Semester Assessment. Semester Review and Assessment. Part 1: Multiple Choice. Choose the correct answer.

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1 Name: Date: Semester Assessment Semester Review and Assessment Part 1: Multiple Choice Choose the correct answer. 1. In "Perseus and the Quest for Medusa's Head," Perseus is sent to slay a monster called Medusa. Why is this a particularly difficult and dangerous task? A. Medusa is an enormous dragon that breathes fire and poisonous smoke. B. Medusa can command an army of skilled and powerful warriors to defend her. C. Medusa can make herself invisible by wearing the Cap of Darkness. D. Medusa can turn anyone who looks at her into stone. 2. Which work did Rudyard Kipling write? A. "The Cat and the Moon" B. The Jungle Book C. Where the Animals Live D. "The Things That Haven't Been Done Before" 3. Both "Baucis and Philemon" and "Jason and the Golden Fleece" are stories that are not true, involve supernatural beings, and tell how certain things came to be. What are these stories examples of? A. myths B. odes C. metaphors D. biographies 4. Which figure was a famous painter? A. Ludwig van Beethoven B. Mary Cassatt C. Marian Anderson D. Pablo Casals 2013 K12 Inc. All rights reserved. Page 1 of 13

2 5. Read these lines from Gwendolyn Brooks's poem "Vern": "[A pup will] let you snuggle down beside. Nor mock the tears you have to hide." What do these lines show about the speaker of the poem? A. She cries because she wants a dog of her own. B. She thinks she has to hide her emotions from her dog. C. She wishes her dog could talk with her. D. She finds comfort in her dog's company. Language Arts Semester Assessment Semester Review and Assessment 6. In "The Adventures of Theseus," what does Theseus's finally lifting the great stone on the mountain and discovering under it his father's sword and sandals symbolize? A. that Theseus has forgotten the promise he made to his father B. that Theseus has forgotten the importance of being humble C. that Theseus is worthy of his father and his heritage D. that Theseus's father is still king in Athens 7. Why does T.S. Eliot use peppy rhythms and invented words, such as effanineffable, in "The Rum Tum Tugger" and "The Naming of Cats"? A. to give the poems symbolic meanings B. to add humor to the poems C. to create unique rhyme schemes in the poems D. to begin the poems with important hooks Part 2: Reading Comprehension Read this passage, and then answer the questions that follow. Adapted from The Story of Roland by James Baldwin The red-plumed knight chose the sword Haultclear. Roland rose from the grass, and the fierce fight began again. Never were weapons wielded with greater skill; never was there a nobler combat. The sun rose high in the heavens, and the noontide hour came; and still each knight stood firmly in his place, thrusting and parrying, striking and warding, and gaining no vantage over his foe. After a time, however, the patience of the red-plumed knight gave out. He grew furious. He was anxious to bring the combat to an end. He struck savagely at Roland; but the stroke was skillfully warded, and Haultclear snapped short off near the handle. At the same time, Durandal, coming down with the force of a thunderbolt, buried itself so deeply in the shield of the red-plumed knight, that Roland could not withdraw it. Both knights were thus made weaponless; but neither was vanquished. Wrathfully, they rushed together to seize each other, to throw each other down. Moved by the same thought, each snatched the other s helmet, and lifted it from his head. For a moment, both were 2013 K12 Inc. All rights reserved. Page 2 of 13

3 speechless with astonishment. Roland saw before him his loved brother-in-arms, Oliver. Oliver, now no longer the red-plumed knight, recognized his old friend Roland. Then they rushed into each other s arms. I yield me! cried Roland. I yield me! cried Oliver. Vocabulary warding: blocking vantage: advantage vanquished: defeated 8. Based on the passage, what can be inferred about Roland and Oliver? A. They are brothers. B. They will not continue their combat. C. They are fighting in Spain. D. They dislike being knights. 9. Based on the passage, what inference can be made about Durandal? A. It is a thunderbolt. B. It is Oliver s real name. C. It is Roland s sword. D. It is a horse. 10. What conflict do these knights face and how do they resolve it? A. Neither knight can defeat the other, so each one yields to the other. B. Neither knight wants to defeat the other, so they both try to lose the battle on purpose. C. Neither knight wants to give up the fight, so they choose to vanquish one another. D. Neither knight has the appropriate armor or weapons, so they choose to delay their battle. 11. What is the climax of the passage? A. Both knights lose their weapons. B. The knights discover each other's true identity. C. The fight begins after the red-plumed knight chooses his sword. D. The knights decide to wrestle K12 Inc. All rights reserved. Page 3 of 13

4 12. Which phrase best describes Oliver? A. courteous, but sad B. skilled, but deceitful C. lonely, but kindhearted D. brave, but impatient 13. Which words help establish the mood of the passage? A. "patience," "warded," and "weaponless" B. "grass," "nobler," and "rose" C. "knight," "sword," and "skill" D. "wrathfully," "fierce," and "rushed" Read this passage, and then answer the questions that follow. Adapted from The History of England by W.F. Collier The tall, frowning tower and solid walls of the great stone castles in which the Norman barons lived were evidence of an age of violence and suspicion. Beauty gave way to the needs of safety. In a Norman castle, stone buildings, ringed with low walls pierced along the top with shot holes, stood like angry soldiers behind high, thick walls. At the bottom of the walls lay a green, slimy ditch: a sign to all foes to keep their distance. Yet if an enemy did manage to cross the moat and force the gateway, in spite of a heavy gate crashing down from above and melted lead pouring in burning streams from the top of the rounded arch, little of his work was yet done. To reach the baron, the enemy had to enter the huge tower of stone in the inner courtyard. But from the narrow slits in the tower s ten-foot walls, archers rained a sharp and endless shower of arrows, sweeping all approaches to the high and narrow stair that led to the single door that was the only entrance, and the only path to victory. 14. What is the main idea of this passage? A. Norman castles are not as beautiful as castles built during other time periods. B. One of the main purposes of Norman castles was to keep out enemies. C. The buildings of a Norman castle generally include a stone tower called a keep. D. Much stone was used in the building of a Norman castle K12 Inc. All rights reserved. Page 4 of 13

5 15. What was the author's primary purpose in writing this passage?] A. to present a personal narrative about the experiences he had while living in a Norman castle B. to provide readers with the information and plans they need to build their own Norman castles C. to show readers that the defenses of Norman castles reflect the frequency of violence during the age when they were built D. to entertain readers with jokes and humorous anecdotes about attacks on Norman castles 16. Who is most likely the author's intended audience? A. builders who want to reconstruct ruined Norman castles B. very young children who are learning about castles for the first time C. people who are experts in Norman history D. students interested in learning about Norman history and architecture 17. What best describes the tone of the passage? A. enthusiastic and informative B. concerned and confused C. shocked and horrified D. critical and argumentative 18. Which conclusion can be drawn from the information in the passage? A. Human life was not valued highly during the Norman age. B. Norman barons prepared for attacks on their castles. C. Normans disliked elegant architecture and beautiful buildings. D. Norman castles were built with more care than other castles. 19. Which statement describes two events that have a cause-and-effect relationship? A. Many Norman castles were surrounded by moats, so moats were slimy ditches. B. Soldiers above the castle gate could drop a portcullis to trap enemies below, so soldiers wore armor. C. The walls of a Norman castle could be ten feet thick, so the castles were easy to build. D. Norman castles had many defenses, so it was difficult to attack them successfully K12 Inc. All rights reserved. Page 5 of 13

6 Read the poem. Then answer the questions that follow. Language Arts Semester Assessment Semester Review and Assessment "My Mind to Me a Kingdom Is" by Sir Edward Dyer My mind to me a kingdom is, Such present joys therein I find That it excels all other bliss That earth affords or grows by kind: Though much I want which most would have, Yet still my mind forbids to crave. No princely pomp, no wealthy store, No force to win the victory No wily wit to salve a sore No shape to feed a loving eye; To none of these I yield as thrall: For why? My mind doth serve for all. Vocabulary therein: there excels: is better than affords: gives crave: to want badly pomp: show; display wily: sly salve: to cover; to heal thrall: slave doth: does 20. Which best summarizes the ideas expressed in the poem's first stanza? A. The speaker has everything he wants, except an active mind. B. The speaker believes that thinking brings more joy than anything else. C. The speaker feels like a king sitting on a throne. D. The speaker does not understand why it is unwise to be jealous of others. 21. In the poem's second stanza, what does the speaker refuse to do? A. to make power, wealth, or money his slave B. to make power, wealth or money his friend C. to make power, wealth, or money his master D. to make power, wealth, or money his enemy 2013 K12 Inc. All rights reserved. Page 6 of 13

7 22. In the poem, which line contains a metaphor? A. "My mind to me a kingdom is," B. "Such present joys therein I find" C. "That it excels all other bliss" D. "That earth affords or grows by kind:" 23. In the poem, which line contains alliteration? A. "That earth affords or grows by kind:" B. "No force to win the victory" C. "No wily wit to salve a sore" D. "No shape to feed a loving eye;" Language Arts Semester Assessment Semester Review and Assessment Part 3: Novel Essay Choose one of the following questions based on the novel you read. Answer it with a response of one to three paragraphs. You may use your book for reference. A. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a coming-of-age story. Briefly describe how Tom changes over the course of the novel and how his behavior shows his increasing maturity. B. In The Secret Garden, friendships are important to a character s happiness and wellbeing. Briefly describe how one of Mary s friendships changes her and why it brings her happiness K12 Inc. All rights reserved. Page 7 of 13

10 Part 4: Compare-and-Contrast Essay A recurring theme is an idea that appears in literature in many cultures and time periods. Choose one of the following questions about recurring themes. Answer it with a response of four paragraphs. You may use your book for reference. A. In many stories, the main character must find a place for himself or herself in the world. Compare Mowgli s story in The Jungle Book to Atalanta s in The Story of Atalanta. Describe the kind of conflict both characters face and what theme the stories share. B. Compare the characters Baba Abdalla from The Story of Baba Abdalla and King Minos from The Adventures of Theseus. Describe one way in which the characters are alike, explain the conflicts they face and how they resolve them (including the consequences of their choices), and tell what a reader can learn from their example K12 Inc. All rights reserved. Page 10 of 13

6th Grade Reading: 3rd 6-Weeks Common Assessment Review. Name: Period: Date:

6th Grade Reading: 3rd 6-Weeks Common Assessment Review Name: Period: Date: Match the term with the correct definition or example. 1 simile A Her eyes are stars, shining brightly. 2 metaphor B He was so