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

Part 1: Multiple Choice

1. Read the sentence: "The fire station burned down while the firefighters were away at a fire-safety training." What literary device does this show?
   1. A. Foreshadowing
   2. B. Flashback
   3. C. Dramatic irony
   4. D. Situational irony
2. Read the passage: "Marcus counted his change twice, then quietly slid the extra dollar back across the counter to the cashier." What does this indirect characterization reveal about Marcus?
   1. A. He is forgetful.
   2. B. He is honest.
   3. C. He is greedy.
   4. D. He is shy about math.
3. Which is an example of internal conflict?
   1. A. Two brothers argue over who gets the front seat.
   2. B. A girl struggles to decide whether to admit she broke a vase.
   3. C. A sailor fights to survive a powerful storm.
   4. D. A town battles a flood that threatens its homes.
4. How does a first-person point of view affect what the reader learns?
   1. A. The reader is addressed directly as "you" throughout.
   2. B. The reader learns nothing about the narrator's feelings.
   3. C. The reader sees only the narrator's own thoughts and observations.
   4. D. The reader knows every character's thoughts.
5. Dramatic irony occurs when
   1. A. the audience knows something that a character does not
   2. B. events turn out the opposite of what is expected
   3. C. the author hints at later events
   4. D. a character says the opposite of what he means
6. "Everyone is buying these sneakers, so you should buy them too." Which faulty reasoning does this use?
   1. A. Compare and contrast
   2. B. Expert testimony
   3. C. Cause and effect
   4. D. Bandwagon appeal
7. Read the sentence: "Although some people argue that homework is unnecessary, I believe a small amount each night builds habits that last a lifetime." How does the author handle the opposing view?
   1. A. The author acknowledges it, then states a different position.
   2. B. The author attacks the people who hold it.
   3. C. The author agrees with it completely.
   4. D. The author ignores it.
8. Which is a primary source about life during the Civil War?
   1. A. A letter written by a soldier during the war
   2. B. A documentary made in 2010
   3. C. A modern textbook chapter about the war
   4. D. An encyclopedia article about the war
9. A writer claims, "The town should build a skate park." Which piece of evidence is irrelevant to this claim?
   1. A. A survey shows many local teens would use a skate park.
   2. B. Skateboarding first became popular in California.
   3. C. Nearby towns with skate parks report fewer skating injuries.
   4. D. Teens currently skate in parking lots, which is unsafe.
10. Which would be the strongest evidence for the claim that schools should offer more recess?
    1. A. A comment that recess is fun
    2. B. A study finding that students paid closer attention in class after recess
    3. C. A student saying that recess is the best part of the day
    4. D. A photo of children on a playground
11. Which word has the most negative connotation for describing a thin person?
    1. A. Slim
    2. B. Scrawny
    3. C. Lean
    4. D. Slender
12. In the word "international," what does the prefix "inter-" mean?
    1. A. Between
    2. B. Against
    3. C. Inside
    4. D. Before
13. Complete the analogy: Hot is to cold as tall is to ___.
    1. A. Giant
    2. B. Height
    3. C. Short
    4. D. Warm
14. The words "benefit" and "benevolent" share the Latin root "bene." What does "bene" mean?
    1. A. Many or much
    2. B. Under or below
    3. C. Good or well
    4. D. Bad or poor
15. Read the sentence: "The committee voted to table the discussion until next week." What does "table" mean here?
    1. A. Postpone
    2. B. Organize into rows
    3. C. Serve food
    4. D. Write down

Part 2: Written Response

16. Read an argument or editorial. Identify the author's claim, evaluate whether the evidence is relevant and sufficient, and identify any faulty reasoning or loaded language.