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Which of the following contains a vague pronoun reference? | [
"The Chens' car has a dent in the bumper, but otherwise their car looks just like the Duncans'.",
"The Chens' car looks just like the Duncans', but theirs has a dent in the bumper."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade7 | language science | writing-strategies | Pronouns and antecedents | Identify vague pronoun references | When writing, make sure to avoid vague pronoun references. A vague pronoun reference occurs when a pronoun could refer to more than one possible antecedent.
When Lisa and Kim finally landed, she breathed a sigh of relief.
The pronoun she could refer to either Lisa or Kim, so the meaning of the sentence is unclear.
Vague pronoun references can be corrected in one of two ways:
1. Replace the pronoun with its correct antecedent:
When Lisa and Kim finally landed, Lisa breathed a sigh of relief.
2. Rewrite the sentence:
Lisa breathed a sigh of relief when she and Kim finally landed.
A vague pronoun reference also occurs when they, them, their, theirs, it, or its is used without its antecedent.
They say that this nail polish dries in less than five minutes.
The pronoun they is used without its antecedent, so the meaning of the sentence is unclear.
This problem can be fixed by replacing the pronoun with its missing antecedent.
The advertisements say that this nail polish dries in less than five minutes. | The first answer choice contains a vague pronoun reference. The pronoun theirs could refer to the Chens' or the Duncans'.
The Chens' car looks just like the Duncans', but theirs has a dent in the bumper.
The second answer choice shows a possible correction for the vague pronoun reference. The text has been rewritten so that the meaning is clear.
The Chens' car has a dent in the bumper, but otherwise their car looks just like the Duncans'. |
|
What information supports the conclusion that Haley acquired this trait? | [
"Haley's friends like to make chili with her.",
"Haley learned how to make chili from a recipe book.",
"When Haley was young, her grandmother taught her how to cut chili peppers."
] | 1 | Read the description of a trait.
Haley knows how to make chili. | closed choice | grade8 | natural science | biology | Genes to traits | Inherited and acquired traits: use evidence to support a statement | Organisms, including people, have both inherited and acquired traits. Inherited and acquired traits are gained in different ways.
Inherited traits are passed down from biological parents to their offspring through genes. Genes are pieces of hereditary material that contain the instructions that affect inherited traits. Offspring receive their genes, and therefore gain their inherited traits, from their biological parents. Inherited traits do not need to be learned.
Acquired traits are gained during a person's life. Some acquired traits, such as riding a bicycle, are gained by learning. Other acquired traits, such as scars, are caused by the environment. Parents do not pass acquired traits down to their offspring. | |
What is the source of the allusion in the sentence below?
The economist had been quietly publishing articles about the future of the housing market like a dutiful Cassandra. | [
"Greek mythology",
"a poem"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade11 | language science | figurative-language | Literary devices | Recall the source of an allusion | An allusion is a brief mention of something or someone well known, often from mythology, history, or literature. An allusion lets you reference ideas from an entire story in just a few words.
The protean nature of the disease makes it difficult to diagnose.
The word protean is an allusion to the sea god Proteus in Greek mythology. Because the sea is constantly changing, to describe something as protean suggests that it is variable or in flux. | The source of the allusion Cassandra is Greek mythology.
In Greek mythology, Cassandra is blessed with the power of prophecy; however, she is unable to convince others of her dire predictions due to a curse from the god Apollo.
The allusion Cassandra means a person who makes unheeded predictions of disaster. |
|
What does this Works Cited entry indicate about the cited work?
Blake, William. The Complete Poetry and Prose of William Blake. Ed. David V. Erdman. New York: Anchor, 1988. Print. | [
"It is a book.",
"It is a short story.",
"It is a poem."
] | 0 | closed choice | grade11 | language science | reference-skills | Research skills | Understand a Works Cited entry (MLA 7th edition) | When writing research papers, you will often be asked to follow a particular style guide for your citations. One popular style guide is the Modern Language Association (MLA) Handbook.
Below are the basic formats for some common types of Works Cited entries. Consult the MLA Handbook for a complete list.
Books:
Format | Author(s). Book Title. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium of Publication.
Example | Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. New York: Dover Publications, 1995. Print.
Essays, short stories, or poems in an anthology or book:
Format | Author(s). "Essay, Poem, or Short Story Title." Anthology or Book Title. Ed. Editor Name. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Page Number(s). Medium of Publication.
Example | James, Henry. "The Middle Years." The Oxford Book of American Short Stories. Ed. Joyce Carol Oates. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2013. 116-135. Print.
Magazine and newspaper articles:
Format | Author(s). "Article Title." Title of Magazine or Newspaper Date of Publication: Page(s). Medium of Publication.
Example | Hayes, David J., and James H. Stock. "The Real Cost of Coal." New York Times 24 Mar. 2015: n. pag. Web. 25 Mar. 2015.
Journal articles:
Format | Author(s). "Article Title." Title of Journal Volume.Issue (Year): Page(s). Medium of Publication.
Example | Gillette, Jane, et al. "Human Simulations of Vocabulary Learning." Cognition 73.2 (1999): 135-176. Print.
Web pages:
Format | Author(s). "Page Title." Name of Website. Publisher, Date of Publication. Medium of Publication. Date of Access.
Example | Gunn, Janelle P., and Lauren E. Owens. "How to Slash Sodium from Your Diet." Livestrong.com. Demand Media, 30 Mar. 2015. Web. 31 Mar. 2015.
Additional guidelines:
Author Names. The first author's name is written in last name, first name format (Smith, Jane). Additional author names are written in first name last name format (Smith, Jane, and John Doe). If there are more than three authors, the first author's name is followed by "et al.," which stands for and others (e.g., Smith, Jane, et al.).
Medium of Publication. Each entry must include information about what form the content was communicated in. The most common mediums are "Print" and "Web," but other possibilities include "Film," "E-mail," and "Lecture." Whenever the Medium of Publication is "Web," the date of access (the day, month, and year the webpage was viewed) must be listed directly after the Medium of Publication.
Editors and Translators. If a work has an editor or a translator, this information must be added to the Works Cited entry using the appropriate abbreviation. "Ed." stands for edited by. "Trans." stands for translated by.
Missing Information. If a work has no known author, the author section of the citation is simply left out. If a work has no available page numbers, the abbreviation "n. pag." is used instead. If a work has no available publication date, the abbreviation "n.d." is used instead. If a work has no available publisher or no available city of publication, the abbreviation "n.p." is used instead.
| Look closely at the Works Cited entry:
Blake, William. The Complete Poetry and Prose of William Blake. Ed. David V. Erdman. New York: Anchor, 1988. Print.
You can tell that the cited work is a book because of the entry's formatting. Book entries always include the book title in italics followed by the place of publication, the publisher name, and the year of publication. (There may be additional information between the book title and the place of publication, such as an editor or translator name.) |
|
How long does it take to see all the animals at the zoo? | [
"3 minutes",
"3 hours"
] | 1 | Select the better estimate. | closed choice | grade3 | natural science | units-and-measurement | Units and measurement | Choose units of time | Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means.
Imagine being told that the bus leaves in 7. You might be thinking, 7 what? Does the bus leave in 7 minutes? 7 seconds?
The number 7 on its own does not give you much information about when the bus is leaving. That is because the units are missing.
Time is usually measured in units of seconds, minutes, or hours. It takes about 1 second to sneeze and 1 minute to get dressed in the morning. It takes about 1 hour to bake a pie in the oven.
There are 60 seconds in 1 minute. So, 1 second is much less than 1 minute.
There are 60 minutes in 1 hour. So, 1 minute is much less than 1 hour. | The better estimate for how long it takes to see all the animals at the zoo is 3 hours.
3 minutes is too fast. |
Based on this information, what is Fido's phenotype for the fur length trait? | [
"ff",
"long fur"
] | 1 | In a group of dogs, some individuals have short fur and others have long fur. In this group, the gene for the fur length trait has two alleles. The allele F is for short fur, and the allele f is for long fur.
Fido, a dog from this group, has long fur. Fido has two alleles for long fur. | closed choice | grade7 | natural science | biology | Genes to traits | Genetics vocabulary: genotype and phenotype | All organisms have pieces of hereditary material called genes, which are passed from parents to offspring. Genes contain instructions for building the parts of an organism. An organism's genes affect its observable traits, including its appearance, its behavior, and which diseases it may have. Genes may have different alleles, or forms, that can cause different versions of a trait.
For example, flower color is a trait in pea plants. The gene for this trait has two possible alleles. Each allele is represented by an uppercase or lowercase letter. The allele F is for purple flowers, and the allele f is for white flowers. Each pea plant has two alleles for the flower color gene—one allele inherited from each parent.
An organism's genotype for a gene is its combination of alleles for that gene. So, a pea plant may have a genotype of FF, Ff, or ff for the flower color gene.
An organism's phenotype for a trait is its observable version of that trait, which depends on the organism's combination of alleles. A pea plant may have a phenotype of purple flowers or white flowers for the flower color trait. | An organism's phenotype for a trait is its observable version of that trait. Fido's observable version of the fur length trait is long fur. So, Fido's phenotype for the fur length trait is long fur. |
Which stick of butter has less thermal energy? | [
"the colder stick of butter",
"the hotter stick of butter"
] | 0 | Two sticks of butter are identical except for their temperatures. | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | physics | Heat and thermal energy | How are temperature and mass related to thermal energy? | Matter is made of tiny particles called atoms. Atoms are always moving.
The energy of moving atoms is called thermal energy. The total amount of thermal energy in matter depends on three things: the type of matter, the amount of matter, and how fast the atoms are moving.
Temperature measures how hot or cold matter is. If the atoms in matter slow down, the temperature goes down. The matter now has both less thermal energy and a lower temperature.
What happens if the amount of matter changes? A 2-kilogram brick at 70°F has twice as much thermal energy as a 1-kilogram brick at 70°F. The two bricks have the same temperature, but the larger brick has twice as many atoms. So, it has twice as much thermal energy. | The two sticks of butter are made of the same material and have the same mass. So, the colder stick of butter has less thermal energy. |
What is the source of the allusion in the sentence below?
"Michael's personality is very Jekyll and Hyde," Carrie told her brother. | [
"U.S. history",
"literature"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade9 | language science | figurative-language | Literary devices | Recall the source of an allusion | An allusion is a brief mention of something or someone well known, often from mythology, history, or literature. An allusion lets you reference ideas from an entire story in just a few words.
"I'd better get home before I turn into a pumpkin!" Lila remarked.
Here, Lila alludes to the fairy tale "Cinderella," in which Cinderella must leave the ball before the coach that brought her transforms into a pumpkin. The allusion shows that Lila must depart immediately. | The source of the allusion Jekyll and Hyde is literature.
Robert Louis Stevenson's popular Victorian novella Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde tells the story of a man with two distinct personalities. Known to the world as a kind and highly respected doctor, at night he transforms into a monstrous person.
The allusion Jekyll and Hyde means kind then cruel. |
|
What do these two changes have in common?
a log decomposing in the woods
an old sandwich rotting in a trashcan | [
"Both are caused by heating.",
"Both are only physical changes.",
"Both are chemical changes.",
"Both are caused by cooling."
] | 2 | closed choice | grade7 | natural science | chemistry | Chemical reactions | Compare physical and chemical changes | Matter is made of very small particles called atoms. Atoms can be linked together by chemical bonds. When two or more atoms link together, they form a molecule.
In a chemical change, the chemical bonds in the molecules break. The atoms then link together to form different molecules. The types of molecules in matter before and after a chemical change are always different.
Some chemical changes are caused by heating or cooling. For example, burning a piece of paper is a chemical change caused by heating. As paper burns, paper molecules react with oxygen molecules in the air. This reaction breaks the chemical bonds in the molecules. The atoms then link together in a different way to form different molecules. For example, carbon dioxide molecules are formed when paper burns.
In a physical change, chemical bonds do not break. The types of molecules in matter before and after a physical change are always the same.
A change of state is a type of physical change. Changes of state can be caused by heating or cooling. For example, water vaporizing is a physical change that can be caused by heating. Liquid water and water vapor are made of the same type of matter: water.
The law of conservation of mass says that all physical and chemical changes conserve mass. Conserve means to keep the same. So, the total mass before a physical or chemical change is equal to the total mass after the change. | Step 1: Think about each change.
The breakdown of plant and animal matter by organisms such as fungi and earthworms is called decomposition. A log decomposing in the woods is a chemical change.
As the log breaks down, the type of matter in it changes. Over time, the log becomes softer and has a different smell.
A sandwich rotting is a chemical change. The matter in the sandwich breaks down and slowly turns into a different type of matter.
Step 2: Look at each answer choice.
Both are only physical changes.
Both changes are chemical changes. They are not physical changes.
Both are chemical changes.
Both changes are chemical changes. The type of matter before and after each change is different.
Both are caused by heating.
Neither change is caused by heating.
Both are caused by cooling.
Neither change is caused by cooling. |
|
How long is a parking space? | [
"22 feet",
"22 yards",
"22 miles",
"22 inches"
] | 0 | Select the best estimate. | closed choice | grade6 | natural science | units-and-measurement | Units and measurement | Choose customary units of distance, mass, and volume | Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means.
When you are using customary units, length may be written with units of inches, feet, yards, or miles.
There are 12 inches in 1 foot, and 3 feet in 1 yard. There are 5,280 feet in 1 mile.
A football is about 1 foot long. A football field is 100 yards long. | The best estimate for the length of a parking space is 22 feet.
22 inches is too short. 22 yards and 22 miles are too long. |
Which correctly shows the title of a short story? | [
"\"The Story of a Mother\"",
"\"The story of a mother\""
] | 0 | closed choice | grade5 | language science | capitalization | Capitalization | Capitalizing titles | In a title, capitalize the first word, the last word, and every important word in between.
The Wind in the Willows James and the Giant Peach
These words are not important in titles:
Articles, a, an, the
Short prepositions, such as at, by, for, in, of, on, to, up
Coordinating conjunctions, such as and, but, or | Capitalize the first word, the last word, and every important word in between. The words of and a are not important, so they should not be capitalized.
The correct title is "The Story of a Mother." |
|
Which figure of speech is used in this text?
Jackie insisted that her dog wasn't fat; she said that he was merely well-fed. | [
"euphemism",
"paradox"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade10 | language science | figurative-language | Literary devices | Classify figures of speech: euphemism, hyperbole, oxymoron, paradox | Figures of speech are words or phrases that use language in a nonliteral or unusual way. They can make writing more expressive.
A euphemism is a polite or indirect expression that is used to de-emphasize an unpleasant topic.
The head of Human Resources would never refer to firing people, only to laying them off.
Hyperbole is an obvious exaggeration that is not meant to be taken literally.
I ate so much that I think I might explode!
An oxymoron is a joining of two seemingly contradictory terms.
Some reviewers are calling this book a new classic.
A paradox is a statement that might at first appear to be contradictory, but that may in fact contain some truth.
Always expect the unexpected. | The text uses a euphemism, a polite or indirect expression that is used to de-emphasize an unpleasant topic.
Well-fed is an indirect way of saying overweight. |
|
Complete the sentence.
In this chemical reaction, hydrogen is a (). | [
"product",
"reactant"
] | 0 | This passage describes a chemical reaction. Read the passage. Then, follow the instructions below.
Like people on Earth, astronauts living on the International Space Station need oxygen to survive. Since there is no oxygen in space for the astronauts to breathe, they make oxygen using a process called electrolysis. This process uses electricity to break down water into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. The hydrogen gas can be removed from the space station or recycled, and the oxygen gas is released into the air that the astronauts breathe. | closed choice | grade7 | natural science | chemistry | Chemical reactions | Identify reactants and products | A chemical change occurs when new substances are formed from existing substances. This process is called a chemical reaction.
In a chemical reaction, one or more substances change into one or more different substances. During the reaction, the atoms of the original substances are rearranged to form other substances.
The original substances in a chemical reaction are called reactants. These substances react, or go through a chemical change.
The substances that are formed in a chemical reaction are called products. These substances are produced by the chemical reaction.
So, in a chemical reaction, reactants go through a chemical change to form products. | Read the underlined text carefully. Look for information about what happens to hydrogen in this chemical reaction.
Like people on Earth, astronauts living on the International Space Station need oxygen to survive. Since there is no oxygen in space for the astronauts to breathe, they make oxygen using a process called electrolysis. This process uses electricity to break down water into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. The hydrogen gas can be removed from the space station or recycled, and the oxygen gas is released into the air that the astronauts breathe.
The underlined text tells you that hydrogen forms when water breaks down. Because hydrogen is produced by this chemical reaction, hydrogen is a product. |
What information supports the conclusion that Steven acquired this trait? | [
"Some scars fade more quickly than others.",
"Steven's scar was caused by an accident. He cut his arm when he fell off his bicycle."
] | 1 | Read the description of a trait.
Steven has a scar on his right arm. | closed choice | grade6 | natural science | biology | Genes to traits | Inherited and acquired traits: use evidence to support a statement | Organisms, including people, have both inherited and acquired traits. Inherited and acquired traits are gained in different ways.
Inherited traits are passed down from biological parents to their offspring through genes. Genes are pieces of hereditary material that contain the instructions that affect inherited traits. Offspring receive their genes, and therefore gain their inherited traits, from their biological parents. Inherited traits do not need to be learned.
Acquired traits are gained during a person's life. Some acquired traits, such as riding a bicycle, are gained by learning. Other acquired traits, such as scars, are caused by the environment. Parents do not pass acquired traits down to their offspring. | |
What information supports the conclusion that Mabel inherited this trait? | [
"Mabel and her mother both have short hair.",
"Mabel's parents were born with wavy hair. They passed down this trait to Mabel."
] | 1 | Read the description of a trait.
Mabel has wavy hair. | closed choice | grade3 | natural science | biology | Heredity | Inherited and acquired traits: use evidence to support a statement | Organisms, including people, have both inherited and acquired traits. Inherited and acquired traits are gained in different ways.
Inherited traits are passed down through families. Children gain these traits from their parents. Inherited traits do not need to be learned.
Acquired traits are gained during a person's life. Some acquired traits, such as riding a bicycle, are gained by learning. Other acquired traits, such as scars, are caused by the environment. | |
Which sentence states a fact? | [
"Katharine Graham deserved to win a Pulitzer Prize in 1998.",
"Katharine Graham was the first female CEO of a Fortune 500 company."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade12 | language science | writing-strategies | Developing and supporting arguments | Distinguish facts from opinions | Statements of fact make claims that are based on research, observation, or experimentation. Facts can be proved with evidence.
Napoleon Bonaparte was shorter than King Louis XVI.
This statement is a fact. The statement can be verified by researching and comparing the height of each man.
Statements of opinion make claims that are based on personal judgments or perspectives. Opinions can be supported by evidence, but they cannot be definitively proved.
Napoleon Bonaparte was a better leader than King Louis XVI.
This statement is an opinion. People can have different ideas about what makes someone a "better" leader, so the statement cannot be proved. | The second sentence states a fact. It can be verified by looking up the history of CEOs of Fortune 500 companies.
Katharine Graham was the first female CEO of a Fortune 500 company.
The first sentence states an opinion. Deserved indicates a personal judgment.
Katharine Graham deserved to win a Pulitzer Prize in 1998. |
|
Which figure of speech is used in this text?
Everything in this room is eatable, even I'm eatable! But that is called cannibalism, my dear children, and is in fact frowned upon in most societies.
—Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | [
"understatement",
"apostrophe"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade11 | language science | figurative-language | Literary devices | Classify the figure of speech: anaphora, antithesis, apostrophe, assonance, chiasmus, understatement | Figures of speech are words or phrases that use language in a nonliteral or unusual way. They can make writing more expressive.
Anaphora is the repetition of the same word or words at the beginning of several phrases or clauses.
We are united. We are powerful. We are winners.
Antithesis involves contrasting opposing ideas within a parallel grammatical structure.
I want to help, not to hurt.
Apostrophe is a direct address to an absent person or a nonhuman entity.
Oh, little bird, what makes you sing so beautifully?
Assonance is the repetition of a vowel sound in a series of nearby words.
Try to light the fire.
Chiasmus is an expression in which the second half parallels the first but reverses the order of words.
Never let a fool kiss you or a kiss fool you.
Understatement involves deliberately representing something as less serious or important than it really is.
As you know, it can get a little cold in the Antarctic. | The text uses understatement, which involves deliberately representing something as less serious or important than it really is.
Frowned upon in most societies is an understatement, since cannibalism—the eating of human flesh by another human being—is usually looked upon with horror. |
|
Which is a compound sentence? | [
"Brenna and her sisters drew a map of the United States and hung it on the wall.",
"This loaf of bread is almost stale, but we can make it into bread crumbs for the meatballs."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade5 | language science | grammar | Sentences, fragments, and run-ons | Is the sentence simple, compound, or complex? | A clause is a group of words that contains both a subject and a predicate.
An independent clause is a complete thought. It can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent clause is not a complete thought. It cannot stand alone as a sentence.
the oranges on our tree are ripe
The clause can stand alone. It is independent.
after we pick up Kevin from work
The clause cannot stand alone. It is dependent.
A simple sentence is made up of a single independent clause.
Ben and I spent all day relaxing by the pool.
Some simple sentences have introductory phrases, but the introductory phrase is part of the predicate.
In the winter, Ben usually wears his heavy coat.
Ben usually wears his heavy coat in the winter.
A compound sentence is made up of two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction such as and, but, or, or so.
We saw a flash of lightning, and seconds later we heard the rumble of thunder.
A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause and a dependent clause. The dependent clause usually begins with a subordinating conjunction such as after, although, as, because, before, if, since, unless, until, when, or while.
If she ever gets the chance, Terri would love to visit the Egyptian pyramids. | The first sentence is the compound sentence. It is made up of two independent clauses joined by the coordinating conjunction but.
This loaf of bread is almost stale, but we can make it into bread crumbs for the meatballs. |
|
Which type of sentence is this?
Leonardo da Vinci, who was a renowned painter and sculptor, was also an inventor and scientist. | [
"compound",
"complex",
"compound-complex",
"simple"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade10 | language science | grammar | Phrases and clauses | Is the sentence simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex? | A clause is a group of words that contains both a subject and a predicate.
An independent clause is a complete thought that can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent clause (or subordinate clause) is not a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence.
the oranges on our tree are ripe
The clause can stand alone. It is independent.
after we pick up Kevin from work
The clause cannot stand alone. It is dependent.
A simple sentence is made up of a single independent clause.
Ben and I spent all day relaxing by the pool.
Some simple sentences have introductory phrases, but the introductory phrase is part of the predicate.
In the winter, Ben usually wears his heavy coat.
Ben usually wears his heavy coat in the winter.
A compound sentence is made up of two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction such as and, but, or, or so.
We saw the flash of lightning, and seconds later we heard a rumble of thunder.
A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause and a dependent clause. The dependent clause in a complex sentence usually begins with a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun. Subordinating conjunctions include after, although, as, because, before, if, since, unless, until, when, and while. Relative pronouns include that, which, who, whom, or whose.
If she ever gets the chance, Terri would love to visit the Egyptian pyramids.
During his trip to Italy, Tony visited the Trevi Fountain, which is in Rome.
A compound-complex sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.
After Samantha left work, she stopped at the bank, and then she went to the gym.
Sometimes a dependent clause in a complex or compound-complex sentence can interrupt an independent clause.
Orcas that are kept in captivity often have bent dorsal fins. | The sentence is complex. It is made up of an independent clause and a dependent clause. The dependent clause begins with the relative pronoun who.
Leonardo da Vinci, who was a renowned painter and sculptor, was also an inventor and scientist. |
|
Based on this information, what is Marlin's phenotype for the eye color trait? | [
"black eyes",
"ee"
] | 0 | In a group of koi fish, some individuals have red eyes and others have black eyes. In this group, the gene for the eye color trait has two alleles. The allele E is for red eyes, and the allele e is for black eyes.
Marlin, a koi fish from this group, has black eyes. Marlin has two alleles for black eyes. | closed choice | grade6 | natural science | biology | Genes to traits | Genetics vocabulary: genotype and phenotype | All organisms have pieces of hereditary material called genes, which are passed from parents to offspring. Genes contain instructions for building the parts of an organism. An organism's genes affect its observable traits, including its appearance, its behavior, and which diseases it may have. Genes may have different alleles, or forms, that can cause different versions of a trait.
For example, flower color is a trait in pea plants. The gene for this trait has two possible alleles. Each allele is represented by an uppercase or lowercase letter. The allele F is for purple flowers, and the allele f is for white flowers. Each pea plant has two alleles for the flower color gene—one allele inherited from each parent.
An organism's genotype for a gene is its combination of alleles for that gene. So, a pea plant may have a genotype of FF, Ff, or ff for the flower color gene.
An organism's phenotype for a trait is its observable version of that trait, which depends on the organism's combination of alleles. A pea plant may have a phenotype of purple flowers or white flowers for the flower color trait. | An organism's phenotype for a trait is its observable version of that trait. Marlin's observable version of the eye color trait is black eyes. So, Marlin's phenotype for the eye color trait is black eyes. |
Which word would you find on a dictionary page with the following guide words?
tender - torn | [
"tray",
"thankful"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade3 | language science | reference-skills | Reference skills | Use guide words | Guide words appear on each page of a dictionary. They tell you the first word and last word on the page. The other words on the page come between the guide words in alphabetical order.
To put words in alphabetical order, put them in order by their first letters. If the first letters are the same, look at the second letters. If the second letters are the same, look at the third letters, and so on.
If one word is shorter, and there are no more letters to compare, then the shorter word comes first in alphabetical order. For example, be comes before bed. | Put the words in alphabetical order.
Since thankful is between the guide words tender - torn, it would be found on that page. |
|
Assume all other forces on Megan are balanced. Which statement describes the forces on Megan? | [
"The forces are balanced, so there is no net force on Megan.",
"The forces are unbalanced, so there is a net force on Megan."
] | 1 | Megan is sitting on a roller coaster cart as it reaches the bottom of a big loop. Earth's gravity is pulling down on Megan with a force of 600N. The seat of the cart is pushing up on Megan with a force of 1,200N. | closed choice | grade7 | natural science | physics | Velocity, acceleration, and forces | Balanced and unbalanced forces | A force is a push or a pull that acts on an object. Every force has a direction and a magnitude, or strength. If two forces act on an object in opposite directions, the forces are called opposing forces.
When opposing forces have the same magnitude, they are balanced. If all the forces on an object are balanced, there is no net force on the object.
When opposing forces have different magnitudes, the forces are unbalanced. If any forces on an object are unbalanced, there is a net force on the object. | To determine if there is a net force on Megan, look at the forces:
Earth's gravity is pulling Megan down with a force of 600 N.
The seat of the cart is pushing Megan up with a force of 1,200 N.
The forces are in opposite directions, and the forces have different magnitudes: 600 N and 1,200 N. This means that the forces are unbalanced, so there is a net force on Megan. |
How long is a long-distance running race? | [
"24 meters",
"24 kilometers",
"24 centimeters",
"24 millimeters"
] | 1 | Select the best estimate. | closed choice | grade6 | natural science | units-and-measurement | Units and measurement | Choose metric units of distance, mass, and volume | Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means.
When you are using metric units, length can be written with units of millimeters, centimeters, meters, or kilometers. One meter contains 100 centimeters or 1,000 millimeters. So, 1 meter is larger than 1 centimeter, and 1 centimeter is larger than 1 millimeter.
The tip of the pencil shown here is only 1 millimeter wide, but the pencil is about 16 centimeters long.
A red fox is about 1 meter long. The Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia is about 1,000 meters, or 1 kilometer, in length. | The best estimate for the length of a long-distance running race is 24 kilometers.
24 millimeters, 24 centimeters, and 24 meters are all too short. |
Which text uses the word terribly in its traditional sense? | [
"Wesley shivered as he gazed at the terribly steep, snowy slope. After calming his nerves, he began his descent.",
"Wesley shivered terribly as he gazed at the snow-clad slope. After calming his nerves, he began his descent."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade9 | language science | writing-strategies | Word usage and nuance | Explore words with new or contested usages | Words change in meaning when speakers begin using them in new ways. For example, the word peruse once only meant to examine in detail, but it's now also commonly used to mean to look through in a casual manner.
When a word changes in meaning, its correct usage is often debated. Although a newer sense of the word may be more commonly used, many people consider a word's traditional definition to be the correct usage. Being able to distinguish the different uses of a word can help you use it appropriately for different audiences.
Britney perused her notes, carefully preparing for her exam.
The traditional usage above is considered more standard.
David perused the magazine, absentmindedly flipping through the pages.
The nontraditional usage above is now commonly used, but traditional style guides generally advise against it. | The second text uses terribly in its traditional sense: in a terrible manner.
Wesley shivered terribly as he gazed at the snow-clad slope. After calming his nerves, he began his descent.
The first text uses terribly in its nontraditional sense: extremely; very.
Wesley shivered as he gazed at the terribly steep, snowy slope. After calming his nerves, he began his descent.
Most style guides recommend to use the traditional sense of the word terribly because it is considered more standard. |
|
Which correctly shows the title of a movie? | [
"\"A Kiss for Cinderella\"",
"***A Kiss for Cinderella***"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade4 | language science | punctuation | Formatting | Formatting titles | The title of a book, movie, play, TV show, magazine, or newspaper should be in italics. If you write it by hand, it can be underlined instead.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
The title of a poem, song, article, or short story should be in quotation marks.
"You Are My Sunshine" | A movie should be in italics.
The correct title is **A Kiss for Cinderella**. |
|
What does the verbal irony in this text suggest?
"This salsa could use a little more spice," Vijay said as he gulped down water and wiped tears from his eyes. | [
"The salsa was too spicy.",
"The salsa was tasteless."
] | 0 | closed choice | grade8 | language science | figurative-language | Literary devices | Interpret figures of speech | Figures of speech are words or phrases that use language in a nonliteral or unusual way. They can make writing more expressive.
Verbal irony involves saying one thing but implying something very different. People often use verbal irony when they are being sarcastic.
Olivia seems thrilled that her car keeps breaking down.
Each breakdown is as enjoyable as a punch to the face. | The text uses verbal irony, which involves saying one thing but implying something very different.
Could use a little more spice ironically suggests that the salsa was too spicy. Vijay gulped down water and wiped tears from his eyes, indications that the salsa was indeed too spicy. |
|
Is the following trait inherited or acquired?
Jason can ride a motorcycle. | [
"inherited",
"acquired"
] | 1 | Hint: Riding a motorcycle well takes practice. | closed choice | grade4 | natural science | biology | Traits and heredity | Identify inherited and acquired traits | Organisms, including people, have both inherited and acquired traits. Inherited and acquired traits are gained in different ways.
Inherited traits are passed down through families. Children gain these traits from their parents. Inherited traits do not need to be learned.
Acquired traits are gained during a person's life. Some acquired traits, such as riding a bicycle, are gained by learning. Other acquired traits, such as scars, are caused by the environment. Children do not inherit their parents' acquired traits. | People are not born knowing how to ride a motorcycle. Instead, many people learn how to ride. So, riding a motorcycle is an acquired trait. |
Assume all other forces on Martin are balanced. Which statement describes the forces on Martin? | [
"The forces are balanced, so there is no net force on Martin.",
"The forces are unbalanced, so there is a net force on Martin."
] | 0 | Martin is standing on a diving board at the pool. Earth's gravity is pulling down on Martin with a force of 400N. The diving board is pushing up on Martin with a force of 400N. | closed choice | grade6 | natural science | physics | Velocity, acceleration, and forces | Balanced and unbalanced forces | A force is a push or a pull that acts on an object. Every force has a direction and a magnitude, or strength. If two forces act on an object in opposite directions, the forces are called opposing forces.
When opposing forces have the same magnitude, they are balanced. If all the forces on an object are balanced, there is no net force on the object.
When opposing forces have different magnitudes, the forces are unbalanced. If any forces on an object are unbalanced, there is a net force on the object. | To determine if there is a net force on Martin, look at the forces:
Earth's gravity is pulling Martin down with a force of 400 N.
The diving board is pushing Martin up with a force of 400 N.
The forces are in opposite directions, and the forces have the same magnitude: 400 N. This means that the forces are balanced, so there is no net force on Martin. |
Suppose Isabelle decides to bake bran muffins. Which result would be a cost? | [
"Isabelle will get to eat more muffins. She can make more bran muffins than chocolate muffins.",
"Isabelle will give up the chance to eat chocolate muffins. She thinks chocolate muffins are tastier than bran muffins."
] | 1 | Isabelle is deciding whether to bake chocolate muffins or bran muffins. She wants the muffins to be tasty. But she also wants to make a lot of muffins. | closed choice | grade4 | social science | economics | Basic economic principles | Costs and benefits | Before you decide to do something, it is often helpful to list costs and benefits.
Costs are what you give up or spend when you decide to do something. Costs involve giving up things that you want or need.
Benefits are what you gain or save when you decide to do something. Benefits involve gaining something that you want or need. | This result is a cost. It involves giving up or spending something that Isabelle wants or needs:
Isabelle will give up the chance to eat chocolate muffins. She thinks chocolate muffins are tastier than bran muffins. |
According to Newton's third law, what other force must be happening? | [
"The door is pushing on Kinsley's hand.",
"The door is pulling on Kinsley's hand."
] | 0 | Isaac Newton was born in the 1600s and studied how objects move. He discovered three fundamental laws about forces and motion. According to Newton's third law, for every force, there is an equal and opposite force.
Consider the following force:
Kinsley's hand is pushing on a door. | closed choice | grade6 | natural science | physics | Velocity, acceleration, and forces | Predict forces using Newton's third law | According to Newton's third law, for every force, there is an equal and opposite force. This means that if one object is applying a force on a second object, the second object must also be applying a force on the first object, but in the opposite direction.
For example, if your hand is pushing down on a table, the table is also pushing up on your hand. Or, if you are pulling forward on a rope, the rope is also pulling back on you. | Kinsley's hand is pushing on the door. So, Newton's third law tells you that the door is pushing on Kinsley's hand. |
Suppose Meg decides to plant the magnolia tree. Which result would be a cost? | [
"The magnolia tree will use up more space than the hydrangeas would have used up.",
"Meg will get to look at the magnolia tree. She thinks it will look more beautiful than the hydrangeas would have looked."
] | 0 | Meg is deciding whether to plant hydrangeas or a magnolia tree in her backyard. She wants to make her backyard more beautiful. But she also wants to leave space for doing fun things. | closed choice | grade4 | social science | economics | Basic economic principles | Costs and benefits | Before you decide to do something, it is often helpful to list costs and benefits.
Costs are what you give up or spend when you decide to do something. Costs involve giving up things that you want or need.
Benefits are what you gain or save when you decide to do something. Benefits involve gaining something that you want or need. | This result is a cost. It involves giving up or spending something that Meg wants or needs:
The magnolia tree will use up more space than the hydrangeas would have used up. |
Which correctly shows the title of a song? | [
"\"Black or White\"",
"Black or White"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade9 | language science | punctuation | Formatting | Formatting titles | The title of a book, movie, play, TV show, magazine, or newspaper should be in italics. If you write it by hand, it can be underlined instead.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
The title of a poem, song, article, or short story should be in quotation marks.
"You Are My Sunshine" | A song should be in quotation marks.
The correct title is "Black or White." |
|
Which of the following contains a vague pronoun reference? | [
"Does the university directory list contact information for the head of the English department?",
"Does it list contact information for the head of the English department?"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade7 | language science | writing-strategies | Pronouns and antecedents | Identify vague pronoun references | When writing, make sure to avoid vague pronoun references. A vague pronoun reference occurs when a pronoun could refer to more than one possible antecedent.
When Lisa and Kim finally landed, she breathed a sigh of relief.
The pronoun she could refer to either Lisa or Kim, so the meaning of the sentence is unclear.
Vague pronoun references can be corrected in one of two ways:
1. Replace the pronoun with its correct antecedent:
When Lisa and Kim finally landed, Lisa breathed a sigh of relief.
2. Rewrite the sentence:
Lisa breathed a sigh of relief when she and Kim finally landed.
A vague pronoun reference also occurs when they, them, their, theirs, it, or its is used without its antecedent.
They say that this nail polish dries in less than five minutes.
The pronoun they is used without its antecedent, so the meaning of the sentence is unclear.
This problem can be fixed by replacing the pronoun with its missing antecedent.
The advertisements say that this nail polish dries in less than five minutes. | The second answer choice contains a vague pronoun reference. The pronoun it is used without its antecedent.
The first answer choice shows a possible correction for the vague pronoun reference. It has been replaced with the university directory.
Does the university directory list contact information for the head of the English department? |
|
Which tense does the sentence use?
Akiko teaches Audrey about customs in Japan. | [
"future tense",
"past tense",
"present tense"
] | 2 | closed choice | grade5 | language science | verbs | Verb tense | Is the sentence in the past, present, or future tense? | Present tense verbs tell you about something that is happening now.
Most present-tense verbs are regular. They have no ending, or they end in -s or -es.
Two verbs are irregular in the present tense, to be and to have. You must remember their forms.
Past tense verbs tell you about something that has already happened.
Most past-tense verbs are regular. They end in -ed.
Some verbs are irregular in the past tense. You must remember their past-tense forms.
Future tense verbs tell you about something that is going to happen.
All future-tense verbs use the word will.
Present | Past | Future
walk, walks | walked | will walk
go, goes | went | will go | The sentence is in present tense. You can tell because it uses a present-tense verb, teaches. The verb ends in -es and tells you about something that is true or happening now. |
|
How long is the Mississippi River? | [
"2,300 feet",
"2,300 inches",
"2,300 yards",
"2,300 miles"
] | 3 | Select the best estimate. | closed choice | grade7 | natural science | units-and-measurement | Units and measurement | Choose customary units of distance, mass, and volume | Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means.
When you are using customary units, length may be written with units of inches, feet, yards, or miles.
There are 12 inches in 1 foot, and 3 feet in 1 yard. There are 5,280 feet in 1 mile.
A football is about 1 foot long. A football field is 100 yards long. | The best estimate for the length of the Mississippi River is 2,300 miles.
2,300 inches, 2,300 feet, and 2,300 yards are all too short. |
The city of Fairview has been one of the world's biggest makers of cough drops for many years. But last month, Fairview's cough drop factories were destroyed by floods. What will probably happen to the overall supply of cough drops? | [
"The supply will probably go up.",
"The supply will probably go down."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade8 | social science | economics | Supply and demand | Understand overall supply and demand | Overall supply is the total amount of a good or service that producers make and sell. There are several things that can make overall supply go up or down. The table below shows how changes to these things might affect overall supply.
| Resources | Number of producers or suppliers | Expected change in demand
Supply goes up | when resources cost less or are easier to get | when there are more producers or suppliers | when demand is expected to go up
Supply goes down | when resources cost more or are harder to get | when there are fewer producers or suppliers | when demand is expected to go down
Producers are people or companies that make goods or provide services. Suppliers are people or companies that sell goods or services. New inventions or technologies can also help workers produce goods and services more quickly. As a result of these changes, the supply of a good or service will often go up. | Floods destroyed the cough drop factories in Fairview. The number of producers of cough drops went down. So, the supply of cough drops will probably go down. |
|
Which word would you find on a dictionary page with the following guide words?
harness - hotel | [
"hurdle",
"himself"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade7 | language science | reference-skills | Reference skills | Use guide words | Guide words appear on each page of a dictionary. They tell you the first word and last word on the page. The other words on the page come between the guide words in alphabetical order.
To put words in alphabetical order, put them in order by their first letters. If the first letters are the same, look at the second letters. If the second letters are the same, look at the third letters, and so on.
If one word is shorter, and there are no more letters to compare, then the shorter word comes first in alphabetical order. For example, be comes before bed. | Put the words in alphabetical order.
Since himself is between the guide words harness - hotel, it would be found on that page. |
|
How long does it take to sing the ABC song? | [
"26 seconds",
"26 minutes"
] | 0 | Select the better estimate. | closed choice | grade3 | natural science | units-and-measurement | Units and measurement | Choose units of time | Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means.
Imagine being told that the bus leaves in 7. You might be thinking, 7 what? Does the bus leave in 7 minutes? 7 seconds?
The number 7 on its own does not give you much information about when the bus is leaving. That is because the units are missing.
Time is usually measured in units of seconds, minutes, or hours. It takes about 1 second to sneeze and 1 minute to get dressed in the morning. It takes about 1 hour to bake a pie in the oven.
There are 60 seconds in 1 minute. So, 1 second is much less than 1 minute.
There are 60 minutes in 1 hour. So, 1 minute is much less than 1 hour. | The better estimate for how long it takes to sing the ABC song is 26 seconds.
26 minutes is too slow. |
Based on this information, what is Peanut's phenotype for the fur color trait? | [
"ff",
"brown fur"
] | 1 | In a group of rabbits, some individuals have black fur and others have brown fur. In this group, the gene for the fur color trait has two alleles. The allele F is for black fur, and the allele f is for brown fur.
Peanut, a rabbit from this group, has brown fur. Peanut has two alleles for brown fur. | closed choice | grade6 | natural science | biology | Genes to traits | Genetics vocabulary: genotype and phenotype | All organisms have pieces of hereditary material called genes, which are passed from parents to offspring. Genes contain instructions for building the parts of an organism. An organism's genes affect its observable traits, including its appearance, its behavior, and which diseases it may have. Genes may have different alleles, or forms, that can cause different versions of a trait.
For example, flower color is a trait in pea plants. The gene for this trait has two possible alleles. Each allele is represented by an uppercase or lowercase letter. The allele F is for purple flowers, and the allele f is for white flowers. Each pea plant has two alleles for the flower color gene—one allele inherited from each parent.
An organism's genotype for a gene is its combination of alleles for that gene. So, a pea plant may have a genotype of FF, Ff, or ff for the flower color gene.
An organism's phenotype for a trait is its observable version of that trait, which depends on the organism's combination of alleles. A pea plant may have a phenotype of purple flowers or white flowers for the flower color trait. | An organism's phenotype for a trait is its observable version of that trait. Peanut's observable version of the fur color trait is brown fur. So, Peanut's phenotype for the fur color trait is brown fur. |
Would you find the word impolite on a dictionary page with the following guide words?
ice - intense | [
"no",
"yes"
] | 1 | yes or no | grade5 | language science | reference-skills | Reference skills | Use guide words | Guide words appear on each page of a dictionary. They tell you the first word and last word on the page. The other words on the page come between the guide words in alphabetical order.
To put words in alphabetical order, put them in order by their first letters. If the first letters are the same, look at the second letters. If the second letters are the same, look at the third letters, and so on.
If one word is shorter, and there are no more letters to compare, then the shorter word comes first in alphabetical order. For example, be comes before bed. | Put the words in alphabetical order.
Since impolite is between the guide words ice - intense, it would be found on that page. |
|
Which type of sentence is this?
Kathleen is a competitive horseback rider, and she will be competing in the next World Equestrian Games, which are held every four years. | [
"simple",
"compound-complex",
"compound",
"complex"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade10 | language science | grammar | Phrases and clauses | Is the sentence simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex? | A clause is a group of words that contains both a subject and a predicate.
An independent clause is a complete thought that can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent clause (or subordinate clause) is not a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence.
the oranges on our tree are ripe
The clause can stand alone. It is independent.
after we pick up Kevin from work
The clause cannot stand alone. It is dependent.
A simple sentence is made up of a single independent clause.
Ben and I spent all day relaxing by the pool.
Some simple sentences have introductory phrases, but the introductory phrase is part of the predicate.
In the winter, Ben usually wears his heavy coat.
Ben usually wears his heavy coat in the winter.
A compound sentence is made up of two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction such as and, but, or, or so.
We saw the flash of lightning, and seconds later we heard a rumble of thunder.
A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause and a dependent clause. The dependent clause in a complex sentence usually begins with a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun. Subordinating conjunctions include after, although, as, because, before, if, since, unless, until, when, and while. Relative pronouns include that, which, who, whom, or whose.
If she ever gets the chance, Terri would love to visit the Egyptian pyramids.
During his trip to Italy, Tony visited the Trevi Fountain, which is in Rome.
A compound-complex sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.
After Samantha left work, she stopped at the bank, and then she went to the gym.
Sometimes a dependent clause in a complex or compound-complex sentence can interrupt an independent clause.
Orcas that are kept in captivity often have bent dorsal fins. | The sentence is compound-complex. It is made up of two independent clauses and a dependent clause. The dependent clause begins with the relative pronoun which.
Kathleen is a competitive horseback rider, and she will be competing in the next World Equestrian Games, which are held every four years. |
|
Which figure of speech is used in this text?
Emilio returned to the parking lot to find his car somewhat destroyed. Apparently someone had crashed into it while he was working and had broken the entire front windshield. | [
"euphemism",
"oxymoron"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade12 | language science | figurative-language | Literary devices | Classify the figure of speech: euphemism, hyperbole, oxymoron, paradox | Figures of speech are words or phrases that use language in a nonliteral or unusual way. They can make writing more expressive.
A euphemism is a polite or indirect expression that is used to de-emphasize an unpleasant topic.
The head of Human Resources would never refer to firing people, only to laying them off.
Hyperbole is an obvious exaggeration that is not meant to be taken literally.
I ate so much that I think I might explode!
An oxymoron is a joining of two seemingly contradictory terms.
Some reviewers are calling this book a new classic.
A paradox is a statement that might at first appear to be contradictory, but that may in fact contain some truth.
Always expect the unexpected. | The text uses an oxymoron, a joining of two seemingly contradictory terms.
Somewhat destroyed is a contradiction, because somewhat means partially or moderately, and destroyed implies totally wrecked. |
|
Which is a compound sentence? | [
"Later the sailors will wash the deck of the ship.",
"The sun came out, and the clouds in the sky disappeared."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade3 | language science | grammar | Sentences, fragments, and run-ons | Is the sentence simple or compound? | A simple sentence is a sentence with only one subject and predicate.
The pitcher threw the ball to first base.
A compound sentence is two simple sentences joined by a comma and a conjunction such as and, but, or, or so.
The pitcher threw the ball, and the batter hit it.
Some simple sentences have a compound subject or a compound predicate, but they are not compound sentences.
Anna and James will watch the fireworks tonight.
This simple sentence has a compound subject, Anna and James.
The singers bowed and walked off the stage.
This simple sentence has a compound predicate, bowed and walked off the stage.
Some simple sentences have introductory phrases, but they are not compound sentences. The introductory phrase is part of the predicate.
In the winter, Farmer Ben wears his heavy coat.
This is a simple sentence. There is one subject, Farmer Ben, and one predicate, wears his heavy coat in the winter. | The first sentence is the compound sentence. It is made up of two simple sentences joined by a comma and the conjunction and.
The sun came out, and the clouds in the sky disappeared. |
|
Using only these supplies, which question can Michelle investigate with an experiment? | [
"Will eight ounces of carbonated water or eight ounces of tap water get warmer when placed in a jar in the sun?",
"When placed in the sun, will eight ounces of water in a glass jar or eight ounces of water in a plastic cup get warmer?",
"When placed in the sun, will eight ounces of water in a closed jar or eight ounces of water in an open jar get warmer?"
] | 2 | Michelle leaves a glass jar of cold tea outside in full sunlight. When she goes to get it, she notices that the tea is warm. She wonders what factors affect how warm a liquid gets from sitting in the sunlight. So, she decides to design an experiment. She has the following supplies available:
two identical glass jars
two jar lids
tap water
a measuring cup
two thermometers | closed choice | grade7 | natural science | science-and-engineering-practices | Designing experiments | Identify questions that can be investigated with a set of materials | Experiments can be designed to answer specific questions. When designing an experiment, you must identify the supplies that are necessary to answer your question. In order to do this, you need to figure out what will be tested and what will be measured during the experiment.
Imagine that you are wondering if plants grow to different heights when planted in different types of soil. How might you decide what supplies are necessary to conduct this experiment?
First, you need to identify the part of the experiment that will be tested, which is the independent variable. This is usually the part of the experiment that is different or changed. In this case, you would like to know how plants grow in different types of soil. So, you must have different types of soil available.
Next, you need to identify the part of the experiment that will be measured or observed, which is the dependent variable. In this experiment, you would like to know if some plants grow taller than others. So, you must be able to compare the plants' heights. To do this, you can observe which plants are taller by looking at them, or you can measure their exact heights with a meterstick.
So, if you have different types of soil and can observe or measure the heights of your plants, then you have the supplies you need to investigate your question with an experiment! | |
Select the animal. | [
"Catfish swim underwater.",
"Oleander trees can grow colorful flowers."
] | 0 | closed choice | grade2 | natural science | biology | Classification | Identify plants and animals | Plants and animals are living things. Living things are called organisms.
Plants come in many shapes and sizes. Most plants grow in the ground. They might grow leaves, flowers, and fruit. Plants cannot move around on their own like animals can.
Animals also come in many shapes and sizes. Most animals can move around. Animals might run, swim, jump, or fly. Animals eat plants or other organisms for food. | A catfish is an animal. It swims underwater.
A catfish is a fish. Unlike most other fish, catfish do not have scales! They have slimy skin.
An oleander tree is a plant. It can grow colorful flowers.
There are over 400 different types of oleander plants. |
|
The mom and dad push the strollers at the same speed. Which stroller is pushed with a larger force? | [
"a stroller with kid that weighs 22 pounds",
"a stroller with kid that weighs 28 pounds"
] | 1 | A mom, a dad, and two kids are going for a walk. The mom and the dad each push one of the kids in a stroller. The strollers are the same. But the kids are different sizes. | closed choice | grade2 | natural science | physics | Force and motion | How do mass and force affect motion? | A force is a push or a pull.
A force can make an object start moving or stop an object that is moving. A force can also make an object speed up, slow down, or change direction.
Forces can be different sizes.
Think about trying to move a heavy object and a light object. Imagine you want to move them at the same speed. You will need to use a larger force to move the heavy object. | Look for the stroller that is heavier.
A stroller holding a kid that weighs 28 pounds is heavier than a stroller holding a kid that weighs 22 pounds. So, the stroller holding the kid that weighs 28 pounds needs to be pushed with a larger force to start moving forward at the same speed as the other other stroller. |
Compare the motion of three cars. Which car was moving at the lowest speed? | [
"a car that moved 435miles west in 10hours",
"a car that moved 655miles east in 10hours",
"a car that moved 400miles north in 10hours"
] | 2 | closed choice | grade3 | natural science | physics | Force and motion | Compare the speeds of moving objects | An object's speed tells you how fast the object is moving. Speed depends on both distance and time.
Distance tells you how far the object has moved. One unit used to measure distance is the mile.
Time tells you how long the object has spent moving. One unit used to measure time is the hour.
Think about objects moving for the same amount of time. The object that is moving the slowest will go the shortest distance in that time. It is moving at the lowest speed. | Look at the distance each car moved and the time it took to move that distance. The direction each car moved does not affect its speed.
Notice that each car moved for 10 hours. The car that moved 400 miles moved the shortest distance in that time. So, that car must have moved at the lowest speed. |
|
What information supports the conclusion that Ling acquired this trait? | [
"Ling's scar was caused by an accident. She cut her arm when she fell off her bicycle.",
"Ling's sister has a bruise from falling on her elbow.",
"Ling's scar is on her right elbow. Her father also has a scar on his right elbow."
] | 0 | Read the description of a trait.
Ling has a scar on her right elbow. | closed choice | grade7 | natural science | biology | Genes to traits | Inherited and acquired traits: use evidence to support a statement | Organisms, including people, have both inherited and acquired traits. Inherited and acquired traits are gained in different ways.
Inherited traits are passed down from biological parents to their offspring through genes. Genes are pieces of hereditary material that contain the instructions that affect inherited traits. Offspring receive their genes, and therefore gain their inherited traits, from their biological parents. Inherited traits do not need to be learned.
Acquired traits are gained during a person's life. Some acquired traits, such as riding a bicycle, are gained by learning. Other acquired traits, such as scars, are caused by the environment. Parents do not pass acquired traits down to their offspring. | |
How long is an adult great white shark? | [
"6 inches",
"6 yards",
"6 feet"
] | 1 | Select the best estimate. | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | units-and-measurement | Units and measurement | Choose customary units of distance | Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means.
When you are using customary units, length may be written with units of inches, feet, yards, or miles.
There are 12 inches in 1 foot, and 3 feet in 1 yard. There are 5,280 feet in 1 mile.
A football is about 1 foot long. A football field is 100 yards long. | The best estimate for the length of an adult great white shark is 6 yards.
6 inches and 6 feet are both too short. |
What information supports the conclusion that Melissa inherited this trait? | [
"Melissa's parents were born with wavy hair. They passed down this trait to Melissa.",
"Melissa and her mother both have short hair."
] | 0 | Read the description of a trait.
Melissa has wavy hair. | closed choice | grade6 | natural science | biology | Genes to traits | Inherited and acquired traits: use evidence to support a statement | Organisms, including people, have both inherited and acquired traits. Inherited and acquired traits are gained in different ways.
Inherited traits are passed down from biological parents to their offspring through genes. Genes are pieces of hereditary material that contain the instructions that affect inherited traits. Offspring receive their genes, and therefore gain their inherited traits, from their biological parents. Inherited traits do not need to be learned.
Acquired traits are gained during a person's life. Some acquired traits, such as riding a bicycle, are gained by learning. Other acquired traits, such as scars, are caused by the environment. Parents do not pass acquired traits down to their offspring. | |
Select the one animal that has all of the reptile traits listed above. | [
"Coral snakes hatch from eggs with shells. They spend most of their time underground or hiding under leaves. Coral snakes have scaly, waterproof skin.",
"Bengal tigers are one of the world's largest living cats. They have black, white, and orange fur. Female Bengal tigers feed their offspring milk. Male Bengal tigers can be almost twice as large as females!"
] | 0 | Reptiles are a group of animals with similar traits. The following traits can be used to identify reptiles:
They have scaly, waterproof skin.
They make eggs with shells. Observe the animals and read the descriptions. | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | biology | Classification | Use evidence to classify mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians | Scientists sort animals with similar traits into groups. This is called classification. Classification helps scientists learn about how animals live.
How do scientists classify animals? First, they make observations about an animal. Scientists observe the animal's traits, including its body parts and behavior. Then, scientists compare the animal's traits to other animals' traits. Scientists classify animals with similar traits into a group. | To decide if an animal is part of a group, look at the traits of the group.
Reptiles have the following traits:
They have scaly, waterproof skin.
They make eggs with shells.
Compare each animal's traits to the group's traits. Select the animal with traits similar to the group's traits.
A coral snake has the following traits:
It has scaly, waterproof skin.
It makes eggs with shells.
A coral snake has the traits of a reptile. A coral snake is a reptile.
A Bengal tiger has the following traits:
It feeds its offspring milk.
It has hair.
A Bengal tiger does not have all of the traits of a reptile. A Bengal tiger is a mammal. |
Does this passage describe the weather or the climate?
Southern California usually gets strong winds in the fall and winter. People call them Santa Ana winds. | [
"climate",
"weather"
] | 0 | Hint: Weather is what the atmosphere is like at a certain place and time. Climate is the pattern of weather in a certain place. | closed choice | grade4 | natural science | earth-science | Weather and climate | What's the difference between weather and climate? | The atmosphere is the layer of air that surrounds Earth. Both weather and climate tell you about the atmosphere.
Weather is what the atmosphere is like at a certain place and time. Weather can change quickly. For example, the temperature outside your house might get higher throughout the day.
Climate is the pattern of weather in a certain place. For example, summer temperatures in New York are usually higher than winter temperatures. | Read the text carefully.
Southern California usually gets strong winds in the fall and winter. People call them Santa Ana winds.
This passage tells you about the usual wind pattern in Southern California. It does not describe what the weather is like on a particular day. So, this passage describes the climate. |
What do these two changes have in common?
chicken cooking in an oven
making paper from wood | [
"Both are caused by cooling.",
"Both are caused by heating.",
"Both are only physical changes.",
"Both are chemical changes."
] | 3 | closed choice | grade8 | natural science | chemistry | Chemical reactions | Compare physical and chemical changes | Matter is made of very small particles called atoms. Atoms can be linked together by chemical bonds. When two or more atoms link together, they form a molecule.
In a chemical change, the chemical bonds in the molecules break. The atoms then link together to form different molecules. The types of molecules in matter before and after a chemical change are always different.
Some chemical changes are caused by heating or cooling. For example, burning a piece of paper is a chemical change caused by heating. As paper burns, paper molecules react with oxygen molecules in the air. This reaction breaks the chemical bonds in the molecules. The atoms then link together in a different way to form different molecules. For example, carbon dioxide molecules are formed when paper burns.
In a physical change, chemical bonds do not break. The types of molecules in matter before and after a physical change are always the same.
A change of state is a type of physical change. Changes of state can be caused by heating or cooling. For example, water vaporizing is a physical change that can be caused by heating. Liquid water and water vapor are made of the same type of matter: water.
The law of conservation of mass says that all physical and chemical changes conserve mass. Conserve means to keep the same. So, the total mass before a physical or chemical change is equal to the total mass after the change. | Step 1: Think about each change.
Cooking chicken is a chemical change. The heat causes the matter in the chicken to change. Cooked chicken and raw chicken are different types of matter.
Making paper from wood is a chemical change. Paper is made by mixing tiny pieces of wood with special chemicals. The wood reacts with the chemicals to form pulp. Wood and pulp are different types of matter.
Step 2: Look at each answer choice.
Both are only physical changes.
Both changes are chemical changes. They are not physical changes.
Both are chemical changes.
Both changes are chemical changes. The type of matter before and after each change is different.
Both are caused by heating.
Cooking is caused by heating. But making paper from wood is not.
Both are caused by cooling.
Neither change is caused by cooling. |
|
What is the mass of an apple? | [
"110 kilograms",
"110 grams"
] | 1 | Select the better estimate. | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | units-and-measurement | Units and measurement | Choose metric units of mass | Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means.
Mass is a measurement of how much matter something contains.
There are many different units of mass. When you are using metric units, mass may be written with units of grams or kilograms.
There are 1,000 grams in 1 kilogram. So, 1 gram is much less than 1 kilogram.
A paper clip has a mass of about 1 gram, while a textbook has a mass of about 1 kilogram. | The better estimate for the mass of an apple is 110 grams.
110 kilograms is too heavy. |
Which closing is correct for a letter? | [
"See you soon,\nGabby",
"See You Soon,\nGabby"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade2 | language science | capitalization | Capitalization | Greetings and closings of letters | A letter starts with a greeting and ends with a closing. For each one, capitalize the first word and end with a comma. You should also capitalize proper nouns, such as Aunt Sue.
Dear Aunt Sue,
I'm glad you could come to my party, and
thank you for the birthday gift. I could not have
asked for a better one! Every time I see it, I think
of you.
With love,
Rory | The first closing is correct:
Its first word is capitalized, and it ends with a comma. |
|
Would you find the word blouse on a dictionary page with the following guide words?
board - bundle | [
"yes",
"no"
] | 1 | yes or no | grade8 | language science | reference-skills | Reference skills | Use guide words | Guide words appear on each page of a dictionary. They tell you the first word and last word on the page. The other words on the page come between the guide words in alphabetical order.
To put words in alphabetical order, put them in order by their first letters. If the first letters are the same, look at the second letters. If the second letters are the same, look at the third letters, and so on.
If one word is shorter, and there are no more letters to compare, then the shorter word comes first in alphabetical order. For example, be comes before bed. | Put the words in alphabetical order.
Since blouse is not between the guide words board - bundle, it would not be found on that page. |
|
Which phrase has a more positive connotation? | [
"a nosy person",
"an inquisitive person"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade6 | language science | vocabulary | Shades of meaning | Positive and negative connotation | Connotation is the feeling or idea that goes along with a word or phrase. Some words are close in meaning but have different connotations.
For example, think about the words eager and impatient. They both mean wanting something to happen, but they have different connotations.
Eager has a positive connotation. It is a nice word. An eager person is happy and excited.
Impatient has a negative connotation. It is not a nice word. An impatient person is often pushy and demanding. | An inquisitive person has a more positive connotation. Inquisitive and nosy both denote taking an interest in something. However, inquisitive suggests a healthy interest in learning more, while nosy suggests an inappropriate interest in other people's affairs. |
|
Which figure of speech is used in this text?
After Wanda cooked and served a scrumptious dinner, Dad boasted that she is the Julia Child of our family. | [
"simile",
"allusion"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade8 | language science | figurative-language | Literary devices | Classify figures of speech | Figures of speech are words or phrases that use language in a nonliteral or unusual way. They can make writing more expressive.
Alliteration is the repetition of sounds at the beginning of nearby words.
What a lucky little lady you are!
An allusion is a brief reference to something or someone well known, often from history or literature.
"I'd better get home before I turn into a pumpkin!" Lila remarked.
An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood literally. Its meaning must be learned.
The assignment was a piece of cake.
A simile uses like or as to compare two things that are not actually alike.
The cat's fur was as dark as the night.
A metaphor compares two things that are not actually alike without using like or as.
The snow formed a blanket over the town.
Onomatopoeia involves using a word that expresses a sound.
The scrambled eggs hit the floor with a splat.
Personification is giving human characteristics to nonhuman things.
The trees danced in the wind.
A pun involves using a word or phrase in a humorous way that suggests more than one meaning.
A great new broom is sweeping the nation.
Verbal irony involves saying one thing but implying something very different. People often use verbal irony when they are being sarcastic.
Olivia seems thrilled that her car keeps breaking down.
Each breakdown is as enjoyable as a punch to the face. | The text uses an allusion, a brief reference to someone or something well known.
Julia Child alludes to the famous chef who is known for popularizing French cuisine in the United States. |
|
Does this passage describe the weather or the climate?
The dry season in Emmett's hometown usually lasts from November to May. | [
"climate",
"weather"
] | 0 | Hint: Weather is what the atmosphere is like at a certain place and time. Climate is the pattern of weather in a certain place. | closed choice | grade4 | natural science | earth-science | Weather and climate | What's the difference between weather and climate? | The atmosphere is the layer of air that surrounds Earth. Both weather and climate tell you about the atmosphere.
Weather is what the atmosphere is like at a certain place and time. Weather can change quickly. For example, the temperature outside your house might get higher throughout the day.
Climate is the pattern of weather in a certain place. For example, summer temperatures in New York are usually higher than winter temperatures. | Read the text carefully.
The dry season in Emmett's hometown usually lasts from November to May.
This passage tells you about the usual precipitation pattern where Emmett is from. It does not describe what the weather is like on a particular day. So, this passage describes the climate. |
Based on this information, what is this plant's phenotype for the fruit color trait? | [
"yellow fruit",
"red fruit"
] | 1 | In a group of tomato plants, some individuals have red fruit and others have yellow fruit. In this group, the gene for the fruit color trait has two alleles. The allele for red fruit (F) is dominant over the allele for yellow fruit (f).
A certain tomato plant from this group has the heterozygous genotype Ff for the fruit color gene. | closed choice | grade7 | natural science | biology | Genes to traits | Genetics vocabulary: dominant and recessive | All organisms have pieces of hereditary material called genes, which are passed from parents to offspring. Genes contain instructions for building the parts of an organism. An organism's genes affect its observable traits, including its appearance, its behavior, and which diseases it may have. Genes may have different alleles, or forms, that can cause different versions of a trait.
For example, flower color is a trait in pea plants. The gene for this trait has two possible alleles. Each allele is represented by an uppercase or lowercase letter. The allele F is for purple flowers, and the allele f is for white flowers. Each pea plant has two alleles for the flower color gene—one allele inherited from each parent.
An organism's genotype for a gene is its combination of alleles for that gene. So, a pea plant may have a genotype of FF, Ff, or ff for the flower color gene.
An organism's phenotype for a trait is its observable version of that trait, which depends on the organism's combination of alleles. A pea plant may have a phenotype of purple flowers or white flowers for the flower color trait.
Some traits, like flower color in pea plants, are controlled by a single gene. Most plants and animals have a genotype made up of two alleles for these traits. These two alleles determine whether an organism is homozygous or heterozygous for the gene.
An organism with two identical alleles for a gene is homozygous for that gene. A pea plant with the genotype FF or ff is homozygous for the flower color gene.
An organism with two different alleles for a gene is heterozygous for that gene. A pea plant with the genotype Ff is heterozygous for the flower color gene.
The types of alleles in an organism's genotype determine the organism's phenotype. Some alleles have types called dominant and recessive. These two types can cause different versions of a trait to appear as the organism's phenotype.
A dominant allele causes its version of the trait to appear even when the organism also has a recessive allele for the gene. In pea plants, the F allele, which causes purple flowers, is dominant over the f allele. A pea plant with at least one F allele will have the F allele's version of the flower color trait. So, a plant with the genotype FF or Ff will have purple flowers.
A recessive allele causes its version of the trait to appear only when the organism does not have any dominant alleles for the gene. In pea plants, the f allele, which causes white flowers, is recessive to the F allele. A pea plant with only f alleles will have the f allele's version of the flower color trait. So, a plant with the genotype ff will have white flowers. | You need to determine the tomato plant's phenotype for the fruit color trait. First, consider the alleles in the plant's genotype for the fruit color gene. Then, decide whether these alleles are dominant or recessive.
The allele for red fruit (F) is dominant over the allele for yellow fruit (f). This means F is a dominant allele, and f is a recessive allele.
The tomato plant's genotype of Ff has one dominant allele and one recessive allele. An organism with at least one dominant allele for a gene will have the dominant allele's version of the trait. So, the tomato plant's phenotype for the fruit color trait must be red fruit. |
Which sentence is more formal? | [
"There are some things that Ms. Stevenson wants to bring up at the next city council meeting.",
"Ms. Stevenson has several important proposals to discuss at the next city council meeting."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade8 | language science | writing-strategies | Author's purpose and tone | Which sentence is more formal? | Formal writing is used for essays, business letters, and reports. The following types of informal language should be avoided in formal writing:
Type | Examples
slang | cool, awesome
idioms | knock your socks off
conversational language | gonna, kinda, yeah
abbreviated language | ASAP, FYI
overly simple or imprecise language | he got some stuff at the store
contractions | can't, won't
Contractions are not as informal as the other types, but they should be used sparingly in formal writing.
Compare the following sentences. The first is informal. The second is formal.
Informal: Yeah, ostriches can't fly, but they're awesome runners.
Formal: Though ostriches are flightless, they are remarkably adept runners.
| The second sentence is less formal. You can tell because it uses overly simple or imprecise language (some things, bring up).
The first sentence uses more precise language, so it is more formal overall. |
|
What is the mass of a skateboard? | [
"3 grams",
"3 kilograms"
] | 1 | Select the better estimate. | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | units-and-measurement | Units and measurement | Choose metric units of mass | Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means.
Mass is a measurement of how much matter something contains.
There are many different units of mass. When you are using metric units, mass may be written with units of grams or kilograms.
There are 1,000 grams in 1 kilogram. So, 1 gram is much less than 1 kilogram.
A paper clip has a mass of about 1 gram, while a textbook has a mass of about 1 kilogram. | The better estimate for the mass of a skateboard is 3 kilograms.
3 grams is too light. |
Many people around the world celebrate the new year on January 1. But many other people celebrate the new year on different days. Why? | [
"They want to celebrate during summer.",
"They think celebrating on January 1 is bad luck.",
"They use different calendars.",
"They are confused about what day it is."
] | 2 | closed choice | grade3 | social science | culture | Cultural celebrations | Lunar New Year | People celebrate the new year on different days because they use different calendars.
Which calendars do people use? |
||
Which sentence states a fact? | [
"The book Charlotte's Web has an unhappy ending.",
"Written by E. B. White, Charlotte's Web was first printed in 1952."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade4 | language science | writing-strategies | Developing and supporting arguments | Distinguish facts from opinions | A fact is something that can be proved to be true.
The month of July has more days than the month of June.
This is a fact. It can be proved by looking at a calendar and counting the number of days in each month.
An opinion is something that a person believes, thinks, or feels. An opinion cannot be proved true.
July is a better month than June for camping.
This is an opinion. People may have different opinions about which month is "better" for camping. | The second sentence states a fact.
Written by E. B. White, Charlotte's Web was first printed in 1952.
It can be proved by checking inside the book's front cover.
The first sentence states an opinion.
The book Charlotte's Web has an unhappy ending.
Unhappy shows what a person believes, thinks, or feels. Another person might have a different opinion about the book's ending. |
|
Select the temperature shown by this thermometer. | [
"120°F",
"95°F",
"105°F"
] | 2 | closed choice | grade3 | natural science | units-and-measurement | Weather and climate | Read a thermometer | A thermometer is a tool that measures temperature. Temperature can be measured in degrees. The symbol for degrees is °.
Some thermometers measure temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F). Fahrenheit is one scale used to measure temperature.
This is a tube thermometer. It has a tube filled with a red liquid.
There is a Fahrenheit scale along the right side of the tube. The top of the red liquid lines up with the number 80 on the scale. So, the temperature shown by this thermometer is 80°F. | Find the top of the red liquid.
Now look at the scale to the right. The top of the red liquid is halfway between 100 and 110. So, the temperature is 105°F. |
|
Which figure of speech is used in this text?
Lexi, please stay away from the ocean. You shouldn't go in the water until you know how to swim. | [
"oxymoron",
"paradox"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade9 | language science | figurative-language | Literary devices | Classify figures of speech: euphemism, hyperbole, oxymoron, paradox | Figures of speech are words or phrases that use language in a nonliteral or unusual way. They can make writing more expressive.
A euphemism is a polite or indirect expression that is used to de-emphasize an unpleasant topic.
The head of Human Resources would never refer to firing people, only to laying them off.
Hyperbole is an obvious exaggeration that is not meant to be taken literally.
I ate so much that I think I might explode!
An oxymoron is a joining of two seemingly contradictory terms.
Some reviewers are calling this book a new classic.
A paradox is a statement that might at first appear to be contradictory, but that may in fact contain some truth.
Always expect the unexpected. | The text uses a paradox, a statement that might at first appear to be contradictory, but that may in fact contain some truth.
You shouldn't go in the water until you know how to swim at first appears to be contradictory, because it is impossible to learn how to swim without going in the water. However, it contains some truth: you should not go into deep or dangerous water without first knowing how to swim. |
|
Use the evidence in the text to select the photosynthetic organism. | [
"Stinging nettle slug caterpillars are covered in sharp spines that protect them from predators. These caterpillars get the energy they need to live by eating leaves.",
"Aloe ferox plants have thick, spiny leaves and red flowers. These plants make sugars from carbon dioxide and water. The plants get the energy they need to live from these sugars."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade7 | natural science | biology | Photosynthesis | Identify the photosynthetic organism | Organisms that carry out photosynthesis are called photosynthetic organisms. During photosynthesis, these organisms use light energy, carbon dioxide, and water to produce sugars and oxygen.
Photosynthetic organisms also often have the following characteristics:
They are producers, which are organisms that make their own food inside their cells. Because producers make their own food, they typically do not eat other organisms.
Their cells contain chloroplasts, which are cell structures where photosynthesis occurs.
Their chloroplasts often contain a green substance called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll captures light energy from the Sun to power photosynthesis.
They use the sugars they produce during photosynthesis as food. This food provides energy that helps the organisms live, grow, and reproduce. | This organism is photosynthetic:
The text tells you that Aloe ferox plants get energy from the sugars they make using carbon dioxide and water. This is evidence that the Aloe ferox plant is a photosynthetic organism.
This organism is not photosynthetic:
The text does not provide evidence that the stinging nettle slug caterpillar is photosynthetic. |
|
Which of the following contains a vague pronoun reference? | [
"Mrs. Harper informed her assistant that she had to book a flight to Seoul immediately.",
"Mrs. Harper told her assistant to book a flight to Cedarburg immediately."
] | 0 | closed choice | grade10 | language science | writing-strategies | Pronouns | Identify vague pronoun references | When writing, make sure to avoid vague pronoun references. A vague pronoun reference occurs when a pronoun could refer to more than one possible antecedent.
When Lisa and Kim finally landed, she breathed a sigh of relief.
The pronoun she could refer to either Lisa or Kim, so the meaning of the sentence is unclear.
Vague pronoun references can be corrected in one of two ways:
1. Replace the pronoun with its correct antecedent:
When Lisa and Kim finally landed, Lisa breathed a sigh of relief.
2. Rewrite the sentence:
Lisa breathed a sigh of relief when she and Kim finally landed.
A vague pronoun reference also occurs when they, them, their, theirs, it, or its is used without its antecedent.
They say that this nail polish dries in less than five minutes.
The pronoun they is used without its antecedent, so the meaning of the sentence is unclear.
This problem can be fixed by replacing the pronoun with its missing antecedent.
The advertisements say that this nail polish dries in less than five minutes. | The first answer choice contains a vague pronoun reference. The pronoun she could refer to Mrs. Harper or her assistant.
Mrs. Harper informed her assistant that she had to book a flight to Seoul immediately.
The second answer choice shows a possible correction for the vague pronoun reference. The text has been rewritten so that the meaning is clear.
Mrs. Harper told her assistant to book a flight to Cedarburg immediately. |
|
Which tense does the sentence use?
Dad will love your surprise gift! | [
"future tense",
"past tense",
"present tense"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade2 | language science | verbs | Verb tense | Is the sentence in the past, present, or future tense? | Present tense verbs tell you about something that is happening now.
Most present-tense verbs are regular. They have no ending, or they end in -s or -es.
Two verbs are irregular in the present tense, to be and to have. You must remember their forms.
Past tense verbs tell you about something that has already happened.
Most past-tense verbs are regular. They end in -ed.
Some verbs are irregular in the past tense. You must remember their past-tense forms.
Future tense verbs tell you about something that is going to happen.
All future-tense verbs use the word will.
Present | Past | Future
walk, walks | walked | will walk
go, goes | went | will go | The sentence is in future tense. You can tell because it uses will before the main verb, love. The verb tells you about something that is going to happen. |
|
By 1860, there were almost four million enslaved African American people in the United States. What is an enslaved person? | [
"a person who works for someone else for 4 to 7 years",
"a person who is owned by someone else",
"a person who is a criminal",
"a person who is drafted into the army"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade5 | social science | us-history | Early 19th century American history | Antebellum Period: abolitionist and proslavery perspectives | An enslaved person is a person who is owned by someone else. Slaveholders in the 1800 s had the power to sell, punish, and work an enslaved person.
By the antebellum period, or the time period leading up to the Civil War, African American people had been enslaved in North America for over 300 years. By 1860, there were almost four million enslaved African American people in the United States. |
||
Which of the following contains a vague pronoun reference? | [
"Before Ken decided on a double major in history and Russian literature, he talked to them about the requirements for each major.",
"Before Ken decided on a double major in history and Russian literature, he talked to academic advisers about the requirements for each major."
] | 0 | closed choice | grade11 | language science | writing-strategies | Pronouns | Identify vague pronoun references | When writing, make sure to avoid vague pronoun references. A vague pronoun reference occurs when a pronoun could refer to more than one possible antecedent.
When Lisa and Kim finally landed, she breathed a sigh of relief.
The pronoun she could refer to either Lisa or Kim, so the meaning of the sentence is unclear.
Vague pronoun references can be corrected in one of two ways:
1. Replace the pronoun with its correct antecedent:
When Lisa and Kim finally landed, Lisa breathed a sigh of relief.
2. Rewrite the sentence:
Lisa breathed a sigh of relief when she and Kim finally landed.
A vague pronoun reference also occurs when they, them, their, theirs, it, or its is used without its antecedent.
They say that this nail polish dries in less than five minutes.
The pronoun they is used without its antecedent, so the meaning of the sentence is unclear.
This problem can be fixed by replacing the pronoun with its missing antecedent.
The advertisements say that this nail polish dries in less than five minutes. | The first answer choice contains a vague pronoun reference. The pronoun them is used without its antecedent.
The second answer choice shows a possible correction for the vague pronoun reference. Them has been replaced with academic advisers.
Before Ken decided on a double major in history and Russian literature, he talked to academic advisers about the requirements for each major. |
|
Which logical fallacy is used in the text?
I used to love this TV show, but then I found out that Shane likes it, too. So I changed my opinion—if someone like Shane likes a show, it can't be as good as I thought! | [
"guilt by association: a negative association intended to discredit someone or something",
"straw man: a misrepresentation of an opponent's position that makes it easier to argue against",
"slippery slope fallacy: the false assumption that a small first step will lead to extreme consequences"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade11 | language science | writing-strategies | Developing and supporting arguments | Classify logical fallacies | A strong argument uses valid reasoning and logic in support of a claim. When an argument or claim introduces irrelevant information or misrepresents the issues at hand, it may be committing a logical fallacy. Logical fallacies can hurt a writer's credibility and can lead readers to draw false conclusions.
A logical fallacy may present irrelevant information:
Fallacy | Description
ad hominem | an attack against the person making the argument, rather than the argument itself
appeal to nature | an argument that assumes the natural choice is always the best choice
bandwagon fallacy | an argument that assumes the popular choice is always the best choice
circular reasoning | an argument that supports a claim with the claim itself
guilt by association | an unfair negative association with another person or group that is intended to discredit someone or something
A logical fallacy may misrepresent the issues at hand:
Fallacy | Description
false causation | the assumption that because two things happened together, one caused the other
false dichotomy | an argument that presents only two choices when more options exist
hasty generalization | a broad claim based on too few observations
slippery slope fallacy | the false assumption that a small first step will necessarily lead to extreme consequences
straw man | a misrepresentation of an opponent's position that makes it easier to argue against
| The text argues that a television show must be bad because someone the speaker hates enjoys it. However, this is not evidence that the show is bad. This illustrates a type of logical fallacy known as guilt by association. |
|
Select the mammal. | [
"bottlenose dolphin",
"red-headed poison frog",
"cane toad",
"parrotfish"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | biology | Classification | Identify mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians | Mammals have hair or fur and feed their young milk. | A red-headed poison frog is an amphibian. It has moist skin and begins its life in water.
Poison dart frogs come in many bright colors. Their bright color warns other animals that these frogs are poisonous.
A parrotfish is a fish. It lives underwater. It has fins, not limbs.
Parrotfish have fins and live underwater near coral reefs. They get their name from their bird-like beak!
A bottlenose dolphin is a mammal. It has hair and feeds its young milk.
Dolphins may look like sharks or other fish, but they are mammals! When a baby dolphin is born, it has hair around its jaw. This hair falls out as the dolphin grows.
A cane toad is an amphibian. It has moist skin and begins its life in water.
Toads do not have teeth! They swallow their food whole. |
|
Suppose Wanda decides to get the rainbow sherbet ice cream. Which result would be a cost? | [
"Wanda will give up the chance to eat the peach ice cream. She likes this flavor more than rainbow sherbet.",
"Wanda will get a free waffle cone. She will enjoy the waffle cone."
] | 0 | Wanda is deciding whether to get peach ice cream or rainbow sherbet ice cream. She likes peach more than rainbow sherbet. But a scoop of rainbow sherbet ice cream comes with a free waffle cone. | closed choice | grade5 | social science | economics | Basic economic principles | Costs and benefits | Before you decide to do something, it is often helpful to list costs and benefits.
Costs are what you give up or spend when you decide to do something. Costs involve giving up things that you want or need.
Benefits are what you gain or save when you decide to do something. Benefits involve gaining something that you want or need. | This result is a cost. It involves giving up or spending something that Wanda wants or needs:
Wanda will give up the chance to eat the peach ice cream. She likes this flavor more than rainbow sherbet. |
Using only these supplies, which question can Billy investigate with an experiment? | [
"Does vegetable oil separate faster when stirred together with vinegar or with water?",
"Does vinegar separate faster when stirred together with olive oil or with coconut oil?",
"Does vegetable oil separate faster when stirred together with cold water or with hot water?"
] | 0 | Billy mixes oil and vinegar to make salad dressing. He notices that after a few minutes, the oil and vinegar separate. He wonders what factors affect how quickly liquids separate. So, he decides to design an experiment. He has the following supplies available:
three glass bottles
olive oil
vegetable oil
vinegar
cold water | closed choice | grade8 | natural science | science-and-engineering-practices | Designing experiments | Identify questions that can be investigated with a set of materials | Experiments can be designed to answer specific questions. When designing an experiment, you must identify the supplies that are necessary to answer your question. In order to do this, you need to figure out what will be tested and what will be measured during the experiment.
Imagine that you are wondering if plants grow to different heights when planted in different types of soil. How might you decide what supplies are necessary to conduct this experiment?
First, you need to identify the part of the experiment that will be tested, which is the independent variable. This is usually the part of the experiment that is different or changed. In this case, you would like to know how plants grow in different types of soil. So, you must have different types of soil available.
Next, you need to identify the part of the experiment that will be measured or observed, which is the dependent variable. In this experiment, you would like to know if some plants grow taller than others. So, you must be able to compare the plants' heights. To do this, you can observe which plants are taller by looking at them, or you can measure their exact heights with a meterstick.
So, if you have different types of soil and can observe or measure the heights of your plants, then you have the supplies you need to investigate your question with an experiment! | |
Which correctly shows the title of a magazine? | [
"***Art of the West***",
"\"Art of the West\""
] | 0 | closed choice | grade9 | language science | punctuation | Formatting | Formatting titles | The title of a book, movie, play, TV show, magazine, or newspaper should be in italics. If you write it by hand, it can be underlined instead.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
The title of a poem, song, article, or short story should be in quotation marks.
"You Are My Sunshine" | A magazine should be in italics.
The correct title is **Art of the West**. |
|
Is the following trait inherited or acquired?
Alexa has naturally red hair. | [
"inherited",
"acquired"
] | 0 | Hint: Some people dye their hair. But this does not change their natural hair color. | closed choice | grade4 | natural science | biology | Traits and heredity | Identify inherited and acquired traits | Organisms, including people, have both inherited and acquired traits. Inherited and acquired traits are gained in different ways.
Inherited traits are passed down through families. Children gain these traits from their parents. Inherited traits do not need to be learned.
Acquired traits are gained during a person's life. Some acquired traits, such as riding a bicycle, are gained by learning. Other acquired traits, such as scars, are caused by the environment. Children do not inherit their parents' acquired traits. | Humans do not choose their natural hair color. Instead, children get their natural hair color from their parents. So, Alexa's hair color is an inherited trait. |
Complete the sentence.
A seedling is (). | [
"a young plant",
"a plant that makes seeds",
"a part of a seed"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade4 | natural science | biology | Plants | Describe and construct conifer life cycles | Conifers are plants that grow cones. Conifers use their cones to reproduce, or make new plants like themselves. How do conifers use their cones to reproduce?
Conifers can grow male and female cones. Male cones make pollen, and female cones make eggs. Pollination is what happens when wind blows pollen from male cones onto female cones. After pollination, sperm from the pollen can combine with eggs. This is called fertilization. The fertilized eggs grow into seeds.
The seeds can fall out of the cones and land on the ground. When a seed lands on the ground, it can germinate, or start to grow into a new plant. | A seedling is a young plant. A seedling will grow into an adult plant. |
|
What information supports the conclusion that Wendy acquired this trait? | [
"Wendy likes to look at butterflies and beetles.",
"Wendy learned to identify insects by reading many books about insects."
] | 1 | Read the description of a trait.
Wendy is good at identifying insects. | closed choice | grade4 | natural science | biology | Traits and heredity | Inherited and acquired traits: use evidence to support a statement | Organisms, including people, have both inherited and acquired traits. Inherited and acquired traits are gained in different ways.
Inherited traits are passed down through families. Children gain these traits from their parents. Inherited traits do not need to be learned.
Acquired traits are gained during a person's life. Some acquired traits, such as riding a bicycle, are gained by learning. Other acquired traits, such as scars, are caused by the environment. | |
Which of the following contains a vague pronoun reference? | [
"After discussing the new research methods with Annie, Susan decided to try some of them out.",
"After Susan discussed the new research methods with Annie, she decided to try some of them out."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade10 | language science | writing-strategies | Pronouns | Identify vague pronoun references | When writing, make sure to avoid vague pronoun references. A vague pronoun reference occurs when a pronoun could refer to more than one possible antecedent.
When Lisa and Kim finally landed, she breathed a sigh of relief.
The pronoun she could refer to either Lisa or Kim, so the meaning of the sentence is unclear.
Vague pronoun references can be corrected in one of two ways:
1. Replace the pronoun with its correct antecedent:
When Lisa and Kim finally landed, Lisa breathed a sigh of relief.
2. Rewrite the sentence:
Lisa breathed a sigh of relief when she and Kim finally landed.
A vague pronoun reference also occurs when they, them, their, theirs, it, or its is used without its antecedent.
They say that this nail polish dries in less than five minutes.
The pronoun they is used without its antecedent, so the meaning of the sentence is unclear.
This problem can be fixed by replacing the pronoun with its missing antecedent.
The advertisements say that this nail polish dries in less than five minutes. | The second answer choice contains a vague pronoun reference. The pronoun she could refer to Susan or Annie.
After Susan discussed the new research methods with Annie, she decided to try some of them out.
The first answer choice shows a possible correction for the vague pronoun reference. The text has been rewritten so that the meaning is clear.
After discussing the new research methods with Annie, Susan decided to try some of them out. |
|
What information supports the conclusion that Polly acquired this trait? | [
"Polly is most interested in human biology.",
"Polly learned biology by reading, observing, and experimenting."
] | 1 | Read the description of a trait.
Polly knows a lot about biology. | closed choice | grade4 | natural science | biology | Traits and heredity | Inherited and acquired traits: use evidence to support a statement | Organisms, including people, have both inherited and acquired traits. Inherited and acquired traits are gained in different ways.
Inherited traits are passed down through families. Children gain these traits from their parents. Inherited traits do not need to be learned.
Acquired traits are gained during a person's life. Some acquired traits, such as riding a bicycle, are gained by learning. Other acquired traits, such as scars, are caused by the environment. | |
Based on this information, what is this fly's phenotype for the antenna type trait? | [
"mutated antennae",
"normal antennae"
] | 1 | This passage describes the antenna type trait in fruit flies:
In a group of fruit flies, some individuals have mutated antennae and others have normal antennae. In this group, the gene for the antenna type trait has two alleles. The allele for normal antennae (a) is recessive to the allele for mutated antennae (A).
A certain fruit fly from this group has the homozygous genotype aa for the antenna type gene. | closed choice | grade8 | natural science | biology | Genes to traits | Genetics vocabulary: dominant and recessive | All organisms have pieces of hereditary material called genes, which are passed from parents to offspring. Genes contain instructions for building the parts of an organism. An organism's genes affect its observable traits, including its appearance, its behavior, and which diseases it may have. Genes may have different alleles, or forms, that can cause different versions of a trait.
For example, flower color is a trait in pea plants. The gene for this trait has two possible alleles. Each allele is represented by an uppercase or lowercase letter. The allele F is for purple flowers, and the allele f is for white flowers. Each pea plant has two alleles for the flower color gene—one allele inherited from each parent.
An organism's genotype for a gene is its combination of alleles for that gene. So, a pea plant may have a genotype of FF, Ff, or ff for the flower color gene.
An organism's phenotype for a trait is its observable version of that trait, which depends on the organism's combination of alleles. A pea plant may have a phenotype of purple flowers or white flowers for the flower color trait.
Some traits, like flower color in pea plants, are controlled by a single gene. Most plants and animals have a genotype made up of two alleles for these traits. These two alleles determine whether an organism is homozygous or heterozygous for the gene.
An organism with two identical alleles for a gene is homozygous for that gene. A pea plant with the genotype FF or ff is homozygous for the flower color gene.
An organism with two different alleles for a gene is heterozygous for that gene. A pea plant with the genotype Ff is heterozygous for the flower color gene.
The types of alleles in an organism's genotype determine the organism's phenotype. Some alleles have types called dominant and recessive. These two types can cause different versions of a trait to appear as the organism's phenotype.
A dominant allele causes its version of the trait to appear even when the organism also has a recessive allele for the gene. In pea plants, the F allele, which causes purple flowers, is dominant over the f allele. A pea plant with at least one F allele will have the F allele's version of the flower color trait. So, a plant with the genotype FF or Ff will have purple flowers.
A recessive allele causes its version of the trait to appear only when the organism does not have any dominant alleles for the gene. In pea plants, the f allele, which causes white flowers, is recessive to the F allele. A pea plant with only f alleles will have the f allele's version of the flower color trait. So, a plant with the genotype ff will have white flowers. | The fruit fly's genotype for the antenna type gene is aa. The fruit fly's genotype of aa has only a alleles. The a allele is for normal antennae. So, the fruit fly's phenotype for the antenna type trait must be normal antennae.
To check this answer, consider whether the fruit fly's alleles are dominant or recessive. The allele for normal antennae (a) is recessive to the allele for mutated antennae (A). This means A is a dominant allele, and a is a recessive allele.
The fruit fly's genotype of aa has only recessive alleles. An organism with only recessive alleles for a gene will have the recessive allele's version of the trait. So, the fruit fly's phenotype for the antenna type trait must be normal antennae. |
Which type of sentence is this?
As Colton sat down on the rickety old chair, it abruptly collapsed beneath him. | [
"compound",
"compound-complex",
"simple",
"complex"
] | 3 | closed choice | grade12 | language science | grammar | Phrases and clauses | Is the sentence simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex? | A clause is a group of words that contains both a subject and a predicate.
An independent clause is a complete thought that can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent clause (or subordinate clause) is not a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence.
the oranges on our tree are ripe
The clause can stand alone. It is independent.
after we pick up Kevin from work
The clause cannot stand alone. It is dependent.
A simple sentence is made up of a single independent clause.
Ben and I spent all day relaxing by the pool.
Some simple sentences have introductory phrases, but the introductory phrase is part of the predicate.
In the winter, Ben usually wears his heavy coat.
Ben usually wears his heavy coat in the winter.
A compound sentence is made up of two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction such as and, but, or, or so.
We saw the flash of lightning, and seconds later we heard a rumble of thunder.
A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause and a dependent clause. The dependent clause in a complex sentence usually begins with a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun. Subordinating conjunctions include after, although, as, because, before, if, since, unless, until, when, and while. Relative pronouns include that, which, who, whom, or whose.
If she ever gets the chance, Terri would love to visit the Egyptian pyramids.
During his trip to Italy, Tony visited the Trevi Fountain, which is in Rome.
A compound-complex sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.
After Samantha left work, she stopped at the bank, and then she went to the gym.
Sometimes a dependent clause in a complex or compound-complex sentence can interrupt an independent clause.
Orcas that are kept in captivity often have bent dorsal fins. | The sentence is complex. It is made up of an independent clause and a dependent clause. The dependent clause begins with the subordinating conjunction as.
As Colton sat down on the rickety old chair, it abruptly collapsed beneath him. |
|
Suppose Charlotte decides to go on the roller coaster. Which result would be a cost? | [
"Charlotte will save some ride tickets. She needs fewer tickets to go on the roller coaster than on the flying bobsled.",
"Charlotte will give up the chance to go on the flying bobsled. She would have had more fun on that ride."
] | 1 | Charlotte is deciding which ride to go on at the fair. She can go on either the flying bobsled or the roller coaster. She wants to have as much fun as possible at the fair. | closed choice | grade5 | social science | economics | Basic economic principles | Costs and benefits | Before you decide to do something, it is often helpful to list costs and benefits.
Costs are what you give up or spend when you decide to do something. Costs involve giving up things that you want or need.
Benefits are what you gain or save when you decide to do something. Benefits involve gaining something that you want or need. | This result is a cost. It involves giving up or spending something that Charlotte wants or needs:
Charlotte will give up the chance to go on the flying bobsled. She would have had more fun on that ride. |
How long is a paper clip? | [
"25 millimeters",
"25 kilometers",
"25 meters"
] | 0 | Select the best estimate. | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | units-and-measurement | Units and measurement | Choose metric units of distance | Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means.
When you are using metric units, length can be written with units of millimeters, centimeters, meters, or kilometers. One meter contains 100 centimeters or 1,000 millimeters. So, 1 meter is larger than 1 centimeter, and 1 centimeter is larger than 1 millimeter.
The tip of the pencil shown here is only 1 millimeter wide, but the pencil is about 16 centimeters long.
A red fox is about 1 meter long. The Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia is about 1,000 meters, or 1 kilometer, in length. | The best estimate for the length of a paper clip is 25 millimeters.
25 meters and 25 kilometers are both too long. |
What is the mass of a small candy bar? | [
"60 grams",
"60 kilograms"
] | 0 | Select the better estimate. | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | units-and-measurement | Units and measurement | Choose metric units of mass | Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means.
Mass is a measurement of how much matter something contains.
There are many different units of mass. When you are using metric units, mass may be written with units of grams or kilograms.
There are 1,000 grams in 1 kilogram. So, 1 gram is much less than 1 kilogram.
A paper clip has a mass of about 1 gram, while a textbook has a mass of about 1 kilogram. | The better estimate for the mass of a small candy bar is 60 grams.
60 kilograms is too heavy. |
What is the source of the allusion in the sentence below?
Vince's remark about your new car is clearly a case of sour grapes. | [
"a fable",
"Greek mythology"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade8 | language science | figurative-language | Literary devices | Recall the source of an allusion | An allusion is a brief mention of something or someone well known, often from mythology, history, or literature. An allusion lets you reference ideas from an entire story in just a few words.
"I'd better get home before I turn into a pumpkin!" Lila remarked.
Here, Lila alludes to the fairy tale "Cinderella," in which Cinderella must leave the ball before the coach that brought her transforms into a pumpkin. The allusion shows that Lila must depart immediately. | The source of the allusion sour grapes is a fable.
In the fable "The Fox and the Grapes," a fox tries unsuccessfully to reach a bunch of grapes. Because he cannot reach them and therefore cannot eat them, he tells himself that they must be sour.
The allusion sour grapes means criticizing something because you can't have it. |
|
Which figure of speech is used in this text?
I must have eaten too much of Antonio's homemade chili, because now I'm so full I could explode! | [
"paradox",
"hyperbole"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade12 | language science | figurative-language | Literary devices | Classify the figure of speech: euphemism, hyperbole, oxymoron, paradox | Figures of speech are words or phrases that use language in a nonliteral or unusual way. They can make writing more expressive.
A euphemism is a polite or indirect expression that is used to de-emphasize an unpleasant topic.
The head of Human Resources would never refer to firing people, only to laying them off.
Hyperbole is an obvious exaggeration that is not meant to be taken literally.
I ate so much that I think I might explode!
An oxymoron is a joining of two seemingly contradictory terms.
Some reviewers are calling this book a new classic.
A paradox is a statement that might at first appear to be contradictory, but that may in fact contain some truth.
Always expect the unexpected. | The text uses hyperbole, an obvious exaggeration that is not meant to be taken literally.
So full I could explode is an exaggeration, since it is clear that the speaker is not actually in danger of exploding. |
|
Which tense does the sentence use?
Ian will pitch the ball quickly. | [
"future tense",
"present tense",
"past tense"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade3 | language science | verbs | Verb tense | Is the sentence in the past, present, or future tense? | Present tense verbs tell you about something that is happening now.
Most present-tense verbs are regular. They have no ending, or they end in -s or -es.
Two verbs are irregular in the present tense, to be and to have. You must remember their forms.
Past tense verbs tell you about something that has already happened.
Most past-tense verbs are regular. They end in -ed.
Some verbs are irregular in the past tense. You must remember their past-tense forms.
Future tense verbs tell you about something that is going to happen.
All future-tense verbs use the word will.
Present | Past | Future
walk, walks | walked | will walk
go, goes | went | will go | The sentence is in future tense. You can tell because it uses will before the main verb, pitch. The verb tells you about something that is going to happen. |
|
Based on this information, what is Lyla's genotype for the coat pattern gene? | [
"a black coat",
"aa"
] | 1 | In a group of leopards, some individuals have a spotted coat and others have a black coat. In this group, the gene for the coat pattern trait has two alleles. The allele A is for a spotted coat, and the allele a is for a black coat.
Lyla, a leopard from this group, has a black coat. Lyla has two alleles for a black coat. | closed choice | grade7 | natural science | biology | Genes to traits | Genetics vocabulary: genotype and phenotype | All organisms have pieces of hereditary material called genes, which are passed from parents to offspring. Genes contain instructions for building the parts of an organism. An organism's genes affect its observable traits, including its appearance, its behavior, and which diseases it may have. Genes may have different alleles, or forms, that can cause different versions of a trait.
For example, flower color is a trait in pea plants. The gene for this trait has two possible alleles. Each allele is represented by an uppercase or lowercase letter. The allele F is for purple flowers, and the allele f is for white flowers. Each pea plant has two alleles for the flower color gene—one allele inherited from each parent.
An organism's genotype for a gene is its combination of alleles for that gene. So, a pea plant may have a genotype of FF, Ff, or ff for the flower color gene.
An organism's phenotype for a trait is its observable version of that trait, which depends on the organism's combination of alleles. A pea plant may have a phenotype of purple flowers or white flowers for the flower color trait. | An organism's genotype for a gene is its combination of alleles for that gene. Lyla has two alleles for a black coat (a). So, Lyla's genotype for the coat pattern gene is aa. |
What does the idiom in this text suggest?
Mr. and Mrs. Erickson usually see eye to eye, but not when it comes to the controversial mayoral race. | [
"Mr. and Mrs. Erickson usually agree.",
"Mr. and Mrs. Erickson are not politically active."
] | 0 | closed choice | grade7 | language science | figurative-language | Literary devices | Interpret figures of speech | Figures of speech are words or phrases that use language in a nonliteral or unusual way. They can make writing more expressive.
An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood literally. Its meaning must be learned.
The assignment was a piece of cake. | The text uses an idiom, an expression that cannot be understood literally.
The idiom see eye to eye suggests that Mr. and Mrs. Erickson usually agree. When you see eye to eye with someone, you share their opinion. |
|
Select the place that doesn't belong. | [
"hive",
"moon",
"den",
"nest"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade3 | language science | vocabulary | Categories | Select the words that don't belong | Moon doesn't belong.
Nest, hive, and den all name places where groups of animals live. |
||
Which is a run-on sentence? | [
"All fish use gills for breathing underwater.",
"Grandpa teaches us how to play the fiddle it isn't easy."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade3 | language science | writing-strategies | Sentences, fragments, and run-ons | Is it a complete sentence, a fragment, or a run-on? | A sentence is a group of words that forms a complete thought. It has both a subject and a verb.
My friends walk along the path.
A sentence fragment is a group of words that does not express a complete thought. It is usually missing a subject or a verb.
Knows the answer.
This is a sentence fragment. It is missing a subject.
Who knows the answer? She knows the answer.
The bright red car.
This is a sentence fragment. It is missing a verb.
What did the bright red car do? The bright red car stopped.
A run-on sentence is made up of two sentences that are joined without end punctuation or with just a comma.
I knocked on the door it opened.
It started raining, we ran inside.
To fix a run-on sentence, separate it into two sentences. Add end punctuation after the first sentence, and capitalize the second sentence.
I knocked on the door. It opened.
It started raining. We ran inside.
You can also fix a run-on sentence by rewriting it as a compound sentence. A compound sentence is two sentences joined by a comma and a conjunction such as and, but, or, or so.
I knocked on the door, and it opened.
It started raining, so we ran inside. | Grandpa teaches us how to play the fiddle it isn't easy is a run-on sentence. It has two sentences that are joined without end punctuation: Grandpa teaches us how to play the fiddle and It isn't easy. |
|
Which figure of speech is used in this text?
The metal platter landed with a great clang, spraying bits of food across the kitchen floor and cabinets. | [
"onomatopoeia",
"verbal irony"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade10 | language science | figurative-language | Literary devices | Classify figures of speech: review | Figures of speech are words or phrases that use language in a nonliteral or unusual way. They can make writing more expressive.
Alliteration is the repetition of sounds at the beginning of nearby words.
What a lucky little lady you are!
An allusion is a brief reference to something or someone well known, often from history or literature.
"I'd better get home before I turn into a pumpkin!" Lila remarked.
An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood literally. Its meaning must be learned.
The assignment was a piece of cake.
A simile uses like or as to compare two things that are not actually alike.
The cat's fur was as dark as the night.
A metaphor compares two things that are not actually alike without using like or as.
The snow formed a blanket over the town.
Onomatopoeia involves using a word that expresses a sound.
The scrambled eggs hit the floor with a splat.
Personification is giving human characteristics to nonhuman things.
The trees danced in the wind.
A pun involves using a word or phrase in a humorous way that suggests more than one meaning.
A great new broom is sweeping the nation.
Verbal irony involves saying one thing but implying something very different. People often use verbal irony when they are being sarcastic.
Olivia seems thrilled that her car keeps breaking down.
Each breakdown is as enjoyable as a punch to the face. | The text uses onomatopoeia, a word that expresses a sound.
Clang represents the sound the metal platter made when it hit the floor. |
|
Is the following trait inherited or acquired?
Doug has a scar on his left leg. | [
"inherited",
"acquired"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | biology | Traits and heredity | Identify inherited and acquired traits | Organisms, including people, have both inherited and acquired traits. Inherited and acquired traits are gained in different ways.
Inherited traits are passed down through families. Children gain these traits from their parents. Inherited traits do not need to be learned.
Acquired traits are gained during a person's life. Some acquired traits, such as riding a bicycle, are gained by learning. Other acquired traits, such as scars, are caused by the environment. Children do not inherit their parents' acquired traits. | Children do not inherit their parent's scars. Instead, scars are caused by the environment. People can get scars after they get hurt. So, having a scar is an acquired trait. |
|
Which of the following contains a vague pronoun reference? | [
"The jeweler carefully polished the ring once he had removed the precious gemstone from it.",
"After the jeweler removed the precious gemstone from the ring, he carefully polished it."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade10 | language science | writing-strategies | Pronouns | Identify vague pronoun references | When writing, make sure to avoid vague pronoun references. A vague pronoun reference occurs when a pronoun could refer to more than one possible antecedent.
When Lisa and Kim finally landed, she breathed a sigh of relief.
The pronoun she could refer to either Lisa or Kim, so the meaning of the sentence is unclear.
Vague pronoun references can be corrected in one of two ways:
1. Replace the pronoun with its correct antecedent:
When Lisa and Kim finally landed, Lisa breathed a sigh of relief.
2. Rewrite the sentence:
Lisa breathed a sigh of relief when she and Kim finally landed.
A vague pronoun reference also occurs when they, them, their, theirs, it, or its is used without its antecedent.
They say that this nail polish dries in less than five minutes.
The pronoun they is used without its antecedent, so the meaning of the sentence is unclear.
This problem can be fixed by replacing the pronoun with its missing antecedent.
The advertisements say that this nail polish dries in less than five minutes. | The second answer choice contains a vague pronoun reference. The pronoun it could refer to the precious gemstone or the ring.
After the jeweler removed the precious gemstone from the ring, he carefully polished it.
The first answer choice shows a possible correction for the vague pronoun reference. The text has been rewritten so that the meaning is clear.
The jeweler carefully polished the ring once he had removed the precious gemstone from it. |
|
Which of the following contains a vague pronoun reference? | [
"Mike accidentally bumped into the waiter, and food splattered all over Mike's shirt.",
"Mike accidentally bumped into the waiter, and food splattered all over his shirt."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade7 | language science | writing-strategies | Pronouns and antecedents | Identify vague pronoun references | When writing, make sure to avoid vague pronoun references. A vague pronoun reference occurs when a pronoun could refer to more than one possible antecedent.
When Lisa and Kim finally landed, she breathed a sigh of relief.
The pronoun she could refer to either Lisa or Kim, so the meaning of the sentence is unclear.
Vague pronoun references can be corrected in one of two ways:
1. Replace the pronoun with its correct antecedent:
When Lisa and Kim finally landed, Lisa breathed a sigh of relief.
2. Rewrite the sentence:
Lisa breathed a sigh of relief when she and Kim finally landed.
A vague pronoun reference also occurs when they, them, their, theirs, it, or its is used without its antecedent.
They say that this nail polish dries in less than five minutes.
The pronoun they is used without its antecedent, so the meaning of the sentence is unclear.
This problem can be fixed by replacing the pronoun with its missing antecedent.
The advertisements say that this nail polish dries in less than five minutes. | The first answer choice contains a vague pronoun reference. The pronoun his could refer to Mike's or the waiter's.
The second answer choice shows a possible correction for the vague pronoun reference. His has been replaced with Mike's.
Mike accidentally bumped into the waiter, and food splattered all over Mike's shirt. |
|
What is the mass of a dinner fork? | [
"85 grams",
"85 kilograms"
] | 0 | Select the better estimate. | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | units-and-measurement | Units and measurement | Choose metric units of mass | Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means.
Mass is a measurement of how much matter something contains.
There are many different units of mass. When you are using metric units, mass may be written with units of grams or kilograms.
There are 1,000 grams in 1 kilogram. So, 1 gram is much less than 1 kilogram.
A paper clip has a mass of about 1 gram, while a textbook has a mass of about 1 kilogram. | The better estimate for the mass of a dinner fork is 85 grams.
85 kilograms is too heavy. |
Which sentence is more formal? | [
"Andrew Carnegie made tons of dough when he sold his steel company to John Pierpont Morgan in 1901.",
"Andrew Carnegie became one of the world's richest men after selling his steel company to John Pierpont Morgan in 1901."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade7 | language science | writing-strategies | Author's purpose and tone | Which sentence is more formal? | Formal writing is used for essays, business letters, and reports. The following types of informal language should be avoided in formal writing:
Type | Examples
slang | cool, awesome
idioms | knock your socks off
conversational language | gonna, kinda, yeah
abbreviated language | ASAP, FYI
overly simple or imprecise language | he got some stuff at the store
contractions | can't, won't
Contractions are not as informal as the other types, but they should be used sparingly in formal writing.
Compare the following sentences. The first is informal. The second is formal.
Informal: Yeah, ostriches can't fly, but they're awesome runners.
Formal: Though ostriches are flightless, they are remarkably adept runners.
| The second sentence is less formal. You can tell because it uses slang (tons of dough).
The first sentence uses formal language in place of the slang, so it is more formal overall. |
|
How long does it take to do ten jumping jacks? | [
"21 minutes",
"21 seconds"
] | 1 | Select the better estimate. | closed choice | grade3 | natural science | units-and-measurement | Units and measurement | Choose units of time | Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means.
Imagine being told that the bus leaves in 7. You might be thinking, 7 what? Does the bus leave in 7 minutes? 7 seconds?
The number 7 on its own does not give you much information about when the bus is leaving. That is because the units are missing.
Time is usually measured in units of seconds, minutes, or hours. It takes about 1 second to sneeze and 1 minute to get dressed in the morning. It takes about 1 hour to bake a pie in the oven.
There are 60 seconds in 1 minute. So, 1 second is much less than 1 minute.
There are 60 minutes in 1 hour. So, 1 minute is much less than 1 hour. | The better estimate for how long it takes to do ten jumping jacks is 21 seconds.
21 minutes is too slow. |
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