Word Meaning & Tone
Which word has the MOST negative connotation?
A. confident
B. assertive
C. arrogant
D. determined
C. arrogant
Which sentence is free of errors?
A. The students finished early, they waited quietly.
B. The students finished early and they waited quietly.
C. The students finished early they waited quietly.
D. The students, finished early and waited quietly.
B. The students finished early and they waited quietly.
The central idea of a text is —
A. a minor detail
B. the author’s opinion
C. the main message developed throughout
D. the ending
C. the main message developed throughout
An informational text is primarily written to —
A. entertain
B. persuade
C. inform
D. narrate
C. inform
Text evidence is used to —
A. summarize
B. prove an idea
C. restate the question
D. give an opinion
B. prove an idea
Which word best fits the sentence?
The speaker’s tone was ___, suggesting she felt superior to her audience.
A. respectful
B. arrogant
C. uncertain
D. sympathetic
B. arrogant
Which sentence contains a comma splice?
A. The bell rang, and class ended.
B. The bell rang, class ended.
C. When the bell rang, class ended.
D. The bell rang. Class ended.
B. The bell rang, class ended.
When the city announced plans to renovate the old library, many residents were divided. Supporters argued that the building had become outdated and inaccessible, pointing to broken elevators and limited technology. Others worried that renovations would erase the library’s historical character, which had stood for nearly a century. Despite the disagreement, the city council emphasized that preserving the building’s original design while updating its interior would honor both progress and tradition.
Which detail from the passage BEST supports the idea that the city is trying to balance modernization with preservation?
A. The library has broken elevators and limited technology.
B. The library has stood for nearly a century.
C. Some residents are worried about losing historical character.
D. The city plans to preserve the original design while updating the interior.
D. The city plans to preserve the original design while updating the interior.
Which structure is used when an author explains causes and their results?
A. Compare/contrast
B. Chronological
C. Cause/effect
D. Problem/solution
C. Cause/effect
Which sentence expresses an opinion?
A. The article includes three examples.
B. The author uses statistics.
C. The argument is convincing.
D. The text was published in 2022.
C. The argument is convincing.
Which pair of words are closest in meaning?
A. cautious / reckless
B. reluctant / hesitant
C. satisfied / miserable
D. ordinary / remarkable
B. reluctant / hesitant
Which revision BEST improves clarity?
The experiment failed because the results were inaccurate.
A. The experiment failed.
B. The results were inaccurate.
C. The experiment failed due to inaccurate results.
D. Because the experiment failed, results were inaccurate.
C. The experiment failed due to inaccurate results.
If a character avoids responsibility and blames others, the reader can infer the character is —
A. confident
B. irresponsible
C. misunderstood
D. confused
B. irresponsible
Why would an author use headings and subheadings?
A. To increase difficulty
B. To organize complex information
C. To express opinion
D. To tell a story
B. To organize complex information
Marcus hesitated before raising his hand, glancing around the classroom as if searching for reassurance. When the teacher called on him, his voice was quiet at first, but he continued speaking even after stumbling over a few words. As he finished, he exhaled slowly and avoided eye contact, though several classmates nodded in agreement.
Which detail from the passage BEST supports the claim that Marcus shows determination?
A. Marcus glanced around the classroom before raising his hand.
B. His voice was quiet at first.
C. He continued speaking even after stumbling over a few words.
D. Several classmates nodded in agreement.
C. He continued speaking even after stumbling over a few words.
Which word choice MOST changes the tone of the sentence?
The principal spoke to the students about their behavior.
A. addressed
B. informed
C. reprimanded
D. reminded
C. reprimanded
Which sentence uses the MOST precise language?
A. The athlete did well in the race.
B. The athlete ran fast and won.
C. The athlete outpaced competitors to secure first place.
D. The athlete was very good at running.
C. The athlete outpaced competitors to secure first place.
Which question BEST helps analyze theme?
A. Where does the story take place?
B. Who is the main character?
C. What lesson does the story communicate?
D. How long is the text?
C. What lesson does the story communicate?
Which purpose BEST fits a persuasive article?
A. To explain how something works
B. To tell a fictional story
C. To convince the reader of a position
D. To describe a setting
C. To convince the reader of a position
Why is quoting or paraphrasing evidence important?
A. To make answers longer
B. To copy the text
C. To support claims with proof
D. To avoid thinking
C. To support claims with proof
Which revision creates a MORE formal tone?
The results were really bad and surprised everyone.
A. The results were bad and surprised everyone.
B. The results were extremely bad and surprised everyone.
C. The results were unexpected and disappointing.
D. The results shocked everyone a lot.
C. The results were unexpected and disappointing.
Which revision BEST eliminates redundancy?
The reason the project failed was because of poor planning.
A. The project failed because of poor planning.
B. The reason the project failed was poor planning.
C. The project failed due to the reason of poor planning.
D. Poor planning caused the reason the project failed.
A. The project failed because of poor planning.
Why might an author use symbolism?
A. To shorten the text
B. To replace characters
C. To represent deeper ideas
D. To add confusion
C. To represent deeper ideas
Which technique would MOST strengthen a persuasive argument?
A. Personal anecdotes only
B. Emotional language without evidence
C. Logical reasons supported by evidence
D. Repetition of opinions
C. Logical reasons supported by evidence
Which is the STRONGEST evidence for the claim?
The character values responsibility.
A. The character wants to succeed.
B. The character completes tasks even when no one is watching.
C. The character feels stressed.
D. The character talks about success.
B. The character completes tasks even when no one is watching.