Definitions
Comprehensive
Sentence: She wrote a comprehensive report that covered every aspect of the topic.
Definition: Complete and including all or nearly all parts.
Identify the type of sentence:
Although it was raining, we decided to go hiking.
Answer: Complex sentence
Waist / Waste
Waist: The middle part of the body.
Waste: To use carelessly or something that is thrown away.
Question (Theme):
In a story where two enemies learn to work together and become friends, what is a possible theme?
Answer:
A possible theme is that cooperation and understanding can overcome differences.
Question:
What is the purpose of a heading in a nonfiction text?
Answer:
A heading tells the reader what the section is about and helps organize information.
Inevitable
Sentence: After hours of dark clouds gathering, rain seemed inevitable.
Definition: Certain to happen; unavoidable.
She quickly finished her homework.
What part of speech is the word quickly?
Answer: Adverb
Peace / Piece
Peace: Calm or freedom from conflict.
Piece: A part of something.
Question (Conflict):
A girl wants to fit in at her new school but feels pressured to change who she is. What type of conflict is this?
Answer:
Character vs. self, because she is struggling with her own thoughts and feelings.
Question:
A passage explains that pollution in the river caused fish to die and made people sick. What text structure is being used?
Answer:
Cause and effect, because it shows why something happened (pollution) and what resulted (dead fish, sickness).
Justify
Sentence: The student tried to justify being late by explaining that the bus had broken down.
Definition: To show or prove that something is reasonable or right.
Choose the correct verb form:
Neither the teacher nor the students ___ ready for the assembly.
A) was
B) were
Answer: B) were
Brake / Break
Brake: A device used to stop a vehicle.
Break: To separate into pieces or to pause from something.
Question (Setting):
If a story takes place during a harsh winter storm, how might the setting affect the characters?
Answer:
The setting may create danger and tension. Characters might struggle to survive, stay warm, or find shelter.
Question:
A biography describes a scientist’s life from childhood, to college, to their major discoveries. What text structure is being used?
Answer:
Sequence or chronological order, because it presents events in the order they happened.
Deteriorate
Sentence: Without proper care, the old house began to deteriorate quickly.
Definition: To become worse in condition or quality.
Correct the sentence:
Their going to the game tonight.
Answer: They’re going to the game tonight.
To / Too / Two
To: A preposition showing direction or purpose.
Too: Also; more than enough.
Two: The number 2.
Question:
Early in a story, a character says, “I have a bad feeling about this.” What literary device is this an example of?
Answer:
Foreshadowing, because it hints that something negative may happen later.
Question:
Why would an author include a graph or chart in a nonfiction article?
Answer:
Graphs and charts visually display data, making it easier for readers to understand patterns, trends, or comparisons.
Meticulous
Sentence: Jordan was meticulous when building his model volcano, making sure every detail was perfect.
Definition: Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.
Choose the correct punctuation:
James asked Can you help me with this problem
Answer: James asked, “Can you help me with this problem?”
Their / There / They’re
Their: Belonging to them.
There: A place or position.
They’re: Contraction of “they are.”
Question:
In a story, the protagonist discovers a hidden letter that changes everything they thought about their best friend. Is this event the climax or the turning point, and why?
Answer:
It is the turning point, because it shifts the direction of the story and sets up the climax but is not the story’s most intense moment.
What text structure is this?
Basketball became popular because it is simple and exciting to play. When James Naismith invented the game in 1891, schools quickly adopted it as a safe indoor sport. Because it only requires a ball and a hoop, many communities could afford to play. Later, the creation of the National Basketball Association increased media attention, which inspired more people to watch and participate. As a result, basketball grew into a worldwide sport.
Cause and Effect