44thth Grade Grade PSSA PSSA

ReadingReadingVocabularyVocabulary

affixaffix

a a prefixprefix or or suffixsuffix

Example: hopeful Example: hopeful (ful =full of)(ful =full of)

alliterationalliteration

the the repetitionrepetition of of initialinitial consonant sounds in consonant sounds in neighboring wordsneighboring words

Example: Slimy slugs Example: Slimy slugs slither slowly down the slither slowly down the

sidewalk.sidewalk.

author's author's purposepurpose

The author can The author can persuadepersuade, ,

entertainentertain, or , or informinform the the

reader/audience.reader/audience.

character character traitstraits

the personality traits the personality traits of a character in the of a character in the storystory (adjectives that (adjectives that describe a character)describe a character)

Examples: The boy was Examples: The boy was determined to win the determined to win the

race.race.

climaxclimax

-the -the high pointhigh point or or turning pointturning point

of the storyof the story

--happens happens afterafter the rising actionthe rising action

falling falling actionaction

the main the main events of events of the story the story afterafter the the climaxclimax

first first personpersonpoint of point of

viewview

A main A main character tells character tells the story using the story using words such as words such as

II, , meme, and , and myselfmyself..

hyperbolehyperbole

an exaggerationan exaggeration

Example:Example:I’m so hungry I’m so hungry I could eat a I could eat a

horse!horse!

idiomsidioms

an an expressionexpression that that cannot be taken cannot be taken

literallyliterally

Example:Example:The test was as The test was as

easy as pie.easy as pie.

imageryimagery

words that appeal to words that appeal to one of the one of the sensessenses: : sightsight, , tastetaste, , touchtouch, ,

hearhear, or , or smellsmell

Example:Example: The ice cream The ice cream sundae melted in my sundae melted in my mouth because it was mouth because it was

so creamy.so creamy.

metaphormetaphor

a a comparisoncomparison of of two objects two objects

withoutwithout using like using like or asor as

Example: He is a Example: He is a giant.giant.

onomatopoeionomatopoeiaa

the use of a word the use of a word to to suggestsuggest the the

meaningmeaning

Examples:Examples:Crunch! Crackle! Crunch! Crackle!

Buzz!Buzz!

personificatiopersonificationn

an object that is an object that is given given human human

qualitiesqualities

Example:Example:The flowers were The flowers were

dancing in the dancing in the grass.grass.

plotplot

a a summarysummary of the of the story that story that

includes the rising includes the rising action, climax, action, climax,

and falling actionand falling action

resolutionresolution

the the solutionsolution of the storyof the story

rising rising actionaction

the the main main eventsevents of the of the story story beforebefore the climaxthe climax

settingsetting

the the timetime andand the the placeplace of the of the

storystory

where where andand when when

Example: The setting of the Example: The setting of the story story Cinderella Cinderella is in a castle a is in a castle a

long time ago.long time ago.

similesimile

a a comparisoncomparison of two of two objects objects usingusing like like oror

asas

Example: The sisters Example: The sisters are like two peas in a are like two peas in a

pod.pod.

symbolismsymbolism

an object an object representingrepresenting an an

ideaidea

Example: The Example: The eagle is a symbol eagle is a symbol

of the United of the United

States.States.

third third personpersonpoint of point of

viewview

The author tells The author tells the storythe story about about

the main the main characters using characters using

the words such as the words such as themthem, , hehe, and , and

sheshe..