Quarter 2 Common Assessment

1. Quarter 2 Common Assessment Mrs. Schenkel Language Arts 7

2. 4.21 Demonstrate the correct use of commas. 1. Choose the sentence where the comma is used correctly. A. Diane is the typist and, Becky is the thinker. B. She placed the doughnuts on the table, and they were gone in less than a minute. C. Dave asked for help, on his homework because he wanted to pass. D. None of the above.

3. 4.21 Demonstrate the correct use of commas. 2. Choose the sentence where the comma is used correctly. A. Will she give you the money or will you have, to sell your Xbox? B. She will give me the money, but I have to finish all my chores first. C. Do you want me to help you with your chores or, must you do them alone? D. None of the above.

4. 4.21 Demonstrate correct use of commas. 3. Choose the sentence that correctly uses commas. A. The disgraced public official, entered the building, and all communication stopped. B. The disgraced public official entered, the building, and all communication stopped. C. The disgraced public official entered the building, and all communication stopped. D. The disgraced public official entered the building, and, all communication stopped.

5. 4.21 Demonstrate correct use of commas. 4. Choose the sentence that correctly uses commas to separate direct quotations. A. “Students,” said Mrs. Steadham, “we need to elect two student council representatives.” B. “Students, said Mrs. Steadham, we need to elect two student council representatives.” C. Students, said Mrs. Steadham, we need to elect two student council representatives. D. Students, said Mrs. Steadham, “we need to elect two student council representatives.”

6. 4.31 Demonstrate the correct use of the semicolon. 5. Choose the sentence where the semicolon is used correctly. • My brother joined the army last year; now he is in Iraq. • My brother joined the army; last year now he is in Iraq. • My brother joined the army last year now; he is in Iraq. • My brother joined; the army last year now he is in Iraq.

7. 4.31 Demonstrate the correct use of the semicolon. 6. Choose the sentence where the semicolon is used correctly. • This summer we went to Busch Gardens, however; we were there only one day. • This summer; we went to Busch Gardens, however, we were there only one day. • This summer we went to Busch Gardens; however, we were there only one day. • This summer we went to Busch Gardens, however, we were there; only one day.

8. A Penny Saved Once again, legislation has been introduced to do away with pennies, and I object to that decision! Information from the U.S. Mint shows the skyrocketing prices of the two metals used to make the penny--zinc and copper--have pushed the cost of making the coin to 1.23 cents. A lot of people are just like me, and they do not want to get rid of the beloved copper-coated coins bearing Abraham Lincoln’s bearded face. A recent survey—conducted by Coinstar, a company that puts coin-cashing machines in supermarkets and other locations—found 66 percent of Americans want to keep pennies as U.S. currency. The survey also revealed that 79 percent of United States residents will stop to pick up a penny off the ground. “Americans want to keep the penny; it’s that simple,” said Matthew Eggers, policy director of Americans for Common Cents, which is fighting to keep the coin in circulation. He added, “People on fixed and modest incomes would be hurt the most. Also feeling the pinch would be charities that raise millions of dollars, one cent at a time through ‘penny drive’ fund raisers.” A few years ago, Representative Jim Kolbe of Arizona sponsored legislation to put an end to pennies. Thank goodness his efforts were not successful. People in politics have no idea what real people want! I totally disagree with those individuals who feel that pennies are a waste of time and money. I cannot believe that these penny-haters think we burden our economy with an inefficient legal tender system. If the penny’s foes ever get their way and the coin is retired, the nickel might find itself next to be eliminated. The U.S. Mint has bad news for nickel lovers: The cost of making a five-cent coin is now 5.73 cents.

9. 2.42 Distinguish fact from opinion. 7. Which of the following states an opinion by the author? A. Coinstar is a company that puts coin-cashing machines in supermarkets and other locations. B. Charities raise millions of dollars, one cent at a time through ‘penny drive’ fund raisers. C. I totally disagree with those who feel that pennies are a waste of time and money. D. Legislation has been introduced to eliminate pennies.

10. 2.42 Distinguish fact from opinion. 8. Identify the author’s purpose in writing this passage. A. to persuade C. to evoke emotion B. to inform D. to entertain

11. 4.41 Demonstrate correct use of quotation marks. 9. Choose the sentence that uses quotation marks correctly. • Diane whispered, “I can’t believe she criticized our flawless work!” • “Diane whispered, I can’t believe she criticized our flawless work!” • Diane whispered, “I can’t believe she criticized our flawless work”! • “Diane whispered,” I can’t believe she criticized our flawless work!”

12. (Introductory sentence is needed here.) Unfortunately, our garbage does not disappear. It can remain in a landfill for hundreds of years. In addition, in the case of radioactive waste, it may remain harmful for thousands of years, creating problems for many future generations. Fortunately, industries and individuals are becoming aware of the problems associated with landfills and are disposing of their wastes in a more responsible manner. You can help by disposing of hazardous wastes you generate at home at special hazardous waste collection sites.

13. 5.11 Determine logical progression and completeness of paragraphs. 10. Which would be the appropriate introductory sentence for the above paragraph? A. Sanitary landfills greatly reduce the chance that pollutants will leak into the surrounding soil and ground water. B. It may seem that when we throw something in the garbage can, even it it’s hazardous, it’s gone and we don’t need to be concerned with it anymore. C. A sanitary landfill is lined with plastic, concrete, or clay-rich soils that trap the liquid waste. D. Some hazardous wastes are insect sprays, batteries, drain cleaners, bleaches, medicines, and paints.

14. 5.11 Determine logical progression and completeness of paragraphs. 11. Which of the following are all examples of transitionused in the above paragraph? A. It can remain; it may; creating problems B. it may remain: creating problems: are disposing C. for many future generations; Fortunately; industries and individuals are becoming D. Unfortunately; In addition; Fortunately

15. 5.11 Determine logical progression and completeness of paragraphs 12. Which of the following sentences is the bestconcluding sentence for the above paragraph? A. Contact your local government to find out more information about collection sites in your area. B. However, some may still find their way into the environment. C. About sixty percent of our garbage goes into landfills. D. Organic contaminates are hazardous wastes that contain carbon, hydrogen, and other elements such as oxygen, nitrogen, or chlorine.

16. 3.32 Demonstrate understanding of figurative language. 13. Identify the sentence that correctly uses personification. • The cat sang a purring song of joy when it saw the bowl of shrimp. • The puppy growled at the squirrel in the tree. • The sunrise brought light across the dark land. • None of the above.

17. 3.32 Demonstrate understanding of figurative language. • Identify the sentence that correctly uses hyperbole. A. The child was tall for a six-year old. B. There are starving children in Africa. C. That guy on the other team must be ten feet tall! D. None of the above.

18. 4.41 Demonstrate the correct use of quotation marks. 15. Identify the sentence that uses the quotation marks correctly. A. “What are we having for dinner, Mom?” asked the hungry teenagers. B. “What are we having for dinner?” Mom, asked the hungry teenagers. C. “What are we having for dinner, Mom,” asked the hungry teenagers? D. “What are we having for dinner, Mom”? asked the hungry teenagers.

19. 4.41 Demonstrate the correct use of quotation marks. 16. Identify the sentence that uses the quotation marks correctly. A. When did Miranda ask Ms. Barnett, “Hey, Teach, how old are you”? B. When did Miranda ask Ms. Barnett, “Hey, Teach, how old are you?” C. When did Miranda ask Ms. Barnett, “Hey, Teach,” how old are you? D. When did Miranda ask Ms. Barnett, Hey, Teach, “How old are you?”

20. 4.41 Demonstrate the correct use of quotation marks. 17. Identify the sentence that uses the quotation marks correctly. A. “Finding the right question to ask is the hardest part? she thought.” B. “Finding the right question to ask is the hardest part,” she thought. C. “Finding the “right question” to ask is the hardest part, she thought. D. Finding the “right” question to ask is the hardest part, she thought.

21. 4.41 Demonstrate the correct use of quotation marks. 18. Identify the sentence that uses the quotation marks correctly. A. “The Giants scored the final touchdown” “with only 7 seconds left on the clock! shouted Ramon. B. “The Giants scored the final touchdown with only 7 seconds left on the clock”! shouted Ramon. C. “The Giants scored the final touchdown with only 7 seconds left on the clock,” shouted Ramon. D. “The Giants scored the final touchdown with only 7 seconds left on the clock!” shouted Ramon.

22. 4.41 Demonstrate the correct use of quotation marks. 19. Identify the sentence that uses the quotation marks correctly. A. I read the book, “The River” and decided to read all of Gary Paulsen’s books. B. When I read “The Night the Bed Fell” by James Thurber, I couldn’t stop laughing! C. Gary Paulsen wrote My Life, “In Dog Years” as an autobiography. D. “Aunty Misery, by Judith Cofer” is a folktale about cheating death.

23. 4.41 Demonstrate the correct use of quotation marks. 20. Identify the sentence that uses the quotation marks correctly. A. My class is ahead of yours. We’re reading “chapter 3, The Post-War Years.” B. My class is ahead of yours. We’re reading chapter 3, “The Post-War Years.” C. My class is ahead of yours. We’re reading chapter 3, The “Post-War Years.” D. My class is ahead of yours. “We’re reading chapter 3, “The Post-War Years.”

24. 4.41 Demonstrate the correct use of quotation marks. 21. Identify the sentence that uses the quotation marks correctly. A. Mrs. Howze assigned “The Wreck of the Hesperus, a long narrative poem,” for homework. B. Mrs. Howze assigned “The Wreck” of the “Hesperus,” a long narrative poem, for homework. C. Mrs. Howze assigned “The Wreck of the Hesperus,” a long “narrative poem,” for homework. D. Mrs. Howze assigned “The Wreck of the Hesperus,” a long narrative poem, for homework.

25. (1) Finally, he saw the basin on the table near the roses. (2) Next, he saw the bed in which he was lying, the gray walls, the door, and the green curtains over the window. (3) He screwedup his eyes and opened them again quickly. (4)This time he saw the room.

26. 1.22 Determine sequence of events. 22. Identify the correct sequential order of the sentences in the passage above. A. 1-2-3-4 C. 2-3-4-1 B. 3-4-2-1 D. 4-1-2-3

27. Zero Equals Nothing Zero stands for nothing. If you have zero ice cream cones, then you have none at all. There has always been nothing, but there hasn’t always been a zero. The idea of having a numeral that stands for nothing was probably invented in India. The Arabs, who borrowed the idea and brought it to Europe, called the numeral sifr, which means “empty.” People in Europe began to use the symbol “0” about a thousand years ago. They changed its name to zero. We still use the Arab word sifr, but we spell it cipher (SY fur). And for us, cipher means zero or any numeral.

28. 1.22 Determine sequence of events. 23. Identify the correct sequence for the progression of the zero (0). A. United States, Europe, India, Arabia B. Europe, Arabia, India, United States C. Arabia, Europe, United States, India D. India, Arabia, Europe, United States

29. 3.32 Demonstrate understanding of figurative language. 24. Which sentence contains an example of alliteration? • “The moon was a ghostly galleon…” • I figure we have two chances: slim and none. • “As the black cascade of perfuming came tumbling over his breast …” • “His eyes were hollows of madness…”

30. 3.32 Demonstrate understanding of figurative language. 25. Which sentence contains an example of a simile? A. “The moon was a ghostly galleon…” B. I figure we have two chances: slim and none. C. “His hair like moldy hay…” D. “His eyes were hollows of madness…”

31. 3.32 Demonstrate understanding of figurative language. 26. Which sentence contains an example of a metaphor? A. “Dumb as a dog he listened…” B. I figure we have two chances: slim and none. C. “His hair like moldy hay…” D. “His eyes were hollows of madness…”

32. 3.32 Demonstrate correct use of underlining (italics) to indicate title. 27. Which sentence correctly uses underlining or italics? A. Yesterday, I read the short story, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. B. Yesterday, I finished the novel, The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand. C. Yesterday, I wrote a poem entitled, Ode to an Eskimo. D. Yesterday, I wrote a haiku entitled, Trash Cans.

33. 3.32 Demonstrate correct use of underlining (italics) to indicate title. 28. Which sentence correctly uses underlining or italics? A. Yesterday, I read the short story, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. B. Yesterday, I finished the novel, The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand. C. Yesterday, I wrote a poem entitled, Ode to an Eskimo. D. Yesterday, I wrote a haiku entitled, Trash Cans.