"The Unexpected Spark"
What is the central theme of the passage?
Listening creates deeper understanding than simply hearing.
What does "poignant" most nearly mean as used in the passage?
A. Deeply moving or emotionally powerful
B. Confusing and unclear
C. Ordinary and expected
D. Brief and unimportant
A. Deeply moving or emotionally powerful
What does the prefix "un-" most often mean?
A. not
B. across
C. before
D. inside
A. not
In "Basketball Blues," which narrative structure best describes the story?
A. foreshadowing
B. chronological
C. flashback
D. dramatic irony
C. flashback
Combining sentences — In the "Voting" passage, what is the best way to combine sentences 6 and 7?
A. It's a right so many people fought for others to have then when people choose not to exercise their voting rights, it infuriates those who do.
B. It's a right so many people fought for others to have. Additionally, when people choose not to exercise their voting rights, it infuriates those who do.
C. It's a right so many people fought for others to have. Likewise, when people choose not to exercise their voting rights, it infuriates those who do.
D. It's a right so many people fought for others to have, so when people choose not to exercise their voting rights, it infuriates those who do.
D. It's a right so many people fought for others to have, so when people choose not to exercise their voting rights, it infuriates those who do.
How does the passage develop the difference between hearing and listening?
By contrasting Marcus’s focused listening and emotional response with the crowd that treats the music as background noise, showing listening produce
Lena felt beleaguered primarily because she —
A. lacked interest in the project
B. wanted to work alone
C. was overwhelmed by pressures and challenges
D. misunderstood the task
C. was overwhelmed by pressures and challenges
The root vis/vid most closely relates to:
A. movement
B. hearing
C. sight or seeing
D. writing
C. sight or seeing
In Poe’s "The Raven" excerpt, why does Poe begin the second stanza with "Ah, distinctly I remember, it was in the bleak December"?
A. To inform the reader of the precise setting of events
B. To ensure the reader is appraised of the mental state of the Raven
C. To inform the reader that all events are taking place now
D. To inform the reader that the events took place at some time in the past
D. To inform the reader that the events took place at some time in the past
What change should be made in sentence 2 of the "Voting" passage?
A. For many years, it was reserved for persons with a certain descent, gender, and education.
B. For many years; it was reserved for persons with a certain descent, gender, and education.
C. For many years it was reserved for persons with a certain descent gender and education.
D. For many years it was reserved for persons with a certain descent gender, and education.
A. For many years, it was reserved for persons with a certain descent, gender, and education.
Which sentence best supports the theme of the passage?
A. “Marcus had planned the day carefully…”
B. “Many people continued walking, hearing the music only as background noise.”
C. “Spontaneously, Marcus stood up and clapped along.”
D. “He sat on the steps outside the library.”
B. “Many people continued walking, hearing the music only as background noise.”
The word "testament" suggests that the proposal —
A. was a written legal document
B. proved the success of teamwork
C. replaced earlier ideas
D. was unfinished
B. proved the success of teamwork
What does the suffix "-able" mean in the word "listenable"?
A. full of
B. state of being
C. able to be
D. result of
C. able to be
From "Great Expectations" excerpt: Based on the noun "stones" used with "lamed," what does "lamed" most likely mean in context?
A. injured
B. enhanced
C. annoyed
D. mired
A. injured
Replace the informal term: In "Social Media and Mental Health" sentence 1 uses "kids." Which more precise word is most appropriate for 10th grade?
A. kids
B. adolescents
C. people
D. children
B. adolescents
What does the word "mesmerize" most nearly mean as used in the passage?
A. Distract
B. Confuse
C. Annoy
D. Capture complete attention
D. Capture complete attention
Which detail best shows Lena’s sense of responsibility?
A. She remained fluent in her delivery, explaining the plan clearly and confidently.
B. She avoided telling others about deadlines.
C. She delegated all tasks and did not check the work.
D. She canceled the presentation at the last minute.
A. She remained fluent in her delivery, explaining the plan clearly and confidently.
Which word contains the root scrib/script meaning "to write"?
A. describe
B. mesmerize
C. eradiate
. contemplate
A. describe
In Virginia Woolf’s "The Mark on the Wall," how does the shift from "I" to "one" affect perspective?
A. The change of pronouns shows many objects throughout the room.
B. The change is unnecessary and a mistake.
C. The change is a device used to confuse the reader.
D. The change of pronouns shows the many possibilities of a mark on a wall
D. The change of pronouns shows the many possibilities of a mark on a wall
Pronoun replacement: In "Urban Agriculture" sentence 10 the phrase reads "By growing food closer to where they is consumed..." Which correction is best?
A. Replace "they" with "we"
B. Replace "they" with "it"
C. Replace "they" with "they are"
D. Leave as is
B. Replace "they" with "it"
Explain how the author uses Marcus’s belief about planning to deepen the theme that attention produces meaning. (2–3 sentences)
The author contrasts Marcus’s belief that "nothing meaningful ever happened without preparation" with his spontaneous reaction to the music; this contrast shows that open, attentive listening — not only careful planning — can produce meaningful experiences.
Why does Lena include a promo video before speaking, and how does this choice support effective communication? (2–3 sentences)
She includes the promo video to visualize the project’s impact and engage the audience; visual elements combined with her spoken delivery help the audience see and hear the proposal, supporting the passage’s idea that strong communication uses multiple modes to create meaning.
Identify and correct the grammatical error in this sentence from the "Voting" passage: "Today, all individuals are allowed and encourage to vote."
"Today, all individuals are allowed and encouraged to vote."
Analytical task — Using "The Raven" and "Great Expectations" excerpts, identify one example of how structure (ordering events or repetition) creates mood. Support with at least one quoted phrase or brief citation. (2–3 sentences)
In "The Raven," repetition ("nothing more") and the repeated tapping create a suspenseful, hypnotic mood; in "Great Expectations," the careful ordering of marsh and tombstone details creates a bleak, foreboding atmosphere.
What change should be made in sentence 2 from the passage "Voting"?
For many years, it was reserved for persons with a certain descent, gender, and education.