Vocabulary
Context Clues
Literary Devices
Main Ideas
Hodgepodge
100

Wherever he goes, the esteemed Dr. Sanchez is applauded for his life saving research.

What does "esteemed" mean?

a) held over boiling water   b)  very old

c)  unable to chew gum      d)  greatly admired

What is greatly admired.

100

Daniel is a                 traveler and understands many different cultures; therefore, he never feels out of place, no matter where he goes.

  1. cache
  2. cliche
  3. contort
  4. cosmopolitan

What is cosmopolitan.

100

The following are example of which literary device?

Alice's aunt ate apples and acorns around August.
Better butter makes a batter better.

What is alliteration.

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, 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 b: We pay more taxes than we may realize.

100

The buzz saw snarled and rattled in the yard 

This is an example of which literary device?

What is personification.

200

I believe that if you lower taxes so that people can keep more of the money they earn, it will be an incentive for them to work harder.

What is the meaning of "incentive"?

a)  a reason to do something   b)  a small amount of money    c)  tax   d)  a good job

What is a reason to do something.

200

A reluctant student who has been CAJOLED into doing his work by a patient teacher has been:

  1. bribed into doing it
  2. forced into doing it
  3. coaxed into doing it
  4. punished into doing

What is coaxed into doing it.

200

The following are examples of which literary device?

"When she lost her job, she acted like a Scrooge, and refused to buy anything that wasn't necessary."

"He was a Good Samaritan yesterday when he helped the lady start her car."

What is allusion.

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. What is the main idea?

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. A computer is a high-speed adding machine.

200

Her voice is music to his ears. Which literary device is this an example of?

What is metaphor.

300

Speaking rudely to the judges was rash behavior. You really hurt your chances of winning!  In the above context, what does "rash" mean?

a)  an itchy skin condition   b)  funny  c)  trying to hide or disguise a piece of cheese  d)  with little thought or consideration

What is d)  with little thought or consideration.

300

Which of the following is likely to be the most vivacious?

  1. a tax lawyer
  2. a weather report
  3. a book review
  4. a cheerleader

What is 4. a cheerleader.

300

What is the name for the character who opposes the actions and efforts of the main character? 

What is antagonist.

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. 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.  What is the main idea?

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

300

We could avoid this acrimonious situation altogether by agreeing to disagree on the issue

What is the meaning of acrimonious?

400

Most of America's Founding Fathers did not believe in women's suffrage.  Only men could vote in the United States until 1920.

What is the meaning of suffrage?

What is the right to vote.

400

The narrator says "had you realized the pathos of it all—you, too, would believe."

The word PATHOS most likely means...

  1. An appeal to ethics and character
  2. An appeal to logic or reason
  3. An appeal to emotion, particularly pity or sadness
  4. An appeal to time

What is 3.  An appeal to emotion.

400

What literary device is the following?

Death wandered the battlefield.

What is personification.

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. 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.  What is the main idea? 

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. Under certain conditions the coyote is helpful to man. 

400

What are the three main types of rhetorical devices?

What are ethos, pathos, and logos.

500

No matter where you go, the Internet is following you.  Almost every portable device is being made with an Internet connection.  Most new TVs and many other appliances come with Internet connections as well.  The Internet is truly ubiquitous. What is the meaning of ubiquitous?

What is "it is everywhere."

500

Amendment X discusses powers not delegated to the states. In the amendment, DELEGATE means

  1. a person sent to represent others.
  2. a member of the United Nations.
  3. to send on a mission.
  4. entrusting someone with a responsibility.



What is 4.  

  • entrusting someone with a responsibility.
500

What literary device is this an example of?

Johnny spent two hours planning on sneaking into the movie theater and missed the movie. When he finally did manage to sneak inside he found out that kids were admitted free that day.

What is situational irony.

500

The attitudes of Americans toward gambling are amazingly contradictory. You may find, for example, that horse racing is legal in your state, but that you cannot legally play poker for money on your front porch; bookies may be prosecuted by state law, but they are supposed to purchase a federal license nonetheless; one church condemns gambling, while another raises money by sponsoring Bingo games. Gambling laws are inconsistent from state to state or even from town to town and are very difficult to enforce. What is the main idea?

a. Americans have negative attitudes toward gambling. b. Gambling laws are difficult to enforce c. Gambling laws are inconsistent from community to community. d. Churches do not have uniform ideas about gambling.

What is c. Gambling laws are inconsistent from community to community. 

500

Opening up my unexpected $400 electric bill has me brimming with consternation, especially since I have no way of paying it.

What does consternation mean?

What is a feeling of worry, shock, or fear.

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