NM-MSSA English Language Arts 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which word is a synonym for 'illuminate'?
- Brighten (Correct answer)
- Darken
- Shrink
- Silence
Correct answer: Brighten
'Illuminate' means to light up or make something clearer, so 'brighten' is its synonym.
Question 2: A student wants to add a concluding sentence to her paragraph about recycling. Which sentence works best?
- Clearly, recycling benefits both the environment and future generations. (Correct answer)
- Recycling involves sorting paper, plastic, and glass.
- Many cities have recycling programs.
- Recycling was invented in the twentieth century.
Correct answer: Clearly, recycling benefits both the environment and future generations.
A concluding sentence wraps up the paragraph's main idea and leaves the reader with a final thought.
Question 3: In the sentence 'Despite the rain, the game continued,' what does 'despite' signal?
- A contrast between two ideas (Correct answer)
- A cause and effect relationship
- A time sequence
- An example
Correct answer: A contrast between two ideas
'Despite' introduces a contrast, showing that the game happened even though the rain might have prevented it.
Question 4: Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?
- The test was hard; I studied for hours. (Correct answer)
- The test; was hard I studied for hours.
- The test was hard I; studied for hours.
- The test was hard, I; studied for hours.
Correct answer: The test was hard; I studied for hours.
A semicolon correctly joins two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction.
Question 5: What does it mean when an author uses a 'flashback' in a story?
- The author interrupts the present action to show an earlier event. (Correct answer)
- The author jumps ahead to show a future event.
- The author repeats the same scene twice.
- The author describes a dream the character has.
Correct answer: The author interrupts the present action to show an earlier event.
A flashback is a narrative technique where the story temporarily moves back in time to show a past event.
Question 6: Read the passage: 'Marcus slammed the door and refused to answer.' What can readers infer about Marcus?
- He is angry or upset. (Correct answer)
- He is excited and happy.
- He is scared of the door.
- He is bored and tired.
Correct answer: He is angry or upset.
Slamming a door and refusing to answer are behaviors that strongly suggest anger or frustration.
Question 7: Which of the following is an example of an opinion statement?
- History class is the most important subject in school. (Correct answer)
- New Mexico became a state in 1912.
- Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
- The Amazon River is in South America.
Correct answer: History class is the most important subject in school.
An opinion expresses a personal belief or judgment that cannot be proven as a fact, unlike the other factual statements.
NM-MSSA English Language Arts 3
Which word is a synonym for 'illuminate'?