WVGSA English Language Arts 3

Question 1

A poet writes: 'The moon is a silver coin tossed into the night sky.' What figurative language device is used?

Accepted Answer

Metaphor

Answer

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.'?

Accepted Answer

Maria told her sister, 'I need to finish my project.'

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

The journal article because it is reviewed by experts

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

She studied all night; however, she still felt unprepared.

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

To state the writer's central claim and main line of reasoning

Answer

A thesis statement presents the writer's central argument and indicates the direction of the essay.

(WVGSA) West Virginia General Summative Assessment Practice Test

(WVGSA) West Virginia General Summative Assessment Practice Test

WVGSA English Language Arts 3