WVGSA English Language Arts 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A poet writes: 'The moon is a silver coin tossed into the night sky.' What figurative language device is used?
- Personification
- Simile
- Metaphor (Correct answer)
- Hyperbole
Correct answer: Metaphor
The moon is directly called 'a silver coin,' making it a metaphor (not a simile, which would use 'like' or 'as').
Question 2: Which revision BEST improves the clarity of this sentence: 'She told her sister that she needed to finish her project.'?
- She told her sister, who needed to finish a project.
- Maria told her sister that Maria needed to finish Maria's project.
- Maria told her sister, 'I need to finish my project.' (Correct answer)
- She said that she needed to finish the project to her sister.
Correct answer: Maria told her sister, 'I need to finish my project.'
Using a direct quote and a proper noun eliminates the pronoun ambiguity about who needs to finish what.
Question 3: A student is writing a research paper on climate change and finds two sources: a peer-reviewed science journal article and a social media post. Which source is MORE credible?
- The social media post because it is more recent
- The journal article because it is reviewed by experts (Correct answer)
- Both are equally credible
- The social media post because more people have seen it
Correct answer: The journal article because it is reviewed by experts
Peer-reviewed journal articles are evaluated by subject-matter experts, making them more reliable than unverified social media posts.
Question 4: Which sentence uses a semicolon CORRECTLY?
- I love hiking; because it keeps me healthy.
- She studied all night; however, she still felt unprepared. (Correct answer)
- They went to the store; and bought milk.
- He called early; to warn us about the storm.
Correct answer: She studied all night; however, she still felt unprepared.
A semicolon can join two independent clauses, especially when followed by a conjunctive adverb like 'however.'
Question 5: What is the PRIMARY purpose of a thesis statement in an argumentative essay?
- To summarize the opposing viewpoint
- To provide background information on the topic
- To state the writer's central claim and main line of reasoning (Correct answer)
- To list all the evidence the writer will use
Correct answer: To state the writer's central claim and main line of reasoning
A thesis statement presents the writer's central argument and indicates the direction of the essay.
Question 6: A passage states: 'Studies show that students who read for pleasure score higher on standardized tests.' What kind of evidence is this?
- Anecdotal evidence
- Expert opinion
- Statistical/research-based evidence (Correct answer)
- Logical reasoning
Correct answer: Statistical/research-based evidence
Referring to studies and their measured results constitutes statistical or research-based evidence.
Question 7: In a story, the rising action is BEST described as:
- The moment of greatest tension in the story
- The series of events that build toward the climax (Correct answer)
- The resolution of the central conflict
- The introduction of the main characters and setting
Correct answer: The series of events that build toward the climax
Rising action is the sequence of events that develop the conflict and increase tension leading to the climax.
WVGSA English Language Arts 3
A poet writes: 'The moon is a silver coin tossed into the night sky.' What figurative language device is used?