Commonly Confused Words
The students left __there/their/they're__ books in the hallway.
their
The first known dentures, worn as early as 700 BCE by the Etruscans of central Italy, were composed mainly of animal teeth held together by gold bands. Later, in the 16th century, a denture made of wooden teeth held in place by suctions became popular in Japan. A “natural” look emerged with the dentures of the 18th and 19th centuries, which featured teeth made of ivory or porcelain and mounted on plates of gold or vulcanite, a type of rubber. While some modern dentures still feature porcelain teeth, most dentures today contain teeth made from plastic and mounted on a metal base.
The author uses the term “natural” to indicate that the dentures of the 18th and 19th centuries
A. resembled real human teeth
B. included some real human teeth
C. contained animal teeth rather than artificial substances
D. were made of materials found in nature
A. resembled real human teeth
The first coin-operated vending machines in the United States were installed on the elevated platforms of the New York City railway system in 1888. These machines sold a chewing gum called “Tutti-Frutti,” which was manufactured by the Thomas Adams Gum Company. The machines were eventually updated to feature animated figures that would dance each time a gum purchase was made.
All of the following statements about the vending machines discussed in the passage are true EXCEPT
A. they dispensed chewing gum in exchange for coins
B. they were the first of their kind in the country
C. they were utilized by train passengers
D. they were originally designed to entertain customers
D. they were originally designed to entertain customers
Maria had always admired her grandmother’s garden. Every spring, she helped plant the seeds, and every summer she watched the colors explode across the yard. Now that her grandmother had moved to a smaller home, Maria felt responsible for keeping the garden alive, even though the work felt overwhelming at times.
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
A. Maria dislikes gardening but does it anyway.
B. Maria feels pressure to maintain something important to her grandmother.
C. Maria plans to move to a smaller home soon.
D. Gardening is too difficult for most people.
B. Maria feels pressure to maintain something important to her grandmother.
Lena approached the abandoned house with trepidation, unsure of what she might find inside. Every step she took made the floorboards creak under her feet.
What does the word trepidation most likely mean?
A. Excitement
B. Fear
C. Joy
D. Confusion
B. Fear
Don’t forget to bring __you're/your__ notebook to class.
your
American copyright laws, laws that prohibit the use, distribution, or adaptation of another’s product without permission, first applied only to the copying of books, but now cover such diverse products as sound recordings, motion pictures, and computer programs. The federal Copyright Act of 1790 allowed copyright protection for 14 years with one 14-year extension allowed (if the author survived the first 14-year term). The Copyright Act of 1909 extended copyright protection to 28 years with a 28-year renewal, and the Copyright Act of 1976 extended it further, to 75 years.
What is the main purpose of this passage?
A. To explain the need for copyright laws
B. To show how copyright laws have been applied
C. To indicate how copyright laws have changed
D. To argue that copyright laws need to be expanded
C. To indicate how copyright laws have changed
The main authors of The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are usually thought of as America’s founders. Other, less known personages also deserve that designation, however, and Noah Webster was one of these. Through his writings, which include the stillinfluential dictionary that bears his name, Webster sought to legitimize an “American English” that was independent of British spelling and pronunciation. For instance, Webster removed the “u” from “colour,” creating the distinct American version of the word.
According to the passage, Noah Webster
A. helped write the Constitution
B. was a poor speller
C. authored a new dictionary
D. was unknown in his lifetime
C. authored a new dictionary
Many students assume that studying longer means studying better. However, research suggests that the quality of study sessions is far more important. Short, focused intervals paired with frequent breaks result in stronger memory retention.
What is the author’s purpose?
A. To entertain readers with a humorous story
B. To persuade students to stop studying altogether
C. To inform readers about effective study habits
D. To describe the history of study techniques
C. To inform readers about effective study habits
As the storm grew stronger, the trees danced wildly in the wind.
Question:
What figurative language is used in the sentence?
A. Simile
B. Hyperbole
C. Personification
D. Metaphor
C. Personification
The loud noise didn’t __effect/affect__ her as much as I expected.
affect
If you are committed to healthy, green living and want to reduce your environmental footprint, you might consider expanding your daily diet to include bugs. Supporters of the edible insect initiative rightfully argue that farming insects has a much lower environmental impact than does raising livestock since bugs are easier to harvest and require a fraction of the water and land space that cattle need. Indeed, the high-protein, lowfat health benefits of bug-eating have long been known. For hundreds of years, crickets, silkworms and even tarantulas have been served roasted, stewed, and fried at the dinner tables of many cultures.
In the first sentence, “expanding” most nearly means
A. intensifying
B. broadening
C. developing
D. exaggerating
B. broadening
Swarms of locusts causing deadly plagues are usually thought of as the stuff of myths. However, the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria has been responsible for damage to populations across three continents. The desert locust does its damage by consuming its body weight in food each day, devouring virtually any type of vegetation it encounters. When millions of locusts swarm into an area, their effect on the food supply in that area and surrounding areas can be catastrophic. Fortunately, it takes a big, sustained rainstorm (a rare event in desert areas) to create the conditions in which desert locusts thrive.
The passage is primarily about
A. the damage done by swarms of desert locusts
B. the consumption behavior of the desert locust
C. comparing real plagues to mythical ones
D. protecting vulnerable areas from desert locusts
A. the damage done by swarms of desert locusts
The old library stood at the edge of town, its windows darkened, its doors locked for years. Still, whenever I passed by, I felt a strange pull—like the building remembered everyone who had ever stepped inside.
What is the tone of this passage?
A. Joyful
B. Mysterious
C. Humorous
D. Angry
B. Mysterious
Passage:
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My best friend—my supposed best friend—had entered the competition without telling me. I felt betrayed, even if I knew it wasn’t entirely fair to feel that way.
What point of view is used?
A. First person
B. Second person
C. Third person limited
D. Third person omniscient
A. First person
I’m not sure __whether/weather__ the game will be canceled because of the rain.
whether
The 1922 German Expressionist film Nosferatu, directed by F. W. Murnau, is considered one of the most influential films in cinematic history—while also being a classic vampire movie. The film is closely based on Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, Dracula; however, the villain in the film is called “Count Orlok” rather than “Count Dracula.” The reason is that the small studio that produced the film, Prana Film, was unable to secure the rights to Stoker’s novel. In fact, shortly after finishing Nosferatu, its one and only film, Prana went bankrupt in order to dodge copyright lawsuits from Stoker’s widow.
In context, “secure” (sentence 3) most nearly means
A. shelter
B. fasten
C. obtain
D. guarantee
C. obtain
Some historians attribute the origins of the front porches so common in American houses to the covered porticos of classical Rome. Indeed, our word “porch” derives from the Latin portico. However, these colonnaded spaces were almost always connected _ to public or religious structures rather than to private homes. The loggias of Renaissance Venice, recessed front entryways built into the ground floor of Venetian canal houses, perhaps provide a better starting point for the evolution of the American-style porch. This architectural feature later became popularized throughout Europe by the 17th-century Venetian architect Andrea Palladio. Eventually, English colonists would spread the loggia to the American colonies.
Does the author agree with the “historians” who attribute the origins of the American front porch to the classical Roman portico?
A. Yes, because the word “porch” derives from the Latin word portico
B. Yes, because the buildings of ancient Rome have influenced many American architects
C. No, because Roman porticos had public uses rather than domestic ones
D. No, because Italian architecture was popular in Europe but not in America
C. No, because Roman porticos had public uses rather than domestic ones
When Evan’s name was called, he hesitated before stepping onto the stage. His palms were sweaty, and he kept adjusting the microphone even after it was already in place.
What can be inferred about Evan?
A. He is confident about performing.
B. He is nervous about speaking.
C. He does not want to be on stage because he is tired.
D. He has done this many times before.
B. He is nervous about speaking.
Many people believe that multitasking makes them more productive, but studies show the opposite. When individuals switch between tasks, their brains need extra time to refocus, which slows overall work.
Which detail best supports the idea that multitasking reduces productivity?
A. Multitasking is common in schools.
B. People often enjoy multitasking.
C. The brain loses time refocusing between tasks.
D. Productivity levels vary among individuals.
C. The brain loses time refocusing between tasks.
The teacher wasn’t sure __who/whom__ the missing assignment belonged to, so she checked the roster.
whom
Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, is used in most watercarrying pipes in the United States. Known for their resistance to the corrosion that can be caused by water, PVC pipes are more durable than the metal pipes of old. As useful as PVC is, it may be surprising that it was accidentally discovered in 1835 by Henri Victor Regnault, who observed a mysterious white solid plastic forming inside some test tubes that were left exposed to sunlight in his lab.
It can be inferred from the passage that metal pipes
A. are used more than PVC pipes outside of the United States
B. are more expensive than PVC pipes
C. are more likely to corrode than PVC pipes
D. are no longer used in the United States
C. are more likely to corrode than PVC pipes
The long reign of Elizabeth, who became known as the "Virgin Queen" for her reluctance to endanger her authority through marriage, coincided with the flowering of the English Renaissance, associated with such renowned authors as William Shakespeare. By her death in 1603, England had become a major world power in every respect, and Queen Elizabeth I passed into history as one of England's greatest monarchs.
The writer believes Queen Elizabeth I did not marry because
A. she did not want to diminish her power.
B. she did not fall in love.
C. there were no suitable matches.
D. she was preoccupied with the English Renaissance
A. she did not want to diminish her power.
Scientists have found a new function of the nuclear membrane, the envelope that encases and protects DNA in the nucleus of a cell—it fixes potentially fatal breaks in DNA strands. Previously, the nuclear membrane was thought to be mostly just a protective bubble around the nuclear material, with pores acting as channels to transport molecules in and out. But a recent study has documented how broken strands of a portion of DNA known as heterochromatin are dragged to the nuclear membrane for repair. The reason why we don't experience thousands of cancers every day in our body is because we have incredibly efficient molecular mechanisms that repair the frequent damages occurring in our DNA.
The main idea of the passage is
A. to present the findings from new research.
B. to refute old notions of the structure of DNA.
C. to describe how heterochromatin functions.
D. to explain how our bodies destroy pre-cancerous cells.
A. to present the findings from new research.
After losing the championship game, the team sat quietly in the locker room. Their coach walked in and told them that success wasn’t just about winning, but about hard work, growth, and supporting one another—no matter the outcome.
What is the theme of the passage?
A. Winning is everything.
B. Hard work and teamwork matter more than the final score.
C. Losing a game is never acceptable.
D. Coaches should always be strict.
B. Hard work and teamwork matter more than the final score.