PSSA English 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When an author writes from a first-person point of view, which pronoun is most commonly used?
- He
- They
- I (Correct answer)
- One
Correct answer: I
First-person point of view uses 'I' (and 'we') because the narrator tells the story from their own perspective.
Question 2: A student reads two articles about climate change, one by a scientist and one by an oil company spokesperson. What should the student consider about the sources?
- Both sources are equally reliable because they are both published.
- The scientist's article is likely more objective while the company spokesperson may have a bias. (Correct answer)
- The oil company is more credible because it has more money.
- Neither source should be trusted because they disagree.
Correct answer: The scientist's article is likely more objective while the company spokesperson may have a bias.
Evaluating author bias and purpose is essential; a scientist's peer-reviewed work is generally more objective than a company representative who has financial interests.
Question 3: What is the purpose of a thesis statement in an essay?
- To provide background information on the topic
- To summarize the entire essay in detail
- To state the main argument or claim the essay will support (Correct answer)
- To introduce a counterargument
Correct answer: To state the main argument or claim the essay will support
A thesis statement presents the central claim or argument that the rest of the essay will develop and support.
Question 4: Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?
- Running quickly, Jana caught the bus.
- The dog chased the cat that was barking loudly. (Correct answer)
- Barking loudly, the dog chased the cat.
- Walking home, the girl found a coin.
Correct answer: The dog chased the cat that was barking loudly.
In 'the dog chased the cat that was barking loudly,' the modifier 'barking loudly' incorrectly seems to describe the cat rather than the dog.
Question 5: In the context of reading informational texts, what does 'text features' refer to?
- The theme and moral of the text
- Elements like headings, captions, graphs, and sidebars that help organize information (Correct answer)
- The author's writing style and tone
- The vocabulary words used in the text
Correct answer: Elements like headings, captions, graphs, and sidebars that help organize information
Text features are visual and organizational elements—headings, bold words, charts—that help readers navigate and understand informational texts.
Question 6: A poet writes: 'The stars danced across the midnight sky.' Which literary device is used?
- Onomatopoeia
- Personification (Correct answer)
- Simile
- Foreshadowing
Correct answer: Personification
Personification assigns a human action ('danced') to non-human things (stars), making the sky feel alive.
Question 7: What is the best definition of 'context clues'?
- Clues found in a dictionary or glossary
- Information within the surrounding text that helps determine the meaning of an unknown word (Correct answer)
- Notes written in the margins of a book
- The title and headings of a passage
Correct answer: Information within the surrounding text that helps determine the meaning of an unknown word
Context clues are words, phrases, or sentences surrounding an unfamiliar word that provide hints about its meaning.
PSSA English 3
When an author writes from a first-person point of view, which pronoun is most commonly used?