MCAS I
What is the central idea of this excerpt?
Athletes of the past and present have played a huge role in giving young people a voice and inspiring them to take action. Rock the Vote is teaming up with those in the sports world to empower and inspire a new generation.
A. Athletes can help inspire young people to vote.
B. The importance of playing a sport.
C. Rock the Vote inspires young people to vote for athletes who want to run for office.
D. The connection between rock music and playing sports.
What is (A) Athletes can help inspire young people to vote?
What is emphasized with the personification in this excerpt?
“I have to get this done,” Carissa thought to herself as she pounded away at the keyboard. “This computer throws a fit every time I try to use it. I need to finish the report before noon.”
A. How much Carissa has to get done.
B. The trouble Carissa is having with the computer.
C. How much time Carissa has left to finish the report.
What is (B) The trouble Carissa is having with the computer?
This word is used to describe someone or something that will not last forever.
What is mortal?
The loud _________ of the crowded stadium made it hard to hear the coach’s instructions.
What is din?
This is ZJ's passion.
What is music?
This mortal hero performed 12 Labors before dying and entering Mt. Olympus, where he was made immortal.
Who is Hercules?
Integrate the information from this excerpt. What is the main argument?
Most parents will agree that sports are good for children. In fact, many parents encourage their children to play certain sports. But recent studies have shown that young athletes who specialize in one sport and train intensively, have a significantly higher risk of stress fractures and other severe overuse injuries. It was found that young athletes who spend more hours per week than their age playing one sport – such as a 12-year-old who plays tennis 13 or more hours a week – were 70 percent more likely to get serious overuse injuries of the back, shoulder or elbow, than other injuries.
A. Playing sports is harmful to your health.
B. Playing only one sport for too long a period of time may cause injuries.
C. Children under the age of 12 should not play sports.
D. Back and shoulder injuries are more common than other injuries.
What is (B) Playing only one sport for too long a period of time may cause injuries?
What is emphasized with the hyperbole in this excerpt?
“Mom, I can’t find my jeans!” yelled Mica.
“Did you check the laundry room?” asked mother.
“No. I’m running late,” replied Mica.
“I’ve told you a million times to check the laundry room first if you are missing any clothes,” said mother.
“I’m still late,” said Mica.
A. Mica wants his mother to check the laundry room for him.
B. How late Mica is running for his appointment.
C. How often Mica’s mother has told him to check the laundry room.
What is (C) How often Mica’s mother has told him to check the laundry room?
This word describes an amiable person.
What is jovial?
Unlike the weak flashlight, the lighthouse’s beam was incredibly _________.
What is luminous?
This is the name for the computer problem in 1999 that some people thought would end the word.
What is Y2K?
This is the year America celebrated its first centennial of its declaration of independence from England.
What is 1876?
What can be inferred in this excerpt?
What obstacles should I avoid when planting my orange tree? Patios will not be a problem because the soil beneath them is usually dry and compacted. Therefore, the roots will not grow into this area as much. You might not expect sewer and water lines to be a problem since they are buried deeply. But, since sewer and water lines tend to be wet, this may cause a problem. Cement walls shouldn’t cause too much trouble.
A. Orange trees are more difficult to plant than lemon trees.
B. The soil beneath patios is dryer than beneath cement walls.
C. Tree roots are naturally drawn toward water.
D. Orange trees do not require much water to grow properly.
What is (C) Tree roots are naturally drawn toward water?
Which word from this excerpt has negative connotations?
“Who is Janice?” asked Kim.
“She is a promising student,” said Mrs. Jones.
“How about Tanya?” inquired Kim.
“I’ve heard she is corrupt,” replied Mrs. Jones.
“What about Krista?” asked Kim.
“She seems quite poised,” said Mrs. Jones.
A. Promising
B. Corrupt
C. Poised
D. Inquired
What is (B) Corrupt?
This word describes a person's face.
What is visage?
Although Carlos __________ his mother to let him attend the party, she resolutely refused.
What is implored?
This is ZJ's dad's jersey number.
What is 44?
This historical event caused widespread destruction in Europe between 1939 and 1945.
What is World War II?
Which is the BEST summary of this excerpt?
We’ve all had that spark of inspiration where we’ve wanted to do something that will outlast our physical form. Then we share the idea with friends, family and work colleagues and get told to quit while we’re ahead. I’m telling you not to quit. I’m telling you that you are capable of making worldwide change. I began blogging in 2014 and thought it was only going to be a side hobby that was a bit of fun. Fast forward to now and I’m reaching millions of people a month and inspiring people to live a better life and help others along the way. If I can do it, you can too.
A. People should blog about their personal feelings.
B. Ordinary people can make a difference in the world.
C. People who try to stop you from doing something are usually jealous.
D. Everyone needs to commit themselves to a long-term project.
What is (B) Ordinary people can make a difference in the world?
What is the tone of this excerpt?
The snow fell softly all the night
And slowly all the world went white.
So softly did the snowflakes fall
I slept and heard them not at all.
A. Serious
B. Regretful
C. Indignant
D. Gentle
What is (D) Gentle?
This word would be used to describe a strongly held belief.
What is conviction?
Before his invention of the lightbulb, Thomas Edison made several _________ about how electricity could be used for lighting.
What is conjectures?
This is the last friend to join ZJ and his friends. They went from Tripods to Fantastic Four.
Who is Daniel?
This is the number of Canadian provinces.
What is 10?
Based on this passage, this is the most likely theme.
Samantha wanted a new cell phone. She worked all summer at the local Dairy Queen. She wasn’t able to attend parties, movies, or beach trips because she worked so many hours. By September 1st she had enough money to purchase the phone. When she got it home, she realized it wasn’t much different than the one she had.
A. Work hard to achieve goals in life.
B. People should never work summer jobs.
C. Attaining a goal can lead to disappointment.
D. A young girl works all summer for a phone.
What is (C) Attaining a goal can lead to disappointment?
Which sentence BEST supports the idea that reading is beneficial?
A. Some children begin reading at the age of four.
B. If you’re good at reading, you will perform better with your other subjects.
C. At the ninth grade level, students will spend approximately two hours per night on their reading homework. D. If a parent likes to read, their children will often enjoy it as well.
What is (B) If you’re good at reading, you will perform better with your other subjects?
An antonym for this word is humble.
What is imperious?
Neil Armstrong’s first step on the moon gave him a(n) _________ about how vast and quiet space truly is.
What is epiphany?
This is Ollie's mother's name (she is friends with ZJ's mother).
Who is Bernadette?
As an acronym, bae stands for this.
What is before anyone else?
Which sentence needs to be omitted because it is unnecessary and doesn’t help support the claim?
(1) There are several reasons why eliminating bed bugs is so difficult. (2) These tiny bugs multiply quickly, and they can go long periods of time without their preferred meal: human blood. (3) Bed bugs are hardy, small, flat, lentil-sized insects that are adept at squeezing themselves into tiny spaces. (4) They are commonly found hiding behind loose wallpaper or under floorboards or electrical switch plates. (5) Other insects may be easier to exterminate than bed bugs. (6) To successfully eliminate an infestation, you have to find and kill every viable bed bug, which is not an easy task.
What is (5) Other insects may be easier to exterminate than bed bugs?
Which figurative language device can be found in this excerpt?
Sue decided not to take the job at the bank. It was a bad decision. She didn’t realize that a good opportunity was knocking at her door.
A. Simile
B. Metaphor
C. Personification D. Onomatopoeia
What is (C) Personification?
This word would be used to describe something very ordinary.
What is pedestrian?
The mayor’s _________ attitude made people feel like he thought he was more important than them.
What is imperious?
This is ZJ's FULL name.
What is Zachariah Johnson, Jr.?
This letter represents 50 in Roman numerals.
What is L?
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.
What is (B) persistence to say what she wants despite the feelings of others?
Which is the BEST word to describe the tone of this excerpt?
The way I look at it, someone needs to start doing something about diseases. What's the big deal? People are dying. But the average person doesn't think twice about it until it affects them. Or someone they know.
A. Formal
B. Critical
C. Hopeless
D. Enthusiastic
What is (B) Critical?
An antonym for this word is simple.
What is convoluted?
Wanting to _________ his friend, Joel pointed out his friend's low test score on the math test.
What is abash?
This is the name of the town ZJ and his family live in?
What is Maplewood?
This was the age of King Tut when he became ruler of Egypt.
What is 9?