Grammar
____
1. In the following sentence, which word is an adjective?
The gloriously beautiful afternoon drifted slowly into evening.
a. gloriously
b. beautiful
____
c. drifted
d. evening
2. In the following sentence, which word is an adjective?
After training at the business school, Manny's attitude changed dramatically.
a. business
b. training
____
3. Which sentence has three adjectives?
a. The fast car sped up and down the street.
b. The brown-haired girl bought three
shampoos at the beauty salon.
____
____
4. What must a prepositional phrase include?
a. a preposition and a noun or pronoun
b. a preposition and an adjective or article
c. dramatically
d. changed
c. Tobey's mother went to the store to buy
five different desserts for the party.
d. John quickly realized he had made a big
mistake.
c. a preposition and a verb or adverb
d. a preposition and a conjunction or
interjection
5. How many prepositional phrases are in the following sentence?
Put the pen near the front of the desk under the pad just behind the box.
a. one
b. two
____
c. three
d. Four
6. Which of the following is a sentence fragment?
a. He plays the piano.
c. She practiced a lot.
b. Go practice the violin.
d. A guitar and a drum set.
Literary Analysis: Figurative Language
Identify the type of figurative language used in the following sentence(s).
____
____
____
7. An angry sky loomed overhead.
a. simile
b. metaphor
c. paradox
d. personification
8. Her novel was a passport to adventure.
a. simile
b. metaphor
c. paradox
d. personification
9. The rumbling storm sounded like a freight train headed our way.
a. simile
c. paradox
b. metaphor
d. Personification
Literary Analysis: Sound Devices
____ 10. What type of sound device is illustrated by the word fizz?
a. alliteration
c. assonance
b. consonance
d. onomatopoeia
____ 11. Which sound device does this phrase demonstrate?
cruel cackles of crazed crones
a. alliteration
b. consonance
c. assonance
d. onomatopoeia
Reading Skill: Evaluate Sources
____ 12. Which of the following would indicate that an author's main idea is valid?
a. It is presented with headings and
c. It is fully supported with evidence.
subheadings.
b. It is found in a source that is many years d. It is presented with vivid language.
old.
Literary Analysis
____ 13. Which of these statements most accurately describes an epic?
a. An epic is a short poem that usually tells c. An epic is usually about a hero whose
an exciting story.
traits are valued by his or her society.
b. An epic is usually about an ordinary
d. An epic is usually narrated in
person who faces an extraordinary
chronological order, with no jumps in
situation.
time.
____ 14. What do you call an elaborate comparison that extends over several lines in an epic?
a. an epic simile
c. an analysis
b. an epithet
d. a Homeric stanza
____ 15. Which character generally opposes the main character in a literary work?
a. a secondary character
c. an antagonist
b. a protagonist
d. a tragic character
Literary Analysis: Protagonist and Antagonist
Read the selection. Then, answer the question(s).
From the huge waves that splashed the sides of the boat, the crew knew that the storm was
approaching. Although the captain had listened to the weather report before setting out, the crew
members were not prepared for this type of problem. Their rain gear was insufficient, and the
boat seemed dwarfed by the water that was rising around them. The captain was an accomplished
sailor, but it would take all of his expertise to get the crew and boat safely back to port.
____ 16. In the selection, why would the captain be considered the protagonist?
a. He is a minor character who is acted upon c. He is a major character who plays the role
by the storm.
of the villain.
b. He is a minor character who makes poor d. He is a major character who plays the role
decisions.
of the hero.
____ 17. In the selection, what or who is the antagonist?
a. the crew
c. the boat
b. the captain
d. the storm
____ 18. Which of these universal conflicts does the struggle in the passage represent?
a. human being vs. nature
c. good vs. evil
b. human being vs. society
d. younger generation vs. older generation
____ 19. What is a myth?
a. a story told in dialect
b. a fanciful story that explains a natural
phenomenon or event
c. an accurate explanation of why something
occurred
d. a fictional adventure story
Reading Skill: Analyze Primary Sources
____ 20. Which statement is true of primary sources?
a. All primary source documents are reliable. c. All primary sources are unreliable.
b. Some primary sources are more reliable
d. All primary sources are published
than others.
material.
____ 21. Which type of writing would qualify as a primary source?
a. an encyclopedia entry
c. a review of someone's biography
b. a history textbook
d. a ship captain's log
____ 22. Which of the following is least likely to be a primary source?
a. a short story
c. a news article
b. an autobiography
d. a diary
Read the passage. Then, answer the following question(s).
(1) When I was little, Grandma always played with me. (2) She taught me how to dance, and she
made beautiful clothes for my dolls. (3) She was my special friend, but I had no idea just how
special until I was in ninth grade.
(4) Since my family did not have much money, I knew I would never be able to buy a great dress
for the school dance. (5) That did not stop me from dreaming, however. (6) Many nights, after I
had finished my homework, I would sketch the "perfect" dress. (7) I kept all the sketches on my
bedside table. (8) I guess I figured that was a good place to store impossible dreams.
(9) One Monday, Mom and Grandma agreed that we should start shopping for my dress. (10) I
dreaded shopping for it; I knew I would never find anything close to my "perfect" dress. (11)
Nevertheless, we decided that we would shop for it on Saturday.
(12) That Friday night at dinner, Grandma seemed unusually cheerful, so I asked her why. (13)
"Oh, Natalie! I have a surprise," she sang, like a happy little bird, and she reached under the table
to pull out a huge, flat box. (14) When I opened it, I gasped and burst into tears. (15) Grandma
had made my "perfect" dress!
____ 23. Which sentence contains foreshadowing?
a. sentence 1
b. sentence 3
c. sentence 4
d. sentence 5
____ 24. From which point of view is this selection narrated?
a. first person
c. third-person limited
b. second person
d. third-person omniscient
____ 25. Which statement best summarizes the conflict that the narrator faces?
a. It is an internal conflict involving
c. It is an external conflict involving her
confusion about whether or not to go to
inability to design a dress for the dance.
the dance.
b. It is an internal conflict involving fear that d. It is an external conflict involving her
she will not be able to go to the dance.
inability to buy a perfect dress for the
dance.
____ 26. Based on the story, what conclusion can you draw about why Grandma decided to make Natalie's
"perfect" dress?
a. Grandma wanted to make Natalie's dream c. Grandma did not want to buy Natalie a
come true.
beautiful dress.
b. Grandma always loved to make doll
d. Grandma was bored and wanted an
clothes for Natalie.
interesting project.
____ 27. Which statement could you best use to describe Grandma, given her words and actions?
a. She is practical and stern.
c. She is funny and imaginative.
b. She is helpful and generous.
d. She is thrifty and a bit argumentative.
____ 28. Which of the following helps you make predictions about a text as you prepare to read it?
a. title and chapter titles
c. details in the text
b. your own experiences
d. all of the above
____ 29. In which of the following phrases is a noun used as an adjective?
a. a complete archive
c. collection of family letters
b. a family strong on documents
d. personal remembrances
____ 30. Choose the sentence that contains a prepositional phrase.
a. My grandfather McCracken was a
c. I have a small archive myself.
genealogist.
b. You need and want things you don't even d. I come from a family strong on
know exist.
documents.
____ 31. Odysseus' comment to Telemachus, "This is not princely, to be swept / away by wonder at your
father's presence," implies which of the following about ancient Greek cultural values?
a. People expected that princes would be
c. Princes commonly believed in miracles.
easily amazed.
b. People looked up to princes as men of
d. Princes were not expected to display
imagination.
emotion.
____ 32. In Part 2 of the Odyssey, the hero, Odysseus, appears disguised as which of the following?
a. a suitor
c. a beggar
b. Eumaeus
d. a priest of Zeus
____ 33. The episode about Argus, Odysseus' dog, is important to the plot because it emphasizes
a. the length of Odysseus' absence from
c. the epic's main theme of loyalty vs.
home.
treachery.
b. Eumaeus' awareness of Odysseus'
d. the qualities that people and animals have
disguise.
in their youth.
____ 34. What is the likeliest reason the disguised Odysseus makes up a story and tells Penelope that her
husband will be home soon?
a. to give himself a few days to figure out
c. to ensure that she does not unwittingly
whether he wishes to stay
give away his presence
b. to avoid a painful scene
d. to make the surprise of his true identity all
the greater
____ 35. Which of the following character traits does Penelope reveal in Part 2 of the Odyssey?
a. stubbornness and fear
c. prudence and loyalty
b. weakness and longing
d. indecision and panic
____ 36. Which of the following is an important theme in Part 2 of the Odyssey?
a. Good triumphs over evil.
c. The quest for power never ends.
b. Separation weakens relationships.
d. Old age triumphs over youth.
____ 37. Toward the end of Part 2, how does Penelope test Odysseus?
a. She disguises herself to see if he will
c. She pretends that she has moved their
recognize her even if she is not as
marriage bed in order to see if Odysseus
beautiful as he remembers.
knows their secret sign.
b. She tells him that she almost married one d. She challenges him to string the great bow
of the suitors.
a second time just to be sure.
____ 38. Which of the following ancient Greek cultural values is demonstrated by Odysseus' slaughter of
the suitors?
a. Violence is never justified.
c. Intelligence is more highly prized than
physical strength.
b. Even heroes sometimes allow their
d. Revenge is sometimes justified, even if it
emotions to get the better of them.
involves violence.
English I
Final Exam
Directions: Read the following passage and then answer questions 1-7.
“A Simple Gesture”
(1)
One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class walking home
from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to
myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd." I
had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow
afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.
(2)
As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all
his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I
saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this terrible
melancholy in his eyes. My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled
around looking for his glasses I saw a tear in his eye.
(3)
As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives."
He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!" There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those
smiles that showed real gratitude. I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived.
As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he
had gone to private school before now. I would have never hung out with a private school kid
before. We talked all the way home, and I carried his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool
kid. I asked him if he wanted to play football on Saturday with me and my friends. He said yes.
We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends
thought the same of him.
(4)
Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I
stopped him and said, "Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of
books everyday!" He just laughed and handed me half the books. Over the next four years, Kyle
and I became best friends. When we were seniors, we began to think about college. Kyle
decided on Georgetown, and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that
the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business
on a football scholarship.
(5)
Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had
to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak.
(6)
Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found
himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates
than I had and all the girls loved him. Boy, sometimes I was jealous. Today was one of those
days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said,
"Hey, big guy, you'll be great!" He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one)
and smiled. "Thanks," he said.
(7
)As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began. "Graduation is a time to
thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers,
your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a
friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story."
(8)
I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met. He
had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so
his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and
gave me a little smile. "Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable.
"I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his
weakest moment. I saw his mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile.
Not until that moment did I realize its depth.
(9)
Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change
a person's life. For better or for worse.”
1.
In paragraph 1, the narrator makes an inference. He thinks, “He must really be a nerd.”
What in that paragraph most likely led him to that inference?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Kyle was walking alone
Kyle was heading home on a Friday
Kyle was carrying a lot of books
He had never seen Kyle before
2. In paragraph two, what is the most likely definition for “melancholy”?
A. sadness
B. uncertainty
C. intelligence
D. comfort
3. In paragraph six, the narrator says that Kyle, “was one of those guys that really found
himself
during high school.” What does he mean by “found himself”?
A. he had been kidnapped
B. became confident in who he
was
C. he used to get lost all the
time
D. became fake to please
others
4. This short story is written from which point of view?
A.
B.
C.
D.
5. What is a possible theme of this story?
1st Person
3rd Person Limited
3rd Person Omniscient
3rd Person Objective
A. A lot of people are suicidal.
B. You never know the effect you have on someone’s
life.
C. Nerds make good friends.
D. Work hard so that you too can be a valedictorian.
Research - Directions: Answer the following questions about research.
8. Which of the following is an example of a primary source?
A. Biography
B. Encyclopedia article
C. Autobiography
D. Textbook
9. Which of the following is an example of a secondary source?
A. Biography
B. Speech
C. Autobiography
D. Eyewitness testimony
10. Which should a writer consult for primary source information about the topic of the Civil
Rights
movement in
America?
A. a transcript of an interview with Martin Luther King, Jr.
B. a book written about the leaders of the Civil Rights movement
C. a scholarly journal article analyzing the effects of the “I Have a Dream” speech
D. a magazine article describing a specific event of the Civil Rights movement
Matching Directions: Bubble in the letter of the correct term either exemplified or defined in
each
statement below. All answers will be used only ONE TIME!
A. -alliteration
simile
B. -metaphor
C. -onomatopoeia
D. -personification
24. People parked near the beautiful peonies.
25. The locker ate my textbooks so I couldn’t return them.
26. The teapot whistled like a train coming into the station.
27. The negative influence of some of my fellow students was a road block to my future.
28. The crowd heard the swish as the ball went in, all net!
E. -
A. -conflict
B. -resolution
C. -climax
D. -exposition
34. the turning point in a story, usually filled with emotional intensity
35. introductory information at the beginning of the story
36. a problem or difficulty in a story
37. the end of the play when all of the loose ends are tied up
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
Selected Reading
Read the selection and then choose the best answer for numbers 1-6.
Appointment in Samarra
Adapted from the short story by W. Somerset Maugham
In a crowded marketplace in Baghdad, a young servant was admiring colorful bolts of fabric.
Suddenly, a hooded female figure bumped into him. When the servant looked into the eyes of
the dark figure, terror filled his heart. Quickly, he pushed his way through the crowd and fled.
Pale and trembling, the servant returned home and said, “Master, just now when I was in
the marketplace, I was jostled by a woman in the crowd, and when I turned, I saw that it was
Death! She made a threatening gesture. Quickly now, lend me your horse and I will ride away
from this city and go to Samarra, where Death will not find me.”
The master was fond of the servant and agreed to lend him his swiftest steed. The servant
dug his spurs in the horse’s flanks and rode as fast as the horse could gallop.
Later that afternoon, the master went down to the marketplace. He saw Death standing in
the crowd. “Why did you make a threatening gesture to my servant when you saw him this
morning?” he asked.
“That was not a threatening gesture,” responded Death. “It was only a start of surprise. I
was astonished to see him in Baghdad for I had an appointment with him tonight…in Samarra.”
1. Which of the following best summarizes the message of the story?
a. Beware! You never know when Death will c. Death comes to everyone sooner or later.
call on you!
b. You cannot escape your fate, no matter
d. You can escape your problems if you just
how hard you try.
have faith.
2. What type of conflict is present in this story?
a. Person vs. Society
b. Person vs. Technology
c. Person vs. Supernatural
d. Person vs. Environment
3. Which of the following is not a setting in this story?
a. Samarra
c. Baghdad
b. Somerset
d. a marketplace
4. Which of the following is not a character in this story?
a. a merchant
c. Death
b. a servant
d. the master
5. The point of view of “The Appointment in Samarra” is ___.
a. first person
c. third person limited
b. second person
d. third person omniscient
6. This story includes:
a. Personification
b. A surprise ending
c. Irony
d. All of the above
Read the following passage and answer number 7.
1 The storm came home to blind to stand:
2 He thwacked down oaks like chairs
3 And missing foothold in the dark
4 Rolled ominous downstairs… -- X.G. Kennedy
7. Line 1 is an example of
A. simile
B. onomatopoeia
C. personification
DIRECTIONS: Read the following poem and then answer questions 8-10.
A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore-And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over-like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
8. In the poem “Dreams Deferred”, what does the word deferred mean?
A. reached
B. put off
C. thrown away
D. realized
9. In lines 2-3 of this poem: “Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?”, what poetic device is being
used?
A. metaphor
B. alliteration
C. simile
D. onomatopoeia
10. In the final line of this poem, “Or does it explode?”, the author is comparing a dream
deferred to:
A. life
B. hate
C. a letter
D. a bomb
DIRECTIONS: Read the poem below and answer questions 11-13.
“Women" by Alice Walker
They were women then
My mama's generation
Husky of voice-Stout of
Step
With fists as well as
Hands
How they battered down
Doors
And ironed
Starched white
Shirts
How they led
Armies
Headragged Generals
Across mined
Fields
Boody-trapped
Ditches
To discover books
Desks
A place for us
How they knew what we
Must Know
Without knowing a page
Of it
Themselves
11. Alice Walker wrote the poem “Women” in honor of:
A. her sisters
B. her mother
C. herself
12. In the poem “Women” what was it that these children were being led to discover?
A. riches
B. war
C. education D. land
13. Which of the following is the best theme for “Women”?
A. each generation paves the way for the next generation
B. women work harder than men
C. working women are an army
D. some generations are very wise and strong
14. What kind of irony is represented by a mean-looking biker pushing his way through a rough
looking bar and in a very high pitched voice asking the bartender “Would you be so kind as to
poor me a glass of milk please?”
a. Dramatic Irony
b. Situational Irony c. Verbal Irony
15. What type of irony is exemplified by a sarcastic comment?
a. Dramatic Irony
b. Situational Irony c. Verbal Irony
16. What type of irony is represented when a character in a story is looking to find her biological
mother and the audience knows that it is her teacher.
a. Dramatic Irony
b. Situational Irony c. Verbal Irony
Directions: Identify the text structure in the following paragraphs.
22. To survive Black Friday, one must follow a process. First, the shoppers must determine exactly what they
want so that they do not waste steps. Second, shoppers must be present before the doors open. They must stay
focused on the objects they want without making eye contact with other shoppers. Finally, they must grab the
product they want and head to the nearest check-out line. This day is not the day to look leisurely at other items.
A. Cause & Effect
B. Compare & Contrast
C. Sequence
D. Problem & Solution E. Descriptive
23. Both Black Friday and the day before Christmas are crazy shopping day; however, there are differences in
shopper attitude on these two days. Shoppers on Black Friday are particular in the items they want unlike
shoppers the day before Christmas, who are satisfied with any item that they can stick under the tree. Shoppers
on Black Friday are intense and become emotional and angry. In contrast, shoppers on the day before Christmas
may be intense but they remain happy as Christmas day is near.
A. Cause & Effect
B. Compare & Contrast
C. Sequence
D. Problem & Solution E. Descriptive
24. I went shopping the day after Thanksgiving. Consequently, I suffered much mentally. I could not find the
throw I wanted. Therefore, I picked up one that did not even resemble what I wanted. I waited in line 45 minutes
to pay more than I expected to pay for something I did not really want. As a result, I went home an unhappy
shopper who never again wants to shop on Black Friday.
A. Cause & Effect
B. Compare & Contrast
C. Sequence
D. Problem & Solution E. Descriptive
25. Black Friday cannot continue as it is presently practiced. One solution is to expand Friday to an entire week.
Instead of offering specials for one day only, the specials would be available for a week. This alternative would
alleviate the crowds that now form. Another possible answer to the problem is to force stores to hire security
guards to monitor the lines that form and the mobs that gather.
A. Cause & Effect
B. Compare & Contrast
C. Sequence
D. Problem & Solution E. Descriptive
26. The point of view where one of the characters is actually telling the story using the pronoun “I” is ___.
a. first person
b. third person
c. third person omniscient
27. The point of view where the person telling the story knows everything there is to know about all of the
characters and their problems is called___.
a. first person
b. third person
c. third person omniscient
28. When characters say one thing but mean the opposite, they are using ___.
a. verbal irony
c. personification
b. metaphors
d. dialect
29. A teenager who just got into major trouble and is grounded looks at her mom and says, “Thanks
mom! This is really going to help out my social life.” This is an example of
A. verbal irony
B. situational irony
C. dramatic irony
30. Which of the following is an example of an allusion?
A. People always talk about Zeus and his lightning bolts.
B. Zues was the father of Athena.
C. He must have thought he was Zeus on Mount Olympus as he shouted out directions.
D. Zues gave Percy Jackson a lot of trouble.
31. Your English teacher’s name is (please bubble in A!!!):
A. Mrs. Skinner
B. Bubble in A
C. Bubble in A
DIRECTIONS: Read the portion of the article below and answer numbers 32-35.
Surviving Cyberbullying
Leigh was in eighth grade when the mean messages started. The emails, texts, and posts got worse. It
was so bad that she eventually changed schools.
Leigh says she has come through the experience more self-aware and compassionate toward others. It
was a terrible time, she says, but with some counseling and support from adults and friends, she was able to
make sense of what happened to her.
Most people know about cyberbullying. Here are some suggestions on what to do if you, or someone
you know, is involved.
What Counts as Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is the use of technology to harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person. Online
threats, rude texts, and mean tweets, posts, or messages all count. So does posting personal information or
videos designed to hurt or embarrass someone else.
Cyberbullying also includes photos, messages, or pages that don't get taken down, even after the person
has been asked to do so. In other words, it's anything that gets posted online and is deliberately intended to
hurt.
32. Why can’t teens just respect everyone, even those who aren’t like them?
A. Level 1
B. Level 2
C. Level 3
33. What grade was Leigh in when the cyberbullying began?
A. Level 1
B. Level 2
C. Level 3
34. Why did Leigh have to go to counseling just to deal with bullying?
A. Level 1
B. Level 2
C. Level 3
35. What is cyberbullying?
A. Level 1
B. Level 2
C. Level 3