Figurative Language
She’s as busy as a bee every morning before school.
Simile
Define "theme"
The life lesson/central message about life/the world that an author explores in a story
Define "main idea"
What the story is mainly about/ The most important point the author wants you to understand about a topic or text
Define "setting"
Where & when a story takes place
"Even after hearing the terrifying thunder, the baby remained placid, calmly playing with her toy."
What does the word placid most likely mean?
A. Angry
B. Quiet and calm
C. Sleepy
D. Curious
"Circe lives in isolation, using magic to protect herself. Calypso also lives alone on an island, but longs for companionship and love."
How do Circe and Calypso differ?
A. Circe is magical; Calypso is not
B. Calypso welcomes love; Circe avoids it
C. They both prefer visitors
D. Circe is a goddess; Calypso is human
"Percy forgot to bring his sword on the quest, so he had to fight the monster with a stick."
What is the effect of Percy forgetting his sword?
A. He defeats the monster easily
B. He runs away
C. He fights with a stick
D. He cancels the quest
He fights with a stick
"Wow, what a fantastic idea—to leave your homework at home on the day it’s due!"
What is the tone of this sentence?
Sarcastic
"The story takes place in a quiet mountain town during a snowy winter."
What element of narrative is described here?
Setting
The classroom was a zoo by the end of the day.
Metaphor
"Despite being mocked by his classmates, Malik kept studying hard and eventually earned a scholarship."
What theme is shown in this story?
A. Popularity is important
B. School is difficult
C. Hard work and determination pay off
D. You should ignore school
Hard work and determination pay off
"Unlike dogs, cats do not require daily walks, are content being alone for long periods, and groom themselves. These qualities make them an appealing choice for people with busy schedules."
What is the main idea?
A. Cats are better pets than dogs
B. Cats are low-maintenance and fit busy lifestyles
C. Dogs need too much attention
D. Cats prefer to be left alone
Cats are low-maintenance and fit busy lifestyles
"Snow fell steadily as the children raced through the icy streets, their cheeks red from the cold."
Identify the setting.
A cold, snowy town during winter
"After running the marathon, he was famished and ate three large pizzas by himself."
What does famished mean?
A. Full
B. Exhausted
C. Extremely hungry
D. Thirsty
Extremely hungry
"In a dystopian novel, the government may control people through fear and surveillance. In a utopian novel, society often appears perfect but may hide flaws beneath the surface."
What is one similarity between dystopian and utopian stories?
A. Both show ideal societies
B. Both suggest there are hidden problems in society
C. Both focus on romance
D. Both are set in the past
Both suggest there are hidden problems in society
"Because the hero ignored the prophecy, the kingdom fell into chaos."
What is the cause of the kingdom’s downfall?
A. A magical storm
B. The hero ignoring the prophecy
C. The queen’s betrayal
D. A war with a neighboring land
The hero ignoring the prophecy
"The wind howled outside the boarded-up windows as the last candle flickered out."
What is the mood created by this setting?
Creepy, tense, ominous
Which sentence is an example of dialogue in a story?
A. Liam ran through the forest as the sun began to rise.
B. “I can’t believe you forgot,” Sarah said, crossing her arms.
C. The lake shimmered under the moonlight.
D. The theme of the story is forgiveness.
B
Lightning danced across the sky as the storm rolled in.
Personification
"When the villagers judged the old woman based on her appearance, they missed the chance to receive her wisdom and kindness."
Which theme best fits this story?
A. Looks can be deceiving
B. Older people are wise
C. Villagers are rude
D. Always be suspicious
Looks can be deceiving
"As the climate continues to change, more coastal cities are experiencing frequent flooding. Scientists warn that without changes in infrastructure and policy, this trend will worsen in the coming decades."
What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Flooding is now unavoidable in all cities
B. Coastal cities must prepare for climate-related flooding
C. Scientists disagree about climate change
D. Infrastructure has already solved the problem
Coastal cities must prepare for climate-related flooding
"By the flickering light of the campfire, the soldiers whispered stories under the stars, surrounded by distant sounds of battle."
What is the setting?
A military camp at night during a war
"The magician’s trick was so baffling that even the judges couldn’t figure it out."
What does baffling mean?
A. Puzzling
B. Entertaining
C. Boring
D. Dangerous
Puzzling
"Romeo is driven by impulsive emotion, quickly falling in love and making rash decisions. In contrast, Friar Laurence is cautious, thinking through plans and warning Romeo to slow down."
What contrast is shown between Romeo and Friar Laurence?
A. Romeo is emotional; the Friar is logical
B. Romeo is selfish; the Friar is generous
C. They both avoid risk
D. Romeo is loyal; the Friar is not
Romeo is emotional; the Friar is logical
"The townspeople celebrated for days after the dragon was defeated."
What is the cause of the celebration?
A. A wedding
B. A visit from a king
C. The defeat of the dragon
D. The harvest festival
The defeat of the dragon
"I don’t care what they think. I’m doing this my way, and that’s final."
What tone is expressed by the speaker?
Defiant, determined, assertive
"I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the dragon land on the roof."
What point of view is used in this sentence?
First person POV
"As the storm clouds gathered above the castle, the villagers locked their doors and whispered prayers."
Which literary device is used to hint that danger or trouble is coming?
Foreshadowing
"Persephone learned that even in darkness, she could grow. Her time in the underworld became a source of strength rather than sorrow."
What is the best theme expressed in this passage?
A. Love can overcome any obstacle
B. Strength often develops through hardship
C. No one can escape their fate
D. Time away from home creates distance in relationships
Strength often develops through hardship
"Many people believe that creativity is an inborn talent, but studies show that creative thinking can be developed through practice, exposure to new ideas, and risk-taking."
What is the best main idea?
A. Creativity is something you are born with
B. People who take risks are usually creative
C. Creative thinking is a skill that can be strengthened
D. Only some people can learn to be creative
Creative thinking is a skill that can be strengthened
"Steam hissed from the machines as factory workers rushed between conveyor belts under buzzing fluorescent lights."
What is the setting of this excerpt?
A modern industrial factory
"Her generosity was commendable—she donated every prize she won to the shelter."
What does commendable mean?
A. Worthy of praise
B. Strange or suspicious
C. Unexpected
D. Embarrassing
Worthy of praise
"In both myths, the main characters disobey warnings—Pandora opens the forbidden jar, and Icarus flies too close to the sun. The results are disastrous in each case."
What is the main similarity between Pandora and Icarus?
A. They both are punished by the gods directly
B. They both achieve success after failing
C. They both suffer consequences for ignoring instructions
D. They both escape punishment
They both suffer consequences for ignoring instructions
"Odysseus tells Polyphemus that his name is 'Nobody.' As a result, when Polyphemus cries for help, the other Cyclopes ignore him."
What is the effect of Odysseus lying about his name?
A. Polyphemus surrenders
B. The Cyclopes think he’s lying
C. The other Cyclopes don’t come to help
D. Odysseus gets caught
The other Cyclopes don't come to help
"She clutched the note in shaking hands, rereading his final words under the gray morning sky."
Identify at least two words in the sentence above that help create its sad/emotional mood.
Shaking
Gray
Final words
Which of the following best represents an internal conflict?
A. A girl must choose between telling the truth or protecting a friend
B. A knight fights a dragon to save a village
C. Two brothers get into a fistfight over money
D. A city floods during a hurricane
A girl must choose between telling the truth or protecting a friend.
My backpack weighs a thousand pounds—I can barely lift it!
Hyperbole
"Even though he had everything he could want, the king was never satisfied and always wanted more, until he lost everything."
What is the best theme expressed in this passage?
A. Leadership requires self-control
B. True wealth lies in contentment
C. Ambition is more important than balance
D. Power should be earned, not taken
True wealth lies in contentment
"In both ancient and modern societies, myths serve an important role in helping people understand the world around them. Whether explaining natural events, teaching moral lessons, or reinforcing cultural values, myths offer more than just entertainment."
What is the main idea?
A. Myths are mostly about nature
B. Myths are important because they entertain us
C. Myths help people make sense of the world and teach lessons
D. Ancient societies created better myths than we do today
Myths help people make sense of the world and teach lessons
"Candles lit the stone walls of the grand hall, where nobles in velvet cloaks gathered beneath towering stained glass windows."
Identify the time and place of this setting.
Castle/palace during medieval times
Though his tone was caustic, she knew he was only teasing—but his sarcasm stung a little."
What does caustic most likely mean?
A. Sweet and friendly
B. Dry and boring
C. Harsh and sarcastic
D. Quiet and unsure
Harsh and sarcastic
"In The Odyssey, Scylla is a monstrous threat Odysseus cannot fight, while the Sirens are seductive voices he must resist. One requires endurance; the other demands sacrifice."
How do Scylla and the Sirens represent different types of danger?
A. Scylla uses logic; the Sirens use violence
B. The Sirens require physical strength; Scylla requires self-control
C. Scylla is a direct, unavoidable danger; the Sirens are a tempting distraction
D. Both rely on surprise attack
Scylla is a direct, unavoidable danger; the Sirens are a tempting distraction
In the myth, Narcissus rejects the love of others and becomes obsessed with his own reflection, unable to leave it until he fades away."
What is the main cause of Narcissus’ downfall?
A. He is cursed by a goddess
B. He stares at a painting
C. He falls into a trap
D. He becomes obsessed with himself
He becomes obsessed with himself
"She smiled politely, but her eyes were distant, fixed on the horizon where the storm clouds gathered."
What is the mood of this passage?
A. Cheerful
B. Uneasy
C. Excited
D. Carefree
Uneasy
"Though the main character faced betrayal, she learned to forgive and rebuild trust."
What is the theme of this story?
A. Betrayal is always painful
B. Forgiveness helps people heal
C. The main character was betrayed
D. Trust is more important than truth
Forgiveness helps people heal.