ELA Unit 1 Test

Which example of dialogue is punctuated correctly?

"Be careful, because the floor is wet," he warned.

Which of these excerpts from The Outsiders best represents an external conflict?

"I fought to get loose, and almost did for a second; then they tightened up on me and the one on my chest slugged me a couple of times."

Which line is an example of internal conflict in The Outsiders?

"I was wishing I looked like Paul Newman-he looks tough and I don't-but I guess my own looks aren't so bad."

Read this excerpt from The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton. We're poorer than the Socs and the middle class. I reckon we're wilder, too. Not like the Socs, who jump greasers and wreck houses . . . for kicks, and get editorials in the paper for being a public disgrace one day and an asset to society the next. Greasers are almost like hoods; we steal things and drive old souped-up cars and . . . have a gang fight once in a while. I don't mean I do things like that. Darry would kill me if I got into trouble with the police. Since Mom and Dad were killed in an auto wreck, the three of us get to stay together only as long as we behave. So Soda and I stay out of trouble as much as we can, and we're careful not to get caught when we can't. I only mean that most greasers do things like that, just like we wear our hair long and dress in blue jeans and T-shirts, or leave our shirttails out and wear leather jackets and tennis shoes or boots. I'm not saying that either Socs or greasers are better; that's just the way things are. Which line from this excerpt best supports the author's message that some things in life are out of people's control?

"I'm not saying that either Socs or greasers are better; that's just the way things are."

Which of these lines from The Outsiders is an example of conflict between an individual and himself?

"Sometimes I just don't use my head... I make good grades and have a high IQ and everything, but I don't use my head."

Which example of dialogue is formatted the correct way?

"Sometimes you win," the coach said, "and sometimes you lose."

Swinging through the air, the children were delighted by the acrobats on the stage. Which part of the sentence is a dangling modifier?

"Swinging through the air"

Which is a phrase?

"my best friend"

When soccer practice was over, I saw Monica riding a skateboard in the park, so I stopped, and we talked for awhile. Which part of this sentence is a phrase?

"riding a skateboard"

She got soaked walking home in the rain yesterday because her umbrella was in her gym locker. Which part of this sentence is a clause?

"she got soaked walking"

Which is a clause?

"when the moon rises"

Ben wants to go to the zoo but his sister is not feeling well. Which statement is correct?

A comma is needed after the word "zoo" to separate the two independent clauses joined by the conjunction.

Read the sentence from Barrio Boy by Ernesto Galarza. "Now, Ernesto, you are the man of the family. You will take care of your mother until we are together in Sacramento. Which statement best describes the figurative language used in these sentences?

A metaphor is used to paint a picture of responsibility

Select the sentence that would best appear in the end of a narrative.

After a long conversation with my father, I learned to take my responsibilities more seriously.

Which sentence shows the best placement for the modifier "on the ice"?

After dinner, we all went skating on the ice.

After hiking for hours the rest area appeared in the near distance. Which is the best revision of this sentence?

After hiking for hours, the hikers saw the rest area appear in the near distance.

Read the conclusion from a personal narrative. Even though we were lost in the desert for several hours, we made it home safely, because we had packed extra food and water. Our families were very relieved to see us alive and well. Which sentence, if added, would make the best revision of the conclusion?

After surviving those miserable hours in the desert, I learned the value of being prepared.

Read each sentence. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

Alice collected shells on the beach with her sister.

Which sentence from Barrio Boy gives the word mother a negative connotation?

And if the offense was considered serious, the voice would say, "You will see, I am going to tell your mother."

Read this excerpt from The Outsiders. I was wishing I looked like Paul Newman—he looks tough and I don't—but I guess my own looks aren't so bad. I have light-brown, almost-red hair and greenish-gray eyes. I wish they were more gray, because I hate most guys that have green eyes, but I have to be content with what I have. What is a universal theme found in the excerpt?

Be happy with the person you are.

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

Before Nate did his homework, he took the dog out for a walk.

Read this excerpt from The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton. I had a long walk home and no company, but I usually lone it anyway, for no reason except that I like to watch movies undisturbed so I can get into them and live them with the actors. When I see a movie with someone it's kind of uncomfortable, like having someone read your book over your shoulder. I'm different that way. What is a universal theme found in this excerpt?

Being alone is not always a bad thing.

Cambria sang in her school's talent showcase three songs making her grandparents proud. Which is the best revision of this sentence?

Cambria made her grandparents proud when she sang three songs in her school's talent showcase.

Read this excerpt from The Outsiders. Then there were shouts and the pounding of feet, and the Socs jumped up and left me lying there, gasping. I lay there and wondered what in the world was happening—people were jumping over me and running by me and I was too dazed to figure it out. Then someone had me under the armpits and was hauling me to my feet. It was Darry. "Are you all right, Ponyboy?" He was shaking me and I wished he'd stop. I was dizzy enough anyway. I could tell it was Darry though—partly because of the voice and partly because Darry's always rough with me without meaning to be. What universal theme is present in this excerpt?

Challenging times bring families together

Read this example.Cherise is given this writing prompt in class: Write a personal narrative essay that describes a significant experience at school that has shaped your identity. Cherise decides that she is going to write a narrative essay that describes how her experience trying out for the cheerleading squad has helped her overcome her shyness and be comfortable in front of an audience. Which statement best describes Cherise's response to the prompt?

Cherise's topic and format are both acceptable, because they carefully follow the prompt.

Which sentence from Barrio Boy states the most reasonable inference and provides a valid clue to support it?

Ernesto does not know how long he will stay in Tucson. My mother and I were to go to another city called Tucson and wait there until another pass and money could be obtained.

Read the excerpt from Barrio Boy by Ernesto Galarza. We stayed only one day at the hotel, long enough for me to become acquainted with the bathtub, located in another closet next to the toilet. A rope of water twisted and whirled from a brass faucet, filling the tub. I sat in the cold water up to my neck and discovered that I could slide down the back of the tub and hit the bottom with a great splash. When my water party was interrupted, both the bathroom and I got a scrubbing.

Ernesto gets in trouble for his messy splashing

Read the excerpt from "I'm Nobody! Who Are You?" by Emily Dickinson. How dreary to be somebody!How public, like a frogTo tell your name the livelong dayTo an admiring bog! Which statement best explains the central idea of this stanza?

Fame is dull and unappealing

Which of these is a theme found in The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton?

Gentle souls are often disguised by rough exteriors.

Read this excerpt from The Outsiders. I'm different that way. I mean, my second-oldest brother, Soda, who is sixteen-going-on-seventeen, never cracks a book at all, and my oldest brother, Darrel, who we call Darry, works too long and hard to be interested in a story or drawing a picture, so I'm not like them. And nobody in our gang digs movies and books the way I do. For a while there, I thought I was the only person in the world that did. What is the theme of this excerpt?

Growing up means accepting oneself.

Read the sentences from Barrio Boy by Ernesto Galarza. I grabbed the chain with both hands and pulled. A small torrent of water gushed into the bowl, swirling and disappearing down the drain with a deep, sonorous gargle. I waited a few minutes and pulled the chain again. That night I got up several times to go to the toilet, until I was ordered to go to sleep. Why does Ernesto go to the toilet several times?

He is fascinated by the invention.

Which sentence shows the best placement for the modifier "in a taxi"?

He went in a taxi to the museum where he viewed paintings.

Which line from "I'm Nobody! Who Are You?" by Emily Dickinson contains a simile?

How public, like a frog

In which of the following sentences is the phrase underlined?

I helped my younger brother build a sand castle at the beach.

I rode to my grandmother's house on the bus. Which is the best revision of this sentence?

I rode the bus to my grandmother's house.

Which example of dialogue is formatted correctly?

I said to her, "Have fun on your summer vacation."

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

If it rains on Saturday, Hillary's baseball game will be canceled, and Jake's basketball game will take place in the gym.

ead this excerpt from a personal narrative. "That will be $7.50," the cashier said after ringing up the groceries I hoped to purchase. I looked in my wallet and saw only a $5 bill. My face flushed as I realized I would have to put a few things back. "Um . . . sorry. I thought I had more money with me," I replied. "What if I put back the bottle of juice? How much will that be?" Immediately, the woman standing in line behind me reached into her purse, pulled out $2.50, and handed it to the cashier. "Oh, thanks," I said, surprised and relieved at the same time. "This is so generous of you. How can I repay you?" "Don't thank me," the woman replied. "I'm no saint. I just don't want to wait in line any longer. Now you can go, and I can finally buy my groceries and get out of here." How does the dialogue in the paragraph help develop the narrative?

It reveals the character's thoughts and feelings about their experiences in the store.

A student wrote the following sentence. Shareese's grandmother came to her graduation from Texas. How does the misplaced modifier cause confusion in the student's sentence?

It seems as though Shareese is graduating from Texas.

A student wrote the following sentence. Keiko handed her castle project to her teacher that was late. How does the misplaced modifier cause confusion in the student's sentence?

It seems like the teacher is the one who is late.

Select the sentence that would best fit in the beginning of a narrative.

It was my birthday, and I was hoping that my wish for a dog would come true.

Read this example.Jordan is given this writing prompt in class: Write a personal narrative essay that describes a significant experience with a family member that has shaped your identity .Jordan decides that he is going to write a letter to his cousin Andre to thank Andre for helping him write music and develop his talent as a musician. Which statement best describes Jordan's response to the writing prompt?

Jordan's topic is acceptable, but it is not the correct format.

A student wrote the following sentence. Keiko handed her castle project to her teacher that was late. Choose the best revision of the sentence.

Keiko handed her late castle project to her teacher.

Read this excerpt from The Outsiders. Soda tries to understand, at least, which is more than Darry does. But then, Soda is different from anybody; he understands everything, almost. Like he's never hollering at me all the time the way Darry is, or treating me as if I was six instead of fourteen. I love Soda more than I've ever loved anyone, even Mom and Dad. Which statement best states the theme of this excerpt?

Kindness creates loyalty.

Read the conclusion of a personal narrative .As I was nearing the end of my trip to the village where my grandfather grew up, I reflected on all that I had seen. The conditions that he had lived in as a youth were so harsh compared to conditions of my own upbringing. Which sentence, if added, would make the best revision of the conclusion?

Knowing my grandfather's heritage made me realize how fortunate I am.

Read this excerpt from The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton. I love Soda more than I've ever loved anyone, even Mom and Dad. He's always happy-go-lucky and grinning, while Darry's hard and firm and rarely grins at all. But then, Darry's gone through a lot in his twenty years, grown up too fast. Sodapop'll never grow up at all. I don't know which way's the best. I'll find out one of these days. Which universal theme can be found in the excerpt?.

Life experiences shape character...

Which sentence shows the best placement for the modifier "listening to music"?

Listening to music, I walked to the store.

Read the sentence from Barrio Boy by Ernesto Galarza. José then explained a remarkable thing about our money. Which sentence supports a negative connotation for the word remarkable?

Mexican centavos and tostones and pesos were good for nothing in the United States

Which sentence contains both a simile and personification?

My baseball glove wrapped itself around the ball like a mother holding her child.

Which sentence uses engaging details to tell a story?

My brother's warm smile and firm hug showed me how proud he was when I won the race.

Select the sentence that would best fit in the end of a narrative.

My experience with my dog has taught me to never give up hope.

Which of the following sentences uses engaging details to tell a story?

My face turned bright red and my eyes swelled with tears when the teacher called on me and I didn't know the answer.

Valerie saw a colorful bird on her way to school. Choose the version of the sentence with the modifier in the correct place.

On her way to school, Valerie saw a colorful bird.

Select the sentence that would best appear in the beginning of a narrative.

One day I came home from school and was shocked to find my father looking angry and disappointed.

Which of these sentences is punctuated correctly?

Our class is learning about plant cells, and Reza's class is learning about animal cells.

Read this excerpt from The Outsiders. I'm not sure how you spell it, but it's the abbreviation for the Socials, the jet set, the West-side rich kids. It's like the term "greaser," which is used to class all us boys on the East Side. Which sentence best states the theme of this excerpt?

People are sometimes labeled by where they live.

Read the excerpt from "Introduction to Poetry" by Billy Collins. I ask them to take a poem and hold it up to the light like a color slide or press an ear against its hive. Which statement best explains the central idea of these lines?

Poems should be studied in many ways.

Read this passage from The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton. He had on a madras shirt. I can still see it. Blue madras. One of them laughed, then cussed me out in a low voice. I couldn't think of anything to say. There just isn't a whole lot you can say while waiting to get mugged, so I kept my mouth shut. "Need a haircut, greaser?" The medium-sized blond pulled a knife out of his back pocket and flipped the blade open. I finally thought of something to say. "No." I was backing up, away from that knife. Who are the opposing characters in this passage?

Ponyboy and the Socs

Which statement is punctuated correctly?

Selena started playing hockey, her favorite sport, when she was seven because her older sister was a star goalie.

A student wrote the following sentence. Shareese's grandmother came to her graduation from Texas. How can the student best correct the misplaced modifier in her sentence?

She can place the phrase "from Texas" after the word "grandmother."

Based on the events in Barrio Boy what is the best inference about Ernesto's mother?

She is a no-nonsense kind of person.

Which sentence shows the best placement for the modifier "that was on sale"?

Sheila bought soap that was on sale at the farmer's market.

Read the sentences below. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

The badger sleeps in a burrow during the hottest part of the day.

The baker donated bread to the fund-raiser in a large box. Which is the best revision of this sentence?

The baker donated a large box of bread to the fund-raiser.

Beatrice was unable to concentrate on her project because her brother's stereo was turned up to full volume. Which statement is correct?

The dependent clause follows the independent clause in this sentence, so no comma is needed.

Which sentence uses the denotation of the word heart?

The heart pumps blood in the body.

Which sentence shows the best placement for the modifier "with bright red hair"?

The large clown with bright red hair was driving the tiny car.

Which sentence shows the best placement for the modifier "on the tree"?

The leaves on the tree grew quickly during the summer.

Which statement best describes the sequence of a narrative?

The narrative should be in chronological order.

Read this excerpt from a personal narrative. "That will be $7.50," the cashier said after ringing up the groceries I hoped to purchase. I looked in my wallet and saw only a $5 bill. My face flushed as I realized I would have to put a few things back. "Um . . . sorry. I thought I had more money with me," I replied. "What if I put back the bottle of juice? How much will that be?" Immediately, the woman standing in line behind me reached into her purse, pulled out $2.50, and handed it to the cashier. "Oh, thanks," I said, surprised and relieved at the same time. "This is so generous of you. How can I repay you?" "Don't thank me," the woman replied. "I'm no saint. I just don't want to wait in line any longer. Now you can go, and I can finally buy my groceries and get out of here." What does the dialogue in the paragraph reveal about the narrator?

The narrator is appreciative.

Read the excerpt from "I'm Nobody! Who Are You?" by Emily Dickinson. I'm nobody! Who are you?Are you nobody, too?Then there's a pair of us—don't tell!They'd banish us, you know. Which statement best explains the central idea of this stanza?

The poet identifies with private people.

Which sentence shows the best placement for the modifier "covered in clover"?

The rabbit hopped through the meadow covered in clover.

Choose the sentence that is punctuated correctly?

The students line up in the afternoon to wait for the buses to arrive.

Read the excerpt from a personal narrative. "That will be $7.50," the cashier said after ringing up the groceries I hoped to purchase. I looked in my wallet and saw only a $5 bill. My face flushed as I realized I would have to put a few things back. "Um . . . sorry. I thought I had more money with me," I replied. "What if I put back the bottle of juice? How much will that be?" Immediately, the woman standing in line behind me reached into her purse, pulled out $2.50, and handed it to the cashier. "Oh, thanks," I said, surprised and relieved at the same time. "This is so generous of you. How can I repay you?" "Don't thank me," the woman replied. "I'm no saint. I just don't want to wait in line any longer. Now you can go, and I can finally buy my groceries and get out of here." What does the dialogue in the paragraph reveal about the woman standing in line?

The woman is in a hurry to leave.

Read this line from The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton. I heard a muttered curse and got slugged again, and they were stuffing a handkerchief in my mouth. Which statement best describes the conflict in this excerpt?

This is an example of a conflict between Ponyboy and some West-siders.

My science teacher explained how the weather cycle works using an illustration. Which is the best revision of this sentence?

Using an illustration, my science teacher explained how the weather cycle works.

Which sentence shows the best placement for the modifier "with the shaggy fur"?

We laughed at the dog with the shaggy fur who was catching the ball.

Which answer choice would be the best topic for a personal narrative?

a mistake I made

A word that describes how two words relate to each other in a sentence is

a preposition

Read this line from The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton. It drives my brother Darry nuts when I do stuff like that, 'cause I'm supposed to be smart. This line reveals which type of conflict?

a struggle between an individual and another person

We saw shiny, new tire rims on his car. Choose the correct part of speech for the underlined word.

adjective

Read the sentence from Barrio Boy by Ernesto Galarza. José bought us two cardboard suitcases and one for himself, and an alarm clock like the one we used to try to win in the lottery tent in Mazatlan. Which word has a connotative meaning in the sentence?

cardboard

The endangered Borneo pygmy elephant lives contentedly in Malaysia. Which word in the sentence is an example of an adverb?

contentedly

Read the sentences from Barrio Boy by Ernesto Galarza. Suspecting something, he added: "When you are finished, don't forget to pull the chain. See. That's what the sign says." And, to be sure, there was a paper with writing tacked to the wall, next to an aluminum up-and-down pipe. The hotel clerk most likely suspects that Ernesto and his mother

do not understand what the sign says.

The dog was running and barking. Which word in the sentence is a noun?

dog

Read this excerpt from The Outsiders. "I'm okay. Quit shaking me, Darry, I'm okay." He stopped instantly. "I'm sorry." He wasn't really. Darry isn't ever sorry for anything he does. It seems funny to me that he should look just exactly like my father and act exactly the opposite from him. My father was only forty when he died and he looked twenty-five and a lot of people thought Darry and Dad were brothers instead of father and son. But they only looked alike—my father was never rough with anyone without meaning to be. A universal theme found in this excerpt is that

family relationships are complicated

Read the sentence from Barrio Boy by Ernesto Galarza. I pushed a chair under it and after some instruction from my mother proceeded to create lightning in the room by turning the switch as fast as I could. The author uses figurative language to

form a picture of flashing light.

Read the sentence from Barrio Boy by Ernesto Galarza. When my water party was interrupted, both the bathroom and I got a scrubbing. Who most likely interrupted Ernesto's water party?k

his mother

When writing the beginning of a personal narrative, it is important to

introduce key people, places, and events

Read the sentence from Barrio Boy by Ernesto Galarza. Any neighborhood courtesy—an exchange of a banana for a red pepper, or the return of a borrowed utensil—was sure to pass through our messenger system. Which words have a connotative meaning in the sentence?

messenger system

Do you want to go to the library with us? Choose the correct part of speech for the underlined word.

noun

Read the excerpt from "Introduction to Poetry" by Billy Collins. I ask them to take a poemand hold it up to the lightlike a color slide or press an ear against its hive. Which line from the excerpt contains a metaphor?

or press an ear against its hive

How quickly or slowly the action of a story is narrated is called

pacing

Read the sentence from Barrio Boy by Ernesto Galarza. If you did or said something slightly irregular at the farthest end of the street from your cottage, where your legitimate bosses lived, somebody would be watching and ready to call out: "Mira, que muchachito tan malcriado." What does the author mean by "legitimate bosses"?

parents

Read the sentence from Barrio Boy by Ernesto Galarza. People talked to one another on the street in low tones; only drunks and muchachitos mal educados raised their voices, or the arrieros when they shouted to their donkeys. Which words best signal that "muchachitos mal educados" has a negative connotation?

raised their voices

A novel's theme is best defined as

the message a text conveys about a topic.

Which phrase from Barrio Boy contains a simile?

the wooden lid with a large hole that looked like a horse collar.

Read the sentences from Barrio Boy by Ernesto Galarza. I was left alone in the room for M-E-N. I examined it with great care—the smooth enamel bowl with water in the bottom, the wooden lid with a large hole that looked like a horse collar, the small brown box up near the ceiling, the chain hanging from it. Pressed for time, I finally decided it was safe enough to try. How does Ernesto feel?

unsure about the new experience

Read the sentence. He quickly walked into the crowded theater. Which word in the sentence is a verb?

walked

A tiny red bird in a tree outside my window chirped while I practiced my flute solo for the winter concert. Which part of this sentence is a clause?

while I practiced