Definitions and Strategies
This is language using the senses to create an image in the reader's mind.
What is sensory language?
This is the life message the author wants you to learn by reading the passage.
What is theme?
The difference between main idea and summary is this.
What is the main idea tells what the passage is about and summary retells the the main ideas of the passages and supporting details?
The author or poet will use figurative language to do this.
What is make the writing more descriptive?
What is add details to the writing?
Using "How Secret Messages Tipped the Scales", in paragraph 5, the word sophisticated means —
A risky
B expensive
C attractive
D elaborate
What is D? Attractive
Similes, metaphors, idioms, and alliteration are examples of this.
What is figurative language?
Using "what can the reader conclude about the author’s opinion of Washington’s strategy for information-gathering?
F The author thinks Washington should have been more selective in choosing the Culper Ring.
G The author admires Washington’s resourcefulness.
H The author believes that Washington should have been more careful about sending messages.
J The author believes that Washington’s patience helped him perfect his methods.
What is G? The author admires Washington's resourcefulness.
Using "Marching to Different Drummers", what are paragraphs 6 and 7 mainly about?
F The results of studies about Texas high school marching bands
G The high quality of Texas high school marching bands
H The benefits of being in a high school marching band
J The popularity of being in a high school marching band
What is H? The benefits of being in a high school marching band.
Using "What the Page Says", in stanza 2, the poet’s use of a metaphor suggests that —
A words help writers generate ideas
B ideas can overwhelm writers
C exercise helps writers develop their thoughts
D writers depend on others to complete their work
What is A? Words help writers generate ideas.
Using "How Secret Messages Tipped the Scales", which words from paragraph 2 help the reader understand what opted means?
F pitting forces frequently
G decided to change
H army was defeated
J times of attack
What is G? Decided to change.
Use context clues, break the word apart, or use a dictionary.
What is what to do when you don't know a word?
Using "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen". Which statement best expresses the main theme of the excerpt?
F It is important for people to accept their friends’ decisions.
G People should be true to their own goals.
H It is best to avoid problems rather than try to solve them.
J Friends who have overcome obstacles give useful advice.
What is G? People should be true to their own goals.
Using "Marching to Different Drummers", what is the best summary of the section titled “Bands in All Sizes”?
F There are many marching bands in the state of Texas. Some of the bands are very small, consisting of as few as a dozen members. Kenneth Griffin’s organization, the Texas Association of Small School Bands, represents some of these small high school bands at competitions.
G With 5,000 students, Allen High School is a very large school. Its marching band has 650 members, which makes it larger than the bands at the University of Texas and Texas A&M University. On the other hand, the Sundown High School marching band has only 117 members.
H Class 5A Allen High School has the largest marching band in the United States. It is larger than any other high school marching band or any college marching band. This band’s 650 members fill an entire football field when they are playing. It takes 20 buses to transport the members to away games.
J Texas boasts the largest high school marching band in the nation, the Allen Eagle Escadrille, which has 650 members. There are also many small, award-winning marching bands in Texas, such as Sundown High School’s 117-member marching band, which has won many marching band titles.
What is J? Texas boasts the largest high school marching band in the nation, the Allen Eagle Escadrille, which has 650 members. There are also many small, award-winning marching bands in Texas, such as Sundown High School’s 117-member marching band, which has won many marching band titles.
Using the poem "What the Page Says", the speaker’s mood changes from —
F uncertain to discouraged
G frustrated to joyous
H lonely to peaceful
J relaxed to excited
What is G? frustrated to joyous
Using "How Secret Messages Tipped the Scales", in “Give It a Try!,” how are Steps 3 and 6 similar?
A Both reveal the content of the message.
B Both contain suggestions for producing a successful message.
C Both identify the tool used to write the message.
D Both explain how to read the message.
The words convey, illustrate, and demonstrate all have this in common?
What is the author is telling or showing something?
Using "What the Page Says", based on the last stanza, the reader can conclude that the speaker —
A wants to write about winning a race
B hopes to finish writing soon
C has begun expressing ideas freely
D hopes to learn organizational skills
What is C? Has begun expressing ideas freely.
Using "How Secret Messages Tipped the Scales", what is the best summary of this article?
F Invisible ink, which helped George Washington win the Revolutionary War against the British, can be easily made out of lemon juice. Another way to write with invisible ink is t use chemicals called “stain” and “sympathetic stain.”
G The Culper Ring was a group of American spies that operated around New York City during the Revolutionary War. The spies included Robert Townsend, Abraham Woodhull, Austin Roe, and Major Tallmadge.
H During the Revolutionary War, George Washington established a network of spies that provided him with information about the British forces. One group, the Culper Ring, sent him many valuable messages written in invisible ink, a technique that helped Washington defeat the British.
J Although many people believe that George Washington never lied, he did use deceptive tricks such as secret agents, double agents, and codes against the British during the Revolutionary War. He found that using invisible ink to send secret messages was especially useful.
What is H? During the Revolutionary War, George Washington established a network of spies that provided him with information about the British forces. One group, the Culper Ring, sent him many valuable messages written in invisible ink, a technique that helped Washington defeat the British.
Using the poem "What the Page Says", read these lines from the poem.
Here it is again,
that ghostly blank page
staring me down,
glaring at me in defiance.
“Here,” the page says, “place your words here.”
These lines highlight the speaker’s discomfort because they show that —
F the page does not provide the speaker with useful ideas
G the speaker does not feel like writing at that particular moment
H the page appears to be taunting the speaker
J the speaker is unsure where to write his thoughts
What is H? the page appears to be taunting the speaker.
A common place assertion is when something is believed to be true without the facts to back it up.
Using "Marching to Different Drummers"Which sentence from the selection is a commonplace assertion?
F We all know that Texans are mad about football, and the players usually get the attention.
G Known as the Allen Eagle Escadrille (French for “squadron”), Allen’s band is considered the largest in the country—high school or college.
H At some small schools, roughly half of the student body is in the band.
J Griffin’s organization was formed in 1991 to better represent small schools at band competitions.
What is F? We all know that Texans are mad about football, and the players usually get the attention.
Going back to the passage and underlining the sentence that answers the question, then writing the question number next to it is to show this.
What is text evidence?
Using the poem, "What the Page Says", which lines from the poem reflect a lesson that the speaker learns?
A “In lush gardens,/the words will bloom up all around you,”
B Quickly marching words,/all in a line,
C “Start with any scribble,/and soon the ideas will form.”
D Hello, words./Hello, victory!
What is C? "Start with any scribble,/and soon ideas will form."
Using, "Marching to Different Drummers", which of these supports the idea that band members form strong bonds with one another?
A “We always called ourselves ‘band nerds.’ I don’t think it’s derogatory or anything. It doesn’t bother me one bit.”
B “It’s like camaraderie,” Harwell said. “For four years, it’s your family.”
C “In some places, being in the band is not the in thing; it’s not cool. It’s cool to be in the band in Sundown,” he said.
D “You have your preps, your jocks and your band nerds,” said Jolynn Harwell, 24, who played clarinet and served as drum major for two years at Stephenville High School.
What is B? "It's like camaraderie," Harwell said. "For four year, it's your family."
This is a metaphor that extends through lines of text.
What is extended metaphor?
Using both "“Dear Fellow Writer” and “What the Page Says” read lines 6 through 10 from the poem.
Fill my lines. Crowd me with words, all kinds of words—
happy, joyous words,
angry, jangled words,
burdened words, sad words,
Which sentences from the letter express the same idea as these lines from the poem?
A We don’t just talk about writing. We sit by ourselves inside or outside, writing at airports or on kitchen tables, even on napkins.
B I’ve learned that some writers are quiet and shy, others noisy, others just plain obnoxious. Some like enchiladas and others like sushi; some like rap and others like rancheras.
C When I was in grade school in El Paso, Texas (where I was born), I read comic books and mysteries and magazines and library books. I was soaking up language.
D Living hurts, so sometimes we write about a miserable date, a friend who betrayed us, the death of a parent. Some days, though, we’re so full of joy we feel like a kite.
What is D? Living hurts, so sometimes we write about a miserable date, a friend who betrayed us, the death of a parent. Some days, though, we’re so full of joy we feel like a kite.