Theme
What is a theme?
A) The author’s opinion
B) The message
C) The story’s conflict
D) The main character’s goal
B) The message
What is character development?
A) How a character changes throughout a story
B) The story’s tone and mood towards the characters
C) The author’s background
D) The setting, the conflict, etc.
A. How a character changes throughout a story
What is the central idea?
A) The main point the author wants to communicate
B) A fun fact from the text
C) A quote from the introduction
D) The author’s biography
A) The main point
What event begins Will’s main conflict in Long Way Down?
A) Shawn is killed
B) Will moves to a new city
C) Will finds a gun
D) Uncle Mark visits
A Shawn is killed
What is parallel structure?
A) Using different verb forms
B) Using the same grammatical form in a list
C) Mixing sentence types
D) Using commas incorrectly
B) Using the same grammatical form in a list
A story shows a character helping others and being honest. What is the theme most likely about?
A) Kindness and honesty are important values.
B) Rules should always be broken.
C) Characters should avoid helping others.
D) Conflict is always caused by nature.
A) Kindness and honesty are important values.
A character always helps friends and shows care for others. What does this reveal about the character?
A) The character is selfish and careless.
B) The character is kind and dependable.
C) The character ignores other people.
D) The character is dishonest and mean.
B) The character is kind and dependable.
An article explains that exercising, eating healthy, and drinking water helps people feel better every day. What is the central idea?
A) People should never exercise.
B) Healthy habits improve daily well-being.
C) Drinking water is unnecessary.
D) Only eating healthy matters.
B) Healthy habits improve daily well-being.
Will decides to take the elevator after his brother is killed. What does this choice tell us about him?
A) Will does not care about what happens.
B) Will is determined and feels responsible.
C) Will wants to ignore his problems.
D) Will is happy about the situation.
B) Will is determined and feels responsible
Which sentence uses parallel structure?
A) She likes running, to swim, and bikes.
B) She likes running, swimming, and biking.
C) She likes to run, swimming, and biking.
D) She likes running, swim, and to bike.
B) She likes running, swimming, and biking.
Which statement shows a universal theme?
A) Love can lead people to make sacrifices
B) The story takes place in Verona
C) A young boy learns to play basketball
D) The main character wins in the end
A) Love can lead people to make sacrifices
A character in a story faces a difficult choice and decides to help someone despite personal risk. What does this reveal about the character?
A) The character is selfish and avoids responsibility.
B) The character shows courage and moral growth.
C) The character does not understand the situation.
D) The character only follows instructions without thinking.
B) The character shows courage and moral growth
An article explains how eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep helps people stay healthy. What is the central idea?
A) People should avoid all physical activity.
B) Healthy habits can improve overall well-being.
C) Only exercise matters for good health.
D) Sleep has no impact on health.
B) Healthy habits can improve overall well-being.
During the elevator ride, Will listens to the stories of the ghosts. What does this suggest about him as a character?
A) Will is becoming more thoughtful and questioning his assumptions.
B) Will ignores the lessons of the ghosts and plans revenge.
C) Will becomes angrier and more certain about the rules.
D) Will shows he has no interest in understanding the past.
A) Will is becoming more thoughtful and questioning his assumptions.
Why is parallel structure important?
A) It adds confusion
B) It makes writing clearer and smoother
C) It shortens sentences
D) It changes the meaning
B) It makes writing clearer and smoother
In many stories, a character’s loyalty to friends or family leads to conflict or loss. What theme does this idea best support?
A) Loyalty can have both positive and negative consequences.
B) Friendship is always stronger than family bonds.
C) Conflicts never occur between people who care about each other.
D) Loyalty only leads to success and happiness.
A) Loyalty can have both positive and negative consequences.
A character begins the story confident in their beliefs but changes their mind after learning the truth about someone they trusted. What does this reveal about their development?
A) The character has grown more understanding and self-aware.
B) The character has become less able to make decisions.
C) The character has refused to accept new information.
D) The character has grown more distant from everyone else.
A) The character has grown more understanding and self-aware.
An article explains how communities can reduce pollution by recycling, planting trees, and using public transportation. What is the central idea of the text?
A) Communities should ignore pollution problems.
B) Individual actions cannot impact the environment.
C) Pollution only affects cities, not rural areas.
D) Communities can take steps to improve the environment.
D) Communities can take steps to improve the environment.
During the elevator ride, Will meets several ghosts who tell their stories. What does this reveal about his character?
A) Will is learning to question the rules he has always followed.
B) Will ignores the advice of the ghosts and stays the same.
C) Will becomes more determined to carry out revenge immediately.
D) Will shows that he does not care about his brother’s death.
A) Will is learning to question the rules he has always followed
Identify the error: “He wanted to win the game, to earn respect, and glory.”
A) “Glory” should be “to earn glory”
B) “Win” should be “winning”
C) No error
D) “Respect” should be “respecting”
A) “Glory” should be “to earn glory”
In several stories, characters chase success but lose important relationships along the way. What theme do these stories most likely share?
A) Ambition can come at a cost.
B) Success guarantees happiness.
C) Hard work always leads to reward.
D) Relationships are unimportant.
A) Ambition can come at a cost.
A character begins the story blaming others for their problems but ends by taking responsibility for their actions. What does this reveal about their development?
A) The character has become less aware of their choices.
B) The character has decided to avoid all future challenges.
C) The character’s personality has remained unchanged.
D) The character has matured and gained self-awareness.
D) The character has matured and gained self-awareness.
An article describes how social media connects people but also increases feelings of isolation. What is the central idea of the text?
A) Technology is mostly a form of entertainment.
B) Online communication is more important than real life.
C) Social media has no real effect on relationships.
D) Technology can both unite and distance people.
D) Technology can both unite and distance people.
By the end of Long Way Down, Will’s silence after Shawn asks, “You coming?” most likely shows—
A) Will’s decision to follow the rules without hesitation.
B) Will’s fear of disappointing the ghosts around him.
C) Will’s uncertainty about whether revenge is the right choice.
D) Will’s anger toward the people who betrayed his brother.
C) Will’s uncertainty about whether revenge is the right choice.
Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly?
A) She enjoys reading, writing, and to draw.
B) She enjoys to read, writing, and drawing.
C) She enjoys reading, writing, and drawing.
D) She enjoys reading, to write, and drawing.
C) She enjoys reading, writing, and drawing.