Test Prep Practice 2

Which of the following best defines the main idea of a passage?

• The setting of the story

• The central point or message the author wants to convey

• The names of the characters

• The order of events

What does it mean when an author’s purpose is to "inform"?

• To entertain the reader with a story

• To provide facts or information about a topic

• To persuade the reader to agree with an opinion

• To describe a character’s feelings

Which of the following is an example of a theme in literature?

• The story takes place in New York City

• Friendship can overcome adversity

• The main character is named Alex

• The book has twelve chapters

Which of the following best describes character development?

• The way a character’s personality, motivations, or beliefs change throughout a story

• The number of characters in a story

• The setting where the character lives

• The author’s writing style

Read the following excerpt: "Maria hesitated at the door, her hand trembling as she reached for the handle. She took a deep breath, remembering her promise to herself to be brave." What can you infer about Maria’s character at this point in the story?

• She is always confident

• She is nervous but determined to overcome her fear

• She is angry at someone

• She is leaving the house forever

Which of the following best compares the themes of two stories where one focuses on "the importance of honesty" and the other on "the consequences of lying"?

• Both stories are set in the same location

• Both stories explore the value of truthfulness, but from different perspectives

• Both stories have the same main character

• Both stories are written by the same author

An author writes a story about a young athlete who overcomes obstacles to win a championship. What is the most likely author’s purpose?

• To inform readers about sports rules

• To persuade readers to play sports

• To entertain readers with an inspiring story

• To describe the history of championships

Which of the following statements best analyzes how a character changes from the beginning to the end of a story?

• The character’s name is mentioned in every chapter

• The character starts out shy and becomes more confident after facing challenges

• The character lives in a small town

• The character has a pet dog

Read the following summary: Story A explores the theme of forgiveness, while Story B focuses on revenge. Which of the following best evaluates the difference in the authors’ purposes?

• Both authors want to describe a setting

• Story A’s author aims to show the benefits of letting go, while Story B’s author highlights the consequences of holding onto anger

• Both authors want to teach readers about history

• Both stories are about the same character

After reading two stories with similar plots but different endings, how would you compare and contrast their themes using evidence from the texts?

• By listing the characters’ names in each story

• By identifying how each story’s resolution supports a different message about hope or despair, using examples from the endings

• By counting the number of chapters in each story

• By describing the settings in detail