Definitions
To greatly astonish or amaze.
Which word does this define?
A. Ponder
B. Dumbfound
C. Potential
D. Devour
B. Dumbfound
Which is an antonym for “substantial”?
A. Intensified
B. Patronize
C. Inundate
D. Trivial
Trivial
When something is “substantial” it is of “considerable importance”, and the opposite is “trivial” which means “little value”.
“How was your day, Alice?” asked Ron.
“Oh, it was just an ordinary day,” replied Alice.
“Don’t patronize me, Alice, I know where you have been.”
The use of the word “patronize” indicates that –
A. Alice is bored.
B. Rob is suspicious.
C. Rob is pleased.
B. Rob is suspicious.
“I have to get this done,” Carissa thought to herself as she pounded away at the keyboard. “This computer throws a fit every time I try to use it. I need to finish the report before noon.”
What is emphasized with the personification in this excerpt?
A. How much Carissa has to get done.
B. The trouble Carissa is having with the computer.
C. How much time Carissa has left to finish the report.
The trouble Carissa is having with the computer.
This is the example of personification: “This computer throws a fit every time I try to use it.” The computer is being given human characteristics. The personification is being used to show the trouble Carissa is having with the computer.
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Sugar is sweet,
And so are you.
What feeling is emphasized with the rhymes in this poem?
A. Smell of flowers
B. Colors of flowers
C. Taste of sugar
D. Sense of love
Sense of love
The first rhyme is “blue”. The second rhyme is “you”. The rhyme emphasizes this line: “And so are you”, with “you” being sweet (loved).
Happening at the same time.
Which word does this define?
A. Simultaneously
B. Uncertainty
C. Vocation
D. Insinuate
A. Simultaneously
Which is a synonym for “hospitable”?
A. Sickly
B. Welcoming
C. Diligent
D. Radiant
B. Welcoming
Suburbia: where they tear out the trees and then name streets after them.
What is the tone of this excerpt?
A. Compassionate
B. Energetic
C. Sarcastic
D. Optimistic
C. Sarcastic
“Mom, I can’t find my jeans!” yelled Mica.
“Did you check the laundry room?” asked mother.
“No. I’m running late,” replied Mica.
“I’ve told you a million times to check the laundry room first if you are missing any clothes,” said mother.
“I’m still late,” said Mica.
What is emphasized with the hyperbole in this excerpt?
A. Mica wants his mother to check the laundry room for him.
B. How late Mica is running for his appointment.
C. How often Mica’s mother has told him to check the laundry room.
How often Mica’s mother has told him to check the laundry room.
“Hyperbole” is an extreme exaggeration. Here is the hyperbole: “I’ve told you a million times to check the laundry room first if you are missing any clothes”. It is emphasizing how many times mother told Mica to check the laundry room first.
“You'll never put a better bit of butter on your knife." (advertising slogan for Country Life butter)
How do the chosen words impact this slogan?
A. The rhymes make the butter sound delicious.
B. The alliteration makes the butter sound superior.
C. The use of “you” makes the butter seem expensive.
The alliteration makes the butter sound superior.
The alliteration:
“You'll never put a better bit of butter on your knife."
Which word means “bad tempered and gloomy”?
A. Perjury
B. Vengeance
C. Docile
D. Sullen
D. Sullen
Which is a synonym for “understand”?
A. Disbelief
B. Legitimate
C. Fathom
D. Poised
“That will be $20.00,” said Mr. Baker. Ken hands over the money and starts to walk out of the store.
“Wait! I can’t take your money. It’s counterfeit.”
The use of the word “counterfeit” indicates that –
A. Mr. Baker doesn’t want to charge Ken for the item.
B. The money that Ken handed Mr. Baker is fake.
C. Mr. Baker realized that he was related to Ken.
B. The money that Ken handed Mr. Baker is fake.
“I think I know the answer!” yelled Lizzie.
“Well?” asked Mr. Vaughn.
“I believe it is 6,322,” said Lizzie.
“You are a very foolish child,” said Mr. Vaughn.
Which word can be substituted with “foolish” to create a positive connotation instead of a negative one?
A. Astute
B. Naive
C. Shallow
D. Ignorant
A. Astute
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
What is emphasized with the repetition in this poem?
A. The beauty of the woods.
B. The promises the poet is trying to keep.
C. The long journey in front of the poet.
D. The desire of the poet to stay awake.
The long journey in front of the poet.
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Which word means “to interfere with or slow the progress of”?
A. Pelt
B. Dishearten
C. Impede
D. Pique
C. Impede
Which is an antonym for “docile”?
A. Perceived
B. Nonchalant
C. Perturb
D. Dismantle
Perturb
“Perturb” means to “irritate”, so the opposite would be “docile” which means to be “submissive and calm”.
Jennifer walked through the door.
“Did you make the team?” asked mother.
Jennifer had a radiant look on her face.
If substituted for “radiant”, which word would change the tone?
A. Resplendent
B. Distraught
C. Splendid
D. Ecstatic
B. Distraught
“Who is Janice?” asked Kim.
“She is a promising student,” said Mrs. Jones.
“How about Tanya?” inquired Kim.
“I’ve heard she is corrupt,” replied Mrs. Jones.
“What about Krista?” asked Kim.
“She seems quite poised,” said Mrs. Jones.
Which word from this excerpt has negative connotations?
A. Promising
B. Corrupt
C. Poised
D. Inquired
B. Corrupt
Hamlet ACT I
SCENE I. Elsinore. A platform before the castle.
(FRANCISCO at his post. Enter to him BERNARDO)
BERNARDO: Who's there?
FRANCISCO: Nay, answer me: stand, and unfold yourself.
BERNARDO: Long live the king!
What is emphasized with the alliteration in this play?
A. Where Francisco is hiding.
B. Francisco’s desire for Bernardo to stand.
C. Bernardo’s loyalty to the king.
C. Bernardo’s loyalty to the king.
Alliteration:
BERNARDO: Long live the king!
What does "beseech" mean?
“Beseech” means “to urgently ask someone to do something”.
What is an antonym for “unscathed”?
Since “unscathed” means “without suffering any injury, damage, or harm”, an antonym would be “hurt” or “harmed”.
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—
The use of the word “pondered” indicates that the narrator –
A. is in deep thought.
B. is quite afraid.
C. is very tired.
D. is forgetful.
A. is in deep thought.
The school board had a discussion about the direction of student learning. One member wanted to go fully digital, but another didn’t want to leave pencils and paper behind. It was eventually decided to have a curriculum with a combination of both.
Which is the BEST example of a technical word?
A. Discussion
B. Paper
C. Digital
D. Curriculum
C. Digital
I want a new car,
But here comes the down payment.
I want a new car,
But here comes the monthly charge.
I want a new car,
But here comes the increase in insurance.
I want a new car. Yeah, right!
What is emphasized with this full circle ending?
The writer changed his or her mind about buying a new car.
Full circle ending –
Begins with “I want a new car” and ends with “I wants a new car. Yeah, right!”