AUTHOR'S TONE & MOOD
Passage:
Lena looked at the broken window and sighed. She knew the storm had caused the damage, but she was thankful that everyone in the house was safe.
What answer best describes the author's tone in the following passage?
A. Angry and hostile
B. Calm and grateful
C. Excited and energetic
D. Confused and uncertain
B. Calm and grateful
The classroom was a zoo after the teacher announced a surprise test.
How does the metaphor in the sentence impact the meaning?
A. It shows that animals entered the classroom.
B. It emphasizes how noisy and chaotic the classroom became.
C. It explains why students enjoy taking tests.
D. It shows that the teacher was angry.
B. It emphasizes how noisy and chaotic the classroom became.
The coach told the players that the final game would be a “test of character.”
Use context to recognize the most likely explanation of the phrase “test of character.”
A. The players would take a written personality test.
B. The players' actions during the difficult game would show what kind of people they were.
C. The players would have to describe their personalities.
D. The players would be tested on the rules of the game.
B. The players' actions during the difficult game would show what kind of people they were.
A story begins with a character standing outside a hospital. The next paragraph explains what happened three years earlier.
How does the author's use of a flashback contribute to the narrative?
A. It provides background information about the character's past.
B. It makes the story occur entirely in the future.
C. It removes the conflict from the story.
D. It changes the story into a poem.
A. It provides background information about the character's past.
Which of the following is an appropriate use of parallel structure?
A. The students enjoy reading, writing, and discussing books.
B. The students enjoy reading, to write, and discussing books.
C. The students enjoy to read, writing, and discussing books.
D. The students enjoy reading, writing, and to discuss books.
A. The students enjoy reading, writing, and discussing books.
The old playground stood empty. The swings moved slowly in the wind, and the cracked slide was covered with leaves. Marcus remembered when the playground had been filled with children.
How does the author's use of descriptive details impact the tone of the passage?
A. It creates a joyful and energetic tone.
B. It creates a humorous and playful tone.
C. It creates a somber and reflective tone.
D. It creates a nervous and confusing tone.
C. It creates a somber and reflective tone.
The waves crashed against the shore like angry fists.
How does the author's use of the simile impact the tone of the passage?
A. It creates a peaceful and relaxing tone.
B. It creates an energetic and humorous tone.
C. It creates a threatening and powerful tone.
D. It creates a hopeful and encouraging tone.
C. It creates a threatening and powerful tone.
For years, the town waited for someone to “break the silence” about the pollution in the river.
Use context to recognize the most likely explanation of the phrase “break the silence.”
A. To physically make a loud noise
B. To stop speaking about the problem
C. To finally speak openly about the problem
D. To leave the town quietly
C. To finally speak openly about the problem
A story about a war is told by a ten-year-old child who does not fully understand why adults are fighting.
How does telling the story from the perspective of a child influence the context of the story?
A. It makes the political events completely unimportant.
B. It shows how complicated events can affect children who do not fully understand them.
C. It proves that children understand war better than adults.
D. It prevents the reader from understanding the conflict.
B. It shows how complicated events can affect children who do not fully understand them.
Which of the following is an appropriate use of parallel structure?
A. The speaker chose to come, to see, and speaking.
B. The speaker chose coming, seeing, and to speak.
C. The speaker chose to come, to see, and to speak.
D. The speaker chose come, seeing, and speaking.
C. The speaker chose to come, to see, and to speak.
The soldiers entered the village quietly. Instead of threatening the people, they spoke calmly and asked what supplies the families needed.
What answer best describes the author's tone in the following passage?
A. Calm and diplomatic
B. Hostile and confrontational
C. Fearful and uncertain
D. Indifferent and detached
A. Calm and diplomatic
The teacher's open arms never seemed to get closer as Maya struggled across the pool.
How does the author's inclusion of the teacher's character deepen the meaning of the passage?
A. It highlights the influence that other people can have on our growth.
B. It shows that teachers should solve students' problems for them.
C. It demonstrates that Maya does not trust her teacher.
D. It emphasizes that learning to swim is easy.
A. It highlights the influence that other people can have on our growth.
The museum displayed photographs from the town's history. Visitors could see how the neighborhood had changed over fifty years.
What is the author's primary purpose in including the photographs?
A. To entertain visitors with funny pictures
B. To provide evidence showing how the community changed
C. To convince visitors to move to the neighborhood
D. To explain how cameras work
B. To provide evidence showing how the community changed
A graphic novel shows a character's face in a large panel immediately after a smaller panel showing a crowd running away.
How do the visual elements impact the meaning for the reader?
A. The large panel draws attention to the character's emotional reaction.
B. The panels prove that the character caused the crowd to run.
C. The panels provide historical information about the setting.
D. The smaller panel shows that the character is more important than the crowd.
A. The large panel draws attention to the character's emotional reaction.
What purpose does the colon in the following excerpt serve?
The teacher had one important message: everyone deserves a chance to learn.
A. It introduces a quotation.
B. It introduces an explanation or specific information.
C. It separates two subjects.
D. It introduces a question.
B. It introduces an explanation or specific information.
The child stood at the edge of the pool. The water looked darker the farther she went. Her mother watched from the side, wanting to help but knowing her daughter needed to keep moving.
How does the author's use of the repeated image of the darker water impact the tone of the passage?
A. It creates a playful tone by making the water seem exciting.
B. It creates a somber and uneasy tone by emphasizing the child's challenges.
C. It creates a humorous tone by exaggerating the danger.
D. It creates a peaceful tone by showing that the child is safe.
B. It creates a somber and uneasy tone by emphasizing the child's challenges.
The author describes a difficult journey as “walking through a tunnel with no light at the end.”
How does the metaphor influence the reader's understanding of the character's challenge?
A. It shows that the character is literally trapped underground.
B. It symbolizes the character's uncertainty and difficulty seeing a way forward.
C. It shows that the character enjoys exploring new places.
D. It emphasizes that the character is physically strong.
B. It symbolizes the character's uncertainty and difficulty seeing a way forward.
The writer describes a young student who struggled with reading before receiving help from a teacher. After several months, the student began reading independently.
How does the author's inclusion of the student's experience contribute to the purpose of the passage?
A. It provides a specific example that demonstrates how support can help students grow.
B. It proves that every student learns at the same speed.
C. It shows that teachers should do students' work for them.
D. It explains why reading is more important than other subjects.
A. It provides a specific example that demonstrates how support can help students grow.
A story moves between a character's present-day experiences and memories from childhood.
How does the author's manipulation of time contribute to the creation of suspense and tension?
A. It prevents the reader from learning anything about the character.
B. It allows information from the past to influence the reader's understanding of the present.
C. It makes the story completely chronological.
D. It removes the conflict from the narrative.
B. It allows information from the past to influence the reader's understanding of the present.
What purpose does the colon in the following excerpt serve?
The speaker's message was simple: We must protect the rights of every individual.
A. It introduces a quotation or statement that explains the preceding idea.
B. It separates a subject from its verb.
C. It introduces a question.
D. It connects two unrelated ideas.
A. It introduces a quotation or statement that explains the preceding idea.
The streets were silent after the storm. Broken branches covered the roads, and families stood outside looking at their damaged homes. Yet, neighbors began helping one another clean up.
How does the contrast between the destruction and the neighbors' actions affect the tone of the passage?
A. It creates a tone of anger because the neighbors blame one another.
B. It creates a tone of despair because no one is willing to help.
C. It creates a tone of hope by showing people responding positively to hardship.
D. It creates a tone of confusion because the storm is difficult to understand.
C. It creates a tone of hope by showing people responding positively to hardship.
The writer describes a struggling community as “a small boat fighting against a giant wave.”
How does the author's use of an extended metaphor contribute to the effectiveness of the passage?
A. It gives the reader exact information about the size of the community.
B. It creates a concrete image that helps readers understand how overwhelming the challenge is.
C. It proves that the community lives near the ocean.
D. It makes the community's problem seem less serious.
B. It creates a concrete image that helps readers understand how overwhelming the challenge is.
A writer argues that communities should create more public parks. She explains that parks give children places to play, provide adults with spaces to exercise, and give families opportunities to spend time together.
Which answer best describes the author's purpose in including these examples?
A. To explain why children should exercise every day
B. To provide reasons that support her argument for more public parks
C. To describe different types of playground equipment
D. To entertain readers with stories about families
B. To provide reasons that support her argument for more public parks
A graphic novel uses dialogue to show what characters say, narration to explain events, and illustrations to show the setting and characters' emotions.
Which of the following is the strongest claim for why the author uses multiple text structures to convey the purpose of the story?
A. The author uses only dialogue because readers prefer conversations.
B. The author uses narration only to provide historical facts.
C. The author combines dialogue, narration, and visuals so readers can understand both the events and the characters' experiences.
D. The author uses illustrations only because written descriptions are unnecessary
C. The author combines dialogue, narration, and visuals so readers can understand both the events and the characters' experiences.
A writer claims that students should have more opportunities to read independently. She explains that independent reading allows students to choose books that interest them and practice reading without constant teacher assistance.
Which answer best describes how the writer's evidence supports her claim?
A. The evidence provides specific reasons why independent reading can benefit students.
B. The evidence proves that every student prefers reading independently.
C. The evidence explains why teachers should stop teaching reading.
D. The evidence focuses mainly on the history of books.
A. The evidence provides specific reasons why independent reading can benefit students.