Test Taking Strats
In general, which is NOT a good test taking strategy?
1. Read all the directions before answering each question.
2. If you aren't sure if an answer, make your best guess. Don't leave any answers blank.
3. Look up answers to really hard questions on your phone.
3. Look up answers to really hard questions on your phone. (Nooo!!!)
Mr. Ernie slammed the door behind him, his face a deep red.
Based on this sentence, you can infer that Mr. Ernie is probably feeling:
A) scared
B) amused
C) furious
d) excited
c) furious
True or False:
After the ISTEP, there will be a food & drink reward for students who have had good attendance and have earned an "A" or "B" in our class so far. Just stop by Mrs. Melton's room if you earned it!
True!
John asked that the award be given to his whole team instead of just him. "I couldn't have done it without them," he said.
Based on the passage, you can infer that John is probably:
A) fake
B) calm
C) athletic
D) humble
D) humble
What point of view should usually be avoided in formal writing?
A) first person (ex: I, me, my)
B) second person (ex: you/your)
C) third person (ex: they/them, he/him, she/her )
A) first person (ex: I, me, my)
While reading a longer selection (like a story or article) during ISTEP, which is NOT a good strategy:
1. Click the Line Reader button (to get the blue line tool) which can help keep your place as you read and scroll down the screen.
2. Skim the whole thing, especially if it's long. You don't have time to read in detail.
3. You may want to reread parts or all of the selection if it's challenging to understand or to find specific details.
2. Skim the whole thing, especially if it's long. You don't have time to read in detail. (Nope!)
Read the sentences and choose the correct verb or verb phrase to fill in the blanks.
If I were more confident, I _______ for a part in the school play. If I spend more time rehearsing, I _________ for the next play.
A) would audition / will audition
B) will audition / would audition
C) audition / auditioned
D) auditioned / audition
A) would audition / will audition
Which sentence has the correct punctuation?
1. I don't like taking tests but I don't really have a choice.
2. I don't like taking tests but, I don't really have a choice.
3. I don't like taking tests, but I don't really have a choice.
4. I don't like taking tests, but, I don't really have a choice.
3. I don't like taking tests, but I don't really have a choice.
Which point of view does the narrator use in the passage?
A few days ago I had to go out with Ginger. I wondered how we should get on together; but except laying her ears back when I was led up to her, she behaved very well.
A) first person
B) second person
C) third person
A) first person
Which thesis statement has the most effective wording?
A) This essay will prove that driverless cars are a good idea.
B) I think that driverless cars are overall not a beneficial concept.
C) Driverless cars offer many advantages, so companies should continue to develop them.
C) Driverless cars offer many advantages, so companies should continue to develop them.
While answering multiple choice questions, which is NOT a good test taking strategy?
1. Sometimes you'll need to mark more than one right answer, so follow the directions for every question.
2. Read all the answer choices before selecting the right one(s).
3. Eliminate the answers you know are wrong first. If you still aren't sure of the right answer(s), you can flag questions to come back and answer later.
4. If you have no clue, it's better to skip questions than to give the wrong answers.
4. If you have no clue, it's better to skip questions than to give the wrong answers. (No, don't do this!)
Choose the word that best fills in each blank.
1. The students attending the inauguration ________ listened to the speeches.
2. At all times ________ behavior was expected at the memorial services.
3. The councillors retired to their ______ chambers.
A) respect
B) respectful
C) respectfully
D) respective
1. C) respectfully
2. B) respectful
3. D) respective
Which sentence has the correct punctuation?
1. I should show up for the Zoom meeting; however I am really tired today.
2. I should show up for the Zoom meeting; however, I am really tired today.
3. I should show up for the Zoom meeting, however I am really tired today.
4. I should show up for the Zoom meeting, however, I am really tired today.
2. I should show up for the Zoom meeting; however, I am really tired today.
"Don't touch their claws. You can touch them, but only on their bodies. ," said the aquarium worker. "Pay attention because crabs can move fast."
Kayla was a little nervous. She didn't want to get pinched by the crab's hard claw. She reached down and gently touched the crab's shell. The crab didn't seem to mind. Suddenly Martin screamed, "Look out!"
Kayla looked up at Martin, wide eyed. Kayla's hand was still in the tank.
You can infer from this passage that:
A) Kayla squeezes the crab's claw shut.
B) The aquarium worker isn't doing his job well.
C) The crab pinches Kayla.
D) Martin is Kayla's boyfriend.
C) The crab pinches Kayla.
Name a favorite beverage for:
1. Ms. James
2. Mr. Ernie
3. Mrs. Lambert
1. coffee, water, tea
2. soda (Pepsi), water
3. coffee, water, tea
While writing constructed responses to an article or story, which is NOT a good strategy to follow:
1. Read each writing prompt first to know what to look for or pay attention to as you read.
2. Use the R.A.C.E.S. approach to organize your written response into a paragraph.
3. Write a lot, even if you don't stay on topic or answer the question, because more words will increase your score.
4. Give specific details from the text (direct quotes or examples) to support your answer.
3. Write a lot, even if you don't stay on topic or answer the question, because more words will increase your score. (Nope, not always better!)
Read this excerpt from a piece of persuasive writing. Then choose the correct transition word to fill in the blank.
The widening of the highway is unnecessary and detrimental to both citizens and the environment. Residents living in the area already have to deal with heavy traffic and exhaust fumes. Widening the highway would simply increase those negatives. ___________ , wildlife living in the nearby green space would severely affected by the increase in traffic.
A) Although
B) However
C) Consequently
D) Furthermore
D) Furthermore
Which sentence has correct punctuation and parallel structure?
1. We ate a lot of junk food, watching the game on TV, dancing during the half-time show, and stayed up way too late.
2. We ate a lot of junk food, we were watching the game on TV, we were dancing during the half-time show, and stayed up way too late.
3. We ate a lot of junk food, watched the game on TV, danced during the half-time show, and stayed up way too late.
3. We ate a lot of junk food, watched the game on TV, danced during the half-time show, and stayed up way too late.
Which point of view does the narrator use in the passage?
Dontay didn't want to come in the first place. But his father had to go on a stupid cruise for his stupid honeymoon with stupid Bethany. So he was stuck staying with his aunt Lucinda, who was not stupid but so smart it was painful to be around her.
A) first person
B) second person
C) third person
C) third person
What is true for both short answer writing (Contructed Responses) AND essay writing? Mark all that apply.
A) Make sure you understand what the writing prompt is asking and answer only that question.
B) Cite specific details from the text (direct quotes or examples) to support your answer.
C) Anything from the text will work as support, as long as you put it word for word in quotation marks
A) Make sure you understand what the writing prompt is asking and answer only that question.
B) Cite specific details from the text (direct quotes or examples) to support your answer.
While reading a text and then writing the essay, which are NOT accurate or good suggestions? (Mark all that apply):
1. Your essay must include an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
2. Use the highlight tool and mark details/examples in the text as you read that you may want use as support for main points in your essay.
3. Use the Prewriting textbox to create a quick outline or list to organize your ideas before you write your essay.
4. If you type ideas in the Prewriting textbox, click the Save and Close button before closing it to type your essay, or your prewriting won't save.
5. Don't worry about proofreading because you won't have much time and your essay won't be scored on errors.
1. Your essay must include an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. (No-- the number of body paragraphs is not specified.)
5. Don't worry about proofreading because you won't have much time and your essay won't be scored on errors. (No again--remember essays get a Writing score AND a Grammar/Usage score.)
In the following passage, choose TWO words or phrases that provide context for the meaning of the word "indignation."
Alone he lay breathing rapidly..."Fine!" He repeated with husky indignation. "Fine way to cure a sick man! Fine!" Then after a silence he gave forth to whispering sounds of laughter, his expression all the while remaining sore and far from humor.
Remember, choose TWO:
A) husky
B) "Fine way to cure a sick man! Fine!"
C) sounds of laughter
D) remaining sore and far from humor
B) "Fine way to cure a sick man! Fine!"
D) remaining sore and far from humor
Match each example with the correct literary term below:
1. Cold Fire. The Living Dead. Bitter Sweet.
2. This is the best, most amazing day ever in the history of mankind!
3. Her hair looked like an abandoned bird's nest.
4. His harsh words were a punch to my gut.
5. The bitter gusts of wind, swirling heavy snowflakes and blinding white glare of the snowdrifts made walking outdoors undesirable.
A) simile
B) metaphor
C) Hyperbole
D) Imagery
E) Oxymoron
1. E) Oxymoron
2. C) Hyperbole
3. A) simile
4. B) metaphor
5. D) Imagery
What is the main idea of the passage?
Found in southwestern Asia near Israel and Jordan, the Dead Sea isn't a sea at all. It is a salty lake, and it is much saltier than the ocean. In fact, the Dead Sea is so salty that no animals or plants can live in it. When fish are carried from the Jordan River into the Dead Sea, they die immediately. Plants along the shores of the lake are scarce. Only plants that have adapted to very salty dirt can grow there. The Dead Sea certainly does live up to its name!
A) Any fish that enter the Red Sea are killed right away
B) The Dead Sea is too salty to support plant or animal life
C) The Dead Sea should be revitalized to help plants and animals flourish
B) The Dead Sea is too salty to support plant or animal life
What does the acronym R.A.C.E.S. stand for?
R =
A =
C =
E =
S =
*BONUS- When should you use this writing strategy?
R = Restate the question
A = Answer the question
C = Cite evidence from the text
E = Explain evidence (in your words)
S = Sum it up
* Use this strategy mainly for Contructed Responses (short answer writing)