Reading Prose & Poetry
What is theme?
The message or lesson of a text. You're supposed to learn from it.
What is the central idea?
The main idea of a story or text.
Which word has a connotation that suggests fear?
A. Curious
B. Timid
C. Calm
D. Bright
B. Timid
Which transition word shows contrast?
A. Therefore
B. However
C. Because
D. For example
B. However
Which sentence best shows an appeal to ethos, or credibility?
A. “I’ve spent the last 20 years researching climate change.”
B. “Imagine your children growing up in a polluted world.”
C. “If we don’t act now, we’ll regret it forever.”
D. “The sky is blue because it reflects the ocean.”
A. “I’ve spent the last 20 years researching climate change.”
Which sentence uses personification?
A. The wind howled through the trees.
B. She was as brave as a lion.
C. His heart beat like a drum.
D. The sky was blue and cloudless.
A. The wind howled through the trees.
How would an author support the claim that school lunches need improvement?
A. By showing interviews with principals.
B. By sharing student testimonies and nutritional data.
C. By explaining how lunch periods are scheduled.
D. By comparing school sizes.
B. By sharing student testimonies and nutritional data.
What does the word autograph most likely mean based on the Greek root “auto-” meaning “self”?
A. A graph that explains itself
B. A machine that signs your name
C. A person’s own handwritten signature
D. A signature given to someone else
C. A person’s own handwritten signature
Which sentence would be best to start a persuasive essay?
A. “This is what I think.”
B. “In conclusion, dogs are better than cats.”
C. “Imagine a world without clean water—what would you do?”
D. “I had a fun day yesterday.”
C. “Imagine a world without clean water—what would you do?”
What is the effect of the simile “Her mind was like a storm, spinning and crashing with thoughts”?
A. It shows that she is enjoying peaceful ideas
B. It suggests she is thinking clearly
C. It emphasizes her confusion and emotional turmoil
D. It shows that she is calm and focused
C. It emphasizes her confusion and emotional turmoil
Which line from the poem best supports the theme of perseverance?
A. “I watched the stars fall one by one.”
B. “Still I climb, though the path is steep.”
C. “The morning came, soft and slow.”
D. “I turned away from what I knew.”
B. “Still I climb, though the path is steep.”
What tone does the author create by using phrases like “urgent crisis” and “we must act now”?
A. Humorous
B. Informative
C. Serious and persuasive
D. Doubtful
C. Serious and persuasive
Which sentence best shows the meaning of the word “emphasize”?
A. She whispered the answer softly.
B. They walked through the park.
C. The baby cried all night.
D. He highlighted the sentence in yellow.
D. He highlighted the sentence in yellow.
Which sentence best uses a formal tone?
A. “You won’t believe what happened!”
B. “Kids these days need to chill.”
C. “Students benefit from after-school tutoring programs.”
D. “That idea is totally cool.”
C. “Students benefit from after-school tutoring programs.”
How does the rhetorical question “How much longer can we ignore this problem?” advance the author’s argument?
A. It introduces a counterclaim
B. It forces the audience to reflect and feel urgency
C. It adds humor to the speech
D. It distracts from weak evidence
B. It forces the audience to reflect and feel urgency
What is a pronoun for each of the following types of point of views?
First person, second person, third person
First person: I, Me, My
Second person: You, Yours
Third person: He, She, They, Them
Why would an author likely include a chart about plastic pollution in the ocean?
A. To add color to the article
B. To distract the reader from the text
C. To visually reinforce key data
D. To compare two unrelated ideas
C. To visually reinforce key data
The prefix “inter-” in the word “interstate” means:
A. Between
B. One
C. Above
D. Under
A. Between
Why would a writer include counterarguments in an argumentative essay?
A. To confuse the reader
B. To make the essay longer
C. To agree with the other side
D. To show awareness of other viewpoints
D. To show awareness of other viewpoints
How does the simile “like a lamb to the slaughter” contribute to meaning in a story?
A. It suggests the character is brave and determined
B. It means the character is very loud and wild
C. It proves the character is leading others to safety
D. It shows the character is unaware of upcoming danger
D. It shows the character is unaware of upcoming danger
What does third person omniscient mean?
a storytelling perspective where the narrator knows everything about all the characters, their thoughts, feelings, and the events of the story.
Which phrase best indicates a cause and effect relationship?
A. “For instance,”
B. “As a result,”
C. “In addition,”
D. “On the other hand,”
B. “As a result,”
What does the word “benevolent” most likely mean in this sentence?
“The benevolent leader donated all her prize money to charity.”
A. Selfish
B. Generous
C. Surprised
D. Careless
B. Generous
What effect does the metaphor “Her words were a dagger to his heart” have on the tone of the sentence?
A. It conveys a tone of pain and betrayal
B. It adds a humorous and playful tone
C. It creates a joyful and excited tone
D. It makes the tone sound neutral and calm
A. It conveys a tone of pain and betrayal
Which example best represents an appeal to pathos, or emotion?
A. “Imagine a student, struggling in silence, finally finding hope.”
B. “This tutoring program has been approved by educators nationwide.”
C. “Statistics show that 80% of students benefit from tutoring.”
D. “Tutoring is offered at many schools across the state.”
A. “Imagine a student, struggling in silence, finally finding hope.”