GMAS
Read the sentence below. **Hint** (Idiom-Phrase with a figurative meaning different from its literal words)
Caroline's fingers itched to try out the new tool.
How does the author's use of idioms in the sentence achieve a specific purpose?
A. It conveys Carolina’s eagerness to use the tool.
B. It emphasizes that Caroline is thankful that she received the tool.
C. It suggests that Caroline is nervous about handling the tool.
D. It indicates Caroline’s surprise at the size of the tool.
A. It conveys Carolina’s eagerness to use the tool.
What central argument does the author build throughout the excerpt?
A. Humans should not be involved in animal conservation projects.
B. Balancing human needs with the needs of wildlife is complicated and sometimes requires compromise.
C. Scientists always make the best decisions when it comes to protecting endangered species.
D. Elderly people should not live near wildlife conservation sites.
B. Balancing human needs with the needs of wildlife is complicated and sometimes requires compromise.
What effect does the final paragraph have on the author’s argument?
A. It shifts the text into a fictional story.
B. It weakens the argument by siding entirely with the scientists.
C. It reinforces the idea that humans must sometimes balance compassion for people with responsibility to the planet.
D. It concludes that wildlife conservation is impossible.
C. It reinforces the idea that humans must sometimes balance compassion for people with responsibility to the planet.
In paragraph 3, how does the author use an expository technique to help the reader understand the work of Operation Migration?
A. By describing the cranes’ personalities in detail
B. By sharing Mrs. Gibbs’s emotional reaction to the birds
C. By presenting a set of facts about how the cranes were raised and trained
D. By comparing crane training to dog training
C. By presenting a set of facts about how the cranes were raised and trained
3 “I wouldn’t mind relocating to Montreal, Canada,” said Cynthia. “It has a lot of interesting architecture.”
4 “Oooh no,” replied Andy. “Beaucoup trop froid!”
5 “True!” Cynthia laughed
6 “I’d rather go back to Jacksonville,” Andy continued.
7 “With the alligators?? Gracias, pero, no,” Cynthia continued
In what TWO ways does the dialogue in the excerpt affect the story?
A. It demonstrates the personalities of two characters.
B. It clarifies part of the main problem that the characters face.
C. It introduces a source of conflict between the main characters.
D. It describes the characters’ setting with more detail and energy.
E. It positions the characters’ actions in a particular time and space.
A. It demonstrates the personalities of two characters.
B. It clarifies part of the main problem that the characters face.
Which word best completes the sentence?
The engineers continued working on the bridge ___ the weather conditions worsened, determined to meet the deadline.
A) although
B) nor
C) whether
D) because
A. Although
How does the author use background information about the whooping crane’s population decline?
A. To criticize historical record‑keeping
B. To show readers that the whooping crane was never truly endangered
C. To highlight why saving the species is urgent and worth major effort
D. To warn readers about other endangered species
C. To highlight why saving the species is urgent and worth major effort
What narrative techniques does Langston Hughes use to develop the plot in Thank You, Ma’am?
Answer Choices:
A) He uses flashbacks and dramatic irony to reveal Roger’s past mistakes.
B) He uses dialogue and characterization to show how trust and kindness transform Roger.
C) He uses satire and exaggeration to criticize society’s view of poverty.
D) He uses foreshadowing and symbolism to predict Roger’s future success.
B) He uses dialogue and characterization to show how trust and kindness transform Roger.
If he went into the pool at Jamie's party, he would surely embarrass himself in front of his entire seventh-grade class.
That night at dinner, Kyle explained his terrible predicament to his parents and sister.
Which word is closest to the meaning of the word predicament as used in the text?
A. Celebration, B. Love, C. Decision, D. Challenge
D. Challenge
Question:
You are researching effective strategies to reduce carbon emissions in urban areas. Compare the following evidence and decide:
Evidence A:
A peer-reviewed article in Nature Climate Change analyzes the impact of public transportation on carbon emissions.
Evidence B:
A personal blog post by a city resident describing how biking has helped reduce their carbon footprint.
Evidence A:
A peer-reviewed article in Nature Climate Change analyzes the impact of public transportation on carbon emissions.
What is wrong with this sentence?
Although the committee agreed on the proposal, the chairperson insisted on revisiting the issue, before the final vote was cast.
A) The comma before “before the final vote was cast” is incorrect
B) The sentence needs a semicolon instead of a comma
C) The sentence is missing a subordinating conjunction
D) There are no errors
A) The comma before “before the final vote was cast” is incorrect
(Correct version: …insisted on revisiting the issue before the final vote was cast.)
How does the explanation of Operation Migration’s methods support the text’s purpose?
A. It entertains the reader with humorous stories about flying machines.
B. It shows how simple and inexpensive wildlife conservation can be.
C. It provides factual details that help readers understand the scientific challenge of keeping cranes wild.
D. It argues that the project was unnecessary and ineffective.
C. It provides factual details that help readers understand the scientific challenge of keeping cranes wild.
Hint ***Tone*** Poem: "On Turning Ten" by Billy Collins
In stanza 2, what tone does the poet establish when describing the speaker’s feelings about turning ten?
a. Indifferent, as the poet shows little emotional response to aging.
b. Joyful, as the poet celebrates the new opportunities of growing older.
c. Nostalgic, as the poet reflects on the innocence of earlier years.
d. Humorous, as the poet makes light of the changes that come with age.
c. Nostalgic, as the poet reflects on the innocence of earlier years.
Choose the correct word from each drop-down menu to correctly complete the sentences using subordinating conjunctions.
I still remember the first time I tried to swim. I stood at the edge of the pool, nervous and unsure. I took a deep breath and stepped into the water, holding onto the wall _______ I could get used to the feeling. I stayed near the edge_______ I felt ready to try swimming on my own.
Answer Choices: Because, while, until, so that, before
So that & Until
You are reviewing the following section of your group’s draft research text and notice that connections between ideas could be clearer.
It is no secret that your mood changes when you listen to certain music. ___________, music has the same impact on the mood of customers. Customers’ moods can influence their opinions of a product or a store._____________, these opinions drive purchase decisions.
Which transitions BEST connect claims and reasons?
a. Likewise and Consequently
b. However and Furthermore
c. Therefore and Nevertheless
d. Occasionally and Overall
a. Likewise and Consequently
A student is writing a research report about how social media affects teen mental health. The student wants to answer the following question:
What impact does frequent social media use have on anxiety and self-esteem among teenagers?
Select the TWO most credible sources the student should use to gather relevant information to answer the research question:
A) A scholarly study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health examining correlations between social media use and anxiety
B) A YouTube influencer’s video sharing personal tips for “feeling confident online”
C) A report from the American Psychological Association summarizing research on social media and mental health
D) A Reddit discussion where teens share their experiences with social media
A & C
What narrative technique is used when the author describes the Gibbses sitting on their porch drinking tea?
A. Foreshadowing
B. Characterization that builds empathy
C. Flashback
D. Dialogue that reveals hidden motives
B. Characterization that builds empathy
***Hint: Mood*** Poem: "On Turning Ten."
Which statement best describes the mood created throughout the poem?
a. Confident, as the poet expresses certainty about the future.
b. Optimistic, as the poet looks forward to the responsibilities of adulthood.
c. Playful, as the poet jokes about the challenges of growing older.
d. Somber, as the poet emphasizes the loss of childhood wonder.
D. Somber, as the poet emphasizes the loss of childhood wonder.
In the paragraph explaining Mrs. Gibbs’s refusal to remove the feeders, how does the author use narrative detail to support the idea that her choice is emotionally complex?
A. By revealing that her husband’s condition makes the cranes his only joyful connection
B. By describing the cranes as noisy and disruptive
C. By comparing her to other neighbors
D. By criticizing her understanding of science
A. By revealing that her husband’s condition makes the cranes his only joyful connection
Choose the correct word from each drop-down menu to complete the sentence using subordinating conjunctions:
Maria couldn’t decide ___ she should join the debate team, ___ did she feel confident enough to speak in front of a large audience.
Answer choices: but also, nor, because, although, since, whether
Whether & Nor
Read the paragraph from a student’s research report about coffee.
(1) More than a hundred years ago, Europeans who wanted to drink coffee typically tied up coffee grounds in a little piece of cloth and boil it in a pot of water. (2) Some grounds usually got through the cloth and mixed with the drink. (3) The coffee also tasted very bitter. (4) Melitta Bentz invented a much better system for brewing coffee that involved using a heavy paper filter and a pot with holes punched in it. (5) When she poured the boiling water through this contraption, the paper held the coffee grounds, water drained through, and the resulting beverage was a ton better.
Which edit should be made to maintain the appropriate style for the intended purpose?
A. Maintain formal style by changing “a pot of water” to “some water” in sentence 1.
B. Maintain formal style by changing “tasted very bitter” to “tasted pretty awful” in sentence 3.
C. Maintain formal style by changing “holes punched in it” to “holes poked in it” in sentence 4.
D. Maintain formal style by changing “a ton better” to “much improved” in sentence 5.
D. Maintain formal style by changing “a ton better” to “much improved” in sentence 5
How does the author use the conflict between Mrs. Gibbs and the scientists?
A. To show that the cranes were dangerous to local residents
B. To prove that Operation Migration was poorly organized
C. To argue that elderly people should not interact with wildlife
D. To illustrate the emotional and ethical tension between human needs and conservation goals
D. To illustrate the emotional and ethical tension between human needs and conservation goals
In paragraph 2, how does the author use an expository technique to support the idea that the whooping crane was in danger of disappearing?
A. By quoting a scientist who loves birds
B. By describing a fictional crane character
C. By listing population numbers that show a dramatic decline
D. By explaining how cranes migrate in winter
C. By listing population numbers that show a dramatic decline
Which poetic technique is used when Langston Hughes creates vivid mental pictures of Ms. Jones and Roger in Thank You, Ma’am?
Answer Choices:
A) Symbolism
B) Imagery
C) Irony
D) Alliteration
B. Imagery
A student is writing a research report about how renewable energy impacts local economies. The student wants to answer the following question:
How does the adoption of solar and wind energy influence job creation and economic growth in rural communities?
Select the TWO most credible sources the student should use to gather relevant information to answer the research question:
A) A peer-reviewed article from the Journal of Environmental Economics analyzing employment trends in renewable energy sectors
B) A blog post by a homeowner describing how installing solar panels lowered their electric bill
C) A government report from the U.S. Department of Energy on renewable energy and rural job growth
D) A social media thread debating whether renewable energy is “worth it”
A) Peer-reviewed article
C) Government report