Connotation vs Denotation
What does denotation mean?
A. The emotional feeling a word creates
B. The literal dictionary definition of a word
C. A synonym for a word
D. A word’s hidden meaning
B. The literal dictionary definition of a word
Which text structure explains how two or more things are alike and/or different?
A. Cause and Effect
B. Problem and Solution
C. Compare and Contrast
D. Sequence
C. Compare and Contrast
Read the sentence:
“The desert is an arid place, with very little rainfall each year.”
What does arid most nearly mean?
A. Cold
B. Dry
C. Windy
D. Crowded
B. Dry
Match each type of persuasion to its meaning:
Which answer choice shows the correct matches?
A. Ethos → Logic, Pathos → Credibility, Logos → Emotions
B. Ethos → Credibility, Pathos → Emotions, Logos → Logic
C. Ethos → Emotions, Pathos → Logic, Logos → Credibility
D. Ethos → Credibility, Pathos → Logic, Logos → Emotions
B. Ethos → Credibility, Pathos → Emotions, Logos → Logic
Which sentence BEST supports the claim that Jen is responsible?
A. Jen enjoys spending time with her friends after school.
B. Jen always completes her homework before playing games.
C. Jen has a dog she walks sometimes.
D. Jen likes watching TV in the evenings.
B. Jen always completes her homework before playing games.
What does connotation refer to?
A. The exact definition of a word
B. The part of speech of a word
C. The feelings or associations a word suggests
D. The origin of a word
C. The feelings or associations a word suggests
Read the passage:
“Students were struggling to stay focused during long class periods. As a result, teachers began incorporating short brain breaks into lessons, which led to increased engagement and improved performance.”
Which text structure is MOST strongly represented?
A. Cause and Effect
B. Problem and Solution
C. Sequence
D. Compare and Contrast
B. Problem and Solution
Read the sentence:
“The kitten was timid, hiding behind the couch and avoiding anyone who came near.”
What does timid most nearly mean?
A. Playful
B. Curious
C. Angry
D. Shy
D. Shy
Which example BEST represents pathos?
A. “According to research, 85% of students perform better with more sleep.”
B. “As a doctor with 20 years of experience, I recommend this treatment.”
C. “Imagine how sad these animals feel without a home.”
D. “This plan is the most efficient based on the data.”
C. “Imagine how sad these animals feel without a home.”
Which sentence BEST supports the claim that the park is popular?
A. The park has a large fountain in the center.
B. The park has several trees and benches.
C. The park is located near a school.
D. Many people visit the park every day, especially on weekends.
D. Many people visit the park every day, especially on weekends.
Read the sentence:
“The manager described his employee as assertive, while others thought she was pushy.”
Which statement BEST explains the difference in meaning?
A. Both words have the same denotation and connotation
B. Both words have different denotations but the same connotation
C. The words have similar denotations but different connotations
D. The words are unrelated in both meaning and tone
C. The words have similar denotations but different connotations
Read the sentence:
“Because the roads were icy, several schools were closed.”
Which text structure is used?
A. Compare and Contrast
B. Cause and Effect
C. Problem and Solution
D. Description
B. Cause and Effect
Read the sentence:
“Unlike his boisterous brother, who was loud and energetic, Marcus was quiet and calm.”
What does boisterous most nearly mean?
A. Shy
B. Loud
C. Angry
D. Lazy
B. Loud
Which example BEST represents ethos?
A. “As a certified engineer, I designed this system for safety.”
B. “You’ll feel happier if you try this product.”
C. “Studies show this method improves test scores.”
D. “This solution will save time and money.”
A. “As a certified engineer, I designed this system for safety.”
Claim: The author suggests that perseverance is more important than natural talent.
Which sentence BEST supports this claim?
A. Some people are naturally talented at certain skills.
B. The author describes several famous individuals.
C. The text explains that many successful people failed repeatedly before achieving their goals but continued working despite challenges.
D. Talent can sometimes make tasks easier to complete.
C. The text explains that many successful people failed repeatedly before achieving their goals but continued working despite challenges.
Read the sentence:
“The politician was described as slim rather than skinny.”
Why might the word slim be used instead of skinny?
A. Slim has a more negative connotation
B. Skinny has a more positive connotation
C. Slim has a more positive connotation
D. Both words have the exact same connotation
C. Slim has a more positive connotation
Read the passage:
“The school noticed that many students were failing math. To address this, they added after-school tutoring and extra practice sessions.”
Which text structure is used?
A. Problem and Solution
B. Compare and Contrast
C. Cause and Effect
D. Sequence
A. Problem and Solution
Read the sentence:
“Though the instructions seemed straightforward, the process turned out to be surprisingly tedious, requiring far more time and effort than expected.”
What does tedious most nearly mean?
A. Simple
B. Boring and repetitive
C. Confusing
D. Quick
B. Boring and repetitive
Read the statement:
“If we don’t act now, future generations will suffer the consequences of our choices.”
Which type of persuasion is being used?
A. Ethos
B. Logos
C. Pathos
D. None of the above
C. Pathos
Which sentence BEST supports the claim that the new cafeteria policy is effective?
A. Since the policy began, food waste has decreased by 40%.
B. The policy was introduced at the beginning of the year.
C. Students have mixed feelings about the new policy.
D. Some students still bring lunch from home.
A. Since the policy began, food waste has decreased by 40%.
Which sentence BEST demonstrates the difference between denotation and connotation?
A. The word “home” means a place where someone lives.
B. The word “childish” means like a child, but it suggests immaturity.
C. The word “run” can be used as a verb or noun.
D. The word “happy” means feeling joy.
B. The word “childish” means like a child, but it suggests immaturity.
Read the passage:
“Many students were tired during class because they stayed up late on their phones. As a result, their grades began to drop.”
Which text structure is BEST represented?
A. Problem and Solution
B. Cause and Effect
C. Sequence
D. Description
B. Cause and Effect
Read the sentence:
“The teacher tried to mitigate the conflict between the students by separating them and encouraging calm discussion.”
What does mitigate most nearly mean?
A. Ignore
B. Worsen
C. Reduce
D. Start
C. Reduce
Read the statement:
“Based on a recent study from a leading university, this program reduces costs by 30%, making it a smart financial choice.”
Which type of persuasion is MOST strongly used?
A. Logos
B. Pathos
C. Ethos
D. Both Ethos and Pathos equally
A. Logos
Claim: The author believes technology can be harmful to relationships.
Which sentence BEST supports this claim?
A. Technology has become more advanced over the years.
B. Many people use their phones throughout the day.
C. The author explains that constant phone use can reduce face-to-face conversations and weaken personal connections.
D. Some people prefer texting over calling.
C. The author explains that constant phone use can reduce face-to-face conversations and weaken personal connections.