English 10 MCAP Test Prep Boxes 1-6

English 10

MCAP Test Prep

Boxes 1-6

By Cynthia Phillips

​Box 1

​Figurative Language

Questions on Simile, Extended Metaphor

​ Sample question-----

On the basketball court, Clyde was a magician. Every move he made was sleight of hand, and if you came to see the show you left with mouth agape, wondering how the ball — like a rabbit or a dove dropped into a top hat — could leave his hand and reappear an instant later on the far side of four defenders. Other times, he seemed to saw himself in two, his legs driving him one way while his head and torso faked another, his body rejoining at the rim to lay the ball in with a knowing smirk. When the Great Clyde was on the court, his teammates knew they were the assistants to the master, there to hold his hat and cape, and stay out of the way. 

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Which statement ​correctly identifies and interprets the figurative language in this excerpt from the passage?

"Other times, he seemed to saw himself in two, ​his legs driving him one way while his head and torso faked another, his body rejoining at the rim to lay the ball in with a knowing smirk."​

• ​The personification makes Clyde's legs and torso seem to act on their own, without the help of the rest of his body.

 

• The details about Clyde sawing himself in two support the extended metaphor that he is a basketball magician.  

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• The personification makes the rim seem to think for itself as Clyde approaches it to make a basket. 

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• The details about Clyde sawing himself in two help develop the extended metaphor about his arrogance on the court.  

​Box 2

​Theme --- central idea or message of a narrative story.

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Conflict​ --- internal, external​

Sample question:

Using your knowledge of internal conflict and external conflict, read the synopsis below and then complete the following activity.

     In the Greek tragedy Antigone, the king of Thebes declares that anyone who died fighting against him would not receive a hero's burial. This creates an external conflict for Antigone, whose brother died fighting the king. She wants to give her brother a proper burial but will be punished if she does so. Antigone's external conflict creates an internal conflict for her sister, Ismene, who cannot decide whether to follow the king's law or remain loyal to her brother by burying him. In the end, Ismene refuses to help her sister because she doesn't want to get in trouble. Without Ismene's help, Antigone buries their brother regardless of the consequences.​

​How does the outcome of the conflict contribute to the overall meaning of this story?  

 

Ismene's actions show that love is the most important virtue a person can display. 

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Antigone's actions show that family loyalty is important.

    

Antigone's actions prove that a person can accomplish any goal imaginable. 

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Ismene's actions indicate that people who are weak will ignore laws.

​Box 3

​Character Types

Protagonist-- main character

Antagonist-- opposes the main character

Foil --​ plays a contrasting role that brings out the good qualities and highlights the caring nature of the other characters like a hero or the main character.

Static or Flat character ---This character doesn’t have strong characteristics or doesn’t reveal much about the self.​ Doesn't change.

Round or Dynamic character --​ This is the character which contributes the most in making the story interesting and keeps the reader confused about the person’s actual nature. Harry Potter himself in the Harry Potter series will help you know what is a round character. This type of character acts subtly and changes in the face of conflict. This character develops itself and rather becomes complex as the story progresses as he or she doesn’t stick to the limited qualities.

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Foreshadowing​

Suspense​

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​Box 4

​Making inferences -- Implicit and explicit details

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Drawing conclusions

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Implied main ideas​

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This box has long, tedious passages..... I was nodding off

This is a good time to mention that if we have 30 boxes of information....... with two or three topics per box..... this is a lot of information to cover in the MCAP. If one box in our Tutorials is particularly difficult for us... how many questions like that will actually make it to the test?​

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​Box 5

Summary--- objective and subjective​

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Analysis --- dissecting a written piece for various reasons

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Critique​ --- evaluating the effectiveness of something written... like a review

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​Box 6

​Determining Author's Purpose --- usually to inform, to persuade, to entertain

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Analyzing Author's Perspective​ --- shows the author's mindset..... their bias if any

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​Sample Question... writer's purpose

​At age ten, I was a scout camp counselor’s worst nightmare. I was bratty, I stirred up trouble, and I would rather have gotten a hundred mosquito bites than do what I was told. But my real gift was for pranks. Frogs in the counselors’ cereal bowls? Check. Underwear up the flagpole? Yup, did that too. But my crowning glory was when I organized all my cabinmates to hide for an entire afternoon. Actually, that one was a little too good. I was on cloud nine while we holed up eating candy and playing cards, not really thinking about what was happening outside. Meanwhile, the counselors went crazy with worry thinking something terrible had happened to us. When we came out — to the wailing of police sirens — I realized something shocking. Even though I had made their lives a living misery for the past two weeks, my counselors still actually cared about me. 

​Which statement best describes the primary purpose of the passage?

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It entertains readers with a description of the good life at summer camp.

 

It persuades readers to avoid becoming a camp counselor.  

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It entertains readers with a personal story about mistakes the writer made. 

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It persuades readers to behave well in order to avoid worrying others. 

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​Another purpose question:

​You are writing an essay to inform readers about how to make an easy, healthy pasta dish. Which sentence would most likely belong in your essay?

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I first cooked this pasta dish after a family trip to Italy.  

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Learning to cook quick meals is a key ingredient of a healthy lifestyle.  

Toss the noodles in a little olive oil before adding the sauce.  

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Most people spend so much time online that they never cook.

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​Which detail from the passage most strongly supports the interpretation that the author's purpose is to inform readers about how to get out of doing chores?

​It takes hard work to avoid hard work. Let’s say you want to convince your parents it’s not worth the effort to assign you chores around the house. You can’t just tell them you don’t feel like working; you need to approach your goal with creativity and perseverance. Whatever your parents tell you to do, mess it up, but don’t let on that you’re doing it on purpose. The easier a job is, the harder it is to pull this off. Did your mom tell you to take out the trash? Let the garbage bag snag on something sharp — preferably indoors — so reeking trash spills all over the carpet. Are you supposed to make your own lunch for school? Make a peanut butter and jelly kitchen along with your peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Don’t overdo it, or it’ll be obvious what you’re up to. Just dot a little raspberry jam on the handle of the refrigerator. Miss a spot or two when you clean the peanut butter knife and "helpfully" return it to its place in the drawer. It may take weeks or months before your efforts pay off. But eventually, your parents will give up on you, and your free time will be the freest it’s ever been.

​A different type of purpose question

Multiple Choice

Deer are beautiful creatures.

They are so graceful to watch as

they run through the forest. It's

hard to understand how anyone could do anything to harm these beautiful animals.

What is the author's perspective?

• The author favors deer hunting

• The author thinks there are too many deer

• The author does not favor deer hunting

• The author thinks deer harm the environment

Multiple Choice

If you are confused about something in class, don't wait. Raise your hand and ask for help immediately. Do it while your teacher is still explaining the material. Your teacher will probably be happy that you are taking an active part in your education and should attempt to explain the material in a different way. If you are still confused, ask your teacher if he or she is available after class to give you additional instruction. You are worth it. Don't give up on yourself.

What is the author's perspective on asking for help?

• The author believes that no one should ask for help.

• The author's perspective on asking for help is to keep trying until you get it no matter how long it takes.

• The author believes you should ask for help if you do not understand.

Multiple Choice

Pete didn't feel like doing homework. He felt like playing baseball. He grabbed his mitt off the shelf and began to fantasize about being out in the field. His fantasy was interrupted shortly by the opening of his bedroom door. It was his mom. She started to yell, "Pete, you're not failing baseball class! You're failing math class! You need to study. Put the mitt away!" Pete put the mitt away, and he started doing his math homework.

What is the mom's perspective on homework?

• Homework is a waste of time. Pete should be playing baseball.

• Homework is not as important as baseball.

• Homework is more important than baseball.

Multiple Choice

I wonder who 
 invented paper plates?  He was a
 clever guy!  Imagine having to lug heavy plates to a picnic, and then have to carry them home again.
What is the author's perspective?

• The author thinks that disposable products are harming the environment. 
• The author thinks that disposable products are wonderful.