TAKS–M March 2009 Grade 10 ELA Online Test

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DIRECTIONS
Read each selection. Then read each question that follows that selection. Decide which is the best answer to each question. Mark the space for the answer you have chosen.

1Read the following dictionary entry.

Which definition best matches the use of the word casualties in paragraph 3?

ADefinition 1

BDefinition 2

CDefinition 3

2In paragraph 7, why does the narrator say she wants to be the truck driver?

FThe truck does not seem to be damaged by the locusts.

GThe big rig gives him a better view of the countryside.

HThe truck is moving faster than she is.

3What does the word clamor mean in paragraph 8?

ALoud noise

BDanger

CSmell

4Why does the car start to make a funny noise?

FThe car is out of gas.

GThe car is overheated.

HThere are locusts in the engine.

5What is most likely to be true about the man at the gas station?

AHe has worked on cars damaged by locusts before.

BHe is concerned that the narrator’s car cannot be repaired.

CHe has owned the gas station for only a few years.

6In paragraph 18, the word “march” is used to suggest that the locusts are —

Fnot a serious threat

Glike an army

Hmoving without a plan

7Where does the narrator discuss the locusts with the townspeople?

AIn a wheat field

BAt the gas station

CIn a coffee shop

8What is the narrator’s role in the conversations with the townspeople?

FShe is a rude questioner.

GShe is a curious participant.

HShe is a bored observer.

9What has the narrator developed by the end of the selection?

AA sense of confusion

BA sense of understanding

CA sense of humor

Use the whole story “Locusts on My Windshield” to answer question 10.

10How can the narrator’s attitude toward the townspeople best be described?

FRespectful

GUnconcerned

HRude

11Why does the author include Marcie’s poem in paragraph 2?

ATo show her creativity as a poet

BTo introduce the reader to Marcie’s family

CTo show how upset she is with her parents

12Why does the author use descriptive language in paragraph 5?

FTo show that Marcie wishes she had a larger family

GTo show that Marcie’s family is very different from Hilda’s family

HTo show that Hilda is more mature than Marcie is

13Why does life at Hilda’s house look good to Marcie?

AHilda doesn’t have brothers or sisters.

BThe activities seem less planned.

CHilda’s house is large and has a lot of space.

14What is the mood of paragraph 8?

FDistress

GIndifference

HFear

15What does Marcie do after she finds the new dress?

AShe calls her parents.

BShe begins to pack.

CShe goes to school.

16Why does Hilda tell Marcie to be quiet?

FShe is tired of fighting over whose turn it is.

GThe girls are hiding from Hilda’s brother.

HHilda’s parents are listening to an opera.

17Which of these sentences shows that Marcie feels bad about having to go home?

A“I’m not going to play,” I said, getting up.

BThen I went out into the hall and looked for my pack.

CMy feet seemed to sink into the walk as if it were made of heavy extra-soft pillows.

Use the whole story “The Runaway” to answer questions 18–22.

18How can Aunt Bea best be described?

FTired and overworked

GCaring but quick-tempered

HCautious but disorganized

19Which of these is the best plot summary of the story?

AA young girl named Marcie wants to have the same life as her friend Hilda. Marcie thinks Hilda’s mother is the best mother alive, and she imagines living with Hilda’s family. She wants to run away from her overprotective parents, so she spends hours planning out her possible escapes.

BMarcie wishes that her parents were less controlling. She thinks up various plans for her escape. She finally runs away to her friend Hilda’s house. Then she returns home despite the long walk back.

CMarcie thinks that her parents don’t give her enough freedom. This is different from the parenting of Aunt Bea, her friend Hilda’s mother. Marcie runs away, thinking things will be better at Hilda’s house. She discovers that Hilda’s family is not perfect, so Marcie returns home.

20What is the author able to show by setting the second half of the story at Hilda’s house?

FHilda and Aunt Bea behave differently than Marcie thought they would.

GMarcie’s dreams of living with another family have come true.

HAunt Bea’s love for the opera is more important than her love for her children.

21What can the reader conclude that Marcie learns?

AShe should be patient and wait for good things to happen.

BShe should appreciate what she has even though things aren’t perfect.

CShe should congratulate herself for her achievements.

22What does the author’s use of the first-person point of view help the reader understand?

FWhy Marcie and Hilda are such good friends

GWhy Marcie’s mother treats her the way she does

HWhy Marcie is frustrated about her life

23What is the best way to revise sentence 3?

AShe wants us to know about her life. And what it was like when she was a little girl.

BShe wants us to know what life was like when she was a little girl.

CShe wants us to know. What life was like when she was a little girl.

24Which transition word or phrase could best be added to the beginning of sentence 8?

FBefore that

GHowever

HAs a result

25What is the best way to revise sentences 9 and 10?

AEven though life was hard, Grandma’s family learned something.

BEven though life was hard and Grandma’s family learning something.

CEven though life was hard and Grandma’s family learned something.

26What change should be made in sentence 12?

FChange dad to Dad

GChange thought to thinked

HDelete no

27What change should be made in sentence 14?

AChange traded to tradded

BChange gifts to Gifts

CChange wore to wears

28What change should be made in sentence 16?

FPut they after family

GChange tryed to tried

HChange the period to a question mark

29What change should be made in sentence 21?

AChange is to are

BChange them to they

CChange nations to nation’s

30What change should be made in sentence 6?

FChange the comma to a question mark

GChange voice to voise

HChange asked to asking

31What is the best way to revise sentence 8?

AKeisha shook his hand, and they both sat down.

BKeisha shook his hand when they both sat down.

CKeisha shook his hand because they both sat down.

32What change should be made in sentence 10?

FChange meet to hang out with

GPut a comma after Mr. Cohen

HChange began to begann

33What change should be made in sentence 16?

AChange need to needs

BChange friend to freind

CChange there to their

34What is the best way to revise sentence 17?

FKeisha wrote quickly as Mr. Cohen told her about stores. And about websites that sell unicycles.

GKeisha wrote quickly about stores and about websites that sell unicycles that Mr. Cohen told her about.

HKeisha wrote quickly as Mr. Cohen told her about stores and websites that sell unicycles.

35What change should be made in sentence 19?

AChange the interview to it

BChange performmed to performed

CChange hardest to more harder

36What is the best way to revise sentence 22?

FDid she really want to work for a newspaper? Or rather become a unicycle rider?

GDid she really want to work for a newspaper that would rather become a unicycle rider?

HDid she really want to work for a newspaper, or would she rather become a unicycle rider?

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