Cumulative Exam Answers

Which question would be most effective at encouraging good discussion?

Read the excerpt from Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.When I reached the church steps, I looked back again. T.J. was still there, an indistinct blur blending into the gathering dusk, and I began to think that perhaps he would not go with the Simmses. But then the rude squawk of the truck's horn blasted the quiet evening, and T.J. turned his back on us and fled across the field.

Read the topic from Immigrant Kids by Russell Freedman.Immigrant families worried about being torn apart from one another.

Which sentence uses a homophone incorrectly?

Read this line from "Empire State Building."I wake to taxi alarms.

Which is the general setting in A Girl Named Zippy?

Yolanda is participating in a group discussion. Several of her peers have spoken before her, and she completely disagrees with them.Which response is the most positive approach?

Read the excerpt from "Bone Detective."Diane’s favorite “casting character” of all time wasn’t dead, famous, or even human. In March 1997, the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., asked her to make casts of the paw and tongue of a living tiger for an exhibit. Tiger paws have sharp claws, and the tongue is sandwiched between four long, meat-ripping canine teeth. But Diane wasn’t worried about her safety, since the big cat would be tranquilized. She was more worried about the tiger. She didn’t want to harm the animal in any way. She didn’t know—yet—how to cast the body part of a living animal, especially one so large and . . . predatory.

Brooke read about coffee grinders in a book about pioneer living. Pioneers enjoyed a hot cup of coffee to warm them in the chilly mornings. The coffee beans had to be roasted in a skillet first and then put in a bag to be crushed. Often they were crushed with a camp axe or hammer. Some, more established, pioneer families had an old-fashioned coffee grinder, which crushed the coffee beans for them.

Read the sentence.Anish is researching the history of the Olympics and finds a government report that has information he can cite in his essay.

Which article would most likely use a cause-and-effect text structure?

Read the following paragraph.Macy was nervous. She had never attended such a formal dinner before. People were speaking in low voices. The matching plates, bowls, glasses, and cutlery were laid out perfectly. Macy had no idea which of the two forks she needed to use first. Dinner at her house was always relaxed with everyone talking and laughing loudly about the events of the day. Most of the time their plates didn’t even match, and the napkins were always made of paper. Macy took the cloth napkin and placed it on her lap, just like she had just seen her friend do. So far, so good. Hopefully, she could copy her friend for the rest of dinner.

Read the following three sentences.The small band of travelers stood at the southern tip of Lake Michigan. None of them could see the opposite shore, which was hundreds of miles away. The lake, they realized, was immense.

Which would be most important to include in a biography?

Read the passages.Passage A: Known as "man's best friend," dogs make great companions. They are loving, loyal, and forgiving. Some dogs can help to keep you active, and others will warm your lap for hours. Since there are more than 150 breeds to choose from, everyone can find the perfect dog for their lifestyle. Passage B: Dogs are known as "man's best friend." They make great companions. They are loving, loyal, and forgiving. Some dogs can help to keep you active. Some dogs will warm your lap for hours. There are over 150 breeds to choose from. Everyone can find the perfect dog for their lifestyle.

Which of the following sentences is an example of a subjective opinion?

Read the topic from Immigrant Kids by Russell Freedman.Immigrant families had close family ties.

Read the excerpt from Immigrant Kids, by Russell Freedman.Men, women, and children were packed into dark, foul-smelling compartments. They slept in narrow bunks stacked three high. They had no showers, no lounges, and no dining rooms. Food served from huge kettles was dished into dinner pails provided by the steamship company. Because steerage conditions were crowded and uncomfortable, passengers spent as much time as possible up on deck.

Which of the following phrases from "Opening Ceremonies of the New York and Brooklyn Bridge" by Hon. Seth Low, Mayor of the City of Brooklyn is intended to persuade his audience?

Brady read this on a pamphlet at the dentist's office.Shinybrite is the best toothpaste on the market! Eight out of ten patients who tried Shinybrite Minty Creme liked it better than the leading brand of toothpaste. Shinybrite whitens teeth and freshens breath. Regular toothbrushing decreases cavities and gum disease.

Read "The Eagle” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.He clasps the crag with crooked hands;Close to the sun in lonely lands,Ring’d with the azure world, he stands.The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;He watches from his mountain walls,And like a thunderbolt he falls.

Which sentence uses a contraction incorrectly?

Will has been asked to respond to this excerpt from A Short Walk around the Pyramids and through the World of Art by Philip Isaacson.The temple is called the Parthenon, and the horse was part of a group of figures made especially for its east pediment, a large stone triangle fitted just under the roof. The Parthenon, high on a hill, catches the first light of morning. The carvers wanted the sight of that golden light washing across the horse and a line of other gods to be unforgettable. And so they coaxed the images of their gods out of the marble with such tenderness that they gave the world an example of ideal beauty. Each figure is as calm and as refined as our minds can imagine. They are so noble and quiet that they do seem godly and perfect companions for the noble, quiet temple.

Which writing sample uses pronouns correctly?

Read these lines from "Winter-Time" by Robert Louis Stevenson.And tree and house, and hill and lake,Are frosted like a wedding-cake.

Read the sentences from the "Ellis Island Oral History Project" excerpt.Oh, I, it was so beautiful to see her. Ten years I didn't see her. I mean, she looked different, and I was so grown up. I was only eight years old when she left and then I was eighteen. I was young lady. Well, I came and she was hugging me. We both cry.

Read the short story.Noah spent three weeks working on his model of the Golden Gate Bridge. He designed it himself and built it completely out of toothpicks for the sixth-grade science fair. The purpose of Noah's project is to demonstrate how proper design is the key to the strength of a structure.

Which writing sample uses pronouns correctly?

Read the excerpt from "A Friend in Need."Jeb smiled, then cleared his throat and said, “Ma, about your offer to fix my shirt . . . well, I have one other that still fits, so I was wondering if I could give this one to Seth instead.” “That seems like an odd request,” she said. “Why would you want to do that?” “Well, you see, Seth stopped going to school a couple of weeks ago,” Jeb replied. Pa stopped eating mid-chew and Ma put down her fork. “But Seth Sutter is an honor student! Why on earth would he go and do a foolish thing such as that?” she asked, rolling her eyes heavenward. Jeb cleared his throat again. “Well, the only shirt he owned has worn clean through, and he can’t show up at school without one.”

How many lines do most sonnets have?

Mr. Reed's second-period class.

Read this excerpt from Immigrant Kids, by Russell Freedman.Immigrants usually crossed the Atlantic as steerage passengers. Reached by steep, slippery stairways, the steerage lay deep down in the hold of the ship. It was occupied by passengers paying the lowest fare.Men, women, and children were packed into dark, foul-smelling compartments. They slept in narrow bunks stacked three high. They had no showers, no lounges, and no dining rooms.

Read the excerpt from Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry."Ah, man!" cried T.J. "It ain't none of my business." Then, after a moment's silence, he added, "I got too many worries of my own to worry 'bout Cassie Uncle Tomming Lillian Jean."My temper almost flew out of my mouth, but I pressed my lips tightly together, forcing it to stay inside.

Read the short story.One afternoon, Billy's father decided it was time to teach his young son how to ride a bicycle. The two headed out to the driveway after lunch. Billy's father removed Billy's training wheels and made sure the boy's helmet was fastened tightly. Then he held the bike while Billy tried to balance. Billy tried to balance and pedal at the same time. He just couldn't seem to get it. By one o'clock, Billy had two skinned knees and a bruised elbow.

Review these frames from Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy.

Read Kai’s brainstorming table.Which sentence would best resolve this series of events in a descriptive narrative?

Read the excerpt from "Object Lesson, Part 2."Joey burst into tears.Louise Carpenter made an instinctive gesture toward him. Ellery's head-shake warned her back. He went close to the boy and tousled the red head, murmuring something the others could not hear. And after a while Joey's tears sniffled to an end and he wiped his eyes on his sleeve in a puzzled way.

Read this excerpt from "Math Curse."I wake up at 7:15. It takes me 10 minutes to get dressed, 15 minutes to eat my breakfast and 1 minute to brush my teeth.

Which excerpt from "Math Curse" best helps the reader predict the narrator's main conflict?

Read this excerpt from "Math Curse."SUDDENLY, it's a problem: 1) If my bus leaves at 8:00, will I make it on time? 2) How many minutes in 1 hour? 3) How many teeth in mouth?

Which detail from "Drawn to Barre" best supports the idea that stonecutters unions’ fought for workers’ rights?

Read the excerpt from "Homesickness."He himself sat down behind his desk and fixed me with a penetrating but not unkindly eye.

This photograph shows the Statue of Liberty.

Read the excerpt from "Lady Liberty."When we got there, the harbor was busy, and the island seemed a mess. The US Lighthouse Board was having some trouble with repairs. Only one of four entrances was open to guests, and the latrine was just a small shed over the sea. We passed a large sinkhole on the grounds as we walked around Fort Wood.Our guide said the fort was built in 1811 and was one of eight that had guarded the bay. The statue’s granite base stood inside the courtyard, with the broken shackles of slavery by the giant feet. France was against slavery, and knowing the statue was their gift made me proud of my family. It had been a shared project between the two countries.

Which line from "Lady Liberty" is an opinion?

Read the excerpt from "Lady Liberty."The frame took more than two years to finish, and it was hard for me to imagine the dedication required to create such a magnificent structure. Papa said Eiffel formed twelve thousand iron pieces to the exact shape needed, and they fit together using seven million nails. Thin sheets of Bartholdi's hammered copper attached to Eiffel's frame. The copper’s thickness was about the same as two pennies, and, combined with the frame, the pieces were one inch thick. They let the statue sway in the wind and expand and contract with heat or cold. It was designed so any stress was shifted to the steel supports inside – although the sea air did turn the copper surface to a soft green tarnish.

According to "Drawn to Barre," why were immigrants skilled in stonecutting attracted to Barre, Vermont?

The chart is from the passage "Drawn to Barre."

Which question would a reader most likely ask to learn more about the process of stonecutting after reading "Drawn to Barre"?

Which best describes the purpose of "Draw to Barre"?