Grammar
Choose the correct form: Neither of the boys ___ playing today. (is / are)
is
What is a synonym for angry that starts with “f”?
Furious
What does “inference” mean in reading?
A conclusion made using evidence from the text plus background knowledge.
What is the correct order for a formal letter: greeting, closing, address, body?
Address → greeting → body → closing
Who wrote "The Black Cat"?
Edgar Allan Poe
Change to reported speech: “I will call you tomorrow,” she said.
She said (that) she would call me the next day.
Which word means “not showing respect; rude or impolite”?
Disrespectful / insolent
If a narrator says “I” in a story, which point of view is used?
First person
Rewrite using stronger vocabulary: She said it was nice.
She exclaimed it was wonderful / delightful / incredible.
What’s the difference between metaphor and simile?
Simile = comparison with “like/as.” Metaphor = direct comparison without “like/as.”
Identify the tense: She had been studying for two hours when her friend arrived.
Past perfect continuous
Choose the most precise word: The scientist made an important (discovery / invention / exploration).
Discovery
In a detective story, what is “red herring”?
A clue that misleads the reader or characters.
What is the difference between a compound sentence and a complex sentence?
Compound = two independent clauses joined by FANBOYS. Complex = independent + dependent clause.
What type of irony is this? A fire station burns down.
Situational irony
Combine these sentences using a relative clause with "who": The man is my uncle. He lives in Canada.
The man who lives in Canada is my uncle.
What’s the difference between affect and effect?
Affect = verb (to influence). Effect = noun (the result).
Read this sentence: “Her smile vanished as quickly as the sunlight behind the clouds.” What does it suggest about her feelings?
Her happiness disappeared suddenly; she became sad or upset.
Write a thesis statement for an essay about the importance of reading.
Example: Reading is essential because it develops imagination, improves language skills, and expands knowledge.
Identify the figurative device: “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”
Alliteration
Correct this sentence and explain why it's wrong: If I will see him, I will tell him the new
Correct: If I see him, I will tell him the news. → Because the first clause in a first conditional uses the present tense, not “will.”
Find the odd one out: ephemeral, temporary, eternal, fleeting. Explain why.
Eternal → because it means “lasting forever,” the opposite of the others.
What’s the difference between theme and main idea in a story?
Theme = the deeper universal message (e.g., greed, friendship, loss). Main idea = what the text is mostly about (plot focus).
Give two techniques to create suspense in narrative writing.
Use short sentences / foreshadowing / withholding information / cliffhangers / vivid sensory details.
Explain how foreshadowing works in literature. Give an example.
It gives hints about future events in the story. Example: dark clouds at the start foreshadow trouble later.