English 11–12 (Grades 11–12) Midterm — Units 5–6

ELA Grades 11–12 20 multiple choice + 1 written

Free printable English 11–12 midterm (Grades 11–12): 20 multiple-choice questions plus 1 written response covering Literary Devices & Analysis, Research & Argument Writing. Answer key included — customize it in the Midterm Maker.

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Directions: Read each question carefully and choose the best answer. Answer the written response in complete sentences.

Covers: Literary Devices & Analysis · Research & Argument Writing

Part 1: Multiple Choice

What is a paradox?
1. A. Two contradictory words placed side by side
2. B. A comparison of two things using like or as
3. C. An exaggeration used for comic effect
4. D. A seemingly contradictory statement that reveals a truth
In literature, a motif is
1. A. the single most important event in the plot
2. B. a character who opposes the main character
3. C. a recurring image or idea that helps develop a theme
4. D. the attitude of the author toward the subject
Which phrase is an oxymoron?
1. A. bright sunshine
2. B. deafening silence
3. C. heavy rain
4. D. quick sprint
A Bildungsroman is
1. A. a coming-of-age novel tracing a character's growth
2. B. a long poem about a hero's battles and journey
3. C. a novel told entirely through letters
4. D. a play that ends in the hero's downfall
Calling a generous stranger "a Good Samaritan" is an example of
1. A. apostrophe
2. B. paradox
3. C. oxymoron
4. D. allusion
The sentence "The White House issued a statement," where White House stands for the president's staff, is an example of
1. A. paradox
2. B. onomatopoeia
3. C. simile
4. D. metonymy
The command "All hands on deck," where hands stands for sailors, is an example of
1. A. oxymoron
2. B. apostrophe
3. C. hyperbole
4. D. synecdoche
In literature, an archetype is
1. A. a fact the author invents to mislead readers
2. B. a minor character who appears only one time
3. C. a character type, symbol, or plot found across cultures
4. D. the specific time and place of a story
Read the passage: "The banquet hall glittered with chandeliers and silver plates, while just outside its tall windows, children huddled around a trash-can fire." The author places these images side by side mainly to
1. A. show that the children are banquet guests
2. B. suggest that the weather is turning warm
3. C. describe the architecture of the hall
4. D. highlight the gap between wealth and poverty
John Donne's poem begins, "Death, be not proud." Speaking directly to Death in this way is called
1. A. apostrophe
2. B. synecdoche
3. C. chiasmus
4. D. litotes
A study finds that students who eat breakfast tend to earn higher grades. Which conclusion is most careful?
1. A. Eating breakfast causes students to earn higher grades.
2. B. Breakfast and grades are linked, but that alone doesn't prove cause.
3. C. Students who skip breakfast will fail most of their classes.
4. D. Earning higher grades causes students to eat breakfast.
What is an annotated bibliography?
1. A. A list of sources, each with a brief summary and evaluation
2. B. A rough draft of the paper's introduction
3. C. A set of notes copied word for word from sources
4. D. A list of sources with no other information
Which evidence best supports the claim that a city's new bike lanes improved safety?
1. A. City data showing bike injuries fell 30 percent after the lanes opened
2. B. The mayor's statement that she enjoys biking on weekends
3. C. A cyclist's comment that the new lanes look nice and bright
4. D. The total number of bike lanes in several other cities
What is lateral reading?
1. A. Reading all sources in alphabetical order by title
2. B. Reading one source slowly from top to bottom
3. C. Checking what other sites say about a source and its author
4. D. Skimming only the headings and captions of an article
A Rogerian argument mainly seeks to
1. A. defeat the opposing side completely
2. B. appeal mostly to the audience's fears
3. C. present only evidence that supports one side
4. D. find common ground between opposing sides
In research, confirmation bias means
1. A. relying on peer-reviewed sources only
2. B. favoring sources that agree with what you already believe
3. C. confirming each fact with at least two sources
4. D. citing every source you read
In the Toulmin model, a qualifier is
1. A. a word that limits a claim, such as 'usually'
2. B. the credible source that supports a claim
3. C. a sentence that restates the thesis at the end
4. D. the strongest piece of evidence in an argument
Which is a correctly formatted APA in-text citation for a paraphrase of a 2014 article by Nguyen?
1. A. (Nguyen 14)
2. B. (2014, Nguyen)
3. C. (Nguyen, 2014)
4. D. [Nguyen: 2014]
In the Toulmin model of argument, the warrant is
1. A. the facts or data offered in support
2. B. the main position the arguer wants to prove
3. C. the response to an opposing point of view
4. D. the assumption linking the evidence to the claim
Which practice counts as plagiarism even though some words are changed?
1. A. Paraphrasing in new words and structure with a citation
2. B. Summarizing a source in your own words with a citation
3. C. Quoting exact words in quotation marks with a citation
4. D. Swapping synonyms into a source's sentences without citing it

Part 2: Written Response

Use the Toulmin model to outline an argument on a school or community issue. Identify your claim, evidence, warrant, qualifier, and rebuttal, and explain how you would evaluate your sources.

Answer Key — English 11–12 (Grades 11–12) Midterm — Units 5–6

D — A seemingly contradictory statement that reveals a truth 'Less is more' seems contradictory yet expresses a truth.
C — a recurring image or idea that helps develop a theme Motifs repeat to reinforce a work's themes.
B — deafening silence Deafening and silence are contradictory terms paired together.
A — a coming-of-age novel tracing a character's growth Bildungsroman is German for 'novel of formation.'
D — allusion It references a well-known biblical parable.
D — metonymy Metonymy names something closely associated with the thing meant.
D — synecdoche Synecdoche uses a part to represent the whole.
C — a character type, symbol, or plot found across cultures The mentor and the hero's journey are common archetypes.
D — highlight the gap between wealth and poverty The juxtaposition contrasts luxury inside with hardship outside.
A — apostrophe Apostrophe addresses an absent person or abstract idea.
B — Breakfast and grades are linked, but that alone doesn't prove cause. Correlation alone does not establish causation.
A — A list of sources, each with a brief summary and evaluation Annotations summarize and assess each source.
A — City data showing bike injuries fell 30 percent after the lanes opened Before-and-after injury data directly measures safety.
C — Checking what other sites say about a source and its author Fact-checkers open new tabs to verify a source's reliability.
D — find common ground between opposing sides Rogerian argument emphasizes understanding and compromise.
B — favoring sources that agree with what you already believe It skews research toward one's existing views.
A — a word that limits a claim, such as 'usually' Qualifiers make claims more precise and defensible.
C — (Nguyen, 2014) APA paraphrases use author last name, comma, and year.
D — the assumption linking the evidence to the claim The warrant explains why the evidence supports the claim.
D — Swapping synonyms into a source's sentences without citing it This 'patchwriting' still borrows the source's expression without credit.

Written Response — Look-Fors

All Toulmin parts present and logically connected; appropriate qualifier; credible source-evaluation strategy such as lateral reading.

English 11–12 (Grades 11–12) Midterm — Units 5–6

Part 1: Multiple Choice

Part 2: Written Response

Written Response — Look-Fors

More English 11–12 midterms