English Flashcards

Which of the following BEST describes the 'central idea' of an informational text?

Answer: The most important point the author wants to communicate throughout the entire text

The central idea is the overarching point that the entire informational text develops and supports, similar to a main theme.

A student reads a passage and notices the author uses sarcasm. What should the student conclude about the author's tone?

Answer: The author is expressing a mocking or ironic attitude.

Sarcasm is a form of verbal irony used to mock or express contempt, signaling an ironic or critical tone.

Which sentence correctly uses a comma after an introductory element?

Answer: After the game, we ate pizza.

A comma is required after an introductory phrase or clause before the main clause begins.

What does it mean to 'summarize' a text?

Answer: To restate only the main ideas and key details in your own words

Summarizing means briefly restating the main ideas and essential details without copying the original wording or adding personal opinions.

A student writes: 'The firefighters battled the blaze bravely.' This sentence is an example of which sound device?

Answer: Alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of nearby words, as in 'battled the blaze bravely' (b-b-b).

When asked to 'analyze' a text on the PSSA, what are students expected to do?

Answer: Examine how different elements work together to create meaning and support ideas

Analyzing a text means examining how its elements—structure, word choice, evidence—work together to develop meaning and support the author's purpose.

Which revision correctly fixes the sentence fragment: 'Running through the park on a sunny afternoon.'

Answer: She was running through the park on a sunny afternoon.

Adding a subject ('She') and a helping verb ('was') turns the fragment into a complete sentence with a subject and predicate.