Word Choice
Main & Central Idea
Organizational Structure
Author's Purpose
Effectiveness of Dialogue & Events/ Theme
100
Jim wanted to ask Janet to the dance, but he felt it a universally acknowledged truth the popular girls like her didn't go with unpopular guys like him.
Infer what the underlined word means.
A. reaching for the stars
B. known to everyone
C. known to people in the outer space
D. covering the solar system
What is B. know to everyone?
100
Wilbur and Orville were brothers who were inventors, even from a young age when they built kites and bicycles. Many people credit the Wright brothers with designing and building the first successful airplane. In 1903, their first flight only lasted 12 seconds, but it continues to inspire people all over the world to learn about science and math, to work hard to realize their dreams, and to use imagination to achieve success.
What is the main idea of this passage?
A. The Wright brothers worked hard.
B. The Wright brothers were inventors who inspired many people.
C. The Wright brothers built kites and bicycles.
D. The Wright brothers' first flight was in 1903.
What is B. the Wright brothers were inventors who inspired many people?
100
What type of organizational structure is used in the passage?
A. sequence
B. cause & effect
C. problem & solution
D. compare & contrast
What is C. problem & solution?
100
The Slim-O-Matic will cause you to lose pounds and inches from your body in one month. This amazing machine helps you to exercise correctly and provides an easy video to show you the proper way to exercise. Send $75.99 and begin exercising today.
What is the author's purpose?
A. to explain
B. to inform
C. to entertain
D. to persuade
What is D. to persuade?
100
Which of these would BEST reveal that Jack is compassionate?
A. "It's okay," Jack told her. "I know you didn't mean to lose my pencil."
B. Every day the same man stood on the corner of 2nd Street and Central, holding a sign that read "Hungry. Anything helps." Usually, people just drove by. Today, however, Jack slowed the car, rolled down the window, and gave the man on the corner five dollars.
C. Jack made eye contact and smiled as he passed the woman on the sidewalk.
D. Jack and his friend went to lunch together. Neither was sure what they wanted to eat, so they each order something different and split their meals so the other could enjoy some of each meal.
What is B?
200
I wanted to set the table and be done with it, but my mother scrupulously arranged each napkin, dish, and utensil until they were in perfect alignment.
Infer what the underlined word means.
A. doing things slow
B. giving too much attention to the price
C. doing things fast
D. giving too much attention to detail
What is D. giving too much attention to detail?
200
A penny for you thoughts? If it's a 1943 copper penny, it could be worth as much as fifty thousand dollars. In 1943, most pennies were made out of steel since copper was needed for World War II, so the 1943 penny is ultra-rare. Another rarity is the 1955 double die penny. These pennies were mistakenly double stamped, so they have overlapping dates and letters. If it's uncirculated, it'd easily fetch $25,000 at an auction. Now that's a pretty penny.
What is the central idea here?
A. The 1943 penny is worth fifty thousand dollars.
B. The 1943 penny is more rare than the 1955 penny.
C. The 1955 penny is just valuable as the 1943 penny because it's been uncirculated.
D. Some pennies are rare and worth a lot of money.
What is D. some pennies are rare and worth a lot of money?
200
What type of organization structure is used in the passage?
A. problem & solution
B. description
C. cause & effect
D. compare & contrast
What is D. compare & contrast?
200
Rosie had the best time making her valentine cards for her classmates. She used red and white paper, heart stickers, markers and anything else she could find. Her friends are planning a valentine party on February 14th at school. The one she made for her best friend is funny. Funny valentines are nice to get.
What is the author's purpose?
A. to inform
B. to entertain
C. to persuade
D. to explain
What is B. to entertain?
200
In the movie Encanto, Bruno continues trying to fix the cracks in his family's home, even though he is hiding from them. What effect does this action have? Choose the BEST answer.
A. It shows that Bruno is loyal to his family and still cares for them.
B. It forces Bruno to make a decision about whether to keep hiding.
C. It moves the plot of the story forward because people watching the movie want to know what Bruno will do next.
D. It shows the Bruno is confused about what he should do while hiding from his family.
What is A it shows that Bruno is loyal to his family and still cares for them?
300
I was shocked to get a birthday gift from my aunt because she is usually so cheap. When I tore the gaudy paper off the package, I saw a scarf made from flimsy material. It was busy embroidery and flashy sequins. It certainly was a strange present.
Which group of words help to create a negative connotation in the passage?
A. usually, tore, made, covered
B. shocked, gift, embroidery, flashy
C. cheap, gaudy, flimsy, strange
D. birthday, scarf, material, sequins
What is C. cheap, gaudy, flimsy, strange?
300
One of the most popular musical instruments is the piano. In the traditional musical instrument classification system of string, woodwind, percussion, and brass, the piano falls into two categories. It is considered a string instrument because the sound comes from the strings inside the piano. It is also considered a percussion instrument, since the player strikes the keyboard, which signals an internal hammer to strike the strings.
What's the author's main point?
A. The piano is both a string and percussion instrument.
B. The piano is a string instrument.
C. The piano is a popular instrument.
D. The strings of the piano makes the sound, which makes is string instrument.
What is A. the piano is both a string and percussion instrument?
300
What type of organizational structure is used in the passage?
A. compare & contrast
B. cause & effect
C. sequence
D. description
What is C. sequence?
300
What is the author's purpose for writing a passage like the following?
An article in a magazine comparing and contrasting waste management in New York City and Mexico City
A. to inform
B. to persuade
C. to explain
D. to entertain
What is A. to inform?
300
At the beginning of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the narrator gives background about how the Beast came to be cursed. It is revealed that the curse could be broken if the Beast "can learn to love another, and earn her love in return..."
What effect does this have?
A. It reveals an aspect of the Beast's character - that he is unlovable.
B. It provokes the Beast to make a decision about whether to pursue a relationship with Belle.
C. It sets the story into motion. Without the curse the story portrayed in the movie would not have happened.
D. It does not have an effect. The story portrayed in the movie would have been fine.
What is C?
400
Mr. Smith has been a valuable employee since the company started. During that time, he has expressed many strong opinions that have influenced the company. His methods of solving problems are sometimes unusual. In short, he is a real leader.
Which group of words help to create a positive connotation in the passage?
A. valuable, strong, influenced, leader
B. been, since, many, sometime
C. company, expressed, methods, real
D. employee, company, problems, unusual
What is A. valuable, strong, influenced, leader?
400
Topic sentence: Elephants are very intelligent animals.
Which supporting detail does NOT fit?
A. Elephants can recognize their reflections in mirrors.
B. An elephant can live for as long as sixty-five years.
C. Elephants tear off branches of trees to use as fly swatters.
D. Elephants have been seen keeping vigil over their deadly companions.
What is B. an elephant can live for as long as sixty-five years?
400
What type of organizational structure is used in the passage?
A. cause & effect
B. sequence
C. compare & contrast
D. problem & solution
What is A. cause & effect?
400
When an author attempts to persuade the reader by evoking emotions and establishing credibility, which rhetorical appeal is that author NOT utilizing?
A. logos
B. ethos
C. pathos
What is A. logos?
400
Which of the following could be a theme of a story?
A. Returning home after a long time was refreshing for them.
B. A man sees a group of people he used to work with a long time ago.
C. An old man who used to be a farmer has a hard time doing anything else.
D. Your past does not determine your future.
What is D. your past does not determine your future?
500
Many people probably think that acting school is nonstop fun, but I can tell you that it's a challenge. Memorizing lines of dialogue is not too bad because you're engaging with another actor. But presenting a monologue leaves you out to sea in a rowboat. You never know what the outcome will be and if the audience will be thrilled or bored with your solitary performance. If you've ever stood up in front of a group to give a speech, then you'll know exactly what I mean.
What meaning is given to the text by the connotation of the word "solitary"?
A. The author is performing a monologue in prison.
B. The author enjoys monologues more than dialogues.
C. The author finds monologues to be lonely.
D. The author has never performed a monologue.
What is C. the author finds monologues to be lonely?
500
What is the BEST topic sentence for the paragraph?
Reading helps people do well in school and in their jobs. It is also a way to learn new things about our interests. Some people read to escape to different worlds.
A. Some people like to read.
B. It is good to read a lot.
C. Reading is good if you want to do well in school and escape.
D. There are many good things that can come from reading.
What is D. there are many good things that can come from reading?
500
The school hallway carried the smell of wax, varnish, and cleaning supplies. Bright, yellow light glared into the hall through the freshly cleaned windows. This highlighted the deep scrapes in the lockers, the chips in the wall tiles, and the spider webs hanging in the corner.
What type of organizational structure is used in the passage?
A. sequence
B. description
C. compare & contrast
D. problem & solution
What is B. description?
500
When an author attempts to persuade by using facts and statistics that lead the reader to be angry, which rhetorical appeal is that author NOT utilizing?
A. logos
B. ethos
C. pathos
What is B. ethos?
500
When Curtis transferred to our high school from some fancy private school, I was assigned the job of showing him around our building. First, I showed him our trophy case. Our school has put together some quality teams and programs over the years, so our trophy case was pretty full. Curtis was not impressed. He claimed that the trophy case at his old school was at least twice as big as ours and much more crowded. Next, I showed him our swimming pool. Not every high school has a swimming pool, so we were proud of ours, but Curtis couldn't care less. "The swimming pool at my old school is bigger and more modern. This one looks kind of dirty," he said with disdain. I continued to guide Curtis around the school, showing him our cafeteria, gymnasium, and even our garden, but Curtis seemed disappointed with everything that he saw. He'd quickly compare it to his old school, which in his words was superior to ours in every way. The last thing I showed Curtis was the front door. I told him that he would like this one best because he could walk through it and go back to his old school.
What is the theme of the story?
A. Do not criticize things that are dear to others.
B. A thing worth doing is worth doing correctly.
C. Give credit where credit is due.
D. Treat others as you wish to be treated.
What is A. do not criticize things that are dear to others?