Purpose
Which statement best describes how a text establishes perspective?
a. Through word choice, evidence selection, and tone
b. Only through the text's font size
c. Only through the author's name
d. Through the number of pages
a. Through word choice, evidence selection, and tone
The science fair project stood incomplete on my desk, while my phone buzzed with another message from the group chat. "Just finish it yourself," my project partner had texted earlier. "You're better at this stuff anyway." Easy for her to say – she didn't have to juggle basketball practice, debate club, and family responsibilities.
Which perspective best describes the narrator's point of view?
A. A frustrated group project partner
B. An overachieving student
C. A disinterested student
D. A neutral third-party observer
A. A frustrated group project partner
Tommy practiced his guitar for hours every day. ________, he struggled to master the difficult chord progressions. Finally, after weeks of practice, he could play the entire song.
Which transition word would best fit this passage?
A. Furthermore
B. However
C. Meanwhile
D. Therefore
B. However
Using your knowledge of the Greek root 'photo' (light) and 'phobia' (fear), analyze the word "photophobia" in this sentence:
"The patient's photophobia forced them to wear sunglasses even on cloudy days."
A. A love of photography
B. A tendency to take pictures
C. An extreme fear or aversion to light
D. A condition causing bright flashes in vision
C. An extreme fear or aversion to light
The ancient oak tree's branches reached out like weathered hands, beckoning weary travelers to rest beneath its protective embrace.
Which type of figurative language most strongly contributes to creating the welcoming atmosphere in this passage?
A. Alliteration
B. Hyperbole
C. Personification
D. Onomatopoeia
C. Personification
In narrative writing, why do authors often include specific details about a character's facial expressions and body language?
A. To make the story longer
B. To help readers understand characters' emotions without explicit statements
C. To show that the character is physically fit
D. To demonstrate the author's knowledge of anatomy
B. To help readers understand characters' emotions without explicit statements
In the crowded cafeteria, Maria watched as the new student sat alone, picking at her lunch. Last year, Maria had been the new kid, and she remembered how lonely those first few weeks felt. But now, surrounded by her friends, she wondered if she should risk her social status by inviting the new girl to join them.
What perspective is the passage written from?
A. The new student's perspective
B. Maria's friends' perspective
C. An omniscient narrator focusing on Maria's thoughts and feelings
D. The cafeteria staff's perspective
C. An omniscient narrator focusing on Maria's thoughts and feelings
"I need to find that book," said Marcus. "It's really important to me." Marcus walked to the library. "I hope they have it," Marcus said. "I've been searching everywhere." Marcus opened the door.
What revision would most improve this dialogue?
A. Add more conversation between different characters
B. Replace some dialogue tags with action beats
C. Make the dialogue longer and more detailed
D. Remove all dialogue completely
B. Replace some dialogue tags with action beats
In the phrase "The anthropologist studied the indigenous culture," what does the Greek root 'anthrop' (human) tell us about the meaning of "anthropologist"?
A. Someone who studies plants
B. Someone who studies weather patterns
C. Someone who studies human societies and cultures
D. Someone who studies ancient artifacts
C. Someone who studies human societies and cultures
The midnight storm raged with fury, its thunder drums beating a wild rhythm against the ebony sky, while lightning dancers performed their electric ballet.
How does the author's use of metaphor in this passage affect the reader's understanding?
A. It emphasizes the storm's peaceful nature
B. It creates a sense of musical and theatrical performance
C. It minimizes the storm's intensity
D. It suggests the storm is ending soon
B. It creates a sense of musical and theatrical performance
What is the purpose of the newspaper article? in the passage below?
A recent article in the local newspaper explained that technology in schools is changing the way students learn. The article highlighted both the benefits, such as access to information, and the challenges, like making sure all students use devices responsibly.
A) To only praise technology
B) To show both sides of technology in schools
C) To persuade schools to remove technology
D) To entertain readers with jokes
B) To show both sides of technology in schools
The emergency room was chaos – nurses rushing past with charts, doctors calling out orders, and worried families filling every chair in the waiting area. But to Dr. Chen, it was just another Tuesday night shift. She took a deep breath and focused on the chart in front of her, knowing each case required her complete attention.
The passage is written from whose point of view?
A. A nurse in the emergency room
B. A patient waiting to be seen
C. A third-person narrator focused on Dr. Chen
D. A worried family member
C. A third-person narrator focused on Dr. Chen
The team won the championship game. Earlier that morning, they had breakfast together. The crowd cheered as they received their trophy. They practiced every day after school for months.
Which revision would best improve the structure?
A. Add more details about the championship game
B. Remove the breakfast scene entirely
C. Rearrange events in chronological order
D. Include more dialogue between teammates
C. Rearrange events in chronological order
Using the Latin root 'aud' (hear) and suffix 'ible' (able to), determine the meaning of "audible" in this sentence:
"The whisper was barely audible over the crowd's chatter."
A. Able to be heard
B. Pleasant to listen to
C. Worth listening to
D. Loud and clear
A. Able to be heard
Memories of summer dripped slowly through her mind like honey from a jar, sweet and golden, but growing harder to reach with each passing year.
How does the simile in this passage enhance the author's message about memories?
A. It suggests memories are unpleasant
B. It implies memories are easily accessible
C. It emphasizes the speed of remembering
D. It conveys both the pleasantness and difficulty of accessing old memories
D. It conveys both the pleasantness and difficulty of accessing old memories
The championship game was tied with ten seconds left. Emma dribbled down the court, her sneakers squeaking against the polished floor. The crowd's roar faded to a distant hum as she focused on the basket ahead.
What is the author's purpose in shifting the sound description from the squeaking sneakers to the fading crowd noise?
A. To show that the crowd left the game
B. To indicate a technical problem with the sound system
C. To illustrate Emma's intense concentration
D. To describe the gym's poor acoustics
C. To illustrate Emma's intense concentration
Sarah stared at her phone, reading the group chat messages about Saturday's party. Everyone was excited about going, but she hadn't received an invitation. "They probably just forgot," she typed, then deleted the message without sending it.
What does Sarah's action of typing and deleting the message reveal about her perspective?
A. She is confident about her friendship with the group
B. She doesn't want to attend the party
C. She is trying to hide her hurt feelings
D. She thinks parties are overrated
C. She is trying to hide her hurt feelings
After finishing the painting, Maya stepped back and looked at her work.
Which addition would create the strongest moment of reflection?
A. Add a description of the art supplies she used
B. Include dialogue with another student
C. Describe the physical features of the painting
D. Show her thoughts about how her skills have grown
D. Show her thoughts about how her skills have grown
In the sentence "The malevolent wizard cast a destructive spell," what does the word "malevolent" mean based on its Latin roots 'mal' (bad) and 'volens' (wishing)?
A. Extremely powerful
B. Wishing harm or evil upon others
C. Highly skilled in magic
D. Mysteriously enchanting
B. Wishing harm or evil upon others
The city was a sleeping giant, its skyscrapers stretching toward the stars like steel fingers, while rivers of headlights flowed through its concrete arteries.
Which combination of figurative devices most effectively conveys the city's character?
A. Simile and metaphor only
B. Personification and hyperbole only
C. Personification, simile, and metaphor
D. Alliteration and onomatopoeia
C. Personification, simile, and metaphor
The old wooden door creaked open, revealing cobwebs in every corner. Sarah's heart pounded as she took a hesitant step forward, the floorboards groaning beneath her feet. A cold draft whispered through the darkness, carrying the musty scent of decay.
What is the author's primary purpose in including these sensory details?
A. To provide historical context about the building
B. To create an atmosphere of suspense and unease
C. To explain why Sarah entered the building
D. To describe the building's architectural features
B. To create an atmosphere of suspense and unease
Emma rolled her eyes as her mom insisted on checking her homework again. Having recently won the school's math competition, Emma felt she had proven her capability. Her mother, who had struggled in school, saw these checks as necessary support.
How do both characters' past experiences create conflicting perspectives?
A. Emma's mother is trying to control her daughter's life
B. Emma is being disrespectful to her mother's authority
C. Emma's academic success and her mother's academic struggles create opposing views on the need for supervision
D. Both characters are stubborn and unwilling to change
C. Emma's academic success and her mother's academic struggles create opposing views on the need for supervision
In a blink, Sarah darted across the street. She made it to the other side and looked around. The old bookstore was exactly where she remembered it. Walking inside, the musty smell of old books hit her nose.
Which revision would best improve the pacing of this passage?
A. Add more details about Sarah's appearance
B. Include dialogue between Sarah and a store clerk
C. Describe the journey to the bookstore in slow, vivid detail
D. Keep the quick pace but add sensory details about the street crossing
D. Keep the quick pace but add sensory details about the street crossing
In "The submarine's periscope allowed them to view ships above," what does the Greek prefix 'peri' (around) and root 'scope' (view) suggest about the word's meaning?
A. A device that measures depth
B. A device that looks straight ahead
C. A device that looks around and above
D. A device that records sound
C. A device that looks around and above
Her words were daggers, sharp and precise, cutting through the tension in the room like a skilled surgeon's blade.
How does the extended metaphor in this passage develop the author's message?
A. It suggests the speaker is physically violent
B. It implies the words were spoken quietly
C. It emphasizes the calculated and impactful nature of the speech
D. It indicates the speaker was uncertain
C. It emphasizes the calculated and impactful nature of the speech