Name: Date:

Unit 2 Test
Selected and Short Response
ANALYZE CRAFT AND STRUCTURE
Science Fiction
Read the following passage. Then, answer the question(s).
(1) I had been looking forward to this meeting for five years. It was five years ago that we
first discovered that there are others out there, in our universe, living on distant planets. It
took months to decode their language, but only weeks to know that these beings would
become friends and allies, not foes. The news of their arrival was a lightning bolt from the
sky, electrifying the world and lighting up our nights. In the storm of wonder and excitement,
new hope began to flood our tired planet, washing away dingy old worries.
(2) We had, of course, been immersed in video communications with the aliens since the
beginning. They resembled us, but with unsettling differences, and the video images were as
fascinating as a reflection in a fun-house mirror. The aliens’ hair flowed like water and their
gray eyes were as still as pebbles. But their basic body structures were the same as ours.
They had four limbs, the same as we do. They had fewer attachments, though—no
communications implants behind their ears, no telescopic extensions next to their eyes, and
no multi-tool structures growing from their hands.
(3) Their transport shuttle was a lantern in the sky, easy to spot even in the early morning.
We held our breaths as the shuttle floated to the ground like a butterfly. The long hatch
popped open and there they were. We stood stunned, our hearts applauding their arrival
with every beat. Their waterfalls of hair, their pebble-like eyes, their four appendages, they
were all there. But even though we had the best technology in the universe, a trick of the eye
caught us out. In the video images, they had appeared to be a bit taller than us relative to
the things in their environment. It appeared, however, that their trees were much, much
shorter than ours, because the aliens were much, much shorter than we are. When we
finally pulled ourselves together, we bent very, very low, and greeted our visitors warmly. I
wondered whether they were equally surprised to meet us.

1. Which of the following sentences from the story contains a metaphor?

a. It took months to decode their language, but only weeks to know that these
beings would become friends and allies, not foes. (paragraph 1)
b. In the storm of wonder and excitement, new hope began to flood our tired
planet, washing away dingy old worries. (paragraph 1)
c. We held our breaths as the shuttle floated to the ground like a butterfly.
(paragraph 3)
d. It appeared, however, that their trees were much, much shorter than ours
because the aliens were much, much shorter than we are. (paragraph 3)

© by Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. 1

 GRADE 7 • UNIT 2 TEST

Name: Date:

2. Which word best describes the type of figurative language used in the
following sentence from the passage?
We stood stunned, our hearts applauding their arrival with every beat.

a. simile
b. metaphor
c. description
d. personification

3. The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B.

Part A What does the author most likely mean by “Their transport shuttle was
a lantern in the sky” in paragraph 3?
a. The shuttle was beautiful.
b. The shuttle looked fragile.
c. The shuttle was brightly lit.
d. The shuttle looked otherworldly.

Part B Which choice best describes the phrase in Part A?

a. simile
b. transition
c. metaphor
d. personification

© by Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. 2

 GRADE 7 • UNIT 2 TEST

Name: Date:

4. Which of the following phrases from the passage are similes and which are
metaphors?
I. The news of their arrival was a lightning bolt from the sky (paragraph 1)
II. their gray eyes were as still as pebbles (paragraph 2)
III. the video images were as fascinating as a reflection in a fun-house mirror
(paragraph 2)
IV. They had four limbs, the same as we do. (paragraph 2)
V. Their waterfalls of hair (paragraph 3)

a. similes: II and III

metaphors: I and V
b. similes: I, II, and III
metaphors: IV and V
c. similes: IV and V
metaphors: I, II, and III
d. similes: I and V
metaphors: II and III

ANALYZE CRAFT AND STRUCTURE

from Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
In the novel Tom Sawyer, Tom Sawyer is a young boy growing up in Missouri. He has
romantic feelings for a girl named Becky Thatcher, but the two quarrel and stop speaking
to each other. In this abridged passage, Tom has just returned to school after an
adventure. Because of his adventure, the people in his town are all talking about him.
Read the passage. Then, answer the question(s).
(1) Tom decided that he could be independent of Becky Thatcher now. Glory was sufficient. He
would live for glory. Now that he was distinguished, maybe she would be wanting to “make
up.” Well, let her—she should see that he could be as indifferent as some other people.
Presently she arrived. Tom pretended not to see her. He moved away and joined a group of
boys and girls and began to talk. Soon he observed that she was tripping gayly back and
forth with flushed face and dancing eyes, pretending to be busy chasing schoolmates, and
screaming with laughter when she made a capture; but he noticed that she always made her
captures in his vicinity, and that she seemed to cast a conscious eye in his direction at such
times, too. It gratified all the vicious vanity that was in him; and so, instead of winning him, it
only “set him up” the more and made him the more diligent to avoid betraying that he knew
she was about. Presently she gave over skylarking, and moved irresolutely about, sighing
once or twice and glancing furtively and wistfully toward Tom. Then she observed that now
Tom was talking more particularly to Amy Lawrence than to any one else. She felt a sharp
pang and grew disturbed and uneasy at once. She tried to go away, but her feet were
treacherous, and carried her to the group instead. She said to a girl almost at Tom’s elbow—
with sham vivacity:

© by Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. 3

 GRADE 7 • UNIT 2 TEST

Name: Date:

(2) “Why, Mary Austin! you bad girl, why didn’t you come to Sunday-school?”
(3) “I did come—didn’t you see me?”
(4) “Why, no! Did you? Where did you sit?”
(5) “I was in Miss Peters’ class, where I always go. I saw you.”
(6) “Did you? Why, it’s funny I didn’t see you. I wanted to tell you about the picnic.”
(7) “Oh, that’s jolly. Who’s going to give it?”
(8) “My ma’s going to let me have one.”
(9) “Oh, goody; I hope she’ll let me come.”
(10) “Well, she will. The picnic’s for me. She’ll let anybody come that I want, and I want you.”
...

(11) And so on, with clapping of joyful hands till all the group had begged for invitations but Tom
and Amy. Then Tom turned coolly away, still talking, and took Amy with him. Becky’s lips
trembled and the tears came to her eyes; she hid these signs with a forced gayety and went
on chattering, but the life had gone out of the picnic, now, and out of everything else; she got
away as soon as she could and hid herself . . . .
(12) At recess Tom continued his flirtation with Amy with jubilant self-satisfaction. And he kept
drifting about to find Becky and lacerate her with the performance. At last he spied her, but
there was a sudden falling of his mercury. She was sitting cosily on a little bench behind the
schoolhouse looking at a picture-book with Alfred Temple—and so absorbed were they, and
their heads so close together over the book, that they did not seem to be conscious of
anything in the world besides. Jealousy ran red-hot through Tom’s veins. He began to hate
himself for throwing away the chance Becky had offered for a reconciliation. He called
himself a fool, and all the hard names he could think of. He wanted to cry with vexation.

5. Which is most clearly an example of external conflict in the passage?

a. Tom’s refusal to give Becky the attention she wishes
b. Tom’s annoyance with himself for failing to make up with Becky
c. Becky’s attempt to appear cheerful even after Tom snubs her
d. Becky’s accusation that Mary Austin was not in Sunday school

© by Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. 4

 GRADE 7 • UNIT 2 TEST

Name: Date:

6. The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B.

Part A Which choice best identifies an internal conflict in the passage?

a. Becky’s desire for Tom’s attention vs. Tom’s attention to Amy
b. Becky’s failure to gain Tom’s attention vs. her hurt feelings
c. Tom’s desire to show his independence from Becky vs. his jealousy of
Alfred
d. Tom’s desire to show his independence from Becky vs. his desire to flirt
with Amy

Part B Which quotation from the passage best illustrates the conflict identified
in Part A?
a. Then Tom turned coolly away, still talking, and took Amy with him.
(paragraph 11)
b. Becky’s lips trembled and the tears came to her eyes; she hid these signs
with a forced gayety and went on chattering, but the life had gone out of
the picnic, now. . . . (paragraph 11)
c. At recess Tom continued his flirtation with Amy with jubilant self-
satisfaction. (paragraph 12)
d. He began to hate himself for throwing away the chance Becky had
offered for a reconciliation. (paragraph 12)

© by Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. 5

 GRADE 7 • UNIT 2 TEST

Name: Date:

7. The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B.

Part A Which answer best explains one way in which external conflict leads to
internal conflict in the passage?
a. Tom pretends to flirt with Amy, which conflicts with his desire to go to
Becky’s picnic.
b. Becky invites others to a picnic, which conflicts with her desire to invite
Tom alone.
c. Becky invites others to a picnic, which creates a conflict for her between
wanting to see Tom and wanting to avoid Amy.
d. Tom refuses to pay attention to Becky, which creates a conflict for her
between feeling hurt and wanting his attention.

Part B Which quotation from the passage best supports the answer to Part A?
a. She felt a sharp pang and grew disturbed and uneasy at once. She tried
to go away, but her feet were treacherous, and carried her to the group
instead. (paragraph 1)
b. And so on, with clapping of joyful hands till all the group had begged
for invitations but Tom and Amy. (paragraph 11)
c. Then Tom turned coolly away, still talking, and took Amy with him.
Becky’s lips trembled and the tears came to her eyes. . . . (paragraph 11)
d. At recess Tom continued his flirtation with Amy with jubilant self-
satisfaction. And he kept drifting about to find Becky and lacerate her
with the performance. At last he spied her, but there was a sudden
falling of his mercury. (paragraph 12)

8. Choose one conflict from the passage, and explain whether or not it is resolved.
Support your answer with at least one quotation from the text.

© by Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. 6

 GRADE 7 • UNIT 2 TEST

Name: Date:

ANALYZE CRAFT AND STRUCTURE

Article
Read the following article. Then, answer the question(s).
(1) In 1961 President John F. Kennedy declared that within a decade, the United States would
put a man on the moon. The Soviets had sent the first human into space a little over a month
before, and the United States was embarrassed. The country was clearly losing the “space
race.” Space had become, at this time, another arena for competition between the United
States and the Soviet Union, each trying to prove their superiority. President Kennedy was
determined the U.S. would come out on top.
(2) The budget of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, was increased
dramatically. This led to scientific discoveries and achievements we could only have
dreamed of—including landing on the moon! But many scientists argued that sending a man
to the moon could not possibly be the wisest use of our money. Supposedly for every three
dollars America spent on research and development at the time, one dollar was spent on
defense, one on space, and one on all other research. Some scientists argued that this
rushed effort to get to space was costing us not only dollars but also scientific advancement
in other areas.
(3) But is there a price that can be put on how the first lunar landing affected the entire world?
Approximately 530 million people around the world watched the first lunar landing on
television. Ninety-three percent of Americans watched it as it happened. Never before and
never since has any event united people in such numbers. Everyone felt a part of it. The
three Apollo 11 astronauts embarked on a world tour when they returned. Astronaut Mike
Collins described the surprised reactions they received: “The thing that really surprised me
was that everywhere we went, people didn’t say ‘Well you Americans finally did it.’ They
said, ‘We did it.’ All of us together, we did it. It was a wonderful sensation.”
(4) The United States clearly won the space race, but in the process it did more to unite
humankind than anyone could ever have imagined. It was indeed money well spent. The
U.S. didn’t just come out on top—it took the whole world with it.

9. Which is the best description of the author’s word choice and the way in which
it supports the argument?
a. The author uses figurative language to create a clear picture.
b. The author uses figurative language to simplify complex ideas.
c. The author uses precise, formal language to explain and connect ideas
clearly.
d. The author uses precise, formal language to interest and entertain the
reader.

© by Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. 7

 GRADE 7 • UNIT 2 TEST

Name: Date:

10. The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B.

Part A What is the main claim that the writer attempts to prove in the article?
a. The Soviet Union led in the space race with the United States.
b. Putting astronauts on the moon was worth the price.
c. It was very important for America to win the space race.
d. Few agreed that the mission to the moon was worthwhile.

Part B What logical reason does the author give to support the claim in Part A?
a. Putting a man on the moon was not as expensive as some people
claimed.
b. Putting a man on the moon brought financial rewards to the U.S.
c. Putting a man on the moon was only the first step in a greater goal.
d. Putting a man on the moon brought rewards that cannot be measured
with money.

11. Which sentence from the article provides evidence to support the writer’s claim
that the moon landing united humankind?
a. The budget of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
NASA, was increased dramatically. (paragraph 2)
b. Approximately 530 million people around the world watched the first
lunar landing on television. (paragraph 3)
c. The three Apollo 11 astronauts embarked on a world tour when they
returned. (paragraph 3)
d. The U.S. didn’t just come out on top—it took the whole world with it.
(paragraph 4)

© by Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. 8

 GRADE 7 • UNIT 2 TEST

Name: Date:

ANALYZE CRAFT AND STRUCTURE

The History of the Telescope
Read the following passage. Then, answer the question(s).
(1) In 1610 Galileo Galilei became the first person to view the heavens through what we now
call a telescope. Before that time, what humans could discover in space was limited to what
they could see with the naked eye. Using a telescope, Galileo saw Saturn’s rings for the first
time. Jupiter’s moons were visible to him, too. Humankind’s view of the universe changed
dramatically.

(2) Telescopes grew and improved and gave humans an even greater view into space in the
centuries that followed. However, since 1990, scientists have gained more knowledge
through observations made by the Hubble Space Telescope than in all four centuries before.
Since it was launched into space in 1990, the Hubble has made more than 1.2 million
observations.

(3) The Hubble is one of the most valuable scientific tools ever built. It takes photographs of
distant space while it orbits about 340 miles above Earth. It is well above Earth’s clouds and
light pollution. The telescope is incredibly powerful. Its main mirror is 7 feet, 10.5 inches
across, while the entire telescope is the length of a school bus. It can see astronomical
objects with an angular size of 0.05 arc seconds. Imagine you were looking through the
telescope from Tokyo, Japan. You would be able to see a firefly in Maryland on the eastern
side of the United States!

12. Which answer choice best identifies the form of writing in the article?
a. It is an argument, shown by the fact that it presents details showing the
importance of Galileo’s work.
b. It is informative writing, shown by the fact that it presents facts that may
be difficult to find elsewhere.
c. It is informative writing, shown by the fact that it presents facts and
explanations in related paragraphs.
d. It is an argument, shown by the fact that it attempts to persuade readers
to support the Hubble telescope.

© by Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. 9

 GRADE 7 • UNIT 2 TEST

Name: Date:

13. Read the following sentences from the article.

Imagine you were looking through the telescope from Tokyo, Japan. You would be
able to see a firefly in Maryland on the eastern side of the United States!
Which sentence from the article do these sentences most clearly support?
a. Telescopes grew and improved and gave humans an even greater view
into space in the centuries that followed. (paragraph 2)
b. However, since 1990, scientists have gained more knowledge through
observations made by the Hubble Space Telescope than in all four
centuries before. (paragraph 2)
c. The Hubble is one of the most valuable scientific tools ever built.
(paragraph 3)
d. The telescope is incredibly powerful. (paragraph 3)

14. Which of the following terms best describes the function of paragraph 1 in the
structure of this text?
a. It provides background and context for readers.
b. It provides a clear transition to the next idea.
c. It states the main claim the author supports.
d. It provides a powerful concluding statement.

© by Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. 10

 GRADE 7 • UNIT 2 TEST

Name: Date:

LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT: Vocabulary

Identify the choice that best answers the question.

15. To which part of speech is the Latin suffix -tion added to form nouns?
a. verbs
b. adverbs
c. pronouns
d. adjectives

16. The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B.

Part A Which of the following is the meaning of the Latin prefix sub-?
a. against
b. under
c. with
d. overhead

Part B In music, the base word tonic means “the first note in a scale.” Given
the answer to Part A, what can you conclude is the meaning of subtonic?
a. any note that does not go well with the tonic
b. the note in the scale two notes above the tonic
c. the note in the scale one note below the tonic
d. any note that is played together with the tonic

LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT: Vocabulary

Science Fiction
Read the following excerpt from a science fiction story. Then, answer the question(s).
Scientists first picked up the signals from the aliens decades ago. It took years to crack the
code the aliens used. The news that we could now communicate with them was
unprecedented.

© by Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. 11

 GRADE 7 • UNIT 2 TEST

Name: Date:

17. The multiple-meaning word crack appears underlined in the paragraph. Which
of the following definitions of the word is its likeliest meaning in the
paragraph?
a. to crush
b. to solve
c. to tell a joke
d. to snap apart

18. The word unprecedented appears underlined in the paragraph. It is formed from
the base word precede, meaning “come before.” Choose the answer that gives
the most likely definition of unprecedented, from its base word precede.
a. frequently observed
b. everyday occurrence
c. never previously experienced
d. happening with regularity

LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT: Vocabulary

19. Read the following sentence.

Officials hoped they could mitigate the effects of the drought by limiting the
residents’ water usage.

Given the context of the sentence, which choice is the most likely meaning of
mitigate?
a. make stronger
b. offer a plan
c. make less serious
d. move forward

© by Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. 12

 GRADE 7 • UNIT 2 TEST

Name: Date:

LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT: Conventions and Style

Science Fiction
Read the following excerpt from a science fiction short story. Then, answer the
question(s).
Their transport shuttle was a lantern in the sky, easy to spot even in the early morning.
We held our breaths as the shuttle floated to the ground like a butterfly. The long hatch
popped open and there they were. We stood stunned, our hearts applauding their arrival
with every beat. Their waterfalls of hair, their pebble-like eyes, their four appendages, they
were all there. But even though we had the best technology in the universe, a trick of the eye
caught us out. In the video images, they had appeared to be a bit taller than we are, relative
to the things in their environment. It appeared, however, that their trees were much, much
shorter than ours because the aliens were much, much shorter than we are. When we finally
pulled ourselves together, we bent very, very low, and greeted our visitors warmly. I
wondered whether they were equally surprised to meet us.

20. Which of the following sentences from the paragraph contain a positive
adverb? Choose two that apply.
a. We held our breaths as the shuttle floated to the ground like a butterfly.
b. But even though we had the best technology in the universe, a trick of
the eye caught us out.
c. It appeared, however, that their trees were much, much shorter than
ours, because the aliens were much, much shorter than we are.
d. When we finally pulled ourselves together, we bent very, very low, and
greeted our visitors warmly.
e. I wondered whether they were equally surprised to meet us.

21. Which of the following sentences from the paragraph contain a comparative
adjective? Choose all that apply.
a. The long hatch popped open and there they were.
b. We stood stunned, our hearts applauding their arrival with every beat.
c. But even though we had the best technology in the universe, a trick of
the eye caught us out.
d. In the video images, they had appeared to be a bit taller than we are,
relative to the things in their environment.
e. It appeared, however, that their trees were much, much shorter than
ours, because the aliens were much, much shorter than we are.

© by Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. 13

 GRADE 7 • UNIT 2 TEST

Name: Date:

LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT: Conventions and Style

Identify the choice that best answers the question.

22. Which word in the following sentence is a linking verb?

Maria seemed relaxed as she began to give her speech.

a. seemed
b. relaxed
c. began
d. give

23. Which verb form is used in the underlined part of the following sentence?
The Soviets had sent the first human into space a little over a month before, and the
United States was embarrassed.

a. present
b. present participle
c. past
d. past participle

24. Which verb form is used in the underlined portion of the following sentence?
The crew is preparing the shuttle for launch this morning.

a. present
b. present participle
c. past
d. past participle

© by Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. 14

 GRADE 7 • UNIT 2 TEST

Name: Date:

25. Which words in the following sentence form a compound subject?

Both Molly and her sister have babysat for Tom and me when our parents have
gone out to dinner.

a. Both Molly
b. Molly and her sister
c. Tom and me
d. our parents

26. Which part of speech is a simple predicate?

a. a conjunction or an interjection
b. an adjective or an adverb
c. a verb or a verb phrase
d. a noun or a pronoun

27. Which of the following sentences has a compound predicate?

a. Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite kind of sandwich.
b. It’s raining, and I forgot to close the car windows.
c. The teacher chose Mark and Ivan to help rearrange the desks.
d. Sally looked down the hill and saw a car pulling into the driveway.

28. In which of the following sentences is the end mark most likely to have been
used correctly?
a. Run for your life?
b. Did you see the launch.
c. Those stars are awesome!
d. Give me your unwanted books?

29. The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B.

Part A What is the function of an imperative sentence?

a. to ask a question
b. to make an exclamation
c. to make a statement
d. to give a command

© by Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. 15

 GRADE 7 • UNIT 2 TEST

Name: Date:

Part B Which of the following sentences is an imperative sentence?

a. Do you enjoy stargazing?
b. Space travel is exhausting.
c. Close the hatch behind you.
d. What an amazing moonrise!

30. Which of the following sentences contains a superlative adjective?

a. Sierra is a creative writer.
b. Jackson is stronger than Molly.
c. Cameron is a fast runner, but Lianne is faster.
d. Grey likes to take the longest route home after school.

31. Which answer choice identifies the action verb in the following sentence?
We knew they looked different.

a. We
b. knew
c. they
d. looked

EFFECTIVE EXPRESSION: Writing and Editing

Kyla is writing an argument against sending humans into space. Read the draft of her
introduction and her notes, and then complete the task that follows.
Why Space Exploration Shouldn’t Include Humans
There are many reasons for space exploration. None of these reasons, however, requires
that we send humans into space. More and more, technology allows us to gather information
without any help from humans. Robots already replace humans in many jobs on Earth to
save costs and improve safety. NASA’s human space exploration and space operations
programs should be ended and replaced by robotic space missions.

Using technology, instead of humans, is more cost effective and much safer.

Kyla made these notes about her argument:

Eliminating programs would save $73 billion between 2015 and 2023.
The risk to human life would be cut to zero.
Space missions could be one way.
Spacecraft could be lighter and less complex.
Sending humans anywhere beyond the moon is still decades away.

© by Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. 16

 GRADE 7 • UNIT 2 TEST

Name: Date:

32. Drawing on details from Kyla’s notes, write the rest of the paragraph that
begins with the underlined sentence. Support the argument with reasons and
evidence that are sufficient, and be sure to maintain a formal and consistent
style throughout.

© by Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. 17

 GRADE 7 • UNIT 2 TEST

Name: Date:

33. Read these sentences from the draft.

Robots already replace humans in many jobs on Earth to save costs and improve
safety. NASA’s human space exploration and space operations programs should be
ended and replaced by robotic space missions.

Which phrase should be placed at the beginning of the second sentence to

clarify the relationship between the two ideas?
a. On the other hand,
b. Even though,
c. In the same way,
d. Regardless,

© by Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. 18