Foundations
Content
Listening
15
Directions: Read the questions, then listen to Scarlet story. Answer the questions as you listen or immediately after. You will be given a second playing of the story and a final opportunity to answer the questions. You will be asked 9 multiple choice questions and 2 constructed response questions. 1. What’s the story mainly about? A. Scarlet’s new school B. Scarlet’s old classmates C. Scarlet’s problem with new subjects D. Scarlet’s life and her new environment 2. Why is Scarlet worried about her new school? A. Because she’s going to study new subjects. B. Because she’s going to miss her old friends. C. Because her new teachers don’t know her well. D. Because she’s too short for her age and the other children will make fun of her. 3. What kind of girl is Scarlet? A. greedy B. curious C. arrogant D. aggressive 4. Why did her parents choose this name? A. It’s unusual in England. B. They liked the sound of it. C. It’s a common name in her city. D. They named her after her grandmother. 5. Read the following statement. Because I’ve got five languages in my body. What does she mean by saying this? A. She speaks five languages. B. She learns foreign languages. C. She knows different languages. D. She has relatives from different countries.
6. Scarlet finds learning French_________________ . A. easy B. exciting C. difficult D. enjoyable 7. From what point of view is the story told? A. First person B. Second person C. Third person limited D. Third person omniscient 8. Bill A. B. C. D. always wanted to become______________ . a sailor an artist a rock star an engineer
9. Read the statement. Bill inherited his father’s personality and his mother’s looks. What does the underlined word inherited mean? A. Bill was born with the same appearance and character. B. Bill got something from someone who lived in his house. C. Bill received property or money from someone who died. D. Bill had responsibility for a situation that someone has started. 10. Was Scarlet’s grandfather a failure? Give two reasons from the text to prove your answer.
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11. What’s your ’s attitude towards the character of Scarlet? Provide your answer with two examples from the text.
3
Jacob the Great
Directions :
15
In this section, you will read a passage and answer 9 multiple choice questions and 2 constructed response questions. 1. Jacob hated finishing things almost as much as he loved starting them. As a result, he had gotten into a million hobbies and activities, but he never stuck with any of them long enough to get any good. 2. He begged his mother for months for a guitar so that he could play Black Eyed Peas songs to Angie, a girl whom he liked, but after he finally got one for Christmas, he found out that guitars don’t play themselves. He took a few lessons, but strumming the strings hurt his fingers and he didn’t like holding the pick, so now the five-hundred dollar guitar lives under his bed. 3. After reading an advertisement in the back of one of his comic books, Jacob decided that he wanted a Wonder-Sweeper 5000 metal detector, so that he could find buried pirate treasure. So he mowed lawns all summer and didn’t spend his money on ice-cream like his younger brother, Alex. He saved it all in a shoe box in his closet. Then he shoveled driveways all winter, and he didn’t spend his money on candy and chips like his classmates. By the time spring came he had saved $200, and he purchased the Wonder-Sweeper 5000 metal detector. He beeped it around the park for a while, but he soon found out that no pirates had ever set sail in his neighborhood, and if they had, they didn’t leave any treasure. Even though he found a key ring, forty-seven cents, and all the bottle caps he could throw, he buried the metal detector in his closest. 4. Given Jacob’s history with hobbies, it was no surprise that Jacob’s father was reluctant to buy him a magician’s kit for his birthday. “Geez, Jacob… You sure you wouldn’t rather I got you more guitar lessons?” He suggested. Jacob was insistent. “Dad, you’ve got to get me the magician’s kit. This time I’ll stick with it for real. I promise! Come on, Dad,” Jacob begged. Jacob’s father sighed and then replied, “Oh, I don’t know, Jacob. Things are awfully tight right now.” But Jacob’s father was reminded of his own youth long ago, when he quit from football and started karate practice before hardly getting his equipment dirty. So when Jacob’s birthday came around, Jacob was both surprised and pleased to find the magician’s kit that he had desired so badly with a big bright bow on it. 5. Jacob opened up the box and unwrapped the many parts in the kit. As he did so, he imagined sawing his pet cat in half and putting it back together to the amazement of his friends and family. He took the many fake coins, trick cards, and rope pieces of varying length on the kitchen table and imagined pulling rabbits out of his hat and turning them into pigeons with a mysterious
4
cloud of smoke. As Jacob continued pulling plastic thumbs, foam balls, and giant playing cards out of the magic kit, a commercial on the TV caught his attention. “Hey kids! Have you ever wanted to go to space? Experience what it’s like to be an astronaut? Do you want to explore the universe? Well, now you can.” As the commercial continued play, Jacob walked away from the magic kit on the kitchen table and stared at the TV screen longingly. “For only $195 you can go to space camp and live life like an astronaut for a whole weekend. Enroll now for a once in a life time experience.” Jacob’s cry rang throughout the house as he yelled, “MOM!” He now knew what his true purpose in life was.
12.What is the author’s purpose of writing this text? A. To inform B. To confuse C. To persuade D. To entertain 13.According to the text, why does Jacob stop playing the guitar? A. He failed math B. It was too easy C. It hurt his fingers D. He’d rather play drums 14.How did Jacob get the items he wanted in the story? A. He asked his dad. B. He asked his mom. C. He shoveled driveways and mowed lawns. D. He did all the above. 15.Read the following statement. “It was no surprise that Jacob’s father was reluctant to buy him a magician’s kit for his birthday.” Which word is closest meaning to the underlined word? A. Happy B. Proud C. Willing D. Unwilling
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16.Which best describes Jacob’s character in regard to his hobbies? A. B. C. D. firm stable constant changeable
17.In what way was Jacob similar to his dad? A. They mowed the lawn. B. They changed hobbies. C. They helped their families. D. They shoveled driveways all winter. 18.Based on the end of the story, Jacob is most likely to go on and do which of the following? A. Become a great magician. B. Learn to play the guitar well. C. Raise money to go to space camp. D. Detect an incredible hidden treasure. 19.Read the statement.
He took the many fake coins, trick cards, and rope pieces of varying length……
A. B. C. D. What is the antonym of the underlined word fake? false unreal copied genuine
20.Read the statement . “He had gotten into a million hobbies and activities.” Which technique is used in the above sentence? A. simile B. metaphor C. hyperbole D. personification
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21. What’s the narrator’s attitude towards the character of Jacob? Provide your answer with two examples from the context.
22 . If you were Jacob’s father, would you act differently? Provide your answer with two reasons for this action.
7
Writing
Directions Writing: In this section you will answer 10 multiple choice writing questions and respond to 2 writing prompt. Your writing will receive three scores: idea development, planning, and writing strategies. 23. Read the following paragraph and answer questions 23 to 25.
1
10
Teenage is a difficult phase of one’s life.
3 5
2
Teenagers are intensely
4 6
liable to physical changes. They revolt__________ social norms. They tend to show themselves off. Swimming is a useful sport. They also want to be popular and famous.
Which sentence A. Sentence B. Sentence C. Sentence D. Sentence doesn’t belong in the paragraph? 2 4 5 6
24. Which sentence would make the best conclusion to this paragraph? A. They are in need of advice. B. They are interested in fashion. C. They pay attention to clothes. D. They like to listen to loud music. 25. What is the best preposition to be put after revolt? A. to B. for C. into D. against 26. Choose the sentence that is punctuated correctly. A. “Today’s programme is about green environment, said the teacher. B. “Todays programme is about green environment” said the teacher. C. “Today’s programme is about green environment said the teacher.” D. “Today’s programme is about green environment,” said the teacher.
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27. Read the statement. I live in the country, __________, I prefer city life. What is the best word to link the two sentences? A. unlike B. neither C. because D. however 28. Read the statement. He_______ set up a new world record. I’m not sure about that. Which word best fills the gap? A. may B. must C. can’t D. couldn’t 29. Read the statement.
Life is a stage and we are merely players. Which figure of speech is used in the above sentence?
A. B. C. D. Simile Metaphor Alliteration personification
30. Read the statement.
He listened to the lecture carefully.
Which part of speech is the underlined word? verb noun adverb adjective
A. B. C. D.
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31. Which word is NOT spelled correctly? A. foreign B. decision C. dictionary D. expereince 32. Read the statement. While he_________, he heard loud noise. Which narrative tense best fills the gap? A. slept B. had slept C. was sleeping D. had been sleeping
10
15
Directions: Read the questions, then listen to Scarlet story. Answer the questions as you listen or immediately after. You will be given a second playing of the story and a final opportunity to answer the questions. You will be asked 9 multiple choice questions and 2 constructed response questions. 1. What’s the story mainly about? A. Scarlet’s new school B. Scarlet’s old classmates C. Scarlet’s problem with new subjects D. Scarlet’s life and her new environment 2. Why is Scarlet worried about her new school? A. Because she’s going to study new subjects. B. Because she’s going to miss her old friends. C. Because her new teachers don’t know her well. D. Because she’s too short for her age and the other children will make fun of her. 3. What kind of girl is Scarlet? A. greedy B. curious C. arrogant D. aggressive 4. Why did her parents choose this name? A. It’s unusual in England. B. They liked the sound of it. C. It’s a common name in her city. D. They named her after her grandmother. 5. Read the following statement. Because I’ve got five languages in my body. What does she mean by saying this? A. She speaks five languages. B. She learns foreign languages. C. She knows different languages. D. She has relatives from different countries.
6. Scarlet finds learning French_________________ . A. easy B. exciting C. difficult D. enjoyable 7. From what point of view is the story told? A. First person B. Second person C. Third person limited D. Third person omniscient 8. Bill A. B. C. D. always wanted to become______________ . a sailor an artist a rock star an engineer
9. Read the statement. Bill inherited his father’s personality and his mother’s looks. What does the underlined word inherited mean? A. Bill was born with the same appearance and character. B. Bill got something from someone who lived in his house. C. Bill received property or money from someone who died. D. Bill had responsibility for a situation that someone has started. 10. Was Scarlet’s grandfather a failure? Give two reasons from the text to prove your answer.
2
11. What’s your ’s attitude towards the character of Scarlet? Provide your answer with two examples from the text.
3
Jacob the Great
Directions :
15
In this section, you will read a passage and answer 9 multiple choice questions and 2 constructed response questions. 1. Jacob hated finishing things almost as much as he loved starting them. As a result, he had gotten into a million hobbies and activities, but he never stuck with any of them long enough to get any good. 2. He begged his mother for months for a guitar so that he could play Black Eyed Peas songs to Angie, a girl whom he liked, but after he finally got one for Christmas, he found out that guitars don’t play themselves. He took a few lessons, but strumming the strings hurt his fingers and he didn’t like holding the pick, so now the five-hundred dollar guitar lives under his bed. 3. After reading an advertisement in the back of one of his comic books, Jacob decided that he wanted a Wonder-Sweeper 5000 metal detector, so that he could find buried pirate treasure. So he mowed lawns all summer and didn’t spend his money on ice-cream like his younger brother, Alex. He saved it all in a shoe box in his closet. Then he shoveled driveways all winter, and he didn’t spend his money on candy and chips like his classmates. By the time spring came he had saved $200, and he purchased the Wonder-Sweeper 5000 metal detector. He beeped it around the park for a while, but he soon found out that no pirates had ever set sail in his neighborhood, and if they had, they didn’t leave any treasure. Even though he found a key ring, forty-seven cents, and all the bottle caps he could throw, he buried the metal detector in his closest. 4. Given Jacob’s history with hobbies, it was no surprise that Jacob’s father was reluctant to buy him a magician’s kit for his birthday. “Geez, Jacob… You sure you wouldn’t rather I got you more guitar lessons?” He suggested. Jacob was insistent. “Dad, you’ve got to get me the magician’s kit. This time I’ll stick with it for real. I promise! Come on, Dad,” Jacob begged. Jacob’s father sighed and then replied, “Oh, I don’t know, Jacob. Things are awfully tight right now.” But Jacob’s father was reminded of his own youth long ago, when he quit from football and started karate practice before hardly getting his equipment dirty. So when Jacob’s birthday came around, Jacob was both surprised and pleased to find the magician’s kit that he had desired so badly with a big bright bow on it. 5. Jacob opened up the box and unwrapped the many parts in the kit. As he did so, he imagined sawing his pet cat in half and putting it back together to the amazement of his friends and family. He took the many fake coins, trick cards, and rope pieces of varying length on the kitchen table and imagined pulling rabbits out of his hat and turning them into pigeons with a mysterious
4
cloud of smoke. As Jacob continued pulling plastic thumbs, foam balls, and giant playing cards out of the magic kit, a commercial on the TV caught his attention. “Hey kids! Have you ever wanted to go to space? Experience what it’s like to be an astronaut? Do you want to explore the universe? Well, now you can.” As the commercial continued play, Jacob walked away from the magic kit on the kitchen table and stared at the TV screen longingly. “For only $195 you can go to space camp and live life like an astronaut for a whole weekend. Enroll now for a once in a life time experience.” Jacob’s cry rang throughout the house as he yelled, “MOM!” He now knew what his true purpose in life was.
12.What is the author’s purpose of writing this text? A. To inform B. To confuse C. To persuade D. To entertain 13.According to the text, why does Jacob stop playing the guitar? A. He failed math B. It was too easy C. It hurt his fingers D. He’d rather play drums 14.How did Jacob get the items he wanted in the story? A. He asked his dad. B. He asked his mom. C. He shoveled driveways and mowed lawns. D. He did all the above. 15.Read the following statement. “It was no surprise that Jacob’s father was reluctant to buy him a magician’s kit for his birthday.” Which word is closest meaning to the underlined word? A. Happy B. Proud C. Willing D. Unwilling
5
16.Which best describes Jacob’s character in regard to his hobbies? A. B. C. D. firm stable constant changeable
17.In what way was Jacob similar to his dad? A. They mowed the lawn. B. They changed hobbies. C. They helped their families. D. They shoveled driveways all winter. 18.Based on the end of the story, Jacob is most likely to go on and do which of the following? A. Become a great magician. B. Learn to play the guitar well. C. Raise money to go to space camp. D. Detect an incredible hidden treasure. 19.Read the statement.
He took the many fake coins, trick cards, and rope pieces of varying length……
A. B. C. D. What is the antonym of the underlined word fake? false unreal copied genuine
20.Read the statement . “He had gotten into a million hobbies and activities.” Which technique is used in the above sentence? A. simile B. metaphor C. hyperbole D. personification
6
21. What’s the narrator’s attitude towards the character of Jacob? Provide your answer with two examples from the context.
22 . If you were Jacob’s father, would you act differently? Provide your answer with two reasons for this action.
7
Writing
Directions Writing: In this section you will answer 10 multiple choice writing questions and respond to 2 writing prompt. Your writing will receive three scores: idea development, planning, and writing strategies. 23. Read the following paragraph and answer questions 23 to 25.
1
10
Teenage is a difficult phase of one’s life.
3 5
2
Teenagers are intensely
4 6
liable to physical changes. They revolt__________ social norms. They tend to show themselves off. Swimming is a useful sport. They also want to be popular and famous.
Which sentence A. Sentence B. Sentence C. Sentence D. Sentence doesn’t belong in the paragraph? 2 4 5 6
24. Which sentence would make the best conclusion to this paragraph? A. They are in need of advice. B. They are interested in fashion. C. They pay attention to clothes. D. They like to listen to loud music. 25. What is the best preposition to be put after revolt? A. to B. for C. into D. against 26. Choose the sentence that is punctuated correctly. A. “Today’s programme is about green environment, said the teacher. B. “Todays programme is about green environment” said the teacher. C. “Today’s programme is about green environment said the teacher.” D. “Today’s programme is about green environment,” said the teacher.
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27. Read the statement. I live in the country, __________, I prefer city life. What is the best word to link the two sentences? A. unlike B. neither C. because D. however 28. Read the statement. He_______ set up a new world record. I’m not sure about that. Which word best fills the gap? A. may B. must C. can’t D. couldn’t 29. Read the statement.
Life is a stage and we are merely players. Which figure of speech is used in the above sentence?
A. B. C. D. Simile Metaphor Alliteration personification
30. Read the statement.
He listened to the lecture carefully.
Which part of speech is the underlined word? verb noun adverb adjective
A. B. C. D.
9
31. Which word is NOT spelled correctly? A. foreign B. decision C. dictionary D. expereince 32. Read the statement. While he_________, he heard loud noise. Which narrative tense best fills the gap? A. slept B. had slept C. was sleeping D. had been sleeping
10
