7th grade Semester Exam ELA Study Guide
Practice Test ANSWERS:
1. Underline the sensory language: The sweet scent of vanilla had met us as she opened
the door.
2. Underline the sensory language: They were flat round wafers, slightly browned on the
edges and butter-yellow in the center
3. Underline the sensory language: I jammed one whole cake in my mouth and the rough
crumbs scratched the insides of my jaws, and if I hadn’t had to swallow, it would have
been a dream come true.
4. When the lad saw all that wealth, he felt his heart burst with longing to grasp it.
a. subjective point of view b. objective point of view
5. These he placed outside his cavern door, as gifts to the poor peasants.
a. subjective point of view b. objective point of view
6. Pete called Ted Tuesday afternoon and invited him to come to his house after dinner to
watch a movie. It had been a long, boring day, and Ted was excited to have something
to do. After dinner, he hopped on his bike and pedaled over to Pete’s house. The house
was dark, and when he rang the bell, there was no answer. Ted turned around, hopped
back on his bike, and rode home.
a. What did Ted infer? _Pete wasn’t home__________________
7. What clued you in to this inference? _lights were out, no one came to door
8. Some students like to study in the morning.
a. Simple sentence
b. compound sentence
c. complex sentence
9. The students are studying because they have a test tomorrow.
a. Simple sentence
b. compound sentence
c. complex sentence
10. I tried to speak Spanish, and my friend tried to speak English.
a. Simple sentence
b. compound sentence
c. complex sentence
11. Although Tom reads novels, Jack reads comics.
a. Complex sentence
b. Compound-complex sentence
12. Although though to be indestructible, the Twin Towers fell in 2001, and that forever
changed the NYC skyline.
a. Complex sentence
b. Compound-complex sentence
13. In naval aviation, the AWACS (Airborne Early Warning Command and Control System)
plane, or Hawkeye, serves as an air traffic controller, monitoring the airspace around a
carrier fleet. It is responsible for surveillance of enemy aircraft and ships as well as
directing helicopters to survivors and guarding against air collisions. In addition to
servicing the Navy, Hawkeye planes have been used in rescue operations of civilians
during hurricane evacuations. The author’s purpose of this piece is to:
a. explain
b. persuade c. entertain
14. Alonzo winked at his mother's shocked gaze and with a grin quipped, "Sausage and
pepperoni pizza for breakfast makes perfect sense. Allow me to demonstrate. You have
your tomato. Tomato is technically a fruit. You have your cheese. Cheese is a dairy
product. You have your crust—necessary carbs for quick energy in the morning. And
don't forget the sausage and pepperoni—my protein. If you think about it, it's just like
7th grade Semester Exam ELA Study Guide
bacon and eggs, toast, and orange juice." Still grinning, he added, "Really it is. Well,
almost. Why are you looking at me that way?" The author’s purpose of this piece is to:
a. Explain
b. persuade c. entertain
15. Tobacco companies should be forced to pay lucrative settlements to anyone who has
become addicted or adversely affected by the use of their products. Anyone who has a
loved one who has succumbed to the temptation to use cigarettes can attest to the way
the product can swallow souls as well as consumers' wallets. The clinical evidence of the
devastation created by secondhand smoke is compelling enough for legislators to
consider legal action against the powerful corporations. Unfortunately, tobacco
companies have traditionally provided strong financial support for many political
candidates. Write your congressional representative and express your outrage! The
author’s purpose of this piece is to:
a. explain
b. persuade c. entertain
16. One of my brothers (plant, plants) tomatoes every year.
17. (Many, Nobody) is predicting rain tomorrow.
18. All of us (enjoy, enjoys) the music at the skating rink.
19. The scissors (is, are) sharp.
20. Bobby did not like to go to the dentist. ______, it was something that just had to be
done.
a. However
b. in addition
c. finally
21. The technicians tuned the guitars. ________, the musicians prepared themselves
backstage.
a. However
b. meanwhile
c. consequently
22. Please read the (story/storey) (aloud/allowed).
23. We ate the (desert/dessert) (all together/ altogether).
24. My strong eye (sight/site) helped me read the tiny print.
25. Please (accept/except) my apology.
26. I brought everything (accept/except) my jacket.
27. Place the correct commas: Carlos wants to visit Paris, Italy, Germany, and China.
28. Place the correct comma: I want to buy the new jacket, but it is too expensive.
29. Place the correct comma: In five minutes, the building will be closed.
30. Place the correct commas: Daniel Garrison, a farmer, wakes up very early.
31. What the teacher said was downright inspiring.
a. Noun clause b. noun phrase
32. The children who skateboard down the street are especially noisy in the evening.
a. adjective phrase
b. Relative clause
33. My backpack is full of textbooks.
a. Adjectival phrase
b. adverbial phrase
34. The movie on the television looks interesting.
a. Prepositional phrase b. adverbial clause
35. We left after the speeches ended.
a. Adjectival clause
b. adverbial clause
36. We should have been studying for our test instead of watching TV.
a. Noun phrase
b. verb phrase