Essay Qualities
Vocabulary
Poetry
Revise/Edit
Evidence
10

A thesis is...

The main idea for my paper. 

10

What is the best meaning of the word "emphasize" in the sentence below?

"The teacher wanted to emphasize the importance of completing homework on time."

A. Ignore
B. Highlight
C. Forget
D. Remove

B. Highlight

10

Nature’s first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf’s a flower;

But only so an hour.

[5]Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So Dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay

What best Identifies a theme from the poem?

A) Love is unpredictable and inconsistent

B) The most beautiful moments of life are brief 

C) Perfection and paradise are unattainable 

B) The most beautiful moments of life are brief

10

The students were excited for there upcoming field trip to the museum.

there to their

The students were excited for their upcoming field trip to the museum. 

10

Implementing school uniforms can improve student focus and reduce social pressure in the classroom.

Which of the following best supports the thesis?

A. "School uniforms help create a sense of equality among students, as everyone wears the same outfit, reducing competition over clothing choices."
B. "Some students feel more comfortable expressing their individual style, which can foster creativity and self-expression."
C. "Uniforms are often expensive for families, especially when students grow out of them quickly."
D. "Many schools offer a variety of elective courses, giving students a chance to explore their interests."

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Option A supports the thesis by explaining how uniforms reduce social pressure and promote equality, which aligns with the idea of improving student focus in the classroom. The other options do not directly address the thesis.

20

How can this thesis statement be improved to make it more effective?:  "Many people in the world use social media for different reasons." 

A. "Social media is used by people all over the world for various purposes, such as communication, entertainment, and business."
B. "While social media offers many advantages, such as staying connected with loved ones and accessing information, it also leads to negative effects like misinformation and decreased face-to-face interactions."
C. "Social media plays an important role in people’s lives."

B. "While social media offers many advantages, such as staying connected with loved ones and accessing information, it also leads to negative effects like misinformation and decreased face-to-face interactions."

20

What does the word "inevitable" most likely mean in the sentence below?

"After weeks of dark clouds and strong winds, the storm's arrival felt inevitable."

A. Surprising
B. Unlikely
C. Unavoidable
D. Dangerous

C. unavoidable 

20

Nature’s first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf’s a flower;

But only so an hour.

[5]Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So Dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay

What does 'gold' most likely represent? 

A) the speaker's greed

B) the speaker's dreams

C) the slow passage of time

D) the fleeting nature of beauty

D) the fleeting nature of beauty

20

How can we fix this: 

The kids went to the National Park over the weekend; it was so much fun! 

Change National Park to national park


Not specific enough to be capitalized 

20

Which quote supports the claim that nap time would be a great addition to high school? 


  • "Studies have shown that short naps improve memory retention, increase focus, and reduce stress, which can help high school students perform better academically."

  • "Some students say they feel more alert after a quick nap, but it’s not clear if it helps everyone stay focused for the rest of the school day."

  • "Nap time would be fun because sleeping is relaxing, and everyone likes to sleep."

Strong:
"Studies have shown that short naps improve memory retention, increase focus, and reduce stress, which can help high school students perform better academically."

30

Which of the following statements is the best example of an effective thesis statement?

A. "Pollution is bad for the environment."
B. "Pollution negatively impacts wildlife, air quality, and human health, and immediate action is needed to address this growing issue."
C. "Pollution harms both wildlife and human health, making it a critical issue that must be addressed through government efforts for the future generations since pollution is so bad for the environment."
D. "Pollution happens in both urban and rural areas."

B. "Pollution negatively impacts wildlife, air quality, and human health, and immediate action is needed to address this growing issue."

30

The students sat in silence, captivated by the speaker’s eloquent words. She spoke with such clarity and grace that every sentence flowed smoothly, effortlessly drawing everyone’s attention. Her ability to express complex ideas in a simple and beautiful way left the audience in awe, as they admired her eloquence.

What does the word "eloquent" most likely mean in the paragraph?

A.  Fluent and persuasive
B. Confusing
C. Rude
D. Quiet and shy

A. Fluent and persuasive 

30

When the doctor suggested surgery

and a brace for all my youngest years,

my parents scrambled to take me

to massage therapy, deep tissue work,

[5]osteopathy, and soon my crooked spine


unspooled a bit, I could breathe again,

and move more in a body unclouded

by pain. My mom would tell me to sing


songs to her the whole forty-five minute

[10]drive to Middle Two Rock Road and forty-


five minutes back from physical therapy.

She’d say, even my voice sounded unfettered

by my spine afterward. So I sang and sang,

because I thought she liked it. I never

[15]asked her what she gave up to drive me,

or how her day was before this chore. Today,

at her age, I was driving myself home from yet

another spine appointment, singing along

to some maudlin but solid song on the radio,

[20]and I saw a mom take her raincoat off

and give it to her young daughter when

a storm took over the afternoon. My god,

I thought, my whole life I’ve been under her

raincoat thinking it was somehow a marvel

[25]that I never got wet


what is the main theme of the poem? What gave you that idea? 

Children may realize late in life how much their parents have done to support them. 

their mother drove them to physical therapy and encouraged them to sing, indicating that the mother invested time and effort into her child’s well-being. "I never asked her what she gave up to drive me" shows the speaker's later understanding of their mother’s sacrifices.

The moment of realization when the speaker sees a mom giving her raincoat to her daughter, prompting a deeper reflection on their own childhood. The line “my whole life I’ve been under her raincoat thinking it was somehow a marvel that I never got wet."  

30

Fix this sentence: Before the game starts you should warm up properly. 

Add a comma

Before the game starts, you should warm up properly. 

30

Which quote best supports the thesis: 

Social media addiction can be harmful to people not only because it leads to wasted time, but because it can negatively affect mental health too. 

A)"Social media addiction has no real impact on mental health; it's just a fun way to spend your free time." 

B)"Social media overuse can trigger mental health issues like anxiety and depression, especially in teens who are more vulnerable to online peer pressure." 

C)"Excessive use of social media has been linked to higher levels of anxiety and depression, as people constantly compare themselves to idealized online images." 

D)"Some people feel unhappy when they spend too much time on social media, though it doesn’t affect everyone the same way." 

"Excessive use of social media has been linked to higher levels of anxiety and depression, as people constantly compare themselves to idealized online images." 


More detailed with examples

40

1) Social media has become a part of everyday life for many people. 2) It allows users to stay connected with friends and family, no matter the distance. 3) People can also follow celebrities, or organizations that interest them. 4) Many people use it for entertainment.

Which of the following is a better transition sentence to replace "Many people use it for entertainment"?

Choices:

A. "Additionally, social media platforms provide endless entertainment options, from videos to games."
B. "It’s not just for communication, but people also use social media to pass time."
C. "There are many things people like about social media, including entertainment."

A. Additionally, social media platforms provide endless entertainment options, from videos to games."

40

The crowd cheered with fervor as the home team scored the winning goal in the final seconds of the game. Fans waved their banners, jumped up and down, and shouted at the top of their lungs, their excitement filling the stadium. The energy was contagious, with everyone celebrating the thrilling victory as if they had been waiting for this moment their entire lives.

what does fervor mean? 

Excitement, enthusiasm, passion 

40

1) The wind whispers softly through the trees,
carrying secrets from afar.
The river flows steadily,
giggling as it dances over rocks.

5) The mountains loom in silence,
watching the world below,
guardians of the ancient land.
Their presence is steady and strong,
holding stories of the ages.

Where is there personification in this poem? Name at least 2. 

  • The wind whispers softly – The wind is given the human ability to whisper.
  • The river flows steadily, giggling as it dances over rocks – The river is described as giggling and dancing, actions typically associated with humans.
  • The mountains loom in silence, watching the world below – The mountains are given the ability to watch, implying awareness and observation.
40

Social media is popular among people of all ages.

Which of the following is the best rewrite of this weak thesis?

A. Social media platforms are widely used, but there are both positive and negative effects on mental health, communication, and society as a whole.
B. Social media is popular because people like to use it to connect with others.
C. Social media is something a lot of people use, and it has many features like messaging and sharing photos.

A. Social media platforms are widely used, but there are both positive and negative effects on mental health, communication, and society as a whole.

40

Many high school students struggle with concentration in the afternoon, often due to lack of sleep. As a result, their academic performance can decline, and they may feel more stressed and fatigued throughout the day. By introducing a short nap period during school hours, students could recharge and refocus, which would likely lead to improved attention spans and better overall academic outcomes.

How does the organization of the paragraph support the main idea?

A. It presents a series of unrelated facts to explain the benefits of sleep.
B. It uses cause and effect to show how lack of sleep leads to poor academic performance and how naps could improve it.
C. It gives a detailed description of how naps work but doesn’t connect it to school performance.
D. It lists solutions to multiple student problems without explaining how naps can help.

Correct Answer: B cause and effect 


Explanation: The paragraph uses cause and effect to explain how lack of sleep negatively impacts students' performance and how a nap period could address that issue.

50

Learning a second language has numerous benefits. It improves cognitive abilities, such as memory and problem-solving skills. Additionally, being bilingual can enhance career opportunities, as many employers seek individuals who can communicate in multiple languages. It also allows people to connect with different cultures and expand their worldview.


A. "Being bilingual is impressive."
B. "For these reasons, learning a second language can significantly enrich one’s personal and professional life."
C. "This is why many people choose to learn a new language."

Question:
Which of the following is the best concluding sentence to end this paragraph?

B. "For these reasons, learning a second language can significantly enrich one’s personal and professional life."

50

har·bor- 

1. a place on the coast where vessels may find shelter, especially one protected from rough water by piers, jetties, and other artificial structures.

2. keep a thought or feeling, in one's mind, especially secretly. 

3. shelter or hide.

Despite the neighbors' suspicions, no one realized that the old warehouse was harboring a group of stray animals, providing them with safety from the harsh weather.

What does harboring mean in the reading above? What showed you that? 

The phrase "providing them with safety" helps the reader infer that "harboring" means giving protection or a place to stay.

50

22)a storm took over the afternoon. My god, I thought, my whole life I’ve been under her raincoat thinking it was somehow a marvel. 


What does the phrase "My god" in line 22 suggest about the speaker's tone?

The speaker was astonished by what she has finally realized how much her mom has done for. 

50

What's wrong with this sentence: 

By the time I got to the bus stop, the bus leaves, and I had to wait for the next one.

By the time I got to the bus stop, the bus had left, and I had to wait for the next one.

50

Recycling is a simple way to help protect the environment. By sorting paper, plastic, and metal into the proper bins, you can reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. This process not only conserves natural resources but also helps reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Communities that prioritize recycling often see long-term environmental and economic benefits, as recycling programs create jobs and reduce waste management costs.

Which sentence could be added to improve the paragraph?

A. "The recycling bin is blue and is used to collect cans, bottles, and paper."

B. "Many products made from recycled materials are more eco-friendly and require fewer resources to produce."
C. "Some people believe recycling takes too much effort, but it really doesn’t take much time once you get used to it."
D. "Plastic is found in all kinds of places, like in the ocean and on the streets."

Option B is the strongest because it adds a specific, relevant fact about the environmental benefits of using recycled materials, which directly supports the paragraph’s focus on the positive effects of recycling.