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Which sentence states a fact? | [
"Brazilians spend too much time playing soccer.",
"Brazil's national soccer team has won the World Cup five times."
] | 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.
Brazil's national soccer team has won the World Cup five times.
It can be proved by checking a list of World Cup champions.
The second sentence states an opinion.
Brazilians spend too much time playing soccer.
Too much shows what a person believes, thinks, or feels. Another person might have a different opinion about how much is too much. |
|
What information supports the conclusion that Ashley acquired this trait? | [
"Ashley's scar was caused by an accident. She cut her leg when she was climbing a tree.",
"Some scars fade more quickly than others."
] | 0 | Read the description of a trait.
Ashley has a scar on her left leg. | closed choice | grade5 | 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. | |
Select the amphibian. | [
"loon",
"giraffe",
"tiger salamander",
"seahorse"
] | 2 | 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 giraffe is a mammal. It has hair and feeds its young milk.
Giraffes eat mostly leaves that are too high up for other animals to reach.
A tiger salamander is an amphibian. It has moist skin and begins its life in water.
Tiger salamanders often live in underground burrows.
A seahorse is a fish. It lives underwater. It has fins, not limbs.
Seahorses live in shallow, warm water. They can use their tails to hold on to plants.
A loon is a bird. It has feathers, two wings, and a beak.
Loons usually live near lakes. They dive in the water to hunt for food. |
|
What information supports the conclusion that Tisha inherited this trait? | [
"Tisha's parents have dark skin. They passed down this trait to Tisha.",
"Tisha and her father both have dark hair."
] | 0 | Read the description of a trait.
Tisha has dark skin. | closed choice | grade5 | 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. | |
In 1774, people across the colonies knew that they needed to respond to the Intolerable Acts. However, they disagreed about how to respond. How did they resolve this disagreement? | [
"They took a vote of all white men in all the colonies.",
"The colonies split into two groups, and each group responded separately.",
"The colonists asked George Washington to decide for them.",
"Each colony sent representatives to a meeting to discuss the options."
] | 3 | closed choice | grade4 | social science | us-history | The American Revolution | The American Revolution: the rebellion begins | In 1774, people in the colonies sent representatives to a meeting to discuss how to respond to the Intolerable Acts. This meeting, which took place from September to October, came to be known as the First Continental Congress.
The Congress included 52 delegates, or representatives, from 12 colonies. Only Georgia chose not to participate. |
||
Suppose Omar decides to take a trip to Minnesota. Which result would be a cost? | [
"Omar will enjoy his trip to Minnesota more than he would have enjoyed a trip to New York.",
"Omar will spend more money. Plane tickets for Omar to get to Minnesota are more expensive than tickets to New York."
] | 1 | Omar is deciding whether to take a trip to Minnesota or New York. He wants to enjoy his trip. But he 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 Omar wants or needs:
Omar will spend more money. Plane tickets for Omar to get to Minnesota are more expensive than tickets to New York. |
Which logical fallacy is used in the text?
Don't let your children stay up till midnight on New Year's Eve. Before you know it, they'll be demanding to stay up till midnight every night. | [
"circular reasoning: an argument that supports a claim with the claim itself",
"slippery slope fallacy: the false assumption that a small first step will lead to extreme consequences",
"appeal to nature: the assumption that natural things are always good"
] | 1 | 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 allowing your children to stay up late one night will lead to them demanding to stay up late every night. However, this isn't necessarily true. This argument offers only one extreme and unlikely outcome. This illustrates a type of logical fallacy known as the slippery slope fallacy. |
|
Suppose Ruben decides to get the peach ice cream. Which result would be a cost? | [
"Ruben will get to eat the peach ice cream. He likes this flavor more than strawberry cheesecake.",
"Ruben will give up the chance to get a free waffle cone. He would have enjoyed the waffle cone."
] | 1 | Ruben is deciding whether to get peach ice cream or strawberry cheesecake ice cream. He likes peach more than strawberry cheesecake. But a scoop of strawberry cheesecake ice cream comes with a free waffle cone. | 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 Ruben wants or needs:
Ruben will give up the chance to get a free waffle cone. He would have enjoyed the waffle cone. |
Would you find the word his on a dictionary page with the following guide words?
hang - heard | [
"yes",
"no"
] | 1 | yes or no | 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 his is not between the guide words hang - heard, it would not be found on that page. |
|
The city of Kingwood has been one of the world's biggest makers of cough drops for many years. But last month, Kingwood's cough drop factories were destroyed by floods. What will probably happen to the overall supply of cough drops? | [
"The supply will probably go up.",
"The supply will probably go down."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade7 | social science | economics | Supply and demand | Understand overall supply and demand | Overall supply is the total amount of a good or service that producers make and sell. There are several things that can make overall supply go up or down. The table below shows how changes to these things might affect overall supply.
| Resources | Number of producers or suppliers | Expected change in demand
Supply goes up | when resources cost less or are easier to get | when there are more producers or suppliers | when demand is expected to go up
Supply goes down | when resources cost more or are harder to get | when there are fewer producers or suppliers | when demand is expected to go down
Producers are people or companies that make goods or provide services. Suppliers are people or companies that sell goods or services. New inventions or technologies can also help workers produce goods and services more quickly. As a result of these changes, the supply of a good or service will often go up. | Floods destroyed the cough drop factories in Kingwood. The number of producers of cough drops went down. So, the supply of cough drops will probably go down. |
|
Select the one substance that is not a rock. | [
"Wool is made by living things. It is a solid.",
"Chalk is a solid. It is not made by living things.",
"Soapstone is formed in nature. 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.
Wool is made by living things. But rocks are not made by living things.
So, wool is not a rock.
Chalk is a rock.
Soapstone is a rock. |
|
Does this passage describe the weather or the climate?
Morning clouds usually clear up by noon where Emily lives. | [
"climate",
"weather"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | earth-science | Weather and climate | What's the difference between weather and climate? | The atmosphere is the layer of air that surrounds Earth. Both weather and climate tell you about the atmosphere.
Weather is what the atmosphere is like at a certain place and time. Weather can change quickly. For example, the temperature outside your house might get higher throughout the day.
Climate is the pattern of weather in a certain place. For example, summer temperatures in New York are usually higher than winter temperatures. | Read the text carefully.
Morning clouds usually clear up by noon where Emily lives.
This passage tells you about the usual pattern of clouds where Emily lives. It does not describe what the weather is like on a particular day. So, this passage describes the climate. |
|
Which word would you find on a dictionary page with the following guide words?
threw - trumpet | [
"temper",
"tilt"
] | 1 | 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 tilt is between the guide words threw - trumpet, it would be found on that page. |
|
Complete the statement. Assume that Mitch's mass did not change.
The gravitational potential energy stored between Mitch and Earth () as he rode the escalator. | [
"increased",
"decreased",
"stayed the same"
] | 0 | Read the text about a person in motion.
Mitch rode an escalator from the first floor to the second floor of a shopping mall. | closed choice | grade8 | 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 Mitch and the center of Earth changed.
The second floor is higher than the first floor. As he rode the escalator toward the second floor, the distance between Mitch and the center of Earth increased. So, the gravitational potential energy stored between Mitch and Earth increased as he rode the escalator. |
Which tense does the sentence use?
Mom and Dad walk in the apple orchard. | [
"past tense",
"present tense",
"future tense"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade4 | 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, walk. The verb tells you about something that is true or happening now. |
|
What kind of sentence is this?
Max usually eats oatmeal for breakfast. | [
"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. |
|
What is the source of the allusion in the sentence below?
"Kathleen is such a Pollyanna!" Aaron announced with a sigh. | [
"literature",
"a fable"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade10 | language science | figurative-language | Literary devices | Recall the source of an allusion | An allusion is a brief mention of something or someone well known, often from mythology, history, or literature. An allusion lets you reference ideas from an entire story in just a few words.
"I'd better get home before I turn into a pumpkin!" Lila remarked.
Here, Lila alludes to the fairy tale "Cinderella," in which Cinderella must leave the ball before the coach that brought her transforms into a pumpkin. The allusion shows that Lila must depart immediately. | The source of the allusion Pollyanna is literature.
The character Pollyanna, from Eleanor Porter's children's book, is a young girl who finds good in everything and everyone.
The allusion Pollyanna means an overly optimistic person. |
|
What information supports the conclusion that Dale acquired this trait? | [
"Dale can cook food over a fire.",
"Dale learned how to build a fire at summer camp."
] | 1 | Read the description of a trait.
Dale knows how to build a fire. | 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 plant. | [
"Redwood trees have small leaves.",
"Howler monkeys eat leaves, fruit, and nuts."
] | 0 | closed choice | grade2 | natural science | biology | Classification | Identify plants and animals | Plants and animals are living things. Living things are called organisms.
Plants come in many shapes and sizes. Most plants grow in the ground. They might grow leaves, flowers, and fruit. Plants cannot move around on their own like animals can.
Animals also come in many shapes and sizes. Most animals can move around. Animals might run, swim, jump, or fly. Animals eat plants or other organisms for food. | A redwood tree is a plant. It has small leaves.
Redwood trees have fuzzy reddish-brown bark. Their bark helps protect redwood trees from fires.
A howler monkey is an animal. It eats leaves, fruit, and nuts.
A howler monkey's tail can be longer than the rest of its body! |
|
Based on the information above, complete the sentence.
When people say, "President Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address," they mean that President Lincoln (). | [
"wrote a book about an important Civil War battle",
"is buried in a graveyard in a town in Pennsylvania",
"made a speech after an important Civil War battle",
"lived at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue"
] | 2 | The Gettysburg Address, one of the most famous documents in United States history, was written in 1863. At that time, Abraham Lincoln was president of the United States, and the Union and Confederate armies were fighting each other during the American Civil War.
Read the following facts about the Gettysburg Address. Then complete the sentence below.
Gettysburg is a town in Pennsylvania where an important Civil War battle was fought.
One of the meanings of the word address is a public speech. | closed choice | grade7 | social science | us-history | The Civil War | Source analysis: the Gettysburg Address | Gettysburg is a place where an important Civil War battle was fought. An address is a public speech. So, when people say, "President Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address," they mean that President Lincoln made a speech after an important Civil War battle. |
|
Which invitation is more formal? | [
"We invite you to celebrate with us.",
"Come join us."
] | 0 | closed choice | grade11 | language science | writing-strategies | Audience, purpose, and tone | Which text is most formal? | Informal writing is typically used in casual situations or when communicating with someone you know well. Informal language often expresses familiarity and tends to sound more like speech. It uses more conversational language, such as slang, idioms, abbreviations, imprecise language, and contractions.
Formal writing is typically used in academic and business writing or when writing directly to an authority figure. It tends to be more courteous and impersonal, avoiding overly familiar or conversational language.
Compare the following sentences.
Informal: Yeah, ostriches can't fly, but I think they're awesome.
More formal: Ostriches may be flightless, but they're remarkable runners.
Most formal: Though flightless, ostriches are remarkable runners. | The second invitation is more formal. It uses more ceremonious language (invite you to celebrate) instead of the conversational language of the other invitation. |
|
What kind of sentence is this?
Seth campaigned tirelessly in support of his neighbor's bid for elective office. | [
"exclamatory",
"interrogative",
"declarative"
] | 2 | closed choice | grade9 | 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 and always ends with a period.
The nurse told Mr. Abrams to roll up his sleeve so that she could check his blood pressure.
An imperative sentence makes a request or a demand and usually ends with a period. If a demand shows strong feeling, it can end with an exclamation point.
For this assignment, use references to support your claims.
Don't drive so quickly in the construction zone!
An interrogative sentence asks a question and always ends with a question mark.
Given the recent critiques of her new strategic plan, do you think the CEO will reconsider the company's direction?
An exclamatory sentence is a statement that shows surprise or strong feeling. An exclamation always ends with an exclamation point.
I can't wait to travel through Europe this summer! | The sentence is a statement and ends with a period. It is a declarative sentence. |
|
Answer the riddle.
I am a big animal.
You may see me in a zoo.
I may be brown, black, or white.
What am I? | [
"a puppy",
"a bear"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade1 | language science | vocabulary | Comprehension strategies | What am I? | A bear is a big animal.
You may see a bear in a zoo.
A bear may be brown, black, or white. |
||
Which logical fallacy is used in the text?
Two of my best friends are really introverted, shy people, and they both have cats. That leads to me believe that most cat lovers are really shy. | [
"ad hominem: an attack against the person making the argument, rather than the argument itself",
"guilt by association: a negative association intended to discredit someone or something",
"hasty generalization: a broad claim based on too few observations"
] | 2 | closed choice | grade12 | 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 cat lovers are shy because two of the speaker's friends own cats and are shy. However, this isn't necessarily true. Two observations are not usually enough to draw a conclusion about a much bigger group of people. This illustrates a type of logical fallacy known as a hasty generalization. |
|
Is the following trait inherited or acquired?
Larry has naturally blond hair. | [
"acquired",
"inherited"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | biology | Traits and heredity | Identify inherited and acquired traits | Organisms, including people, have both inherited and acquired traits. Inherited and acquired traits are gained in different ways.
Inherited traits are passed down through families. Children gain these traits from their parents. Inherited traits do not need to be learned.
Acquired traits are gained during a person's life. Some acquired traits, such as riding a bicycle, are gained by learning. Other acquired traits, such as scars, are caused by the environment. Children do not inherit their parents' acquired traits. | Humans do not choose their natural hair color. Some people dye their hair. But this does not change their natural hair color.
Children get their natural hair color from their parents. So, Larry's hair color is an inherited trait. |
|
Does this passage describe the weather or the climate?
Aaron put on an extra pair of socks this morning because it was so cold. | [
"climate",
"weather"
] | 1 | Hint: Weather is what the atmosphere is like at a certain place and time. Climate is the pattern of weather in a certain place. | closed choice | grade3 | natural science | earth-science | Weather and climate | What's the difference between weather and climate? | The atmosphere is the layer of air that surrounds Earth. Both weather and climate tell you about the atmosphere.
Weather is what the atmosphere is like at a certain place and time. Weather can change quickly. For example, the temperature outside your house might get higher throughout the day.
Climate is the pattern of weather in a certain place. For example, summer temperatures in New York are usually higher than winter temperatures. | Read the text carefully.
Aaron put on an extra pair of socks this morning because it was so cold.
This passage tells you about the temperature this morning where Aaron lives. It describes the atmosphere at a certain place and time. So, this passage describes the weather. |
Which of these pictures shows a natural resource? | [
"footballs",
"cookies",
"trees",
"jump ropes"
] | 2 | closed choice | grade2 | natural science | earth-science | Earth's features | Natural resources | Natural resources are useful things that come directly from nature. They are not made by people.
Clay is an example of a natural resource. It comes directly from nature, and people can use it in many ways.
A clay pot is not a natural resource. It is created by people. However, a clay pot is made from a natural resource. | The picture of trees shows a natural resource. The trees come directly from nature, and people can use them in many ways. The other answers are not correct. They show things that do not come directly from nature. They show things made by people. |
|
Which greeting is correct for a letter? | [
"Dear uncle Mike,",
"Dear Uncle Mike,"
] | 1 | 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 Mike is capitalized because it is a proper noun. |
|
Which word would you find on a dictionary page with the following guide words?
chisel - court | [
"carve",
"circular"
] | 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 circular is between the guide words chisel - court, it would be found on that page. |
|
Complete the statement.
Carbon dioxide is (). | [
"a compound",
"an elementary substance"
] | 0 | Carbon dioxide is the gas that forms the bubbles in soft drinks and sparkling water. The chemical formula for carbon dioxide is CO2. | 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 carbon dioxide 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 carbon dioxide is CO2. This formula contains two symbols: C for carbon and O for oxygen. So, the formula tells you that carbon dioxide is made of two chemical elements bonded together.
Substances made of two or more chemical elements bonded together are compounds. So, carbon dioxide is a compound. |
Which object has more thermal energy? | [
"a 225-gram baked potato at a temperature of 100°F",
"a 225-gram baked potato at a temperature of 115°F"
] | 1 | The objects are identical except for their temperatures. | closed choice | grade3 | 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 move faster, the temperature goes up. The matter now has both more thermal energy and a higher temperature. | The two baked potatoes have the same mass but different temperatures. Since the 115°F potato is hotter than the 100°F potato, it has more thermal energy. |
Choose the poem that has a regular rhythm, or a pattern of sound like a beat. | [
"Within a green and shady bed\nA modest violet grew;\nIts stalk was bent, it hung its head,\nAs if to hide from view.",
"It was all so dull—\nExcept a few gray legs under shiny black umbrellas\nRunning along the gray shiny sidewalks."
] | 0 | closed choice | grade5 | 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 has a regular rhythm, or a pattern of sound like a beat. The parts in bold show the strong syllables. The pattern is a weak syllable followed by a strong syllable. It sounds like da-DUM da-DUM.
As if to hide from view. |
|
How long is a guitar? | [
"32 feet",
"32 yards",
"32 inches",
"32 miles"
] | 2 | Select the best estimate. | closed choice | grade7 | natural science | units-and-measurement | Units and measurement | Choose customary units of distance, mass, and volume | Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means.
When you are using customary units, length may be written with units of inches, feet, yards, or miles.
There are 12 inches in 1 foot, and 3 feet in 1 yard. There are 5,280 feet in 1 mile.
A football is about 1 foot long. A football field is 100 yards long. | The best estimate for the length of a guitar is 32 inches.
32 feet, 32 yards, and 32 miles are all too long. |
Which graduation announcement is more formal? | [
"We are proud to announce the graduation of Kendrick Maxwell.",
"Kendrick Maxwell is graduating, and we couldn't be more proud!"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade10 | language science | writing-strategies | Audience, purpose, and tone | Which text is most formal? | Informal writing is typically used in casual situations or when communicating with someone you know well. Informal language often expresses familiarity and tends to sound more like speech. It uses more conversational language, such as slang, idioms, abbreviations, imprecise language, and contractions.
Formal writing is typically used in academic and business writing or when writing directly to an authority figure. It tends to be more courteous and impersonal, avoiding overly familiar or conversational language.
Compare the following sentences.
Informal: Yeah, ostriches can't fly, but I think they're awesome.
More formal: Ostriches may be flightless, but they're remarkable runners.
Most formal: Though flightless, ostriches are remarkable runners. | The first graduation announcement is more formal. It uses more ceremonious language (proud to announce). The other graduation announcement uses more conversational language (we couldn't be more proud!). |
|
What information supports the conclusion that Cassie acquired this trait? | [
"Cassie learned biology by reading, observing, and experimenting.",
"Cassie is most interested in human biology."
] | 0 | Read the description of a trait.
Cassie knows a lot about biology. | closed choice | grade4 | natural science | biology | Traits and heredity | Inherited and acquired traits: use evidence to support a statement | Organisms, including people, have both inherited and acquired traits. Inherited and acquired traits are gained in different ways.
Inherited traits are passed down through families. Children gain these traits from their parents. Inherited traits do not need to be learned.
Acquired traits are gained during a person's life. Some acquired traits, such as riding a bicycle, are gained by learning. Other acquired traits, such as scars, are caused by the environment. | |
Compare the motion of two sailboats. Which sailboat was moving at a lower speed? | [
"a sailboat that moved 65kilometers in 5hours",
"a sailboat that moved 90kilometers in 5hours"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade2 | 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 kilometer.
Time tells you how long the object has spent moving. One unit used to measure time is the hour.
Think about two objects moving for the same amount of time. The object that is moving slower will go a shorter distance in that time. It is moving at a lower speed. | Look at the distance each sailboat moved and the time it took to move that distance.
One sailboat moved 65 kilometers in 5 hours.
The other sailboat moved 90 kilometers in 5 hours.
Notice that each sailboat spent the same amount of time moving. The sailboat that moved 65 kilometers moved a shorter distance in that time. So, that sailboat must have moved at a lower speed. |
|
Which logical fallacy is used in the text?
Alana's shoes are superior, because they're made from one hundred percent snakeskin, not synthetic materials. | [
"red herring: the use of a completely unrelated topic or idea",
"appeal to nature: the assumption that natural things are always good"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade7 | 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 Alana's shoes are the best, because they're made with snakeskin rather than synthetic materials. However, even though the shoes are made from snakes, that doesn't necessarily mean that they are better. This illustrates a type of logical fallacy known as an appeal to nature. |
|
Which sentence uses a simile? | [
"Mr. Burnett's legs were as long as sunflower stalks.",
"Mr. Burnett's long legs were sunflower stalks."
] | 0 | 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 simile:
Mr. Burnett's legs were as long as sunflower stalks.
The words legs and sunflower stalks are compared using the word as.
This sentence uses a metaphor:
Mr. Burnett's long legs were sunflower stalks.
The words legs and sunflower stalks are compared without the word like or as. |
|
Which sentence states a fact? | [
"In 2015, more than 13% of the people in the United States lived in poverty.",
"Growing poverty is a problem in the United States."
] | 0 | closed choice | grade8 | social science | civics | Social studies skills | Identify facts and opinions | A fact is something that can be proved true by research or observation.
George Washington became president of the United States in 1789.
This statement is a fact. It can be proved by researching what year George Washington was inaugurated president.
An opinion is something that a person believes, thinks, or feels. An opinion can be supported by evidence, but it cannot be proved true.
George Washington was a better president than Thomas Jefferson.
This statement is an opinion. People can have different ideas about what makes someone a "better" president, so the statement cannot be proved. | The second sentence states a fact.
In 2015, more than 13% of the people in the United States lived in poverty.
It can be proved by researching the number of people who live in poverty.
The first sentence states an opinion.
Growing poverty is a problem in the United States.
Problem shows what a person believes, thinks, or feels. Another person might have a different opinion about whether or not something is a problem. |
|
What do these two changes have in common?
mixing sand and gravel
using a large magnet to remove pieces of iron from a junkyard | [
"Both are caused by heating.",
"Both are caused by cooling.",
"Both are chemical changes.",
"Both are only physical changes."
] | 3 | closed choice | grade8 | natural science | chemistry | Chemical reactions | Compare physical and chemical changes | Matter is made of very small particles called atoms. Atoms can be linked together by chemical bonds. When two or more atoms link together, they form a molecule.
In a chemical change, the chemical bonds in the molecules break. The atoms then link together to form different molecules. The types of molecules in matter before and after a chemical change are always different.
Some chemical changes are caused by heating or cooling. For example, burning a piece of paper is a chemical change caused by heating. As paper burns, paper molecules react with oxygen molecules in the air. This reaction breaks the chemical bonds in the molecules. The atoms then link together in a different way to form different molecules. For example, carbon dioxide molecules are formed when paper burns.
In a physical change, chemical bonds do not break. The types of molecules in matter before and after a physical change are always the same.
A change of state is a type of physical change. Changes of state can be caused by heating or cooling. For example, water vaporizing is a physical change that can be caused by heating. Liquid water and water vapor are made of the same type of matter: water.
The law of conservation of mass says that all physical and chemical changes conserve mass. Conserve means to keep the same. So, the total mass before a physical or chemical change is equal to the total mass after the change. | Step 1: Think about each change.
Mixing sand and gravel is a physical change. Together, the sand and gravel make a mixture. But making this mixture does not form a different type of matter.
Using a large magnet to remove pieces of iron from a junkyard is a physical change. Both the iron and the magnet are still made of the same type of matter as before.
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. |
|
Weather forecasters expect a hot, dry summer in the parts of Africa where bananas grow. Bananas do not grow well in hot and dry weather. What will probably happen to the overall supply of bananas? | [
"The supply will probably go up.",
"The supply will probably go down."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade7 | social science | economics | Supply and demand | Understand overall supply and demand | Overall supply is the total amount of a good or service that producers make and sell. There are several things that can make overall supply go up or down. The table below shows how changes to these things might affect overall supply.
| Resources | Number of producers or suppliers | Expected change in demand
Supply goes up | when resources cost less or are easier to get | when there are more producers or suppliers | when demand is expected to go up
Supply goes down | when resources cost more or are harder to get | when there are fewer producers or suppliers | when demand is expected to go down
Producers are people or companies that make goods or provide services. Suppliers are people or companies that sell goods or services. New inventions or technologies can also help workers produce goods and services more quickly. As a result of these changes, the supply of a good or service will often go up. | Hot and dry weather makes it more difficult to grow bananas. Fewer bananas will survive the growing season, and there will be fewer bananas to sell. So, the supply of bananas will probably go down because the bananas, which are resources, are harder to get. |
|
Which figure of speech is used in this text?
Kendrick's leaving his job? That's old news. He's been planning that for months. | [
"anaphora",
"oxymoron"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade11 | language science | figurative-language | Literary devices | Classify the figure of speech: review | Figures of speech are words or phrases that use language in a nonliteral or unusual way. They can make writing more expressive.
Anaphora is the repetition of the same word or words at the beginning of several phrases or clauses.
We are united. We are powerful. We are winners.
Antithesis involves contrasting opposing ideas within a parallel grammatical structure.
I want to help, not to hurt.
Apostrophe is a direct address to an absent person or a nonhuman entity.
Oh, little bird, what makes you sing so beautifully?
Assonance is the repetition of a vowel sound in a series of nearby words.
Try to light the fire.
Chiasmus is an expression in which the second half parallels the first but reverses the order of words.
Never let a fool kiss you or a kiss fool you.
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.
Understatement involves deliberately representing something as less serious or important than it really is.
As you know, it can get a little cold in the Antarctic. | The text uses an oxymoron, a joining of two seemingly contradictory terms.
Old news is a contradiction, because news is recent information. |
|
What information supports the conclusion that Scott acquired this trait? | [
"Scott's friend taught him how to fly a kite.",
"Scott's neighbor taught him how to repair a kite.",
"Scott likes to fly a kite with his younger brother."
] | 0 | Read the description of a trait.
Scott knows how to fly a kite. | closed choice | grade7 | natural science | biology | Genes to traits | Inherited and acquired traits: use evidence to support a statement | Organisms, including people, have both inherited and acquired traits. Inherited and acquired traits are gained in different ways.
Inherited traits are passed down from biological parents to their offspring through genes. Genes are pieces of hereditary material that contain the instructions that affect inherited traits. Offspring receive their genes, and therefore gain their inherited traits, from their biological parents. Inherited traits do not need to be learned.
Acquired traits are gained during a person's life. Some acquired traits, such as riding a bicycle, are gained by learning. Other acquired traits, such as scars, are caused by the environment. Parents do not pass acquired traits down to their offspring. | |
Is a pair of scissors a good or a service? | [
"a service",
"a good"
] | 1 | 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 pair of scissors is a good or a service, ask these questions:
Is a pair of scissors something you can touch? Yes.
Is a pair of scissors a job you might pay someone else to do? No.
So, a pair of scissors is a good. |
|
Read the following excerpt from a student essay. How can the writer best improve his or her word choice?
If I could invent something, I would create a really nice bicycle. My bike would have a good seat and great tires so that I could ride it anywhere. It would also have a bell and special pockets for carrying things. A special top would be wonderful, so I could ride it in the rain but also enjoy the sun. I would choose a fun color to reflect my personality. Inventing a new bike would be cool. | [
"by reducing repetitive language",
"by using more specific language"
] | 1 | 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 word choice by using more specific language.
For example, the writer could replace the underlined text more descriptive language, such as the perfect bicycle; comfortable; durable; my cell phone, a water bottle, and a snack; foldable, umbrella-like top; unusual color like turquoise or magenta; my own custom bicycle; and thrilling.
If I could invent something, I would create a really nice bicycle. My bike would have a good seat and great tires so that I could ride it anywhere. It would also have a bell and special pockets for carrying things. A special top would be wonderful, so I could ride it in the rain but also enjoy the sun. I would choose a fun color to reflect my personality. Inventing a new bike would be cool. |
|
The shopper lifts each bag at the same speed. Which bag is lifted with a larger force? | [
"a bag holding 6 pounds of food",
"a bag holding 3 pounds of food"
] | 0 | A shopper is buying food at the store. He fills two shopping bags. The shopping bags are the same size and shape. | closed choice | grade2 | natural science | physics | Force and motion | How do mass and force affect motion? | A force is a push or a pull.
A force can make an object start moving or stop an object that is moving. A force can also make an object speed up, slow down, or change direction.
Forces can be different sizes.
Think about trying to move a heavy object and a light object. Imagine you want to move them at the same speed. You will need to use a larger force to move the heavy object. | Look for the shopping bag that is heavier.
A shopping bag holding 6 pounds of food is heavier than a shopping bag holding 3 pounds of food. So, the bag holding 6 pounds needs a larger force to start moving upward at the same speed as the other bag. |
Would you find the word ninety on a dictionary page with the following guide words?
nap - neither | [
"no",
"yes"
] | 0 | 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 ninety is not between the guide words nap - neither, it would not be found on that page. |
|
Which statement describes the clown's motion? | [
"The clown has a constant velocity.",
"The clown is accelerating."
] | 1 | A clown on a unicycle is riding in a circle at a constant speed. | closed choice | grade8 | natural science | physics | Velocity, acceleration, and forces | Identify whether objects are accelerating | An object's velocity describes its speed and its direction.
An object has a constant velocity when neither its speed nor its direction is changing. So, an object has a constant velocity when the object is:
moving in a straight line at a constant speed, or
remaining motionless.
If an object does not have a constant velocity, the object is accelerating. An object is accelerating when either its speed or its direction is changing. So, an object is accelerating when the object is:
speeding up,
slowing down, or
changing direction. | The clown is changing direction. So, the clown is accelerating. |
Which organ produces all the blood for the body? | [
"skeleton",
"heart",
"stomach",
"skin"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | biology | Animals | Human organs and their functions | |||
What information supports the conclusion that Warren inherited this trait? | [
"Warren and his biological father have short hair.",
"Warren and his siblings all have naturally straight hair.",
"Warren's biological mother often wears her naturally brown hair in a bun."
] | 2 | Read the description of a trait.
Warren has naturally brown hair. | closed choice | grade8 | natural science | biology | Genes to traits | Inherited and acquired traits: use evidence to support a statement | Organisms, including people, have both inherited and acquired traits. Inherited and acquired traits are gained in different ways.
Inherited traits are passed down from biological parents to their offspring through genes. Genes are pieces of hereditary material that contain the instructions that affect inherited traits. Offspring receive their genes, and therefore gain their inherited traits, from their biological parents. Inherited traits do not need to be learned.
Acquired traits are gained during a person's life. Some acquired traits, such as riding a bicycle, are gained by learning. Other acquired traits, such as scars, are caused by the environment. Parents do not pass acquired traits down to their offspring. | |
Which tense does the sentence use?
They will track the bear through the woods. | [
"future tense",
"present tense",
"past 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, track. The verb tells you about something that is going to happen. |
|
Which text uses the word travesty in its traditional sense? | [
"Eliana was upset about the local news network's coverage of the presidential debates, calling it a travesty of reporting that undermined important issues.",
"Eliana thought it a travesty that her local news network provided only limited coverage of the presidential debates."
] | 0 | closed choice | grade10 | 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 travesty in its traditional sense: a ridiculous imitation; a parody.
Eliana was upset about the local news network's coverage of the presidential debates, calling it a travesty of reporting that undermined important issues.
The second text uses travesty in its nontraditional sense: a disappointment or a tragedy.
Eliana thought it a travesty that her local news network provided only limited coverage of the presidential debates.
Most style guides recommend to use the traditional sense of the word travesty because it is considered more standard. |
|
Which word would you find on a dictionary page with the following guide words?
dive - dune | [
"desk",
"drape"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade8 | language science | reference-skills | Reference skills | Use guide words | Guide words appear on each page of a dictionary. They tell you the first word and last word on the page. The other words on the page come between the guide words in alphabetical order.
To put words in alphabetical order, put them in order by their first letters. If the first letters are the same, look at the second letters. If the second letters are the same, look at the third letters, and so on.
If one word is shorter, and there are no more letters to compare, then the shorter word comes first in alphabetical order. For example, be comes before bed. | Put the words in alphabetical order.
Since drape is between the guide words dive - dune, it would be found on that page. |
|
Which text uses the word factoid in its traditional sense? | [
"As a geneticist, Belle enjoys watching science documentaries and sharing various factoids she's learned with her colleagues.",
"As a geneticist, Belle dislikes many popular sci-fi movies because they often present audiences with factoids that misrepresent her field."
] | 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 first text uses factoid in its traditional sense: something made up presented as a true fact.
As a geneticist, Belle dislikes many popular sci-fi movies because they often present audiences with factoids that misrepresent her field.
The second text uses factoid in its nontraditional sense: a trivial but true fact.
As a geneticist, Belle enjoys watching science documentaries and sharing various factoids she's learned with her colleagues.
Most style guides recommend to use the traditional sense of the word factoid because it is considered more standard. |
|
Which change best matches the sentence?
The ground in an area shakes. | [
"earthquake",
"erosion",
"wildfire"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade3 | natural science | earth-science | Earth events | Classify changes to Earth's surface I | |||
Which closing is correct for a letter? | [
"Your nephew,\nMax",
"Your Nephew,\nMax"
] | 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. |
|
How long is a long-distance running race? | [
"10 yards",
"10 miles"
] | 1 | Select the better estimate. | closed choice | grade3 | natural science | units-and-measurement | Units and measurement | Choose customary units of distance | Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means.
Imagine being told that a pencil is 8 long. You might be thinking, 8 what? Is the pencil 8 inches long? 8 feet? 8 miles?
The number 8 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 inches. So, the length of the pencil is 8 inches.
There are 12 inches in 1 foot. So, 1 inch is much shorter than 1 foot.
There are 3 feet in 1 yard. So, 1 foot is shorter than 1 yard. | The better estimate for the length of a long-distance running race is 10 miles.
10 yards is too short. |
Complete the statement. Assume that the motorcycle's mass did not change.
The gravitational potential energy stored between the motorcycle and Earth () as Lamar rode up the hill. | [
"decreased",
"increased",
"stayed the same"
] | 1 | Read the text about an object in motion.
Lamar rode his motorcycle from the bottom of a hill to the top of the hill. | 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 motorcycle and the center of Earth changed.
The top of the hill is higher than the bottom of the hill. As Lamar rode toward the top of the hill, the distance between the motorcycle and the center of Earth increased. So, the gravitational potential energy stored between the motorcycle and Earth increased as Lamar rode up the hill. |
Which closing is correct for a letter? | [
"See you soon,\nAva",
"see you soon,\nAva"
] | 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. |
|
Which figure of speech is used in this text?
I've heard that Judith & 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. |
|
Based on this information, what is this pea plant's phenotype for the pea shape trait? | [
"round peas",
"EE"
] | 0 | 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 E is for round peas, and the allele e is for wrinkled peas.
A certain pea plant from this group has round peas. This plant has two alleles for round peas. | closed choice | grade7 | natural science | biology | Genes to traits | Genetics vocabulary: genotype and phenotype | All organisms have pieces of hereditary material called genes, which are passed from parents to offspring. Genes contain instructions for building the parts of an organism. An organism's genes affect its observable traits, including its appearance, its behavior, and which diseases it may have. Genes may have different alleles, or forms, that can cause different versions of a trait.
For example, flower color is a trait in pea plants. The gene for this trait has two possible alleles. Each allele is represented by an uppercase or lowercase letter. The allele F is for purple flowers, and the allele f is for white flowers. Each pea plant has two alleles for the flower color gene—one allele inherited from each parent.
An organism's genotype for a gene is its combination of alleles for that gene. So, a pea plant may have a genotype of FF, Ff, or ff for the flower color gene.
An organism's phenotype for a trait is its observable version of that trait, which depends on the organism's combination of alleles. A pea plant may have a phenotype of purple flowers or white flowers for the flower color trait. | An organism's phenotype for a trait is its observable version of that trait. The pea plant's observable version of the pea shape trait is round peas. So, the plant's phenotype for the pea shape trait is round peas. |
Which of the following contains a vague pronoun reference? | [
"Even after Tim warned Julia to be careful, she broke his handmade ceramic bowl when she dropped it on her foot.",
"Even after Tim warned Julia to be careful, she dropped his handmade ceramic bowl on her foot and broke it."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade10 | language science | writing-strategies | Pronouns | Identify vague pronoun references | When writing, make sure to avoid vague pronoun references. A vague pronoun reference occurs when a pronoun could refer to more than one possible antecedent.
When Lisa and Kim finally landed, she breathed a sigh of relief.
The pronoun she could refer to either Lisa or Kim, so the meaning of the sentence is unclear.
Vague pronoun references can be corrected in one of two ways:
1. Replace the pronoun with its correct antecedent:
When Lisa and Kim finally landed, Lisa breathed a sigh of relief.
2. Rewrite the sentence:
Lisa breathed a sigh of relief when she and Kim finally landed.
A vague pronoun reference also occurs when they, them, their, theirs, it, or its is used without its antecedent.
They say that this nail polish dries in less than five minutes.
The pronoun they is used without its antecedent, so the meaning of the sentence is unclear.
This problem can be fixed by replacing the pronoun with its missing antecedent.
The advertisements say that this nail polish dries in less than five minutes. | The first answer choice contains a vague pronoun reference. The pronoun it could refer to his handmade ceramic bowl or her foot.
Even after Tim warned Julia to be careful, she dropped his handmade ceramic bowl on her foot and broke it.
The second answer choice shows a possible correction for the vague pronoun reference. The text has been rewritten so that the meaning is clear.
Even after Tim warned Julia to be careful, she broke his handmade ceramic bowl when she dropped it on her foot. |
|
How long is a sofa? | [
"2 millimeters",
"2 centimeters",
"2 meters",
"2 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 sofa is 2 meters.
2 millimeters and 2 centimeters are too short. 2 kilometers is too long. |
Which figure of speech is used in this text?
Dr. Todd is unhappy with her new assistant because simple tasks, like fetching coffee, take him years to finish. | [
"oxymoron",
"hyperbole"
] | 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 hyperbole, an obvious exaggeration that is not meant to be taken literally.
Take him years to finish is an exaggeration, since it probably does not take him entire years to fetch coffee. |
|
What does this Works Cited entry indicate about the cited work?
Kulligan, Ian K. "First of Kate Brown's Ethics Bills Sent to Senate Floor." The Oregonian 28 Apr. 2015: n. pag. Web. 2 May 2015. | [
"It is a newspaper article.",
"It is a short story.",
"It is a poem."
] | 0 | closed choice | grade11 | language science | reference-skills | Research skills | Understand a Works Cited entry (MLA 7th edition) | When writing research papers, you will often be asked to follow a particular style guide for your citations. One popular style guide is the Modern Language Association (MLA) Handbook.
Below are the basic formats for some common types of Works Cited entries. Consult the MLA Handbook for a complete list.
Books:
Format | Author(s). Book Title. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium of Publication.
Example | Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. New York: Dover Publications, 1995. Print.
Essays, short stories, or poems in an anthology or book:
Format | Author(s). "Essay, Poem, or Short Story Title." Anthology or Book Title. Ed. Editor Name. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Page Number(s). Medium of Publication.
Example | James, Henry. "The Middle Years." The Oxford Book of American Short Stories. Ed. Joyce Carol Oates. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2013. 116-135. Print.
Magazine and newspaper articles:
Format | Author(s). "Article Title." Title of Magazine or Newspaper Date of Publication: Page(s). Medium of Publication.
Example | Hayes, David J., and James H. Stock. "The Real Cost of Coal." New York Times 24 Mar. 2015: n. pag. Web. 25 Mar. 2015.
Journal articles:
Format | Author(s). "Article Title." Title of Journal Volume.Issue (Year): Page(s). Medium of Publication.
Example | Gillette, Jane, et al. "Human Simulations of Vocabulary Learning." Cognition 73.2 (1999): 135-176. Print.
Web pages:
Format | Author(s). "Page Title." Name of Website. Publisher, Date of Publication. Medium of Publication. Date of Access.
Example | Gunn, Janelle P., and Lauren E. Owens. "How to Slash Sodium from Your Diet." Livestrong.com. Demand Media, 30 Mar. 2015. Web. 31 Mar. 2015.
Additional guidelines:
Author Names. The first author's name is written in last name, first name format (Smith, Jane). Additional author names are written in first name last name format (Smith, Jane, and John Doe). If there are more than three authors, the first author's name is followed by "et al.," which stands for and others (e.g., Smith, Jane, et al.).
Medium of Publication. Each entry must include information about what form the content was communicated in. The most common mediums are "Print" and "Web," but other possibilities include "Film," "E-mail," and "Lecture." Whenever the Medium of Publication is "Web," the date of access (the day, month, and year the webpage was viewed) must be listed directly after the Medium of Publication.
Editors and Translators. If a work has an editor or a translator, this information must be added to the Works Cited entry using the appropriate abbreviation. "Ed." stands for edited by. "Trans." stands for translated by.
Missing Information. If a work has no known author, the author section of the citation is simply left out. If a work has no available page numbers, the abbreviation "n. pag." is used instead. If a work has no available publication date, the abbreviation "n.d." is used instead. If a work has no available publisher or no available city of publication, the abbreviation "n.p." is used instead.
| Look closely at the Works Cited entry:
Kulligan, Ian K. "First of Kate Brown's Ethics Bills Sent to Senate Floor." The Oregonian 28 Apr. 2015: n. pag. Web. 2 May 2015.
You can tell that the cited work is a newspaper article because of the entry's formatting. Entries for newspaper articles include the author of the article, the article title in quotation marks, the name of the newspaper in italics, the date of publication, and the page number the article appears on. |
|
Which figure of speech is used in this text?
Hello darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
—Paul Simon, "The Sound of Silence" | [
"apostrophe",
"anaphora"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade12 | language science | figurative-language | Literary devices | Classify the figure of speech: anaphora, antithesis, apostrophe, assonance, chiasmus, understatement | Figures of speech are words or phrases that use language in a nonliteral or unusual way. They can make writing more expressive.
Anaphora is the repetition of the same word or words at the beginning of several phrases or clauses.
We are united. We are powerful. We are winners.
Antithesis involves contrasting opposing ideas within a parallel grammatical structure.
I want to help, not to hurt.
Apostrophe is a direct address to an absent person or a nonhuman entity.
Oh, little bird, what makes you sing so beautifully?
Assonance is the repetition of a vowel sound in a series of nearby words.
Try to light the fire.
Chiasmus is an expression in which the second half parallels the first but reverses the order of words.
Never let a fool kiss you or a kiss fool you.
Understatement involves deliberately representing something as less serious or important than it really is.
As you know, it can get a little cold in the Antarctic. | The text uses apostrophe, a direct address to an absent person or a nonhuman entity.
Hello darkness, my old friend is a direct address to the darkness, a nonhuman entity. |
|
What is the mass of a passenger airplane? | [
"45 ounces",
"45 tons",
"45 pounds"
] | 1 | Select the best estimate. | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | units-and-measurement | Units and measurement | Choose customary units of mass | Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means.
Mass is a measurement of how much matter something contains.
There are many different units of mass. When you are using customary units, mass may be written with units of ounces, pounds, or tons.
There are 16 ounces in 1 pound and 2,000 pounds in 1 ton.
So, 1 ounce is less than 1 pound and much less than 1 ton.
A slice of bread has a mass of about 1 ounce, while a can of beans has a mass of about 1 pound. A small car has a mass of about 1 ton. | The best estimate for the mass of a passenger airplane is 45 tons.
45 ounces and 45 pounds are both too light. |
What do these two changes have in common?
a banana getting ripe on the counter
mixing glue and laundry powder to create putty | [
"Both are only physical changes.",
"Both are caused by heating.",
"Both are chemical changes.",
"Both are caused by cooling."
] | 2 | 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.
A banana getting ripe on the counter is a chemical change. As a banana ripens, the type of matter in it changes. The peel changes color and the inside becomes softer and sweeter.
Mixing glue and laundry powder to create putty is a chemical change. The putty is a different type of matter that was not there before the change.
Step 2: Look at each answer choice.
Both are only physical changes.
Both changes are chemical changes. They are not physical changes.
Both are chemical changes.
Both changes are chemical changes. The type of matter before and after each change is different.
Both are caused by heating.
Neither change is caused by heating.
Both are caused by cooling.
Neither change is caused by cooling. |
|
How long does it take to peel a banana? | [
"12 seconds",
"12 minutes"
] | 0 | Select the better estimate. | closed choice | grade3 | natural science | units-and-measurement | Units and measurement | Choose units of time | Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means.
Imagine being told that the bus leaves in 7. You might be thinking, 7 what? Does the bus leave in 7 minutes? 7 seconds?
The number 7 on its own does not give you much information about when the bus is leaving. That is because the units are missing.
Time is usually measured in units of seconds, minutes, or hours. It takes about 1 second to sneeze and 1 minute to get dressed in the morning. It takes about 1 hour to bake a pie in the oven.
There are 60 seconds in 1 minute. So, 1 second is much less than 1 minute.
There are 60 minutes in 1 hour. So, 1 minute is much less than 1 hour. | The better estimate for how long it takes to peel a banana is 12 seconds.
12 minutes is too slow. |
Is the following trait inherited or acquired?
Sophie has a scar on her left elbow. | [
"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. |
|
Which word would you find on a dictionary page with the following guide words?
plea - prefer | [
"purpose",
"pop"
] | 1 | closed choice | 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 pop is between the guide words plea - prefer, it would be found on that page. |
|
Select the vertebrate. | [
"bull ant",
"flower hat jellyfish",
"black orb weaver spider",
"box turtle"
] | 3 | 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 bull ant is an insect. Like other insects, a bull ant is an invertebrate. It does not have a backbone. It has an exoskeleton.
Like other spiders, a black orb weaver spider is an invertebrate. It does not have a backbone. It has an exoskeleton.
A box turtle is a reptile. Like other reptiles, a box turtle is a vertebrate. It has a backbone.
Like other jellyfishes, a flower hat jellyfish is an invertebrate. It does not have a backbone. It has a soft body. |
Which figure of speech is used in this text?
Reggie's '64 Impala groaned as he turned the ignition. Yet again he resolved to refurbish it over the summer. | [
"metaphor",
"personification"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade10 | language science | figurative-language | Literary devices | Classify figures of speech: review | Figures of speech are words or phrases that use language in a nonliteral or unusual way. They can make writing more expressive.
Alliteration is the repetition of sounds at the beginning of nearby words.
What a lucky little lady you are!
An allusion is a brief reference to something or someone well known, often from history or literature.
"I'd better get home before I turn into a pumpkin!" Lila remarked.
An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood literally. Its meaning must be learned.
The assignment was a piece of cake.
A simile uses like or as to compare two things that are not actually alike.
The cat's fur was as dark as the night.
A metaphor compares two things that are not actually alike without using like or as.
The snow formed a blanket over the town.
Onomatopoeia involves using a word that expresses a sound.
The scrambled eggs hit the floor with a splat.
Personification is giving human characteristics to nonhuman things.
The trees danced in the wind.
A pun involves using a word or phrase in a humorous way that suggests more than one meaning.
A great new broom is sweeping the nation.
Verbal irony involves saying one thing but implying something very different. People often use verbal irony when they are being sarcastic.
Olivia seems thrilled that her car keeps breaking down.
Each breakdown is as enjoyable as a punch to the face. | The text uses personification, giving human characteristics to nonhuman things.
Reggie's '64 Impala groaned describes the car as if it were human. |
|
Select the one substance that is not a mineral. | [
"Wood is a body part of a plant. It is formed in nature.",
"Calcite is formed in nature. It is a pure substance.",
"Hematite is formed in nature. It is a pure substance."
] | 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.
Calcite is a mineral.
Hematite is a mineral.
Wood is a body part of a plant. But minerals are not made by living things.
So, wood is not a mineral. |
|
Which greeting is correct for a letter? | [
"Dear Grace,",
"Dear grace,"
] | 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 greeting is correct:
Its first word is capitalized, and it ends with a comma. Grace is capitalized because it is a proper noun. |
|
Which correctly shows the title of an article? | [
"\"Life on the moon?\"",
"\"Life on the Moon?\""
] | 1 | closed choice | grade4 | language science | capitalization | Formatting | Capitalizing titles | In a title, capitalize the first word, the last word, and every important word in between.
The Wind in the Willows James and the Giant Peach
These words are not important in titles:
Articles, a, an, the
Short prepositions, such as at, by, for, in, of, on, to, up
Coordinating conjunctions, such as and, but, or | Capitalize the first word, the last word, and every important word in between. The words on and the are not important, so they should not be capitalized.
The correct title is "Life on the Moon?" |
|
Using only these supplies, which question can Andy investigate with an experiment? | [
"Are dishes cleaner when washed with liquid dish detergent or with bar soap?",
"Are dishes washed in a dishwasher cleaner than dishes washed by hand?",
"Are dishes cleaner when washed with a soapy sponge or with a soapy rag?"
] | 0 | Andy is washing dishes after cooking his dinner. He notices that some of the dishes still feel oily after being washed. He wonders what factors affect how clean dishes are after they are washed. So, he decides to design an experiment. He has the following supplies available:
a sponge
liquid dish detergent
a bar of soap
hot water
cold water
a pile of dirty dishes | closed choice | grade8 | natural science | science-and-engineering-practices | Designing experiments | Identify questions that can be investigated with a set of materials | Experiments can be designed to answer specific questions. When designing an experiment, you must identify the supplies that are necessary to answer your question. In order to do this, you need to figure out what will be tested and what will be measured during the experiment.
Imagine that you are wondering if plants grow to different heights when planted in different types of soil. How might you decide what supplies are necessary to conduct this experiment?
First, you need to identify the part of the experiment that will be tested, which is the independent variable. This is usually the part of the experiment that is different or changed. In this case, you would like to know how plants grow in different types of soil. So, you must have different types of soil available.
Next, you need to identify the part of the experiment that will be measured or observed, which is the dependent variable. In this experiment, you would like to know if some plants grow taller than others. So, you must be able to compare the plants' heights. To do this, you can observe which plants are taller by looking at them, or you can measure their exact heights with a meterstick.
So, if you have different types of soil and can observe or measure the heights of your plants, then you have the supplies you need to investigate your question with an experiment! | |
Which word does not rhyme? | [
"bite",
"fine",
"nine"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade2 | language science | phonological-awareness | Rhyming | Which word does not rhyme? | Rhyming words are words that end with the same sound.
The words tip and slip rhyme. They both end with the same sound.
The words meet and treat also rhyme. They both end with the same sound, even though the sound has two different spellings.
The words tip and meet don't rhyme. They end with different sounds. | The words fine and nine rhyme. They both end with the ine sound.
The word bite does not rhyme. It ends with a different sound. |
|
Is a hockey puck 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 hockey puck is a good or a service, ask these questions:
Is a hockey puck something you can touch? Yes.
Is a hockey puck a job you might pay someone else to do? No.
So, a hockey puck is a good. |
|
What is the source of the allusion in the sentence below?
Wesley spoke at the city council meeting, claiming the new recycling regulations were draconian. | [
"Greek history",
"a fairy tale"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade7 | language science | figurative-language | Literary devices | Recall the source of an allusion | An allusion is a brief mention of something or someone well known, often from mythology, history, or literature. An allusion lets you reference ideas from an entire story in just a few words.
"I'd better get home before I turn into a pumpkin!" Lila remarked.
Here, Lila alludes to the fairy tale "Cinderella," in which Cinderella must leave the ball before the coach that brought her transforms into a pumpkin. The allusion shows that Lila must depart immediately. | The source of the allusion draconian is Greek history.
Draco, a government official in seventh-century Athens, Greece, wrote a code of laws that called for severe punishments for even minor offenses.
The allusion draconian means harsh. |
|
What information supports the conclusion that Sanjay inherited this trait? | [
"Sanjay's biological parents have freckles on their noses just as Sanjay does.",
"Sanjay has freckles on his nose and shoulders.",
"Sanjay and his biological mother have pale skin."
] | 0 | Read the description of a trait.
Sanjay has freckles. | closed choice | grade7 | natural science | biology | Genes to traits | Inherited and acquired traits: use evidence to support a statement | Organisms, including people, have both inherited and acquired traits. Inherited and acquired traits are gained in different ways.
Inherited traits are passed down from biological parents to their offspring through genes. Genes are pieces of hereditary material that contain the instructions that affect inherited traits. Offspring receive their genes, and therefore gain their inherited traits, from their biological parents. Inherited traits do not need to be learned.
Acquired traits are gained during a person's life. Some acquired traits, such as riding a bicycle, are gained by learning. Other acquired traits, such as scars, are caused by the environment. Parents do not pass acquired traits down to their offspring. | |
What do these two changes have in common?
a banana getting ripe on the counter
plants making food from sunlight, air, and water | [
"Both are caused by heating.",
"Both are only physical changes.",
"Both are caused by cooling.",
"Both are chemical changes."
] | 3 | 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 banana getting ripe on the counter is a chemical change. As a banana ripens, the type of matter in it changes. The peel changes color and the inside becomes softer and sweeter.
Plants making food is a chemical change. Plants use energy from sunlight to change air and water into food. The food is sugar. Sugar is a different type of matter than air or water.
Step 2: Look at each answer choice.
Both are only physical changes.
Both changes are chemical changes. They are not physical changes.
Both are chemical changes.
Both changes are chemical changes. The type of matter before and after each change is different.
Both are caused by heating.
Neither change is caused by heating.
Both are caused by cooling.
Neither change is caused by cooling. |
|
How long does it take to fly across the United States in an airplane? | [
"6 seconds",
"6 hours"
] | 1 | Select the better estimate. | closed choice | grade3 | natural science | units-and-measurement | Units and measurement | Choose units of time | Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means.
Imagine being told that the bus leaves in 7. You might be thinking, 7 what? Does the bus leave in 7 minutes? 7 seconds?
The number 7 on its own does not give you much information about when the bus is leaving. That is because the units are missing.
Time is usually measured in units of seconds, minutes, or hours. It takes about 1 second to sneeze and 1 minute to get dressed in the morning. It takes about 1 hour to bake a pie in the oven.
There are 60 seconds in 1 minute. So, 1 second is much less than 1 minute.
There are 60 minutes in 1 hour. So, 1 minute is much less than 1 hour. | The better estimate for how long it takes to fly across the United States in an airplane is 6 hours.
6 seconds is too fast. |
Which word would you find on a dictionary page with the following guide words?
tawny - trestle | [
"twelve",
"textile"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade3 | language science | reference-skills | Reference skills | Use guide words | Guide words appear on each page of a dictionary. They tell you the first word and last word on the page. The other words on the page come between the guide words in alphabetical order.
To put words in alphabetical order, put them in order by their first letters. If the first letters are the same, look at the second letters. If the second letters are the same, look at the third letters, and so on.
If one word is shorter, and there are no more letters to compare, then the shorter word comes first in alphabetical order. For example, be comes before bed. | Put the words in alphabetical order.
Since textile is between the guide words tawny - trestle, it would be found on that page. |
|
Which logical fallacy is used in the text?
Have you ever seen an animal cook its food? No! The idea is absurd and unnatural. That's why the healthiest diet is all raw food, all the time. | [
"bandwagon fallacy: the assumption that the popular choice is automatically correct",
"false dichotomy: an argument that presents only two choices when more options exist",
"appeal to nature: the assumption that natural things are always good"
] | 2 | 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 a diet of uncooked food is healthiest because animals don't cook their food. However, something isn't necessarily healthy for humans just because it's what animals do naturally. This illustrates a type of logical fallacy known as an appeal to nature. |
|
How long is a long-distance running race? | [
"23 meters",
"23 kilometers",
"23 centimeters"
] | 1 | Select the best estimate. | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | units-and-measurement | Units and measurement | Choose metric units of distance | Measurements are written with both a number and a unit. The unit comes after the number. The unit shows what the number means.
When you are using metric units, length can be written with units of millimeters, centimeters, meters, or kilometers. One meter contains 100 centimeters or 1,000 millimeters. So, 1 meter is larger than 1 centimeter, and 1 centimeter is larger than 1 millimeter.
The tip of the pencil shown here is only 1 millimeter wide, but the pencil is about 16 centimeters long.
A red fox is about 1 meter long. The Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia is about 1,000 meters, or 1 kilometer, in length. | The best estimate for the length of a long-distance running race is 23 kilometers.
23 centimeters and 23 meters are both too short. |
Below are three examples of using energy from natural resources. Select the use of energy that did not add to air pollution. | [
"A steamboat's engine burned coal.",
"A gas stove created an open flame for cooking by burning natural gas.",
"The Sun and wind dried clothes on an outdoor clothesline."
] | 2 | Humans have invented many ways to use energy from natural resources. Some of these uses of energy add to air pollution, and others do not.
Hint: Burning a material such as wood, oil, or coal releases chemicals that add to air pollution. | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | earth-science | Conservation and natural resources | Evaluate natural energy sources | Humans have invented many ways to use natural resources. We use energy from natural resources in our daily activities, including cooking food, moving objects, and powering machines.
Some ways of using natural resources for energy add to air pollution, and others do not.
Wood, oil, and coal are examples of natural resources that are fuels. Burning a fuel provides energy. But it also releases chemicals that can be harmful to our health and to the environment. These chemicals add to air pollution.
Sunlight, wind, and water are natural resources that can provide energy. Using energy from the Sun, wind, or water does not burn material. These uses of energy do not release chemicals that add to air pollution. | |
What does this Works Cited entry indicate about the cited work?
Sherwood, Chris. "How Do Teenagers Build Credit?" eHow. Demand Media, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2015. | [
"It was published on February 24, 2015.",
"It doesn't have a date of publication.",
"eHow is the publisher."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade11 | language science | reference-skills | Research skills | Understand a Works Cited entry (MLA 7th edition) | When writing research papers, you will often be asked to follow a particular style guide for your citations. One popular style guide is the Modern Language Association (MLA) Handbook.
Below are the basic formats for some common types of Works Cited entries. Consult the MLA Handbook for a complete list.
Books:
Format | Author(s). Book Title. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium of Publication.
Example | Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. New York: Dover Publications, 1995. Print.
Essays, short stories, or poems in an anthology or book:
Format | Author(s). "Essay, Poem, or Short Story Title." Anthology or Book Title. Ed. Editor Name. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Page Number(s). Medium of Publication.
Example | James, Henry. "The Middle Years." The Oxford Book of American Short Stories. Ed. Joyce Carol Oates. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2013. 116-135. Print.
Magazine and newspaper articles:
Format | Author(s). "Article Title." Title of Magazine or Newspaper Date of Publication: Page(s). Medium of Publication.
Example | Hayes, David J., and James H. Stock. "The Real Cost of Coal." New York Times 24 Mar. 2015: n. pag. Web. 25 Mar. 2015.
Journal articles:
Format | Author(s). "Article Title." Title of Journal Volume.Issue (Year): Page(s). Medium of Publication.
Example | Gillette, Jane, et al. "Human Simulations of Vocabulary Learning." Cognition 73.2 (1999): 135-176. Print.
Web pages:
Format | Author(s). "Page Title." Name of Website. Publisher, Date of Publication. Medium of Publication. Date of Access.
Example | Gunn, Janelle P., and Lauren E. Owens. "How to Slash Sodium from Your Diet." Livestrong.com. Demand Media, 30 Mar. 2015. Web. 31 Mar. 2015.
Additional guidelines:
Author Names. The first author's name is written in last name, first name format (Smith, Jane). Additional author names are written in first name last name format (Smith, Jane, and John Doe). If there are more than three authors, the first author's name is followed by "et al.," which stands for and others (e.g., Smith, Jane, et al.).
Medium of Publication. Each entry must include information about what form the content was communicated in. The most common mediums are "Print" and "Web," but other possibilities include "Film," "E-mail," and "Lecture." Whenever the Medium of Publication is "Web," the date of access (the day, month, and year the webpage was viewed) must be listed directly after the Medium of Publication.
Editors and Translators. If a work has an editor or a translator, this information must be added to the Works Cited entry using the appropriate abbreviation. "Ed." stands for edited by. "Trans." stands for translated by.
Missing Information. If a work has no known author, the author section of the citation is simply left out. If a work has no available page numbers, the abbreviation "n. pag." is used instead. If a work has no available publication date, the abbreviation "n.d." is used instead. If a work has no available publisher or no available city of publication, the abbreviation "n.p." is used instead.
| Look closely at the Works Cited entry:
Sherwood, Chris. "How Do Teenagers Build Credit?" eHow. Demand Media, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2015.
You can tell that the cited work has no available publication date because the entry contains the abbreviation n.d., which means no date of publication. |
|
Which word would you find on a dictionary page with the following guide words?
shore - swore | [
"suspense",
"sat"
] | 0 | closed choice | grade5 | language science | reference-skills | Reference skills | Use guide words | Guide words appear on each page of a dictionary. They tell you the first word and last word on the page. The other words on the page come between the guide words in alphabetical order.
To put words in alphabetical order, put them in order by their first letters. If the first letters are the same, look at the second letters. If the second letters are the same, look at the third letters, and so on.
If one word is shorter, and there are no more letters to compare, then the shorter word comes first in alphabetical order. For example, be comes before bed. | Put the words in alphabetical order.
Since suspense is between the guide words shore - swore, it would be found on that page. |
|
Using only these supplies, which question can Jeffrey investigate with an experiment? | [
"Do watercolor paintings dry faster when placed next to a fan?",
"Does a large watercolor painting or a small watercolor painting dry faster?",
"Do watercolor paintings dry faster when they are placed inside or outside?"
] | 2 | Jeffrey is painting watercolor pictures with his friend. An hour after they have finished, Jeffrey notices one painting is dry but the other is not. He wonders what factors affect how quickly watercolor paintings dry. So, he decides to design an experiment. He has the following supplies available:
two freshly painted watercolor pictures of the same size
his dining room table
a picnic table in his backyard
a heater | closed choice | grade8 | natural science | science-and-engineering-practices | Designing experiments | Identify questions that can be investigated with a set of materials | Experiments can be designed to answer specific questions. When designing an experiment, you must identify the supplies that are necessary to answer your question. In order to do this, you need to figure out what will be tested and what will be measured during the experiment.
Imagine that you are wondering if plants grow to different heights when planted in different types of soil. How might you decide what supplies are necessary to conduct this experiment?
First, you need to identify the part of the experiment that will be tested, which is the independent variable. This is usually the part of the experiment that is different or changed. In this case, you would like to know how plants grow in different types of soil. So, you must have different types of soil available.
Next, you need to identify the part of the experiment that will be measured or observed, which is the dependent variable. In this experiment, you would like to know if some plants grow taller than others. So, you must be able to compare the plants' heights. To do this, you can observe which plants are taller by looking at them, or you can measure their exact heights with a meterstick.
So, if you have different types of soil and can observe or measure the heights of your plants, then you have the supplies you need to investigate your question with an experiment! | |
Which of the following contains a vague pronoun reference? | [
"Steven felt better about collaborating on the research project after Rick talked with him about it.",
"After Rick talked with Steven about the research project, he felt better about collaborating on it."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade11 | language science | writing-strategies | Pronouns | Identify vague pronoun references | When writing, make sure to avoid vague pronoun references. A vague pronoun reference occurs when a pronoun could refer to more than one possible antecedent.
When Lisa and Kim finally landed, she breathed a sigh of relief.
The pronoun she could refer to either Lisa or Kim, so the meaning of the sentence is unclear.
Vague pronoun references can be corrected in one of two ways:
1. Replace the pronoun with its correct antecedent:
When Lisa and Kim finally landed, Lisa breathed a sigh of relief.
2. Rewrite the sentence:
Lisa breathed a sigh of relief when she and Kim finally landed.
A vague pronoun reference also occurs when they, them, their, theirs, it, or its is used without its antecedent.
They say that this nail polish dries in less than five minutes.
The pronoun they is used without its antecedent, so the meaning of the sentence is unclear.
This problem can be fixed by replacing the pronoun with its missing antecedent.
The advertisements say that this nail polish dries in less than five minutes. | The first answer choice contains a vague pronoun reference. The pronoun he could refer to Rick or Steven.
After Rick talked with Steven about the research project, he felt better about collaborating on it.
The second answer choice shows a possible correction for the vague pronoun reference. The text has been rewritten so that the meaning is clear.
Steven felt better about collaborating on the research project after Rick talked with him about it. |
|
Complete the sentence.
Your breath becoming visible on a cold day is a (). | [
"chemical change",
"physical change"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade6 | 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 new molecules. The types of molecules in matter before and after a chemical change are always different.
Burning a piece of paper is a chemical change. As paper burns, paper molecules react with oxygen molecules in the air. This reaction breaks the chemical bonds in the molecules. The atoms then relink and form different molecules. For example, carbon dioxide molecules are created 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. For example, water vaporizing is a physical change. Liquid water and water vapor are made of the same type of matter: water. | Your breath becoming visible on a cold day is a change of state. So, it is a physical change. Water vapor in your breath touches the cold air outside and becomes liquid. The water vapor changes state, but it is made of water. A different type of matter is not formed. |
|
Using only these supplies, which question can Abigail investigate with an experiment? | [
"Do the deer eat fewer leaves from bean plants sprayed with garlic spray than from unsprayed bean plants?",
"Do the deer eat more leaves from tomato plants or from squash plants?",
"Do the deer eat fewer leaves from bean plants sprayed with coffee spray than from unsprayed bean plants?"
] | 0 | Abigail has a garden that is sometimes visited by deer. She notices that the deer eat some plants in her garden more than others. She wonders what factors affect which plants the deer eat. So, she decides to design an experiment. She has the following supplies available:
a garlic spray used to keep garden pests away
four tomato plants
four bean plants | closed choice | grade8 | natural science | science-and-engineering-practices | Designing experiments | Identify questions that can be investigated with a set of materials | Experiments can be designed to answer specific questions. When designing an experiment, you must identify the supplies that are necessary to answer your question. In order to do this, you need to figure out what will be tested and what will be measured during the experiment.
Imagine that you are wondering if plants grow to different heights when planted in different types of soil. How might you decide what supplies are necessary to conduct this experiment?
First, you need to identify the part of the experiment that will be tested, which is the independent variable. This is usually the part of the experiment that is different or changed. In this case, you would like to know how plants grow in different types of soil. So, you must have different types of soil available.
Next, you need to identify the part of the experiment that will be measured or observed, which is the dependent variable. In this experiment, you would like to know if some plants grow taller than others. So, you must be able to compare the plants' heights. To do this, you can observe which plants are taller by looking at them, or you can measure their exact heights with a meterstick.
So, if you have different types of soil and can observe or measure the heights of your plants, then you have the supplies you need to investigate your question with an experiment! | |
Is there a sentence fragment?
At a latitude of seventy degrees north, Tromsø is Norway's northernmost city. Moreover, it is one of the best places on the planet to view the northern lights, or aurora borealis. | [
"no",
"yes"
] | 0 | yes or no | grade12 | language science | writing-strategies | Sentences, fragments, and run-ons | Identify sentence fragments | 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 sentence fragment is a group of words that does not express a complete thought.
Rehearsing daily because we have a concert in two weeks.
This fragment is missing a subject. It doesn't tell who is rehearsing.
The band I'm in.
This fragment is missing a verb. It doesn't tell what the band I'm in is doing.
Because we have a concert in two weeks.
This fragment is missing an independent clause. It doesn't tell what happened because of the concert. | There is not a sentence fragment. These are complete sentences because they express complete thoughts.
At a latitude of seventy degrees north, Tromsø is Norway's northernmost city. Moreover, it is one of the best places on the planet to view the northern lights, or aurora borealis. |
|
Suppose Janice decides to watch the comedy. Which result would be a cost? | [
"Janice will get to watch the movie that she is more excited about.",
"Janice will give up the chance to watch a movie with her sister."
] | 1 | Janice 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. Janice'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 Janice wants or needs:
Janice will give up the chance to watch a movie with her sister. |
What is the source of the allusion in the sentence below?
When it comes to starting new businesses, Emilia seems to have a Midas touch. | [
"the Bible",
"Greek mythology"
] | 1 | closed choice | grade7 | language science | figurative-language | Literary devices | Recall the source of an allusion | An allusion is a brief mention of something or someone well known, often from mythology, history, or literature. An allusion lets you reference ideas from an entire story in just a few words.
"I'd better get home before I turn into a pumpkin!" Lila remarked.
Here, Lila alludes to the fairy tale "Cinderella," in which Cinderella must leave the ball before the coach that brought her transforms into a pumpkin. The allusion shows that Lila must depart immediately. | The source of the allusion Midas is Greek mythology.
In Greek mythology, King Midas is granted his wish that everything he touches turn to gold.
The allusion Midas means fortunate. |
|
What is the volume of a jar of baby food? | [
"5 gallons",
"5 fluid ounces",
"5 cups"
] | 1 | Select the best estimate. | closed choice | grade5 | natural science | units-and-measurement | Units and measurement | Choose customary 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 customary units, volume may be written in units of fluid ounces, cups, or gallons.
As the diagram shows, there are 8 fluid ounces in 1 cup and 16 cups in 1 gallon. So, 1 fluid ounce is less than 1 cup and much less than 1 gallon.
A glass of milk has a volume of about 8 fluid ounces, or 1 cup. A jug of milk has a volume of 1 gallon. | The best estimate for the volume of a jar of baby food is 5 fluid ounces.
5 cups and 5 gallons are both too much. |
Which is a compound sentence? | [
"Gold is a deep yellow metal, and silver is a white metal.",
"The butcher cuts the fat off the meat."
] | 0 | closed choice | grade3 | language science | grammar | Sentences, fragments, and run-ons | Is the sentence simple or compound? | A simple sentence is a sentence with only one subject and predicate.
The pitcher threw the ball to first base.
A compound sentence is two simple sentences joined by a comma and a conjunction such as and, but, or, or so.
The pitcher threw the ball, and the batter hit it.
Some simple sentences have a compound subject or a compound predicate, but they are not compound sentences.
Anna and James will watch the fireworks tonight.
This simple sentence has a compound subject, Anna and James.
The singers bowed and walked off the stage.
This simple sentence has a compound predicate, bowed and walked off the stage.
Some simple sentences have introductory phrases, but they are not compound sentences. The introductory phrase is part of the predicate.
In the winter, Farmer Ben wears his heavy coat.
This is a simple sentence. There is one subject, Farmer Ben, and one predicate, wears his heavy coat in the winter. | The first sentence is the compound sentence. It is made up of two simple sentences joined by a comma and the conjunction and.
Gold is a deep yellow metal, and silver is a white metal. |
|
Which is a simple sentence? | [
"Javier stacked a crate of oranges on top of the crate of lemons and checked both crates off his order sheet.",
"Although she left her house early, Clare barely made it to the train station in time."
] | 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.
Javier stacked a crate of oranges on top of the crate of lemons and checked both crates off his order sheet. |
|
What does the euphemism in this text suggest?
The Blake family donated a number of gently loved books and toys to a local shelter. | [
"The items were no longer wanted.",
"The items were not new."
] | 1 | closed choice | grade12 | language science | figurative-language | Literary devices | Interpret the figure 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 gently loved means the items were not new. Gently loved is a nicer way of referring to used items. |
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