top of the telephone wires, all I could do was stare at him with an incredulous smirk
In all chaotic beauty lies a wounded work of art.
Beautiful but torn, wreaking havoc on my heart.
Camouflaged by insecurities, blinded by it all.
I love the way you sit there an barely notice me at all.
Which words BEST sum up the central idea of this poem?
A. Integrity & Honesty
B. Pain & Loneliness
C. Encouragement & Inspiration
D. Desperation & Revenge
B. Pain & Loneliness
Evidence:
I love the way you sit there an barely notice me at all.
Tiny little secrets
Get buried in the dirt,
And if they were dug up,
Someone would probably get hurt,
So leave them safely there,
To rot amongst the leaves,
Admiring instaead,
The truth in summer's green trees.
What is the theme of the poem?
A. Focus on the Good
B. Trees are most beautiful in the summertime
C. Secrets eventually make their way to the surface
D. People always try to hurt each other.
A. Focus on the Good
Evidence - " Secrets -
So leave them safely there... Admire instead,
The truth in summer's green trees.
The dresser in the cellar caught my interest. Somewhere along the way, it had been painted blue. It looked small. And cheap. I remembered it being a much bigger and heavier piece of furniture – more substantial. I recalled standing on the pulls of the bottom drawer to reach the top. Which explained why some of the pulls were missing. I smiled thinking of how I have seen my son scale his dresser in the same way.
Which word BEST explains how the narrator is feeling?
A. Disappointed
B. Nostalgic
C. Annoyed
D. Euphoric
B. Nostalgic
Mrs. Templeton told Veronica that she needed the report stat. At the time, Veronica was eating lunch in the cafeteria. She finished her sandwich, brought her tray to the counter, and took the elevator to the 5th floor. She typed the report, and walked it over to Mrs. Templeton’s office. Then, she took the elevator to the parking lot, and drove home.
Mrs. Templeton told Veronica that she needed the report stat. At the time, Veronica was eating lunch in the cafeteria. She finished her sandwich, brought her tray to the counter, and took the elevator to the 5th floor. She typed the report, and walked it over to Mrs. Templeton’s office. Then, she took the elevator to the parking lot, and drove home.
When Mrs. Templeton said she needed the report “stat” she meant that she needed it -
A. typed instead of hand-written
B. right away
C. by the end of the day
D. when it is convenient
A. typed instead of hand-written
B. right away
C. by the end of the day
D. when it is convenient
B - Right Away
Most parents will agree that sports are good for children. In fact, many parents encourage their children to play certain sports. But recent studies have shown that young athletes who specialize in one sport and train intensively, have a significantly higher risk of stress fractures and other severe overuse injuries. It was found that young athletes who spend more hours per week than their age playing one sport – such as a 12-year-old who plays tennis 13 or more hours a week – were 70 percent more likely to get serious overuse injuries of the back, shoulder or elbow, than other injuries.
Integrate the information from this excerpt. What is the main argument?
A. Playing sports is harmful to your health.
B. Back and shoulder injuries are more common than other injuries.
C. Children under the age of 12 should not play sports.
D. Playing only one sport for too long a period of time may cause injuries.
D. Playing only one sport for too long a period of time may cause injuries.
“But recent studies have shown that young athletes who specialize in one sport and train intensively, have a significantly higher risk of stress fractures and other severe overuse injuries.”
What are three skills they may ask you to analyze on the literary analysis?
-characterization
-theme
-central idea
-figurative language / sensory details
-suspenseful techniques
-plot development
etc.
After Mom found the devoured cake, the dog crouched furtively behind the couch..
“Dog owners can make dog parks better by not allowing their dogs to congregate at entrances and exits. Often, owners let their dogs excitedly rush up to any new dog who comes in, often resulting in a fight. Another way to make the park experience better is to keep moving with the dogs. Instead of standing around in clumps, move around. Often, if the owners keep moving, the dogs will, too.”
Choose TWO central ideas found in this text.
A. Dogs like to fight with each other.
B. Dogs shouldn’t gather at entrances and exits.
C. Owners should keep their dogs mobile instead of stationary.
D. Owners need exercise just as much as their dogs need
B. Dogs shouldn’t gather at entrances and exits.
" by not allowing their dogs to congregate at entrances and exits."
C. Owners should keep their dogs mobile instead of stationary.
"Another way to make the park experience better is to keep moving with the dogs"
Karen thought she could rule the school. She bullied Andrea in the hallways, on the bus, and on social media. She thought it was funny, and never considered the effects of ehr actions on Andrea's feelings of self-worth. IN the end, the anti-bullying laws in their state caught up with Karen and she was expelled from school.
Which is the best theme?
A. Being a good student is important
B. A young girl is bullied in school
C. Goood always triumphs over evil
D. The importance of family and support
C. Goood always triumphs over evil
I come with no wrapping or pretty pink bows.
I am who I am, from my head to my toes.
I tend to get loud when speaking my mind.
Even a little crazy some of the time.
I'm not a size 5 and don't care to be.
You can be you and I can be me.
Which word BEST describes the speaker of the poem?
A. Charitable
B. Despondent
C. Devious
D. Confident
D. Confident - Evidence:
"I am who I am, from my head to my toes.
I'm not a size 5 and don't care to be.
You can be you and I can be me."
Bob’s letter was as long as War and Peace. Brenda raised her eyebrows, sighed, and worked her way through it. The world does not care to hear your sad stories, Brenda thought. She wondered briefly what she would make for dinner.
What is emphasized with the personification in this excerpt?
A. the length of Bob’s letter
B. how high Brenda raised her eyebrows
C. Brenda’s lack of concern for Bob’s feelings
D. Brenda’s hunger
C. Brenda’s lack of concern for Bob’s feelings
1) There are several reasons why eliminating bed bugs is so difficult. (2) These tiny bugs multiply quickly, and they can go long periods of time without their preferred meal: human blood. (3) Bed bugs are hardy, small, flat, lentil-sized insects that are adept at squeezing themselves into tiny spaces. (4) They are commonly found hiding behind loose wallpaper or under floorboards or electrical switch plates. (5) Other insects may be easier to exterminate than bed bugs. (6) To successfully eliminate an infestation, you have to find and kill every viable bed bug, which is not an easy task.
Which sentence needs to be omitted because it is unnecessary and doesn’t help support the claim?
(5) Other insects may be easier to exterminate than bed bugs.
What are two types of narrative prompts that you might see on Day 1?
2. write the story from a different perspective or point-of-view (the point-of-view of another character in the story using information from the passage as a basis for your writing.)
I became indignant after the hostess seated another group of people that arrived at the restaurant after we did.
Angry about being treated unfairly
In Macbeth, the main character hears of his wife's death and gives this soliloquy:
Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
What is Macbeth emphasizing with this soliloquy?
A. Life is sad, but it is silly to want a longer life.
B. Life is short and meaningless.
C. Life is fun, but we all have to go sometime.
D. Life is lonely without adventure.
B. Life is short and meaningless.
Don’t resist;
Be flexible.
Don’t be rigid;
Be supple.
Welcome change!
Each change
Is an illumining opportunity
To knock at the door
Of fulfilling progress sweet.
What is the poem's theme?
Be open to change
Once there was a man who was strong named Shadusa and his wife was named Shettu. When he gathered firewood, he hauled twice as much as anyone else in the village When he hunted, he carried home two antelopes at once.
One day, Shadusa said to his wife, "Just look at these muscles. I must be the strongest man in the world. From no on, just call me Master Man."
Shettu said, "Quit your foolish boasting. No matter how strong you are, there will always be someone stronger. Watch out, or someday you may meet him."
What will most likely happen in this story?
A. Shettu will leave Shadusa because of his vanity.
B. Shadusa will meet someone who can run really fast.
C. Shettu wil beat Shadusa in a tree lifing contest.
D. Shadusa will meet someone that will humble his pride.
D. Shadusa will meet someone that will humble his pride.
Evidence: "Watch out, or someday you may meet him."
"Life is a highway that takes us through green pastures, vast deserts, and rocky mountains. Sometimes your car breaks down or you run out of gas, and sometimes you get lost. Friends are the roadmaps that help you get where you're going."
What is this paragraph an example of?
A. Hyphenated modifiers
B. Historical Allusion
C. Extended Metaphor
D. Literary Allusion
C. Extended Metaphor
An extended metaphor is a metaphor that unfolds across multiple lines or even paragraphs of a text, making use of multiple interrelated metaphors within an overarching one. So while "life is a highway" is a simple metaphor, it becomes an extended metaphor in this example.
Are you planning a trip this summer? If so, it is going to cost you more money to fill up your tank. Gas prices will increase in July. When oil and gas prices rise, so do other costs. Production of food depends on oil and gas. Farmers need plenty of diesel fuel to run the tractors and combines that plant and harvest crops. In addition, most of our food is transported a very long distance, which isn’t cheap. Spring, on the other hand, may be a better time to take that trip.
Why are food prices going to rise?
A. because people take too many trips in the summer
B. because gas prices are going up
C. because of the shortage with diesel fuel
D. because farmers need more gas than other people
B. because gas prices are going up
What are three skills that you may need to know to respond to the Research Simulation Prompt?
Explaining the central idea
comparing the viewpoints of authors
Is the claim an effective argument
Explain the central Idea of passages
Determining author's purpose
Analyzing charts/graphs/video clips
Angela did not want to go to the party. She wanted to study for the exam, but her sister nagged her so much that Angela finally acquiesced and agreed to go.
to "give in" or go along with with someone reluctantly
Open heart and open mind,
On a journey of a lifetime.
Love and respect all,
Get back up when you fall.
Which word BEST sums up the central idea of this poem?
A. Integrity
B. Vacation
C. Encouragement
D. Candor
A. Integrity
Having integrity means doing the right thing in a reliable way. It's a personality trait that we admire, since it means a person has a moral compass that doesn't waver. It literally means having "wholeness" of character, just as an integer is a "whole number" with no fractions.
Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie,
Which we ascribe to heaven: the fated sky
Gives us free scope, only doth backward pull
Our slow designs when we ourselves are dull.
– Shakespeare (All’s Well that Ends Well, 1.1.209)
Which BEST states this excerpt's theme?
A. Look to the heavens to seek answers
B. The answers are within ourselves.
C. The stars do not lie.
D. You cannot change what is fated for you.
B. The answers are within ourselves.
Rachel banged on Mrs. Harding’s door. As soon as
Mrs. Harding saw Rachel’s despondent look, she knew what was going on.
What effect does the word “despondent” have on the tone?
It makes the tone seem . . .
A. Angry
B. Indifferent
C. Grim
D. Casual
C. Grim
We can infer that she is upset about something or that something bad happened based on how she banged on the door and looked.
Jack learned about recycling in school. When he came home, he informed his mother that she needs to separate the glass from the plastic, needs to make a compost heap in the backyard, and should stop eating on paper plates. His mother told him to get off of his soapbox, and come to the table. His dinner was getting cold.
What did Jack’s mother emphasize with her use of political jargon?
A. her gratefulness for being informed
B. her need to improve her recycling habits
C. her desire for her son to stop preaching
D. her disappointment that dinner got cold
C. her desire for her son to stop preaching
Political Jargon: His mother told him to get off of his soapbox, and come to the table.
“Every secret of a writer's soul, every experience of his life, every quality of his mind is written large in his works.” Virginia Woolf
(1) Born into a privileged English household in 1882, author Virginia Woolf was raised by free-thinking parents. (2) She began writing as a young girl and published her first novel, The Voyage Out, in 1915. (3) She used her own experiences with depression as a major source. (4) In 1981, Louise DeSalvo published an alternate version of The Voyage Out under another title.
Which sentence from the excerpt BEST verifies the ideas behind the quote from Virginia Woolf?
(3) She used her own experiences with depression as a major source