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In Anne of Green Gables, Anne chooses to stay for the Queen's class even though Diana leaves. What does this action reveal most about Anne?
A. She no longer values Diana's friendship.
B. She is willing to pursue a goal even when it is difficult.
C. She wants to impress Gilbert with her independence.
D. She is unsure whether she wants to become a teacher.
B. She is willing to pursue a goal even when it is difficult.
A question asks for the central idea of an article. Which answer should you eliminate FIRST?
A. A complete statement supported throughout the text.
B. A statement connecting several important details.
C. A phrase that only names the general topic.
D. A statement explaining what the author wants readers to understand.
C. A topic is not a central idea.
Read: “Though Clara was reluctant to relinquish the worn journal, she placed it carefully into her sister's hands.” What does relinquish most likely mean?
A. decorate
B. hide
C. examine
D. give up
D. Give up. She doesn't want to, but she places it into someone else's hands.
Read: “At first, Marcus dreaded the early Saturday practices. By October, however, he was arriving before the coach and setting out equipment without being asked.” What can the reader infer about Marcus?
A. His attitude toward practice has changed.
B. He hopes to become the team's coach.
C. He believes his teammates are irresponsible.
D. He arrives early because practices begin sooner.
A. His attitude toward practice has changed.
Billy says: “I picked B because B is definitely true somewhere in the passage.” What's wrong with Billy's strategy?
A. Correct answers are usually details not stated in the text.
B. He should always choose the longest answer instead.
C. An answer can be true but still not answer the question asked.
D. He should avoid returning to the passage after reading it once.
C. True doesn't automatically mean correct; the answer has to answer the exact question.
In “To Any Reader,” the child can still be seen through the “windows of this book,” even though he has grown up and gone away. What does this image help develop?
A. Books can preserve a glimpse of childhood after that time has passed.
B. Children understand books differently after they become adults.
C. Memories are more reliable when they are recorded in writing.
D. Childhood experiences determine the choices people make as adults.
A. Books can preserve a glimpse of childhood after that time has passed.
A question asks, “Why does the author include the example in paragraph 4?” Which strategy is BEST?
A. Summarize every detail in paragraph 4.
B. Decide whether the example is fact or opinion.
C. Find the longest answer that mentions the example.
D. Ask what larger idea the example helps the author develop.
D. Ask what larger idea the example helps develop.
Read: “The path was arduous, climbing sharply over loose stones, and by midday even the experienced hikers were exhausted.” What does arduous most likely mean?
A. unfamiliar
B. difficult
C. dangerous
D. confusing
B. Difficult.
Read: “For years, residents blamed the shrinking frog population on unusually cold winters. New research, however, found that frog numbers declined even during mild winters. Scientists then began investigating changes in the frogs’ habitat.” How does the new research affect the scientists’ thinking?
A. It confirms their original explanation.
B. It proves weather cannot affect frogs.
C. It causes them to consider another explanation.
D. It shows the frog population is increasing.
C. It causes them to consider another explanation.
PACKET POWER! If your team completed the review packet, you may look at your Game Day Intel before answering. In “Science Process,” why does the author discuss both Dennis’s research and the research involving flightless birds?
A. To show that new evidence can cause scientists to reconsider earlier ideas
B. To prove that scientists usually reject discoveries when they are first presented
C. To compare research about human history with research about animal behavior
D. To explain why modern technology is necessary for reliable scientific research
A. Both examples develop the idea that scientific understanding can change when new evidence appears.
Think about the two caribou texts. How do the authors use information about changing environmental conditions differently?
A. Text 1 argues that climate change should be stopped, while Text 2 explains how scientists collect weather data.
B. Text 1 explains how conditions affect migration timing, while Text 2 uses changing conditions to explain why protecting migration routes matters.
C. Text 1 describes threats caused by development, while Text 2 explains the effects of snowfall on migration speed.
D. Text 1 focuses on protecting caribou habitat, while Text 2 focuses on predicting the exact date of migration.
B. Text 1 focuses on migration timing; Text 2 connects changing conditions to the importance of protecting migration.
A student chooses this answer: “The author includes the example because it gives the reader more information about frogs.” Why should you be suspicious of this answer?
A. Authors should never include extra information.
B. Examples cannot be used as evidence.
C. It describes the example without explaining the job it does in the text.
D. Correct answers must quote directly from the passage.
C. It says what the example provides but doesn't explain why the author included it.
Read: “Mr. Hale regarded the proposal with considerable skepticism. Although the others celebrated immediately, he continued asking whether the evidence was sufficient to justify their confidence.” What does skepticism most likely suggest about Mr. Hale?
A. He is doubtful and wants stronger evidence.
B. He is angry that the others ignored him.
C. He does not understand the proposal.
D. He is excited but unwilling to show it.
A. He is doubtful and wants stronger evidence.
Read: “Nia had rehearsed the speech until she could recite every sentence without looking at her notes. Yet when her name was called, she remained seated for several seconds. Finally, she folded the notes, slipped them into her pocket, and walked toward the stage.” Which detail BEST supports the inference that Nia decides to face something that makes her nervous?
A. She rehearsed the speech many times.
B. Her name is called before she stands.
C. She keeps her notes with her as she walks.
D. She hesitates before getting up but then walks toward the stage.
D. Her hesitation followed by her decision to approach the stage provides the strongest evidence.
BILLY BONUS: Billy is answering a question about the theme of a story. He chooses: “Friendship.” His evidence from the story really does involve two friends. What is Billy's mistake?
A. Theme must describe the main character.
B. “Friendship” is a topic, not a message the story develops about that topic.
C. Theme must include a quotation from the text.
D. Stories can develop themes only through the conflict.
B. “Friendship” names the topic; it doesn't state what the story communicates about friendship.
In the caribou texts, which evidence from Text 1 would BEST support Text 2's claim that continued access to migration routes is important? A. Researchers used GPS collars from 2010–2018.
B. Different herds travel different distances during migration.
C. Caribou adjust their movement as environmental conditions change along the journey.
D. Fall migration has been studied more often than spring migration.
C. Their ability to adjust movement as conditions change helps explain why continued access to migration routes matters.
A question asks, “Which evidence BEST supports the author's claim?” Two answer choices are true statements from the passage. What should you do NEXT?
A. Choose the detail that appears first.
B. Decide which detail most directly proves or strengthens the specific claim.
C. Choose the answer with the most information.
D. Pick the detail containing words from the question.
B. Evidence must be judged by how strongly and directly it supports the specific claim.
Read: “Jo, who had been desperately trying to keep her countenance, could restrain herself no longer, and burst into a laugh.” Based on the sentence, what does “keep her countenance” most likely mean?
A. remember what she planned to say
B. hide her face from the others
C. remain serious and control her expression
D. continue watching without interrupting
C. The contrast with “could restrain herself no longer” and “burst into a laugh” shows that Jo had been trying to remain serious.
Read: “The town first installed brighter streetlights to reduce nighttime accidents. Within a year, accidents had decreased, but residents reported that fewer moths and other insects gathered near the new lights. Researchers began studying whether the change in lighting was affecting local insect populations.” Why does the author mention the decrease in accidents before discussing the insects?
A. To show that a solution to one problem may have an unexpected effect worth investigating
B. To argue that protecting insects is more important than preventing accidents
C. To prove that brighter lights caused the insect population to decrease
D. To explain why residents wanted the streetlights removed immediately
A. It establishes the original purpose and result before introducing an unexpected effect that leads to further investigation.
TRAP ANSWER! A passage explains that students started a school garden to provide vegetables for a food pantry. It describes how they chose crops, solved a watering problem, and eventually donated 120 pounds of produce. Which choice is the most tempting but incomplete central idea?
A. Careful planning can help a group overcome problems while working toward a community goal.
B. Students can make a difference when they work together to solve problems.
C. The students donated 120 pounds of vegetables to a local food pantry.
D. School gardens require students to choose crops and provide enough water.
C. It's an important detail—and therefore tempting—but it is too narrow to express the central idea of the entire passage.
Think about Anne of Green Gables and “To Any Reader.” Which statement BEST explains how the two authors develop a similar idea about growing up?
A. Both show that growing up requires people to leave important relationships behind.
B. Both suggest that adults understand childhood better than children do.
C. Anne's experience shows a young person moving toward her future, while the poem looks backward at a childhood that has already passed.
D. Anne's experience emphasizes the importance of education, while the poem argues that imagination is more important than education.
C. One looks forward as Anne moves toward adulthood; the other looks backward at childhood after it has passed.
A question asks how an author develops the idea that failure can lead to improvement. Which evidence BEST supports the idea?
A. Lena's first model collapsed, so she studied the weak points and changed her design before rebuilding it.
B. Lena spent three weeks building a model for the competition.
C. Lena's teacher told the class that engineering requires patience.
D. Lena's second model received the highest score in the competition.
A. It shows the entire relationship: failure → response to failure → improvement.
Read: “There are people who, when they meet a rival, are instantly alert and eager for the contest; but Anne was not of this sort. For a moment the knowledge that Gilbert was striving for the same prize disheartened her; then her determination returned with redoubled force.” What does the passage reveal about Anne?
A. Competition initially discourages her, but ultimately strengthens her determination.
B. She performs best when she does not know who her competitors are.
C. She believes Gilbert is more deserving of the prize than she is.
D. Competition causes her to question whether the prize is worth pursuing.
A. Her reaction changes from discouragement to even stronger determination.
Read: “When the city restored wetlands near the river, officials hoped the land would absorb some floodwater during heavy storms. Five years later, researchers found that the restored areas also provided habitat for birds, filtered pollutants, and reduced erosion along the riverbank.” Which statement BEST explains how the information is developed?
A. The author presents several competing solutions and evaluates which works best.
B. The author introduces the intended result of an action and then describes additional effects discovered later.
C. The author explains a problem and argues that government officials caused it.
D. The author compares conditions at two rivers to determine why flooding occurs.
B. Intended result first → additional effects discovered afterward.
FINAL BOSS: TWO ANSWERS LOOK GOOD. A passage describes a boy who repeatedly practices playing a difficult piece of music. At first, he makes mistakes and wants to quit. Eventually, he performs it successfully. Which theme is BEST supported?
A. Success is more meaningful when other people recognize it.
B. Difficult experiences usually become easier with age.
C. Natural ability matters less than choosing the right goal.
D. Persistence through frustration can lead to improvement.
D. The passage specifically develops persistence through difficulty → improvement. The other choices introduce ideas the passage doesn't actually establish.