Multiple Meaning Words
Context Clues
Fragments, Run-On, & Complete Sentences
Compound Sentences
Cause & Effect and Compare & Contrast
100
What does beat mean in this sentence?
Mom beat the dust out of the rug with a broom.
A. to hit something over and over
B. a pattern of sound; rhythm
A. to hit something over and over
100
Debris found on Gardner Island in the Western Pacific, however, suggests that Earhart may have landed there. Researchers say that a piece of metal found on the island matches a patch from Earhart's airplane.
What is the meaning of debris as used in the passage?
A. popular clothing worn during the 1930s
B. the fossils of extinct animals
C. a large amount of leftover food
D. the remains of something that was broken
D. the remains of something that was broken
100
Which of the following is a complete sentence?
A. Jose loves fish tacos.
B. The fourth graders.
C. Going on a field trip to the zoo.
A. Jose loves fish tacos.
100
You can go play basketball, or you can read a book.
This sentence is an example of a ____________.
A. simple sentence
B. compound sentence
C. sentence fragment
D. prepositional phrase
B. compound sentence
100
Read the text.
A black hole is a place in space where gravity is so strong that no light can escape. Most black holes are formed when the center of a very large star collapses. Because the matter of the star is pressed into a tiny space, it becomes very dense. As a result, it has a very strong pull, or gravity. No light can get out, so a black hole cannot be found without special instruments.
How is this passage mainly organized?
A. problem and solution
B. cause and effect
C. sequence
D. compare and contrast
B. cause and effect
200
What does right mean in this sentence?
Ron plays the guitar and the banjo with his right hand.
A. the opposite of left
B. correct; the opposite of wrong
A. the opposite of left
200
Soon the crabs are joined by a multitude of shorebirds. Thousands of birds stop at these beaches each year.
What is the meaning of multitude as used in the passage?
A. great number
B. peaceful family
C. average amount
D. small flock
A. great number
200
What change, if any, should be made to the sentence?
I like to go swimming I would become a fish if I could.
A. I like to go.
B. I like to go swimming. I would become a fish. If I could.
C. I like to go swimming. I would become a fish if I could.
D. no change
C. I like to go swimming. I would become a fish if I could.
200
Which sentence is a compound sentence?
A. The grocery store is busy today.
B. I went to the zoo yesterday.
C. Zebras have black and white stripes.
D. The alligator approached quietly, but the bird heard it coming.
D. The alligator approached quietly, but the bird heard it coming.
200
Read the text.
People have lived in the southwestern part of the United States for many thousands of years. The Navajo and the Zuni are both important Native American tribes in this area. They have things in common, such as their tradition of farming. But there are important differences, too, including language. The Navajo language comes from the Athabascan language family. It is related to native languages spoken in Alaska and Canada. However, the Zuni language is not related to any other known language.
How is this passage mainly organized?
A. cause and effect
B. descriptive
C. compare and contrast
D. problem and solution
C. compare and contrast
300
What does pitcher mean in this sentence? Jennifer put a pitcher of lemonade on the picnic table.
A. the baseball player who throws the ball toward the batter
B. a container for pouring drinks
B. a container for pouring drinks
300
Revere also arranged for a beacon to be placed in a Boston church tower. One lantern would be lit if the British were coming by land, two if by sea. Thanks to the help of Paul Revere and other riders, the Americans were ready for the British army.
What is the meaning of beacon as used in the passage?
A. a hidden army
B. a ringing bell
C. a light signal
D. a chiming clock
C. a light signal
300
What change, if any, should be made to this sentence?
The beautiful, gray horse. was galloping through the pasture.
A. The beautiful, gray horse. galloping through the pasture!
B. The beautiful, gray horse was galloping through the pasture.
C. The beautiful, gray horse and was galloping through the pasture.
D. no change
B. The beautiful, gray horse was galloping through the pasture.
300
Form a compound sentence.
______________________________ can hardly walk.
A. Ruby-throated hummingbirds have weak feet, so they
B. They ruby-throated hummingbird, with its weak little feet,
A. Ruby-throated hummingbirds have weak feet, so they
300
Read the text.
A trumpet and a flute are both wind instruments. That is, they're musical instruments that you play by blowing air to make a sound. But they're members of two different musical families. The trumpet is a member of the brass family. Most brass instruments are made at least partly of brass. The flute, on the other hand, is a woodwind. Most woodwind instruments were once made of wood. There are still some wooden flutes, though most are now metal.
Which words help you infer that the text structure of this paragraph is compare and contrast?
A. both, on the other hand
B. That is, But
C. Most, though
A. both, on the other hand
400
What does pupil mean in this sentence?
Every pupil showed great improvement in math this year.
A. a person who is being taught; a student
B. the opening of the eye that lets in light
A. a person who is being taught; a student
400
Roger Bannister ran into the record books in 1954. Before Bannister, the record for a mile run was 4 minutes, 1.3 seconds. Experts said that the human body was not able to run any faster. But Bannister proved them wrong, running a mile in 3 minutes, 59.4 seconds. Though other runners have run even faster since then, this doesn't detract from Bannister's record. In history books, Banner will forever be the first to break the "limit" of four minutes.
What is the meaning of detract as used in the passage?
A. make fun of
B. improve on
C. make less important
D. slow down
C. make less important
400
Which sentence is a fragment?
A. Mrs. Brackenbury was throwing a ball.
B. Mrs. Walton is sliding down the slide.
C. Mrs. Guffin loves to do cartwheels.
D. Ms. Adams is going to.
D. Ms. Adams is going to.
400
Form a compound sentence.
Dolphins were ___________________ on ancient coins.
A. once common around Greece, and they appear
B. used by the Greeks, interestingly enough, as designs
A. once common around Greece, and they appear
400
Read the text.
Experts say that too much television can be bad for you. Watching hours of TV results in too much sitting and not enough exercise. Exercise often makes people healthier. TV also takes away from the time kids might spend reading or doing their homework. This means that they might fall behind in school. Some people don't even get enough sleep because they stay up too late watching TV.
How is this passage mainly organized?
A. sequential
B. cause and effect
C. compare and contrast
B. cause and effect
500
What does bore mean in this sentence?
The construction works will bore into the concrete and insert the steel pipe.
A. someone or something that is not interesting
B. to make a hole
B. to make a hole
500
Select the word that means tight.
To play the violin, you must develop many skills. One of the most basic is surprisingly difficult: staying relaxed. If a violinist's hands are too tense, the music won't sound smooth.
tense
500
Which sentence is a run-on sentence?
A. Mrs. Brackenbury loves to go to the lake during the summer she enjoys riding a boat.
B. Mrs. Guffin likes to read books.
C. Ms. Adams likes to spend time with her family.
D. Mrs. Walton has children.
A. Mrs. Brackenbury loves to go to the lake during the summer she enjoys riding a boat.
500
Form a compound sentence.
My grandmother ________________ make me a sweater.
A. might, in the next few months,
B. will knit me a scarf, or she might
B. will knit me a scarf, or she might
500
Compare and contrast monkeys and gorillas. Give one comparison of monkeys and gorillas. Give one contrast description of a monkey and one contrast description of a gorilla.
Answers will vary.