Author's Purpose
You just finished reading a magazine article that included some alarming statistics about pollution and how people are damaging the planet with everyday decisions that they make. The article also includes some suggestions for how you can help improve the Earth's situation for future generations.
The author's primary purpose for writing this article is most likely:
A. to inform readers about pollution.
B. to inform readers about the Earth.
C. to persuade readers to change certain habits that will help the Earth.
D. to persuade readers not to pollute the Earth by littering.
C. to persuade readers to change certain habits that will help the Earth.
Table tennis, also called Ping-Pong, is a well known game played on a flat table that is divided into two equal courts by a net placed directly in the middle. The object of the game is to hit the ball so that it goes over the net and bounces on the opponent’s half of the table in such a way that the opponent cannot reach it or return it correctly. Table tennis is played with a lightweight hollow ball that is propelled back and forth across the net by small paddles held by the players. The game is popular all over the world. In most countries it is a competitive sport, especially in Europe and Asia.
What is the text mainly about?
A. The history of table tennis
B. The challenges of playing table tennis
C. A brief summary of table tennis
D. The different names table tennis has around the world
C. A brief summary of table tennis
After several English explorations of North America, a permanent settlement was attempted by Queen Elizabeth in 1587. Over 100 settlers departed England to build a new colony. The colony was built on the coast of North Carolina. John White was the leader of the colonists, as he had previous experience in the area. The colonists attempted to build relationships with the local Native Americans that lived nearby, but the relationship was arduous because of some difficult experiences in the past. After some challenging months, John White went back to England for more supplies for the settlement.
What does arduous mean?
a. easy
b. difficult
c. expensive
d. long
b. difficult
"Doubting, dreaming
dreams no mortal ever
dared to dream before."
-"The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe
What type of figurative language is used?
alliteration
What type of figurative language does the phrase "wind wanders" represent?
alliteration
Are you between the ages of 7-12? If so, you should be getting between 10-11 hours of sleep each night. Studies have found that kids who get enough sleep at night are more alert for learning, are less likely to get sick, and simply feel better. So, go to bed early tonight!
The author’s primary purpose for the above statements is most likely:
A. to inform readers about the benefits of getting the right amount of sleep each night.
B. to persuade readers to get the right amount of sleep each night.
C. to persuade readers to understand sleep studies.
D. to explain to readers how to stay healthy by getting enough sleep.
B. to persuade readers to get the right amount of sleep each night.
In certain parts of the world, especially in the USA, table tennis is commonly referred to as Ping-Pong. The term Ping-Pong is actually a registered trademark that is owned by the company that produces a brand of equipment called Ping-Pong which is used to play the sport of table tennis. The name has remained popular by media and players who often use it when referring to the sport of table tennis. So although many people use the names Ping-Pong and table tennis interchangeably, Ping-Pong remains a trademark and brand of equipment, while the official name of the sport is table tennis.
What is the central idea of the passage?
A. Table tennis and Ping-Pong are two different sports.
B. A popular sports company owns the game of table tennis.
C. It’s easy to understand the difference between table tennis and Ping-Pong.
D. Using the term Ping-Pong is technically illegal.
C. It’s easy to understand the difference between table tennis and Ping-Pong.
When he returned three years later, John White was baffled to find the colony completely abandoned without any real evidence to show why they left. Among the missing colonists were White’s daughter and granddaughter. Some of the buildings had been taken down, which led White to believe that they had not necessarily left quickly. John White had told the settlers to carve a certain symbol if they were in peril and they had not done so, which led White to believe that they left willingly. The word CROATOAN was carved into a board causing White to believe that the settlers had possibly moved to nearby Croatoan Island.
What does peril mean?
a. hunger
b. danger
c. sickness
d. town
b. danger
"At that time Bogota was a remote, lugubrious city where an insomniac rain had been falling since the beginning of the 16th century."
-Living to Tell the Tale by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
What type of figurative language is used?
hyperbole
New Rain
The wind wanders;
the rain shears through
infant leaves, each
drop a new river
along their green veins.
The rivers collect
into drops at
each leaf's edge,
a tiny new ocean.
Oceans collect into
oceans below, puddles
that will dry with
spring sun
and spring heat reborn
from winter's frost.
What do the lines "Oceans collect into/oceans below" mean?
A. Each drop of rain falls into larger puddles under the tree.
B. The tree is growing into an ocean.
C. The water is flowing from a bay into the ocean.
D. The speaker compares a cloud to an ocean.
A. Each drop of rain falls into larger puddles under the tree.
You have just read a chapter in your science book about the benefits of good nutrition. You learned that eating the right foods and the right amounts of food helps people control their weight and reduce their risk of other health problems, like heart disease and diabetes.
The author's primary purpose for writing this chapter is most likely:
A. to give information about good nutrition.
B. to give information about heart disease and diabetes.
C. to persuade readers to change their eating habits.
D. to persuade readers to get tested for health problems.
A. to give information about good nutrition.
Have you ever heard of a beet? A beet is a root vegetable that grows as a round bulb with a leafy top poking out above the soil. The most common garden beet is a deep ruby red color. Beets are known for containing a lot of vitamins and nutrients that are very good for your body. They are most often used in soups and salads and the root can be made into beet juice which is popular to use in smoothies. Beets are best described as having an earthy flavor with a surprising amount of sweetness for a vegetable. When cleaned and cooked properly, beets can be a colorful addition to any meal.
What is the text mainly about?
A. Different types of Beets
B. Useful information about beets
C. How to properly prepare and cook beets
D. The types of vitamins and minerals found in beets
B. Useful information about beets
John White’s return to England for more supplies was plagued by difficulties. White had set sail close to winter, which made it difficult for him to find a ship that would take him back to the colony. Additionally, England was at war with the Spanish and many available ships were being used to fight. At one point, John White tried to return with supplies, but the ship he was on attempted to steal cargo from Spanish ships. The supplies intended for the colonists were seized after the attempt failed. Three years after he initially arrived in England, White was finally able to return to the colony with supplies.
What does seized mean?
a. frozen
b. sunk
c. taken
d. angered
c. taken
"Our words are but crumbs that fall down from the feast of the mind."
-Sand and Foam by Khalil Gibran
metaphor
New Rain
The wind wanders;
the rain shears through
infant leaves, each
drop a new river
along their green veins.
The rivers collect
into drops at
each leaf's edge,
a tiny new ocean.
Oceans collect into
oceans below, puddles
that will dry with
spring sun
and spring heat reborn
from winter's frost.
What do the lines "spring heat reborn/from winter's frost" mean?
A. Winter is coming and the leaves are dying.
B. Frost insulates the leaves and keeps them warm.
C. It's getting warmer now that the season is changing to spring.
D. Summer heat is drying the leaf.
C. It's getting warmer now that the season is changing to spring.
While waiting in the lunch line, you see a poster that shows a dinner plate with chicken, rice, and vegetables on it, and a glass of milk just above the plate. The poster’s headline reads “A Balanced Meal”, and there is a line coming from each food item that states the food group it belongs to and a healthy serving size for one meal.
The author's primary purpose for making this poster is most likely:
A. to entertain readers while they are waiting in the lunch line.
B. to describe a balanced meal.
C. to inform readers of foods that should be eaten every day.
D. to inform readers what makes up a balanced meal.
D. to inform readers what makes up a balanced meal.
Many people take one look at the color and shape of a beet and decide they don’t like it, but did you know that cooking a beet is actually pretty simple? There are 3 easy options for cooking a beet: boil, steam, or roast. Boiling a beet softens the vegetable by submerging it in hot water and cooking until tender. Steaming a beet involves heating water in a closed pot until it creates a vapor. The high pressure and temperature allows the beet to cook easily without using much water. Roasting a beet involves wrapping the beet in a foil pouch and cooking in the oven. Try adding beets to your next meal.
What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Boiling, steaming, and roasting are easy options for cooking beets.
B. The color and shape of a beet shouldn’t keep you from eating it.
C. Beets have a high nutritional value and multiple health benefits.
D. Beets should be prepared in a kitchen.
A. Boiling, steaming, and roasting are easy options for cooking beets.
White deduced that the colonists had moved to Croatoan Island because of the carving left behind. The word CRO had also been carved into a tree. White attempted to search for the colonists, but was unable to because of the weather. Shortly after, White was forced to return to England with the ship. John White was never able to return to search for the colonists, which included his daughter and granddaughter. He passed away without ever knowing the fate of the colony that he helped establish.
What does deduced mean?
a. betrayed
b. explained
c. assumed
d. learned
c. assumed
"Because I could not stop for Death -
He kindly stopped for me-
The carriage held but just ourselves-
And Immortality."
-"Because I could not stop for Death" by Emily Dickinson
personification
New Rain
The wind wanders;
the rain shears through
infant leaves, each
drop a new river
along their green veins.
The rivers collect
into drops at
each leaf's edge,
a tiny new ocean.
Oceans collect into
oceans below, puddles
that will dry with
spring sun
and spring heat reborn
from winter's frost.
Which word does NOT use the prefix re in the same way as the word reborn.
A. Restate
B. Read
C. Review
D. React
B. Read
You have just read a story about two friends – one who makes good food choices, and one who makes poor food choices. The boy who makes good food choices is healthy and full of energy, while the boy who makes poor food choices feels tired most of the time, but just can’t figure out why he has so little energy. By the end of the story, the healthy boy convinces his friend to make better food choices. The story ends with this question: “What food choices are YOU going to make today?”
The author's primary purpose for writing this story is most likely:
A. to inform readers how good food choices relate to good health.
B. to explain how to be healthy.
C. to persuade readers to make good food choices.
D. to persuade readers to make friends with people who make good food choices.
C. to persuade readers to make good food choices.
Did you know that bears are one of the most dominant predators in the wild? They are big, strong, and fast. Grizzly bears possess a biting force strong enough to crush a bowling ball or an iron skillet! They can run up to 40 mph, which is faster than the speed limit on many roads. Polar bears, the largest of all bear species, can weight between 900-1500 pounds and grow 6-10 feet long. Bears are also one of the most intelligent land animals in North America. They have the largest and most complex brains in comparison to other land mammals their size and they rely on that brain for survival.
What is the text mainly about?
A. Howbearsliveinthewild
B. Tips for surviving a bear attack
C. How to identify different types of bears
D. What qualities make bears powerful hunters
D. What qualities make bears powerful hunters
Years later, officials finally decided to try to determine the fate of the colonists. The search did not turn up any answers and the fate of the colony, now known as the Lost Colony, remains a mystery to this day. Although there is no evidence that definitively shows what happened to the colony, there are some theories. One theory suggests that the colonists made an attempt to return to England on their own. Evidence shows that there was a drought at the time and the colonists may have been desperate enough to attempt the dangerous voyage. Other theories suggest that the colonists went to local Native American tribes. Some experts suggest that the Native Americans did not welcome them, while others believe that the colonists were absorbed by a friendly tribe. More recent research has turned up new evidence and a few researchers believe they have solved the mystery.
What does definitively mean?
a. hurriedly
b. convincingly
c. questionably
d. unclearly
b. convincingly
"Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells
From the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells -
From the jingling and tinkling of the bells."
-"The Bells" by Edgar Allan Poe
onomatopoeia
New Rain
The wind wanders;
the rain shears through
infant leaves, each
drop a new river
along their green veins.
The rivers collect
into drops at
each leaf's edge,
a tiny new ocean.
Oceans collect into
oceans below, puddles
that will dry with
spring sun
and spring heat reborn
from winter's frost.
Is the poem rhymed of free verse?
Free verse