Text Structure
Nonfiction Elements
Author's Purpose
Random ELA Questions with Challenges
2021 PSSA Questions
100

List the 5 text structures.

Problem and Solution

Cause and Effect

Compare and Contrast

Chronological/Sequence

Description/List

100

If your goal is to have no bias, do you need to be subjective or objective?

Objective

100

Explain the difference between a text that is informing versus persuading

Informational texts present facts, opinions, etc. on a topic whereas persuasive texts are trying to convince the reader to believe a stance or argument with biased information and facts. 

100

With your group, take turns listing as many ELA words as you can OR for up to 20 seconds. If you last until 20 seconds with no awkward pauses, you receive the points. No repeating answers & everyone must take a turn until the time stops.

Answers will vary. 

100

Read the sentence.

“The mainland was every moment receding farther into the distance .”

What does the word receding mean as it is used in the sentence?

A. blocking access B. decreasing speed C. moving away D. reaching up

C. Moving Away

200

Explain how to tell the difference between cause and effect & problem and solution.

Cause and effect explains why something happened. The cause of global warming could be ___, ___, or ___. Problem and solution lists a problem and several ways to fix it.

200

List 3 examples of text features. 

Images, photographs, captions, bolded text, italicized text, underlined text, glossary, index, charts/graphs, headings, subheadings, labels

200
A website describing a local dog leash ordinance, detailing its history and the penalties for walking around with one's dog unleashed. 

To Inform

200

In 20 seconds, speed walk to find and grab a symbol (object) in this room and give a brief speech as to what its deeper (abstract) meaning is.

Answers will vary.

200

Which sentence is the most descriptive?

A. Waiting backstage, John was nervous about having to perform a solo in front of so many people at the annual music night at his school .

B. He had practiced for days on end, trying to play the music as perfectly as he could .

C. In fact, he had memorized his solo weeks before the night of his performance because he had thought that doing so would help .

D. Feeling jittery, John stepped unsteadily onto the stage and into the glaring lights to brave a sea of faces in the audience

D. Feeling jittery, John stepped unsteadily onto the stage and into the glaring lights to brave a sea of faces in the audience

300

Having good attendance is important because attendance determines the school’s funding. Some students have poor attendance, and the school has tried many ways of addressing this: teachers have talked to parents on the phone and the school has mailed letters. Yet, some students still maintain poor attendance. Next, the staff will attempt to schedule parent/teacher/administrator conferences with students who are habitually absent. Hopefully, this will help more students get to school everyday.

Chronological/Sequence (yet, next, so this)

300

When you are making an argument, you should always recognize the opposing side in your argument, which is known as the ______. 

Counterclaim

300

A letter to FMS expressing all of the reasons as to why you cannot physically handle taking the PSSAs this week and must opt out.

To Persuade

300

Give an example of verbal irony to someone in this classroom.

Verbal Irony

For example:

Students in ELA class: "We can't wait for the PSSAs. Testing for 3 hours is so much fun!"

300

Read the sentences.

“The dykes appeared ready to burst .”

“Yet none of this impending trouble worried Ryer, whose greed grew by what it fed upon .”

What is the meaning of the word impending as it is used in the sentence?

A. about to occur B. easy to prevent C. slow to develop D. strange to behold

A. About to occur

400

There is more than one way to have a successful school day, but a great way is to be well prepared. The first thing you should do is complete your homework the night before. Don’t try to do your work in the morning, it will be too stressful and you may not have enough time. Next, you need to go to bed at a reasonable time. If you stay up too late, you will not be able to focus on assignments or instruction as well and you may even fall asleep during class. Lastly, you should wake up early. This will give you time to get ready and feel good about yourself, and you’ll also be able to get something to eat before the day begins.

Problem and Solution (problem: how to have a successful school day; solution: be prepared-get ready night before, go to sleep on time, etc.)

400

List two words with the same denotation but different connotation. Explain each.

Answers may vary.

Example:

Same denotation (dictionary definition)

cheap (negative) vs. inexpensive (neutral)

400

Taylor Swift's song "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" telling her ex all of the reasons as to why they are done for good.

To Entertain

400

Demonstrate the difference between a monologue and a soliloquy with your group. The difference between the two should be obvious through your "acting."

Monologue: Speech given by one person to others

Soliloquy: Speech given alone, by oneself, revealing deepest, innermost thoughts and feelings

400

Read the paragraph.

(1) Everybody (this includes sixth, seventh, and eighth graders) is going to hear Professor McGregor speak about his research . (2) Facts about Science for Non-Scientists is the book that he wrote . (3) Neither the science teachers nor their students have read the book yet . (4) By next week, someone from each of the three grades have to be prepared to ask an interesting question about the topic .

Which change would correct the mistake in the paragraph?

A. Change is to are in sentence 1 . B. Change is to are in sentence 2 . C. Change have to has in sentence 3 . D.  Change have to has in sentence 4

D.  Change have to has in sentence 4

500

Give a strong example of compare and contrast with the following topic:

Teachers

Responses will vary.

500

Make 3 claims using all 3 rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, and logos) for the argument as to why your group should win boot camp.

Ethos: credibility

Logos: logic/facts

Pathos: emotions

500

What is the author's purpose here? Explain in detail.

The author's purpose is to entertain about a controversial topic: children using technology. In this case, the author is saying that "playing" looks nothing like it used to. Instead of running around outside, children are glued to their devices. 

500

On the board, correctly cite this quote in a sentence according to MLA formatting.

From The Giver by Lois Lowry on page 110: Our people made that choice, the choice to go to Sameness.

Responses may vary in wording:

In the text, the author writes, "Our people made that choice, the choice to go to Sameness" (Lowry 110).

OR

Lowry writes, "Our people made that choice, the choice to go to Sameness" (110). 

500

Which sentence from the passage best illustrates the theme that people can learn from their mistakes?

A. “Yet although Ryer was rich, as wealth is reckoned in Drenthe, whence he had come, he was greedy for more .” B. “The stingy fellow, as he fell overboard, bumped his head so hard on the plough beam that he lay senseless for a half hour .” C. “As for the Van Boompjeses, in order to save a landlord’s bill for beds, they slept in their house on board the farm .” D. “He sawed off, from time to time, portions of his big farm, and returned them home, with money paid as interest, to the owners .”

D . “He sawed off, from time to time, portions of his big farm, and returned them home, with money paid as interest, to the owners .”

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