Vocabulary
Ms. Carlson thought her explanations were clear and concise, but everyone else found them to be unfathomable.
Which best described unfathomable?
A. hard to understand
B. easy to laugh at
C. hard to believe
D. easy to listen to
A. hard to understand
She was as brave as a lion.
simile
“What's your name?" Cherry asked. "Ponyboy Curtis." I replied. "That's an original and lovely name,” She said.
"My dad was an original person," I said. "I've got a brother named Sodapop, and it even says so on his birth certificate.”
What does this conversation reveal to the reader?
A. Ponyboy wishes he had another name.
B. Ponyboy is proud of the original names in his family.
C. Cherry thinks Ponyboy and Sodapop have funny names.
D. Ponyboy is unable to locate his own birth certificate.
B. Ponyboy is proud of the original names in his family.
Which sentence BEST supports the idea that playing a sport requires a lot of personal sacrifice?
A. Making a team sport requires plenty of skill.
B. Players must be willing to practice on a daily basis.
C. Some teams require a nominal fee to play.
D. Being a part of a team is a rewarding experience.
B. Players must be willing to practice on a daily basis.
Which sentence is more formal?
A. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes in front of the sun, casting a shadow on the earth
B. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves in front of the sun and leaves a shadow on the earth
A. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes in front of the sun, casting a shadow on the earth
We are depleting the Earth's oil supplies - soon there will be none left at all.
Depleting likely means...
Using up
On the volleyball team, Vicky was viewed as very valuable.
Alliteration
How does an author build suspense in a story?
A. by hinting at an exciting event to come
B. by providing a solution to a problem
C. by locating the story in another country
D. by providing dynamic characters
A. by hinting at an exciting event to come
Which idea about animal shelters would be the BEST to highlight in an advertisement?
A. A large fee may be charged for adopting an animal.
B. Shelters often have a variety of dog breeds available.
C. Background information about a pet may not be available.
D. Cats and dogs often require a series of medical injections.
B. Shelters often have a variety of dog breeds available.
A Florida Program has found that the threat of legal penalties can reduce teen smoking up to 40%. In Florida counties where underage smoking laws are strictly enforced and penalties include being fined or losing a driver’s license, students were far less likely to smoke than were students in lower-enforcement areas.
-Excerpt from InTime magazine, 2011
From this article, we can infer that:
A. School anti-smoking programs reduce smoking
B. Parent involvement reduces teen smoking
C. Paying fines and getting tickets reduces teen smoking
D. High attendance at school reduces teen smoking
C. Paying fines and getting tickets reduces teen smoking
No matter where you go, the internet will follow you. Almost every portable device has some type of internet connection - even TVs and appliances can sometimes connect to the internet. The internet is truly ubiquitous.
Ubiquitous likely means...
everywhere
He is older than the hills.
Hyperbole
Which triggers the rising action in a story?
A. When the characters and setting are revealed.
B. When the solution to the problem is evident.
C. When the problem of the story is introduced.
D. When the lesson of the story is revealed.
C. When the problem of the story is introduced.
Which sentence expresses an opinion?
A. Plumeria trees are tropical and need warm weather in order to survive.
B. Plumeria trees can grow up to 20 feet tall.
C. Plumeria flowers come in red, white or yellow.
D. Plumeria trees will make any garden look better.
D. Plumeria trees will make any garden look better.
King Henry VIII of England had a desperate concern: he lacked male heirs. His wife, Catherine, had borne six children, but only their daughter Mary survived. Doctors said Catherine couldn't have more children, and Henry wanted to find a new wife who could give him a son. However, under the rules of the Catholic Church, Henry couldn't divorce Catherine. Henry asked the Pope to annul, or declare invalid, their marriage so that he could remarry, but the Pope refused. So the king came up with a a creative—and somewhat ruthless—way out. He formed his own church, the Church of England, and the 1534 Act of Supremacy declared Henry the head of this new church. The Archbishop of Canterbury, whom Henry appointed, annulled the royal marriage and freed Henry to wed a new queen, Anne Boleyn.
Which structure is used?
A. compare-contrast
B. problem-solution
C. cause-effect
D. chronological order
B. problem-solution
Tonya was reading a book when her father walked in looking perturbed and sounding annoyed.
What word gives you a clue about the meaning of perturbed?
annoyed
The camera loves me!
The look of pain and sorrow on Ella’s face didn’t stop me. I told her what I thought despite her small gasp and the tears that were waiting to fall. It was something that had to be said.
The narrator’s actions BEST demonstrate her –
A. determination to make her friend feel better.
B. persistence to say what she wants despite the feelings of others.
C. ability to remain positive despite the circumstances.
D. indecision on whether or not to hurt Ella’s feelings.
B. persistence to say what she wants despite the feelings of others.
The committee put forth a motion to restrict recycling to only glass and plastic.
Which dictionary definition BEST matches the word “motion” in this sentence?
A. The action or process of moving or being moved.
B. A formal proposal presented to a legislature or agency.
C. To direct or command someone with a movement of the hand or head.
D. A type of transformation involving various mathematical studies.
B. A formal proposal presented to a legislature or agency.
Yodeling is a vocal technique once used by shepherds in the Swiss Alps. To yodel, you first have to find your normal, or "chest," voice, and your high, or "head," voice. Yodeling involves switching between these two ranges of sound, or registers, and finding the break between them. To begin, make an "ah" sound and move your voice from low to high, listening for the break. Try to keep your voice relaxed, but don't allow the notes to flow smoothly. Unlike other styles of singing, yodeling requires you to emphasize the break between notes.
What is the purpose of this text?
A. explain history of yodeling
B. teach people how to yodel
C. help people develop an appreciation for yodeling
D. to convince readers to try yodeling
B. teach people how to yodel
A fire broke out at the construction site, and smoke and dust shrouded the area. The fire trucks screamed down the street, and neighbors came out to watch as they extinguished the blaze.
Shrouded likely means...
covered
Throw caution to the wind!
Idiom
“Suddenly, the silence became more oppressive. An SS officer had come in and, with him, the smell of the Angel of Death. We stared at his starch military uniform.”
What does the figurative language in this excerpt BEST convey?
A. fear
B. silence
C. smell
D. anger
A. fear
Living Free features a boy named Mark who learns about courage, independence, and the need for companionship while attempting to live in a forested area of New York state.
First person point of view allows the author to –
A. emphasize the struggles Mark faces in the mountain.
B. show the thoughts of Mark’s family about his trip.
C. highlight the difference between the country and the city.
D. share Mark’s thoughts and feelings about his adventure.
D. share Mark’s thoughts and feelings about his adventure.
Which logical fallacy is used in the text?
Everyone I know is making fruit smoothies for quick, portable meals, so smoothies must be really good for you.
Red herring: using an unrelated topic or idea
Band wagon: an assumption that the popular choice is automatically correct
Ad hominem: a personal attack against an opponent
False causation: the assumption that because two things happened, one caused the other
Band wagon: an assumption that the popular choice is automatically correct