- In this passage, what does the word Atlas suggest about Jada?
Answer: She carries a big responsibility for others.
In Greek myth, Atlas was forced to hold up the whole sky, so calling Jada 'Atlas' shows she carries a big responsibility for others. The passage proves this: she leads plays, teaches new players, and supports upset teammates. Saying she feels much stronger than her teammates misses the point, because the word points to the weight of her duties, not to muscle or comparing herself to others. Saying she would rather relax than help is the opposite of the passage, which shows her working hard for the team. Saying she is worn out and wants to quit is wrong too, because the passage says the responsibility is heavy 'but she does not give up.' Only carrying a big responsibility matches what 'Atlas' suggests here.
- In this passage, kryptonite means ___.
Answer: a weakness that can cause trouble even for someone strong
Kryptonite here means the one thing that can weaken someone who is usually strong. Lena is skilled at soccer, but she gets nervous during penalty kicks, so that is her weak spot. The choice about a weakness that troubles even a strong person fits this clue. A nervous habit that only appears once the game is safely won is wrong, because Lena's trouble happens during the kicks that matter, not after winning. A powerful skill that helps a strong player win more easily is the opposite of a weakness, so it does not fit. A burst of extra energy that makes a tired player feel strong again also names a strength, not the problem the sentence describes. The words 'gets nervous' are the clue that point to a weakness.
- In this passage, the author compares Maya to Atlas to show that she ___. "Maya is the oldest in her family, and she helps every afternoon. She watches her little brother, starts dinner when her mom is late, and reminds everyone about chores. Some days she feels like Atlas, holding up a heavy load of responsibility. Still, she asks for help when it gets too much."
Answer: carries a lot of responsibility for others
This question tests determining the meaning of words and phrases that allude to mythology (CCSS.RL.4.4), specifically understanding the allusion to Atlas in comparing Maya to this mythological figure. The allusion to Atlas comes from the Greek Titan who was condemned to hold up the heavens on his shoulders for eternity, bearing an enormous burden. In modern usage, comparing someone to Atlas means they carry heavy responsibilities or burdens. In this passage, the author uses this comparison to show that Maya bears significant family responsibilities as the oldest child. Choice A is correct because it accurately explains the figurative meaning of the allusion—Maya carries a lot of responsibility for others. The passage provides clues to this meaning through the list of Maya's duties: watching her little brother, starting dinner, reminding everyone about chores, and feeling like she's 'holding up a heavy load of responsibility.' Choice C is incorrect because it focuses on winning games without effort, which has no connection to Atlas's burden-bearing role. This error occurs when students don't know the mythological reference and guess based on unrelated ideas about strength or success. To help students understand mythological allusions: First, teach common mythological stories and characters from Greek, Roman, and other mythologies (Hercules, Achilles, Midas, Pandora, Atlas, Phoenix, Odysseus, Narcissus). Then, explain how these references are used figuratively in modern language—comparing someone to Atlas doesn't mean they literally hold up the sky, but that they carry heavy responsibilities like Atlas carried the heavens. Practice identifying allusions and using context clues to determine meaning: What characteristics of the mythological reference apply to the current situation? Create a chart: Mythological Reference | Original Story | Modern Meaning. Examples: Hercules (performed impossible labors) → Herculean (requiring great strength/effort); Midas (turned everything to gold) → Midas touch (makes everything successful); Achilles (strong except heel) → Achilles' heel (weakness despite overall strength). Watch for: taking allusions too literally (thinking about actual physical weight), missing the figurative comparison, and not using context clues to determine how the allusion is being applied in this specific situation.
- What does odyssey mean here?
Answer: A long journey with many difficult challenges
The passage tells about a flat tire, heavy rain, and many hours of delays before the class finally got home. All of these details point to a long journey with many difficult challenges, which is what an odyssey is. A quick and easy trip that goes exactly as planned is the opposite of what happened, since the trip had trouble after trouble. A relaxing break that everyone truly enjoyed does not fit either, because the trip was stressful and slow, not restful. A busy day full of fun games and songs mixes up the idea of a hard journey with the idea of playtime, but the passage never mentions games or fun. Only one choice matches the tiring, trouble-filled trip described in the passage.
- In this passage, nemesis means what?
Answer: a difficult problem that keeps beating you
Nemesis means a difficult problem or challenge that keeps beating you, which fits because the writer keeps missing tricky letters even after studying. It does not mean a best friend, since nothing in the passage describes someone helping. It does not mean a prize, since the writer has not won anything, they are still practicing. It also does not mean a subject you already know well, since the passage describes ongoing struggle rather than mastery.
- In this passage, the phrase "grow like magic" suggests that Ms. Patel is ___.
Answer: very successful at making plants grow and turn out well
When students say Ms. Patel's plants "grow like magic," they mean she is really skilled at helping plants grow well—it is a way of praising her, not saying she uses real spells. So the choice about being very successful at making plants grow fits best. The passage shows she works hard: she changes the soil, checks the sunlight, and waters at the right time. That is why the idea that she is just lucky without doing much work is wrong—her plants thrive because of her effort. For the same reason, saying she is careless and forgets to water is the opposite of what the passage tells us. The choice about trying new kinds of soil sounds possible, but the passage never says her soil is special or unlike other gardeners'; "grow like magic" is about how well her plants turn out, not about a secret ingredient. Only the first choice matches what the phrase really suggests.
- What does siren call mean here?
Answer: Means a tempting invitation that could cause problems.
In this passage, the video game pulls Ben toward playing even though he knows it could get him into trouble later. That makes a tempting invitation that could cause problems the best match, because a siren call is something that seems fun but leads you the wrong way. A loud emergency sound from a fire truck is the everyday meaning of a siren, not the figurative meaning the passage uses. A warning that helps someone avoid a mistake is the opposite of what happens here, since the game is pulling Ben toward trouble, not away from it. An exciting reward for finishing homework fast doesn't fit either, because Ben is being tempted to skip his homework, not rewarded for doing it. Only one choice captures the idea of a tempting pull toward something risky.
- What does Achilles' heel mean here?
Answer: It means a small weakness that can cause trouble.
Jordan is fast and rarely tired, but forgetting his shin guards causes him problems, which shows a small weakness that can cause trouble. Achilles' heel does not mean a shoe, a strong skill, or a body part to stretch, so the other choices do not fit how the phrase is used here.
- What does nemesis mean in this passage?
Answer: A difficult opponent or problem that keeps challenging her
The word nemesis means a rival or problem that keeps defeating someone. The passage says the hardest words still beat Nora no matter how much she practices, so spelling bees are a difficult opponent or problem that keeps challenging her. A helpful friend who studies beside her is wrong because a friend would help Nora, not keep beating her. A favorite hobby she looks forward to is wrong because the passage shows spelling bees frustrate her, not that she enjoys them. A special award she takes home is wrong because the passage says the words beat her, so she is not winning a prize. Only one meaning fits a thing that keeps defeating her.
- What does the phrase can of worms mean in this passage? "When our class voted to trade seats every day, it sounded fun. Soon, people argued about who sat near the window, and homework got lost. The teacher said trading seats had turned into a can of worms. She made a new plan with clear seating rules."
Answer: It means an action that leads to many unexpected troubles.
The phrase "can of worms" means an action that leads to many unexpected troubles. This matches the passage: trading seats sounded fun, but it soon caused arguing over the window seat and lost homework. The choice about a small change that quietly solves an old problem is wrong because the seat trading started the trouble instead of ending it. The choice about a fun idea that keeps everyone happy is wrong because the class quickly ran into arguments, not lasting fun. The choice about a firm rule set before any problem is wrong because the teacher's new plan came only after the trouble began, not ahead of it. So the best meaning is the action that causes many surprise problems.
- What does the allusion to Atlas suggest in this passage?
Answer: It means carrying a heavy responsibility for others
The allusion to Atlas compares Maya's tiring, repeated trips to the mythological figure who carried the weight of the sky, showing that she carried a heavy responsibility. Choice B is wrong because it confuses Atlas with an atlas, a book of maps, which is a different meaning of the word. Choice C is wrong because the passage describes something tiring and difficult, not quick or easy. Choice D is wrong because throwing lightning describes Zeus, not Atlas.
- Building the cardboard city for the school fair was a Herculean job. The team worked for days, lifting huge pieces and taping every corner. What does Herculean mean in this passage?
Answer: It means needing a lot of strength and hard effort
The word Herculean comes from Hercules, a hero in old Greek myths who was famous for doing very hard jobs that took huge strength. So when something is called a Herculean job, it means it needs a lot of strength and hard effort. The passage backs this up: the team worked for days, lifted huge pieces, and taped every corner, which was clearly tough work. The choice saying it means finished quickly without much effort is the opposite of the real meaning, so it does not fit the hard work described. The choice saying it means done by only one hero from an old story is a trap: Hercules is from a myth, but the word describes the difficulty of the task, not one single hero doing it. The choice saying it means staying neat so nothing gets moved around describes tidiness, which has nothing to do with the strength and effort the passage shows. Only one answer matches both the myth about Hercules and the team's hard work.
- What does Midas touch mean in this passage?
Answer: He has a talent for making things succeed.
In this passage, Midas touch describes Mr. Ruiz's talent for making his garden succeed, so Choice C is correct. Choice A describes the literal myth about King Midas turning things to gold, which is not the meaning used here. Choice B is the opposite of what the passage describes, since his plants grow well. Choice D confuses the idea of gold with the literal color yellow, which is not what the phrase means.
- Based on the passage, what does the phrase Achilles' heel most likely mean?
Answer: a hidden weakness that causes trouble for someone
The passage shows that Leah is strong at running and climbing, but she freezes when she has to speak in front of the class. So Achilles' heel means a hidden weakness that causes trouble for someone. It does not mean a special type of sandal, because that is an object and the passage is describing something Leah struggles to do, not something she wears. It is not a natural talent that makes a person stand out, because that is a strength, and public speaking is the opposite of a strength for Leah. It is not a strict rule that everyone must follow, because nobody is forcing Leah to speak a certain way; the phrase describes her personal weak spot, not a rule.
- What does the phrase "Pandora's box" most likely mean in this passage?
Answer: An action that causes many unexpected problems
The passage shows that saying yes led to many unexpected problems, like costumes, schedules, and new rules, which is what the phrase Pandora's box describes. Choice A is wrong because the situation became more complicated, not simpler. Choice C is wrong because the phrase is not about an actual box or treasure. Choice D is wrong because the problems described are not about keeping a secret plan.
- What does the word phoenix mean in this paragraph?
Answer: A person who rises again stronger after a defeat.
In this paragraph, Omar loses, practices, fixes his mistakes, and comes back to earn a ribbon. Saying he "returned like a phoenix" means he rose again stronger after a defeat, so a person who rises again stronger after a defeat is the best meaning here. A colorful bird that wakes and sings each morning uses the real-world image of a bird, but the paragraph is about Omar's comeback, not birdsong. A person who quits for good after one failure is the opposite of Omar, who tried again instead of giving up. A contest so difficult that few dare to enter describes a hard event, but the word phoenix describes Omar himself, not the science fair. Only one choice matches how Omar bounced back.
- Based on the passage, what does Achilles' heel mean?
Answer: It means a hidden weakness even when someone is strong overall.
The passage says penalty kicks are Lena's one weak spot even though she is fast and skilled at dribbling. That makes "Achilles' heel" a hidden weakness in someone who is strong overall. It does not mean a special talent that makes you the best player, because the passage shows something Lena struggles with, not something she is great at. It does not mean a habit a player can never fix, because Lena practices penalty kicks and wants that weak spot to get stronger, so it can change. It does not mean a sore body part, because the passage is describing a weakness in her game, not a physical injury from practice.
- In this passage, what does odyssey mean? "Our bus trip to the science museum should take one hour. But a road was closed, and we had to detour through small towns. Then we stopped to help another bus with a flat tire. By the time we arrived, it felt like an odyssey, full of surprises and delays."
Answer: a long journey with many events and challenges along the way
The word "odyssey" comes from an old story about a hero named Odysseus, whose trip home took a very long time and was full of adventures and problems. Today it means a long journey with many events and challenges along the way. In the passage, the one-hour bus trip turns into something much bigger: a road closes, the bus detours through small towns, and it stops to help another bus. All these surprises and delays match the meaning of a long, eventful journey, so this is the best answer. "A short and easy ride that ends before anything interesting happens" is the opposite of what the passage describes, since the trip was long and full of events. "A quick side trip that goes exactly the way you planned it" is wrong because the trip did not go as planned at all. "A fun museum visit that everyone remembers as their favorite part" describes the museum, not the difficult journey the word "odyssey" is naming. When you see an unfamiliar word, look for clues around it, like "surprises and delays," to figure out what it means.
- What does the word odyssey most likely mean as used in the passage?
Answer: A long journey with many twists and difficult challenges
The passage shows the hikers taking detours, crossing streams, and arriving much later than planned. All of that hard, drawn-out travel matches a long journey with many twists and difficult challenges. A quick walk on one smooth, easy path is wrong because the hikers face flooding, detours, and delays, not an easy trip. A calm break where you sit still and do not travel is wrong because the group keeps moving the whole time. A boat ride across the open ocean is wrong because they are hiking a flooded trail on land, not sailing. Only one choice fits both the trouble and the long time described, so it is the best meaning.
- After our team lost the first game, we practiced and tried again. In the next game, we played better, like a phoenix (a mythical bird from old stories) after a hard moment. In this passage, phoenix suggests ___.
Answer: coming back stronger after a setback
In the passage, the team loses, practices hard, and then plays better the next game. That is why phoenix suggests coming back stronger after a setback. Staying exactly the same and never trying to change is wrong because the team clearly got better instead of staying the same. Winning right away without any practice or hard work is wrong because the passage says the team practiced before they improved. Becoming a totally different team on purpose is wrong because it is still the same team, just playing better than before. The word phoenix points to bouncing back after a tough loss, which matches only the first choice.
