Inference & Evidence
+700 Points
Read:
Caleb folded the letter slowly, pressing the creases with care. He placed it back in the envelope, hesitated, then tucked it into a drawer instead of mailing it.
Part A: What can be inferred about Caleb?
A. He forgot to send the letter
B. He is unsure about sending the letter
C. He is excited to share the letter
D. He plans to rewrite the letter
Part B: Which detail BEST supports the answer to Part A?
A. “folded the letter slowly”
B. “pressed the creases with care”
C. “hesitated”
D. “tucked it into a drawer”
B. He is unsure about sending the letter
C. “hesitated”
Read:
Liam avoids practicing the piano, but after disappointing his team, he begins practicing daily and improves over time.
Part A: What is the theme?
A. Talent matters more than effort
B. Responsibility leads to growth
C. Practice is unnecessary
D. Failure should be avoided
Part B: Which detail BEST develops this theme?
A. Liam avoids practice
B. Liam disappoints his team
C. Liam begins practicing daily
D. Liam plays the piano
B. Responsibility leads to growth
C. Liam begins practicing daily
Read:
I watched the storm roll in, feeling both excitement and fear.
Part A: What is the point of view?
A. First person
B. Third person limited
C. Second person
D. Third person objective
Part B: How does this POV affect the reader?
A. It limits understanding to one perspective
B. It shows all characters’ thoughts
C. It removes emotion
D. It focuses on facts only
A. First person
A. It limits understanding to one perspective
Read:
First, the mixture is heated. Next, it changes color. Finally, it cools and solidifies.
Part A: What structure is used?
A. Sequence
B. Cause/effect
C. Compare/contrast
D. Problem/solution
Part B: What is the purpose of this structure?
A. To explain steps in order
B. To compare ideas
C. To persuade
D. To entertain
A. Sequence
A. To explain steps in order
+300 Points
Read:
The city was a jungle, full of danger and noise.
Part A: What figurative language is used?
A. Simile
B. Metaphor
C. Personification
D. Hyperbole
Part B: What does this suggest about the city?
A. It is calm
B. It is wild and chaotic
C. It is empty
D. It is natural
B. Metaphor
B. It is wild and chaotic
Read:
The classroom buzzed with excitement as students compared answers. Maya sat quietly, staring at her paper, her pencil unmoving.
Part A: What can be inferred about Maya?
A. She has already finished her work confidently
B. She may be unsure about her answers
C. She is distracted by other students
D. She is waiting for instructions
Part B: Which TWO details BEST support this inference?
A. “buzzed with excitement”
B. “sat quietly”
C. “staring at her paper”
D. “pencil unmoving”
B. She may be unsure about her answers
C. “staring at her paper”
D. “pencil unmoving”
SPINNER
Read:
The article explains how bees pollinate plants, support food production, and maintain ecosystems.
Part A: What is the central idea?
A. Bees are dangerous
B. Bees play a vital role in ecosystems
C. Plants grow quickly
D. Food is important
Part B: How does the author develop this idea?
A. By telling a story
B. By providing multiple supporting facts and examples
C. By describing one event
D. By comparing two animals
B. Bees play a vital role in ecosystems
B. By providing multiple supporting facts and examples
Read:
Jenna thought the trip was exciting, but her brother considered it exhausting.
Part A: What does this reveal?
A. A single viewpoint
B. Multiple perspectives
C. No opinions
D. Only facts
Part B: Why is this important?
A. It creates conflict and deeper understanding
B. It removes tension
C. It simplifies the story
D. It limits detail
B. Multiple perspectives
A. It creates conflict and deeper understanding
+700 Points
Read:
Because the river flooded, homes were damaged and families had to evacuate.
Part A: What structure is used?
A. Sequence
B. Cause/effect
C. Description
D. Compare/contrast
Part B: What is the effect of this structure?
A. It shows relationships between events
B. It lists details
C. It entertains
D. It compares ideas
B. Cause/effect
A. It shows relationships between events
SPINNER
Read:
The author describes the wind as “whispering secrets through the trees.”
Part A: What figurative language is used?
A. Simile
B. Idiom
C. Personification
D. Hyperbole
Part B: What is the effect of this language?
A. It creates a vivid and imaginative image
B. It gives factual information
C. It explains a process
D. It compares two objects directly
C. Personification
A. It creates a vivid and imaginative image
+300 Points
Read:
“Go ahead,” Mr. Jensen said with a smile, though his raised eyebrows and folded arms suggested otherwise.
Part A: What is the BEST inference about Mr. Jensen’s true feelings?
A. He fully agrees
B. He is confused
C. He may not actually approve
D. He is uninterested
Part B: How does the author create this inference?
A. By using only dialogue
B. By contrasting dialogue with body language
C. By describing the setting
D. By explaining directly
C. He may not actually approve
B. By contrasting dialogue with body language
+500 Points
Read:
Throughout the story, Ana refuses to forgive her friend, but eventually realizes that holding onto anger harms her more than the situation itself.
Part A: What is the theme?
A. Forgiveness benefits the individual
B. Anger is always justified
C. Friends are unimportant
D. Mistakes cannot be fixed
Part B: How does the author MOST effectively develop this theme?
A. Through repeated internal conflict and resolution
B. Through setting descriptions
C. Through minor characters only
D. Through a single conversation
A. Forgiveness benefits the individual
A. Through repeated internal conflict and resolution
STEAL 600 POINTS
Read:
The narrator describes only what can be seen and heard, without revealing thoughts or feelings.
Part A: What type of narration is this?
A. First person
B. Third person limited
C. Third person objective
D. Second person
Part B: How does this affect the story?
A. It increases emotional depth
B. It limits insight into characters’ thoughts
C. It shows all perspectives
D. It focuses on opinions
C. Third person objective
B. It limits insight into characters’ thoughts
+500 Points
Read:
The author presents two solutions to a problem, comparing their advantages and disadvantages.
Part A: What structure is used?
A. Sequence
B. Compare/contrast
C. Cause/effect
D. Description
Part B: Why is this structure effective?
A. It helps readers evaluate options
B. It tells a story
C. It lists events
D. It explains causes
B. Compare/contrast
A. It helps readers evaluate options
Read:
The word “charge” is used to describe a soldier rushing forward and also a fee for a service.
Part A: What type of word is this?
A. Synonym
B. Antonym
C. Homograph
D. Prefix
Part B: Why is understanding this important?
A. It helps determine meaning based on context
B. It explains spelling
C. It identifies parts of speech only
D. It removes confusion
C. Homograph
A. It helps determine meaning based on context
+SPINNER
Read:
The trophy sat untouched on the shelf, gathering dust. Once proudly displayed, it now blended into the background of the room.
Part A: What can be inferred about the character connected to the trophy?
A. They have recently won it
B. They still value it highly
C. It no longer holds the same importance
D. It was never meaningful
Part B: Which explanation BEST supports how the author conveys this idea?
A. Through direct explanation
B. Through symbolism and descriptive details
C. Through dialogue
D. Through chronological events
C. It no longer holds the same importance
B. Through symbolism and descriptive details
STEAL 400 POINTS
Read:
The author introduces pollution, explains its long-term environmental impact, and concludes with actions individuals can take.
Part A: How does the central idea develop?
A. From description to unrelated facts
B. From problem to consequences to solutions
C. From opinion to story
D. From comparison to sequence
Part B: Why is this structure effective?
A. It entertains the reader
B. It helps readers understand both the issue and possible solutions
C. It limits information
D. It focuses only on causes
B. From problem to consequences to solutions
B. It helps readers understand both the issue and possible solutions
Read:
Primary: A firsthand journal entry describing a historical event
Secondary: An article summarizing the same event
Part A: How do the perspectives differ?
A. Both are equally emotional
B. The journal is more personal, the article more objective
C. The article is more emotional
D. Both are fictional
Part B: How does this difference impact the reader?
A. It provides both emotional insight and factual understanding
B. It confuses the reader
C. It removes information
D. It limits understanding
B. The journal is more personal, the article more objective
A. It provides both emotional insight and factual understanding
+700 Points
Read:
The author introduces a problem, explains its causes, and proposes a solution supported by evidence.
Part A: What structure is used?
A. Problem/solution
B. Sequence
C. Description
D. Compare/contrast
Part B: How does this structure support the author’s purpose?
A. It persuades by presenting a logical solution
B. It entertains
C. It limits information
D. It focuses only on details
A. Problem/solution
A. It persuades by presenting a logical solution
SPINNER
Read:
The prefix “pre-” means “before.” The word “preview” appears in the text.
Part A: What does “preview” MOST likely mean?
A. To view after
B. To view before
C. To view again
D. To view quickly
Part B: Which strategy is being used?
A. Context clues
B. Root word analysis
C. Affix knowledge
D. Comparison
B. To view before
C. Affix knowledge
STEAL 500 POINTS
Read:
Nora laughed along with the others, but her voice was quieter, her smile slower to fade. When the room emptied, she lingered behind, tracing circles on the table with her finger.
Part A: What is the MOST complex inference about Nora?
A. She is happy to be included
B. She feels disconnected despite appearing engaged
C. She is tired
D. She is planning something
Part B: Which TWO details BEST support this inference?
A. “laughed along”
B. “voice was quieter”
C. “smile slower to fade”
D. “tracing circles”
B. She feels disconnected despite appearing engaged
B. “voice was quieter”
C. “smile slower to fade”
Read:
A character repeatedly sacrifices personal gain to help others, even when unnoticed.
Part A: What is the MOST sophisticated theme?
A. Helping others is easy
B. True kindness is selfless and does not require recognition
C. Rewards are important
D. Sacrifice leads to loss
Part B: Which explanation BEST describes how the theme develops?
A. Through one major event
B. Through repeated actions that reinforce the message over time
C. Through dialogue only
D. Through setting changes
B. True kindness is selfless and does not require recognition
B. Through repeated actions that reinforce the message over time
Read:
Told in first person, the narrator misunderstands events, while readers notice clues that suggest a different truth.
Part A: What effect does this create?
A. Complete clarity
B. Predictability
C. Lack of conflict
D. Dramatic Irony
Part B: Why does this occur?
A. The narrator knows everything
B. The narrator’s perspective is limited or unreliable
C. The setting is unclear
D. The author explains everything
D. Dramatic irony
B. The narrator’s perspective is limited or unreliable
SPINNER
Read:
The author states a claim, acknowledges a counterargument, and then refutes it using evidence.
Part A: What technique is the author using?
A. Narrative storytelling
B. Argumentative structure with counterclaim
C. Description
D. Sequence
Part B: What is the effect of including a counterargument?
A. It weakens the argument
B. It strengthens credibility and persuasiveness
C. It confuses readers
D. It removes evidence
B. Argumentative structure with counterclaim
B. It strengthens credibility and persuasiveness
Read:
“Time is a thief,” the author writes, explaining how quickly moments disappear.
Part A: What figurative language is used?
A. Simile
B. Idiom
C. Personification
D. Hyperbole
Part B: How does this language contribute to meaning?
A. It emphasizes how time takes moments away quickly
B. It describes an actual thief
C. It explains time scientifically
D. It compares using “like”
B. Idiom
A. It emphasizes how time takes moments away quickly