The smell of fresh bread carried Jay back to his grandfather's kitchen, where he once stood on a stool to help knead the dough.
7th grade English Language Arts practice sheet
Washington State Learning Standards · from Gradelings · Name: ______________________
Question 1
Which literary device does this excerpt use?
- Foreshadowing
- Hyperbole
- Flashback
- Onomatopoeia
Flashback
Hint: A smell sends Jay back to a scene from his past. Interrupting the present to show the past is a flashback.
Question 2
Which word best describes the mood of this passage?
The hallway lights flickered. Behind a closed door, a phone rang and rang. Maya held her breath and reached for the handle.
- Bored
- Relaxed
- Playful
- Tense
Tense
Hint: Flickering lights and a held breath make readers wonder what will happen next.
Question 3
A story is told by a narrator who only knows one character's thoughts. What is this called?
- second person
- omniscient third person
- limited third person
limited third person
Hint: The narrator sticks to one character's mind.
Question 4
What two things does the poem compare?
The Library Is an Ocean
The library is an ocean,
And every shelf a wave;
I dive in every afternoon
And surface feeling brave.
- A reader and a fish
- A book and a boat
- A shelf and a lunch tray
- A library and an ocean
A library and an ocean
Hint: Look at the very first line.
Question 5
Which persuasive technique is used here?
We will learn. We will grow. We will succeed together.
- Statistic
- Counterargument
- Expert opinion
- Repetition
Repetition
Hint: Notice “We will” three times. Repeating words makes an idea memorable and powerful.
Question 6
What type of sentence is this?
Our class planted tomatoes in the school garden.
- Compound-complex
- Simple
- Complex
- Compound
Simple
Hint: Count the clauses. This has just one independent clause (one subject–verb unit that can stand alone).
Question 7
Which revision makes the sentence parallel?
Zoe would rather read a book than watching TV.
- Zoe would rather reading a book than watch TV.
- Zoe would rather read a book than to watching TV.
- Zoe would rather read a book than watch TV.
Zoe would rather read a book than watch TV.
Hint: Both sides of “than” should match: read… watch.
Question 8
What do the dashes show? The answer—if there is one—is not easy.
- the end of the sentence
- an interruption or break in the sentence
- a list of items
an interruption or break in the sentence
Hint: A pair of dashes sets off an interrupting thought.
Question 9
Which word correctly completes the sentence?
If we _____ this game, we're out of the tournament.
- lose
- loose
lose
Hint: Lose (one o) means to misplace or not win. Loose (two o's) means not tight.
Question 10
Tele means “far”. A telescope is used to…
- see things far away
- hear things far away
- measure heat
- write messages
see things far away
Hint: Tele (far) + scope (to look at).
Answer key
- 1. Flashback (Literary Devices)
- 2. Tense (Tone & Mood)
- 3. limited third person (Whose Story?)
- 4. A library and an ocean (Poetry Lab)
- 5. Repetition (Persuasive Power)
- 6. Simple (Clauses & Sentences)
- 7. Zoe would rather read a book than watch TV. (Modifiers & Parallelism)
- 8. an interruption or break in the sentence (Punctuation Power)
- 9. lose (Word Mix-Ups)
- 10. see things far away (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.