Common Core: 7th Grade English Language Arts : Language

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Common Core: 7th Grade English Language Arts

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All Common Core: 7th Grade English Language Arts Resources

1 Diagnostic Test 49 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Use Context Clues To Determine Word Meanings: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.7.4.A

Read the sentences below and determine the synonym of the underlined word using context clues or your prior knowledge.

I gave my friend the most incredulous stare as he told me his story. He claimed to have been camping the weekend prior and stumbled across large footprints. He thought he saw none other than...Bigfoot. I was in awe that he not only believed this story, but that he expected me to as well.

Possible Answers:

Overwhelmed

Infuriated

Skeptical

Trusting

Correct answer:

Skeptical

Explanation:

The definition of incredulous is unwilling to admit or accept what is offered as true. In the context of the story the subject’s friend saw something that is difficult to explain or believe based on his or her current belief system and first-hand knowledge. Trusting is an antonym for incredulous meaning the opposite. Infuriated and overwhelmed are emotions one might feel during a conversation but the context of this conversation do not lead readers to believe that.

Example Question #1 : Meanings Of Unknown And Multiple Meaning Words And Phrases: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.7.4

Read the sentences and determine which part(s) help you determine the meaning of the underlined word.

My cousin has always been the class-clown type of student and last week he outdid even himself. This prank was not intended to play out the way it did so when his pants split in front of everyone at the pep rally and the watermelon fell on his head he was the cause of much mirth. Students were talking about it for days after and you could see tears rolling down their faces, hear snorts of laughter, and watch reenactments all through the lunchroom.

Possible Answers:

Cousin, himself, his pants, his head

Class-clown, prank, pants split, watermelon fell on his head, tears rolling, laughter

Intended, students, reenactments

Pep rally, watermelon, students, faces, snorts, lunchroom

Correct answer:

Class-clown, prank, pants split, watermelon fell on his head, tears rolling, laughter

Explanation:

All of these words are clues to the meaning of mirth. Mirth means gladness or gaiety as shown by or accompanied with laughter. The students in the text are all demonstrating laughter, joy, happiness, and the events in the text explain why. Watching a prank backfire on someone would cause laughter, he is the cause of this mirth because he is the center of attention.

Example Question #2 : Meanings Of Unknown And Multiple Meaning Words And Phrases: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.7.4

Read the sentences and determine the meaning of the underlined word using sentence clues or your prior knowledge.

Samantha was mortified when she discovered that her mother had read her diary. She had her most private thoughts in that book! Samantha had written about the time she talked to her crush all afternoon with spinach between her teeth and when she slipped in the mud running to class. She would never be able to face her mother.

What does the word mortified mean in the context of the sentences above?

Possible Answers:

Confident

Neutral

Thrilled

Embarrassed

Correct answer:

Embarrassed

Explanation:

The word mortified means subject to severe and vexing embarrassment. She was mortified that her mother read her most embarrassing secrets that were private and she had already lived out at school. Samantha would not feel confident about her mother reading the diary, and certainly the phrase “never be able to face her mother” does not support that. Readers can imagine that they would not feel thrilled for their mothers to read all of these hidden thoughts. Neutral would mean she has no feelings either way but the context lets readers know she does have feelings and thoughts about the situation.

Example Question #81 : Language

Read the sentences and determine which part(s) help you determine the meaning of the underlined word.

Canadian Geese are migratory birds that have a wide range of travel. During the cold Canadian winters, they can be seen sunning themselves on the shores of Florida lakes as well as other states throughout the Southern United States. They are favorites of bird watchers all over the country and Canada.

Which words or phrases from the passage best help you determine the meaning of the word migratory?

Possible Answers:

Wide range, sunning themselves, bird watchers

Travel, Florida, Southern United States, all over the country

Bird, sunning, shores, watchers

Canadian, Canada

Correct answer:

Travel, Florida, Southern United States, all over the country

Explanation:

Migratory means travels from one place to another and it is usually seasonal. The words in the correct answer choice help readers to understand the birds are traveling from Canada to the Southern United States and they have a wide habitat.

Example Question #82 : Language

Read the following sentences and determine the meaning of the underlined word using context clues or your prior knowledge.

My uncle is a peevish sort of man. It only takes the slightest annoyance or misstep to upset him.

What does the word peevish mean?

Possible Answers:

Hard to understand

Easily irritated

Constantly late

Overly excited

Correct answer:

Easily irritated

Explanation:

Peevish people are easy to annoy or anger and are ill-tempered in nature. The clues in this sentence that it only takes a slight annoyance or misstep to upset him let us know that it doesn’t take much to irritate or bother him. The context clues would not allude to any of the other answer choices.

Example Question #83 : Language

Read the following sentences and determine the meaning of the underlined word using context clues or your prior knowledge.

Allison went away to computer camp over the summer and came back excited to share what she had learned. Her prowess with design and coding was amazing! Before she left for camp she was a beginner like I was, now I feel like she is lightyears ahead of me.

What does the word prowess mean?

Possible Answers:

Lack of courage or firmness of purpose

A superior skill learned by study and practice

Brooding ill humor

Personal bravery

Correct answer:

A superior skill learned by study and practice

Explanation:

In this text the readers learn that Allison went away for the summer to computer camp as a beginner at design and coding but is now far ahead of her peers. She has an impressive skill or talent and she studied at camp to increase her knowledge. Bravery and courage don’t fit with the context of the passage. There is no mention of anything related to humor, ill or otherwise, to allude to the answer choice “brooding ill humor”.

Example Question #84 : Language

Select the word that matches the definition provided.

To suffer for an extended period of time with patience.  

Possible Answers:

Radiant

Authentic

Ponder

Endure

Correct answer:

Endure

Explanation:

To endure means to suffer for an extended period of time with patience. 

To use endure in a sentence, "The wounded solider will have to endure a lot of rehab to walk again." 

Example Question #85 : Language

Select the word that matches the definition provided.

To think about something.

Possible Answers:

Ponder

Authentic

Radiant

Endure

Correct answer:

Ponder

Explanation:

To think about something means to ponder. 

To use ponder in a sentence, "High school seniors usually ponder about which college to attend." 

Example Question #86 : Common Core: 7th Grade English Language Arts

Select the word that matches the definition provided.

Something that shines or is bright. 

Possible Answers:

Endure

Radiant

Ponder

Authentic

Correct answer:

Radiant

Explanation:

Something that shines or is bright is radiant. 

To use radiant in a sentence, "Her teeth were so white, her smile was radiant." 

Example Question #4 : Consult Print And Digital Reference Materials To Define And Pronounce Words: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.7.4.C

If someone did not do something that they should have done, you could say that that person has been ________.

Possible Answers:

negligent

exonerated

deceitful

tentative

derogatory

Correct answer:

negligent

Explanation:

Answer: Negligent.  

 

All Common Core: 7th Grade English Language Arts Resources

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