Inquiry/Literary Devices
A student is planning a research report on apes for his science class and has taken some notes from reliable sources. Read the student’s notes.
- communicates with others by using hand signals
- uses twigs as tools to get insects out of small holes in trees or the ground - puts a stick into water to measure its depth before walking across
The student wants to organize the notes correctly. Under which heading should the student place the notes?
A. Fearless Animals
B. Intelligent Animals
C. Playful Animals
D. Careful Animals
B. Intelligent Animals
Which root is in “vertical,” and what does it mean?
A. vert – turn
B. tract – pull
C. mand – hand
D. spect – look
A. vert – turn
Use this passage to answer the question that follows:
Lena hesitated at the edge of the stage, her palms damp as the audience murmured beyond the curtain. Just a year ago, she would have turned and run. Back then, silence felt safer than risking embarrassment.
Now, she took a slow breath. The memory of her last failure—forgetting every line and rushing offstage—still lingered, but something had changed. Her teacher’s words echoed in her mind: Fear doesn’t disappear. You just decide it doesn’t control you anymore.
As the curtain rose, Lena stepped forward. Her voice trembled at first, but she kept going. By the final line, the audience was silent—not with judgment, but with attention.
When the applause came, Lena smiled—not because she had been perfect, but because she hadn’t quit.
1. What is the MOST likely theme of the passage?
A. Practice guarantees success
B. Fear can prevent people from trying new things
C. Growth comes from facing challenges despite fear
D. Performing in front of others leads to confidence
C. Growth comes from facing challenges despite fear
Read the paragraph about printer ink.
Printer ink is the most expensive liquid most people will ever buy. An ink cartridge for a home printer usually contains only a few ounces of black ink. The cost of a typical ink cartridge could be as high as forty dollars, about half the cost of an average printer. With the exception of luxury items such as fancy perfumes ordinary black ink is by far the most expensive liquid people purchase.
Which is the correct way to use commas to punctuate the last sentence of the paragraph?
A. With the exception, of luxury items such as fancy perfumes, ordinary black ink is by far the most expensive liquid people purchase.
B. With the exception of luxury items such as fancy perfumes ordinary, black ink, is by far the most expensive liquid people purchase.
C. With the exception of luxury items such as fancy perfumes, ordinary black ink is by far the most expensive liquid people purchase.
D. With the exception of luxury items such as fancy perfumes ordinary black ink is by far, the most expensive liquid people purchase.
C. With the exception of luxury items such as fancy perfumes, ordinary black ink is by far the most expensive liquid people purchase.
A student learned that the famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright believed in creating homes and buildings that conveyed cultural values of the United States. The student wants to research more about Frank Lloyd Wright and will write a report about the architect for the art teacher.
Which research question would lead the student to a deeper understanding of Frank Lloyd Wright’s beliefs?
A. How old was Frank Lloyd Wright when he began studying architecture?
B.How much time did it take for an average Frank Lloyd Wright structure to be built?
C. What are Frank Lloyd Wright’s most famous structures?
D. What techniques did Frank Lloyd Wright use to communicate ideas in his designs?
D. What techniques did Frank Lloyd Wright use to communicate ideas in his designs?
Which root is in “pathology,” and what does it mean?
A. spect – look
B. path – feel/suffer
C. tract – pull
D. duct – lead
B. path – feel/suffer
Use this passage to answer the following question:
Passage
Lena hesitated at the edge of the stage, her palms damp as the audience murmured beyond the curtain. Just a year ago, she would have turned and run. Back then, silence felt safer than risking embarrassment.
Now, she took a slow breath. The memory of her last failure—forgetting every line and rushing offstage—still lingered, but something had changed. Her teacher’s words echoed in her mind: Fear doesn’t disappear. You just decide it doesn’t control you anymore.
As the curtain rose, Lena stepped forward. Her voice trembled at first, but she kept going. By the final line, the audience was silent—not with judgment, but with attention.
When the applause came, Lena smiled—not because she had been perfect, but because she hadn’t quit.
Which event represents the CLIMAX of the passage?
A. Lena remembering her past failure
B. Lena stepping onto the stage
C. Lena delivering her final line
D. The audience applauding
C. Lena delivering her final line
A student is writing a letter to the school principal. Read the draft of the letter and complete the task that follows.
Dear Principal Wells,
In order to relieve problems related to homework at Harkins Middle School, I propose the school schedule be extended by one hour. The extra time could be devoted solely to students completing class assignments and teachers assisting those who need help with homework. With an additional hour, students could focus on getting tasks done without the distractions that are common outside of school like television, siblings, and chores. Sometimes teachers run out of time in class to present material in new ways. The added hour could be used to give students the extra support necessary to master the concepts being taught. This change in schedule would solve almost all issues related to incomplete and missing student assignments. Even though people enjoy getting out of school to do fun activities like sports, music, or club meetings, those events can happen an hour later.
Sincerely,
Joseph Grant
Which sentence provides the best conclusion to the paragraph?
A. Both the teachers and students know that completing assignments and developing life skills are important.
B. The sacrifice of an added hour would help the school and the students achieve their learning goals.
C. After-school activities occurring later would be fine, especially since students would have little to no homework in the evening.
D. If additional time were added to the school day, teachers might need to make adjustments to their after-school schedules as well.
B. The sacrifice of an added hour would help the school and the students achieve their learning goals.
There are two parts to this question: Do Part A first and then do Part B.
Review the passage.
My mom sighs. "We can't do this without you. Being around kids is good for Natalie." . . .
My mom is like a one-woman commando unit. She could win land battles, air battles, water battles, outer space battles too, probably. I wonder if there would be time to get Natalie and then get back to school in time to play ball with the guys. It would be embarrassing to have her there, but at least I could play.
Part A: What is the simile?
a. She could win land battles.
b. My mom is like a one-woman commando unit.
c. It would be embarrassing to have her there.
d. She could win land battles.
Part B. What is the effect of the simile on the passage's meaning or tone?
a. It suggests that the narrator's mother is persuasive.
b. It suggests that the narrator's mother is lonely.
c. It suggests that the narrator is fearful of his/her mother.
d. It suggests that narrator's mother is hilarious.
Part A: B. My mom is like a one-woman commando unit.
Part B. B. It suggests that the narrator's mother is persuasive.
If “qui” means rest, what would a requiem MOST likely involve?
A. movement
B. celebration
C. peace
D. conflict
C. peace
Use this passage to answer the following question:
Passage
Lena hesitated at the edge of the stage, her palms damp as the audience murmured beyond the curtain. Just a year ago, she would have turned and run. Back then, silence felt safer than risking embarrassment.
Now, she took a slow breath. The memory of her last failure—forgetting every line and rushing offstage—still lingered, but something had changed. Her teacher’s words echoed in her mind: Fear doesn’t disappear. You just decide it doesn’t control you anymore.
As the curtain rose, Lena stepped forward. Her voice trembled at first, but she kept going. By the final line, the audience was silent—not with judgment, but with attention.
When the applause came, Lena smiled—not because she had been perfect, but because she hadn’t quit.
PART A: Which point of view is used in the passage?
A. First person
B. Second person
C. Third person limited
D. Third person omniscient
PART B: How does this point of view affect the reader’s understanding?
A. It allows the reader to know all characters’ thoughts
B. It focuses on Lena’s internal struggle with fear
C. It makes the story feel more objective and distant
D. It directly involves the reader in the story
Part A: C
Part B: B
Lena hesitated at the edge of the stage, her palms damp as the audience murmured beyond the curtain.
PART A: What does the word “murmured” most nearly mean as used in the sentence?
A. shouted loudly
B. spoke quietly
C. argued intensely
D. laughed uncontrollably
PART B: Which phrase from the sentence BEST supports the meaning of “murmured”?
A. “hesitated at the edge”
B. “palms damp”
C. “beyond the curtain”
D. “the audience”
B. spoke quietly
D. “the audience”
A student is writing a report on Mt. Rushmore. Read part of the report. Many people know of the famous faces that are carved on Mt. Rushmore, in the Black Hills of Keystone, South Dakota, but some have never heard the reasons why the four faces were chosen. George Washington was chosen to be on Mt. Rushmore because he is the father of our country. He led the colonists when they fought for their independence from Great Britain in the American Revolution. George Washington needed to be on Mt. Rushmore because he represents the birth of America. Thomas Jefferson was the main author of the Declaration of Independence. He also greatly increased the size of America through the purchase of the Louisiana Territory. The image of Jefferson represents the expanding nation. Theodore Roosevelt represents the development and economic growth that America was experiencing in the early twentieth century. Roosevelt helped to link the east and the west by playing a key role in the development of the Panama Canal. Abraham Lincoln represents the United States being preserved after a terrible civil war. Lincoln abolished slavery and believed it was his job to preserve the nation. Which sentence provides the best concluding statement for the information in the report?
A. The faces of four great presidents are on Mt. Rushmore, each chosen to represent a different time in America’s history.
B. Only the most famous presidents were considered when trying to decide whose faces were to be carved onto Mt. Rushmore.
C. Abraham Lincoln is the most memorable face on Mt. Rushmore because he kept our nation together.
D. Another great president’s face may someday be carved onto Mt. Rushmore.
A. The faces of four great presidents are on Mt. Rushmore, each chosen to represent a different time in America’s history.
A student is writing a report about successful businesses. The student found two reliable sources. Read the sources and complete the task that follows.
Source 1: In 1908, Henry Ford created the famous Model T automobile. The car became somewhat popular, but Ford wanted it to reach a wider range of customers. He developed an assembly line process for producing his Model T automobile in 1913. By having different workers install specific parts as the vehicle moved slowly along a line, the cost and time needed to build the car was reduced. This made the Model T even more affordable, and, therefore, many more people bought the Ford car.
Source 2: McDonald’s is one of the most successful businesses in the world. Something the restaurant is known for is its speed of service. When the first McDonald’s opened in Southern California in the 1940s, it aimed to be a place for regular people to eat instead of most restaurants of the time that only wealthy people could afford. McDonald’s installed a large grill and used spatulas that could flip multiple burgers at a time. Customers could get a large order of burgers and fries quickly because of the restaurant’s “Speedee Service System.” When Ray Kroc took over the McDonald’s company and spread the eatery across the country, he continued to focus on making good food fast.
Which question would help the student broaden the focus of additional research?
A. Why did businesses like Ford and McDonald’s have an impact on American society?
B. How many total businesses have been able to expand to other parts of the world?
C. What would cause a person to support a business like Ford or McDonald’s?
D. When was the best time in history for someone to start a successful business?
A. Why did businesses like Ford and McDonald’s have an impact on American society?
Which word uses the root “rupt” in a way that suggests a sudden, forceful break rather than a minor interruption?
A. interrupt
B. corrupt
C. rupture
D. erupt
D. erupt (eruption = explosive break outward)
Use this passage to answer the following question:
Passage
Lena hesitated at the edge of the stage, her palms damp as the audience murmured beyond the curtain. Just a year ago, she would have turned and run. Back then, silence felt safer than risking embarrassment.
Now, she took a slow breath. The memory of her last failure—forgetting every line and rushing offstage—still lingered, but something had changed. Her teacher’s words echoed in her mind: Fear doesn’t disappear. You just decide it doesn’t control you anymore.
As the curtain rose, Lena stepped forward. Her voice trembled at first, but she kept going. By the final line, the audience was silent—not with judgment, but with attention.
When the applause came, Lena smiled—not because she had been perfect, but because she hadn’t quit.
PART A: Which statement BEST identifies the central conflict?
A. Lena struggles against the expectations of the audience
B. Lena struggles to meet her teacher’s expectations
C. Lena struggles to overcome her internal fear shaped by past failure
D. Lena struggles to perform without making mistakes
PART B: Which detail BEST supports the answer to Part A?
A. “Just a year ago, she would have turned and run.”
B. “her teacher’s words echoed in her mind”
C. “her palms damp as the audience murmured”
D. “the audience was silent—not with judgment”
PART A: C. Lena struggles to overcome her internal fear shaped by past failure
PART B: A. “Just a year ago, she would have turned and run.”
The memory of her last failure still lingered in her mind.
PART A: What is the connotation of the word “lingered” as used in the sentence?
A. neutral and temporary
B. positive and encouraging
C. negative and persistent
D. confusing and unclear
PART B: Which word could BEST replace “lingered” while maintaining the same connotation?
A. faded
B. remained
C. disappeared
D. flashed
C. negative and persistent
B. remained
Read the paragraph. Our local park is taken care of by groups of volunteers. Each month, the park has its trash picked up by a different group of volunteers. Every group of volunteers must take a training class before being allowed to clean the park. Most volunteers have a pleasant experience.
How could the paragraph be rewritten using only the active voice?
A. Groups of volunteers take care of our local park. A different group of volunteers picks up the park’s trash each month. A training class must be taken by every group of volunteers before being allowed to clean the park. Most volunteers have a pleasant experience.
B. Our local park is taken care of by groups of volunteers. Each month, the park has its trash picked up by a different group volunteers. Every group of volunteers must take a training class before being allowed to clean the park. A pleasant experience is had by most volunteers.
C. Our local park is taken care of by groups of volunteers. Each month, the park has its trash picked up by a different group volunteers. A training class must be taken by every group of volunteers before being allowed to clean the park. A pleasant experience is had by most volunteers.
D. Groups of volunteers take care of our local park. A different group of volunteers picks up the park’s trash each month. Taking the training class will allow the volunteers to clean the park. Most volunteers have a pleasant experience.
D. Groups of volunteers take care of our local park. A different group of volunteers picks up the park’s trash each month. Taking the training class will allow the volunteers to clean the park. Most volunteers have a pleasant experience.
Answer questions 1 and 2.
(1)Read the source of the allusion.
George Orwell's novel 1984 focuses on a totalitarian society in which the citizens are frequently reminded that their leader, Big Brother, is always watching.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
The headline read: "Smart Phones Becoming Big Brother."
a. a threatening power that monitors all aspects of people's lives
b. a nuisance that distracts people from important tasks
(2) Read the source of the allusion.
In the fable "The Fox and the Grapes," a fox tries unsuccessfully to reach a bunch of grapes. Because he cannot reach them and therefore cannot eat them, he tells himself that they must be sour.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Kevin's remark about your new car is clearly a case of sour grapes.
a. disliking something that you find unpleasant
b. criticizing something because you can't have it
(1) a. a threatening power that monitors all aspects of people's lives
(2) b. criticizing something because you can't have it
Which word’s meaning is MOST closely tied to the root “mand” (hand) as control or authority?
A. command
B. demand
C. mandate
D. remand
C. mandate
Use this passage to answer the following question:
Passage
Lena hesitated at the edge of the stage, her palms damp as the audience murmured beyond the curtain. Just a year ago, she would have turned and run. Back then, silence felt safer than risking embarrassment.
Now, she took a slow breath. The memory of her last failure—forgetting every line and rushing offstage—still lingered, but something had changed. Her teacher’s words echoed in her mind: Fear doesn’t disappear. You just decide it doesn’t control you anymore.
As the curtain rose, Lena stepped forward. Her voice trembled at first, but she kept going. By the final line, the audience was silent—not with judgment, but with attention.
When the applause came, Lena smiled—not because she had been perfect, but because she hadn’t quit.
PART A: Which statement BEST explains how the author develops the central idea across the passage?
A. By showing that external validation ultimately determines a person’s sense of success
B. By contrasting Lena’s past avoidance with her present action to emphasize that courage involves persistence despite fear
C. By illustrating that failure must be eliminated before confidence can be achieved
D. By emphasizing that guidance from authority figures is the primary factor in personal growth
PART B: Which TWO details BEST support the answer to Part A?
A. “her palms damp as the audience murmured beyond the curtain”
B. “Just a year ago, she would have turned and run.”
C. “her teacher’s words echoed in her mind”
D. “her voice trembled at first, but she kept going”
E. “the audience was silent—not with judgment, but with attention”
F. “she hadn’t quit”
PART C: Which explanation BEST justifies why the evidence in Part B supports the answer to Part A?
A. The selected details highlight how Lena depends on others to influence her decisions
B. The selected details demonstrate a shift from avoidance to perseverance, reinforcing the idea that courage is acting despite fear
C. The selected details show that Lena’s fear disappears once she begins performing
D. The selected details emphasize the audience’s reaction as the most important element of the story
The audience was silent—not with judgment, but with attention.
PART A: What does the word “attention” most nearly suggest in this sentence?
A. boredom and disinterest
B. focus and engagement
C. confusion and uncertainty
D. criticism and doubt
PART B: Which phrase BEST helps the reader understand the meaning of “attention”?
A. “the audience was silent”
B. “not with judgment”
C. “the applause came”
D. “her voice trembled”
B. focus and engagement
B. “not with judgment”
Compare the student text with the source.
Source:
Sarah Fecht, "Lockheed Martin Wants to Send Humans to Mars in 12 Years." Published in Popular Science, 2016:
But after the moon it's still a very long way to Mars, filled with unknowns, and then once you get to Mars, landing is a whole new challenge.
Student text:
NASA faces many challenges as it considers sending astronauts on the long journey to Mars. As Fecht points out, "once you get to Mars, landing is a whole new challenge."
Is the student text plagiarized?
No, it is not plagiarized.