Inquiry/Literary Devices
A student is planning a research report on apes for his science class and has taken some notes from reliable sources. Read the student’s notes.
- communicates with others by using hand signals
- uses twigs as tools to get insects out of small holes in trees or the ground - puts a stick into water to measure its depth before walking across
The student wants to organize the notes correctly. Under which heading should the student place the notes?
A. Fearless Animals
B. Intelligent Animals
C. Playful Animals
D. Careful Animals
B. Intelligent Animals
Read the paragraph about printer ink.
Printer ink is the most expensive liquid most people will ever buy. An ink cartridge for a home printer usually contains only a few ounces of black ink. The cost of a typical ink cartridge could be as high as forty dollars, about half the cost of an average printer. With the exception of luxury items such as fancy perfumes ordinary black ink is by far the most expensive liquid people purchase.
Which is the correct way to use commas to punctuate the last sentence of the paragraph?
A. With the exception, of luxury items such as fancy perfumes, ordinary black ink is by far the most expensive liquid people purchase.
B. With the exception of luxury items such as fancy perfumes ordinary, black ink, is by far the most expensive liquid people purchase.
C. With the exception of luxury items such as fancy perfumes, ordinary black ink is by far the most expensive liquid people purchase.
D. With the exception of luxury items such as fancy perfumes ordinary black ink is by far, the most expensive liquid people purchase.
C. With the exception of luxury items such as fancy perfumes, ordinary black ink is by far the most expensive liquid people purchase.
“Flat worms have no real defense mechanisms to protect them from predators, but can be cut into as many as 32 pieces, and each piece may from a new worm….An event that could be fatal is turned into an awesome act of procreation.” –Aleya Brown “Animal Regeneration”
What does "procreation" mean here?
a. Survival
b. Physiology
c. Hope
d. Reproduction
d. reproduction
The sun smiled upon us
and we baked beneath it.
She turned her gaze our way,
while we sweltered beneath her rays.
Which element of personification in this poem could be changed to create a negative tone rather than a positive one?
a. Change “she turned her gaze our way” to “she turned her eyes away” to create a more positive tone.
b. Change “while we sweltered beneath her rays” to “while we burned beneath her rays” to create a neutral tone.
c. Change “The sun smiled upon us” to “The sun looked at us with disdain” to create a negative tone.
d. Change “We baked beneath it” to “we burned beneath it” to create a negative tone.
d. Change “The sun smiled upon us” to “The sun looked at us with disdain” to create a negative tone.
"Prospective students were told they would not be able to participate in extracurricular activities if they transferred to central-- such as football, basketball, or choir. Many of their parents were threatened with losing their jobs, and some students decided to stay at their own schools."
How do these sentence help develop the key concept of the paragraph?
a. They describe how unwilling the parents were to send their children to this school.
b. They describe the daily routine of African-American students who were already attending Central high school.
c. They describe how officials tried to calm parents of African-American students at Central High School.
D. They describe efforts to discourage African-American students from wanting to attend Central High School.
A student learned that the famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright believed in creating homes and buildings that conveyed cultural values of the United States. The student wants to research more about Frank Lloyd Wright and will write a report about the architect for the art teacher.
Which research question would lead the student to a deeper understanding of Frank Lloyd Wright’s beliefs?
A. How old was Frank Lloyd Wright when he began studying architecture?
B.How much time did it take for an average Frank Lloyd Wright structure to be built?
C. What are Frank Lloyd Wright’s most famous structures?
D. What techniques did Frank Lloyd Wright use to communicate ideas in his designs?
D. What techniques did Frank Lloyd Wright use to communicate ideas in his designs?
A student is writing a letter to the school principal. Read the draft of the letter and complete the task that follows.
Dear Principal Wells,
In order to relieve problems related to homework at Harkins Middle School, I propose the school schedule be extended by one hour. The extra time could be devoted solely to students completing class assignments and teachers assisting those who need help with homework. With an additional hour, students could focus on getting tasks done without the distractions that are common outside of school like television, siblings, and chores. Sometimes teachers run out of time in class to present material in new ways. The added hour could be used to give students the extra support necessary to master the concepts being taught. This change in schedule would solve almost all issues related to incomplete and missing student assignments. Even though people enjoy getting out of school to do fun activities like sports, music, or club meetings, those events can happen an hour later.
Sincerely,
Joseph Grant
Which sentence provides the best conclusion to the paragraph?
A. Both the teachers and students know that completing assignments and developing life skills are important.
B. The sacrifice of an added hour would help the school and the students achieve their learning goals.
C. After-school activities occurring later would be fine, especially since students would have little to no homework in the evening.
D. If additional time were added to the school day, teachers might need to make adjustments to their after-school schedules as well.
B. The sacrifice of an added hour would help the school and the students achieve their learning goals.
Read the following sentence and use context clues to determine the meaning of the word "immunity."
Though all the other children had a cold,, the flue, or both, Robert had developed an immunity to these illnesses and his day was unaffected.
A. the ability to get sick
B. the ability to stay healthy
C. the ability to make medicine
D. the ability to get other people sick
B. the ability to stay healthy
Here in a quiet and dusty room they lie,
Faded as crumbled stone or shifting sand,
Forlorn as ashes, shrivelled, scentless, dry -
Meadows and gardens running through my hand.
What is the connotation of the meadows and gardens metaphor?
a. The metaphor is neutral and just completes the poem, but does not add meaning to it.
b. The metaphor is positive and contrasts with the descriptions in the first lines of the poem.
c. The metaphor is frightening and creates negative connotations for the reader in line with the gothic horror genre.
d. The metaphor is negative and reveals confusion about the author’s feelings towards gardening.
B. The metaphor is positive and contrasts with the descriptions in the first lines of the poem.
What two details best support that during 1957, the time of the Little Rock nine, African-American students were discouraged from attending Central High School?
a. “Prospective students were told”
b. “Would not be able to participate”
c. “Such as football, basketball, or choir”
d. “Many of their parents were threatened”
e. “Stay at their own schools”
B. “Would not be able to participate”
D. “Many of their parents were threatened”
There are two parts to this question: Do Part A first and then do Part B.
Review the passage.
My mom sighs. "We can't do this without you. Being around kids is good for Natalie." . . .
My mom is like a one-woman commando unit. She could win land battles, air battles, water battles, outer space battles too, probably. I wonder if there would be time to get Natalie and then get back to school in time to play ball with the guys. It would be embarrassing to have her there, but at least I could play.
Part A: What is the simile?
a. She could win land battles.
b. My mom is like a one-woman commando unit.
c. It would be embarrassing to have her there.
d. She could win land battles.
Part B. What is the effect of the simile on the passage's meaning or tone?
a. It suggests that the narrator's mother is persuasive.
b. It suggests that the narrator's mother is lonely.
c. It suggests that the narrator is fearful of his/her mother.
d. It suggests that narrator's mother is hilarious.
Part A: B. My mom is like a one-woman commando unit.
Part B. B. It suggests that the narrator's mother is persuasive.
A student is writing a report on Mt. Rushmore. Read part of the report. Many people know of the famous faces that are carved on Mt. Rushmore, in the Black Hills of Keystone, South Dakota, but some have never heard the reasons why the four faces were chosen. George Washington was chosen to be on Mt. Rushmore because he is the father of our country. He led the colonists when they fought for their independence from Great Britain in the American Revolution. George Washington needed to be on Mt. Rushmore because he represents the birth of America. Thomas Jefferson was the main author of the Declaration of Independence. He also greatly increased the size of America through the purchase of the Louisiana Territory. The image of Jefferson represents the expanding nation. Theodore Roosevelt represents the development and economic growth that America was experiencing in the early twentieth century. Roosevelt helped to link the east and the west by playing a key role in the development of the Panama Canal. Abraham Lincoln represents the United States being preserved after a terrible civil war. Lincoln abolished slavery and believed it was his job to preserve the nation. Which sentence provides the best concluding statement for the information in the report?
A. The faces of four great presidents are on Mt. Rushmore, each chosen to represent a different time in America’s history.
B. Only the most famous presidents were considered when trying to decide whose faces were to be carved onto Mt. Rushmore.
C. Abraham Lincoln is the most memorable face on Mt. Rushmore because he kept our nation together.
D. Another great president’s face may someday be carved onto Mt. Rushmore.
A. The faces of four great presidents are on Mt. Rushmore, each chosen to represent a different time in America’s history.
Even though they tried to explain to her what upset Grandpa Will so, Hannah had never quite forgiven him. It took two days of hard scrubbing, before the pen marks were gone. She still occasionally dreamed of his distorted face and guttural screams.
Based on the text, guttural most closely means:
a. Surrounding or engulfing.
b. A harsh, grating quality to a voice.
c. To suffer from a severe illness
d. Spoken in a monotone voice.
b. a harsh, granting quality to a voice
"The lighthouse,
like a great, formidable giant it stands,
facing the brink of war and waves
helping travelers safe to land."
Which statement about this stanza is correct?
a. This stanza contains a metaphor that compares the lighthouse to a giant in a time of war.
b. This stanza personifies the lighthouse, lending it human qualities in which to win a war.
c. This stanza has no figurative language, but uses descriptive language to describe the power of a lighthouse.
d. This stanza contains a simile that compares the lighthouse to a formidable giant that faces adversity to keep travelers safe.
d. This stanza contains a simile that compares the lighthouse to a formidable giant that faces adversity to keep travelers safe.
When schools reopened, Carlotta Walls and Jefferson Thomas returned to Central and graduated in 1960. Thelma Mothershed received her diploma from Central High School by taking correspondence courses to complete her studies.The rest of the Little Rock Nine completed their high school educations at different schools. The Little Rock Nine have received numerous accolades and awards including the congressional gold medal.
What is the key concept of this paragraph?
The Little Rock Nine students all found success in completing their educations and ended up receiving awards for enduring what they did.
A student is writing a report about successful businesses. The student found two reliable sources. Read the sources and complete the task that follows.
Source 1: In 1908, Henry Ford created the famous Model T automobile. The car became somewhat popular, but Ford wanted it to reach a wider range of customers. He developed an assembly line process for producing his Model T automobile in 1913. By having different workers install specific parts as the vehicle moved slowly along a line, the cost and time needed to build the car was reduced. This made the Model T even more affordable, and, therefore, many more people bought the Ford car.
Source 2: McDonald’s is one of the most successful businesses in the world. Something the restaurant is known for is its speed of service. When the first McDonald’s opened in Southern California in the 1940s, it aimed to be a place for regular people to eat instead of most restaurants of the time that only wealthy people could afford. McDonald’s installed a large grill and used spatulas that could flip multiple burgers at a time. Customers could get a large order of burgers and fries quickly because of the restaurant’s “Speedee Service System.” When Ray Kroc took over the McDonald’s company and spread the eatery across the country, he continued to focus on making good food fast.
Which question would help the student broaden the focus of additional research?
A. Why did businesses like Ford and McDonald’s have an impact on American society?
B. How many total businesses have been able to expand to other parts of the world?
C. What would cause a person to support a business like Ford or McDonald’s?
D. When was the best time in history for someone to start a successful business?
A. Why did businesses like Ford and McDonald’s have an impact on American society?
Read the paragraph. Our local park is taken care of by groups of volunteers. Each month, the park has its trash picked up by a different group of volunteers. Every group of volunteers must take a training class before being allowed to clean the park. Most volunteers have a pleasant experience.
How could the paragraph be rewritten using only the active voice?
A. Groups of volunteers take care of our local park. A different group of volunteers picks up the park’s trash each month. A training class must be taken by every group of volunteers before being allowed to clean the park. Most volunteers have a pleasant experience.
B. Our local park is taken care of by groups of volunteers. Each month, the park has its trash picked up by a different group volunteers. Every group of volunteers must take a training class before being allowed to clean the park. A pleasant experience is had by most volunteers.
C. Our local park is taken care of by groups of volunteers. Each month, the park has its trash picked up by a different group volunteers. A training class must be taken by every group of volunteers before being allowed to clean the park. A pleasant experience is had by most volunteers.
D. Groups of volunteers take care of our local park. A different group of volunteers picks up the park’s trash each month. Taking the training class will allow the volunteers to clean the park. Most volunteers have a pleasant experience.
D. Groups of volunteers take care of our local park. A different group of volunteers picks up the park’s trash each month. Taking the training class will allow the volunteers to clean the park. Most volunteers have a pleasant experience.
"An eventful day for my mother might have involved a trip to the dry cleaner or a conversation with the potato-chip deliveryman. Asked one ordinary Congo afternoon what she’d done with her day, Hugh’s mother answered the she and fellow member of the Ladies’ Club had visited a leper colony on the Outskirts of Kinshasa. No reason was given for the expedition, though chances are she was staking it out for a future field trip.”
---”Remembering My Childhood on the Continent of Africa by David Sedaris
Based on your knowledge of context clues, what is the best definition for the word expedition?
a.A long, detailed analysis of a single subject in written form.
b. A safari or wild game hunt.
c.A presentation or exhibit through school.
d. A journey or voyage made for a specific purpose such as exploration
d. A journey or voyage made for a specific purpose such as exploration
“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -
And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -
I’ve heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.
-Emily Dickinson
What metaphor is used here to support the overall central idea of the poem?
Hope is compared to a bird that sings all the time. This supports the overall theme of the poem that there is always hope.
“History may remember Edith Wilson as the United State’s first female president, but what it fails to mention is the elaborate deception she orchestrated.” –from “White House Deception” by Jose Gonzales
What is the author’s point of view regarding Edith Wilson, and how does that point of view contribute to the tone of the text?
The author thinks Wilson should not be honored by history for her deception, and this point of view contributes to the tone by using words or phrases like “deception” and “fails to mention.” It is clear that Gonzales does not respect Wilson, which is evident in the tone he uses.
Answer questions 1 and 2.
(1)Read the source of the allusion.
George Orwell's novel 1984 focuses on a totalitarian society in which the citizens are frequently reminded that their leader, Big Brother, is always watching.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
The headline read: "Smart Phones Becoming Big Brother."
a. a threatening power that monitors all aspects of people's lives
b. a nuisance that distracts people from important tasks
(2) Read the source of the allusion.
In the fable "The Fox and the Grapes," a fox tries unsuccessfully to reach a bunch of grapes. Because he cannot reach them and therefore cannot eat them, he tells himself that they must be sour.
What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?
Kevin's remark about your new car is clearly a case of sour grapes.
a. disliking something that you find unpleasant
b. criticizing something because you can't have it
(1) a. a threatening power that monitors all aspects of people's lives
(2) b. criticizing something because you can't have it
Compare the student text with the source.
Source:
Sarah Fecht, "Lockheed Martin Wants to Send Humans to Mars in 12 Years." Published in Popular Science, 2016:
But after the moon it's still a very long way to Mars, filled with unknowns, and then once you get to Mars, landing is a whole new challenge.
Student text:
NASA faces many challenges as it considers sending astronauts on the long journey to Mars. As Fecht points out, "once you get to Mars, landing is a whole new challenge."
Is the student text plagiarized?
No, it is not plagiarized.
What is the difference in the connotation between the words "trip" and "expedition" in the following sentences?
An eventful day for Mrs. Perry might include a trip to the dry cleaner or a quick jaunt to the grocery store to buy baked beans for dinner.
The expedition was arduous, but exciting. I’d always wanted too see Mount Everest, and the weight of the importance of this once in a lifetime pilgrimage pressed upon my chest as I looked up at the majesty of the mountains.
a. trip: ordinary :: expedition: exotic
b. trip: train :: expedition: plane
c.trip: land :: expedition: sea
d. trip: dull :: expedition: heavy
A.trip: ordinary :: expedition: exotic
A Hercules in athletic endeavors,
a brainiac at Spanish,
foreign languages do not elude him,
his intellect makes me want to vanish.
Abraham Lincoln in debate class,
it's true, he can do no wrong,
although sometimes I fade into the background,
he tries to make me feel like I belong.
What is the historical allusion made in this poem?
The reference to Abraham Lincoln is the historical allusion. Hercules would be a mythological/literary allusion.
There is a belief in the environmental movement that saving the planet means preventing or reversing the effects that humans have on the natural world. If you don't completely accept this ideal, you are obviously not a good environmentalist at all. While this all or nothing attitude might achieve some victories for the planet, it ultimately undermines the goals of the environmental movement.
What is the conflicting viewpoint and how does the author respond?
The conflicting viewpoint is that people who are all-or-nothing environmentalists actually harm the environmentalist movement. This conflicts with people believing that everyone must help reverse the effects humans have on the natural world. The author responds in one sentence by explaining that while this might be slightly effective for the environment, it hurts the overall goals of the environmental movement.