10th Grade March 26 Study Island Assignments

Which of the following sentences best uses language that appeals to the senses?

• The fear in him rose until he couldn't think straight about anything and ran.

• Miranda felt bittersweet about being a bridesmaid at the beautiful wedding.

• The dust gathered and clung to his face like a spider web catching a lost fly.

• What a great time of year to plant a lovely rose garden for the orphanage!

Answer explanation

Sensory language is most effective when it plays on your senses and gives you concrete words or images. "Like" or "as" are usually good indicators of concrete images, so are metaphors and allegories. Cliché words (words like "bittersweet") and vague words (words like "fear," "lovely," and "beautiful") aren't concrete because they can mean different things to different people. With images, the reader gets a better sense of the feeling the writer is trying to convey. In the sentence, the dust in the man's face is compared to something concrete—a fly caught in a spider web.

Tags

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

Which of the following sentences uses language that appeals to the senses to advance a plot?

• Jon slammed on the brakes, making the tires squeal like scared children as he jolted to a stop.

• Jon stopped the car quickly because he was afraid he was driving too fast and might crash.

• Jon wanted to get out of the car, so he stopped it and then made sure the gear was in park.

• Jon hit the brakes with his foot, which made the tires make noise as he came to an abrupt stop.

Answer explanation

To keep the action of the story (the plot) interesting, use concrete language that appeals to the senses. Compare sounds, tastes, and smells to things your readers might have experienced by using "like" or "as." Concrete language is not vague; rather, it conveys an action exactly as it occurred using strong verbs like "slammed" and "jolted."

Tags

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

Which of the following sentences uses language that most appeals to the senses?

• The cheesy pasta was perfect for a surprise fortieth birthday dinner, and all the guests really enjoyed the meal.

• The warm, gooey, cheese-filled pasta pillows delight my eager tongue like a tall drink of water after a long run.

• Dinner was so delicious tonight because cheese is one of my favorite things to eat when I'm really hungry.

• I enjoyed eating the perfect ravioli because I felt really good and tired after winning the big soccer game.

Answer explanation

Sensory language is most effective when it plays on your senses and gives you concrete words or images. "Like" or "as" are usually good indicators of concrete images, so are metaphors. Vague words (words like "good," "perfect," and "really") aren't concrete because they can mean different things to different people. With images, the reader gets a better sense of the feeling the writer is trying to convey. In the correct answer, the meal is compared to something concrete—a pillow and a drink of water.

Tags

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

   Sam left his hot meal to stand up and courteously extend his elbow to the Lady Josephine in order to support her down the steps and to the table. One could see her weight strain him, as a bead of perspiration dripped slowly down his straight nose. But he maintained a sunny smile the whole time, showing off teeth as white as the morning snow and a dimple that would make a schoolgirl swoon.

What does the paragraph above tell the reader about the character Sam?

• Sam is a selfless and attractive person.

• Sam is a heavy and out-of-shape man.

• Sam is rude, cunning, and unattractive.

• Sam is slim and doesn't eat much food.

Answer explanation

The paragraph above uses sensory language to develop the character of Sam. Because the author describes Sam's actions and looks with adjectives and images, the reader gets a clearer picture of what this character is like. He is selfless because he leaves his food to help a heavy old woman to the table and smiles while doing it. He is attractive with a straight nose, white teeth, and a dimple "that would make a schoolgirl swoon."

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

Which sentence is the most precisely written?

• The rubber racquetball ricocheted from one wall to the next.

• Some balls were tossed to a player, who was trying to catch them.

• The racquet was swung by the man with somewhat large goggles.

• Players were given some shirts and sneakers before the game.

Answer explanation

The most precise sentence is the one that uses strong sensory details without using passive voice or repetition. The words "rubber," "racquet," and "ricocheted" tell the reader the type of ball and what it did. The other sentences use passage voice and can be written more precisely.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

Unlike Close, Kahlo

• did not gain fame in her lifetime.

• was a professionally trained artist.

• did not remain an artist for long.

• was also a talented photographer.

Answer explanation

Close has experienced worldwide fame in his career, and he is named one of the 50 most influential people in the art world. However, Kahlo did not achieve that level of fame in her career. Her work did not achieve worldwide fame until the 1980s, many years after her death. So, the correct answer is she "did not gain fame in her lifetime."

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.6.3

What is one way Kahlo's paintings are different from Close's?

• She painted on extremely large canvases.

• She painted landscapes from Mexico.

• She created art that had a dreamlike quality.

• She used a grid system to fill in colors.

Answer explanation

Kahlo's work is distinct from Close's in that "She created art that had a dreamlike quality."

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.6.3

How are Kahlo and Close similar?

• Their life stories inspired others.

• They persevered to create art.

• Their families provided much support.

• They created new painting methods.

Answer explanation

Both Kahlo and close had to overcome great physical challenges. So, are similar in that "They persevered to create art."

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.6.3

What do these two selections have in common?

• They both express personal feelings about art.

• They both describe the life and work of artists.

• They both tell a story about famous Americans.

• They both give instructions for learning to draw.

Answer explanation

Both selections are biographies about artists. Passage 1 describes the life and work of Frida Kahlo. Passage 2 describes the life and work of Chuck Close.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.7

CCSS.RI.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.7

CCSS.RL.8.7

Based on the selections, both Kahlo and Close

• were married to famous artists.

• liked to experiment with portraits.

• used symbolism to express emotions.

• received advanced art degrees.

Answer explanation

Frida Kahlo experimented with her self-portraits by including unique symbolism. Chuck Close experimented with portraits by using tiny squares of color to create large works of art. So, "liked to experiment with portraits" is the correct answer.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.7

CCSS.RI.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.7

CCSS.RI.8.7