English Language Arts 6 (Grade 6) Midterm — Units 5–6

Part 1: Multiple Choice

1. What does it mean to paraphrase a source?
   1. A. To disagree with its main idea
   2. B. To list only its title
   3. C. To restate its ideas in your own words and give credit
   4. D. To copy its exact words without quotation marks
2. Why might a writer include a counterclaim in an argument essay?
   1. A. To make the essay longer without new ideas
   2. B. To agree with every side equally
   3. C. To change the topic of the essay
   4. D. To recognize an opposing view and then respond to it
3. What does a thesis statement do in an essay?
   1. A. Lists all the sources used
   2. B. States the main point of the whole essay
   3. C. Gives a definition of a word
   4. D. Tells a story about the author
4. What happens during the prewriting stage?
   1. A. The writer shares the final piece with readers
   2. B. The writer fixes spelling and punctuation
   3. C. The writer adds a title page
   4. D. The writer gathers and organizes ideas before drafting
5. Which change would most improve a personal narrative?
   1. A. Adding dialogue and sensory details that show the experience
   2. B. Adding a bibliography of sources
   3. C. Adding a list of statistics
   4. D. Removing all descriptions of feelings
6. Which source would be most reliable for a report on volcanoes?
   1. A. A government science agency's website about volcanoes
   2. B. A friend's social media post about a trip
   3. C. An anonymous comment on an online forum
   4. D. An ad for a volcano tour company
7. During which step of the writing process does a writer improve ideas, organization, and word choice?
   1. A. Prewriting
   2. B. Revising
   3. C. Editing
   4. D. Publishing
8. Which transition best shows the order of events?
   1. A. However,
   2. B. For example,
   3. C. In contrast,
   4. D. Next,
9. What is the job of a topic sentence?
   1. A. To end the essay with a final thought
   2. B. To state the main idea of a paragraph
   3. C. To show a character's dialogue
   4. D. To give credit to a source
10. What should a strong conclusion do?
    1. A. Introduce a brand-new topic
    2. B. List every detail from the essay again
    3. C. Ask the reader to skip to the beginning
    4. D. Restate the main idea and leave the reader with a final thought
11. Which word is an example of onomatopoeia?
    1. A. Quickly
    2. B. Golden
    3. C. Gentle
    4. D. Sizzle
12. Read the sentence: "I've told you a million times to clean your room!" What type of figurative language is this?
    1. A. Hyperbole
    2. B. Onomatopoeia
    3. C. Simile
    4. D. Personification
13. Read the sentence: "Silly Sam sang six songs." What poetic device is used?
    1. A. Metaphor
    2. B. Hyperbole
    3. C. Alliteration
    4. D. Rhyme
14. In a poem, what is a stanza?
    1. A. A group of lines, like a paragraph
    2. B. A single word that rhymes
    3. C. The title of the poem
    4. D. The poet's name
15. Read the sentence: "Her smile was as bright as the sun." What type of figurative language is this?
    1. A. Simile
    2. B. Metaphor
    3. C. Onomatopoeia
    4. D. Personification
16. Read the poem: "The morning sun climbs slow and bright, / It chases off the last of night. / The robins start their cheerful tune, / And sing until the summer noon." What is the rhyme scheme?
    1. A. ABBA
    2. B. ABCD
    3. C. ABAB
    4. D. AABB
17. Read the sentence: "The wind whispered secrets to the trees." What type of figurative language is this?
    1. A. Hyperbole
    2. B. Alliteration
    3. C. Simile
    4. D. Personification
18. Read the sentence: "The classroom was a zoo after lunch." What type of figurative language is this?
    1. A. Onomatopoeia
    2. B. Alliteration
    3. C. Simile
    4. D. Metaphor
19. What is free verse poetry?
    1. A. Poetry that must have exactly fourteen lines
    2. B. Poetry in which every line rhymes
    3. C. Poetry written only about nature
    4. D. Poetry without a regular rhyme or rhythm pattern
20. What does the idiom "It's raining cats and dogs" mean?
    1. A. Pets do not like the rain
    2. B. Animals are falling from the sky
    3. C. It is about to stop raining
    4. D. It is raining very hard

Part 2: Written Response

21. Write a short poem of at least eight lines about a season. Use a simile, a metaphor, and personification. Then explain what each one helps the reader picture.