ISTEP + ELA 10th Grade Vocabulary

"Which sentence BEST supports the central idea of the essay?"

If you come across a question like this on the ISTEP, what can you infer?

• There are multiple sentences that could support the central idea, but one sentence is better than the rest.

• There is only one sentence that could possibly support the central idea.

• None of the sentences will support the answer.

• You should guess, because any of the sentences that you choose will be correct.

What does the word in bold mean?

"What can the reader conclude about the author’s opinion?"

• To assume based on bias

• To make a guess with no evidence

• To foreshadow

• To figure out based on the evidence

Choose the word/phrase that could replace the bolded words:

"How does the information in Paragraph 3 contribute to the development of ideas in the article?"

• oppose

• help to bring about

• donate

• solely cause

If a question on the ISTEP says, "Describe the setting and how it impacts the plot," you are supposed to:

• Explain where and when the story takes place and then explain how this affects the events in the story.

• Go into detail about the time in history and the city where the story takes place.

• Briefly summarize the entire story, focussing on the setting.

• Make an educated guess.

If a question asks you to "support your answer with details from the story," what is the main thing that you should be careful NOT to do:

• Cite specific people, places and events in the story.

• Include both supporting evidence and a thorough explanation.

• Give only your answer and a few vague/general examples to support your answer.

Choose the word/phrase that could replace the bolded word:

How does the author develop the central idea of the article?

• summarize

• begin

• explain, expand and elaborate on

• oppose

What is an "excerpt"?

• A summary

• A short part of a larger text

• A nonfiction article

• A literary genre

If a question says "Explain how the author attempts to persuade the reader to join an art club," you should:

• Go on a tangent.

• Cite lots of evidence from the text and let the reader make his or her own conclusion.

• Summarize the author's argument.

• Using specific examples from the text, show how the author uses different strategies (for example using ethos, pathos, or logos) to move the reader to action.

Choose the word/phrase that could replace the bolded word:

"Which detail BEST illustrates the size of the boat?"

• draws a picture of

• shows

• obscures

• makes difficult to understand

Choose the BEST word that could replace the bolded word:

"How does the narrator’s point of view impact the reader’s understanding of the story? "

• inhibit

• influence

• distort

• enlarge