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Common Test Questions & Vocab
Common Test Questions & Vocab
Reading the
Passages
Multiple Choice Test Questions
Short Answer Questions & The Essay
100
What is the THEME of a story?
the message, moral or lesson
100
"Which of the following details least supports the central idea of the passage?" In this question I have to find the answer choice that does NOT really ______________the central idea.
support
100
What are at least 2 things you should do BEFORE reading each passage?
1. Read the directions 2. Read the questions you will have to answer. 3. Read the title of the article, story or poem 4. Read the subheadings 5. Look at any pictures and captions
100
What should you do if you are not sure what answer choice is the correct one? a) Don't bubble in any answer and leave it blank b) Spend 15 minutes trying to decide on an answer c) Eliminate the obvious wrong answer choices and then make an educated guess
C
100

How can you get full credit (a 4) on your short answer questions? In other words, what should you do when you are answering the short answer questions?

1. Restate the question & answer it (making an inference). 2. Provide 1-2 pieces of evidence (quotes!). 3. Explain your evidence. 4. Closing sentence 

200
"How does paragraph 4 CONTRIBUTE to the development of ideas in the text?" In this question, I am being asked how paragraph 4 _____________ the development of ideas in the passage.
adds to, builds on
200
"What do the character’s actions in paragraph 3 REVEAL about him?" The word reveal means ______________.
shows, uncovers, unveils
200

What strategy can you use to navigate through difficult passages? 

People, places, and problems 

200
Why should you underline or circle key words in the questions?
To help you understand EXACTLY what each question is asking you and help you know what to focus on when you read the passage. The questions are often tricky and if you don't read them carefully and focus on the key words you might make a careless mistake when answering the question!
200

Compare and contrast the point of view on the topic of snakes in each article. Be sure to use at least 2 of the articles and details from them both. 

What is this question asking you to answer in your essay? 

You need to show any similarities and differences between how each author views snakes in 2 of the articles. Give evidence to support each point of view. 

300
"Which of the sentences from the passage best supports the author’s central idea?" In this question the word best tells me that all the answer choices could be _____________, but I have to find the ______________ answer.
correct best
300
“What can you INFER about the main character based on the information in paragraph 3?" The word infer means _________________________
to make an education guess or conclusion based on evidence, prior knowledge (background knowledge), and logical reasoning.
300
What are at least 3 things you can do to annotate/code the passages you are reading?
1. Underline or highlight important words and sentences. 2. Circle words you don't know and use context clues to try to figure out what the words mean. 3. Write questions and notes in the margins.
300
True or False: You should read all the answer choices, even if the first or second answer sounds correct to you.
TRUE! Almost every question will have 2 answer choices that are somewhat easy to eliminate and then 1 answer choice that is there to trick you! So you should read and reread each answer choice carefully and check back to the text to make sure you are choosing the correct answer and not the trick answer!
300
What are some ways you can use your planing page before starting to write your essay?
(1) Make a T-chart, a Venn Diagram or a 3-Column chart for compare & contrast essays. (2) Jot down notes about what you plan to write in each paragraph of your essay. (3) Look back at the text and then write down all the possible pieces of evidence you might want to use (that way you can choose from those pieces of evidence while writing your essay). 4. Students may offer another option (as long as it sounds reasonable/logical, answer may be accepted and points granted)
400

What does the word suspicious suggest about the main character? What does the word suggest mean you need to do? 

figure out what the highlighted word shows about the main character 

400
"Which sentence from the article best reveals the author's POINT OF VIEW?" The authors "point of view" means the author's __________
perspective, viewpoint, opinion
400

What test tools can help you while you read the passage? 

highlighter

glossary 

notes box 

line reader 

400
Your teachers always tell you to "go back and check your work" when you are done. How should you "check your work" on the state test?
Reread each question carefully and the answer you chose, and check the text again to make sure you still think that is the right answer. Also, make sure you have bubbled in ALL the questions on your scantron
400
How many paragraphs should your essay have?
The number of paragraphs will vary depending on the question; however, you should have an introduction, at least 1 body paragraph (using TREEE!!!), and a conclusion. If the essay question asks you to compare and contrast two texts, then you should have 2 body paragraphs. If the essay question asks you to state an author's argument, and then evaluate whether the author provided sufficient evidence, then you should also have 2 body paragraphs (the first paragraph to talk about the author's argument, and the second paragraph to discuss whether the author provides sufficient evidence).
500

Write an essay describing how a common theme is conveyed through the events that occur in both passages. Use details from both passages to support your response. 

What is the question asking you to explain in an essay? 

The theme both texts have and the similar and different events in the stories that show the theme 
500

What conclusion can you draw about the main character in this story? This question is really asking you to...

make an inference about a character and their character traits

500

What should you do if you are stuck on a question? 

look back at the passage/reread 

skip it and come back to it later 

500
True or False - all multiple choice questions will require you to click a button (A, B, C, D, E) 

False - sometimes they are drag and drop

sometimes you click on a gray line in the passage 

500

You have read two articles and a video on the topic of pollution. Write a letter to the mayor that highlights key arguments each text made about pollution concerns and solutions. Be sure to use at least 2 texts in your response. 

What is this question asking you to write about and what format should it be in? 

problems/arguments about pollution and solutions

letter format