English Language Arts 7 (Grade 7) Midterm — Units 1–2

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. 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
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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
13. 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.
14. "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.
15. 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
16. "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
17. 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.
18. 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
19. 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.
20. 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

Part 2: Written Response

21. 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.