Fiction/Informational
Revise & Edit
Drama/Poetry
Writing Conventions
Question Stems
100
What theme is best supported by the events in the passage?
A. Winning is more important than trying your best.
B. Practice always guarantees success.
C. Facing fears requires confidence and preparation.
D. Teamwork is necessary to achieve goals.
C. Facing fears requires confidence and preparation.
100
Which sentence in the fourth paragraph (sentences 16–23) contains redundant information and should be removed?
F Sentence 17
G Sentence 18
H Sentence 19
J Sentence 20
F. Sentence 17
100
Which theme is best supported by the poem?
A. Riding a bicycle is a difficult skill to learn.
B. Nature can sometimes make simple tasks harder.
C. Trying something new can feel scary at first but becomes easier with practice.
D. Children enjoy spending time outdoors with friends.
C. Trying something new can feel scary at first but becomes easier with practice.
100
Which sentence is written correctly?
A. My cousin moved to dallas, Texas last year.
B. My cousin moved to Dallas Texas, last year.
C. My cousin moved to Dallas, Texas, last year.
D. My Cousin moved to Dallas, Texas last year.
C. My cousin moved to Dallas, Texas, last year.
100
Read the question below.
Which sentence best summarizes the passage?
What is this question asking the reader to do?
A. Tell what the passage is mostly about
B. Identify one important detail
C. Explain the author’s purpose
D. Compare two ideas in the text
A. Tell what the passage is mostly about
200
How does the setting help develop the plot of the passage?
A. It shows that Lena prefers practicing alone rather than competing.
B. It creates pressure that increases the tension before Lena’s dive.
C. It explains why Lena decided to join the team.
D. It shows that Lena is unfamiliar with swimming competitions.
B. It creates pressure that increases the tension before Lena’s dive.
200
Which phrase would be more precise than the phrase exactly what in sentence 15?
A the complex device
B the natural tool
C the one thing
D the reasonable item
B. the natural tool
200
What does the phrase “The world grew steady underneath me” most likely mean?
A. The rider repaired the bicycle before continuing.
B. The rider began to feel more confident while riding.
C. The street became smoother as the rider moved forward.
D. The rider stopped moving and stood still.
B. The rider began to feel more confident while riding.
200
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
A. After the game we went out for pizza.
B. After the game, we went out for pizza.
C. After, the game we went out for pizza.
D. After the game we, went out for pizza.
B. After the game, we went out for pizza.
200
Read the question below.
What can the reader infer about Maya in paragraph 4?
Which word tells the reader that the answer may not be directly stated?
A. reader
B. paragraph
C. about
D. infer
D. infer
300
What is the controlling idea of the selection?
A. Sea turtles eat jellyfish in the ocean.
B. Plastic bags are the biggest threat to marine animals.
C. Sea turtles face the threat of extinction from trash and coastal development, but conservation groups and scientists are finding solutions to protect them.
D. Scientists study sea turtles to learn about ocean life.
C. Sea turtles face the threat of extinction from trash and coastal development, but conservation groups and scientists are finding solutions to protect them.
300
Gabby has used an inappropriate transition at the beginning of sentence 6. Which transition should replace In addition in this sentence?
A For instance
B First of all
C Therefore
D Meanwhile
B. First of all
300
Why does Jamal push the plate back toward Maria?
A. He realizes Maria is more upset than he expected.
B. He does not actually like pizza.
C. He is afraid someone else will take the slice.
D. He remembers he already ate earlier.
A. He realizes Maria is more upset than he expected.
300
Read the sentence.
Running quickly down the hallway.
What is the best way to revise this sentence?
A. Running quickly down the hallway to class.
B. Running quickly down the hallway, late again.
C. She was running quickly down the hallway.
D. Because she was running quickly down the hallway.
C. She was running quickly down the hallway.
300
Read the question below.
How does paragraph 6 contribute to the development of the central idea?
What should a student focus on to answer this question correctly?
A. Only paragraph 6
B. Paragraph 6 and how it connects to the central idea
C. The title of the passage
D. The first and last paragraph only
B. Paragraph 6 and how it connects to the central idea
400
The author organizes the information in the selection by —
A. comparing sea turtles to other marine animals in order to highlight their unique behaviors
B. describing several problems that affect sea turtles and then explaining efforts being made to solve those problems
C. listing events in the order they happened throughout the history of sea turtle populations
D. explaining the step-by-step process scientists use when studying sea turtles in the wild
B. describing several problems that affect sea turtles and then explaining efforts being made to solve those problems
400
What is the MOST effective way to revise sentence 22?
A For example, if their points were ground down, knives were only permitted so that they were safer.
B For example, knives were ground down only if permitted so that they were safer.
C For example, only if ground down, knives were permitted so their points were safer.
D For example, knives were permitted only if their points were ground down so that they were safer.
D. For example, knives were permitted only if their points were ground down so that they were safer.
400
How does the playwright indicate that Maria is determined to keep the pizza slice?
A. By including stage directions that show Maria quickly sliding the plate closer to herself
B. By having Jamal shrug during their conversation
C. By describing the kitchen as having only one slice of pizza
D. By showing that Jamal rushes into the room behind Maria
A. By including stage directions that show Maria quickly sliding the plate closer to herself
400
A student is writing an essay about why recess is important.
Which sentence would be the most effective introduction to this essay?
A. Recess is something students do during the school day.
B. Longer recess gives students a chance to move, recharge, and return to class ready to learn.
C. I am going to tell you about recess.
D. Recess happens after lunch at many schools.
B. Longer recess gives students a chance to move, recharge, and return to class ready to learn.
400
Read the two questions below.
What is the theme of the story?
What is the central idea of the passage?
How are these questions different?
A. The first asks for a summary; the second asks for a detail.
B. They are asking the exact same thing.
C. The first asks about characters; the second asks about setting.
D. The first asks for a lesson or message; the second asks what the text is mostly about.
D. The first asks for a lesson or message; the second asks what the text is mostly about.
500
Why does the author include details about plastic bags and coastal development?
A. To entertain readers with interesting ocean facts
B. To explain how sea turtles hunt for food
C. To persuade readers to become marine biologists
D. To show specific causes of the challenges sea turtles face
D. To show specific causes of the challenges sea turtles face
500
Gabby wants to use a more effective and descriptive sentence to introduce the details in the third paragraph (sentences 11–15). Which of the following would BEST replace sentence 12 and help accomplish her goal?
F They had two long, sharp metal tines for holding food over a fire.
G They were used for cooking so the points were sharper.
H They looked nothing like the forks people use in the modern era.
J They have changed over time to be more suited for eating.
F. They had two long, sharp metal tines for holding food over a fire.
500
How does the conversation between Maria and Jamal lead to the play’s resolution?
A. Their argument becomes more intense until someone else interrupts them.
B. Their disagreement causes them to leave the kitchen without solving the problem.
C. Their exchange allows Jamal to reconsider his actions and leads Maria to suggest sharing.
D. Their discussion reveals that neither of them actually wants the pizza slice.
C. Their exchange allows Jamal to reconsider his actions and leads Maria to suggest sharing.
500
A student is writing an essay about their favorite hobby.
Which of the following should the student include in a body paragraph?
A. A sentence that repeats the exact same words from the introduction
B. A clear main idea supported with specific details or examples and evidence from the text
C. A sentence that says, “This is my paragraph about my hobby.”
D. A new topic that is not related to the essay
B. A clear main idea supported with specific details or examples and evidence from the text
500
Read the question below.
Why does the author include statistics in paragraph 3?
Before looking at the answer choices, what should a student ask themselves?
A. How long is paragraph 3?
B. What happens before paragraph 3?
C. What do the statistics prove or support?
D. Do I like reading statistics?
C. What do the statistics prove or support?