Themes & Central Ideas
Excerpt (Bliss):
"The baby leaned against her, her little arms wrapped tightly around Bertha’s neck… Bertha could not help but laugh for sheer joy."
Which statement best expresses a central idea of Bliss?
A. Parents should always put their children first
B. Wealth is the key to true happiness
C. Love is more important than friendship
D. True joy can be found in life’s ordinary moments
D. True joy can be found in life’s ordinary moments
Excerpt (Bliss):
"Bertha laughed for joy, holding the baby close, her heart bursting with happiness."
Bertha’s feelings about her baby show that she—
A. Finds joy in small, everyday moments
B. Values her child only when others are present
C. Is distant and detached as a mother
D. Is frustrated by motherhood
A. Finds joy in small, everyday moments
Excerpt (Sotomayor):
"I took the judicial oath this morning, repeating the promise of equal justice under law."
How does she emphasize equality?
A. By repeating the judicial oath
B. By thanking the President
C. By telling a funny story
D. By describing her hobbies
A. By repeating the judicial oath
Excerpt (Bliss):
"Shut up in a case like a rare, rare fiddle."
This is an example of—
A. Irony
B. A metaphor
C. Hyperbole
D. A simile
D. A simile
Which is the most effective first step in research?
A. Copying someone else’s work
B. Choosing a random source
C. Starting without a topic
D. Developing a clear research question
D. Developing a clear research question
Excerpt (The Solitary Summer):
"Wouldn’t it be perfect to get up every morning…to belong to yourself and to nobody else?"
What belief does the narrator hold about happiness?
A. It is always temporary
B. It must come from within
C. It depends on other people’s approval
D. It comes only through wealth
B. It must come from within
Excerpt (The Solitary Summer):
"You know you do as you please, and I never interfere with you."
What does this show about the husband?
A. He insists on having guests at home
B. He respects his wife’s independence
C. He is jealous of her freedom
D. He feels ignored by his wife
B. He respects his wife’s independence
Excerpt (Obama):
"Together, we’ve permanently protected sacred lands for future generations."
This is an example of—
A. Adding emotional exaggeration
B. Making an unrelated point
C. Avoiding the issue
D. Using evidence to support a claim
D. Using evidence to support a claim
Excerpt (Bliss):
"Bertha held her baby close, her joy almost too much to contain."
What role does the baby play?
A. A symbol of Bertha’s joy and freedom
B. A symbol of her husband’s authority
C. A symbol of financial stability
D. A distraction from her real emotions
A. A symbol of Bertha’s joy and freedom
Which is the best research question?
A. Why did Egyptians like cats so much?
B. Did Egyptians have religion?
C. What did people eat in Egypt?
D. How did the ancient Egyptians’ religious beliefs influence their temples?
D. How did the ancient Egyptians’ religious beliefs influence their temples?
Excerpt (Obama’s speech):
"lasting progress depends on all of us, not just who the President is."
Which theme does this support?
A. Tribal history should be forgotten
B. Leaders alone determine progress
C. Hard work is more valuable than education
D. True change requires collective effort
D. True change requires collective effort
Excerpt (Sotomayor):
"I stand here today inspired by the ideals of the Constitution, which have made my journey possible."
How does Sotomayor connect her personal story to American ideals?
A. By focusing only on her personal struggles
B. By describing how her teachers gave her opportunities
C. By describing how the Constitution’s values supported her journey
D. By explaining why her family wanted her to be a lawyer
C. By describing how the Constitution’s values supported her journey
Excerpt (Sotomayor):
"Over the years, the ideals at the heart of that document have endured."
Which idea is she developing?
A. The Constitution is outdated
B. The Constitution should change completely
C. Only leaders benefit from the Constitution
D. The Constitution is timeless
D. The Constitution is timeless
Excerpt (The Solitary Summer):
"Everybody, it is true, would not like it…How can you make a person happy against his will?"
Which detail develops the idea that happiness can exist even without others?
A. "She seized her bag and coat and ran upstairs." (Bliss)
B. "We've invested in job training and tribal colleges." (Obama)
C. "She looked up when she saw her mother and began to jump." (Bliss)
D. This excerpt
D. This excerpt
If a student wants to check if a source is relevant, what should they do?
A. Use the first source they find
B. Choose a source with pictures
C. Make sure it looks interesting
D. Determine the central idea of the source
D. Determine the central idea of the source
Excerpt (Sotomayor’s speech):
"Over the years, the ideals at the heart of that document have endured."
What idea is emphasized here?
A. Its ideals endure through changing times
B. It should be rewritten every generation
C. It guarantees happiness for all
D. It benefits only those with privilege
A. Its ideals endure through changing times
Excerpt (Obama):
"Take Lindsay Early, who grew up in poverty…Today, she’s a college graduate serving her tribe."
What does Lindsay’s story symbolize?
A. Education can empower individuals to give back
B. Most tribal students struggle in school
C. The government alone is responsible for success
D. Only privileged people can achieve their dreams
A. Education can empower individuals to give back
Excerpt (Obama):
"If Sonia Sotomayor can make it, then maybe I can, too."
What rhetorical technique is Obama using?
A. Giving detailed legal explanations
B. Inspiring his audience with a universal message
C. Providing statistical evidence
D. Attacking his political opponents
B. Inspiring his audience with a universal message
Excerpt (Obama):
"Together, we have restored more than 428,000 acres of tribal homelands."
What structural choice emphasizes collective responsibility?
A. Repetition of “Together, we…”
B. Using only formal vocabulary
C. Listing personal accomplishments
D. Quoting from legal texts
A. Repetition of “Together, we…”
Which source is best for Donovan’s research on Egyptian temples?
A. A Harvard University study
B. A social media post
C. A student’s YouTube video
D. A blog post with no author
A. A Harvard University study
Excerpt (The Solitary Summer):
"Wouldn't it be perfect to get up every morning…belong to yourself and to nobody else?"
Which passage most clearly develops the idea that solitude can lead to joy?
A. "We've restored more than 428,000 acres of tribal homelands." (Obama)
B. "This is a great day for America." (Obama introducing Sotomayor)
C. "The baby leaned against her." (Bliss)
D. This excerpt
D. This excerpt
Excerpt (Bliss):
"Bertha bent forward, her lips trembling, as she took her baby into her arms."
Which action best reflects Bertha’s character growth?
A. Buying fruit for her dining room carpet
B. Taking her baby into her arms instead of leaving her with the nanny
C. Sitting quietly in the parlor
D. Walking quickly up the stairs
B. Taking her baby into her arms instead of leaving her with the nanny
Excerpt (Obama introducing Sotomayor):
"She was confirmed with votes from both Democrats and Republicans."
Which best explains why this is emphasized?
A. It mocks the confirmation process
B. It highlights that few people supported her
C. It shows unity across differences
D. It proves the founders’ vision failed
C. It shows unity across differences
Excerpt (The Solitary Summer):
"I like to think of myself as a bird, flying alone, yet perfectly content."
Why does the narrator compare herself to a bird?
A. To complain about her limitations
B. To criticize her husband
C. To express envy of others
D. To show her cheerfulness in solitude
D. To show her cheerfulness in solitude
Why is publication date important?
A. It proves the source is always true
B. It guarantees the writing is easy to read
C. It shows if the author liked the topic
D. It helps determine if the information is current
D. It helps determine if the information is current