Literary and Language Skills Quiz

Which evidence from paragraph 1 of Selection A best supports the inference that the narrator and Leo strongly valued the fun they had outdoors at the old house?

• It was in the big oak behind our house, and it felt like our kingdom.

• The new house was fine—bigger, even—but the backyard was just an empty square of grass.

• No castle for us here,' Leo sighed.

• We didn't even unpack our camping gear, which we used for 'nights under the stars' in the treehouse.

Answer explanation

The phrase 'it felt like our kingdom' indicates a strong emotional connection to the outdoor fun they had at the old house, highlighting its significance to the narrator and Leo.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.7

CCSS.RI.7.7

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RL.6.9

CCSS.RL.7.7

How does the author of Selection A use point of view to provide a perspective on events?

• The author uses first-person point of view to share the narrator’s personal and changing emotional journey about moving.

• The author uses third-person limited to focus on Leo’s perspective and his disappointment with the new backyard.

• The author uses first-person point of view to present events objectively, focusing only on the dimensions and facts of the houses.

• The author uses third-person omniscient to reveal the private thoughts of Mom, Dad, and both children.

Answer explanation

The correct choice highlights the author's use of first-person point of view, which allows readers to experience the narrator's personal and evolving emotions about moving, providing a deeper connection to the events.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.7

CCSS.RI.6.7

CCSS.RI.7.7

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RL.6.9

Knowing the meaning of the Latin prefix mal- helps the reader understand that the word malcontent (similar to the feeling described by the speaker in Selection B, line 12) most likely means

• someone who is 'extremely' contented, or filled with joy.

• someone who is 'badly' contented, or always dissatisfied.

• someone who is 'the opposite of' contented, or neutral.

• someone who is 'half of' contented, or frequently sad.

Answer explanation

The prefix 'mal-' means 'bad' or 'wrong'. Therefore, 'malcontent' refers to someone who is 'badly' contented, indicating dissatisfaction, which aligns with the correct choice.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

Which of the following correctly identifies the meaning of the Latin roots -spec- and -mal-?

• -spec- means 'to build,' and -mal- means 'good.'

• -spec- means 'to look or see,' and -mal- means 'bad' or 'evil.'

• -spec- means 'to run,' and -mal- means 'fast.'

• -spec- means 'to hear,' and -mal- means 'big.'

Answer explanation

The correct choice is that -spec- means 'to look or see,' and -mal- means 'bad' or 'evil.' These roots are commonly found in words like 'spectator' (to look) and 'malicious' (bad).

Tags

CCSS.L.4.4B

CCSS.L.5.4B

CCSS.L.6.4B

CCSS.L.7.4B

CCSS.L.8.4B

Which best describes the speaker’s resolution of an internal conflict in Selection B?

• When she realizes she can never beat her sister, she decides to stop running entirely.

• When she realizes her worth is tied to her family, she starts cheering louder for her sister.

• When she determines to find her own source of pride, she shifts her focus to her unique ability to nurture the garden.

• When she finds that her hobby is causing her sadness, she asks her parents to buy her a trophy.

Answer explanation

The correct choice highlights the speaker's shift in focus from competition with her sister to embracing her unique talent in nurturing the garden, allowing her to find personal pride and resolve her internal conflict.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

Which is a theme or central idea that is developed in both Selection A and Selection B?

• New activities are always better than old traditions.

• Change is an inevitable and negative part of growing up.

• It is possible to discover value and comfort in new places and unique strengths.

• Parents should try harder to understand their children's needs.

Answer explanation

Both selections highlight the idea that new experiences can lead to personal growth and the discovery of strengths, emphasizing the value and comfort found in unfamiliar environments.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.7

CCSS.RI.7.7

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RL.6.9

CCSS.RL.7.7

In a piece of narrative text, what is the "theme"?

• What the story is about
• The topic of the text
• A message the author is trying to get across to the reader
• Where and when the story happens

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.10

CCSS.RI.7.10

CCSS.RL.5.10

CCSS.RL.6.10

CCSS.RL.7.10

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower; 
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf,
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day
Nothing gold can stay. 
What is the central theme of this poem?

• Nature and man must get along
• Wonderful and beautiful things only last a short while
• Sunsets and sunrises are beautiful
• Nature and beauty are permanent.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

What is the theme of this story?

• Don't steal
• Look both ways before crossing the street. 
• Necessity is the mother of invention. 
• One good turn deserves another.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

What is conflict?

• Two characters getting along.

• A struggle between two opposing forces.

• The climax in a story.

• Part of the resolution.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3