Leo tucked the spare key into his backpack. “I won't need this,” he said, “but just in case.”
7th grade English Language Arts practice sheet
Alabama Course of Study · from Gradelings · Name: ______________________
Question 1
Which literary device does this excerpt use?
- Foreshadowing
- Simile
- Flashback
- Alliteration
Foreshadowing
Hint: When a story makes a point of saying something won't be needed, it often will be. That's a hint about later events.
Question 2
A writer changes “The dog walked toward us” to “The dog bounded toward us.” What effect does the new verb have?
- It changes the setting of the scene.
- It makes the dog seem energetic and excited.
- It makes the sentence more formal.
- It makes the dog seem tired and slow.
It makes the dog seem energetic and excited.
Hint: Picture a dog bounding. How is that different from walking?
Question 3
Which persuasive appeal does this mostly use?
Our records show that students who read for 20 minutes a day raised their scores by 12% in one term. Daily reading works.
- Pathos (emotion)
- Logos (logic and evidence)
- Ethos (credibility)
Logos (logic and evidence)
Hint: The argument uses numbers and evidence. Appeals to logic are logos.
Question 4
Which sentence is a comma splice?
- The movie ended, we walked home.
- The movie ended; we walked home.
- The movie ended, and we walked home.
- After the movie ended, we walked home.
The movie ended, we walked home.
Hint: A comma splice joins two complete sentences with only a comma. Look for a comma with no joining word after it.
Question 5
Which revision makes the list parallel?
Our class rules: be kind, listen carefully and homework should be done on time.
- Our class rules: be kind, listening carefully and finishing homework on time.
- Our class rules: being kind, listen carefully and homework on time.
- Our class rules: be kind, listen carefully and finish homework on time.
Our class rules: be kind, listen carefully and finish homework on time.
Hint: The first two rules start with a command verb (be, listen). The third should too.
Question 6
Which word correctly completes the sentence?
My tooth is so _____ that it wiggles when I talk.
- loose
- lose
loose
Hint: Lose (one o) means to misplace or not win. Loose (two o's) means not tight.
Question 7
What form of poem is this?
Pete
There once was a puppy named Pete
Who snatched every sock off your feet.
He'd tiptoe and creep
While you were asleep,
Then nap on the pile, looking sweet.
- Haiku
- Free verse
- Limerick
- Sonnet
Limerick
Hint: This is a funny five-line poem where lines 1, 2 and 5 rhyme, and the short lines 3 and 4 rhyme.
Question 8
Which mark best shows a trailing-off voice? “I just thought …”
- colon
- ellipsis
- semicolon
ellipsis
Hint: Three dots show the voice fading.
Question 9
What point of view is this?
A Quiet Morning
Kiona woke before the others. She tiptoed past the sleeping dog, filled the kettle, and watched the sun climb above the trees. She did not yet know that today would change everything.
- second person
- first person
- third person
third person
Hint: The narrator tells about Kiona using she.
Question 10
Which word is closest in meaning to friendship?
- distance
- rivalry
- silence
- camaraderie
camaraderie
Hint: Camaraderie is the trust and friendship of people who spend time together.
Answer key
- 1. Foreshadowing (Literary Devices)
- 2. It makes the dog seem energetic and excited. (Tone & Mood)
- 3. Logos (logic and evidence) (Persuasive Power)
- 4. The movie ended, we walked home. (Clauses & Sentences)
- 5. Our class rules: be kind, listen carefully and finish homework on time. (Modifiers & Parallelism)
- 6. loose (Word Mix-Ups)
- 7. Limerick (Poetry Lab)
- 8. ellipsis (Punctuation Power)
- 9. third person (Whose Story?)
- 10. camaraderie (Roots & Word Parts)
Want more than 10 questions?
In Gradelings the questions change every time and adjust to your child, with hints and kind feedback. See all English language arts units.