Grade 12 English SOL Practice Test — Set 2 of 6

Set 2 of 6 — 50 more free Grade 12 English SOL practice questions from official VDOE released tests.

1. 1. The details in paragraph 2 support the idea that Benjamin is —

   Apatient and sincereBcurious and observantCtalented and studiousDrespectful and obedient
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   Answer: B — curious and observant

2. 2. Read this sentence from paragraph 4. “He swung wide around an anonymous heap of metal being swallowed by a greedy mound of blackberry brambles and came to an abrupt halt.” This sentence contains an example of —

   AapostropheBmetaphorCsymbolismDpersonification
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   Answer: D — personification

3. 3. Which detail from paragraph 7 best reveals Benjamin’s attempt to gain the artist’s trust?

   AHe cranes his head to look again at the metal sheet.BHe politely states his name and where he lives.CHe notices the steep hill behind the yard.DHe watches the artist remove her ear protection.
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   Answer: B — He politely states his name and where he lives.

4. 4. Which situation in the selection is an example of irony?

   ABenjamin is able to discern the artist’s noise over all of the other noises he hears.BThe artist initially appears hostile to Benjamin but warms to his presence.CThe artist is amused by Benjamin and invites him to return the next day.DBenjamin thinks of his neighborhood as quiet only to learn that an artist is noisily constructing art nearby.
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   Answer: D — Benjamin thinks of his neighborhood as quiet only to learn that an artist is noisily constructing art nearby.

5. 5. What establishes this selection as written in the limited omniscient point of view?

   AThe dialogue between Benjamin and the artistBThe emphatic response of Benjamin’s motherCThe details that reveal Benjamin’s thoughtsDThe setting where Benjamin and the artist meet
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   Answer: C — The details that reveal Benjamin’s thoughts

6. 6. According to paragraph 3, the main difference between Super Stadiums and regular stadiums is that Super Stadiums —

   Aoffer extra servicesBare always largerCexist in midsized citiesDhave hotel rooms available
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   Answer: A — offer extra services

7. 7. In paragraph 6, which word best describes the author’s attitude about Super Stadium projects?

   ACynicalBAggressiveCResentfulDCautionary
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   Answer: D — Cautionary

8. 8. According to paragraph 7, in the future, sports fans will —

   Aexpect their team to winBhelp to plan stadiumsCdemand greater luxuryDpay higher ticket prices
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   Answer: D — pay higher ticket prices

9. 9. Which sentence from this selection would be most difficult to verify as a fact?

   AIn places with harsh winters, late-season football games can become rather chilly for players and fans alike.BHowever, inventive architects have always welcomed the opportunity to face such challenges throughout history.CThe stadium in Phoenix where the Arizona Cardinals football team plays can be open to the elements on comfortable days or closed to the blazing Arizona sun when the need arises.DFuturistic Super Stadiums dedicated to soccer and rugby are opening in Lyon, France, and Dublin, Ireland.
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   Answer: B — However, inventive architects have always welcomed the opportunity to face such challenges throughout history.

10. 10. Based on the selection, the reader may best infer that new building materials —

    Areflect a desire to conserve energyBrequire considerable patience to installCare sturdy enough to use on any building projectDare responsible for yielding more attractive buildings
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    Answer: A — reflect a desire to conserve energy

11. 11. Which information about the selection would be best to include in a report about the popularity of spectator sports?

    AThe Arizona Cardinals play in a new state-of-the-art stadium.BMost stadiums accommodate 20,000 to 50,000 fans, and some Super Stadiums hold even more.CThe new stadium for the New York Giants and Jets cost $1.5 billion.DSports team owners hope Super Stadiums will bring in more revenue to improve team performance.
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    Answer: B — Most stadiums accommodate 20,000 to 50,000 fans, and some Super Stadiums hold even more.

12. 12. The purpose of this selection is to —

    Aexplain how to improve a traditional stadiumBentertain the reader with facts about sporting eventsCpersuade the reader to watch live sporting eventsDdescribe a popular trend in stadium construction
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    Answer: D — describe a popular trend in stadium construction

13. 13. The purpose of the first paragraph is to —

    Adescribe one of Osamu Tezuka’s drawingsBgive a preview of Osamu Tezuka’s newest manga bookCprovide a description of Osamu Tezuka’s movie scenesDshow how Osamu Tezuka’s manga differs from older manga
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    Answer: D — show how Osamu Tezuka’s manga differs from older manga

14. 14. Which question is answered in paragraph 3?

    AHow often would Osamu Tezuka sketch pictures?BWhen did manga become widely popular?CWho invented the manga art form?DHow many siblings did Osamu Tezuka have?
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    Answer: D — How many siblings did Osamu Tezuka have?

15. 15. Paragraph 4 suggests that Osamu Tezuka —

    Aspent most of his career writing comic strips for a children’s newspaperBnearly decided upon a career in medicine rather than as a manga artistCdecided to publish his works in installments instead of booksDdeeply regretted taking his mother’s advice
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    Answer: B — nearly decided upon a career in medicine rather than as a manga artist

16. 16. The purpose of the analogy comparing Tezuka’s manga to Shakespeare’s plays is to —

    Aillustrate the popular themes of American comic booksBpoint out that manga story lines are similar to soap operasCemphasize the literary merit of Osamu Tezuka’s mangaDargue that comic book superheroes are based on Shakespeare’s plays
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    Answer: C — emphasize the literary merit of Osamu Tezuka’s manga

17. 17. The author mainly develops the topic of this selection by —

    Asummarizing an artist’s career and contributions to modern mangaBproviding instructions for creating and publishing mangaCcomparing manga with American comic books onlyDstating an opinion and supporting it with quotations
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    Answer: A — summarizing an artist’s career and contributions to modern manga

18. 18. Which information from the selection supports the thesis that manga has become increasingly popular over time?

    AEarly manga contained a dozen sketches per story.BOsamu Tezuka’s father owned a large manga collection.CTezuka borrowed plots from literary classics.DManga now has its own section in many Japanese newspapers.
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    Answer: D — Manga now has its own section in many Japanese newspapers.

19. 19. Read these sentences. Mr. Roberts stresses the value of a good education and reminds his students that an education is crucial to future success. He often says that students need to learn basic knowledge and skills in order to achieve their goals. In these sentences, the word crucial means

    FoptionalGextremely rareHrestrictedJvery important
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    Answer: J — very important

20. 20. In the section “Why Organize,” the word squandered means

    Aphysically inactiveBcommonly ignoredCwastefully spentDbriefly available
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    Answer: C — wastefully spent

21. 21. Which question is not answered in the section “Why Organize”?

    FHow does disorganization cost money?GWhat steps are necessary to overcome disorganization?HHow does disorganization decrease productivity?JWhat items are commonly lost because of disorganization?
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    Answer: G — What steps are necessary to overcome disorganization?

22. 22. Which most likely belongs on the list of commonly misplaced items in the “Why Organize” section?

    ABinocularsBBackpackCCameraDEraser
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    Answer: D — Eraser

23. 23. In the “Organization Made Easy” section, pocket folders are needed to

    Fdispose of unnecessary materialsGreplace notebooks and bindersHseparate and store school materialsJfree space in lockers at school
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    Answer: H — separate and store school materials

24. 24. Which question is not answered in the section “Organization Made Easy”?

    AHow much time is wasted each year because of disorganization?BWhat can be done to organize a messy backpack?CHow should materials be grouped to maintain organization?DWhat should be done daily to overcome disorganization?
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    Answer: A — How much time is wasted each year because of disorganization?

25. 25. According to the “Test Your New Skills” section, what is the best way to maintain organization?

    FMake a list of all items needing to be organizedGSeparate unneeded items and dispose of themHStore important items in an easily accessible placeJOrganize items according to their importance
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    Answer: G — Separate unneeded items and dispose of them

26. 26. Which question is answered in the section “Beware the Ghosts of Clutter Past”?

    AWhat is embarrassing about untidy belongings?BWhat place tends to become disorganized first?CWhat should be done with unneeded items?DWhat often causes disorganization?
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    Answer: D — What often causes disorganization?

27. 27. According to the section “Keep the Ultimate Goal in Mind,” organization leads to

    Fmore confidenceGbetter memoryHimproved attitudeJreduced stress
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    Answer: J — reduced stress

28. 28. Which organizational plan is used in the section “Keep the Ultimate Goal in Mind”?

    AExplainingBListingCSpatial layoutDChronological order
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    Answer: A — Explaining

29. 29. What is the main purpose of the section “Test Your New Skills”?

    FTo inform the reader of the importance of organizationGTo explain the basic steps to organizationHTo encourage the reader to apply organization to other areasJTo persuade the reader to make time for organization each day
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    Answer: H — To encourage the reader to apply organization to other areas

30. 30. Which sentence best expresses the thesis of the webpage?

    ASearching for lost or misplaced items is frustrating and time-consuming.BGrouping items makes them easier to find when they are needed.CPoor organization is not only caused by lack of a system, but also by failure to use the system.DOrganizing your work may require a little up-front time, but it will pay dividends later.
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    Answer: D — Organizing your work may require a little up-front time, but it will pay dividends later.

31. 31. The first quotation in paragraph 2 refers to

    Fa belief held by TiburonGa time-honored Iroquois legendHthe attraction in P. T. Barnum’s circusJthe founder of Lake Champlain
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    Answer: G — a time-honored Iroquois legend

32. 32. The writer of this report uses the sources in paragraph 2 to

    Aprovide statisticsBsummarize informationCshow historical backgroundDcompare and contrast ideas
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    Answer: C — show historical background

33. 33. Which of the following would be the best heading for paragraph 4?

    AWoman Scared to DeathBFamous Lake ChamplainCA Photograph of ChampDTwentieth-Century Sightings
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    Answer: D — Twentieth-Century Sightings

34. 34. From information found in paragraphs 4 through 6, the reader may best infer that

    FSandra Mansi wanted to become famousGLake Champlain is not open to the publicHVermont advertises many sights that attract touristsJInstamatic cameras cannot capture specific features from a distance
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    Answer: J — Instamatic cameras cannot capture specific features from a distance

35. 35. From the context of this report, the word collusion in paragraph 7 means

    AurgencyBconspiracyCefficiencyDaccuracy
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    Answer: B — conspiracy

36. 36. The writer includes enough information in this report to show that

    FMrs. Mansi was proud of her photographGChamp became an overnight attractionHChamp is real because of eyewitness descriptionsJMrs. Mansi’s photograph might be questionable evidence
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    Answer: J — Mrs. Mansi’s photograph might be questionable evidence

37. 37. What is the most likely reason the writer cites Drummond more often than the other authors?

    ADrummond is more famousBDrummond’s article is specifically about the topicCDrummond is published more oftenDDrummond’s work is more general
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    Answer: B — Drummond’s article is specifically about the topic

38. 38. After reading this report, the reader may best conclude that people

    Fgo to great lengths to see a lake monsterGinvent stories to entertain othersHhave feared lake monsters throughout historyJare curious about unexplained occurrences
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    Answer: J — are curious about unexplained occurrences

39. 39. Which sentence from this report is most likely an opinion rather than a fact?

    ALake Champlain empties into the St. Lawrence River.BSamuel de Champlain reportedly saw the monster.CThe photograph appeared in The New York Times in 1981.DThe Mansi photograph is considered the classic.
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    Answer: D — The Mansi photograph is considered the classic.

40. 40. The main purpose of the first paragraph is to

    Fdetail Beckwourth’s historical significanceGidentify the setting of the selectionHestablish the subject of the selectionJillustrate Beckwourth’s storytelling ability
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    Answer: H — establish the subject of the selection

41. 41. In paragraph 4, the word convene means

    AproposeBadvertiseCsustainDassemble
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    Answer: D — assemble

42. 42. In paragraph 5, the word corroborate means

    FexamineGsupportHexaggerateJquestion
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    Answer: G — support

43. 43. Beckwourth had the best opportunity to tell his stories to a wider audience while he was

    Aa fur trapperBwith the Crow NationCwith the Florida militaryDa trading post operator
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    Answer: D — a trading post operator

44. 44. What information supports the idea that Beckwourth had an important role in American history?

    FHis work as a fur trapperGHis service in the Seminole WarHHis participation in the Gold RushJHis discovery of a key mountain pass
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    Answer: J — His discovery of a key mountain pass

45. 45. The reader can tell this selection is biographical because it is

    Afocused on the events of a real person’s lifeBabout real geographical locationsCdeveloped with illustrative examplesDabout historical events
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    Answer: A — focused on the events of a real person’s life

46. 46. The author provides evidence which suggests that Beckwourth

    Ffelt a bond with the Crow NationGlonged to return homeHworked to abolish slaveryJpreferred trading to trapping
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    Answer: F — felt a bond with the Crow Nation

47. 47. Most of what is known today about Beckwourth comes from

    Awhat he says about himselfBwhat historians sayCwhat other mountain men sayDwhat other storytellers say
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    Answer: A — what he says about himself

48. 48. The author uses specific dates and names to

    Fexplain inconsistenciesGbuild tensionHcreate ironyJestablish believability
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    Answer: J — establish believability

49. 49. Which best expresses the main idea of this selection?

    ABeckwourth was restlessBBeckwourth received little recognitionCBeckwourth was a Crow Nation memberDBeckwourth’s experiences made him a great storyteller
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    Answer: D — Beckwourth’s experiences made him a great storyteller

50. 50. In paragraphs 3 and 4, why does the porter react as he does?

    FHe is uncomfortable speaking with womenGHe is unaccustomed to treating men and women equallyHHis job leaves no time for conversationJHe is unfriendly
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    Answer: G — He is unaccustomed to treating men and women equally

Practice items adapted from Virginia Department of Education released SOL tests. Practice items are provided for study purposes and are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Virginia Department of Education.