Practice Test (7th Grade: English Language & Arts) Flashcards

Moral of “The Dog and the Wolf” by Marmaduke Park Our neighbors sometimes seem to be A vast deal better off than we; Yet seldom 'tis they really are, Since they have troubles too to bear, Which, if the truth were really known, Are quite as grievous as our own. What is the best way to summarize the poem's moral?

Answer: Someone else is always worse off than you are.

The poem's moral is explicitly stated in lines like 'Yet seldom 'tis they really are, / Since they have troubles too to bear, / Which, if the truth were really known, / Are quite as grievous as our own.' This means that even if others seem better off, they also face difficulties. The best summary, 'Someone else is always worse off than you are,' captures the essence that everyone has their own struggles, and perceived advantages are often misleading.

Which statement makes sense and has all of the terms spelled correctly?

Answer: The wind was too strong to wind the sail.

The sentence 'The wind was too strong to wind the sail' correctly uses homophones and proper grammar. 'Wind' (noun) refers to moving air, 'too' means excessively, and 'wind' (verb) means to coil or turn. The other options contain spelling errors ('woond' instead of 'wound,' 'bass' instead of 'base') or incorrect homophone usage ('led' instead of 'lead').

What does it represent when the question asks you about the essential message?

Answer: main idea

The 'essential message' of a text refers to the central point or the most important idea the author wants to convey. This is precisely what the 'main idea' represents in literature and comprehension. While 'theme' is a broader underlying message, and 'plot' and 'organization' refer to structure, 'main idea' directly answers what the core message is.

The _____ of a story is when and where it takes place.

Answer: Setting

The setting of a story is a crucial literary element that defines the time and geographical location where the narrative takes place. It provides the background and atmosphere for the characters and events. Options like point of view, climax, and characters refer to different, distinct aspects of a story.

MY SHADOW by Robert Louis Stevenson I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me, And what can be the use of him is more than I can see. He is very, very like me, from the heels up to the head; And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed. The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow— Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow; For he sometimes shoots up taller, like an india-rubber ball, And he sometimes gets so little that there's none of him at all. What literary element does the author use to create a humor in this poem?

Answer: A child as the narrator

The humor in 'My Shadow' primarily stems from the innocent and literal perspective of a child narrator. The child's observations and attempts to understand their shadow, such as wondering about its 'use' or its unusual 'growth' compared to 'proper children,' are amusing due to their childlike logic and naivety. While figurative language is present, the unique viewpoint of the child is the main source of the poem's humor.

Which of the following sentences does not have the words in the correct order?

Answer: Out the door ran two cats, one dog, a tiny mouse, and a little girl.

The sentence 'Out the door ran two cats, one dog, a tiny mouse, and a little girl' uses an inverted sentence structure. In this construction, the adverbial phrase ('Out the door') comes before the verb ('ran') and the subject ('two cats, one dog, a tiny mouse, and a little girl'). While grammatically correct, it deviates from the typical subject-verb-object (SVO) order, making its word arrangement less standard compared to the other options.

This literary term is exemplified by the word swoosh.

Answer: onomatopaia

Onomatopoeia is a literary device where a word's pronunciation imitates the sound it describes. The word 'swoosh' perfectly exemplifies this, as it sounds like the action it represents, such as air or water moving rapidly. This direct imitation of a sound is the defining characteristic of onomatopoeia, unlike simile, personification, or alliteration.

_______ is where the climax part of the story.

Answer: The turning point, high point, or main event is in a story.

The climax of a story is the peak of the action and the moment of greatest tension, where the main conflict comes to a head. It is considered the turning point because, after this event, the story begins to move towards its resolution. The other options describe the exposition (meeting characters/setting), inciting incident (event starting the story), or resolution (story ends).

Which of the following sentences has a conjunction that suggests a possible relationship?

Answer: Due to the large number of offers, Greg had to increase his giveaway time limit.

The phrase 'Due to' in option B functions as a conjunctive phrase that establishes a cause-and-effect relationship. It clearly indicates that the 'large number of offers' was the reason or cause for 'Greg had to increase his giveaway time limit.' This directly links two parts of the sentence, showing a logical connection between them. Option A's cause-effect statement is grammatically inverted, making it less clear.

Which shows Levi is the owner of the backpack?

Answer: Levi’s backpack

To show possession for a singular noun like 'Levi,' an apostrophe followed by an 's' ('s) is used. Therefore, 'Levi’s backpack' correctly indicates that the backpack belongs to Levi. Options A and B use incorrect apostrophe placement for singular possession, and option D lacks the necessary apostrophe entirely.

This is referred to as denotation.

Answer: definition of the word

Denotation refers to the literal, explicit, or dictionary definition of a word. It is the objective meaning, devoid of any emotional associations or implied interpretations. This contrasts with connotation, which refers to the feelings or ideas associated with a word beyond its literal meaning.

The _________ are within the falling action.

Answer: results of the climax and events leading to the conclusion

The falling action in a story occurs after the climax and leads up to the resolution. During this stage, the tension from the climax begins to decrease, and the story explores the consequences and immediate aftermath of the main conflict. It details the events that set the stage for the story's conclusion.

One player starts a game of lawn bowling by rolling a metal jack or a little white ball known as a kitty onto the grass rink. The kitty will be the target of the participants' lawn bowling. When the kitty is thrown and lands on the grass, it is aligned with the rink's center. The real fun begins now! Each team's players take turns throwing their lawn bowls towards the kitty. Each lawn bowl is a colored, baseball-sized ball made of leather-wrapped wood, pure wood, heavy plastic, or metal. ______________ each team takes all of their turns, points are given to the team whose bowls are closest to the kitty. The teams will continue to play rounds like this until one team has scored 21 points. When your team reaches 21 points, the game is over. Which of the transitional terms below best fits in the blank?

Answer: After

The paragraph describes players taking turns throwing their bowls, and then, once all turns are complete, points are awarded. The word 'After' correctly indicates this sequence of events, signifying that the scoring process happens subsequent to the completion of each team's turns. This transitional term establishes the correct temporal relationship between the actions.

The teachers neatly stacked __________ books on the shelves. Select the appropriate pronoun.

Answer: their

The sentence requires a possessive pronoun to show that the books belong to 'the teachers,' which is a plural subject. 'Their' is the correct possessive pronoun for plural nouns. 'There' indicates a place, and 'they’re' is a contraction for 'they are,' neither of which fits the context of possession.

This is also referred to as the opposite of a word...

Answer: antonym

An antonym is a word that has a meaning opposite to that of another word. For example, 'hot' is the antonym of 'cold.' This is a fundamental concept in vocabulary and language studies. A synonym, in contrast, is a word with a similar meaning.

The resolution is the point at which the story ________.

Answer: has the final outcome

The resolution, also known as the denouement, is the final stage of a story's plot. It is the point where the main conflict is resolved, and all the loose ends of the narrative are tied up, leading to the story's ultimate conclusion or final outcome. It provides closure for the reader.

Skunks are nocturnal animals that only active at night. This implies they sleep during the day. Skunks can't see well in the daylight, but they have exceptional senses of smell and hearing.___________ Skunks prefer to move around at night. In fact, the majority of skunks are killed when they wander onto roadways and are hit by cars. They can't see where they're going and end up walking into dangerous areas. Which of the transitional words below best fits in the blank?

Answer: Therefore

The preceding sentences explain that skunks are nocturnal and have poor vision in daylight. The blank requires a transitional word that indicates a consequence or conclusion drawn from these facts. 'Therefore' logically connects these details to the conclusion that skunks prefer to move at night and are vulnerable to cars due to their poor sight, making it the most appropriate choice.

Receiving the trophy was exciting for Ivan and Kenny. What word can be substituted for the underlined words?

Answer: them

The phrase 'Ivan and Kenny' functions as the object of the preposition 'for.' When replacing an object with a pronoun, the objective case pronoun is required. 'Them' is the correct objective pronoun for a plural group of people, making it the appropriate substitute for 'Ivan and Kenny.'

This literary device is an example by the phrase "I could eat a horse."

Answer: hyperbole

Hyperbole is a literary device characterized by extreme exaggeration used for emphasis or effect, not meant to be taken literally. The phrase 'I could eat a horse' is a classic example, as it dramatically overstates one's hunger to convey its intensity. It is a figure of speech, not a statement of fact.

What is the term of the struggle between a character and one or more opposing forces?

Answer: Conflict

Conflict is a fundamental element of storytelling, referring to the struggle between opposing forces that drives the plot forward. This struggle can be internal (within a character) or external (between a character and another character, nature, society, or fate). It creates tension and interest in the narrative.