Study Guide for 6th ELA Unit 1 Common Assessment 6th ELA. Name: Date: Block:

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1 Name: Date: Block: 1. First person point of view uses words like I, me, us, and we. In first person point of view, the narrator is a character in the story. 2. Third person point of view uses words like he, she, and they. In third person, the narratoris an observer instead of a character in the story. 3. The main difference between third person limited and third person omniscient is that in limited, the reader sees the thoughts of one character, but in omniscient, the reader sees the thoughts of many. 4. Words or phrases that show connections between ideas are transitions or transitional words and phrases. Three examples of these types of words or phrases are (Answers will vary, but should include 3 appropriate selections such as: and, because, as well as, in addition to, instead of, however, etc.) 5. Define plot. Name the parts of the plot and give an example of each part from a story we have read. Plot: the sequence of events in a story a. Exposition Example: Answers will vary. b. Rising Action Example: Answers will vary. c. Climax Example: Answers will vary. d. Falling Action Example: Answers will vary. e. Resolution Example: Answers will vary. 6. Write a brief explanation for each of the following words. Be able to apply these terms to passages. comparison/contrast: how things are alike/how things are different descriptive words: vivid adjectives and adverbs that paint a picture for the reader narrator: the one who tells a story theme: the unifying central lesson of a work of literature setting: the time and place in which a story occurs Be able to cite textual evidence to support claims.

2 Read the following passage and answer questions The Invisible Tree Winfred Kramer was known all around town as a great illusionist. He was able to perform astounding card tricks and other clever tricks, and he always knew how to play a crowd. He would advertise himself aggressively, calling out to passersby and challenging them to try to outwit him and expose his secrets, and they never could. Kramer sought to strengthen the public s perception of him as a world-class illusionist by performing tougher and tougher tricks. One evening, Kramer bragged that he could make the tallest tree in town disappear in the blink of an eye. Of course, the people who overheard his claim scoffed at the outrageous concept. The towering oak tree in the front of the courthouse was over a hundred years old, and it seemed to reach into the clouds. Obviously, making an object so huge disappear was unthinkable. However, the people were secretly fascinated by Kramer s claim. They knew he would not risk damaging his reputation unless he actually knew of some spell that might make the tree disappear. The people hoped to catch a glimpse of any activities he was doing in order to prepare for his great trick. They weren t disappointed. Kramer had gathered large stacks of lumber, and he spent several days hammering them together in his yard. What s he making? the people asked one another. Some speculated he was building a large curtain to cover the tree, but there was not enough lumber for that. Finally, Kramer answered their questions. I ve simply built a stage where people can sit to watch my greatest illusion ever, he proclaimed, showing off a sturdy seating platform. The people were satisfied with the explanation, but they were back to not knowing what kind of trick he had in mind. The day after completing the stage, Kramer brought a large winch mechanism to his house. Some people saw him transporting the heavy machine, and they began to wonder what he would do with it. Winches, they knew were used to pull heavy weights, but no winch in the world was big enough to move the oak tree, but after a day, the winch had disappeared; all that remained in Kramer s yard was the stage. A few days later, the illusionist rented a truck and transported the wooden stage to the courthouse lawn. Then he attached a wall to the front of the stage; in the center of the wall was an opening through which anyone on the stage could clearly see the oak tree. Dozens of people gathered on the lawn to marvel at the handcrafted stage and to speculate on Kramer s next move. However, there was no next move. Kramer simply announced that his greatest trick was scheduled for that very next evening, just after sundown. When that time approached, hundreds of people lined up to reserve a seat on the stage. When they sat down, they could see plainly through the opening in the stage wall that the oak tree was still there. Kramer had not done anything to it. He was not trying to conceal it with curtains, or lug it away with winches. When the stage was filled, Kramer appeared in front of the crowd and waved to the audience. Then he tossed a small black cloth over the opening of the wall and began to recite what sounded like magical verses. The audience sat for several minutes in anxious silence, waiting to see the result of the illusionists greatest trick ever. Then Kramer grabbed the black cloth and pulled it down. Nobody could see the tree through the opening. He made the tree disappear! the audience shouted.

3 Kramer never divulged the secret of the disappearing tree----well, at least not to any person. He did tell his cat, though. He explained to his cat that he had attached the winch to the bottom of the stage. Ever so slowly, the winch had pulled the stage a few inches to the left. When Kramer pulled down the cloth, the tree was still there, just not in the audience s view. It appeared to them, at least temporarily, Wilfred Kramer had made the tallest tree in town invisible! 1. This passage is told from which point of view? RL6 A. first-person B. second-person C. third-person D. none of the above 2. In paragraph one, what does the phrase to play a crowd means? RL4 A. to bore the people B. to ignore the people C. to avoid the people D. to get the people interested and excited 3. What does the writer use to let you know how the crowd responds to Kramer s actions? RL3 A. vivid details B. dialogue C. metaphors D. similes 4. What inference can be made from the following statement? RL1 Kramer simply announced that his greatest trick was scheduled for that very next evening just past sundown. A. Kramer knew he could not perform the trick. B. Kramer knew the stage would not be completed in time for the show. C. Kramer wanted to build more suspense for the show. D. Kramer was tired because he had been working hard all day. 5. How does the following sentence fit into the overall plot structure of the story? RL3 He explained to his cat that he had attached the winch to the bottom of the stage. A. It is part of the exposition. B. It is part of the rising action. C. It is the climax of the story. D. It is part of the resolution of the story. 6. How does the following sentence add to the overall plot structure of the story? RL3 What is he making? the people asked one another. A. It introduces the characters. B. It gives background information about Kramer. C. It helps to build the suspense of the story. D. It provides an ending of the story.

4 7. The BEST theme for this passage is: RL2 A. Magic draws a large crowd. B. Card tricks require practice. C. Things are not always what they seem. D. Moving a tree takes hard work. 8. The evidence from the text that best supports the theme is: RL1 A. He was able to perform astounding card tricks B. Kramer had gathered large stacks of lumber, and he spent several days hammering them together in his yard. C. When that time approached, hundreds of people lined up to reserve a seat on the stage. D. When Kramer pulled down the cloth, the tree was still there, just not in the audience s view. 9. What is the author s purpose in this passage? RL6 A. To describe different types of magic tricks B. To tell a story about a magician and his trick C. To convince the reader that the tree really disappeared D. To provide background information about a famous magician 10. What quality of the main character, Kramer, sets the plot in motion? RL3 A. ability to make things really disappear B. anger C. aggression D. skill in creating illusions Re-read paragraph 2. Kramer sought to strengthen the public s perception of him as a world-class illusionist by performing tougher and tougher tricks. One evening, Kramer bragged that he could make the tallest tree in town disappear in the blink of an eye. Of course, the people who overheard his claim scoffed at the outrageous concept. The towering oak tree in the front of the courthouse was over a hundred years old, and it seemed to reach into the clouds. Obviously, making an object so huge disappear was unthinkable. 11. What are the descriptive words in the paragraph? W3d A. performing, bragged, eye B. world-class, tallest, outrageous C. One evening, Of course, Obviously D. Kramer, tree, courthouse 12. What are the transitional words or phrases in the paragraph? W3c A. performing, bragged, eye B. world-class, tallest, outrageous C. One evening, Of course, Obviously D. Kramer, tree, courthouse

5 13. What pronoun could BEST replace Kramer in the following sentence? L1a One evening, Kramer bragged that he could make the tallest tree in town disappear in the blink of an eye. A. he B. him C. them D. they Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. Magic Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means. These feats are called magic tricks, effects or illusions. A professional who performs such illusions is called a stage magician or an illusionist. Opinions vary among magicians on how to categorize a given effect, but a number of categories have been developed. Magicians may pull a rabbit from an empty hat, make something seem to disappear, or transform a red silk handkerchief into a white handkerchief. Magicians may also destroy something, like cutting a rope, and then "restore" it, make something appear to move from one place to another, or they may escape from a restraining device. Other illusions include making something appear to defy gravity, making a solid object appear to pass through another object, or appearing to predict the choice of a spectator. Many magical routines use combinations of effects. Traditionally, magicians refuse to reveal the methods behind their tricks to the audience. Membership in professional magicians' organizations often requires a commitment never to reveal the secrets of magic to nonmagicians. 14. What is the central idea of this passage? A. Some magicians pull rabbits from empty hats. B. Some magicians escape from a restraining device. C. Professionals who perform illusions are called illusionists. D. Magic is a form of entertainment that uses tricks and illusions. 15. How does this article relate to The Invisible Tree? A. Both selections have the same theme. B. Both selections are examples of fiction. C. Both selections relate to a common topic. D. Both selections talk about pulling a rabbit out of a hat. 16. The wallet that Joseph found was. A. himself B. his C. my D. wallet 17. After we completed the test, we read books for the remainder of the class. A. her B. herself C. our D. we

6 18. James and went out for ice cream after the baseball game. A. him B. her C. I D. myself 19. My father yelled at after he saw that my room was a complete disaster. A. I B. me C. ourselves D. we