MCAS: 7th Grade ELA Practice Test

1. Read the sentence below.

An experimenter might put two objects in front of the child, perhaps a teddy bear and a potato masher, and ask, "May I have the bloof?"

What part of speech is the nonsense word bloof as it is used in the sentence?

Verb

Noun

Adjective

Adverb

In the sentence, the word "bloof" is used as a noun. It is a nonsense word that does not have a specific meaning, but it functions as a noun because it is the object of the verb "have" in the sentence. The experimenter is asking for the "bloof," treating it as a tangible object that the child can give to them. Therefore, "bloof" is functioning as a noun in this context.

Explanation

In the sentence, the word "bloof" is used as a noun. It is a nonsense word that does not have a specific meaning, but it functions as a noun because it is the object of the verb "have" in the sentence. The experimenter is asking for the "bloof," treating it as a tangible object that the child can give to them. Therefore, "bloof" is functioning as a noun in this context.

2.


	"But Mama!" I gasped. "We can't do without Old Yeller. He's -"
	Mama's voice was too sharp. I knew I was whipped.

Read the sentences below.

Mama's voice was too sharp. I knew
I was whipped.

What does whipped mean in the sentence?

Hurt

Sorry

Defeated

Understood

In this context, "whipped" means defeated. The narrator's mother's sharp voice indicates that the narrator has been scolded or reprimanded, implying that they have been defeated in an argument or discussion.

Explanation

In this context, "whipped" means defeated. The narrator's mother's sharp voice indicates that the narrator has been scolded or reprimanded, implying that they have been defeated in an argument or discussion.

3. First, they laid out 10 of his playthings in a room. Out of sight in another room, his owner asked him for one of the objects by name. When he brought that one to her, she
rewarded him and asked for another. After he had brought the second one, the researchers
laid out a different set of 10 toys and repeated the process. They did this 20 times, using 200
playthings that he knew by name and asking for two of the ten objects in each trial. He
successfully retrieved 37 of the 40 objects requested.

What is the meaning of the word retrieved as it is used above?

	A.	took out
	B.	lifted up
	C.	played with
	D.	brought back

Took out

Lifted up

Played with

Brought back

The word "retrieved" in this context means to bring back or to fetch. In the given scenario, the dog was asked to bring specific objects to its owner, and it successfully brought back 37 out of the 40 objects requested. Therefore, the correct answer is "brought back."

Explanation

The word "retrieved" in this context means to bring back or to fetch. In the given scenario, the dog was asked to bring specific objects to its owner, and it successfully brought back 37 out of the 40 objects requested. Therefore, the correct answer is "brought back."

4. Read the sentences below.

PEW: So it's "Captain" Bones, is it? We'll give you "Captain" my mate—aye, we'll give you that and more.

What is the purpose of the quotation marks in the sentences?

To show that Pew is afraid of Bones

To indicate the respect Pew has for Bones

To show that Pew is not used to the language of the sea

To indicate that Pew does not believe Bones is a real captain

The purpose of the quotation marks in the sentences is to indicate that Pew does not believe Bones is a real captain. The use of quotation marks suggests that Pew is being sarcastic or mocking Bones by calling him "Captain." It implies that Pew does not consider Bones to be a legitimate or deserving captain.

Explanation

The purpose of the quotation marks in the sentences is to indicate that Pew does not believe Bones is a real captain. The use of quotation marks suggests that Pew is being sarcastic or mocking Bones by calling him "Captain." It implies that Pew does not consider Bones to be a legitimate or deserving captain.

5.


	"So I crept around behind the camp, stuck my head in the window and yelled. He shot through the door like a bullet and headed for the lake. I never saw such an odd gait on a bear before—sort of mixture of running and galloping. And all on three legs. He was holding up the paw daubed with molasses.

Which of the following phrases provides the best context clue for the word daubed as it is
used?

Lapped up

Smeared it all over

Headed for the lake

Saw such an odd gait

The phrase "smeared it all over" provides the best context clue for the word "daubed" because it suggests that the bear had applied or spread molasses all over its paw. This explanation is supported by the mention of the bear holding up the paw daubed with molasses.

Explanation

The phrase "smeared it all over" provides the best context clue for the word "daubed" because it suggests that the bear had applied or spread molasses all over its paw. This explanation is supported by the mention of the bear holding up the paw daubed with molasses.

6.

The word neurotoxin in comes from the Greek word neuro, which means "nerve," and the Latin word toxicus, which means "poison." Which phrase best defines the word neurotoxin?

A doctor who studies poisons

A person with nerve tissue damage

A medicine for people who have been poisoned

A substance that damages nerve tissues

not-available-via-ai

Explanation

not-available-via-ai

7. But then, suddenly, the crayon meets with slight resistance, and letters, one after another,
emerge magically on the page: ABIJAH CRAVEN, 1701–45. Gogol has never met a person
named Abijah, just as, he now realizes, he has never met another Gogol. He wonders
how to pronounce Abijah, whether it's a man's or a woman's name. He walks to another
tombstone, less than a foot tall, and presses another sheet of paper to its surface. This
one says ANGUISH MATHER, A CHILD. He shudders, imagining bones no larger than his
below the ground. Some of the other children in the class, already bored with the project,
begin chasing one another around the stones, pushing and teasing and snapping gum.
But Gogol goes from grave to grave with paper and crayon in hand, bringing to life one
name after another. PEREGRINE WOTTON, D. 1699. EZEKIEL AND URIAH LOCKWOOD, BROTHERS,
R.I.P. He likes these names, likes their oddness, their flamboyance. "Now those are
some names you don't see very often these days," one of the chaperones, passing by
and looking down at his rubbings, remarks. "Sort of like yours." Until now it has not
occurred to Gogol that names die over time, that they perish just as people do.

Read the sentence below.

Until now it has not occurred to Gogol that names die over time, that they perish just as people do.

Which of the following best explains what the phrase "names die over time" means?

Some names are no longer used.

People get used to odd names.

Most people are forgotten.

All people eventually die.

The phrase "names die over time" means that some names are no longer used. This is indicated by the previous sentences where Gogol is exploring old tombstones and noticing names that are unfamiliar to him. The remark made by one of the chaperones further emphasizes that these names are not commonly seen in the present day. Therefore, the explanation that "some names are no longer used" accurately reflects the meaning of the phrase.

Explanation

The phrase "names die over time" means that some names are no longer used. This is indicated by the previous sentences where Gogol is exploring old tombstones and noticing names that are unfamiliar to him. The remark made by one of the chaperones further emphasizes that these names are not commonly seen in the present day. Therefore, the explanation that "some names are no longer used" accurately reflects the meaning of the phrase.

8. "But Mama!" I gasped. "We can't do without Old Yeller. He's—""But Mama!" I gasped. "We can't do without Old Yeller. He's—"
"Travis!"

What is the function of the dash
in the first sentence?

To show that Travis is thinking

To show that Travis is speechless

To show that Mama silences Travis

To show that Mama sends Travis away

The dash in the first sentence is used to show that Mama silences Travis. The interruption of Mama saying "Travis!" after his gasp indicates that she is stopping him from continuing his statement.

Explanation

The dash in the first sentence is used to show that Mama silences Travis. The interruption of Mama saying "Travis!" after his gasp indicates that she is stopping him from continuing his statement.