CST+Vocabulary+words

California Standard Test Vocabulary
These words come from the released questions from the test that the kids took in the last three years. Expect to see them on your CST test. Learn them! Be comfortable with them! Make them your new best friends!

CST Voc. Quiz 1 (Fri. April 25)

 * author’s argument - the author’s proof for his opinion
 * business letter - letter written for business reasons only
 * editorial page - a page where editorials are printed
 * editorial - an article in a newspaper that shows the editor’s opinion. The editor is a boss at the newspaper.
 * emphasizes - says in a strong way or shows in a strong way
 * except - everything but; besides
 * good illustration of the concept - good description or example of an idea
 * illustrates the subject - describes the subject
 * implies - to say or write something indirectly; to hint at something without actually saying it.
 * intended - supposed to
 * Nevertheless, - even so; however;
 * phenomenon - (singular) something that can be sensed with the 5 senses; an unusual, or significant fact that can’t be explained; a marvel.
 * provide a sense - give a feeling
 * provide the best evidence - give the best proof
 * stanzas - verses in a poem
 * support the main idea - prove the main idea

CST Voc. Quiz 2 (Wed. April 30)
$$ 1 achieve - accomplish, get to $$ 2 although, - even though, in spite of the fact that $$ 3 autobiographies - autobiography plural $$ 4 autobiography - the story of your own life $$ 5 biographies - biography plural $$ 6 biography - the story of someone’s life $$ 7 book review - like a book report; it says if a book is good or bad $$ 8 evidence - proof $$ 9 excerpt - a little piece taken from a longer piece of writing $$ 10 fictional - not real or true; made up by somebody $$ 11 However, - but $$ 12 narrative poem - poem that tells a story $$ 13 pamphlet - a brochure $$ 14 phrase - part of a sentence $$ 15 phrase suggests - the phrase gives a hint that it means $$ 16 qualifications - skills or qualities that make somebody suited for a task $$ 17 source - in research: where you find the information; where something comes from $$ 18 source would provide - (which) place that you find information would give you (the best information) $$ 19 sources - plural of source $$ 20 Therefore, - for that reason $$ 21 third person - A story told from someone else’s point of view, “He” or “She” and not “I”

CST Voc. Quiz 3 (Fri. May 2)
This quiz there are 31 (count ‘em, 31) words. But, many are easy. Keep reviewing the old ones too.

(types of letters):
1. letter of complaint 2. letter of request 3. letter to the editor 4. personal letter - friendly letter

(types of writing):
5. short story 6. book review 7. factual report 8. news magazine - weekly or monthly magazine that concentrates on news stories. Examples: TIME magazine, Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report, The Source, 9. persuasive essay 10. summary 11. collection 12. document 13. first draft 14. rough draft 15. quotation 16. statement

(so easy I can’t believe they’re on the list)
17. background information - information that you first need about a subject so that you can better understand it. Example: background information about terra cotta soldiers would be when and where they were made. Background information about a person includes their name, where they are from, etc. 18. best 19. characters 20. description 21. detail 22. first 23. information 24. Internet keywords 25. join these sentences 26. most information 27. most likely 28. research a topic 29. replace the underlined part 30. replace the underlined word 31. use the mouse to click

CST Voc. Quiz 4 (Wed. May 7)
Only 14 words, but they’re not easy. Since the meanings are very similar, I will be asking you to define them, not to match the words to a definition I give.

1. represent - to stand for something. Similar in meaning to symbol

2. symbol - when an object in a poem or story stands for an idea. The sled in “The Giver” or the rose bush in “Esperanza Rising,” for example.

3. create a sense (feeling) - How the author uses words to create a mood or a feeling

4. descriptive - adjective for describing. Good, strong words are descriptive

5. attitude - how the author feels about something. Does he/she thinks it’s sad, funny, etc.? When you say in slang, “Don’t give me attitude,” you mean the person is showing that he/she feels disrespect toward you.

6. express - state thoughts or feelings using words; “express an opinion,” “express an idea.” The author might use a symbol to express an idea.

7. express an attitude - when the author uses words to state how he/she feels about a subject. Does the author think the situation is funny, sad, scary, etc?

8. tone - the tone is the author’s attitude towards his/her subject

9. achieve her/his tone - Achieve means “get”. Achieve her/his tone means how the author is able to show how he feels about the subject. Example: if the author thinks the subject is funny he might use a lot of exaggeration (hyperbole)

10. refers to - mentions something, relates to something. Example: the author of “Esperanza Rising” refers to crocheting many times because it is a symbol of starting over one’s life.

11. sense (idea) - To have a sense of something is to understand it, to have a feeling about it. Example: She sensed that her friends were planning a party for her.

12. sentence offers support by - the sentence gives proof or evidence for whatever the author is trying to prove. Example: “Cats are lazy and scratch everyone,” offers support for the thesis, “Cats make bad pets.” It offers support by giving an opinion, not by stating a fact.

13. varying length - many different lengths; lines are short and long. Is used when writing about poetry. Example: Eminem uses short lines when he is angry, long lines when he is talking directly to his daughters. He uses lines of varying length to express his attitude toward his subject (he loves his daughters, is mad about his life).

14. visualize - see a picture in your mind; to make something visual. Authors use imagery or paint pictures with words so that you get a picture in your mind.

Left over words memory game (Fri. May 9)
Appropriate - is all right Avoids - keeps away Comparing - how things are different or alike Concluding Sentence - the sentence that ends a story, essay etc. may contain Errors - might have mistakes Contrasts - says the differences Defining the subject - giving meaning to a topic First Person - writing a story from the character’s perspective using words like I, my etc. In a sense - In a certain way Made Stronger (as in an idea) - make the idea in a sentence in a clear and better way Metaphors - comparing two unlike things without using like or as Persuasion - the act of convincing somebody to do something Purpose - the reason for which something exists or for which it has been done or made Sets (verb) - to put somebody or something somewhere Strong (words) - more powerful, more convincing, more persuasive Supports the idea - give proof or evidence backing up the idea