IAR - Illinois Assessment of Readiness ELA Writing and Vocabulary Questions and Answers

Question 1

Read the following sentence: The ancient tree, with its gnarled branches and sprawling roots, was a venerable landmark in the small town, a silent witness to generations of history.
Which word is the best synonym for 'venerable' as it is used in the sentence?

Accepted Answer

Respected

Answer

Old

Answer

Decrepit

Answer

Common

Question 2

A student is writing a research report about the challenges of space exploration. Read the following draft of a paragraph: (1) Traveling to Mars is a major goal for many space agencies. (2) However, there are significant challenges to overcome. (3) The journey is long, and astronauts would be exposed to high levels of radiation. (4) Upon arrival, the Martian environment is harsh, with a thin atmosphere and extreme temperatures. Which of the following sentences would be the most effective concluding sentence for this paragraph?

Accepted Answer

Therefore, overcoming these substantial obstacles is critical for the success of any future manned mission to Mars.

Answer

In conclusion, Mars is a very dangerous place for humans.

Answer

Mars has two moons, Phobos and Deimos, which are also interesting.

Answer

NASA is developing new technologies to address these issues.

Question 3

Which of the following sentences is written in active voice?

Accepted Answer

The committee announced the new policy on Tuesday.

Answer

The science experiment was completed by the students.

Answer

The winning goal was scored in the final minute of the game.

Answer

The mysterious package had been left on the doorstep.

Question 4

A student is revising the following sentence: The speaker, he was very nervous, and he talked too fast, and you could barely understand him. Which revision demonstrates the most concise and effective writing?

Accepted Answer

The speaker's nervousness caused him to talk too fast, making him difficult to understand.

Answer

The speaker was nervous and he talked too fast, so you could not understand him.

Answer

Being very nervous, the speaker talked so fast that he was barely understandable.

Answer

The speaker was nervous. He talked too fast. You could barely understand him.

Question 5

Read the sentence: To prepare for the exam, students should review their notes, complete the practice questions, and getting a good night's sleep. Which of the following corrects the error in the sentence?

Accepted Answer

To prepare for the exam, students should review their notes, complete the practice questions, and get a good night's sleep.

Answer

To prepare for the exam, students should review their notes, completing the practice questions, and getting a good night's sleep.

Answer

To prepare for the exam, students should have reviewed their notes, completed the practice questions, and gotten a good night's sleep.

Answer

To prepare for the exam, students should be reviewing their notes, completing the practice questions, and get a good night's sleep.

Question 6

A student is writing a narrative about a camping trip. Which of the following sentences uses the most vivid and descriptive language to establish the setting?

Accepted Answer

A canopy of ancient, emerald-green pines blotted out the stars, and the air, thick with the scent of damp earth and woodsmoke, grew cold.

Answer

We went to the woods to go camping for the weekend.

Answer

The forest was dark and the trees were tall around our tent.

Answer

It got dark outside after we set up our campsite for the night.