Text Analysis

The writer uses personification in the following line to convey what meaning? The clock on the wall laughed at me as I tried to finish my test before class ended.

• To show that the test taker was running out of time

• To make the sentence more interesting

• To make the reader think the setting is make believe

• To express that the test is so stressful the person is hallucinating

The simile: I bolted out the door like a horse leaving the gate for a race shows the reader...

• ...how scared the speaker was
• ...that the speaker really enjoys horse racing 
• ...how quickly the speaker was moving
• ...that the speaker was late for a meeting

Juana's dark eyes swam like fish behind her tinted glasses. What is meant by this simile?

• Juana had something in her eye
• Juana's eyes moved smoothly back and forth
• Juana had a hard time seeing in her glasses
• Juana is really a cat waiting to eat the fish

Rhetoric involves many stylistic elements, including all EXCEPT...

• use of figurative language, such as allusions or metaphors
• use of anaphora or other syntactical choices
• the author's personal life
• analysis of the way the author uses word choice

Macey's mom noticed that she was squinting as she read her book, which was only a few inches away from her face. She scheduled a doctor's appointment for the next week, and when the doctor said Macey needed glasses, she tried on every single pair in the office. After spending an hour looking at glasses, mom suggested that perhaps she should sleep on it and come back and decide in the morning. Macey agreed, but she kept talking about the pros and cons of each pair all night long. 
What can you infer about Macey?

• Macey is mad at her mother.
• Macey does not want glasses.
• Macey is very excited about getting glasses.
• Macey has trouble making decisions.

In real life, people who can back up an opinion about a text with Textual Evidence are taken more seriously than people who can only give a reason of “just because".

• True
• False

Paco directed Marta’s attention to the poster advertising the community dance-a-thon.

“It’ll be a 24 hour marathon of dancing for charity, “ Paco said.

“I can’t imagine anything more entertaining, so let’s register before the event is full.”

Marta looked at Paco’s expression and said,

“Absolutely, sign me up.” As they walked into the office, Marta thought,

“I can’t imagine anything less fun to do with my time. Paco is so enthusiastic though, and the event will raise money for charity.”

Why does the author reveal Marta’s thoughts?

• To show that it is more important to her to raise money for charity than to hang out with Paco.

• To show that she will be participating out of obligation even though she doesn’t think the event will be fun.

• To show that dancing is one of her least favorite activities and that and she will back out at the last minute.

Five-year-old Lucy accompanied her mother to the city airport to pick up Lucy’s father, who was returning from a business trip. Lucy had never been to the airport before, and her mother expected her daughter to be fascinated with the planes racing down the runway. However, when they reached the baggage claim area, Lucy’s eyes grew wide. She was full of questions about the conveyor belt and how the luggage got on and off the planes.

Why does the author reveal what Lucy’s mother expects Lucy to do?

• To emphasize that Lucy’s interest in luggage surprises her mom

• To show that Lucy is more mature than her mother thinks she is

• To foreshadow the idea that Lucy will work for an airline one day

Nia surveyed the portrait she’d just finished painting and then returned the paints to the cabinet. She noticed that some of the paint bottles protruded over the edge of the shelf. Nia removed the bottles and arranged them differently, but the cabinet still didn’t close properly. After she’d tried seven successive times, the cabinet door finally closed tightly. Nia chuckled and exhaled a sigh of relief.

How does the author reveal Nia’s determination?

• By having Nia laugh at herself.

• By stating Nia's qualities.

• By describing what Nia does.

Chloe detected an unusual scent emerging from the kitchen. Since this aroma was unfamiliar to Chloe, who was a budding cook, she marched into the kitchen to discover its source. She caught a glimpse of something brownish bubbling in the bright-blue iron pot before its lid dropped in place. When Chloe inquired about its contents, the chef, also known as Mom, smiled knowingly, saying only, “Dinner!” However, 15 minutes later, Chloe returned and peeked inside the pot.

How does the author reveal Chloe’s character?

• By showing Chloe trying to figure out what is for dinner.

• By letting the reader know Chloe's thoughts about dinner.

• By describing how Chloe's mom responds to her question.