TestTakingVocabulary

When you're asked to describe, you need to tell or write about something by giving a specific and related details. Describing is like creating a picture with words.

Which of the following is the best example of a writer describing the character Huck Finn from the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?

• Huck is smart in an unusual way. For example, to escape his father, he faked his own death in a clever scheme. His relationship with Jim shows that he is also caring.

• I don't understand how anyone can enjoy reading about Huck Finn because I definitely dislike him.

• The author Mark Twain wrote many books about the character Huck Finn including The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer Abroad and Tom Sawyer, Detective.

• Elijah wood played the character of Huck in a 1993 film version of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.W.4.2D

CCSS.L.4.6

CCSS.W.5.2D

CCSS.RI.5.4

When a prompt asks you to identify something you need to find or recognize whatever the question is asking for. You'll know that the answer is already there on the page -- you just have to find it.

If you're asked to identify a grammatical error in a sentence, you should ...

• add a grammatical error to the sentence

• find the grammatical error in the sentence.

• compare the sentence to another sentence.

• rewrite the sentence.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.10

CCSS.RI.5.10

CCSS.RI.3.10

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

Explain is similar to describe, but it involves a little bit more description of why something is the way it is. When you explain, make sure to include the important and relevant details that support your reasons. Questions that include explain usually require a response of at least a paragraph, and often more.

Which of the following is the best example of a writer explaining why some believe that the outcome of World War I led to World War II?

• My great grandmother has many stories about growing up during World War II and I enjoy listening to because I like learning about history. She was only a child then, but her memories are fascinating.

• The history of Germany in the years between World War I and World War II is a fascinating and complex story that many historians have attempted to write.

• Some historians argue that the treaty of Versailles that was signed at the end of World War I was too harsh on Germany. They say that by crippling Germany, the treaty helped cause the conditions that allowed Hitler to rise to power and World War II to begin.

• On the morning of June 28, 1919, in the cool air of a summer day France, a group of world leaders gathered to sign a fateful treaty.

Tags

CCSS.W.4.2D

CCSS.L.4.6

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RI.3.4

Infer is a fancy word for making an educated guess about something that isn't directly stated in the text. When you make an inference, you draw a conclusion by combining pieces of evidence provided in the text with your background knowledge. Multiple correct inferences could be made from a text.

Select the true statement.

• Multiple inferences can be made from the same text.

• Evidence for multiple inferences must come from multiple texts.

• Evidence can only be used to support one inference.

• Inferences must have evidence from multiple paragraphs.

Tags

CCSS.L.3.5A

CCSS.RL.3.4

Harriet quietly slipped her key into the front door lock and and turned it carefully. It was a sunny afternoon, and as she eased the door open, she thought she heard a neighbor walk by. She stopped her movements, startled, but it was only her imagination. She slowly pushed open the heavy door, careful not to make the hinges squeal. She slipped through the front door, desperately trying to remember which floor plank creaked the loudest. "It's the one on the left," she remembered with relief, and carefully placed her foot on the plank to the right.

Which detail from the passage best supports the inference that Harriet is trying not to be heard?

• "It's the one on the left," she remembered with relief,

• She slowly pushed open the heavy door,

• Harriet quietly slipped her key into the front door lock and and turned it carefully.

• It was a sunny afternoon, and as she eased the door open, she thought she heard a neighbor walk by

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

When you develop an idea, you say more about it in greater detail and support your claims with evidence.

Jack is asked to develop his argument that school elections are unfair. To do this he should...

• provide additional information with details about why school elections don't work.

• ask the current school president to agree with his statement.

• restate his original argument in slightly different words.

• compare his argument to other arguments.

Tags

CCSS.W.4.2D

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.L.4.6

CCSS.RI.3.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

When you are asked to evaluate something, you need to make a thoughtful judgement about it. When you are writing the answer to an "evaluate" question, you should give your opinion and include evidence to support it.

Which of the following is the best example of a writer evaluating a school musical?

• I dislike all musicals: they are not for me. So, I decided to skip this performance. I believe musicals should not be performed at this school and students should study and practice the great art of mime.

• I have yet to see this musical. I have tickets for next week's performance but I am going to assume that this musical is wonderful. All I have to do is read the names of the actors, director and set designers involved, and I can already predict this show will be a success.

• This musical was performed energetically by a talented cast. The songs are especially difficult to sing because of their complicated and wordy lyrics and because the notes can be hard to hit. The lead actor and actress performed beautifully. The cast's dedication and mastery make this show one to see.

• I'd like to write a musical one day. If I did, I think I would write about sloths. I would like the challenge of figuring out what a sloth's singing voice would be like and what a sloth would want to sing about.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.6

CCSS.W.4.2D

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.W.5.2D

When you compare two things, you saw how they are similar, and when you contrast, you how the two things are different. If it just says "contrast," only talk about the differences.

Which passage compares and contrasts two things?

• Penguins are birds that cannot fly. They live in the Antarctica. They find fish in the sea to eat. Female penguins lay eggs. The father keeps the egg warm. The mother hunts for food for her chick. Penguins stay in group to keep warm and safe. When the chicks are four or five months old, they go off on their own. Penguins enjoy slipping on ice with their feathers.

• Polar bears are mammals. The polar bear’s home is the North Pole. They eat seals from the icy water. The female polar bear gives birth and takes care of her cubs. The polar bear cubs drink their mother’s milk. Polar bears stay in dens to keep safe and warm. When the cubs are two years old, they leave their mother. Polar bears have fun sliding on the ice and snow.

• The Inuit, who lived in the cold Arctic region, spent part of the year living in igloos. Igloos were temporary homes like tipis. However, they were built for the cold winter months, whereas a tipi could be used year round. Both tipis and igloos had one main room that the family lived in and were usually made for a single family. Tipis and igloos were made of very different materials. Igloos were made from blocks of snow stacked on top of each other, while tipis were made from buffalo hide, tree bark, or grass. The shape of tipis and igloos was also different. Tipis were cone-shaped, using three or four poles for support. In contrast, igloos were dome-shaped.

• I went on vacation at the beach last summer. My brother and I played in the ocean and built castles out of sand. I also read lots of books last summer. My favorite book was The Secret Garden. At the end of the summer, my mom and dad took me to the water park and we went swimming. It was fun!

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.1.3

In the past, only the upper class could afford a comfortable life. Now artisans and tradesmen can afford beautiful and comfortable things, and soon the working class will be able to as well. Steam powered machines already produce high quality goods at prices that everyone can afford. In addition, steamboats and trains now transport people over long distances luxuriously and quickly.

The Main Idea is ...

• class differences are being erased by new discoveries.

• new inventions are making life better for people of all classes.

• steam-powered machinery has provided beautiful clothing for all people.

• industry will bring many conveniences to people in the future.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

Which of these summaries fits a paragraph where the main idea is "new inventions are making life better for people of all classes."

• Soon the lives of the poor will be as luxurious as those of the rich thanks to the inventions that have been made. Steam power is making the difference.

• In the past, only the upper class could afford a comfortable life. Now artisans and tradesmen can afford beautiful and comfortable things, and soon the working class will be able to as well. Steam powered machines already produce high quality goods at prices that everyone can afford. In addition, steamboats and trains now transport people over long distances luxuriously and quickly.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.6