Vocabulary
Decide whether each sentence correctly or incorrectly uses the underlined concept vocabulary word.
An old song on the radio transported the woman to her teenage years.
Correct
May be long or short
Line lengths
In “Ode to My Papi,” what does the speaker do with the dollar bill her father gives her every Friday?
She brought books to read.
“Ode to My Papi,” lines 19–24: Discuss what has happened in the speaker’s life since she was young.
Those books transported me. Since then,
______________________________________
I’ve traveled a long road, negotiated borders,
been recognized and awarded
gold medallions, plaques, and certificates
because those strong hands provided,
nurtured, made me feel loved, adored.
(Responses will vary)
What happened in the speakers life when she was young is ...
What season are we currently in?
SPRING
The sound of seagulls ________ Amaya to a warm day at the beach.
Transported
May be just one line or many lines
Stanza
In “Ode to My Papi,” what can you infer about the father from the speaker’s description of his “weathered hands”?
You can infer that her father is a hard worker/a provider.
(Answers may vary)
“Mother to Son,” lines 2–13: Discuss the nature of the life the speaker has lived.
____________________________________________
Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I’se been a-climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light.
(Responses will vary)
I’m full of holes but still have weight,
I melt when warm and taste just great.
On pizza or crackers, I’m a star
What am I?
Cheese 🧀
The bike stopped suddenly after hitting a rock, and I __________ over the handlebars.
Catapulted
Including use of "white" (empty) space
Spacing
In “Mother to Son,” what lesson does the mother want her son to learn?
(Answers may vary)
“To James,” lines 29–51: Discuss the attitude toward life the speaker hopes to have inspired in James.
_________________________________
Live
As I have taught you
To run, Boy—
It’s a short dash
Dig your starting holes
Deep and firm
Lurch out of them
Into the straightaway
With all the power
That is in you
Look straight ahead
To the finish line
Think only of the goal
Run straight
Run high
Run hard
Save nothing
And finish
With an ecstatic burst
That carries you
Hurtling
Through the tape
To victory. . . .
Life is a race: You must focus and persist to win. Don't give up.
This city, located in western Arabia, was a major trade and religious center in 600 CE and later became the birthplace of Islam.
Mecca?
He got off the roller coaster and ________ unsteadily towards his friends.
Lurched
May be unconventional
Punctuation and capitalization
How has the speaker in "Mother to Son" responded to her life experiences?
With a determination to keep going.
Which statement best describes the speaker in “To James”?
a. family member who has taught James how to race
b. friend James’s age who competes with James in races
c. friend who knows less than James does about running races
d. family member who wishes that he could race against James
a. family member who has taught James how to race
I choose to stay positive and work hard today
Decide whether each sentence correctly or incorrectly uses the underlined concept vocabulary word.
The grateful dancer lurched across the stage.
Incorrect
Bold and other text formatting
Italic
What advice does the speaker offer in "To James"?
Life is a race: You must focus and persist to win.
The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B.
Part A In “Mother to Son,” what is the mother’s greatest fear for her son?
a. She fears that he will never have an easy life.
b. She fears that hardships will make him give up.
c. She fears that he might become injured or killed.
d. She fears that lack of knowledge will hold him back.
Part B: Which quotation from “Mother to Son” best supports the answer to Part A?
a. And sometimes goin’ in the dark / Where there ain’t been no light. (lines 12–13)
b. Don’t you set down on the steps / ’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard. (lines 15–16)
c. For I’se still goin’, honey, / I’se still climbin’. . . (lines 18–19)
d. And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. (line 20)
Part A:
b. She fears that hardships will make him give up.
Part B:
b. Don’t you set down on the steps / ’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard. (lines 15–16)
What date do we begin SBAC testing?
(Day, month, year and time frame test will be given.
Example: Friday February 13th 2026 from 1:00-2:00am)
** Must get everything correct to get the points **
Tuesday April 13th 2026 from 9:00-10:12 am