Reading
Item Samplers
Vocabulary
MCA ELA Prep
Roots and Affixes
Test Taking Strategies
100

I loved to look at the old photographs, especially the ones with me in them. Every stage of my life was there, snapped by the camera and stamped on a glossy piece of paper. I loved seeing myself at three, standing with my brother, Donald, in front of the house in our matching cowboy and cowgirl outfits, or standing on a chair in front of the kitchen counter, mixing a birthday cake for Mother. The pictures reminded me that I was real, that I always had been real and always would be real, and that I wasn't just some girl someone had made up. 

The narrator's family is portrayed as being A) a close, loving family. B) a family that often fought. C) a wealthy family. D) a very unhappy family.

What is A) a close, loving family?

100
To give clear reasons. A) Describe B) Explain C) Evaluate D) Review
What is A) Explain?
100
This tells the reader what the text is about.
What is Main Idea?
100

The word "copilot" means a second pilot in an aircraft. What does the prefix "co" mean?


What is with or together?


100

Boldfaced, italics, highlighted, or underlined words are examples of what?

Text Features

200

“For all of her sewing projects, these are the tools your great-grandmother used.” 

What is the best way to revise this sentence? A) “These are the tools for all of her sewing projects your great-grandmother used.” B) “These are the tools your great-grandmother for all of her used sewing projects.” C) “These are the tools your great-grandmother used for all of her sewing projects.” D) “These are for all of her sewing projects the tools your great-grandmother used.”

What is C) “These are the tools your great-grandmother used for all of her sewing projects.”?

200

To make a guess about what will happen in the future based on what you know. A) Predict B) Solve C) Infer D) Relate

What is A) Predict?

200

A person's reason for writing a text.

What is Author's Purpose/Intent?

200

The word autograph has the greek root "graph". Graph means...


What is write or draw?


200

True or False: Before reading the story, you should read the question first. The words in the question can help you find words in the story.

What is True?

300

My cat sits comfortably 

On our windowsill. 

Her tail flicks; 

Her whiskers flare. 

A primitive grumble rises out of her throat. 

Outside a chipmunk nibbles innocently, 

Seemingly unaware of the threatening cat. 

He sits straight up; 

His ears rotate. In the blink of an eye he is gone. 

I sit back in my chair 

And giggle to myself. 

For even if my brave hunter could get out, 

The domestic cat now lacks 

The tools to fulfill the old desires. 

Which phrase BEST expresses the meaning of her whiskers flare as it is used in the first stanza? A) The cat is excited about what she sees. B) The cat’s whiskers have a unique ability. C) The cat’s whiskers start to shine in the light. D) The cat is amused that there is an animal in the yard.

What is A) The cat is excited about what she sees.

300
To make a short summary of major ideas. A) Formulate B) Predict C) Justify D) Outline
What is D) Outline?
300

This is a life lesson taught by a story that is universal in nature.

What is Theme?

300

Most songs have an interlude. This is a piece of music that connects a verse to the chorus. If "lude" means "tune", then "inter" means...


What is between?


300

If you aren't sure of the right answer in a multiple choice question, what's something you can do?

Eliminate obviously wrong answers, always make a guess with those that remain.

400

DAILY DOUBLE: In the sixteenth century, the English Man of War was a new kind of weapon that allowed Britain to rule a vast empire. Over 200 feet long, it had three masts and could carry up to 124 guns: 4 at the front, 8 at the back, and 56 on each side. All these guns required three cannon decks to hold them. 

What can the reader infer from this paragraph? A) Cannons take up a lot of room. B) The Man of War was a warship. C) Tiny Britain ruled a vast empire. D) The English had a large navy.

What is B) The Man of War was a warship.

400

To give differences only. A) Contrast B) Define C) Demonstrate D) Circle

What is A) Contrast?

400

This is to form an opinion or guess that something is true because of evidence/clues you can gather.

What is Infer?

400

The suffix -ment means "time". Knowing this information, what does "merriment" mean?


What is merry time, happy time, or a time when you are feeling merry?


400

Key words in an answer such as "all," "now," "always," "never," "only," and "exactly," often indicate what?

Overly broad, incorrect answers
500

The puffer fish is one of the most unique looking sea animals in existence. These fish are also sometimes called blowfish. They can most often be found in ocean waters. The puffer fish is very helpless against predators. For protection, it can increase the size of its elastic stomach. It can also release a chemical called tetrodotoxin, which causes the puffer fish to taste bad to the predators. This sea creature's defense mechanism is crazy tight. 

Which part of this passage contains inappropriate language for a school report? A) "It can also release a chemical called tetrodotoxin, which causes the puffer fish to taste bad to the predators." B) "For protection, it can increase the size of its elastic stomach." C) "This sea creature's defense mechanism is crazy tight." D) "These fish are also sometimes called blowfish."

What is C) "This sea creature's defense mechanism is crazy tight."?

500

To summarize main points from the beginning to the end of an event. A) Support B) List C) Relate D) Trace

What is D) Trace?

500
A method by which the meanings of unknown words may be obtained by examining the parts of a sentence surrounding the word for definition.
What is Context Clues?
500

The first Transcontinental Railroad was built in 1869. The railroad spanned the entire U.S. from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Trans- means...


What is across or beyond?


500

True or False: In multiple-choice questions, don’t skip the shortest answer. It should be considered, since test writers want to be sure the correct answer is accurate—they may add lots of details to insure accuracy. 

What is false: shortest should be changed to longest.