ELA 7 Comprehension Questions

How does the use of personification in the phrase "The stars danced playfully in the moonlit sky" contribute to the mood of the sentence?

• It creates a gloomy and somber mood.

• It evokes a playful and magical tone.

• It emphasizes the brightness of the stars.

• It highlights the scientific nature of the stars.

Answer explanation

The personification of the stars as 'dancing playfully' creates a whimsical and enchanting atmosphere, enhancing the mood of the sentence and evoking a sense of magic and joy in the scene.

Analyze the metaphor in the sentence, "His explanation was a tangled web of lies." What is the intended effect of comparing lies to a tangled web?

• It conveys a sense of confusion and complexity.

• It emphasizes the honesty in the explanation.

• It simplifies the process of understanding the lies.

• It neutralizes the tone of the statement.

Answer explanation

The metaphor "a tangled web of lies" suggests confusion and complexity, indicating that the lies are intricately woven together, making it difficult to discern the truth. This highlights the deceptive nature of the explanation.

Identify the impact of repetition in the phrase, "Alone, all alone, nobody but nobody can make it out here alone."

• It reinforces the theme of independence.

• It highlights the importance of solitude.

• It emphasizes the loneliness of the speaker.

• It creates a sense of urgency.

Answer explanation

The repetition of "alone" emphasizes the speaker's profound sense of loneliness, highlighting that despite being surrounded by others, they feel isolated and unsupported in their struggles.

Evaluate the use of irony in the statement, "The fire station burned down." How does this irony affect the tone of the text?

• It creates a humorous and light-hearted tone.

• It adds a sense of foreboding to the text.

• It introduces a dramatic and serious tone.

• It enhances the tragic mood of the event.

Answer explanation

The statement "The fire station burned down" is ironic because a fire station is meant to combat fires. This irony creates a humorous and light-hearted tone, as it highlights the absurdity of the situation.

Compare the effects of hyperbole in two statements: "I’m so hungry I could eat a horse" versus "The line for food stretched to the moon." What mood is created by each hyperbole?

• Both statements create a mood of urgency.

• The first creates humor, while the second emphasizes exaggeration.

• The first conveys humor, while the second suggests hopelessness.

• Both statements create a mood of despair.

Answer explanation

The first statement, "I’m so hungry I could eat a horse," uses hyperbole to create humor, suggesting an exaggerated level of hunger. In contrast, "The line for food stretched to the moon" emphasizes exaggeration, highlighting the overwhelming length of the line.

In the sentence, "She felt a pang of regret as she watched her friend leave," what does "pang" most likely mean?

• A deep wound

• A sharp feeling

• A casual thought

• A loud noise

Answer explanation

In this context, 'pang' refers to a sharp feeling of regret, indicating a sudden emotional response. The other options do not fit the emotional nuance conveyed in the sentence.

Analyze the word "illuminate" in the sentence: "The teacher used examples to illuminate the concept." What does "illuminate" mean, and how does the context support your answer?

• To light up; the context references brightness.

• To clarify; the context involves explaining a concept.

• To decorate; the context involves teaching.

• To confuse; the context involves complex ideas.

Answer explanation

In the sentence, 'illuminate' means to clarify, as the teacher uses examples to explain a concept. The context of teaching and explaining supports this interpretation, making 'to clarify' the correct choice.

In the sentence, "After the marathon, he collapsed from sheer exhaustion," what does "sheer" most likely mean?

• Transparent

• Complete

• Partial

• Physical

Answer explanation

In this context, 'sheer' means 'complete' or 'utter,' emphasizing the totality of his exhaustion after the marathon. It indicates that he was completely exhausted, making 'complete' the correct choice.

Determine the meaning of "forge" in the sentence: "They worked hard to forge a lasting friendship." How does its position in the sentence help?

• To create; it is tied to the idea of working hard.

• To break; it implies difficulty in maintaining a bond.

• To strengthen; it suggests persistence in relationships.

• To steal; it indicates a manipulative action.

Answer explanation

In the sentence, 'forge' means 'to create,' emphasizing the effort put into building a friendship. Its position highlights the connection between hard work and the development of a meaningful relationship.

What does "resilient" mean in the sentence, "The resilient plants survived the harsh winter," and what clues support your answer?

• Fragile; they struggled to survive.

• Tough; they endured difficult conditions.

• Abundant; they grew in large numbers.

• Scarce; they were difficult to find.

Answer explanation

In the sentence, "resilient" means tough, as it describes plants that survived harsh winter conditions. The word "survived" indicates they endured difficulties, supporting the choice of "Tough; they endured difficult conditions."