Word Choice
Read the sentence.
Esther wrote and memorized a poem for the school talent show, but when she stepped in front of the audience, she forgot the words.
Which sentence best uses specific words describing what happened to Esther?
A.) Esther was seized with stagefright.
B.) Ester was very nervous.
C.) Ester was speechless.
D.) Esther forgot the poem.
A.) Esther was seized with stagefright.
Which sentence from Exploring the Titanic indicates a shift in tone?
A.) As we settled in to the new ship, tension began to mount.
B.) I thought that this must have happened when the Titanic sank.
C.) I also hoped that cameras would succeed where sonar had failed.
D.) The smell of hot buttered popcorn filled the room.
A.) As we settled in to the new ship, tension began to mount.
Which excerpt from Fever 1793 directly reveals a character's thoughts or feelings?
A.) Eliza scowled and waved a towel at the flies buzzing above the bowl.
B.) "Grandfather says this trouble will soon be over. He says people don’t have gumption anymore."
C.) "I’m glad they’ll stop ringing the bells," I said.
D.) "A neighbor threatened to burn the place down if the sick are not removed," explained Mr. Carris.
C.) "I’m glad they’ll stop ringing the bells," I said.
Read the paragraph.
We didn’t enjoy our food when we went out to eat, but our friend Nelson said that the restaurant normally served some of the best Italian food in town. In fact, he said it was one of his favorite places to eat. He said that we should return and give it a second chance.
What word best replaces “said” in the last sentence?
A.) insisted
B.) announced
C.) exclaimed
D.) shouted
A.) insisted
Read the paragraph.
Glenway Park should be saved for future generations to enjoy. This area has been a favorite spot for generations of picnickers and stargazers. The foundation of the city’s first building still stands near the baseball diamond. In addition, the park has over three acres of old-growth oak forest that harbors spring flowers, deer, and a variety of song birds.
What sentence best finishes the paragraph?
A.) Glenway Park’s unique natural and historical treasures must be preserved.
B.) Glenway Park is a nice place to visit and a good place for families.
C.) Glenway Park’s fun combination of woods and picnic areas is hard to beat.
D.) Glenway is over six acres and is visited by thousands of people every year.
A.) Glenway Park’s unique natural and historical treasures must be preserved.
Read this excerpt from Exploring the Titanic.
Was the Titanic really in our carefully plotted search area? If so, surely something would have shown up on our monitor screens by now. Were we looking in the wrong place? Would we return empty-handed?
Which mood does the author create through the use of questions in this excerpt?
A.) curious
B.) doubting
C.) hopeful
D.) judgmental
B.) doubting
Read this excerpt from Fever 1793
The bright sun blinded me as I stepped outdoors. The garden looked distressingly poor, even with all the watering I had done and the brief rain.
What does the first-person narrative reveal about the setting?
A.) It is raining.
B.) It is late in the day.
C.) The weather has been hot and dry.
D.) The garden is a good distance from the house.
C.) The weather has been hot and dry.
Read the sentences.
We spent the morning helping our friend Linda move out of her house. We moved each piece of furniture onto the front porch before moving it into the cargo van.
What word best replaces “moving” in the last sentence?
A.) pushing
B.) shoving
C.) loading
D.) throwing
C.) loading
Read the paragraph.
Kendra leaned back and blew a long, clear note towards the sky. Behind her, the bass kept a shuffling rhythm and the drums moved the music forward. She hunched over her __________ and blew a quick, dabbling pattern of low tones into the crowd. Everyone in the audience was smiling. It was a perfect night for jazz.
What word best fills in the blank?
A.) instrument
B.) drum
C.) trumpet
D.) violin
C.) trumpet
Read this excerpt from Exploring the Titanic.
"There's something," he said, pointing to the screen. Suddenly every member of the sleepy watch was alive and alert. No one could believe it wasn't just another false alarm, or a joke. But, no, there on the screen were clear images of things man-made.
Which words from the excerpt best represent the author’s excited tone?
A.) every member
B.) alive and alert
C.) false alarm
D.) on the screen
B.) alive and alert
The narrator of Fever 1793 helps readers imagine Philadelphia summers by describing
A.) church bells tolling.
B.) mosquitoes, blowflies, and hornets buzzing.
C.) visiting the newspaper office.
D.) Eliza leaving for the Free African Society meeting.
B.) mosquitoes, blowflies, and hornets buzzing.
Read the sentence.
Tushan was a highly experienced runner with years of experience running in races.
What is the best replacement of "experience” in this sentence?
A.) skill
B.) exercise
C.) practice
D.) rehearsal
C.) practice
Read the paragraph.
We didn’t enjoy our food when we went out to eat, but our friend Nelson said that the restaurant normally served some of the best Italian food in town. In fact, he said it was one of his favorite places to eat. He said that we should return and give it a second chance.
What word best replaces “said” in the last sentence?
A.) insisted
B.) announced
C.) exclaimed
D.) shouted
A.) insisted
What is the effect when the author of Exploring the Titanic describes the night the Titanic sank?
A.) The reader understands the author’s reasons for wanting to find the Titanic.
B.) The reader realizes that the author has regrets about finding the Titanic.
C.) A mood of disappointment builds and lasts throughout the rest of the passage.
D.) A respectful mood forms alongside the existing general mood of excitement.
D.) A respectful mood forms alongside the existing general mood of excitement.
The narrator of Fever 1793 helps readers imagine the fear of living through the yellow fever outbreak by describing
A.) wealthy families fleeing the city.
B.) rainwater rising in ghostly plumes of steam.
C.) flies buzzing around a bowl of pudding.
D.) people running out of sugar.
A.) wealthy families fleeing the city.
Read the sentence.
The gold yellow light of the sun made the lake shimmer.
Which part of the sentence is redundant?
A.) gold yellow
B.) light of the sun
C.) sun made
D.) lake shimmer
A.) gold yellow
Read the sentences.
We spent the morning helping our friend Linda move out of her house. We moved each piece of furniture onto the front porch before moving it into the cargo van.
What word best replaces “moving” in the last sentence?
A.) pushing
B.) shoving
C.) loading
D.) throwing
C.) loading
Which sentence from Exploring the Titanic best indicates the author’s enthusiastic tone at the end of the passage?
A.) Now, finally, I went to my bunk to get some sleep.
B.) When I awoke, it was nighttime, and the good ship Knorr was steaming quietly and steadily to our home.
C.) They had paid a big price over the years during my long months away from home, but they’d never once complained.
D.) As we came into port, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
D.) As we came into port, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
In Fever 1793, Mattie's narration helps readers understand her family's place in society by
A.) stating the number of people living in Philadelphia.
B.) describing mosquitoes, blowflies, and hornets buzzing.
C.) describing her garden as looking distressingly poor.
D.) noting that her family is able to buy food at the market.
D.) noting that her family is able to buy food at the market.
We went down to the blue water’s edge as it lapped lazily against the shore.
What change would most improve the word choice in this sentence?
A.) “Blue water’s edge” should be replaced with a more descriptive detail.
B.) “Lapped lazily” should be replaced with a more descriptive detail.
C.) “Went” should be replaced with a more vivid verb.
D.) “Shore” should be replaced with a more precise noun.
C.) “Went” should be replaced with a more vivid verb.