Help high school students extend beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering chapter 6 of Animal Farm by George Orwell. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. By completing this exercise, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Explore character motivations Apply knowledge of literary devices such as onomatopoeia Define complex words and phrases in context Analyze nuances in word meanings Compare and contrast characters Isolate a true statement about plot from a set of falsehoods Discern the function of the chapter Write about literature with clarity and precision Identify several examples of complication in the context of the chapter Analyze the role language plays in the world of Animal Farm Articulate the intended effect of scapegoating Snowball Justify written responses with reasoning and/or textual evidence

Help high school students extend beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering chapter 7 of Animal Farm by George Orwell. This worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. By completing this exercise, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Make logical inferences about characters’ intentions, motivations, and beliefs Apply knowledge of sonic devices including assonance, sibilance, onomatopoeia, and cacophony Explain how Napoleon is a dynamic character Identify an example of foreshadowing in the chapter Conduct brief research on Joseph Stalin’s regime Identify historical parallels between Stalin’s leadership and Napoleon’s Write about literature with clarity and precision Justify written responses with reasoning and/or textual evidence

Help high school students extend beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering chapter 9 of Animal Farm by George Orwell. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. By completing this exercise, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Make logical inferences about characters’ intentions and motivations Analyze character relationships Analyze a particular detail to infer the author’s intent Articulate the irony associated with the word republic Explore the motif of hypocrisy Articulate how the pigs demonstrate contradictory thinking and actions Write about literature with clarity and precision Justify written responses with reasoning and/or textual evidence

Help middle and high school students improve fluency, stamina, text comprehension, and close reading analysis of the formal elements of fiction with this set of rigorous, text-dependent questions on The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells (book 1, chapters 6 through 10). An answer key is included, as well as a copy of the featured chapters, which are in the public domain. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By completing the close reading activity, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly Explore character development and motivations Analyze what character actions reveal about their mindset Analyze how characters interact Explain the irony of a given detail Explore how themes are reinforced Discern the function of a given excerpt Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification, metaphor, simile, sibilance, hubris, and more Identify an example of juxtaposition and articulate its effect Identify an example of foreshadowing Write clearly, concisely, and accurately in response to analytical questioning Cite textual evidence in support of claims

Help middle and high school students improve fluency, stamina, text comprehension, and close reading analysis of the formal elements of fiction with this set of rigorous, text-dependent questions on The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells (book 1, chapters 11 through 17). An answer key is included, as well as a copy of the featured chapters, which are in the public domain. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By completing the close reading activity, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly Explore character development and motivations Explore the symbolism of given objects or circumstances Make logical inferences about the author’s intent Explain the irony of a given detail Apply knowledge of literary devices including onomatopoeia Discern the function of a given character in the context of a particular chapter Explore cause-and-effect relationships Compare and contrast characters Explore the influence of mass media on the public Consider historical context in relation to the author’s intentions Discern the function of a given chapter Write clearly, concisely, and accurately in response to analytical questioning Cite textual evidence in support of claims

Help middle and high school students improve fluency, stamina, and text comprehension with a brief, engaging fairy tale titled “The Singing Bone” by the Brothers Grimm. A plot-based quiz is provided to measure reading comprehension, along with an answer key. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: The cause of great terror in the kingdom The king’s promise to anyone who solves the kingdom’s problem General character descriptions The king’s instructions to a pair of brothers A gift given to one of the brothers A shepherd’s discovery The fate of both brothers

Help middle and high school students improve fluency, stamina, and text comprehension with a brief, engaging fairy tale titled “The Hare and the Hedgehog” by the Brothers Grimm. A plot-based quiz is provided to measure reading comprehension, along with an answer key and copy of the public domain narrative (estimated Lexile Measure of 1000-1100). Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: Point of view Setting Character actions and descriptions The hedgehog’s insecurity The wager between the hare and the hedgehog The wife’s role in the hedgehog’s plan The fate of the hare Theme

Conclude a unit on The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells with this printable summative assessment. Delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, this test includes 46 multiple choice questions. In addition to objective questions on character, plot, literary devices, and quote/passage analysis, an essay section is featured, requiring high school students to explore how the author incorporated verisimilitude into the plot. An answer key and standards-based essay scoring rubric are provided. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate an ability to: Correctly identify characters based on given details and descriptions Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, simile, onomatopoeia, dramatic irony, imagery, personification, and more Analyze passages to determine which ones support a given claim or idea Write a brief essay in which students convey ideas with relevant textual evidence and adhere to the standard conventions of written English

For many high school readers, science fiction, supernatural fiction, and horror are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “From Beyond” by H.P. Lovecraft is a compelling short story that features elements consistent with those genres: advanced technology, parallel realities, alien life, and more. This multiple choice quiz on “From Beyond” helps English teachers promote homework accountability, evaluate reading comprehension, and save time at home without sacrificing quality in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: Crawford Tillinghast’s beliefs The purpose of an advanced machine The narrator’s connection to Tillinghast The narrator’s advice for Tillinghast The physical transformation of Tillinghast The location of Tillinghast’s lab The effects of the machine on the narrator The narrator’s emotional reaction to his supernatural experiences Tillinghast’s advice for staying safe The collective fate of Tillinghast’s servants Peculiar creatures surrounding the characters The fate of the machine Tillinghast’s apparent cause of death The police officers’ assumptions about the narrator

Fairy tales are not just for elementary students; even high school readers can use (and enjoy) fairy tales as a tool for measuring general reading comprehension. This multiple choice quiz covers “The Fox and the Horse” by the Brothers Grimm. With an estimated Lexile Measure range of 1100-1200, the short story is especially suitable for middle and high school students. The briefness of the narrative also makes it an appropriate time-filler for awkward gaps in teaching schedules. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: How age has affected the protagonist The seemingly insurmountable challenge the protagonist faces The protagonist’s emotional state The role of the fox in terms of assisting the horse The execution of a plan to resolve the protagonist’s conflict The resolution

Measure comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school and college with this set of rigorous questions on H.P. Lovecraft’s short story “Ex Oblivione.” The variety of reading question types also facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. With an estimated Lexile Measure of 1400-1500, this text and its corresponding active reading exercise are appropriate additions to a high school short story unit, especially at the 11th and 12th grade levels. A detailed answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions. Through these discussions, students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development, demonstrating an ability to analyze how complex characters transform and advance the plot and themes by applying logic and citing compelling, meaningful textual evidence. They will also evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to advance claims, clarifying or challenging unclear ideas. Using this resource for structured guidance, students, ultimately, will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking. By completing this activity, students will demonstrate the following: An ability to define complex vocabulary in context An ability to navigate specialized reference materials to clarify a word’s precise meaning(s) An ability to analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character motivations An ability to analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character mindsets An ability to analyze the text for literary devices such as situational irony An ability to analyze cause-and-effect relationships An ability to analyze the author’s craft to discern and articulate tone in context An ability to find and articulate relevant textual details in support of a claim An ability to articulate what the text indicates both explicitly and implicitly An ability to write with clarity, logic, and precision

For many high school readers, supernatural fiction and fantasy are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “Polaris” by H.P. Lovecraft features plot elements consistent with the aforementioned genres: a narrator of questionable sanity, a dreamscape setting, the conflict between imagination and reality, and more. This rigorous worksheet covering “Polaris” (estimated Lexile Measure of 1200-1300) helps English teachers extend student learning beyond reading comprehension, support the development of close reading analysis skills, and save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. A detailed answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Provide an objective description of the story’s setting Discern how the narrator feels about Polaris and cite textual evidence in support of the claim Analyze the author’s craft to discern which literary devices are applied, with emphasis on hyperbaton, sibilance, callback, and personification Analyze a portion of the text to determine tone in context Identify several variables that put the protagonist and his people at a severe disadvantage against their brutish enemies Describe the narrator’s physical condition and infer how it may have influenced his opinion of Alos Understand the narrator’s modes of thinking, particularly as it relates to his failures Elaborate upon what is revealed in the poem, paying special attention to the Pole Star’s influence on the narrator Explain the effect that callback and personification have upon the reader Define complex vocabulary and phrasing in context Navigate specialized reference materials successfully Write with clarity, logic, and precision

Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Hamlet. With a focus on Act 4, scene 2, this resource saves teachers valuable time without sacrificing academic rigor. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered as printable PDFs and Word Documents. This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions. Through these discussions, students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development, demonstrating an ability to analyze how complex characters transform and advance the plot and themes by applying logic and citing compelling, meaningful textual evidence. They will also evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to advance claims, clarifying or challenging unclear ideas. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking. More specifically, students will be able to: Discern the tone of a given passage Identify the meaning of a particular line Identify an example of metaphor and explain its intended meaning Analyze Hamlet’s dialogue to discern and articulate how he portrays Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as less than human Cite textual evidence in support of the claim that Hamlet shows disrespect toward the king Analyze the author’s craft to discern what effect is created by presenting several consecutive brief scenes Isolate a factual statement about plot development from falsehoods

Measure comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school and college with this set of rigorous questions on H.P. Lovecraft’s short story “The Very Old Folk.” The variety of reading question types also facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. With an estimated Lexile Measure of 1400-1500, this text and its corresponding active reading exercise are appropriate additions to a high school short story unit, especially at the 11th and 12th grade levels. A detailed answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions. Through these discussions, students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development, demonstrating an ability to analyze how complex characters transform and advance the plot and themes by applying logic and citing compelling, meaningful textual evidence. They will also evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to advance claims, clarifying or challenging unclear ideas. Using this resource for structured guidance, students, ultimately, will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking. By completing this activity, students will demonstrate the following: An ability to analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character motivations An ability to analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character mindsets An ability to analyze complex vocabulary and phrasing in context An ability to navigate specialized reference materials successfully An ability to analyze a passage to discern its primary purpose An ability to analyze the text for literary devices such as situational irony An ability to analyze cause-and-effect relationships An ability to analyze textual details to infer and articulate the author’s intent An ability to find and articulate relevant textual details in support of a claim An ability to articulate what the text indicates both explicitly and implicitly An ability to write with clarity, logic, and precision