Vocabulary I
I received an unexpected Christmas gift from my friend.
Define the word unexpected.
Something surprising, unforeseen, or not anticipated, like a sudden event, a pleasant surprise, or an unforeseen consequence.
Which of the following is an example of setting?
a fight, a high school in 1987, or a blue jacket
a high school in 1987
The water was as clear as glass.
simile
Riley Black—the author of critically acclaimed books such as My Beloved Brontosaurus (2013)—is best known for writing about dinosaurs, but she has also conducted hands-on fieldwork. ______ her fieldwork has included paleontological digs in Utah, Montana, and Wyoming, and her dinosaur fossil discoveries can be seen at places such as the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Specifically,
What is a theme?
Author's main message of a story. (lesson, moral, take away).
What does it mean to make an inference?
A conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning.
What is a person or animal that takes part in the action of a story called?
character
"My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations,"
-John Green
metaphor
Thus,
Impressionism was “born” in 1874 when an art critic reviewed the exhibition of several artists at Nader’s photography studio in Paris. Very unimpressed with Monet’s 1872 printing entitled “Impression Sunrise,” the critic used the term impression and later the word impressionist derogatorily. The name stuck and was worn almost as a badge of honor by the artists who used methods and style similar to Monet’s, and Monet became known as the Father of Impressionism. One might think that this radical departure from the accepted norm rose full blown in Monet and that his comrades merely followed his lead. This oversimplification is natural for laypersons, but it is akin to saying Darwin discovered evolution, or Freud discovered the unconscious mind. While all three men are indisputably tied to the concepts with which we identify them, their true genius and claim to being discovered or “Father of . . .” lies more in their ability to synthesize rather than to create.
What best expresses the central idea of this paragraph?
Monet’s genius, like that of Darwin or Freud, lies more in the ability to synthesize than in the ability to create.
I was extremely captivated by the huge rat in the Nutcracker Ballet performance.
What does the word captivated mean?
To attract and hold the interest and attention of someone.
What is the character who opposes the main character called?
Antagonist
"Death kindly stopped for me"
-Emily Dickinson
personification
As a result,
Sometimes too much of a good thing can become a very bad thing indeed. In an earnest attempt to consume a healthy diet, dietary supplement enthusiasts have been known to overdose. Vitamin C, for example, long thought to help people ward off cold viruses, is currently being studied for its possible role in warding off cancer and other diseases that cause tissue degeneration. Unfortunately, an overdose of vitamin C – more than 10,000 mg. – on a daily basis can cause nausea and diarrhea. Calcium supplements, commonly taken by women, are helpful in warding off osteoporosis. More than just a few grams a day, however, can lead to stomach upset and even kidney or bladder stones. Niacin, proven useful in reducing cholesterol levels, can be dangerous in large doses to those who suffer from heart problems, asthma, or ulcers.
What is the main idea expressed in this paragraph?
Supplements taken in excess can be a bad thing indeed.
I will not tolerate students not turning in their assignments.
What does the word tolerate mean?
Allow or accept
What is the most exciting part of the story called?
Climax
"breathing the heavy air felt like sucking on cotton"
simile
A potter choosing which type of clay to use for a piece considers two key factors: the desired look of the piece and its intended use. ______ earthenware clay is often used for decorative pieces because of its rustic look. This type of clay is not often used in industrial settings, though, because it is less durable than other clays.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Choose 1 answer:
For example,
Most children have an interest in learning to play a musical instrument at one point or another during their growing-up years. Parents need to take advantage of that urge to play when it appears. Some very small children become intrigued with music because they see their parents or their older siblings play. The Suzuki method of instruction capitalizes on that early willingness to learn by involving the parent and the child in the child’s instructions. Elementary-aged youngsters often are exposed to stringed instruments or band instruments in their school music classes. Because kids like to do what other kids do, parents who are not musicians themselves can take advantage of both instruction and enthusiasm. It is at the middle school level, however, that peer pressure can really work to the benefit of parents who want to hear the sound of music around the house.
What is the central message of this passage?
Some very small children become intrigued with music because they see their parents or siblings play.
The new cell phone laws in Texas have had a positive impact on student grades and behavior.
Define the word impact.
To have a strong effect on someone or something.
What is the term for the sequence of events involving characters and a central conflict?
Plot
"Memories are bullets. Some whiz by... Others tear you open"
-Richard Kadrey
metaphor
The transition word/phrase "However" is used to demonstrate which type of relationship between ideas?
Sequence, Comparison (similarity), Contrast, or Cause & effect
Contrast
Malcolm X occupied himself in jail by reading the dictionary, a pursuit resulting in his acquisition of a tremendous amount of knowledge embodied in an enormous vocabulary. One has only to turn to the pages of a dictionary to see why this is the case. For example, on page 317 of the American Heritage Dictionary, we find everything from continental code (which is defined as a form of Morse Code, minus dots and dashes, used outside North America) to contract (which is defined in numerous ways depending on whether it is used as a noun or verb). In between, we discover that continents, having shifted over time, contain geographical features including elevations from which their river systems originate, and slopes that become submerged, first gradually and then precipitously, at that point where the continent meets the ocean and then drops to meet the ocean floor. On just one page, the same page, we also learn something about math, education, morphology, music, birth control – and on and on. As a source of knowledge, the dictionary is invaluable.
What is the main idea expressed in this paragraph?
The dictionary is an invaluable source of knowledge.