Praxis Middle School English Language Arts (5047)

Read this stanza: "The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor." Which figure of speech is used in "The road was a ribbon of moonlight"?

• AMetaphor
• BHyperbole
• COnomatopoeia
• DAlliteration

A short story follows a character who narrates events using 'I' and can report only what she personally observes and feels. Which point of view is being used?

• AThird-person omniscient
• BFirst-person
• CThird-person limited
• DSecond-person

Which statement best describes the difference between the theme and the topic of a literary work?

• AThe topic is the moral lesson; the theme is the genre
• BThe topic is the climax; the theme is the resolution
• CThe topic is a general subject; the theme is the central message or insight about that su…
• DThe topic and theme are interchangeable terms for the plot

An author writes: "The wind whispered secrets through the trees." The wind is given the human ability to whisper. This technique is called:

• ASimile
• BAllusion
• CSymbolism
• DPersonification

When a reader is asked to "cite textual evidence to support an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text," the reader must:

• AQuote or paraphrase specific parts of the text to back up both stated facts and reasoned…
• BSummarize the entire plot in chronological order
• CProvide a personal opinion about whether the text is enjoyable
• DList the names of all characters in the order they appear

A nonfiction article organizes information by presenting an issue and then describing what led to it and what resulted from it. Which text structure is this?

• ACompare and contrast
• BCause and effect
• CChronological sequence
• DProblem and solution

Read this line of poetry: "The silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain." The repetition of the 's' sound is an example of:

• AAssonance
• BConsonance
• CAlliteration
• DRhyme

Which of the following is the best definition of an inference?

• AA direct restatement of a sentence from the text
• BA list of vocabulary words defined in a glossary
• CThe title and author of a passage
• DA logical conclusion drawn by combining textual clues with prior knowledge

A story is set during a severe drought in a 1930s farming community, and the harsh conditions shape every choice the characters make. This relationship best illustrates the effect of:

• ASetting on plot and character
• BRhyme scheme on tone
• CDialogue on point of view
• DForeshadowing on theme

In a Shakespearean (English) sonnet, what is the rhyme scheme and structure?

• AAn octave and a sestet, rhyming ABBAABBA CDECDE
• BThree quatrains and a couplet, rhyming ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
• CTwo tercets, rhyming AABB CCDD
• DFourteen unrhymed lines in free verse

An author repeatedly describes a caged bird that longs to fly free, and the bird comes to represent the human desire for liberty. This use of an object to stand for a larger idea is:

• AIrony
• BFlashback
• CSymbolism
• DHyperbole

Read this sentence from an editorial: "Only a heartless person would oppose this obviously beneficial program." Which persuasive technique is the writer using?

• ACiting peer-reviewed evidence
• BDefining technical terms
• CPresenting a balanced counterargument
• DLoaded language and an appeal to emotion

Which reading comprehension strategy involves stopping at intervals to restate what has been read in one's own words to check understanding?

• ASummarizing or paraphrasing while monitoring comprehension
• BSkimming
• CScanning for keywords
• DChoral reading

A passage states: "Despite the unanimous praise, the novel quietly faded from bookstore shelves within a year." The relationship between the praise and the novel's disappearance is best described as:

• AA straightforward cause and effect
• BAn ironic or unexpected contrast
• CA chronological sequence with no tension
• DA simple list of facts

Which genre is characterized by an extended narrative that teaches a moral lesson, often using animals that speak and act like humans?

• AMemoir
• BSonnet
• CFable
• DEditorial

An informational text includes the sentence: "Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert sunlight into chemical energy." This sentence functions primarily as:

• AA persuasive appeal
• BA counterargument
• CA figurative comparison
• DA definition that clarifies a key term

In analyzing an argument, which element is the central claim the author wants the reader to accept?

• AThesis or claim
• BEvidence
• CCounterclaim
• DCitation

Read this excerpt: "She clutched the worn letter, her hands trembling, and read the final line again and again." The author primarily reveals the character's emotional state through:

• ADirect statement of her feelings
• BIndirect characterization through actions
• CA flashback to an earlier scene
• DAn external narrator's commentary on theme

Two texts both discuss the American Revolution, but one is a personal diary of a soldier and the other is a modern historian's analysis. Comparing how each presents the same events is an example of analyzing:

• ARhyme and meter
• BAlliteration across genres
• CDifferent accounts and the influence of point of view or purpose
• DPlot diagrams

What is the primary purpose of a narrative hook at the beginning of a story?

• ATo list the works cited
• BTo define every vocabulary word that will appear
• CTo summarize the ending
• DTo capture the reader's interest and motivate continued reading

A poem's overall attitude toward its subject is sorrowful and reflective. The term that best describes this quality is:

• ATone
• BMeter
• CStanza
• DCouplet

Which of the following best describes a dynamic character?

• AA character who appears only in the first chapter
• BA character who undergoes significant internal change over the course of the work
• CA character who never speaks
• DA character who is always the narrator

An author begins each paragraph of an essay with a question, then answers it. This recurring structural choice is an example of the author's use of:

• ARhyme scheme
• BSetting
• COrganizational pattern and rhetorical structure
• DDialect

Read this haiku: "An old silent pond / A frog jumps into the pond / Splash! Silence again." What is the traditional syllable structure of a haiku?

• A7-7-7 syllables across three lines
• B10-10 syllables across two lines
• CFourteen lines of iambic pentameter
• D5-7-5 syllables across three lines

A reader encounters the unfamiliar word 'gregarious' in this sentence: "Unlike his shy brother, Marcus was gregarious and thrived in large, lively crowds." Using context, 'gregarious' most likely means:

• ASociable and enjoying the company of others
• BFearful and withdrawn
• CAngry and aggressive
• DQuiet and studious

Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.

• AThe team of researchers were presenting their findings.
• BEach of the students has submitted the assignment.
• CNeither the teacher nor the students was ready.
• DThe list of supplies are on the desk.

Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?

• AI have a big test tomorrow; because I can't go out tonight.
• BI bought apples; oranges; and bananas.
• CI have a big test tomorrow; I can't go out tonight.
• DAlthough it was raining; we went hiking.

In the word 'unbelievable', the prefix 'un-' and the suffix '-able' contribute meaning. The root 'believe' combined with these affixes is best analyzed using:

• ARhyme analysis
• BSyntax diagramming
• CPhonemic spelling rules only
• DMorphology (the study of word parts and how they form meaning)

Which sentence correctly uses an apostrophe to show possession?

• AThe dogs' bowls were all empty after the long walk.
• BThe dog's bowls belonged to several dogs.
• CIts raining and the cat lost it's toy.
• DThe childrens' books were left on the bus.

The words 'happy' and 'joyful' have nearly the same meaning. This relationship between words is called:

• AAntonyms
• BSynonyms
• CHomophones
• DHomographs

Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?

• ARunning quickly, Maria caught the bus just in time.
• BAfter studying all night, she felt confident about the test.
• CCovered in chocolate, the children devoured the strawberries.
• DThe teacher praised the student who completed the project.

In the sentence "The ancient, towering oak provided welcome shade," the words 'ancient' and 'towering' function as:

• AAdverbs modifying the verb
• BConjunctions joining clauses
• CPrepositions showing location
• DAdjectives modifying the noun 'oak'

Which revision corrects the comma splice in this sentence: "The storm intensified, the game was canceled"?

• AThe storm intensified; the game was canceled.
• BThe storm intensified the game was canceled.
• CThe storm intensified, the game, was canceled.
• DThe storm, intensified the game was canceled.

The prefix 'mal-' in words such as 'malfunction', 'malnourished', and 'malevolent' most nearly means:

• AMany or much
• BBad, wrong, or ill
• CBefore or earlier
• DTogether or with

Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly?

• AShe likes hiking, swimming, and to bike.
• BShe likes to hike, swimming, and biked.
• CShe likes hiking, swimming, and biking.
• DShe likes hike, to swim, and biking.

The words 'their', 'there', and 'they're' are frequently confused because they sound alike but have different meanings and spellings. These words are best classified as:

• AAntonyms
• BSynonyms
• CCompound words
• DHomophones

Identify the independent clause in this sentence: "Because the bell rang, the students hurried to class."

• Athe students hurried to class
• BBecause the bell rang
• CBecause the bell rang, the students
• Drang, the students hurried

Which sentence demonstrates correct use of a colon?

• AShe packed: a map, a flashlight, and water.
• BShe packed three items: a map, a flashlight, and water.
• CShe packed three items, a map: a flashlight, and water.
• DShe: packed three items a map flashlight water.

In the sentence "The scientist analyzed the data carefully," the word 'carefully' is:

• AAn adjective modifying 'scientist'
• BA noun functioning as the object
• CAn adverb modifying the verb 'analyzed'
• DA preposition

A student writes: "The novel was wrote by a famous author." Which correction fixes the verb error?

• AThe novel was wrotten by a famous author.
• BThe novel were wrote by a famous author.
• CThe novel was write by a famous author.
• DThe novel was written by a famous author.

During the writing process, which stage focuses on generating and organizing ideas before drafting?

• APrewriting
• BEditing
• CPublishing
• DProofreading

Which sentence is the strongest thesis statement for an argumentative essay?

• AThis essay is about school start times.
• BMiddle schools should start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. because later start times improve s…
• CMany people have opinions about school start times.
• DSchool start times are interesting to think about.

A teacher asks students to reorganize paragraphs, add supporting evidence, and clarify their main argument. This work belongs to which stage of the writing process?

• AProofreading
• BPrewriting
• CRevising
• DPublishing

Which type of writing has the primary purpose of explaining a topic or conveying information clearly and objectively?

• ANarrative writing
• BPersuasive writing
• CPoetic writing
• DInformative/explanatory writing

When a student integrates a source into a research paper, which practice best avoids plagiarism?

• ACiting the source whenever ideas, data, or wording come from it, and using quotation mark…
• BCopying sentences exactly without quotation marks because the idea is common
• CChanging one or two words in a copied passage and presenting it as original
• DListing the source only if the teacher asks for it

A narrative essay would most appropriately use which of the following techniques?

• AA formal works-cited page as the central feature
• BDialogue, sensory details, and a clear sequence of events
• CA statistical data table as the main content
• DA formal counterargument and rebuttal section

Which revision improves sentence variety in the following: "The dog ran. The dog barked. The dog jumped."?

• AThe dog ran. The dog barked. The dog jumped fast.
• BThe dog. Ran. Barked. Jumped.
• CThe dog ran, barked, and jumped excitedly around the yard.
• DThe dog ran the dog barked the dog jumped.