ELA Middle School Review

Read the sentences from an email. (1) Mike, Jim, and me all agree that whoever cuts the grass must do so soon. (2) The weather forecast calls for rain Tuesday through next week, and none of us boys will be able to do any mowing during that time. (3) In addition, we want the lawn to look nice for our relatives who are coming to visit on Monday. Which underlined pronoun should be replaced?

• me in sentence 1

• whoever in sentence 1

• us in sentence 2

• who in sentence 3

Read the sentences from a story. (1) When Melanie was a girl, the family member she most appreciated, besides her parents and brother, was her Uncle Bill. (2) They used to take Melanie’s brother and her fishing. (3) Uncle Bill, whenever he had time, took them to Silver Lake, the most peaceful place in all of Jackson County. (4) Her brother still speaks fondly of Uncle Bill and good times fishing on the lake. Which change should be made to correct the pronoun error in the paragraph?

• Change she to we in sentence 1.

• Change They to He in sentence 2.

• Change them to us in sentence 3.

• Change Her to Their in sentence 4

Read the sentences from a story about camping. (1) Shelly arrived at the campsite first. (2) She set up her tent and watched for Megan to come over the ridge, but no one came. (3) Afternoon turned into night, and the galaxies spread across the dark skies. (4) Shelly put on her sweater and was resolved to spend the night alone on the mountain when she __________ a shadowy figure trudging down from the ridge. Which group of words correctly completes sentence 4?

• glances up and sees

• glanced up and saw

• had glanced up and seen

• glanced up and had seen

Read the sentences from a note about an upcoming English test. Every one of the students in the class _____ to take the test early. All of them _____ it is unnecessary to wait. What pair of words correctly completes the sentences?

• want, feels

• want, feel

• wants, feels

• wants, feel

Which sentence from a children’s story is punctuated correctly?

• The children enjoyed stomping in the rain in spring, swimming at the pond in summer, building bonfires in autumn, and sledding down the hill by the school in winter.

• The children, enjoyed stomping in the rain in spring, swimming at the pond in summer, building bonfires, in autumn and sledding down the hill by the school in winter.

• The children enjoyed stomping, in the rain in spring, swimming at the pond, in summer building bonfires, in autumn and sledding down the hill by the school in winter.

• The children enjoyed, stomping in the rain in spring, swimming at the pond, in summer building bonfires in autumn, and sledding down the hill by the school in winter.

Read the paragraph. (1) This year, the spelling bee finalists were my friend Jason and I. (2) The two of us advanced to the final round. (3) Jason seemed calmer than me. (4) In the end, though, Jason and I both won because the officials declared a tie. Which underlined pronoun should be replaced?

• I in sentence 1

• us in sentence 2

• me in sentence 3

• I in sentence 4

Read the paragraph. (1) Everyone filed into Philadelphia’s City Hall except Sarah and me. (2) Us two classmates wanted to look at the building for a while longer. (3) She and me gazed at the amazing structure. (4) The giant statue of William Penn gazed back at Sarah and I, reminding us of the history of our state. Which underlined pronoun is used correctly?

• me in sentence 1

• Us in sentence 2

• me in sentence 3

• I in sentence 4

Read the sentences. (1) Last year the art club participated in workshops, hosted exhibits, and visited local art galleries. (2) This made being in art club enjoyable and rewarding. Which revision best corrects the vague or unclear pronoun in sentence 2?

• These activities made being in art club enjoyable and rewarding.

• Which is why being in art club was enjoyable and rewarding.

• It was what made being in art club enjoyable and rewarding.

• That made being in art club enjoyable and rewarding.

Which sentence in the paragraph below contains an error in verb tense?

• Last year our teacher assigned us the task of making a class book.

• We complete the last few pages a week before the book was due.

• The only piece that remained unfinished was the cover.

• Stephan volunteered to design it, but he never finished it.

Which sentence is a run-on sentence and should be written as two sentences?

• There is an easy way to improve your ability to remember a person’s name.

• When you are introduced to someone, repeat that person’s name.

• For example, if you have just met Joy, say to her, “It’s very nice to meet you, Joy.”

• Now you are more likely to remember Joy’s name it is a simple but effective trick.