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What do these two changes have in common?
an iceberg melting slowly
baking cookies | [
"Both are only physical changes.",
"Both are caused by heating.",
"Both are caused by cooling.",
"Both are chemical changes."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade4 | natural science | chemistry | Physical and chemical change | Compare physical and chemical changes | Chemical changes and physical changes are two common ways matter can change.
In a chemical change, the type of matter changes. The types of 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. When paper gets hot enough, it reacts with oxygen in the air and burns. The paper and oxygen change into ash and smoke.
In a physical change, the type of matter stays the same. The types of 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, ice melting is a physical change that can be caused by heating. Ice and liquid water 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.
An iceberg melting is a change of state. So, it is a physical change. An iceberg is made of frozen water. As it melts, the water changes from a solid to a liquid. But a different type of matter is not formed.
Baking cookies is a chemical change. The type of matter in the cookie dough changes when it is baked. The cookie dough turns into cookies!
Step 2: Look at each answer choice.
Both are only physical changes.
An iceberg melting is a physical change. But baking cookies is not.
Both are chemical changes.
Baking cookies is a chemical change. But an iceberg melting is not.
Both are caused by heating.
Both changes are caused by heating.
Both are caused by cooling.
Neither change is caused by cooling. |
|
Would you find the word equal on a dictionary page with the following guide words?
enjoy - example | [
"no",
"yes"
] | 1 | yes or no | grade6 | 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 equal is between the guide words enjoy - example, it would be found on that page. |
|
Is the following statement true or false?
An animal cell does not have a nucleus. | [
"false",
"true"
] | 0 | true-or false | grade4 | natural science | biology | Cells | Cell part functions: true or false | An animal cell does not have a nucleus.
This statement is false. Not every cell has a nucleus, but most plant and animal cells have one. |
||
Select the amphibian. | [
"red-eyed tree frog",
"eagle ray",
"red kangaroo",
"Mojave rattlesnake"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | biology | Classification | Identify mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians | Amphibians have moist skin and begin their lives in water. | A red-eyed tree frog is an amphibian. It has moist skin and begins its life in water.
A red-eyed tree frog has sticky pads on its toes. The sticky pads help the red-eyed tree frog hold on to leaves.
An eagle ray is a fish. It lives underwater. It has fins, not limbs.
Rays have a different shape than many other fish. Rays are large and flat. They have wide, triangle-shaped fins that help them swim long distances.
A red kangaroo is a mammal. It has fur and feeds its young milk.
Kangaroos hop to move around. They use their large tails for balance while hopping.
A Mojave rattlesnake is a reptile. It has scaly, waterproof skin.
Rattlesnakes have fangs they can use to inject venom into their prey. |
|
Select the living thing. | [
"flower pot",
"crocodile"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade3 | natural science | biology | Classification | Identify living and nonliving things | All living things need food and water. Water helps living things break down food and remove waste. Food gives living things energy. Living things use this energy to grow and change. All living things grow and change during their lives.
All living things sense changes in the world around them. Living things might sense changes by seeing, smelling, hearing, or feeling. Living things can respond to the changes they sense. | A flower pot is not a living thing.
Flower pots do not have all of the traits of living things. They do not grow or respond to the world around them. They do not need food or water.
A crocodile is a living thing.
Crocodiles grow and respond to the world around them. They need food and water. |
|
What kind of sentence is this?
Sasha is completely soaked! | [
"declarative",
"exclamatory"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade4 | language science | punctuation | Sentences, fragments, and run-ons | Is the sentence declarative, interrogative, imperative, or exclamatory? | There are four kinds of sentences.
A declarative sentence is a statement. It tells about something. A declarative sentence always ends with a period.
I have an older brother and a younger sister.
An interrogative sentence is a question. It asks something. An interrogative sentence always ends with a question mark.
How tall are you?
An imperative sentence is a command. It makes a request or tells someone to do something. An imperative sentence usually ends with a period. If the command shows strong feeling, it ends with an exclamation point.
Read the first chapter by next week.
Look out for that car!
An exclamatory sentence is like a statement, but it shows surprise or strong feeling. An exclamatory sentence always ends with an exclamation point.
Some whales are over ninety feet long!
I can't wait until tomorrow! | The sentence tells about something, but it shows surprise and ends with an exclamation point. It is an exclamatory sentence. |
|
Suppose Jen decides to take a trip to Oregon. Which result would be a cost? | [
"Jen will enjoy her trip to Oregon more than she would have enjoyed a trip to Georgia.",
"Jen will spend more money. Plane tickets for Jen to get to Oregon are more expensive than tickets to Georgia."
] | 1 | Jen is deciding whether to take a trip to Oregon or Georgia. She wants to enjoy her trip. But she is also trying to save money. | 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 Jen wants or needs:
Jen will spend more money. Plane tickets for Jen to get to Oregon are more expensive than tickets to Georgia. |
Based on this information, what is this fruit fly's genotype for the body color gene? | [
"a gray body",
"Bb"
] | 1 | In a group of fruit flies, some individuals have a gray body and others have a black body. In this group, the gene for the body color trait has two alleles. The allele B is for a gray body, and the allele b is for a black body.
A certain fruit fly from this group has a gray body. This fly has one allele for a gray body and one allele for a black body. | 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 genotype for a gene is its combination of alleles for that gene. The fruit fly has one allele for a gray body (B) and one allele for a black body (b). So, the fly's genotype for the body color gene is Bb. |
Which is a simple sentence? | [
"The trek across New Zealand's South Island is exhausting, but the gorgeous views make it worth the effort.",
"Before the race, the athletes enjoyed a healthy breakfast of oatmeal, fruit, and tea."
] | 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 second sentence is the simple sentence. It is a single independent clause.
Before the race, the athletes enjoyed a healthy breakfast of oatmeal, fruit, and tea. |
|
Select the one substance that is not a rock. | [
"An eggshell is made by a living thing. It is formed in nature.",
"Soapstone is not a pure substance. It is a solid.",
"Trachyte is not a pure substance. It is not made by living things."
] | 0 | closed choice | grade4 | natural science | earth-science | Rocks and minerals | Identify rocks using properties | Rocks are made of minerals. Here are some properties of rocks:
They are solid.
They are formed in nature.
They are not made by living things.
They are not pure substances. | Compare the properties of each substance to the properties of rocks. Select the substance whose properties do not match those of rocks.
An eggshell is made by a living thing. But rocks are not made by living things.
So, an eggshell is not a rock.
Trachyte is a rock.
Soapstone is a rock. |
|
How long is a paintbrush? | [
"27 centimeters",
"27 meters"
] | 0 | Select the better estimate. | closed choice | grade2 | 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.
Imagine being told that a pencil is 16 long. You might be thinking, 16 what? Is the pencil 16 centimeters long? 16 meters? 16 kilometers?
The number 16 on its own does not give you much information about the length of the pencil. That is because the units are missing.
Now look at the drawing of the pencil and the ruler. The ruler shows that the units are centimeters. So, the length of the pencil is 16 centimeters.
There are 100 centimeters in 1 meter. So, 1 centimeter is much shorter than 1 meter.
There are 1,000 meters in 1 kilometer. So, 1 meter is much shorter than 1 kilometer. | The better estimate for the length of a paintbrush is 27 centimeters.
27 meters is too long. |
Which logical fallacy is used in the text?
Senator Smith announced today that she plans to cut funding to early childhood education programs. The last thing we need is a government official who hates children! | [
"straw man: a misrepresentation of an opponent's position that makes it easier to argue against",
"guilt by association: a negative association intended to discredit someone or something"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade8 | 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 | a personal attack meant to discredit one's opponent
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
red herring | the use of a completely unrelated topic in support of a claim
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 very broad claim based on very little evidence
straw man | a misrepresentation of an opponent's position that makes it easier to argue against
| The text argues that Senator Smith hates children, because she wants to cut education funding. However, the fact that Senator Smith wants to cut education funding doesn't necessarily suggest that she hates children. This illustrates a type of logical fallacy known as a straw man. |
|
Which phrase has a more positive connotation? | [
"a thrifty person",
"a stingy person"
] | 0 | 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. | A thrifty person has a more positive connotation. Thrifty and stingy both denote not wanting to spend money. However, thrifty suggests a person spends money carefully, while stingy suggests a person is ungenerous or cheap. |
|
Which correctly shows the title of a newspaper? | [
"\"The Baltimore Sun\"",
"***The Baltimore Sun***"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade6 | 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 newspaper should be in italics.
The correct title is **The Baltimore Sun**. |
|
Complete the statement.
Silane is (). | [
"an elementary substance",
"a compound"
] | 1 | Silane is used to produce some types of solar cells, which make electricity from sunlight. The chemical formula for silane is SiH4. | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | chemistry | Atoms and molecules | Classify elementary substances and compounds using chemical formulas | Every substance around you is made of one or more chemical elements, or types of atoms. Substances that are made of only one chemical element are elementary substances. Substances that are made of two or more chemical elements bonded together are compounds.
Every chemical element is represented by its own symbol. For some elements, the symbol is one capital letter. For other elements, the symbol is one capital letter and one lowercase letter. For example, the symbol for the element fluorine is F, and the symbol for the element beryllium is Be.
The symbol for each element in a substance is shown in the substance's chemical formula.
An elementary substance is represented by a chemical formula that contains only one symbol.
The symbol may be followed by a subscript. A subscript is text that is smaller and placed lower than the normal line of text. A subscript is included when the atoms in the elementary substance are bonded to form molecules. The subscript tells you the number of atoms in each molecule.
For example, the chemical formula for the elementary substance oxygen is O2. The formula has a subscript of 2. This subscript tells you that there are two atoms in the molecule represented by this chemical formula.
The chemical element represented by the symbol O is also called oxygen. So, the formula O2 tells you that each molecule of O2 contains two oxygen atoms.
A compound is represented by a chemical formula that contains multiple symbols.
For example, in the compound beryllium fluoride, there is one beryllium atom for every two fluorine atoms. This combination is shown in the compound's chemical formula, BeF2. In the formula, the symbol Be represents one beryllium atom. The symbol F followed by the subscript 2 represents two fluorine atoms. | You can tell whether silane is an elementary substance or a compound by counting the number of symbols in its chemical formula. A symbol contains either one capital letter or a capital letter followed by one or two lowercase letters.
The chemical formula for silane is SiH4. This formula contains two symbols: Si for silicon and H for hydrogen. So, the formula tells you that silane is made of two chemical elements bonded together.
Substances made of two or more chemical elements bonded together are compounds. So, silane is a compound. |
Compare the motion of three geese. Which goose was moving at the highest speed? | [
"a goose that moved 675miles north in 10hours",
"a goose that moved 575miles west in 10hours",
"a goose that moved 765miles 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 fastest will go the farthest distance in that time. It is moving at the highest speed. | Look at the distance each goose moved and the time it took to move that distance. The direction each goose moved does not affect its speed.
Notice that each goose moved for 10 hours. The goose that moved 765 miles moved the farthest distance in that time. So, that goose must have moved at the highest speed. |
|
What kind of sentence is this?
The boys picked apples in the orchard. | [
"declarative",
"exclamatory"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade4 | language science | punctuation | Sentences, fragments, and run-ons | Is the sentence declarative, interrogative, imperative, or exclamatory? | There are four kinds of sentences.
A declarative sentence is a statement. It tells about something. A declarative sentence always ends with a period.
I have an older brother and a younger sister.
An interrogative sentence is a question. It asks something. An interrogative sentence always ends with a question mark.
How tall are you?
An imperative sentence is a command. It makes a request or tells someone to do something. An imperative sentence usually ends with a period. If the command shows strong feeling, it ends with an exclamation point.
Read the first chapter by next week.
Look out for that car!
An exclamatory sentence is like a statement, but it shows surprise or strong feeling. An exclamatory sentence always ends with an exclamation point.
Some whales are over ninety feet long!
I can't wait until tomorrow! | The sentence tells about something, and it ends with a period. It is a declarative sentence. |
|
Suppose Hayley decides to see the lions. Which result would be a cost? | [
"Hayley will enjoy seeing the lions more than she would have enjoyed seeing the gorillas.",
"Hayley will spend more time walking to the lions. They are on the other side of the zoo, but the gorillas are close by."
] | 1 | Hayley is deciding whether to see the lions or the gorillas at the zoo. She wants to see lots of animals, but the zoo is closing soon. | 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 Hayley wants or needs:
Hayley will spend more time walking to the lions. They are on the other side of the zoo, but the gorillas are close by. |
What do these two changes have in common?
baking cookies
melting wax | [
"Both are caused by cooling.",
"Both are only physical changes.",
"Both are caused by heating.",
"Both are chemical changes."
] | 2 | closed choice | grade4 | natural science | chemistry | Physical and chemical change | Compare physical and chemical changes | Chemical changes and physical changes are two common ways matter can change.
In a chemical change, the type of matter changes. The types of 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. When paper gets hot enough, it reacts with oxygen in the air and burns. The paper and oxygen change into ash and smoke.
In a physical change, the type of matter stays the same. The types of 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, ice melting is a physical change that can be caused by heating. Ice and liquid water 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.
Baking cookies is a chemical change. The type of matter in the cookie dough changes when it is baked. The cookie dough turns into cookies!
Melting wax is a change of state. So, it is a physical change. The wax changes from solid to liquid. But it is still made of the same type of matter.
Step 2: Look at each answer choice.
Both are only physical changes.
Melting wax is a physical change. But baking cookies is not.
Both are chemical changes.
Baking cookies is a chemical change. But melting wax is not.
Both are caused by heating.
Both changes are caused by heating.
Both are caused by cooling.
Neither change is caused by cooling. |
|
What is the source of the allusion in the sentence below?
Carmen was known among her coworkers for her spartan ways. | [
"Shakespeare",
"Greek history"
] | 1 | 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 spartan is Greek history.
Soldiers from the city of Sparta in ancient Greece were known for their self-restraint, self-discipline, and indifference to luxury.
The allusion spartan means simple and austere. |
|
What information supports the conclusion that Kimi inherited this trait? | [
"Kimi's father has brown eyes. He passed this trait down to Kimi.",
"Kimi's hair is the same color as her brown eyes."
] | 0 | Read the description of a trait.
Kimi has brown eyes. | 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. | |
Select the mammal. | [
"western toad",
"coral snake",
"gray wolf",
"grass frog"
] | 2 | 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 gray wolf is a mammal. It has fur and feeds its young milk.
Wolves often live in family groups. A wolf mother, father, and their children travel together.
A coral snake is a reptile. It has scaly, waterproof skin.
Coral snakes spend most of their time underground or hiding under leaves.
A western toad is an amphibian. It has moist skin and begins its life in water.
Toads do not have teeth! They swallow their food whole.
A grass frog is an amphibian. It has moist skin and begins its life in water.
Frogs live near water or in damp places. Most frogs lay their eggs in water. |
|
Would you find the word seat on a dictionary page with the following guide words?
shingle - steak | [
"no",
"yes"
] | 0 | yes or no | grade4 | 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 seat is not between the guide words shingle - steak, it would not be found on that page. |
|
What kind of sentence is this?
This sauce is so spicy that it made me cry! | [
"interrogative",
"exclamatory"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade4 | language science | punctuation | Sentences, fragments, and run-ons | Is the sentence declarative, interrogative, imperative, or exclamatory? | There are four kinds of sentences.
A declarative sentence is a statement. It tells about something. A declarative sentence always ends with a period.
I have an older brother and a younger sister.
An interrogative sentence is a question. It asks something. An interrogative sentence always ends with a question mark.
How tall are you?
An imperative sentence is a command. It makes a request or tells someone to do something. An imperative sentence usually ends with a period. If the command shows strong feeling, it ends with an exclamation point.
Read the first chapter by next week.
Look out for that car!
An exclamatory sentence is like a statement, but it shows surprise or strong feeling. An exclamatory sentence always ends with an exclamation point.
Some whales are over ninety feet long!
I can't wait until tomorrow! | The sentence tells about something, but it shows strong feeling and ends with an exclamation point. It is an exclamatory sentence. |
|
Is teaching dance a good or a service? | [
"a service",
"a good"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade3 | social science | economics | Basic economic principles | Goods and services | Everything you can buy is either a good or a service.
A good is something you can touch or hold in your hands. For example, a hammer is a good.
A service is a job you pay someone else to do. For example, cooking food in a restaurant is a service. | To decide whether teaching dance is a good or a service, ask these questions:
Is teaching dance something you can touch? No.
Is teaching dance a job you might pay someone else to do? Yes.
So, teaching dance is a service. |
|
Is the following trait inherited or acquired?
Aubrey has a scar on her right hand. | [
"acquired",
"inherited"
] | 0 | 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. |
|
Select the vertebrate. | [
"brown pelican",
"fly",
"banana slug",
"redback spider"
] | 0 | Hint: Mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians are vertebrates. | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | biology | Classification | Identify vertebrates and invertebrates | Vertebrates and invertebrates are both groups of animals.
A vertebrate has a backbone. The backbone is made of many bones in an animal's back. A vertebrate's backbone helps connect the different parts of its body. In the drawings below, each vertebrate's backbone is colored orange.
An invertebrate does not have a backbone. In fact, invertebrates do not have any bones! Some invertebrates have an outer cover on their body called an exoskeleton. Other invertebrates have a soft body. | Like other spiders, a redback spider is an invertebrate. It does not have a backbone. It has an exoskeleton.
A fly is an insect. Like other insects, a fly is an invertebrate. It does not have a backbone. It has an exoskeleton.
A brown pelican is a bird. Like other birds, a brown pelican is a vertebrate. It has a backbone.
Like other slugs, a banana slug is an invertebrate. It does not have a backbone. It has a soft body. |
Select the one substance that is not a rock. | [
"A computer processor is made by humans. It is not a pure substance.",
"Slate is not a pure substance. It is a solid.",
"Calcarenite is not a pure substance. It is formed in nature."
] | 0 | closed choice | grade4 | natural science | earth-science | Rocks and minerals | Identify rocks using properties | Rocks are made of minerals. Here are some properties of rocks:
They are solid.
They are formed in nature.
They are not made by living things.
They are not pure substances. | Compare the properties of each substance to the properties of rocks. Select the substance whose properties do not match those of rocks.
Calcarenite is a rock.
Slate is a rock.
A computer processor is made by humans. But rocks are not made by living things.
So, a computer processor is not a rock. |
|
How long is a leather belt? | [
"80 meters",
"80 millimeters",
"80 centimeters",
"80 kilometers"
] | 2 | Select the best estimate. | closed choice | grade7 | 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 leather belt is 80 centimeters.
80 millimeters is too short. 80 meters and 80 kilometers are too long. |
Which sentence states a fact? | [
"Five South American countries border Peru: Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador.",
"Of the five South American countries that border Peru, Brazil is the most important."
] | 0 | closed choice | grade5 | social science | civics | Social studies skills | Identify facts and opinions | A fact is something that can be proved to be true. Facts can be proved by observing, measuring, or studying information.
The flag of the United States has 13 stripes.
This is a fact. It can be proved by looking at the flag and counting the number of stripes.
An opinion is something that a person believes, thinks, or feels. An opinion cannot be proved true.
The flag of the United States is easy to draw.
This is an opinion. People may have different opinions about what makes a flag "easy" to draw. | The second sentence states a fact.
Five South American countries border Peru: Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador.
It can be proved by checking a map of South America.
The first sentence states an opinion.
Of the five South American countries that border Peru, Brazil is the most important.
Most important shows what a person believes, thinks, or feels. Another person might have a different opinion about what makes a country important. |
|
Would you find the word wring on a dictionary page with the following guide words?
wand - window | [
"yes",
"no"
] | 1 | yes or no | 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 wring is not between the guide words wand - window, it would not be found on that page. |
|
Select the one substance that is not a mineral. | [
"An antler is made by a living thing. It is a solid.",
"Chrysotile is a solid. It is a pure substance.",
"Pyrite is not made by living things. It is formed in nature."
] | 0 | closed choice | grade4 | natural science | earth-science | Rocks and minerals | Identify minerals using properties | Minerals are the building blocks of rocks. A rock can be made of one or more minerals.
Minerals and rocks have the following properties:
Property | Mineral | Rock
It is a solid. | Yes | Yes
It is formed in nature. | Yes | Yes
It is not made by organisms. | Yes | Yes
It is a pure substance. | Yes | No
It has a fixed crystal structure. | Yes | No
You can use these properties to tell whether a substance is a mineral, a rock, or neither.
Look closely at the last three properties:
Minerals and rocks are not made by organisms.
Organisms make their own body parts. For example, snails and clams make their shells. Because they are made by organisms, body parts cannot be minerals or rocks.
Humans are organisms too. So, substances that humans make by hand or in factories are not minerals or rocks.
A mineral is a pure substance, but a rock is not.
A pure substance is made of only one type of matter. Minerals are pure substances, but rocks are not. Instead, all rocks are mixtures.
A mineral has a fixed crystal structure, but a rock does not.
The crystal structure of a substance tells you how the atoms or molecules in the substance are arranged. Different types of minerals have different crystal structures, but all minerals have a fixed crystal structure. This means that the atoms and molecules in different pieces of the same type of mineral are always arranged the same way.
However, rocks do not have a fixed crystal structure. So, the arrangement of atoms or molecules in different pieces of the same type of rock may be different! | Compare the properties of each substance to the properties of minerals. Select the substance whose properties do not match those of minerals.
An antler is made by a living thing. But minerals are not made by living things.
So, an antler is not a mineral.
Pyrite is a mineral.
Chrysotile is a mineral. |
|
Which closing is correct for a letter? | [
"Sincerely,\nLuke",
"sincerely,\nLuke"
] | 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. |
|
What do these two changes have in common?
adding dish soap to water in a sink
sediment settling to the bottom of a muddy puddle | [
"Both are caused by heating.",
"Both are only physical changes.",
"Both are chemical changes.",
"Both are caused by cooling."
] | 1 | 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.
Adding dish soap to water in a sink is a physical change. Bubbles may appear if air gets trapped in the soapy water, but a different type of matter does not form.
Loose matter such as sand and dirt is called sediment. Sediment settling to the bottom of a muddy puddle is a physical change.
The sediment sinks, and the water above becomes clearer. This separates the water from the sediment. But separating a mixture does not form a different type of matter.
Step 2: Look at each answer choice.
Both are only physical changes.
Both changes are physical changes. No new matter is created.
Both are chemical changes.
Both changes are physical changes. They are not chemical changes.
Both are caused by heating.
Neither change is caused by heating.
Both are caused by cooling.
Neither change is caused by cooling. |
|
Select the vertebrate. | [
"Canadian lynx",
"hissing cockroach",
"day octopus",
"yellow jacket"
] | 0 | Hint: Mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians are vertebrates. | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | biology | Classification | Identify vertebrates and invertebrates | Vertebrates and invertebrates are both groups of animals.
A vertebrate has a backbone. The backbone is made of many bones in an animal's back. A vertebrate's backbone helps connect the different parts of its body. In the drawings below, each vertebrate's backbone is colored orange.
An invertebrate does not have a backbone. In fact, invertebrates do not have any bones! Some invertebrates have an outer cover on their body called an exoskeleton. Other invertebrates have a soft body. | A yellow jacket is an insect. Like other insects, a yellow jacket is an invertebrate. It does not have a backbone. It has an exoskeleton.
Like other octopuses, a day octopus is an invertebrate. It does not have a backbone. It has a soft body.
A Canadian lynx is a mammal. Like other mammals, a Canadian lynx is a vertebrate. It has a backbone.
A hissing cockroach is an insect. Like other insects, a hissing cockroach is an invertebrate. It does not have a backbone. It has an exoskeleton. |
Which is a simple sentence? | [
"Mr. Rudd's afternoon lecture was about art and culture in Germany before World War II.",
"I don't believe in superstitions, but my mother takes them quite seriously."
] | 0 | 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 simple sentence. It is a single independent clause.
Mr. Rudd's afternoon lecture was about art and culture in Germany before World War II. |
|
Which text uses the word disinterested in its traditional sense? | [
"As an experienced teacher of American history, Mr. Larsen believes that playing history-based trivia games will revive even the most disinterested of students.",
"As a teacher of American history, Mr. Larsen tries to remain disinterested when discussing controversial issues, giving equal attention and consideration to each major viewpoint."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade12 | 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 first text uses disinterested in its traditional sense: unbiased or impartial.
As a teacher of American history, Mr. Larsen tries to remain disinterested when discussing controversial issues, giving equal attention and consideration to each major viewpoint.
The second text uses disinterested in its nontraditional sense: uninterested or indifferent.
As an experienced teacher of American history, Mr. Larsen believes that playing history-based trivia games will revive even the most disinterested of students.
Most style guides recommend to use the traditional sense of the word disinterested because it is considered more standard. |
|
Which is the stickiest? | [
"leather belt",
"gum",
"silk kimono"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade4 | natural science | physics | Materials | Compare properties of materials | Every object is made of one or more materials. A material is a type of matter. Wood, glass, metal, and plastic are common materials.
A material has different properties. A material's properties tell you how it looks, feels, tastes, or smells. Some examples of properties are shiny, hard, fragile, and stretchy.
For example, a shiny material reflects a lot of light. A fragile material breaks when you drop it. | Sticky is a property. A sticky material easily attaches to other things.
Look at each picture, one at a time. Imagine touching the material shown in each picture.
Of the choices, the gum is the stickiest. If you step on chewed gum, it will stick to your foot. |
|
Which sentence states a fact? | [
"Computers make life better for people.",
"Bill Gates was a founder of Microsoft."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade5 | social science | civics | Social studies skills | Identify facts and opinions | A fact is something that can be proved to be true. Facts can be proved by observing, measuring, or studying information.
The flag of the United States has 13 stripes.
This is a fact. It can be proved by looking at the flag and counting the number of stripes.
An opinion is something that a person believes, thinks, or feels. An opinion cannot be proved true.
The flag of the United States is easy to draw.
This is an opinion. People may have different opinions about what makes a flag "easy" to draw. | The first sentence states a fact.
Bill Gates was a founder of Microsoft.
It can be proved by reading about the history of Microsoft.
The second sentence states an opinion.
Computers make life better for people.
Better shows what a person believes, thinks, or feels. Another person might have a different opinion about what makes life better or worse. |
|
Which organ gives the body its structure and allows it to move? | [
"brain",
"heart",
"skin",
"skeleton"
] | 3 | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | biology | Animals | Human organs and their functions | |||
What do these two changes have in common?
a piece of avocado turning brown
burning a marshmallow over a campfire | [
"Both are only physical changes.",
"Both are caused by cooling.",
"Both are chemical changes.",
"Both are caused by heating."
] | 2 | closed choice | grade4 | natural science | chemistry | Physical and chemical change | Compare physical and chemical changes | Chemical changes and physical changes are two common ways matter can change.
In a chemical change, the type of matter changes. The types of 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. When paper gets hot enough, it reacts with oxygen in the air and burns. The paper and oxygen change into ash and smoke.
In a physical change, the type of matter stays the same. The types of 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, ice melting is a physical change that can be caused by heating. Ice and liquid water 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.
A piece of avocado turning brown is a chemical change. The avocado reacts with oxygen in the air to form a different type of matter.
If you scrape off the brown part of the avocado, the inside will still be green. The inside hasn't touched the air. So the chemical change hasn't happened to that part of the avocado.
Burning a marshmallow is a chemical change. The heat from the fire causes the type of matter in the marshmallow to change. The marshmallow becomes black and crispy.
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.
Burning is caused by heating. But a piece of avocado turning brown is not.
Both are caused by cooling.
Neither change is caused by cooling. |
|
What information supports the conclusion that Lucy inherited this trait? | [
"Lucy's parents were born with wavy hair. They passed down this trait to Lucy.",
"Lucy and her mother both have short hair."
] | 0 | Read the description of a trait.
Lucy 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. | |
What do these two changes have in common?
snowflakes forming in a cloud
water boiling on a stove | [
"Both are caused by heating.",
"Both are chemical changes.",
"Both are only physical 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.
Snowflakes forming in a cloud is a change of state. So, it is a physical change. Liquid water freezes and becomes solid, but it is still made of water. A different type of matter is not formed.
Water boiling on the stove is a change of state. So, it is a physical change. The liquid changes into a gas, but a different type of matter is not formed.
Step 2: Look at each answer choice.
Both are only physical changes.
Both changes are physical changes. No new matter is created.
Both are chemical changes.
Both changes are physical changes. They are not chemical changes.
Both are caused by heating.
Water boiling is caused by heating. But snowflakes forming in a cloud is not.
Both are caused by cooling.
A snowflake begins to form when a tiny drop of liquid water in a cloud freezes. This is caused by cooling. But water boiling is not. |
|
Which object has the least thermal energy? | [
"a 350-gram mug of cocoa at a temperature of 151°F",
"a 350-gram mug of cocoa at a temperature of 115°F",
"a 350-gram mug of cocoa at a temperature of 118°F"
] | 1 | The objects are identical except for their temperatures. | closed choice | grade4 | natural science | physics | Heat and thermal energy | How is temperature related to thermal energy? | All solids, liquids, and gases are made of matter. Matter is made up of tiny particles that are always moving. The energy from the motion of these particles is called thermal energy.
Temperature measures how hot or cold matter is. If the particles in matter slow down, the temperature goes down. The matter now has both less thermal energy and a lower temperature. | All three mugs of cocoa have the same mass but different temperatures. Since the 115°F mug of cocoa is the coldest, it has the least thermal energy. |
Which phrase has a more negative connotation? | [
"surprise someone",
"startle someone"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade4 | 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. | Startle someone has a more negative connotation. If you startle someone, you surprise them in a bad way. |
|
Select the living thing. | [
"chair",
"orca"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade3 | natural science | biology | Classification | Identify living and nonliving things | All living things need food and water. Water helps living things break down food and remove waste. Food gives living things energy. Living things use this energy to grow and change. All living things grow and change during their lives.
All living things sense changes in the world around them. Living things might sense changes by seeing, smelling, hearing, or feeling. Living things can respond to the changes they sense. | A chair is not a living thing.
Chairs do not have all of the traits of living things. They do not grow or respond to the world around them. They do not need food or water.
An orca is a living thing.
Orcas grow and respond to the world around them. They need food and water. |
|
Would you find the word hardly on a dictionary page with the following guide words?
herring - hump | [
"yes",
"no"
] | 1 | yes or no | grade6 | 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 hardly is not between the guide words herring - hump, it would not be found on that page. |
|
Which word means a small, young plant? | [
"seedling",
"germination",
"chlorophyll"
] | 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 small, young plant. A seedling will grow into an adult plant.
Germination is what happens when a seed begins to grow. |
|
What is the volume of an eyedropper? | [
"9 milliliters",
"9 liters"
] | 0 | Select the better estimate. | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | units-and-measurement | Units and measurement | Choose metric units of volume | Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means.
Volume is a measurement of how much space something takes up.
There are many different units of volume. When you are using metric units, volume may be written in units of milliliters or liters.
There are 1,000 milliliters in 1 liter. So, 1 milliliter is much less than 1 liter.
A raindrop has a volume of about 20 milliliters, while a large soda bottle has a volume of 2 liters. The flask shown here measures volumes up to 500 milliliters. | The better estimate for the volume of an eyedropper is 9 milliliters.
9 liters is too much. |
Suppose Jordan decides to get the chocolate-chip cookie dough ice cream. Which result would be a cost? | [
"Jordan will get a free waffle cone. He will enjoy the waffle cone.",
"Jordan will give up the chance to eat the butter pecan ice cream. He likes this flavor more than chocolate-chip cookie dough."
] | 1 | Jordan is deciding whether to get butter pecan ice cream or chocolate-chip cookie dough ice cream. He likes butter pecan more than chocolate-chip cookie dough. But a scoop of chocolate-chip cookie dough 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 Jordan wants or needs:
Jordan will give up the chance to eat the butter pecan ice cream. He likes this flavor more than chocolate-chip cookie dough. |
Based on this information, what is this plant's phenotype for the pea shape trait? | [
"round peas",
"wrinkled peas"
] | 1 | In a group of pea plants, some individuals have round peas and others have wrinkled peas. In this group, the gene for the pea shape trait has two alleles. The allele for round peas (E) is dominant over the allele for wrinkled peas (e).
A certain pea plant from this group has the homozygous genotype ee for the pea shape gene. | closed choice | grade6 | 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 pea plant's genotype for the pea shape gene is ee. The pea plant's genotype of ee has only e alleles. The e allele is for wrinkled peas. So, the pea plant's phenotype for the pea shape trait must be wrinkled peas.
To check this answer, consider whether the pea plant's alleles are dominant or recessive. The allele for round peas (E) is dominant over the allele for wrinkled peas (e). This means E is a dominant allele, and e is a recessive allele.
The pea plant's genotype of ee 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 pea plant's phenotype for the pea shape trait must be wrinkled peas. |
What information supports the conclusion that Marcy inherited this trait? | [
"Marcy's parents have dark skin. They passed down this trait to Marcy.",
"Marcy and her father both have dark hair."
] | 0 | Read the description of a trait.
Marcy has dark skin. | 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 figure of speech is used in this text?
The hum of the computer concerned Omar. Was the problem with the power supply or the hard drive? | [
"simile",
"onomatopoeia"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade6 | 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 onomatopoeia, a word that expresses a sound.
Hum represents the sound the computer was making. |
|
What is the source of the allusion in the sentence below?
Dave says that he would not be the person he is today were it not for his childhood, which he describes as Dickensian. | [
"literature",
"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 Dickensian is literature.
The works of British author Charles Dickens often featured characters struggling to survive in settings such as debtors' prisons and orphanages.
The allusion Dickensian means harsh or poverty-stricken. |
|
Which logical fallacy is used in the text?
I understand that you had a medical emergency, but I still cannot accept late homework. If I make an exception for you, I'll have to make exceptions for everybody. | [
"slippery slope fallacy: the false assumption that a small first step will lead to extreme consequences",
"bandwagon fallacy: the assumption that the popular choice is automatically correct",
"false causation: the assumption that because two things happened together, one caused the other"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade10 | 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 making an exception for one student because of a medical emergency will lead to making exceptions for all students. However, making an exception for a particular situation does not mean the teacher must make exceptions for all situations. This illustrates a type of logical fallacy known as the slippery slope fallacy. |
|
Which word would you find on a dictionary page with the following guide words?
alley - associate | [
"aquarium",
"absence"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade6 | 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 aquarium is between the guide words alley - associate, it would be found on that page. |
|
What information supports the conclusion that Gabe acquired this trait? | [
"Gabe learned to identify insects by reading many books about insects.",
"Gabe likes to look at butterflies and beetles."
] | 0 | Read the description of a trait.
Gabe is good at identifying insects. | 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. | |
Which is a compound sentence? | [
"Mom doesn't like diamonds, so Dad gave her a ruby bracelet.",
"The nervous swimmer steps onto the diving platform."
] | 0 | closed choice | grade5 | 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 second sentence is the compound sentence. It is made up of two simple sentences joined by a comma and the conjunction so.
Mom doesn't like diamonds, so Dad gave her a ruby bracelet. |
|
Which figure of speech is used in this text?
It's an open secret that Brett is writing a book based on his experiences living in Singapore. He never talks about it, but almost all his friends know. | [
"euphemism",
"oxymoron"
] | 1 | 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 an oxymoron, a joining of two seemingly contradictory terms.
Open secret is a contradiction, because open describes something that is freely or publicly known, and a secret is hidden. |
|
Would you find the word flicker on a dictionary page with the following guide words?
fire - fought | [
"no",
"yes"
] | 1 | yes or no | grade6 | 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 flicker is between the guide words fire - fought, it would be found on that page. |
|
Which greeting is correct for a letter? | [
"Dear Uncle Ted,",
"Dear uncle Ted,"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade3 | language science | punctuation | Formatting | 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 greeting is correct:
Its first word is capitalized, and it ends with a comma. Uncle Ted is capitalized because it is a proper noun. |
|
How long does it take to go for a walk with a dog? | [
"14 minutes",
"14 hours"
] | 0 | Select the better estimate. | closed choice | grade2 | 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 go for a walk with a dog is 14 minutes.
14 hours is too slow. |
Select the animal that does not have a backbone. | [
"weaver ant",
"turkey vulture"
] | 0 | Hint: Insects, spiders, and worms do not have backbones. | closed choice | grade2 | natural science | biology | Classification | Identify animals with and without backbones | Some animals have a backbone. The backbone is made of many bones in an animal's back. An animal's backbone helps connect the different parts of its body. In the drawings below, each animal's backbone is colored orange.
Other animals do not have a backbone. In fact, these animals don't have any bones! Some animals without backbones have a hard outer cover. Other animals have a soft body. | A turkey vulture is a bird. Like other birds, a turkey vulture has a backbone.
A weaver ant is an insect. Like other insects, a weaver ant does not have a backbone. It has a hard outer cover. |
Which figure of speech is used in this text?
I've heard that Ellen & Co. is downsizing, so I'm happy to see that their store in downtown Greenville will remain open for now. | [
"euphemism",
"hyperbole"
] | 0 | 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 euphemism, a polite or indirect expression that is used to de-emphasize an unpleasant topic.
Downsizing is an indirect way of saying that the company is planning on firing employees, closing shops or branches, and/or reducing its budget. |
|
Which sentence states a fact? | [
"Jackie Robinson is the greatest baseball player in modern major league baseball history.",
"Jackie Robinson was the first African American baseball player in modern major league baseball."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade5 | social science | civics | Social studies skills | Identify facts and opinions | The first sentence states a fact.
Jackie Robinson was the first African American baseball player in modern major league baseball.
It can be proved by reading a book about the history of baseball.
The second sentence states an opinion.
Jackie Robinson is the greatest baseball player in modern major league baseball history.
Greatest shows what a person believes, thinks, or feels. Another person might have a different opinion about what makes a baseball player great. |
||
Complete the sentence.
Water vapor condensing on a bathroom mirror is a (). | [
"chemical change",
"physical change"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade4 | natural science | chemistry | Physical and chemical change | Identify physical and chemical changes | Chemical changes and physical changes are two common ways matter can change.
In a chemical change, the type of matter changes. The types of matter before and after a chemical change are always different.
Burning a piece of paper is a chemical change. When paper gets hot enough, it reacts with oxygen in the air and burns. The paper and oxygen change into ash and smoke.
In a physical change, the type of matter stays the same. The types of matter before and after a physical change are always the same.
Cutting a piece of paper is a physical change. The cut pieces are still made of paper.
A change of state is a type of physical change. For example, ice melting is a physical change. Ice and liquid water are made of the same type of matter: water. | Water vapor condensing on a bathroom mirror is a change of state. So, it is a physical change. The water changes state from gas in the air to liquid water on the mirror. But the water vapor and the liquid water are both made of water. |
|
Is this a run-on sentence?
Ms. Todd, an interior designer, asks her clients to fill out a design questionnaire she uses it to get a sense of their personalities and style preferences. | [
"yes",
"no"
] | 0 | yes or no | grade12 | language science | writing-strategies | Sentences, fragments, and run-ons | Identify run-on sentences | A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought.
The band I'm in has been rehearsing daily because we have a concert in two weeks.
A run-on sentence is formed when two sentences are run together, joined by just a comma or by no punctuation at all. If only a comma is used, the run-on is called a comma splice.
The band I'm in has been rehearsing daily, we have a concert in two weeks.
The band I'm in has been rehearsing daily we have a concert in two weeks.
There are several ways to fix a run-on sentence:
Use stronger punctuation, such as a period or a semicolon.
The band I'm in has been rehearsing daily. We have a concert in two weeks.
The band I'm in has been rehearsing daily; we have a concert in two weeks.
Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction to create a compound sentence. Coordinating conjunctions include and, but, or, and so.
The band I'm in has been rehearsing daily, and we have a concert in two weeks.
Use a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun to create a complex sentence. Subordinating conjunctions include after, although, as, because, before, if, since, unless, until, when, and while. Relative pronouns include that, which, who, whom, and whose.
The band I'm in has been rehearsing daily since we have a concert in two weeks. | This is a run-on sentence. It is formed from two sentences run together, joined without punctuation.
Ms. Todd, an interior designer, asks her clients to fill out a design questionnaire she uses it to get a sense of their personalities and style preferences.
Here is one way to fix the run-on sentence:
Ms. Todd, an interior designer, asks her clients to fill out a design questionnaire; she uses it to get a sense of their personalities and style preferences. |
|
Which figure of speech is used in this text?
Luke's room is as tidy as an overgrown garden. | [
"verbal irony",
"pun"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade7 | 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 verbal irony, which involves saying one thing but implying something very different.
As tidy as an overgrown garden shows verbal irony because an overgrown garden is not tidy. |
|
Select the bird. | [
"sea otter",
"western toad",
"salmon",
"common crane"
] | 3 | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | biology | Classification | Identify mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians | Birds have feathers, two wings, and a beak. | A sea otter is a mammal. It has fur and feeds its young milk.
Sea otters have very thick fur. Their fur keeps them warm in cold water.
A western toad is an amphibian. It has moist skin and begins its life in water.
Toads do not have teeth! They swallow their food whole.
A common crane is a bird. It has feathers, two wings, and a beak.
Cranes wade in shallow water to look for food. Cranes eat insects, worms, and plants.
A salmon is a fish. It lives underwater. It has fins, not limbs.
Unlike most other fish, salmon can live in both fresh water and salt water. |
|
Which figure of speech is used in this text?
Akira, I've told you a million times: you need to dry the dishes before you put them away. | [
"hyperbole",
"oxymoron"
] | 0 | 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 hyperbole, an obvious exaggeration that is not meant to be taken literally.
A million times is an exaggeration, since it is unlikely that Akira has actually been told this a million times. |
|
Which closing is correct for a letter? | [
"Thanks,\nShannon",
"thanks,\nShannon"
] | 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 second closing is correct:
Its first word is capitalized, and it ends with a comma. |
|
Which closing is correct for a letter? | [
"Best regards,\nPamela",
"best regards,\nPamela"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade4 | language science | punctuation | Formatting | 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 second closing is correct:
Its first word is capitalized, and it ends with a comma. |
|
Which tense does the sentence use?
Uncle Jacob will cook dinner for us. | [
"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, cook. The verb tells you about something that is going to happen. |
|
Which word would you find on a dictionary page with the following guide words?
idea - inspire | [
"issue",
"immense"
] | 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 immense is between the guide words idea - inspire, it would be found on that page. |
|
Which word would you find on a dictionary page with the following guide words?
pick - possible | [
"playmate",
"painter"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade2 | 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. | Put the words in alphabetical order.
Since playmate is between the guide words pick - possible, it would be found on that page. |
|
What is the volume of a test tube? | [
"20 milliliters",
"20 liters"
] | 0 | Select the better estimate. | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | units-and-measurement | Units and measurement | Choose metric units of volume | Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means.
Volume is a measurement of how much space something takes up.
There are many different units of volume. When you are using metric units, volume may be written in units of milliliters or liters.
There are 1,000 milliliters in 1 liter. So, 1 milliliter is much less than 1 liter.
A raindrop has a volume of about 20 milliliters, while a large soda bottle has a volume of 2 liters. The flask shown here measures volumes up to 500 milliliters. | The better estimate for the volume of a test tube is 20 milliliters.
20 liters is too much. |
Which sugar cube has less thermal energy? | [
"the hotter sugar cube",
"the colder sugar cube"
] | 1 | Two sugar cubes are identical except for their temperatures. | closed choice | grade6 | natural science | physics | 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 1-kilogram brick at 70°F has half as much thermal energy as a 2-kilogram brick at 70°F. The two bricks have the same temperature, but the smaller brick has half as many atoms. So, it has half as much thermal energy. | The two sugar cubes are made of the same material and have the same mass. So, the colder sugar cube has less thermal energy. |
Which is a compound sentence? | [
"At the auction, several paintings by famous artists were for sale, including one by Pablo Picasso.",
"Nile crocodiles mainly eat fish, but they will also eat zebras, birds, and other crocodiles."
] | 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.
Nile crocodiles mainly eat fish, but they will also eat zebras, birds, and other crocodiles. |
|
Complete the statement. Assume that the water balloon's mass did not change.
The gravitational potential energy stored between the water balloon and Earth () as the water balloon fell toward Jordan. | [
"increased",
"stayed the same",
"decreased"
] | 2 | Read the text about an object in motion.
Tracy dropped a water balloon off a balcony. The water balloon fell toward her friend Jordan, who was standing below the balcony. | closed choice | grade7 | natural science | physics | Kinetic and potential energy | Identify changes in gravitational potential energy | Gravitational potential energy is stored between any two objects. So, for every object on or near Earth, there is gravitational potential energy stored between the object and Earth.
The amount of gravitational potential energy stored between an object and Earth depends on the mass of the object. The amount of gravitational potential energy also depends on the distance between the object and the center of Earth. This distance increases when the object moves higher and decreases when the object moves lower.
If the distance between an object and the center of Earth changes, the gravitational potential energy stored between the object and Earth will change. The table below shows how this change can happen.
When an object's mass stays the same and its distance from the center of Earth... | Gravitational potential energy stored between the object and Earth...
increases | increases
decreases | decreases
stays the same | stays the same | Think about how the distance between the water balloon and the center of Earth changed.
Jordan was lower than the balcony. As the water balloon fell toward Jordan, the distance between the water balloon and the center of Earth decreased. So, the gravitational potential energy stored between the water balloon and Earth decreased as the water balloon fell toward Jordan. |
Is a juice box a good or a service? | [
"a good",
"a service"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade3 | social science | economics | Basic economic principles | Goods and services | Everything you can buy is either a good or a service.
A good is something you can touch or hold in your hands. For example, a hammer is a good.
A service is a job you pay someone else to do. For example, cooking food in a restaurant is a service. | To decide whether a juice box is a good or a service, ask these questions:
Is a juice box something you can touch? Yes.
Is a juice box a job you might pay someone else to do? No.
So, a juice box is a good. |
|
What information supports the conclusion that Tiana inherited this trait? | [
"Tiana's parents have dark skin. They passed down this trait to Tiana.",
"Tiana and her father both have dark hair."
] | 0 | Read the description of a trait.
Tiana has dark skin. | 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 greeting is correct for a letter? | [
"Dear dr. Flynn,",
"Dear Dr. Flynn,"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade4 | language science | punctuation | Formatting | 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 greeting is correct:
Its first word is capitalized, and it ends with a comma. Dr. Flynn is capitalized because it is a proper noun. |
|
How long is a raisin? | [
"12 meters",
"12 kilometers",
"12 millimeters",
"12 centimeters"
] | 2 | 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 raisin is 12 millimeters.
12 centimeters, 12 meters, and 12 kilometers are all too long. |
Read the following excerpt from a student essay. How can the writer best improve his or her ideas and development?
The Servicemen's Readjustment Act, also known as the G.I. Bill, gave veterans money to pay college costs and buy books and supplies. Ex-servicemen were also eligible to receive low-interest home loans so that they could afford to buy their own homes, as well as commercial loans to set up their own businesses. One of the more controversial aspects of the bill was the provision of unemployment benefits to the veterans who were unable to find jobs. | [
"by stating the main idea clearly",
"by removing a second main idea"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade10 | language science | writing-strategies | Editing and revising | Suggest appropriate revisions | During peer review, you read and respond to a fellow student's writing. While there are many methods and strategies that you can use for reviewing a text, it is generally helpful to frame your suggestions in concrete and constructive ways and to consider the following areas for revision:
Ideas and development: Does the writer express a clear idea and develop it with evidence, examples, or analysis?
Organization: Does the writer order ideas in a clear, logical way so that they build on one another and are easy to follow?
Voice: Does the writer maintain an appropriate voice, such as a formal and objective voice in an academic essay or an engaging and expressive voice in a narrative essay?
Sentence fluency: Does the writer use sentences that vary in structure and length to create a sense of rhythm and flow within and between sentences, or does the writing sound choppy, rambling, or repetitive?
Word choice: Does the writer use words accurately and precisely to create clear, effective, and engaging writing?
Grammar and mechanics: Does the writer follow appropriate conventions, using accurate spelling, punctuation, and grammar to create writing that is correct and easy to read? | The writer could best improve his or her ideas and development by stating the main idea clearly.
For example, the writer could add a main idea statement before the underlined sentence, such as The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 was a widely influential bill that helped veterans in many ways.
The Servicemen's Readjustment Act, also known as the G.I. Bill, gave veterans money to pay college costs and buy books and supplies. Ex-servicemen were also eligible to receive low-interest home loans so that they could afford to buy their own homes, as well as commercial loans to set up their own businesses. One of the more controversial aspects of the bill was the provision of unemployment benefits to the veterans who were unable to find jobs. |
|
Using only these supplies, which question can Edna investigate with an experiment? | [
"Does the basketball bounce higher on gravel or on grass?",
"Do larger basketballs bounce higher than smaller basketballs on a brick patio?",
"Does the basketball bounce higher on a lawn or on a dirt path?"
] | 0 | Edna gets a basketball for her birthday and dribbles it around her neighborhood. She notices that sometimes the ball bounces higher than other times. She wonders what factors affect how high her ball bounces. So, she decides to design an experiment. She has the following supplies available:
one basketball
access to a brick patio
access to a grassy lawn
access to a gravel driveway
a meterstick | closed choice | grade6 | 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 text uses the word unique in its traditional sense? | [
"Angie wanted her daughter to have a unique name, so she browsed baby name websites for months to find the perfect one.",
"Angie made all of her daughter's baby clothes by hand, including a unique hand-knitted romper that she designed herself."
] | 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 unique in its traditional sense: being the only one of its kind.
Angie made all of her daughter's baby clothes by hand, including a unique hand-knitted romper that she designed herself.
The first text uses unique in its nontraditional sense: interesting or unusual. Angie may have been looking for an unusual name, but if she found it on a baby name website, it is not actually one of a kind.
Angie wanted her daughter to have a unique name, so she browsed baby name websites for months to find the perfect one.
Most style guides recommend to use the traditional sense of the word unique because it is considered more standard. |
|
Select the fish. | [
"shoebill",
"golden frog",
"bison",
"hammerhead shark"
] | 3 | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | biology | Classification | Identify mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians | Fish live underwater. They have fins, not limbs. | A hammerhead shark is a fish. It lives underwater. It has fins, not limbs.
Hammerhead sharks get their names from the shape of their heads. They have a wide, flat head and a small mouth.
A golden frog is an amphibian. It has moist skin and begins its life in water.
Frogs live near water or in damp places. Most frogs lay their eggs in water.
A bison is a mammal. It has fur and feeds its young milk.
Male bison have horns. They can use their horns to defend themselves.
A shoebill is a bird. It has feathers, two wings, and a beak.
Shoebills live in tropical East Africa. Shoebills get their name from their shoe-shaped beaks. |
|
Is a bowl a good or a service? | [
"a good",
"a service"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade2 | social science | economics | Economics | Goods and services | Everything you can buy is either a good or a service.
A good is something you can touch or hold in your hands. For example, a hammer is a good.
A service is a job you pay someone else to do. For example, cooking food in a restaurant is a service. | To decide whether a bowl is a good or a service, ask these questions:
Is a bowl something you can touch? Yes.
Is a bowl a job you might pay someone else to do? No.
So, a bowl is a good. |
|
What does the euphemism in this text suggest?
Mr. Hancock is enjoying his golden years in a luxurious beachside community just down the street from his grandchildren. | [
"Mr. Hancock is rich.",
"Mr. Hancock is old."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade9 | 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.
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. | The text uses a euphemism, a polite or indirect expression that is used to de-emphasize an unpleasant topic.
The euphemism golden years indicates that Mr. Hancock is old. Golden years is a nicer way of referring to old age. |
|
Suppose Monica decides to watch the comedy. Which result would be a cost? | [
"Monica will get to watch the movie that she is more excited about.",
"Monica will give up the chance to watch a movie with her sister."
] | 1 | Monica is deciding whether to watch a comedy or an action movie. She would prefer to watch a comedy. But she also wants to watch a movie with her sister. Monica's sister will only watch an action movie. | 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 Monica wants or needs:
Monica will give up the chance to watch a movie with her sister. |
Which tense does the sentence use?
Mr. Johnson welcomes us to his home. | [
"present tense",
"future 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 present tense. You can tell because it uses a present-tense verb, welcomes. The verb ends in -s and tells you about something that is true or happening now. |
|
Based on this information, what is this rose plant's phenotype for the thorns trait? | [
"RR",
"having thorns"
] | 1 | In a group of rose plants, some individuals have thorns and others do not. In this group, the gene for the thorns trait has two alleles. The allele R is for having thorns, and the allele r is for not having thorns.
A certain rose plant from this group has thorns. This plant has two alleles for having thorns. | 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. The rose plant's observable version of the thorns trait is having thorns. So, the plant's phenotype for the thorns trait is having thorns. |
Which of these things did the Thirteen Colonies have at the start of the Revolutionary War? | [
"their own national bank",
"their own national navy",
"none of the above",
"their own national government"
] | 2 | closed choice | grade4 | social science | us-history | The American Revolution | The American Revolution: preparing for war | At the start of the Revolutionary War, the colonies were still ruled by Great Britain. They were not a separate country. So, they did not have many of the things most countries have.
No national government: The Thirteen Colonies had no way to write laws together. They also had no way to collect taxes to support a war.
No national navy: The Thirteen Colonies did not have a navy. The colonists had never fought a war at sea.
No national bank: Wars are expensive. A national bank can help a country raise money by borrowing from its people or other countries. Without a national bank, the Thirteen Colonies had no easy way to pay for a war. |
||
What is the temperature of a warm swimming pool? | [
"27°F",
"27°C"
] | 1 | Select the better estimate. | closed choice | grade6 | natural science | units-and-measurement | Units and measurement | Estimate temperatures | Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means.
Temperature can be written with units of degrees Fahrenheit (°F) or Celsius (°C). Use the list below to compare the two units.
212°F | Water boils | 100°C
98.6°F | Body temperature | 37°C
68°F | Room temperature | 20°C
32°F | Water freezes | 0°C
| The better estimate for the temperature of a warm swimming pool is 27°C.
27°F is too cold. |
Which logical fallacy is used in the text?
Mr. Harmon's class is so boring! Why are all literature classes so dull? | [
"hasty generalization: a broad claim based on too few observations",
"slippery slope fallacy: the false assumption that a small first step will lead to extreme consequences",
"false causation: the assumption that because two things happened together, one caused the other"
] | 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 single boring class indicates that all classes on the same topic are dull. However, this isn't necessarily true. This illustrates a type of logical fallacy known as a hasty generalization. |
|
Which logical fallacy is used in the text?
If you have any doubts that Nick Hardin is the ideal candidate, just look at how many people have come out to vote for him. | [
"bandwagon fallacy: the assumption that the popular choice is automatically correct",
"straw man: a misrepresentation of an opponent's position that makes it easier to argue against",
"guilt by association: a negative association intended to discredit someone or something"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade10 | 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 Nick Hardin is the ideal candidate because so many people turned out to vote for him. However, just because many people voted for Nick Hardin, it doesn't necessarily mean he is the ideal candidate. He could be a popular candidate for other reasons. This illustrates a type of logical fallacy known as the bandwagon fallacy. |
|
Which correctly shows the title of a book? | [
"***Apple of an Eye***",
"\"Apple of an Eye\""
] | 0 | closed choice | grade3 | 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, or article should be in quotation marks.
"You Are My Sunshine" | A book should be in italics.
The correct title is **Apple of an Eye**. |
|
Select the mixture. | [
"oxygen",
"silver and glass balls"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade2 | natural science | physics | Mixtures | Identify mixtures | A pure substance is made of only one type of matter.
A mixture is made of two or more types of matter mixed together. | ||
Which sentence uses a metaphor? | [
"Her laughter was like a bird's song.",
"Her laughter was a bird's song."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade4 | language science | figurative-language | Literary devices | Identify similes and metaphors | Similes and metaphors are figures of speech that compare two things that are not actually alike.
A simile compares two things by saying that one is like the other. Similes often use the words like and as.
My sister runs like a cheetah.
The sister's running and a cheetah's running are compared using the word like.
A cheetah is known for running fast, so the simile means that the sister also runs fast.
The cat's fur was as dark as the night.
The cat's fur and the night are compared using the word as.
The night is dark, so the simile means that the cat's fur is also dark.
A metaphor compares two things by saying that one of them is the other. Unlike similes, metaphors don't use the word like or as.
The snow formed a blanket over the town.
The snow and a blanket are compared without the word like or as.
A blanket is a large piece of cloth that completely covers a bed. The metaphor makes the reader imagine that the snow becomes a blanket, covering the town completely.
Using similes and metaphors in your writing can help you create an interesting picture for the reader. | This sentence uses a metaphor:
Her laughter was a bird's song.
The words laughter and bird's song are compared without the word like or as.
This sentence uses a simile:
Her laughter was like a bird's song.
The words laughter and bird's song are compared using the word like. |
|
Choose the poem that uses end rhyme. | [
"Sign of a nation, great and strong\nToward her people from foreign wrong:\nPride and glory and honor,—all\nLive in the colors to stand or fall.",
"I break a staff.\nI break the tough branch.\nI know no light in the woods.\nI have lost pace with the winds."
] | 0 | From Henry Holcomb Bennett, "The Flag Goes By" and from H. D., "Orion Dead" | closed choice | grade4 | language science | reading-comprehension | Poetry elements | Identify elements of poetry | Poetry is a special kind of writing. It has many elements that make it different from ordinary writing. Knowing these elements can help you talk about poetry, understand it better, and enjoy it more.
A poem rhymes when it has a pattern of words that end in the same sound.
End rhyme is when the rhymes appear at the end of a poem's lines.
Little Betty Blue,
Lost her holiday shoe.
—From Mother Goose
Internal rhyme is when at least one of the rhyming words appears inside the poem's lines.
Sweet dreams of pleasant streams.
—From William Blake, "A Cradle Song"
Rhythm is the pattern of strong and weak syllables, or stress, in a poem. You can recognize rhythm in a poem by listening to how it sounds. Poems with regular rhythm have a beat, like in music.
He watches from his mountain walls,
And like a thunderbolt he falls.
—From Alfred, Lord Tennyson, "The Eagle"
The syllables in bold are strong. We say them with more force than the other syllables. In this poem, every weak syllable is followed by a strong syllable. Each line sounds like da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM. To better hear the rhythm, try reading it aloud while clapping on each strong syllable.
Free verse is when a poem has neither a regular rhythm nor a rhyme pattern.
The old bridge has a wrinkled face.
He bends his back
For us to go over.
—From Hilda Conkling, "The Old Bridge"
The syllables in bold are strong. You can see this poem does not have a regular rhythm. It also doesn't have a rhyme pattern.
Repetition is when words, phrases, or whole lines are repeated.
The dainty flying squirrel
In vest of shining white,
In coat of silver gray,
And vest of shining white.
—Adapted from Mary E. Burt, "The Flying Squirrel"
Alliteration is when beginning consonant sounds are repeated in words that are close together.
Where the wild men watched and waited
Wolves in the forest, and bears in the bush.
—From Bayard Taylor, "A Night with a Wolf"
Onomatopoeia is when language sounds like what it talks about.
Sometimes the onomatopoeia uses made-up words:
Tlot-tlot! tlot-tlot! Had they heard it? The horse hoofs ringing clear.
—From Alfred Noyes, "The Highwayman"
Sometimes the onomatopoeia uses real words:
Hark! the honey bee is humming.
—From Mary Howitt, "The Voice of Spring" | This poem uses end rhyme. Its rhymes come at the end of its lines.
Toward her people from foreign wrong:
Live in the colors to stand or fall. |
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