Spring Semester Sample Questions

 Poetry  Context Clues  Inference

The Eagle: A Fragment 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 is the best descriptor for the form of the poem "The Eagle"? A. There are two stanzas which contain three lines. B. Each line has ending punctuation. C. Each line begins with a capital letter. D. The number of words in each line is similar.

A. There are two stanzas which contain three lines.

What is the meaning of the word "wary"? No one had objected, but she could not help noticing that a few of the faces looking at her were wary and unwelcoming. A. tired B. cautious C. prudent D. vigilant

A. tired B. cautious C. prudent D. vigilant

Choose the word that is a synonym for the underlined word. While your teacher is out, I entreat you all to be respectful to your substitute teacher. A. request B. demand C. hope D. explain

 A. request is correct- Your teacher would request, or ask, that you behave while he/she is gone.

Choose the word that is a synonym for the underlined word. Amy might have convinced her father that she really was sick, had she not acted so melodramatically. A. happily B. exaggeratedly C. sneakily D. healthily

B. Exaggeratedly is correct- Amy really wanted to convince her father that she was sick, but she over-reacted so her dad knew she was faking.

Choose the word that is a synonym for the underlined word. Because it was so important, he recapitulated the point he'd made earlier. A. repeated B. rephrased C. ignored D. misunderstood

 A. repeated is correct- By repeating the information, the speaker made sure everyone heard it.

Choose the word that is a synonym for the underlined word. Once the judges determined that the two contestants had cheated, they concentrated on rectifying the situation. A. correcting B. disciplining C. concealing D. explaining

 A. correcting is correct- they want to fix the situation so they can determine who the real winner is.

Choose the word that is a synonym for the underlined word. If not for the diligence of the crew, the storm would have blown the ship off course. A. confusion B. persistence C. foolishness D. seniority

 B. persistence is correct- The crew did not give up during the storm; instead they gave their best efforts to keep it on course.

Choose the word that is a synonym for the underlined word. The incorrigible child would not follow directions despite the teachers' frequent reprimands. A. inconsolable B. excited C. unmanageable D. angry

 C. unmanageable- the clues are “wouldn’t follow directions” and “frequent reprimands”

Choose the word that is a synonym for the underlined word. They tried to convince her that they didn't have homework, but she was an astute parent. A. skeptical B. strict C. short-tempered D. shrewd

 D. shrewd- Means willing to work alone, not relying on others. The parent knew better that the student did have work, so they were not willing to drop the argument/discussion over the assignment.

Choose the word that is a synonym for the underlined word. Though Erin was ready to buy the used car, her mother still had a dubious look on her face. A. excited B. skeptical C. thoughtful D. uninterested

B. Skeptical is correct. There are opposite reactions in this example. “Though” is your clue. Erin wants the car, but mom is not so sure.

Choose the word that is a synonym for the underlined word. Her cooked turkeys usually come out juicy; this dry one is an anomaly. A. mistake B. irregularity C. example D. ordinary

 B. irregularity is correct- Again, we have opposite reactions. “…usually come out juicy” explains what normally happens. This turkey is “dry”, or different from the normal outcome. Since it doesn’t normally (or regularly happen), it is an irregularity.