Vocab
People with Parkinson's Disease often suffer from tremors, or uncontrollable shaking. The invention of an eating utensil designed to give tremor sufferers some help during mealtimes has been a tremendous BOON for Parkinson's patients.
What is the meaning of BOON?
A. Aid or Benefit
B. Honor or Award
C. Surprise or Unexpected event
D. Reward
The root “cred” means to believe. The suffix “-ible” means able to be.
What does credible mean?
A. Able to be believed
B. Hard to understand
C. Easy to explain
D. Impossible to trust
Marcus practiced the piano every day, even when he felt frustrated and wanted to quit. After months of effort, he finally performed confidently at the school recital...
What is the theme of the passage?
A. Music is difficult to learn
B. Hard work and persistence lead to improvement
C. School performances are stressful
D. Practicing every day is boring
“The classroom was a zoo during the substitute teacher’s lesson.”
What type of figurative language is used?
A. Simile
B. Metaphor
C. Personification
D. Hyperbole
During the first few weeks of the semester, Emma rarely spoke during class discussions. Over time, as she listened carefully to her classmates and gained confidence in her ideas, she began contributing thoughtful comments that shaped the conversations.
What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Class discussions are important in school
B. Listening to others can help people gain confidence to participate
C. Students are often quiet at the beginning of the semester
D. Teachers expect students to participate
The abandoned house looked DILAPIDATED. Its windows were broken, the paint was peeling, and parts of the roof had collapsed.
What does the word dilapidated most nearly mean?
A. New and shiny
B. In poor condition
C. Very colorful
D. Extremely large
The prefix “bene-” means good or well. The root “volent” relates to wishing.
What does benevolent most nearly mean?
A. Wishing harm to others
B. Kind and well-meaning
C. Ignoring others
D. Feeling confused
For years, Daniel avoided applying for leadership positions because he believed others were more qualified. When his supervisor encouraged him to apply for a promotion, Daniel reluctantly did so and discovered he was capable of far more than he had believed.
What theme is best expressed in the passage?
A. Promotions are difficult to earn
B. Self-doubt can prevent people from reaching their potential
C. Supervisors should encourage employees
D. Leadership requires experience
“She ran as fast as lightning to catch the bus.”
What type of figurative language is used?
A. Simile
B. Metaphor
C. Alliteration
D. Personification
Historically, many inventions were created to solve immediate practical problems rather than to achieve scientific breakthroughs. Yet these solutions often led to innovations that transformed entire industries and influenced society in unexpected ways.
What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Most inventions are accidental
B. Scientific breakthroughs rarely matter
C. Practical problem-solving can lead to major innovations
D. Industries depend on scientists
The scientist remained SKEPTICAL of the results. She wanted to repeat the experiment because she was not yet convinced the findings were accurate.
What does the word skeptical most nearly mean?
A. Doubtful
B. Excited
C. Certain
D. Confused
The root “anthrop” means human, and the suffix “-ology” means the study of...
What is anthropology the study of?
A. Ancient languages
B. Human societies and cultures
C. The structure of governments
D. The development of technology
After inheriting his grandfather’s watch, Leo initially viewed it as an old and outdated object. Years later, after learning about his grandfather’s life and sacrifices, the watch became one of Leo’s most valued possessions.
What theme is best expressed in the passage?
A. Expensive objects are valuable
B. Family traditions are always important
C. Understanding the past can deepen appreciation in the present
D. Old objects should be preserved
“The wind whispered through the trees late at night.”
What type of figurative language is used?
A. Hyperbole
B. Simile
C. Personification
D. Metaphor
Although social media allows individuals to connect instantly across the globe, researchers warn that excessive use may contribute to feelings of loneliness and decreased face-to-face interaction. As a result, many experts recommend balancing online communication with real-world relationships.
What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Social media has both advantages and potential negative effects on social interaction
B. Social media should be banned
C. People communicate less than they did in the past
D. Technology has improved communication
The teacher praised Olivia for her METICULOUS work. Every detail of the project was neat, accurate, and carefully checked.
What does the word meticulous most nearly mean?
A. Careless
B. Very careful and precise
C. Quick and rushed
D. Confusing
The prefix “hyper-” means over or excessive, and the root “tension” relates to pressure.
What does hypertension most nearly refer to?
A. Low blood pressure
B. Normal body pressure
C. Excessively high pressure
D. Temporary pressure
The town resisted building a new library because residents feared change. However, once the library opened, it quickly became a central gathering place for learning and community events.
What theme is best expressed in the passage?
A. Change can bring unexpected benefits
B. Libraries are important for education
C. Towns often disagree on decisions
D. Community spaces are necessary
“The moon was a silver coin hanging in the night sky.”
What type of figurative language is used?
A. Simile
B. Metaphor
C. Hyperbole
D. Onomatopoeia
In recent years, universities have increasingly adopted online learning platforms. While some critics argue that virtual courses reduce meaningful interaction, others point out that online education expands access for students who might otherwise be unable to attend traditional classes due to cost, location, or work obligations.
What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Online courses are less effective than traditional classes
B. Universities should stop offering online learning
C. Online education has both criticisms and benefits, particularly regarding accessibility
D. Technology is changing how universities operate
The professor’s ERUDITE lecture referenced ancient philosophers, modern scholars, and obscure historical texts that few students had ever heard of.
What does erudite most nearly mean?
A. Boring
B. Highly knowledgeable
C. Easy to follow
D. Loud and dramatic
The prefix “retro-” means backward, and the root “spect” means to look
What does retrospective most nearly mean?
A. Looking forward to the future
B. Looking back on past events
C. Looking carefully at details
D. Looking around a location
Nina spent years trying to meet everyone else’s expectations—her parents’, her teachers’, and her friends’. Only when she began pursuing her own interests did she feel truly fulfilled.
What theme is best expressed in the passage?
A. Following others leads to success
B. Personal fulfillment comes from pursuing one’s own path
C. Expectations motivate people
D. Friends influence decisions
“His backpack weighed a ton after carrying all those textbooks.”
What type of figurative language is used?
A. Metaphor
B. Simile
C. Hyperbole
D. Personification
While artificial intelligence can analyze enormous amounts of data faster than humans, it still depends heavily on the quality of the data it receives. When algorithms are trained using biased or incomplete information, their decisions can unintentionally reproduce those same biases.
What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Artificial intelligence is unreliable
B. Data quality strongly influences the accuracy and fairness of AI systems
C. Humans are better decision-makers than machines
D. Algorithms are too complicated to understand