Testing Tricks and Tips
True or False: You do not need to read a text completely. You can just skim for answers to questions.
False
Read the sentence:
For my research paper, I studied the giant sculptures on exibit at the museum.
Which change would correct a spelling mistake in the sentence?
A. Change research to reserch.
B. Change giant to giante.
C. Change sculptures to sculpters.
D. Change exibit to exhibit
D. Change exibit to exhibit
What does TDA stand for?
Text Dependent Analysis
Read the text:
Text:
Jordan stared at the worn-out basketball in his hands. He had spent hours practicing layups on the cracked court behind his apartment. Today was the day of tryouts, and his stomach felt like it was doing flips. As he walked toward the gym, he reminded himself, “You’ve practiced every day. You’ve got this.”
What motivates Jordan to try out for the basketball team?
A. He wants to show his new basketball off to his friends.
B. He has practiced regularly and believes in his preparation.
C. He feels pressured by his family to succeed in sports.
D. He hopes to avoid schoolwork by joining a team.
B. He has practiced regularly and believes in his preparation.
You are reading a nonfiction article that explains the ways in which volcanoes and earthquakes are alike and different. What is the text structure?
A. Chronological
B. Problem and Solution
C. Compare and Contrast
D. Cause and Effect
C. Compare and Contrast
What can you use to eliminate answers you know are wrong?
The cross off tool
Read the sentence.
Darcy her homework by the time dinner is ready. Which phrase should fill in the blank to correctly complete the sentence?
A. will finished
B. had finished
C. has finished
D. will have finished
D. will have finished
How many paragraphs should a strong TDA have?
4-5 paragraphs
Bonus: Name each paragraph. (100 pts)
Read the text.
The emperor penguin lives in one of the harshest environments on Earth: Antarctica. During the brutal winter months, temperatures can drop below -60°F. Yet these birds survive through extraordinary adaptations. They huddle together in large groups, rotating positions so each penguin gets a turn at the warmer center. This social behavior helps them conserve heat and survive long periods without food.
What does the phrase “extraordinary adaptations” suggest about emperor penguins?
A. Their features are similar to other birds.
B. They have basic survival techniques.
C. They have unique traits that help them live in extreme cold.
D. They only survive by being fed by humans.
C. They have unique traits that help them live in extreme cold.
Read the sentence below:
"The student was meticulous when organizing her research notes, carefully labeling each section with color-coded tabs."
What does meticulous most likely mean?
A. Neat and careful
B. Quick but sloppy
C. Lazy and disorganized
D. Bored and annoyed
A. Neat and careful
Why should you review your answers if you have time at the end of the test?
To catch mistakes and fix anything you missed.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
A. Mr. Hidecki, and the others planned the strategy for the game.
B. Ginny it is very difficult to hear you, over the noise outside.
C. Barry collected the trash, from the table and threw it away.
D. You are probably right about the answer, Beth.
D. You are probably right about the answer, Beth.
Which acronym should you use for your body paragraphs?
TEA
Bonus: What does it stand for? (100 pts)
Read the text.
In 1843, a young inventor named Margaret Knight watched a machine malfunction at a textile mill. At just 12 years old, she designed a safer version using wooden parts. Years later, she would go on to invent a machine that could fold and glue flat-bottomed paper bags—an invention still used today. Despite facing discrimination as a woman in a male-dominated field, Knight secured over 20 patents in her lifetime.
How does the author develop the idea that Margaret Knight was a determined inventor?
A. By listing all of her inventions in detail
B. By describing how she overcame challenges and continued to invent
C. By explaining how machines worked in the 1800s
D. By comparing her to modern-day inventors
B. By describing how she overcame challenges and continued to invent
Which sentence correctly uses italics to indicate a title?
A. Robert Penn Warren won the Pulitzer Prize for his novel All the King’s Men.
B. The Dentist and the Crocodile is a funny, imaginative short poem written by Roald Dahl.
C. The Knight Versus the Dragon was my favorite chapter of the last book we read in class.
D. I wrote an article for my classroom newspaper titled Five Ways to Organize Your Backpack.
A. Robert Penn Warren won the Pulitzer Prize for his novel All the King’s Men.
Why should you highlight or underline details that seem important?
They might help answer a question or support a response.
Which underlined verb phrase is used correctly?
A. Jada has been starting her new job at the mall next week.
B. My little brother will be starting at a new school last month.
C. I have started to research the information for my book report yesterday.
D. Clark will have started decorating for the celebration by the time we get there.
D. Clark will have started decorating for the celebration by the time we get there.
What are the components of a strong introduction paragraph?
Hook, Context (title & gist), Thesis Statement
Bonus: Name the components of a strong conclusion paragraph. (100 pts)
Read the text.
The moon casts shadows across the street,
Whispers of silver on silent feet.
The world holds still in quiet hush,
A breathless moment, a nighttime hush.
Even the stars seem slow to shine,
As if they wait for a secret sign.
What does the imagery in the poem suggest about the setting?
A. The setting is noisy and full of action.
B. The poem takes place during a lively celebration.
C. The setting is cold and stormy.
D. The setting is a peaceful, still night.
D. The poem describes a peaceful, still night.
Which conjunction should fill in the blank to correctly complete the sentence?
Mom said that _________ my sister nor I had homework, so we could do something fun.
A. because
B. neither
C. since
D. whether
B. neither
What are some things you can use scratch paper for during the test?
The team with the most correct responses written in a minute will earn the points for this question.
gist of each paragraph or each text
the title of each text
evidence or reasoning for each multiple choice response
pre-reading squares for each text
notes about important parts of the text
Read the paragraph.
(1) A collection of poems are called an anthology. (2) A book editor, who works for a publishing company, decides which poems will be in the anthology. (3) Some anthologies have a specific theme, such as nature or sports. (4) Others contain a variety of poems about many topics.
Which underlined word should be changed to correct an error in subject-verb agreement?
A. are
B. decides
C. have
D. contain
A. are
What is the difference between evidence and analysis?
Evidence comes from the text and supports the topic sentence.
Analysis explains how or why the evidence supports your thesis.
Read both texts.
Text 1:
Coral reefs support an estimated 25% of all marine life, even though they occupy less than 1% of the ocean floor. These ecosystems rely on a delicate balance. Rising ocean temperatures and pollution have caused large sections of reefs to bleach and die off, threatening countless species that depend on them.
Text 2:
Scientists have begun experimenting with ways to restore damaged coral reefs. One method involves growing coral in underwater nurseries, then transplanting it to dying areas. Another approach uses 3D printing to create artificial reef structures where coral can regrow.
Which statement best summarizes a central idea shared by both passages?
A. Coral reefs can survive without any human help.
B. Coral reefs are no longer useful to marine animals.
C. Coral reefs face serious threats, but people are trying to help.
D. Scientists have given up on saving coral reefs.
C. Coral reefs face serious threats, but people are trying to help.
Which sentence BEST shows how to embed a quote in a TDA response?
A. I think this is true. "He ran from the monster."
B. “He ran from the monster.” That proves my point.
C. The author shows that the character is scared when he says, “He ran from the monster.”
D. The character ran. "He ran from the monster."
C. The author shows that the character is scared when he says, “He ran from the monster.”