Context Clues
Theme
Figurative Language
Textual Evidence
Text Structure
100
The archaeologists discovered an empty sarcophagus deep within the tomb. They were disappointed because Egyptian burial sites often contained well-preserved mummies. What is the meaning of sarcophagus?
What is a coffin
100
People tell her to give up and that she's wasting her time and money, but she doesn't listen to them.
What is work hard and stay determined no matter what anyone says.
100
I wandered lonely as a cloud
What is simile
100
Last week, I saw on the local news that there is a new city law. It says that a person can now get a parking ticket by parking on Davis Avenue Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. I told my dad about this, and he was not a happy camper. He works on Davis Avenue and often has to park on the street when the parking lot is full. He and his co-workers are planning to talk to the building’s owners about alternative parking solutions. Which of the following statements from the passage shows that the narrator's dad is a person who takes action?
What is He and his co-workers are planning to talk to the building's owners about alternative parking solutions.
100
The storm came out of nowhere, it seemed. Sally rushed to find shelter off of the street. She found herself under the overhang of a convenience store. As she wiped the water out of her eyes, she noticed a nice-looking gentleman standing next to her. They began to talk about the storm, about New York, about fate. Soon, Sally had a date with the handsome man. Her new suede shoes were ruined, but it was worth it! What a fabulous storm! Which text structure did the writer mainly use to develop this passage?
What is cause and effect
200
The Arctic explorers watched carefully for crevasses, deep cracks that form in glaciers. What is a clue for the meaning of crevasses?
What is deep cracks
200
King Midas wants more and more gold and is finally granted his wish: Everything he touches will turn to gold. The Midas touch! He is ecstatic, as even the flowers become gold under his powerful touch. Unfortunately, when King Midas touches his daughter, she turns into a gold statue, and it is at that moment he realizes that all the gold in the world does not compare to his daughter or her love.
What is be careful what you wish for.
200
Running through the mall like a turkey with its head cut off, Mrs. Jones finally managed to find her three-year old daughter wondering through one of the stores. What is the effect of comparing Mrs. Jones to a turkey with its head cut off?
What is to show Mrs. Jones was frantically running throughout the mall.
200
"It is a good thing we were all wearing lifejackets and that land was not far away when we capsized." Based on the text, which of the following most likely happened?
What is A boat flipped over in the water.
200
In December of 2004, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake occurred off the northwest coast of the island of Sumatra. The earthquake triggered the deadliest tsunami in recorded history. The tsunami killed over a quarter of a million people and injured a half a million people. It left millions of people homeless. The tsunami was felt as far away as the Atlantic coast of the United States. How is the passage above organized?
What is cause and effect
300
The scene was melancholy. The mourners wore various shades of black, and they had tears in their eyes. What is the meaning of the word melancholy in the selection above?
What is gloomy/sad
300
In the Harry Potter books, Harry fights for good in the world of wizards. He and his friends must face many foes—human, animal, and magical. But by the end of each book, Harry always seems to have the upper hand.
What is good always triumphs over evil.
300
Shrinee was the pickiest eater in the universe. She did not eat an apple unless its hue was the color of cherries on ice-cream sundaes. And, she ate pasta only if each strand appeared silky and smooth like her own flowing hair. Her grandmother, Valerie, who grew up during the Great Depression, did not understand why Shrinee could afford to be so fussy about food that was perfectly cooked. Valerie had seen the worst of times. When she was Shrinee's age, she had once eaten a potato that looked as edible as a smashed bug. One sunny afternoon, Valerie took her only grandchild, Shrinee, to her backyard where she had been doing some gardening. The ripe, red tomatoes were swaying in the air, and the coriander leaves were spreading their aroma. She then asked Shrinee to think about food as life's gift. "Do you see how much it takes for a seed to grow into a plant? And, how easy it is to throw away food in the trash?" Valerie asked as she stroked Shrinee's silky hair. The author describes the potato to be "as edible as a smashed bug" to show that
What is food was scarce during the Great Depression.
300
Others may argue for the banning of cellphones in school; however, schools need to find fair and effective ways to regulate their use among their students. What does this sentence from the passage imply?
What is Banning cellphones in schools may not be the best answer for everyone involved.
300
Claire and Bonnie competed for everything: boys, grades, and first chair in band. They were both wonderful girls with their own strengths and weaknesses. Bonnie, for example, was better at basketball while Claire tended to excel at gymnastics and cheerleading. Claire had curly blonde hair, and Bonnie had short black hair. Bonnie was stronger at math, but Claire was better at foreign languages. They both had a crush on Josh Martin, but Josh Martin dated Cristy Summers. Even still, Josh was good friends with both Claire and Bonnie. In fact Bonnie helped Josh pass his algebra test, and Claire helped him learn French. To express his gratitude, he threw them a party for being the best tutors and friends that he knew. The section above uses its text structure
What is to to show how Claire and Bonnie are the same and how they are different.
400
Today these reptiles are wreaking havoc as they gobble up the native wildlife, negatively altering the entire ecosystem. Which phrase gives a clue that "wreaking havoc" means causing trouble?
What is negatively altering
400
Their life at the temple seemed lonely in comparison to this other world they were hearing about. They did not want to stay in a world they once thought was paradise.
What is the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. or That which is new often appears more desirable than that which is old.
400
I hold her scarf like a Band-Aid, wrapped around my wrist instead of her willowy arms. Why does the author compare Maria's scarf to a Band-Aid?
What is to show that the speaker is hurt by the woman's rejection or that he misses her
400
Rita's family had just moved to Scrantonville, Michigan. Before leaving for school, Rita's mom took a few moments to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for Rita. She placed the sandwich into a brown paper sack along with a bag of chips and some strawberries. Rita loved strawberries, and it wasn't too often that she got to eat them at lunch. She usually got a banana instead. Once at the school, Rita's mom walked her daughter to the office to check Rita into the school. Rita met the counselor, Ms. Beckham, who handed her the schedule and a map of the school. Rita hugged her mom and tried to manage a smile so that her mom would not worry about her. Ms. Beckham showed Rita where her locker was located and helped her open up the locker. She also showed Rita where her classes were located on the map. As Rita began walking toward her first period class, she heard a loud bell sound. Immediately, the students who had been heading to their classes stopped and began filing outside the building through the nearest doors. Rita followed a nearby group of girls outside. Based on this passage, which of the following best describes Ms. Beckham?
What is a patient person
400
The word tolerance has several different meanings. It can mean a person's ability to endure pain. Or it can mean the body's ability to stop responding to a drug. In cultural or social situations, tolerance means being respectful. It means sympathizing with others' beliefs and practices even if they are different from yours. Tolerance seeks to protect the social, cultural, and religious rights of all people. The text above uses its structure to
What is give readers a definition of tolerance.
500
Mary was resolute in the pursuits of her goals and is hungry for other opportunities that will take her career to new heights. What does word resolute mean in the paragraph above?
What is determined
500
My kind has to become accustomed to loneliness. And when one is alone there is nothing to do but study. I became a diligent scholar. I would spend whole days in the Radzymin study house and then pore over religious works at home. Purchasing and renting books from peddlers, I read constantly. It was summertime and the days were long. Reading a story of three brothers, I imagined that I could write, too, and began to cover both sides of a sheet of a paper. What significance does loneliness have for the main character, according to the paragraph above?
What is it led to his becoming a writer.
500
In the poem, what is shown by this statement "His words are like a spider's web?"
What is The students had trouble understanding what the teacher was saying.
500
King Midas wants more and more gold and is finally granted his wish: Everything he touches will turn to gold. The Midas touch! He is ecstatic, as even the flowers become gold under his powerful touch. Unfortunately, when King Midas touches his daughter, she turns into a gold statue, and it is at that moment he realizes that all the gold in the world does not compare to his daughter or her love. Which sentence or phrase from the passage reflects the theme that it is important not to be blinded by greed?
What is "When King Midas touches his daughter, she turns into a gold statue."
500
Would you believe that many of the Caribbean islands were once volcanoes? It’s true. There is a large chain of volcanoes that lies beneath the Caribbean Sea. Many of the islands we see today, including Jamaica and Cuba, were formed on top of volcanoes. Over many years, the volcanoes were submerged beneath the sea. Limestone began to develop over the igneous and metamorphic rock that was already there. To this day in Jamaica, there are places where the limestone on the island is thousands of feet thick. What is one conclusion that can be drawn from the passage?
What is Some Caribbean islands were formed as a result of volcanoes being submerged underwater.
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