Standard 5: Evidence and Inference
Passage:
"The sun dipped below the horizon as Mia slumped onto the porch steps, her backpack forgotten at her side."
Question:
What can you infer about Mia’s mood?
What is she is tired, discouraged, or overwhelmed?
Passage:
"After losing three races in a row, Jordan still trained every morning before school, determined to beat his own best time."
Question:
What is the best theme for this passage?
A) Winning is everything.
B) Hard work and perseverance are important.
C) Only the fastest deserve praise.
Must Write out the entire answer in order to receive the points.
What is B) Hard work and perseverance are important?
Passage:"The warm scent of fresh-baked bread floated through the cozy kitchen, wrapping the family in a blanket of comfort."
Question:What is the mood created by this passage?
What is cozy, warm, or comforting?
Passage:
"After running the marathon, Jenna felt completely exhausted, barely able to keep her eyes open."
Question:
Based on the context, what does "exhausted" most likely mean?
What is very tired?
Passage:
"Everyone should buy SolarMax panels because my neighbor got them and now he's saving a lot of money!"
Question:
What is weak about this argument?
A) It shows expert opinions.
B) It explains all possible outcomes.
C) It relies on just one personal example.
D) It uses strong national statistics.
Must write out the entire answer to receive the points
What is C) It relies on just one personal example?
Passage:
"During the debate, Marcus repeatedly cited statistics about recycling habits but avoided mentioning the cost."
Question:
Which of the following is the best evidence that Marcus was being selective with information?
A) "repeatedly cited statistics"
B) "recycling habits"
C) "avoided mentioning the cost"
Must write out the entire answer to receive the point.
What is C) "avoided mentioning the cost"?
Passage:
"The article explained how honeybees communicate through dances to show each other where to find flowers."
Question:
What is the main idea of this article?
Answer:
What is honeybees use dances to communicate about food locations?
Passage:
"Her anger was a wildfire, scorching everything in its path."
Question:
What type of figurative language is used here?
What is a metaphor?
Passage:
"The storm caused a commotion at the market—stalls toppled over, baskets rolled down the streets, and people shouted as they ran for cover."
Question:
What does "commotion" most likely mean?
What is a noisy disturbance or chaos?
Passage: "According to a national study, 85% of students who study for at least two hours a night improve their grades."
Question: Is this claim effective or ineffective, and why?
A) Effective; it uses wide, reliable evidence.
B) Ineffective; it’s based only on personal opinions.
C) Effective; it focuses only on one student’s story.
D) Ineffective; it is unrelated to school.
Must write out the entire answer to get the points.
What is A) Effective; it uses wide, reliable evidence?
Passage:
"Elena scanned the crowded cafeteria, her tray trembling slightly in her hands as she searched for an empty table."
Question:
What inference can you make about how Elena feels?
Answer:
What is she feels nervous, anxious, or out of place?
Passage:
"Sofia glanced at her reflection, noticing the scuffed shoes and the patched jacket. She straightened her shoulders and walked into the interview room with a determined smile."
Question:
What is a theme that fits this passage?
What is confidence and determination matter more than appearances?
Passage:
"A bitter wind howled through the empty streets, rattling broken windows and slamming doors."
Question:
What is the tone of this passage?
What is ominous (Group closest to this answer gets the points)
Passage:
"The once-vibrant garden now looked dull and withered, its colorful blooms faded to brown."
Question:
Using context clues, what does "vibrant" most likely mean?
What is full of life, bright, or lively?
Passage: "If we allow students to redo one homework assignment, pretty soon they’ll expect to redo every test and project too!"
Question:What logical fallacy is shown here?
A) Bandwagon
B) False cause
C) Slippery slope
D) Ad hominem
Must write out the entire answer to receive the points.
What is C) Slippery slope?
Passage:
"Although the law was passed quickly, many community members voiced concerns, pointing out loopholes that could be exploited."
Question:
Which sentence best supports the inference that the law might not be effective?
A) "the law was passed quickly"
B) "many community members voiced concerns"
C) "loopholes that could be exploited"
Must write out the entire answer to receive the points.
What is C) "loopholes that could be exploited"?
Passage: "The text describes several different recycling methods, explains their benefits, and compares the costs of each method."
Question: Which sentence would best fit in a summary of this text?
A) Recycling is expensive and not worth the trouble.
B) Recycling can be done in multiple ways, each with its own costs and benefits.
C) Recycling is confusing for most people.
Must write out the entire answer to receive the points.
Answer:
What is B) Recycling can be done in multiple ways, each with its own costs and benefits?
Passage:
"He was as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs."
Question:
What type of figurative language is used here?
What is a simile?
Passage:
"Despite the team's valiant efforts, they were defeated in the final seconds of the game, having fought bravely until the very end."
Question:
What does "valiant" mean based on the passage?
What is brave or courageous?
Passage: "My opponent thinks we should improve school lunches, but did you know he’s never even eaten a school lunch himself?"
Question: What fallacy is being used here?
A) Straw man
B) Ad hominem
C) Appeal to emotion
D) Slippery slope
Must write out the entire answer to receive the points.
What is B) Ad hominem?
Passage:
"Tom's response was brief and tight-lipped when asked about the missing trophy: 'I don’t know anything about it.' He immediately changed the subject to the weather."
Question:
What inference can you make about Tom, and what evidence supports your inference?
Answer:
What is Tom might be hiding something; the evidence is "brief and tight-lipped" and "immediately changed the subject."
Passage: "The village lay silent under the ash-gray sky, its people long since fled to safer lands. A single tattered flag clung stubbornly to the broken town hall."
Question: Which theme is best suggested by the passage?
A) Nature's beauty always inspires hope.
B) Abandonment and resilience after disaster.
C) War brings glory to those who fight.
Must write out the entire answer to receive the points.
Answer:
What is B) Abandonment and resilience after disaster?
Passage:
"The first day of school felt like standing alone at the edge of a vast, icy ocean, unsure whether to step forward or run back."
Question:
What is the mood, and what figurative language creates it?
What is the mood is anxious or fearful, and the figurative language is a metaphor comparing school to an icy ocean?
(The group closest to both answers wins the points!)
Passage:
"The speaker's tone was caustic, dripping with sarcasm and sharp criticism that made the audience shift uncomfortably in their seats."
Question:
Using context clues, what does "caustic" most likely mean?
What is harsh, critical, or severely sarcastic?
Passage: "Banning single-use plastics will save the oceans. Everyone agrees that plastics are the only real problem."
Question: Why might this argument be ineffective?
A) It acknowledges complex causes.
B) It oversimplifies the issue and ignores other causes.
C) It relies only on emotional appeals.
D) It uses personal experiences as evidence.
Must write out the entire answer to receive the points.
What is B) It oversimplifies the issue and ignores other causes?