Use the story description to answer the question.

Question

A story begins with a character trying to make a major life decision. The character goes to sleep, and the next day the storyline splits in two. One thread of scenes follows the character showing their life if they had decided the big choice one way. The other follows the character showing their life if they had decided the big choice another way. Both paths involve unexpected downsides and upsides. Near the end of the story, the character hits their head in both storylines. For a moment, the character fully understands both realities and must choose which reality to return to.
How could the author add tension, mystery, or surprise to the story?

(1 point)
Responses

by giving the character something they can’t imagine living without in each reality
by giving the character something they can’t imagine living without in each reality

by taking away the character’s choice and forcing them back into a single reality
by taking away the character’s choice and forcing them back into a single reality

by showing flashbacks to explain why the character has so much trouble making decisions
by showing flashbacks to explain why the character has so much trouble making decisions

by introducing a fun friend character who is similar in both storylines

An author is writing a story about new beginnings. Which setting elements would best support that theme? Select the three correct answers.(2 points)
Responses

spring
spring

sunset
sunset

a messy bedroom
a messy bedroom

sunrise
sunrise

winter
winter

a wild meadow

What is personification?(1 point)
Responses

a figure of speech that that gives human characteristics or traits to an inanimate object to create imagery
a figure of speech that that gives human characteristics or traits to an inanimate object to create imagery

a figure of speech that uses two words with opposite or conflicting meanings to create an effect
a figure of speech that uses two words with opposite or conflicting meanings to create an effect

a description that uses extreme exaggeration to make a point about something
a description that uses extreme exaggeration to make a point about something

a description that makes something seem smaller or less significant than it is

Use the paragraph to answer the question.

I told them to think of roller derby like football. The jammer—the one who wears the star on her helmet—is the ball. Get her through the pack, and she scores points.

What purpose does the analogy serve?

(1 point)
Responses

explaining something about a character
explaining something about a character

getting a point across in a clever way
getting a point across in a clever way

orienting a reader to a setting
orienting a reader to a setting

breaking down a difficult concept

The Summer of El Pintor
by Ofelia Dumas Lachtman

When Mrs. Callahan left, Monica stood at the dining room window, looking outside. A light breeze ruffled the sun-glistened leaves of the trees lining the street. A woman and a very small boy in red-and-blue overalls walked slowly under the trees, the boy stopping every now and then to pick up some fallen leaves. Everything looked ordinary and peaceful out there. She frowned. There was nothing ordinary and peaceful about her mood. She felt trapped and she didn’t like it. It had all happened so fast. And innocently. She was in this muddle because she had wanted to help Rob find El Pintor. No, that wasn’t exactly fair. She, too, had wanted to find El Pintor. And because of that, here she was, pretending to be someone she wasn’t.

Excerpt from "Summer of El Pintor" by Ofelia Dumas Lachtman is being reprinted with permission from the publisher (©Arte Público Press - University of Houston)

Question
Use the story excerpt to answer the question.

What effect does the sensory language have on the mood of the text?

(1 point)
Responses

It creates a sense of longing.
It creates a sense of longing.

It creates a sense of anger.
It creates a sense of anger.

It creates a sense of fear.
It creates a sense of fear.

It creates a sense of hope.
It creates a sense of hope.
Remaining Attempts : 3

GPT-4o mini · Answer

**How could the author add tension, mystery, or surprise to the story?** **Response:** by giving the character something they can’t imagine living without in each reality. --- **Which setting elements would best support the theme of new beginnings? Select the three correct answers.** **Responses:** - spring - sunrise - a wild meadow --- **What is personification?** **Response:** a figure of speech that gives human characteristics or traits to an inanimate object to create imagery. --- **What purpose does the analogy serve?** **Response:** breaking down a difficult concept. --- **What effect does the sensory language have on the mood of the text?** **Response:** It creates a sense of longing.

0000 · Answer

Nevin and Rue huddled together under the giant tree, trying to avoid the rain. Their breaths created puffs of white in the icy air.

“At least it’s warm,” Rue mused.

Question
Use the story excerpt to answer the question.

What does Rue really mean when she says, “At least it’s warm”?

(1 point)
Responses

It would be worse if it were warm.
It would be worse if it were warm.

It’s especially bad because it’s cold.
It’s especially bad because it’s cold.

It would be worse if it were colder.
It would be worse if it were colder.

It’s not as bad as it could be.

Use the paragraph to answer the question.

Since as long as anyone can remember, teenagers in Maker’s Valley have skated the dried-up canals all summer long. It’s practically a town attraction to stop by and watch them kick and flip and roll. This summer, though, the whole town sensed a change. The M.V. Rollers had big plans, and the rise of their team was something to behold.

What did the writer do to establish a point of view?

(1 point)
Responses

used limited perspective to focus on a particular character
used limited perspective to focus on a particular character

used first-person pronouns to tell the story from the character’s perspective
used first-person pronouns to tell the story from the character’s perspective

used omniscient perspective to show the narrator knows everything there is to know
used omniscient perspective to show the narrator knows everything there is to know

used second-person pronouns to bring the reader into the story
used second-person pronouns to bring the reader into the story

How can flashbacks create a sense of mystery in a story?(1 point)
Responses

They can give the reader information some characters do not have about a tense situation.
They can give the reader information some characters do not have about a tense situation.

They can reveal information about the past that gives readers clues about something happening in the present.
They can reveal information about the past that gives readers clues about something happening in the present.

They can shock the reader by using the past to explain what caused something that is happening in the present.
They can shock the reader by using the past to explain what caused something that is happening in the present.

They can show a character during a childhood moment to give readers insight into how the character developed.

Use the plot descriptions to answer the question.

Plot line #1: Lucia is a tax lawyer in Texas. She finds out that some businesses have not been paying their fair share of taxes. They will soon if she has anything to say about it.

Plot line #2: Trent has just inherited a business in Texas. He is perplexed by some of what he finds when he reviews the business’s financial records—but his top priority is proving to his parents that he can keep the business strong.

How effectively would these plot lines work in the same narrative?

(1 point)
Responses

effectively, because the characters have similar motivations
effectively, because the characters have similar motivations

not effectively, because the characters have different goals
not effectively, because the characters have different goals

effectively, because the characters have competing interests
effectively, because the characters have competing interests

not effectively, because the characters seem like they might dislike each other

Use the paragraph to answer the question.

There was a moment of silence. Everyone seemed unsure whether to laugh or take the announcement seriously. If what they’d said over the loudspeaker was true, everything was about to change.
Which revision would introduce a simile to make the description more vivid?

(1 point)
Responses

add “intense” after “a moment of”
add “intense” after “a moment of”

add “as thick as syrup” after “a moment of silence”
add “as thick as syrup” after “a moment of silence”

add “hysterically” after “laugh”
add “hysterically” after “laugh”

add “that lasted ages” after “silence”

Use the story summary to answer the question.

Jan is taking an advanced physics course. He considers science one of his stronger subjects at school, but he is struggling on homework and tests for this class. When his teacher, Mrs. Teller, offers to give him extra help, he is too embarrassed to accept. Eventually, Jan’s grades take a turn for the worse and he second-guesses his refusal.

If the writer of this story wants to focus on the theme of emotional growth, which would be the best closing line for this narrative?

(1 point)
Responses

At the end of class, Jan approached Mrs. Teller’s desk and asked, “Is that offer for extra help still open?”
At the end of class, Jan approached Mrs. Teller’s desk and asked, “Is that offer for extra help still open?”

Deciding to power through his difficulties on his own, Jan stayed up late doing his physics homework every night.
Deciding to power through his difficulties on his own, Jan stayed up late doing his physics homework every night.

Jan hesitated to reach out to Mrs. Teller, unsure of what he should do.
Jan hesitated to reach out to Mrs. Teller, unsure of what he should do.

“Mrs. Teller,” Jan said as the rest of the class left for the day, “I’ve decided to transfer out of this class.”

What best describes the structure of a rondeau poem?(1 point)
Responses

Each line or stanza starts with the same word or phrase.
Each line or stanza starts with the same word or phrase.

It has three stanzas of five, four, and six lines.
It has three stanzas of five, four, and six lines.

There are 14 lines arranged in a specific way.
There are 14 lines arranged in a specific way.

It usually tells a story and has a specific rhyme scheme.

Use the haiku to answer the question.

Dim, dangerous clouds
stampede across the sky. Where
did the sun go hide?
How does the use of alliteration contribute to the overall mood of the haiku?

(1 point)
Responses

The repetition of the harsh “d” sound helps to create a foreboding mood.
The repetition of the harsh “d” sound helps to create a foreboding mood.

The repetition of the “s” sound reinforces the idea that the speaker is not trustworthy.
The repetition of the “s” sound reinforces the idea that the speaker is not trustworthy.

The repetition of the “d” sound creates a sense of certainty in the poem.
The repetition of the “d” sound creates a sense of certainty in the poem.

The repetition of “s” sounds creates a sense of gentleness and peace.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

**What does Rue really mean when she says, “At least it’s warm”?** **Response:** It’s not as bad as it could be. --- **What did the writer do to establish a point of view?** **Response:** used omniscient perspective to show the narrator knows everything there is to know. --- **How can flashbacks create a sense of mystery in a story?** **Response:** They can reveal information about the past that gives readers clues about something happening in the present. --- **How effectively would these plot lines work in the same narrative?** **Response:** effectively, because the characters have competing interests. --- **Which revision would introduce a simile to make the description more vivid?** **Response:** add “as thick as syrup” after “a moment of silence.” --- **If the writer of this story wants to focus on the theme of emotional growth, which would be the best closing line for this narrative?** **Response:** At the end of class, Jan approached Mrs. Teller’s desk and asked, “Is that offer for extra help still open?” --- **What best describes the structure of a rondeau poem?** **Response:** It has three stanzas of five, four, and six lines. --- **How does the use of alliteration contribute to the overall mood of the haiku?** **Response:** The repetition of the harsh “d” sound helps to create a foreboding mood.