ISEE Lower Level Quiz: Imagery And Mood

The snow fell in thick, silent flakes, blanketing the world in white. The sharp edges of buildings and fences softened. The only sound was the soft crunch of my own boots in the deep powder.

The imagery in the description of the snowfall creates a mood of

The dragon's scales glittered like a thousand emeralds. A plume of smoke, smelling of sulfur and hot metal, curled from its nostrils. Its roar was a deep rumble that vibrated in the knight's very bones.

The description of the dragon uses imagery to make it seem

In the heart of the city, a tiny garden bloomed. Bright red poppies and sunny yellow daisies pushed up between the cracks in the pavement. The sweet scent of honeysuckle drifted from a vine climbing a brick wall.

The imagery of the city garden creates a feeling of

The summer afternoon was heavy and still. The air, thick with the smell of hot asphalt and exhaust fumes, was hard to breathe. The sun beat down, making the pavement shimmer and sting the eyes.

The author's use of imagery in this passage makes the summer day feel

A single candle flame flickered in the dark room, casting long, dancing shadows on the walls. The air was thick with the scent of old paper and dust. From a corner, the steady tick-tock of a grandfather clock measured the passing seconds.

The imagery in this description creates a mood that is

Read the passage. What mood is conveyed by the imagery describing the early beach scene?

The beach is bright, and the sky is a clear blue bowl. Warm sand presses up between my toes. The ocean smells fresh and salty, and the breeze tastes like watermelon gum. Waves whisper as they slide in and out.

I hear a kite string hum softly above me. My skin feels sun-warmed, and my towel is dry and scratchy. A cooler clicks open, and cold grapes pop sweetly in my mouth.

Farther out, clouds stack up like gray blocks. The air turns cooler, and the breeze feels sharp. The waves stop whispering and begin to slap.

A sudden spray of mist chills my arms. The sky darkens, and the beach looks empty and wide.

Read the passage. How does the author use imagery to shift the mood in the passage?

In an enchanted forest, morning light slips between tall pines like thin ribbons. Dew beads on ferns, cool against my fingertips. The air smells like clean rain and crushed leaves. A creek chatters nearby, and its sound feels friendly. I taste a hint of mint when I breathe.

Birds hop across the path, pecking softly at seeds. Sun-warmed bark feels rough under my palm. Somewhere, a woodpecker taps in a steady rhythm. The forest seems to hum, as if it is waking up with me.

I sit on a smooth stone and listen. The breeze brushes my cheeks, gentle and slow. Bright green moss shines on fallen logs. Even my footsteps sound quiet, as if the ground is being polite.

Later, the sun sinks, and the trees stretch long shadows. The creek's chatter turns into a lower, hidden gurgle. The air grows cooler, and the minty taste fades. Leaves rustle where I cannot see, and the sound is sharp.

A thin fog slides between trunks, damp and cold. The pine smell turns heavier, like a closed closet. My jacket feels too light now. Every snap of a twig seems louder than before.

I keep walking, but the path looks different. The forest is still the same place, yet it feels watchful. I hold my breath for a moment, and even the silence feels busy.

Read the passage. Which image most effectively establishes the mood of calm?

On a beach morning, the sand is warm and smooth. It slips between my toes like soft sugar. The ocean smells salty and clean, and the air tastes faintly like lemonade from my cup. Seagulls call overhead, but their cries sound far away.

Waves roll in with a steady hush. Sunlight sparkles on the water, making tiny dancing dots. My towel feels hot from the sun. I hear a child giggle, then the sound fades into the surf.

I build a small sandcastle, patting the walls gently. The damp sand feels cool in my hands. A breeze lifts my hair and dries the drops on my arms. Everything seems slow, like time is stretching.

Later, clouds gather in thick stacks. The sea turns darker, and the sparkle disappears. Wind tugs at my towel, and the air tastes less sweet.

A sudden gust sprays cold mist on my face. The waves slap the shore, louder and faster. My skin prickles, and the sand stings my ankles.

I grab my things as the sky rumbles. The beach is the same place, but it no longer feels friendly.

Read the passage. Identify the mood created by the imagery in paragraph 4.

A city street at lunch smells like pizza and sweet churros. Sunlight bounces off windows, and people talk over each other. The crosswalk beeps, and scooters zip by. My hands feel sticky from melted ice cream.

By late afternoon, clouds cover the sky. The first raindrops make dark dots on the sidewalk. The churro smell thins, and the air feels cooler. I hear tires hiss through shallow puddles.

Evening brings heavier rain. Umbrellas bump like slow-moving shells. Streetlights blur in the water, and the world looks smeared. My sleeves cling to my arms, damp and cold.

At night, rain taps the bus stop roof in a steady beat. The street is quieter, and voices sound far away. Wet concrete smells sharp, and my shoes squish. The light feels dim, like it is tired.

Read the passage. Identify the mood created by the imagery in paragraph 1.

A bustling city morning smells like toasted bagels and coffee. Sunlight flashes on glass buildings, and taxis honk in quick bursts. My shoes tap the sidewalk, warm from yesterday's heat. A street musician plays a bright tune that bounces off the walls.

People move like a fast river around corner carts. A vendor hands me a pretzel, salty and hot. Steam rises from a subway grate and curls into the air. I hear laughter, chatter, and the snap of a newspaper.

By afternoon, clouds gather, and the first drops tick the pavement. Umbrellas bloom like dark flowers. The music sounds farther away now, softened by rain. The air tastes like metal, and my sleeves feel damp.

Evening comes early under the thick sky. Streetlights glow in puddles, shaky and pale. Rain drips from ledges in steady strings. The city's noise turns into a low hush, like everyone is speaking through a blanket.

At night, the wind pushes rain against my face, cold and sharp. The bagel smell is gone, replaced by wet asphalt. My steps splash, and the empty benches shine with water. The city still moves, but it feels tired.

Read the passage. How does the imagery in the passage create a sense of suspense?

In an enchanted forest, the afternoon is still warm. Sunlight rests on the path in bright patches. I smell pine needles and a little sap, sweet and sharp. A squirrel chatters, and it sounds like a tiny scold.

As the sun lowers, the bright patches shrink. Shadows gather under roots and rocks. The air cools, and my fingers feel stiff. The forest smells deeper now, like damp wood.

A fog creeps in, thin at first. It wets my eyelashes and makes the trees look farther away. I hear a soft rustle, then nothing. My steps slow, and the quiet feels heavy.

I look for the trail marker, but it blends into the bark. The wind stops, and the leaves hang still. I swallow, tasting only dry air, and listen harder.

The kitchen smelled of baking bread and simmering cinnamon. Sunlight streamed through the window, making dust motes dance in the warm air. A cat purred softly on a nearby rug.

The author uses imagery in this passage to make the kitchen feel

The wind howled like a hungry wolf, rattling the windowpanes. Jagged lightning tore across the black sky, followed by a crack of thunder that shook the whole house.

The description of the storm is meant to make the reader feel

The little boat bobbed gently on the turquoise water, which was as clear as glass. Below, brightly colored fish darted between waving sea fans. A warm, salty breeze ruffled the sail.

The imagery in this passage creates a mood of

The library was a silent world of towering shelves. The air smelled faintly of old leather and glue. Golden light from tall, arched windows fell across the polished tables, illuminating dust motes that drifted like tiny, sleeping stars.

The description of the library creates a mood that is

The alley was narrow and slick with rain. The only light came from a flickering neon sign that cast strange, red shadows on the damp brick walls. The air was heavy with the smell of garbage and cold stone.

The imagery used to describe the alley makes the place feel

The parade was a river of sound and color. Marching bands played booming music, giant balloons shaped like cartoon characters floated overhead, and clowns on stilts tossed candy into the cheering crowd. The air crackled with energy.

The imagery of the parade is intended to create a feeling of

He stumbled through the desert, his throat as dry as sandpaper. The sun was a white-hot coin in a bleached sky. All around him, the sand stretched on and on, a vast, empty sea of heat.

The imagery in this passage helps the reader feel the character's

A cold, gray mist clung to the twisted branches of the old trees. Not a bird sang. The only sound was the drip, drip, drip of water from leaf to mossy stone.

The imagery in these sentences creates a feeling of

Read the passage. Which description best changes the mood from peaceful to tense?

A winter park sits under soft snow. The pond is still, and the air smells clean. My mittens feel thick and warm. I hear only a light crunch as I walk.

Sunlight makes the snow glitter. Bare branches hold tiny icicles that shine. The quiet feels gentle, like a whisper. I sip cocoa, and it tastes sweet.

Then the wind rises. The sky dulls, and the glitter fades. Snow begins to swirl, brushing my face with cold dust. The trees blur at the edges.

The gusts grow stronger and louder. My cocoa cools fast in my cup. The path looks less clear, and the open space feels too wide.