English Language Arts 7 (Grade 7) Midterm — Semester 1, Form A

Part 1: Multiple Choice

1. Read the passage: "The blizzard had buried the only road out of town under four feet of snow, and the phone lines were down." How does this setting most likely affect the plot?
   1. A. It traps the characters and cuts them off from help.
   2. B. It makes the characters feel calm and safe.
   3. C. It shows that the story takes place long ago.
   4. D. It explains why the characters enjoy winter.
2. Read the summary: "A boy brags that he will win the race without training, but he loses to a classmate who practiced every day." Which statement best expresses the theme?
   1. A. Running is a popular school sport.
   2. B. Preparation and hard work matter more than bragging.
   3. C. Classmates should never compete with each other.
   4. D. Races are usually held in the spring.
3. A dynamic character is one who
   1. A. undergoes an important inner change during the story
   2. B. tells the story to the reader
   3. C. stays the same from beginning to end
   4. D. appears in only one scene
4. A flashback is
   1. A. a hint about what will happen later
   2. B. the highest point of tension in a plot
   3. C. a scene that interrupts the present action to show an earlier event
   4. D. a conversation between two characters
5. Read the passage: "Shadows stretched across the empty hallway. Somewhere, a door creaked open, and then there was only silence." What mood does this create?
   1. A. Silly and humorous
   2. B. Tense and eerie
   3. C. Calm and peaceful
   4. D. Cheerful and lively
6. An objective summary should
   1. A. leave out the reader's personal opinions
   2. B. include the reader's feelings about the topic
   3. C. retell every detail in order
   4. D. focus mainly on minor details
7. Loaded language in an argument is
   1. A. a neutral summary of both sides
   2. B. a quotation from an expert
   3. C. a list of statistics from reliable sources
   4. D. wording with strong emotional connotations meant to sway readers
8. Read the passage: "Our school should start thirty minutes later. Research on teen sleep shows that adolescents tend to fall asleep later at night. A later start would help students get more rest." Which sentence states the author's claim?
   1. A. Research on teen sleep shows that adolescents tend to fall asleep later at night.
   2. B. Our school should start thirty minutes later.
   3. C. A later start would help students get more rest.
   4. D. Students need sleep.
9. "My two cousins didn't like that movie, so nobody will like it." What is wrong with this reasoning?
   1. A. It presents both sides fairly.
   2. B. It draws a broad conclusion from too few examples.
   3. C. It relies on an expert's opinion.
   4. D. It uses too many statistics.
10. Read the passage: "Litter was piling up in Riverside Park. To fix this, students organized weekly cleanups and placed new trash cans near the entrances." What text structure is used?
    1. A. Compare and contrast
    2. B. Chronological order
    3. C. Problem and solution
    4. D. Description
11. In the word "audible," what does the root "aud" mean?
    1. A. Touch
    2. B. Hear
    3. C. Speak
    4. D. See
12. Read the sentence: "Unlike her gregarious brother, who chatted with everyone at the party, Ana preferred to sit quietly." What does "gregarious" mean?
    1. A. Sociable and outgoing
    2. B. Angry and rude
    3. C. Shy and quiet
    4. D. Tired and bored
13. The denotation of a word is
    1. A. its dictionary definition
    2. B. the feelings connected to it
    3. C. the number of syllables it has
    4. D. its spelling in another language
14. Read the sentence: "The old bridge was dilapidated; its boards were rotten and its railings had fallen away." What does "dilapidated" mean?
    1. A. In poor condition from age or neglect
    2. B. Newly built and sturdy
    3. C. Painted in bright colors
    4. D. Crowded with people
15. The words "chronological" and "chronicle" share the Greek root "chron." What does "chron" mean?
    1. A. Earth
    2. B. Sound
    3. C. Light
    4. D. Time

Part 2: Written Response

16. Choose a story you have read this year. Explain how the setting or a key conflict shapes the main character and develops the theme. Use at least two pieces of text evidence.