PSSA English 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following BEST describes the 'central idea' of an informational text?
- A detail that supports one paragraph
- The most important point the author wants to communicate throughout the entire text (Correct answer)
- The first sentence of the introduction
- A fact stated once in the conclusion
Correct answer: The most important point the author wants to communicate throughout the entire text
The central idea is the overarching point that the entire informational text develops and supports, similar to a main theme.
Question 2: A student reads a passage and notices the author uses sarcasm. What should the student conclude about the author's tone?
- The author is being sincere and straightforward.
- The author is expressing a mocking or ironic attitude. (Correct answer)
- The author is confused about the topic.
- The author is neutral and objective.
Correct answer: The author is expressing a mocking or ironic attitude.
Sarcasm is a form of verbal irony used to mock or express contempt, signaling an ironic or critical tone.
Question 3: Which sentence correctly uses a comma after an introductory element?
- After the game we ate pizza.
- After the game, we ate pizza. (Correct answer)
- We ate, pizza after the game.
- After, the game we ate pizza.
Correct answer: After the game, we ate pizza.
A comma is required after an introductory phrase or clause before the main clause begins.
Question 4: What does it mean to 'summarize' a text?
- To copy the text word for word
- To restate only the main ideas and key details in your own words (Correct answer)
- To analyze the author's use of literary devices
- To write your personal opinion about the text
Correct answer: To restate only the main ideas and key details in your own words
Summarizing means briefly restating the main ideas and essential details without copying the original wording or adding personal opinions.
Question 5: A student writes: 'The firefighters battled the blaze bravely.' This sentence is an example of which sound device?
- Onomatopoeia
- Rhyme
- Alliteration (Correct answer)
- Assonance
Correct answer: Alliteration
Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of nearby words, as in 'battled the blaze bravely' (b-b-b).
Question 6: When asked to 'analyze' a text on the PSSA, what are students expected to do?
- Retell the story in order from beginning to end
- Examine how different elements work together to create meaning and support ideas (Correct answer)
- Write a creative story inspired by the text
- Memorize important quotations from the passage
Correct answer: Examine how different elements work together to create meaning and support ideas
Analyzing a text means examining how its elements—structure, word choice, evidence—work together to develop meaning and support the author's purpose.
Question 7: Which revision correctly fixes the sentence fragment: 'Running through the park on a sunny afternoon.'
- Running through the park on a sunny afternoon, quickly.
- Running through the park. On a sunny afternoon.
- She was running through the park on a sunny afternoon. (Correct answer)
- On a sunny afternoon, through the park running.
Correct answer: She was running through the park on a sunny afternoon.
Adding a subject ('She') and a helping verb ('was') turns the fragment into a complete sentence with a subject and predicate.
PSSA English 5
Which of the following BEST describes the 'central idea' of an informational text?