Daily Worksheet · Unit 4
Master Academic
English — One Day
at a Time.
Study examples first. Then test yourself on 10 carefully crafted questions covering vocabulary, reading comprehension, grammar, and exam strategies.
🔥 Vocabulary × 3
📖 Reading × 3
✏️ Grammar × 2
🎯 Exam Skill × 2
Read these 10 examples carefully. They directly relate to the test questions below.
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VOCAB HACK: Root = meaning. bene- = good | mal- = bad | port- = carry | -tion = action/state | un- = not
ambiguous /æmˈbɪɡjuəs/
adjective — having more than one possible meaning; not clear or certain
The teacher's instructions were ambiguous, so students interpreted them differently.
⚡ MEMORY: ambi = "both" (like ambidextrous = both hands) → two meanings at once → ambiguous
persist /pərˈsɪst/
verb — to continue firmly despite opposition or difficulties; to refuse to give up
She continued to persist with her science project even after three failed experiments.
⚡ MEMORY: per = "through" + sist = "stand" → stand through difficulties = persist. (Also: persistent, persistence)
crucial /ˈkruːʃəl/
adjective — extremely important; decisive at a critical point
Getting enough sleep before an exam is crucial for memory and focus.
⚡ MEMORY: Think "cross" (crux = cross-roads) → a crucial moment = the crossing point that decides everything
🔍
READING HACK: Main Idea = topic + what author says about it. Inference = what's implied, not stated. Tone = author's attitude (critical / admiring / neutral / ironic)
Finding the Main Idea
"Every year, millions of plastic bottles end up in oceans, harming marine life and entering the food chain. Scientists warn that by 2050, there may be more plastic in the sea than fish. Governments and individuals must act now to reduce plastic waste."
Main Idea: Plastic pollution in oceans is a serious problem that requires urgent action.
Key Technique: The last sentence often states the author's main point. Look for the claim, not just the topic.
⚡ TRAP: "Plastic in the ocean" is the topic. "We must act urgently" is the main idea. Don't confuse them!
Making Inferences
"Maya arrived 30 minutes early to the competition. She reviewed her notes, did breathing exercises, and avoided looking at her phone."
Inference: Maya was nervous but well-prepared for the competition.
Key Technique: An inference uses evidence from the text to reach a logical conclusion. The text doesn't say "nervous" — you deduce it from her behavior.
⚡ RULE: Inference = evidence + logical step. Never guess wildly. The answer must be supported by the text.
Author's Purpose & Tone
"Despite years of research, the so-called miracle diet has failed to produce a single peer-reviewed study. Yet its promoters continue to make bold claims on social media."
Tone: Skeptical / Critical
Purpose: To warn readers about misleading health claims.
Key Words: "so-called" = sarcasm | "bold claims" = exaggeration | "failed" = negative judgment
⚡ TONE CLUES: Look for loaded words — adjectives that carry emotion. Neutral writing avoids them; opinionated writing uses them.
✏️
GRAMMAR HACK: Subject–Verb agreement: ignore phrases between subject and verb. | Pronoun: match number & case. | Parallel: same form in a list.
Subject–Verb Agreement
❌ Wrong: "The team of scientists were excited about the results."
✅ Correct: "The team of scientists was excited about the results."
⚡ TRICK: "of scientists" is a prepositional phrase — cross it out mentally. Subject = "The team" (singular) → was, not were.
Also: Everyone / Nobody / Each / Either → always singular!
Parallel Structure
❌ Wrong: "She likes running, to swim, and cycling."
✅ Correct: "She likes running, swimming, and cycling."
⚡ RULE: Items in a list must use the same grammatical form. If first item is -ing, all must be -ing. Look for coordinating conjunctions: and, but, or.
🎯
EXAM HACK: On SAT/IB: eliminate 2 clearly wrong answers first → 50/50 chance. Watch for "always/never/all" — usually wrong. "Often/can/may" — usually safer.
Identifying Rhetorical Devices
Simile: "Her smile was like sunshine." (uses like/as)
Metaphor: "Her smile was sunshine." (direct comparison)
Personification: "The wind whispered secrets."
Alliteration: "Peter Piper picked peppercorns."
⚡ QUICK ID: like/as → simile | direct = → metaphor | human action on non-human → personification | same starting sound → alliteration
Evidence-Based Questions (SAT-Style)
SAT pairs a content question with a "Which lines best support your answer?" question.
Strategy: Answer the support question first. Find the strongest evidence, then check if the first question's answer is proven by it.
⚡ SAT TRAP: The evidence must directly support the answer — not just mention the same topic. A line can mention the right subject but support a different answer.
Answer all 10 questions. Feedback appears instantly after each answer.