A Winning Culture
How does the author’s ending in paragraph 10 affect the overall tone of the article?
A. It shifts the focus from basketball skills to personal growth.
B. It suggests that awards are the main measure of success.
C. It creates doubt about whether the team’s success will last.
D. It returns to the problem of communication on the court.
A. It shifts the focus from basketball skills to personal growth.
To infer means...
to draw a conclusion based on text evidence
A simile is...
a comparison of two or more things using "like" or "as"
A student is revising the following draft sentences:
"The thunderstorm knocked out the power. The thunderstorm flooded the streets. The thunderstorm cancelled the outdoor concert."
Which revision BEST combines these sentences into one clear, concise sentence?
A. The thunderstorm knocked out the power and it flooded the streets and it also cancelled the outdoor concert.
B. The thunderstorm knocked out the power, flooded the streets, and cancelled the outdoor concert.
C. Because the thunderstorm knocked out the power, it flooded the streets, and the outdoor concert was cancelled.
D. The thunderstorm knocked out the power; although it flooded the streets, it cancelled the outdoor concert.
B. The thunderstorm knocked out the power, flooded the streets, and cancelled the outdoor concert.
Passage 1
Every year, millions of plastic bottles end up in ocean waters, threatening marine life and polluting coastlines around the world. Sea turtles mistake floating plastic bags for jellyfish. Seabirds feed plastic fragments to their chicks. Scientists estimate that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. The solution is not complicated — reduce single-use plastics, support legislation that limits plastic production, and demand accountability from corporations that profit from disposable packaging. The ocean cannot wait.
The author wrote this passage most likely to —
A entertain readers with stories about sea turtles and seabirds living in the ocean.
B inform readers about the different types of plastic found in ocean environments.
C persuade readers to take action against plastic pollution in the ocean.
D describe the daily challenges faced by scientists who study ocean ecosystems.
C persuade readers to take action against plastic pollution in the ocean.
Why does the author include detailed information about the team’s losing records in paragraphs 1 and 4?
A. To criticize the players’ lack of skill
B. To emphasize how challenging Cook’s task was when he became head coach
C. To explain why the team practiced differently than other
D. To compare Gallaudet University to other basketball programs
B. To emphasize how challenging Cook’s task was when he became head coach
Foreshadowing means...
the author gives hints and/or clues as to what will happen in the future/later in the story
A hyperbole is...
an extreme exaggeration
A student is revising the following draft sentences:
"Jordan finished his homework. Then he cleaned his room. After that, he finally allowed himself to play video games."
Which revision BEST combines these sentences to show a clear sequence of events?
A. Jordan finished his homework and cleaned his room before finally allowing himself to play video games.
B. Jordan finished his homework, he cleaned his room, he played video games after that.
C. After Jordan finished his homework and then cleaned his room, video games were played.
D. Jordan finished his homework, and Jordan cleaned his room, and Jordan played video games.
A. Jordan finished his homework and cleaned his room before finally allowing himself to play video games.
Passage 2
The bioluminescent bay in Vieques, Puerto Rico, is one of the most magical natural wonders on Earth. On moonless nights, kayakers glide through water that glows a brilliant electric blue with every paddle stroke. The light is produced by microscopic organisms called dinoflagellates, which emit a flash of light when disturbed. Local guides whisper stories about the bay as visitors trail their fingers through the glowing water, leaving swirling patterns of light in the darkness. It is, without question, an experience that stays with a person forever.
What is the author's primary purpose in this passage?
A To persuade readers to visit Vieques and support its local tourism economy
B To describe the experience of visiting the bioluminescent bay and explain what causes the glow
C To argue that bioluminescent bays must be protected from environmental damage
D To compare bioluminescent bays found in different locations around the world
B To describe the experience of visiting the bioluminescent bay and explain what causes the glow
In paragraph 3, why does the author explain how communication affected the players during games?
A. To describe the rules of basketball
B. To highlight a key problem that contributed to the team’s losses
C. To show why referees misunderstood the team
D. To explain why sign language is difficult to learn
B. To highlight a key problem that contributed to the team’s losses
Tone is...
how the author comes across in their writing through word choice
A metaphor is
a comparison of two or more things not using "like" or "as"
A student wrote the following sentence:
"The old lighthouse had been standing for over a century, and it still guided ships safely through the rocky harbor, and it was maintained by a small team of volunteers."
Which revision BEST restructures this sentence to eliminate wordiness and improve clarity?
A. Standing for over a century, the old lighthouse still guided ships safely through the rocky harbor, maintained by a small team of volunteers.
B. The old lighthouse still guided ships through the harbor, and it was old, and volunteers maintained it.
C. The old lighthouse, which has been standing for over one hundred years, was still guiding ships through the rocky harbor that was maintained by volunteers.
D. For over a century, volunteers maintained the old lighthouse, and ships were guided through the harbor.
A. Standing for over a century, the old lighthouse still guided ships safely through the rocky harbor, maintained by a small team of volunteers.
Passage 3
Marcus had exactly three minutes before the school bus left. He grabbed his backpack, knocked over his cereal, stepped on the cat, and burst out the front door — only to realize he was still wearing his pajama pants. He sprinted back inside, changed in record time, and made it to the bus stop just as the doors wheezed shut in his face. The driver, Mrs. Patterson, stared at him through the glass for one long, dramatic moment. Then she smiled and opened the doors. "You're lucky I like your mother," she said.
The author most likely wrote this passage to —
A warn readers about the dangers of rushing in the morning.
B persuade readers that school start times should be later.
C entertain readers with a humorous story about a chaotic morning.
D inform readers about how school bus schedules are determined.
C entertain readers with a humorous story about a chaotic morning.
Why does the author include quotations from players in paragraphs 4, 8, and 9?
A. To add expert opinions about basketball strategies
B. To explain the rules of Deaf culture
C. To provide personal perspectives that support the team’s transformation
D. To show disagreement between the coach and the players
C. To provide personal perspectives that support the team’s transformation
Flashback occurs...
when the author takes the readers back in time to an event in their story.
Personification is...
giving non-human things human characteristics/qualities
A student is revising the following draft sentences:
"Amara was nervous about her speech. She had practiced it many times. She still forgot her opening line when she stepped on stage."
Which revision BEST combines these sentences to show the relationship between the ideas?
A. Amara was nervous, and she practiced, and she forgot her opening line on stage.
B. Amara was nervous about her speech because she had practiced it many times, but she forgot her opening line.
C. Although Amara had practiced her speech many times, she still forgot her opening line the moment she stepped on stage.
D. Amara was nervous about her speech, but she practiced it, and she forgot her opening line on stage.
C. Although Amara had practiced her speech many times, she still forgot her opening line the moment she stepped on stage.
Passage 4
The human brain contains approximately 86 billion neurons, each capable of forming thousands of connections with other neurons. These connections, called synapses, allow electrical and chemical signals to travel across the brain at speeds of up to 268 miles per hour. The brain is divided into distinct regions, each responsible for different functions: the frontal lobe manages decision-making, the hippocampus processes memory, and the cerebellum coordinates movement. Despite decades of research, scientists continue to uncover new discoveries about how the brain processes information and forms thoughts.
Read this sentence from the passage: "Despite decades of research, scientists continue to uncover new discoveries about how the brain processes information and forms thoughts." — The author most likely included this sentence to —
A suggest that scientists have failed to understand the brain after many years of study.
B emphasize that the brain is still not fully understood, adding to the sense of wonder.
C persuade readers to pursue careers in neuroscience and brain research.
D argue that current scientific methods are not advanced enough to study the brain.
B emphasize that the brain is still not fully understood, adding to the sense of wonder.
How does the author’s comparison of deaf and nondeaf teams in paragraph 5 contribute to the text?
A. It shows why deaf teams should not compete against hearing teams.
B. It explains how an apparent weakness became a competitive advantage.
C. It criticizes coaches who rely on spoken communication.
D. It argues that sign language is faster than speech.
B. It explains how an apparent weakness became a competitive advantage.
Text Structure is...
how an author organizes their writing.
Examples: cause and effect, problem/solution, chronological
Alliteration is...
Repetition of sound at the beginning of words
Example: Sally sells seashells by the seashore.
A student wrote the following awkward sentence:
"The book that the teacher recommended to the class, which was about the history of space exploration, was read by most of the students over the weekend."
Which revision BEST restructures this sentence to make it more direct and clear?
A. Most students read over the weekend the book about space exploration history that the teacher recommended.
B. Over the weekend, most students read the book about the history of space exploration that the teacher had recommended.
C. The book was recommended by the teacher, and it was about space exploration, and most students read it over the weekend.
D. Most students read the book, which was about space history, and the teacher had recommended it to the class over the weekend.
B. Over the weekend, most students read the book about the history of space exploration that the teacher had recommended.
Passage 5
Many students believe that studying the night before a test is an effective strategy. Research, however, consistently tells a different story. Studies in cognitive science show that spaced repetition — reviewing material across multiple short sessions over several days — leads to significantly better long-term retention than a single long study session. Cramming may help students recall information for a few hours, but the knowledge fades quickly. If students genuinely want to perform better on exams, they should begin studying at least five days in advance and review their notes for no more than 30 minutes per session.
Which statement BEST describes the author's purpose in this passage?
A To entertain readers with surprising facts about how students prepare for tests
B To inform readers about the history of cognitive science research
C To persuade readers that spaced repetition is a more effective study strategy than cramming
D To describe the different ways that students study for exams around the world
C To persuade readers that spaced repetition is a more effective study strategy than cramming