Spring Semester, Unit 1 Common Assessment
MWJH Seventh Grade Language Arts

Instructions: For questions 1-16, read O. Henry’s “After Twenty Years” beginning on page 324 in the blue Prentice Hall literature book.

1. From which perspective does the narrator tell this story? A. First person B. Third person limited C. Third person omniscient D. Third person objective

2. Which of the following choices best describes how a reader can determine the narrator’s perspective in this story? A. The story features such pronouns as I, me, my, etc., and the narrator is a character. B. The story features such pronouns as he, she, they, them, etc. The narrator is not a character and only follows the thoughts and feelings of one character. C. The story features such pronouns as he, she, they, them, etc. The narrator is not a character and is apparently able to follow the thoughts and feelings of all characters. D. The story features such pronouns as he, she, they, them, etc. The narrator is not a character and only tells the events of the story through action and dialogue—no thoughts and feelings from the characters.

3. Which of the following choices features the type of figurative language that is used in the first sentence of “After Twenty Years”? A. idiom B. metaphor C. simile D. personification

4. Which of the following choices best describes the imagery produced by the figurative language and narration within the first few sentences of “After Twenty Years”? A. The policeman is beating up criminals on the street. B. The policeman is promptly following his routine of patrolling the street—remaining alert and serious—not trying to draw attention to himself but showing that his job is important. C. In order to intimidate criminals, the policeman is beating up the street by stomping as he walks. D. The policeman is confidently walking up and down the street with the intent of showing pedestrians that he is ready to arrest anybody who breaks the law.

5. What type of figurative language appears in the following example: “turning now and then to cast his watchful eye down the pacific thoroughfare” (Henry 324). A. hyperbole B. metaphor C. simile D. personification

6. In the example above, which of the choices below best describes the meaning of “cast his watchful eye”? A. The policeman’s eye is watching every movement on the street. B. The policeman is keeping an eye on his watch in order to keep track of the time. C. The policeman is throwing his eyeball down the street. D. The policeman is paying close attention to the things that are happening on the street.

Spring Semester, Unit 1 Common Assessment (continued)

7. In the second paragraph of the story, O. Henry uses which of the following examples as alliteration? A. “twirling his club with many intricate and artful movements,” B. “with his stalwart form and slight swagger” C. “the vicinity was one that kept early hours” D. The slithering snake stalked the spectators.

8. Which of the following most accurately depicts the reason for the alliteration in the second paragraph? A. O. Henry wants readers to respect this “fine guardian of the peace.” B. O. Henry is trying to produce imagery so that readers visualize the officer as he walks down the street. C. O. Henry is trying to build suspense so that readers do not lose interest in the story. D. O. Henry is trying to move the plot from the exposition to the rising action.

9. In the fourth paragraph of the story, if O. Henry would have replaced the word “reassuringly” with one of the following choices, which word would most significantly change the meaning of the sentence? A. aggressively B. comfortingly C. encouragingly D. soothingly

10. Regarding the word “reassuringly,” which of the following context clues is most helpful in order to determine the word’s meaning? A. “It’s all right, officer . . . ” B. “Sounds a little funny to you . . . “ C. “I’m just waiting for a friend.” D. “It’s an appointment made twenty years ago.”

11. Again, regarding the word “reassuringly,” which word part helps readers know that the word is an adverb? A. re- B. assur C. –ing D. –ly

12. Which of the following choices best represents the key topics in the story? A. duty, friendship, time, loyalty, promises, ambition, greed, crime, justice, irony B. duty, friendship, romance, prejudice, greed, youth, crime, justice, irony C. negligence, antagonism, time, contentment, crime, youth, injustice, irony D. duty, danger, time, loyalty, promises, money, youth, crime, justice, irony

13. Which of the following best represents the main idea of the story? A. Two old friends reunite after twenty years, but the reunion is interrupted by a cop who recognizes that he has (quite unexpectedly) found a well-known criminal. B. During an attempted reunion with an old friend, an infamous criminal is arrested by a diligent cop. C. Two old friends keep a promise to reunite after twenty years, but this reunion ironically features a cop who must turn in his old friend—now a well-known criminal. D. A man wants to meet an old friend in order to give him some stolen money, but a cop foils the plan.

Spring Semester, Unit 1 Common Assessment (continued)

14. Which of the following best represents the theme of the story? A. Greed tends to make friends disloyal. B. Best friends keep their promises. C. Those who do bad things tend to get caught whenever they get overly ambitious. D. A man’s past tends to catch up with him—often when he least expects it.

15. Which of the following best describes the resolution of the story?
A. Before Jimmy had a chance to meet Bob, a policeman arrested Bob, an infamous criminal.
B. Jimmy met Bob at the agreed-upon time and place, but Jimmy realized that Bob was an infamous criminal. Consequently, he decided to reveal himself as the patrolman through a letter and that Bob should go to jail.
C. Bob met Jimmy at the agreed-upon time and place, but Bob realized that Jimmy was an infamous criminal. Consequently, he decided to reveal himself as the patrolman through a letter and that Jimmy should go to jail.
D. Jimmy didn’t keep his promise to meet with Bob, but a police officer did recognize that Bob was an infamous criminal who must go to jail.

16. At the end of paragraph number two, the compound sentence contains an error in punctuation. Which sentence most accurately features the needed revision? A. “Now and then you might see the lights of a cigar store or an all-night lunch counter, but the majority of the stores belonged to business places that had long since been closed.” B. “Now and then you might see the lights of a cigar store or an all-night lunch counter; but the majority of the stores belonged to business places that had long since been closed.” C. “Now and then you might see the lights of a cigar store or an all-night lunch counter but the majority of the stores belonged to business places that had long since been closed.” D. “Now and then you might see the lights of a cigar store or an all-night lunch counter. But the majority of the stores belonged to business places that had long since been closed.”

Instructions: For numbers 17-22, refer to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.

17. From which perspective does the narrator tell this story? A. First person B. Third person limited C. Third person omniscient D. Third person objective

18. Which one of the choices below most accurately depicts the advantages of the narrator’s perspective in this story? A. Because the narrator is a character in the story, she is able to tell the thoughts and feelings of her siblings. B. Because the narrator is not a character in the story, she is able to remain objective. C. Because the narrator is a character in the story, readers get to connect with her and see how the troubling events are affecting her life. D. Because the narrator is a character in the story, readers are able to learn about the land and how important it is to the Logan family.

Spring Semester, Unit 1 Common Assessment (continued)

19. Which one of the choices below most accurately depicts the disadvantages of the narrator’s perspective in this story? A. Because the narrator is a character in the story, readers receive a perspective that is limited to the bias and maturity of the narrator. B. Because the narrator is not a character in the story, the narrator is consistently objective. C. Because the narrator is a character in the story, readers are only able to understand the actions and dialogue of the narrator. D. This point of view has no disadvantage. Why do writers use any other perspective?

20. From the first full paragraph on page 4, which of the following examples best demonstrates the narrator’s tone? A. “Mama’s gonna wear you out . . . “ B. “Christopher-John and Stacey were not too pleased about the clothing and school either.” C. “I threatened, pulling with exasperation at the high collar of the Sunday dress Momma had made me wear for the first day of school—as if that event were something special . . . “ D. “Only Little Man . . . found the prospects of both intriguing.”

21. On page 11, paragraph 6, if Taylor would have replaced the word “amiably” with one of the following choices, which word would least change the meaning of the paragraph? A. rudely B. argumentatively C. unkindly D. pleasantly

22. Which of the following choices most accurately describes how the Logan family was unique in relation to its neighbors? A. Unlike its neighbors, the Logan family was a group of sharecroppers who remained in constant debt to the landowner. B. Unlike its neighbors, who were mainly sharecroppers severely indebted to their landowners, the Logan family owned its land, so Logan family members had more of an opportunity to rise above their circumstances. C. The Logan family was a group of slaves during the Civil War. D. The Logan family was a group of slaves who had been emancipated, thus providing the right to own land.

Instructions: Numbers 23-25 are unrelated to a story. Just follow the directions and choose the best answer.

23. Which of the following choices features the most accurate revision of this sentence:
If you would have went to Walmart, than you’re refrigerator would not be empty.

A. If you would have gone to Walmart, then you’re refrigerator would not be empty. B. If you would have went to Walmart, then your refrigerator would not be empty. C. Go to Walmart, then your refrigerator will be full. D. If you would have gone to Walmart, then your refrigerator would not be empty.

Spring Semester, Unit 1 Common Assessment (continued)

24. Which of the following choices features the most accurate revision of this sentence:
I left my dog in the car but now its gone.

A. I left my dog in the car, but now its gone. B. I left my dog in the car, now it’s gone. C. I left my dog in the car, but now my dog is gone. D. I left my dog in the car but now it’s gone.

25. Which of the following choices features the most accurate revision of this sentence:
The copilot said “I will need farther instruction before we fly any further.”

A. The copilot said, “I will need farther instruction before we fly any further.” B. The copilot said, “I will need further instruction before we fly any farther.” C. The copilot said, “I will need farther instruction before we fly any farther.” D. The copilot said, “I will need further instruction before we fly any farther”.

Answer Key

1. D 2. D 3. A 4. B 5. D 6. D 7. B 8. B 9. A 10. C 11. D 12. A 13. C 14. D 15. B 16. A 17. A 18. C 19. A 20. C 21. D 22. B 23. D 24. C 25. B