BIG PICTURE THINKING
MAKE IT CLEAR
CONNECT THE IDEAS
WRITE IT RIGHT
EDIT THE DETAILS
100

Read Elijah’s letter. Which sentence BEST introduces the main idea?

Sentence 1. I’m thinking about quitting the basketball team.

100

Elijah has included a sentence in the third paragraph (sentences 10-14) that repeats information. Which sentence should be removed from this paragraph?

Sentence 13. When I miss a shot, it makes me not want to try again.

100

Which sentence BEST serves as a transition between Elijah’s first and second reasons for quitting?

Sentence 10. Another reason is that I don’t feel confident when I play in games.

100

Identify the error in sentence 6 of Saniah’s letter.

Sentence 6. If you quit every time something feel uncomfortable, you might regret it.

100

Identify the error in sentence 3 of Saniah’s letter.

Consequently, quitting now can make you miss out on something important later.

200

Which sentence can BEST follow and support sentence 28 in Elijah’s letter?  

A. I hope you understand why I am feeling this way.

B. I will probably quit tomorrow but not tell anyone.

C. Basketball is boring sometimes if I’m being honest.

D. I like my new Lebrons that my dad just bought me for basketball. 

A. I hope you understand why I am feeling this way.

200

Which revision, if any, should be made to sentence 6 in Elijah’s letter? 

A. Coach makes us run laps and do drills for a long time.

B. Coach makes us do laps, then we do drills, and sometimes it’s long.

C. Coach runs laps and makes us do drills long.

D. No change is needed.

A. Coach makes us run laps and do drills for a long time.

200

Read Elijah’s letter. Which word best replaces “On the other hand” in sentence 20? 

A. However

B. Finally

C. Next

D. Also

A. However

200

When things get hard,  (if, it's, was, no change)                       easy to focus only on the negatives.

it's

200

(8) Even if you decide to quit later, at least you will   

  know you didn’t give up   (too, two, tou, no change)                      quickly.

too

300

Which sentence BEST supports Elijah’s reason for quitting due to grades?

A. Sentence 16

B. Sentence 21

C. Sentence 6

A. (Sentence 16) After practice, I don’t always have energy to finish my homework.

300

What is the BEST way to combine sentences 15 through 17 in Elijah’s letter?

A. I don’t have energy, and my parents think my grades are slipping but the truth is I’m just tired.

B. My grades are slipping because after practice I don’t have energy for homework, and my parents say school should come first.

C. Practice makes me tired, and my parents are complaining about my scoring.

B. My grades are slipping because after practice I don’t have energy for homework, and my parents say school should come first.

300

Which revision BEST combines sentences 21 through 23 in Elijah’s letter?

A. Teammates joke, and I learn.

B. Hanging out and joking is fun with my teammates. Teamwork is important because responsibility matters.

C. I like hanging out with my teammates, joking around before practice, and learning teamwork and responsibility. 

C. I like hanging out with my teammates, joking around before practice, and learning teamwork and responsibility. 

300

Which change, if any, needs to be made in sentence 11 of Elijah’s letter?

A. Change makes to made

B. Change makes to make


  1. No change is needed.

No change is needed.

300

Which change, if any, needs to be made to sentence 8 in Elijah’s letter?

A. Delete the comma after school

B. Change and to but

C. No change is needed.

C. No change is needed.

400

Which sentence BEST expresses the controlling idea of Saniah’s letter?

A. Quitting can make you miss out on important opportunities.

B. Basketball is fun but tiring.

A. Quitting can make you miss out on important opportunities.

400

Which option most clearly expresses sentence 8 in Elijah’s letter?

A. I am tired after school, and basketball makes me even more tired. 

B. I am tired after school; basketball make me tired.

A. I am tired after school, and basketball makes more more tired.

400

Which revision, if any, should be made to the last paragraph (sentences 25-29)?

A. No change is needed.

B. (25) I feel stuck because I don’t know what the right choice is. (26) I could use your advice since you always give honest opinions. (27) Another part of me thinks I might regret it later. (28) Part of me wants to quit to feel less stressed. (29) What do you think I should do?

A. No change is needed.

400

What change needs to be made in sentence 4 of Saniah’s letter?

A. Change isnt to isn’t

B. Change does to do

A. Change isnt to isn’t

400

What change needs to be made in sentence 9 of Saniah’s letter?

A. Change You’re to you are

B. Change You’re to Your

B. Change You’re to Your

500

Rewrite the last paragraph of Elijah’s letter to make the closing more effective.

I feel stuck because I don’t know what’s the right choice. Part of me wants to quit to feel less stressed, but I also know I might regret it later. Please share your thoughts because they can help me decide what to do.

500

Rewrite sentence 7 in Elijah’s letter in a clear and effective way.

It makes playing the game less enjoyable.

500

Rewrite paragraph 2 of Elijah’s letter to better connect the ideas.

One reason I want to quit is because practice is exhausting. First, Coach makes us run long laps and repeat drills, which makes it hard to enjoy the game. Also, I’m already tired after school, and basketball leaves me feeling worse.

500

Rewrite sentence 6 of Elijah’s letter in a clear and effective way.

Coach makes us run long laps and repeat drills.

500

Rewrite sentence 16 of Elijah’s letter in a clear and effective way.

I don’t always have the energy to finish my homework after practice