1. Grammar & Punctuation
Which sentence is correct?
A. Stargirl likes music.
B. Stargirl likes music
C. Stargirl, likes music.
Answer: A
Explanation: A complete sentence needs correct ending punctuation. B is missing a period, and C has an unnecessary comma between the subject and verb.
A. Frend
B. Friend
C. Freind
Answer: B — Friend
Explanation: The correct spelling is friend. The other choices have the letters in the wrong order or are missing a letter.
Question: Find the main clause: “When school ended, Leo went home.”
A. When school ended
B. Leo went home
Answer: B — Leo went home.
Explanation: The main clause expresses a complete thought. “When school ended” leaves us waiting to find out what happened.
Question: Choose the best transition: “Leo was nervous. _____, he talked to Stargirl.”
A. However
B. For example
C. Also
Answer: A — However
Explanation: However shows contrast. We might expect Leo to avoid Stargirl because he is nervous, but he talks to her anyway.
Question: Which sentence shows a theme?
A. Stargirl walks into the room.
B. People should not judge others for being different.
C. Leo eats lunch.
Answer: B
Explanation: A theme is a message about life or people. The other choices describe individual events rather than a broader message.
Question: Which sentence uses a comma correctly?
A. After lunch we went outside.
B. After lunch, we went outside.
C. After, lunch we went outside.
Answer: B
Explanation: A comma often follows an introductory phrase. “After lunch” introduces the main part of the sentence
Question: Which word sounds the most positive?
A. Bossy
B. Confident
C. Pushy
Answer: B — Confident
Explanation: Confident suggests believing in yourself. Bossy and pushy often suggest trying to control other people. These are common associations, though context matters.
Question: Which is a complete sentence?
A. Because I was tired.
B. Stargirl smiled.
C. When the bell rang.
Answer: B — Stargirl smiled.
Explanation: This sentence has a subject, a verb, and a complete thought. A and C are fragments because they begin with words that make the reader expect more information.
Question: Leo sees students whispering about Stargirl. What might this mean?
A. They may be talking about her.
B. They are all asleep.
C. They are leaving school.
Answer: A
Explanation: Whispering about someone can suggest that people are discussing that person. It is a reasonable inference, not proof of exactly what they are saying.
Question: What is denotation?
A. A word's dictionary meaning.
B. A word's feeling.
C. A character's name.
Answer: A
Explanation: Denotation is the literal meaning of a word. Connotation refers to the feelings or associations connected to it.
A. I like Stargirl; she is interesting.
B. I; like Stargirl she is interesting.
C. I like; Stargirl she is interesting.
Answer: A
Explanation: A semicolon joins two closely related complete sentences. “I like Stargirl” and “she is interesting” can each stand alone.
Fix the spelling mistake: “Leo was curius about Stargirl.”
Answer: curious
Explanation: Curious is spelled c-u-r-i-o-u-s. It means wanting to learn or know more about something.
Question: Find the dependent clause:
“Although Leo was nervous, he spoke to Stargirl.”
Answer: Although Leo was nervous.
Explanation: The word although makes this clause depend on the rest of the sentence to complete its meaning.
Question: Put these events in order:
Leo talks to Stargirl.
Leo sees Stargirl.
Leo becomes curious about her.
Answer: Leo sees Stargirl → becomes curious about her → talks to her.
Explanation: This is a logical sequence in which seeing Stargirl leads to curiosity, which can lead to interaction.
Question: Which word has a more negative connotation?
A. Curious
B. Nosy
Answer: B — Nosy
Explanation: Curious often suggests a desire to learn, while nosy suggests interfering in other people's business. Both relate to wanting information, but their connotations differ.
Question: Fix the mistake: “Leo, watched Stargirl.”
Answer: Leo watched Stargirl.
Explanation: Leo is the subject, and watched is the verb. A comma should not separate them.
Question: Which word sounds more positive?
A. Cheap
B. Affordable
Answer: B — Affordable
Explanation: Affordable suggests that something costs a reasonable amount. Cheap can sometimes suggest poor quality, although its meaning depends on the context.
Question: Fix this incomplete sentence:
“Because Stargirl was kind.”
Sample answer: Because Stargirl was kind, Leo wanted to know her better.
Explanation: The original sentence gives a reason but does not explain what happened because of it. Adding a main clause completes the thought.
Question: Leo stops believing everything his friends say about Stargirl. What can you infer?
A. He is starting to think for himself.
B. He wants to stop going to school.
C. He has forgotten Stargirl.
Answer: A
Explanation: He is questioning other people's opinions instead of automatically accepting them. This suggests he is beginning to form his own judgment.
Question: Which would best show that Leo's opinion of Stargirl changed?
A. A quote showing what he thought at first and a quote showing what he thinks later.
B. A description of his lunch.
C. The name of his school.
Answer: A
Explanation: Comparing evidence from the beginning and later in the story lets readers see how Leo's thinking develops.
Question: Complete the sentence with a dash:
Stargirl had one special quality she was herself.
Answer: Stargirl had one special quality—she was herself.
Explanation: The dash creates emphasis by drawing attention to the explanation of Stargirl's special quality.
Question: Which word makes Stargirl sound more interesting?
A. Different
B. Unique
Answer: B — Unique
Explanation: Unique often suggests that someone is special or one of a kind. Different is more neutral and simply means not the same as others. Both can be positive depending on context.
Question: Which sentence has a main clause and a dependent clause?
A. Stargirl sang.
B. Because Stargirl sang, students listened.
C. Students listened.
Answer: B
Explanation: “Because Stargirl sang” is the dependent clause, and “students listened” is the main clause. Together, they form a complex sentence.
Question: How can you support an inference?
A. Make up a story.
B. Use a clue from the text.
C. Pick any answer.
Answer: B — Use a clue from the text.
Explanation: An inference combines textual clues with what the reader already knows. Evidence makes the conclusion reasonable rather than a random guess
Question: Leo calls Stargirl “strange.” What does this word tell us about how he sees her?
Sample answer: He sees her as different from other students.
Explanation: The denotation of strange is unusual or unfamiliar. In this context, its connotation may be negative, suggesting that Leo or his classmates see Stargirl as someone who does not fit in. The word choice helps readers understand their attitude toward her.