Show:
Context Clues
Types of Questions
Figurative Language
A Little This, A Little That
Main Idea
100
When I turned eighteen I moved out of my parents’ house and became autonomous. I didn’t want anyone telling me what to do anymore. The word autonomous most likely means- A. able to drive B. under control C. self serving D. self-governing
What is "D. self-governing"?
100
"The author included paragraph 15 in order to —" What type of question is this an example of?
What is "Author's Purpose"?
100
The moon on the one hand, the dawn on the other: The moon is my sister, the dawn is my brother. The moon on my left and the dawn on my right. My brother, good morning: my sister, good night. What type of figurative language is used in the poem above?
What is metaphor?
100
The conversation between two or more characters in a story is known as the __________________.
What is dialogue?
100
Financial genius James "Big Jim" Fisk (1834-1872) died of gunshot wound when he was only thirty-seven years old. During his brief lifetime, Fisk earned and lost huge sums of money, much of it through bribery and theft. During the Civil War, he smuggled cotton from the South to the North. He also printed and sold phony bonds to gain control of the wildly profitable Erie Railroad. Then he bankrupted the railroad while gaining a personal fortune for himself. In 1869, Fisk’s attempts to take over the gold market led to financial panic and the collapse of the stock market. Oddly enough, Fisk seemed rather proud of his wicked ways, saying "Some people are born to be good; other people to be bad. I was born to be bad." A lover of the ladies, Fisk was killed in a fight with a rival over the affections of actress Josie Mansfield. (Source of information: Armento et al., A More Perfect Union, p.472) What is the main idea of this passage? a. Big Jim Fisk liked pretty women a little too much for his own good. b. In his pursuit of wealth, James Fisk never let law or morality stand in his way. c. James Fisk did not have a long life, but that did not stop him from making a great deal of money.
What is B?
200
Prices for gasoline have become exorbitant, I can hardly afford to fill my tank. The word exorbitant most likely means- A. just right B. very high C. normal D. very low
What is "B. very high"?
200
"Which event triggers the main problem in the excerpt?" What type of questions is this an example of?
What is "cause and effect"?
200
An emerald is as green as grass, A ruby red as blood; A sapphire shines as blue as heaven; A flint lies in the mud. What type of figurative language does the author use in the poem above?
What is "Simile"?
200
Not what a person says, but how they say it is known as ______________. Example: You all Youse Y'all
What is dialect
200
For the ancient Romans, taking a bath was a very special occasion. Because they considered bathing a social opportunity, they constructed huge public baths that put our modern-day indoor pools and spas to shame. Not only were the baths themselves lavishly decorated, they were also surrounded by shops, libraries, and lounges so that a person could shop, read or chat after bathing. The famed Baths of Caracalla, for example, offered Roman citizens massages and saunas in addition to a gymnasium and gardens for after-bath walks in lovely surroundings. Art lovers that they were, the Romans also frequently built art galleries into their bathing facilities. There were also kitchens, where food was prepared to serve hungry bathers. Although initially men and women bathed separately, mixed baths became the fashion until 500 A.D., when the coming of Christianity brought the public baths to an end. (Source of information: Charles Panati, Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things, p. 200) What is the main idea of the passage? a. The ancient Romans were the first to lead a life of pure luxury. b. If the Romans had spent more time governing and less time bathing, the Roman Empire would still exist today. c. The ancient Romans made luxury and socializing a part of bathing.
What is C?
300
"Washington had good reason to consider new strategies. In August 1776 the Continental army was defeated at the Battle of Long Island, and the British occupied New York City. Washington decided to change his army’s strategy. Rather than fighting a war by pitting forces frequently and repeatedly, Washington opted for a strategy of learning British plans—their troop movements, the size of their forces, and their times of attack. His chosen method to achieve this advantage was espionage." Which words from paragraph 2 help the reader understand what opted means? A. pitting forces frequently B. decided to change C. army was defeated D. times of attack
What is "B. decided to change"?
300
"In paragraph11, the word logistics means the—" What type of question is this an example of?
What is "Context Clues"?
300
The Night was creeping on the ground! She crept, and did not make a sound Until she reached the tree: And then She covered it, and stole again Along the grass beside the wall! –I heard the rustling of her shawl As she threw blackness everywhere Along the sky, the ground, the air, And in the room where I was hid! But, no matter what she did To everything that was without, She could not put my candle out! So I stared at the Night! And she Stared back solemnly at me! What type of figurative language is being used in the poem above?
What is personification?
300
"The wicked witch of the West went her own way." This is an example of which type of literary device?
What is alliteration?
300
Birds have long played a central role in superstitions. However, the role birds have played varies greatly. While crows were thought to be in league with the devil, blue birds were usually considered signs of good fortune. Blue jays, in contrast, were seldom assigned a positive role in superstition and legend. Most of the time, they were considered companions to the devil. According to one ancient superstition, blue jays were never seen on Fridays. Friday was their day to meet with the devil and pass on any useful gossip about souls who might be ready to go astray. Owls, in contrast, have played a number of different roles, some good, some bad. In several superstitions they are portrayed as wise counselors; in others they are a sign that death is near. What is the main idea of the passage? a. Despite having the same color, blue jays and blue birds have played very different roles in superstitions. b. Birds turn up frequently in superstitions as signs of both good and evil. c. Hardly a superstition exists that doesn’t have a bird in it.
What is B?
400
The student was suffering from anxiety. For example, when he first saw the test, he began to tremble. What type of context clue is being used to define the word anxiety?
What is "example"?
400
"What are paragraphs 6 and 7 mainly about?" What type of question is this an example of?
What is "Main Idea"?
400
There was an old woman tossed up in a blanket, Seventeen times as high as the moon; Where she was going I could not but ask it, For in her hand she carried a broom. “Old woman, old woman, old woman,” quoth I; “O whither, O whither, O whither so high?” “To sweep the cobwebs from the sky, And I’ll be with you by-and-by!” What type of figurative language is being used in the poem above?
What is "hyperbole"?
400
"People are drawn to the unusual, so the graffiti splashed cars have become quite an attraction." This is an example of which type of persuasive technique? A. Factual Claim B. False Assumption C. Incorrect Premise D. Commonplace Assertion
What is (D) commonplace assertion?
400
French and American cookbooks obviously share the same subject: They both deal with the preparation of food. But that’s where the similarity ends. American recipes are very exact, while French recipes are open to personal variation. In American cookbooks, the teaspoon of sugar, for instance, is described as rounded or flat. French cookbooks are inclined to be less precise. The French cookbook writer thinks nothing of listing a "sprinkling of pepper" or a "pinch of salt." French cookbooks are also likely to tell the reader to "season according to taste." American cookbooks, in contrast, don’t seem to have as much faith in their readers’ ability to get the recipe right from taste. They tell readers exactly how much seasoning to use. What is the main idea of the passage? a. Despite a common topic, French and American cookbooks differ in the way they give directions. b. Because they are better cooks, the French write cookbooks that trust their readers’ judgment. c. American cookbooks don’t have much faith in the cook’s ability to determine the right taste.
What is A?
500
The quagmire, like quick sand, pulled the fallen tree branches below the surface. What type of context clue is being used to define the word quagmire.
What is "synonym"?
500
"Read lines 6 through 10 from the poem. Which sentences from the letter express the same idea as these lines from the poem?" What type of question is this an example of?
What is "Compare/Contrast"?
500
The South Wind is a baker. He kneads clouds in his den, And bakes a crisp new moon that…greedy North…Wind…eats…again! What type of figurative language is used in the poem above?
What is metaphor?
500
Something that can't be explained must be of extra-terrestrial origin. This is an example of which type of persuasive technique? A. Factual Claim B. False Assumption C. Incorrect Premise D. Commonplace Assertion
What is (B) false assumption?
500
Not surprisingly, the crime victims are often called upon to identify the person who robbed or attacked them. For a jury, the victim’s testimony is often proof positive that the accused is guilty. After all, who can better identify the wrongdoer than the person harmed. This is just common sense. Yet as is so often the case, common sense can be misleading. As it turns out, crime victims don’t necessarily make reliable witnesses. Overcome with fear, they often close their eyes or focus fixedly on the weapon being used to threaten them. As a result, they don’t get a good look at the thief or attacker. While it’s not true that crime victim testimony is always inaccurate, it’s also true that one can’t assume a victim’s identification is automatic proof of guilt. What is the main idea of the passage? a. Crime victims do not always correctly identify those who have harmed them. b. Crime victim testimony is almost always inaccurate because during the crime, the victim was overcome with terror. c. The testimony of crime victims has put far too many people in jail.
What is A?