by michigan department of agriculture and rural ......2 the invasion began in late july when without...

from “Understanding Insects as Friends or Foes” / From “Grasshopper Plague of 1874”from “Understanding Insects as Friends or Foes”

by Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

1 Insects can be found nearly everywhere. Some insects are helpful to people. Other insects are harmful andcause damage to trees and crops. Farmers and gardeners need to know which insects are friends and which arenot. Insects can carry diseases, damage crops, make fruits and vegetables look bad and can even destroy entirecrops, which limits the amount of food available for people and animals to eat. Integrated pest management (IPM)is a pest management system that focuses on managing pests with the least possible impact on people, property,and the environment. Farmers use tools like crop rotation, sprays or good bugs to help their crops. Using traps,scouting and identifying insects, and controlling bugs are all important tools for farmers to use.

Farmers/Growers use:

2 Chemical crop sprays or powders—farmers use as little as needed, to protect the environment and to protectthe water and food supplies. Pesticide applications are a useful tool, when applied according to label instructionsby registered and certified pesticide applicators.

3 Crop Rotation—farmers do not grow the same crop every year, but instead rotate which crops they plant ineach field. For instance, one year a farmer may grow a field of corn. The next year, the farmer may grow alfalfahay in that field. Farmers do this because certain bugs like certain crops. By growing different crops year afteryear, bugs will leave. Crop rotation is a common practice on sloping soils because of its potential for saving soil.Rotation also reduces fertilizer needs, because alfalfa and other legumes replace some of the nitrogen corn andother grain crops remove. With crop rotation, pesticide costs may be reduced by naturally breaking the cycles ofweeds, insects and diseases. As added benefits, grass and legumes in a rotation protect water quality bypreventing excess nutrients or chemicals from entering water supplies; meadow or small grains cut soil erosiondramatically; and crop rotations add diversity to a farming operation.

4 Good Insects—farmers also use “good” or beneficial insects to protect their crops and get rid of harmfulinsects. Some insects can do a lot of damage to crops and orchards. An insect’s worst enemies are other insects.Of the millions of insects that eat animals instead of plants, most feed on other insects. Using insects to controlinsects is called a “biocontrol” method. Biological control is the use of naturally occurring organisms that act asnatural enemies to the pests in question. These approaches to pest management may be used to reducepesticide use. The introduction and encouragement of natural predators is a highly effective method of controllingmany bugs. Some quick biocontrol definitions: Pest—an unwanted insect or weed; Pathogen—bacterium orfungus that causes disease in a pest; Parasite—an insect that feeds in a living pest; and Predator—an insect thateats pests. When used effectively, biocontrol methods can be a safe and effective approach to pest management.

5 Scouting/Trapping—farmers must watch their fields or orchards closely. Farmers look on the leaves of thetrees or plants for bugs. This is called scouting. To help find the insects, farmers use traps. When pests are foundthat could damage the crop, the farmer must choose the best way to get rid of the pest. Traps are hung in fruittrees, in greenhouses and on posts in fields for other crops. A scent, called a pheromone, is used inside the trap.This attracts the bugs to the trap. The trap is sticky inside, so when the bugs fly into the trap to smell thepheromone they get stuck. Killing adult bugs stops the cycle of egg laying or larval development and reduces pestpopulations. Sometimes farmers need help identifying the insects they find. They use a key, or guide. A key usescolor, the number of legs or other things to determine what bug they have found.

6 In addition to the pest management tools listed above, keeping things clean goes a long way toward reducingpest problems, especially indoor pests like cockroaches, ants and houseflies. Cleanliness is also important onfarms for pest control, especially around feed piles and manure-prone areas.

7 The most important thing you can do to control bugs is to learn as much as you can about the life cycles andpreventative treatments for bugs that are bugging you.

Printed with permission of Michigan Farm Bureau.

Student Name: 5th Grade ELA Review Assessment ID: ib.2457362

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question(s) that follow.

Illuminate Itembank™ Continue: Turn to the next page.Generated On March 13, 2020, 11:15 AM PDT

From “Grasshopper Plague of 1874”by The Kansas Historical Society

1 Following the Civil War, many settlers came to Kansas in hopes of finding inexpensive land and a better life. By1874, many of these newly arrived families had broken the prairie and planted their crops. During the spring andearly summer months of that year the state experienced sufficient rains. Eagerly the farmers looked forward to theharvest. However during the heat of summer a drought occurred. Yet this was not the most devastating thing tohappen to the farmers that summer.

2 The invasion began in late July when without warning millions of grasshoppers, or Rocky Mountain locusts,descended on the prairies from the Dakotas to Texas. The insects arrived in swarms so large they blocked out theSun and sounded like a rainstorm. Crops were eaten out of the ground, as well as the wool from live sheep, andclothing off people’s backs. Paper, tree bark, and even wooden tool handles were devoured. Hoppers werereported to have been several inches deep on the ground and locomotives could not get traction because theinsects made the rails too slippery.

3 As a whole, Kansans refused to be defeated. The settlers did their best to stop the hoppers by raking them intopiles, like leaves, and burning them. But these efforts were in vain because of the sheer numbers of thepests. Inventive citizens built hopper dozers or grasshopper harvesters to combat future visitations. The hoppersusually stayed from two days to a week and then left as they had come, on the wind.

4 The areas hit the worst were where most of the settlers were new arrivals, not having had the time to establishthemselves in their new homes. The needs of the newly arrived immigrants in the western counties of Kansaswere greater than the more settled eastern portion. They needed grain for their next year’s crops and to feed theirwork animals. They also needed provisions and clothing to make it through the coming winter.

5 In September the governor convened an extra session of the legislature hoping to find a way to help Kansanssurvive the calamity. The legislature determined that it did not have the power to take money directly from thestate’s treasury to help with the emergency. The plea for help went across America. Soon aid for the destitute.Kansans began to arrive. Railroads provided free transportation of the barrels, boxes, and bales of supplies suchas beans, pork, and rice. America’s farmers even donated railcars full of barley and corn to assist Kansans withthe next year’s planting.

Glossary calamity = disaster; destitute = needy

From “Grasshopper Plague of 1874” by Kansas Historical Society from KANSAS HISTORICAL SOCIETY/KANSAPEDIA. © 2003; modified 2011. Photos 1 and 2: © American Colony Photographers/National GeographicSociety/Corbis

1 Part A

What is the meaning of the word descended as it is used in paragraph 2 of “Grasshopper Plague of 1874”?

A. surprised

B. destroyed

C. came down

D. went below


Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled "from “Understanding Insectsas Friends or Foes” / From “Grasshopper Plague of 1874” ".


2 Part B

Which evidence from paragraph 2 best helps the reader understand the meaning of descended?

A. “. . . began in late July when without warning . . .”

B. “. . . arrived in swarms so large they blocked out the Sun . . .”

C. “. . . were eaten out of the ground . . .”

D. “. . . have been several inches deep on the ground . . .”

3 Choose two sentences from paragraph 5 that best support the author’s point that the governmentconsidered whether it could assist the settlers.

A. "In September the governor convened an extra session of the legislature hoping to find a way to helpKansans survive the calamity."

B. The legislature determined that it did not have the power to take money directly from the state's treasury tohellp with the emergency."

C. "The plea for help went across America."

D. "Soon aid for the destitute Kansans began to arrive."

E. "Railroads provided free transportation of the barrels, boxes, an bales of supplies such as beans, pork, andrice."

F. "America's farmers even donated railcars full of barley and corn to assist Kansans with the next year'splanting."

4 Part AWhat is the meaning of the word rotate as it is used in paragraph 3 of “Understanding Insects as Friends orFoes”?

A. change

B. move

C. turn

D. leave

5 Part B

Which evidence from paragraph 3 best helps the reader understand the meaning of rotate?

A. “. . . same crop every year . . .”

B. “. . . crops they plant in each field.”

C. “. . . different crops year after year . . .”

D. “. . . corn and other grain crops remove.”


Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled "from “Understanding Insectsas Friends or Foes” / From “Grasshopper Plague of 1874” ".


Immigration to the United StatesImmigration to the United States

By Michael A. Signal 2018

In this informational text, Michael A. Signal discusses the long history of people traveling to the United States tomake a new life for themselves. As you read, take notes on how the government has tried to control who gets tomove to the United States.

[1] Humans move from place to place. People move to different homes and cities to be closer to their familiesor workplaces. They might want to find better neighborhoods or roads with less traffic. But people don’t only moveto different houses and towns. Throughout history, people have also moved to entirely different countries. We callthis international movement immigration, and the people who move to a new country to live there are known asimmigrants.

People immigrate for the same reasons that a family might move to a new neighborhood or a different state,such as for better work opportunities or to be closer to relatives. Sometimes, though, people have more urgentreasons to leave their home countries. Many immigrants flee war and violence. Sometimes they move to new

countries to avoid famine[1]

and poverty.

For the most part, Americans live in a society of immigrants. It has the largest number of internationalimmigrants in the world. Almost one-fifth of global immigrants live in the United States. The country has a richhistory of immigration. However, there are some groups that you wouldn’t consider immigrants. Native Americans,for example, are what we call indigenous to America, which means they make up the original population of NorthAmerica. If we look back in history to the first Europeans that came to America, we would consider themcolonists and not immigrants because they took over the land. Slaves who were forcibly brought to Americanshores from Africa would also not be considered immigrants.

Most early immigrants came to the United States from Europe, but the country was open to immigrants from allaround the world up until the late 19th century. Immigration to the United States has typically occurred in waves— with various groups of people moving in large numbers at different points in American history. For example, oneof the first groups that moved to the United States in large numbers was the Irish. In the 1840s, a great faminestruck Ireland. Scores of Irish people left their home country in search of land where they’d be able to feed theirfamilies. Between 1820 and 1930, over 4 million Irish men, women, and children immigrated to the United States.Another wave of immigration came from China in the mid-19th century. Many workers traveled across the Pacificto work as miners, farmers, and other manual laborers. When gold was discovered in California in 1848,Americans rushed west, hoping to strike it rich. So did thousands of Chinese immigrants. In just a few years afterthe discovery of gold, about 150,000 Chinese people immigrated to the United States.

[5] As immigration has grown over the centuries, tensions have arisen. For example, when Chineseimmigrants began moving to America in the 19th century, many Americans felt threatened. On the West Coast,where most Chinese immigrants settled, some Americans thought that they were losing jobs to Chinese workers.Rumors describing Chinese immigrants as unlawful and immoral spread, and many people believed these rumors.

In 1862, The United States acted on public fear and resentment[2]

of Chinese immigrants. Congress passed ananti-immigration law. The Chinese Exclusion Act stopped almost all Chinese people from entering the country.The law also made it impossible for Chinese immigrants to become American citizens.

Over the years, countries have used laws, both fairly and unfairly, to control immigration. Sometimes these lawshave been discriminatory, or showing unfair treatment towards certain groups of people. After World War I, theUnited States enacted another restrictive immigration law. The Immigration Act of 1924 established limits on howmany people could enter the United States based on their countries of origin. Immigration from Eastern Europe,Mexico, and Japan were largely banned; on the other hand, immigrants from Britain, Ireland, and Scandinaviancountries like Norway, Sweden, and Finland were allowed into the country.

Today, immigration trends have changed. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 abolished, or ended,restrictions on immigration based on country of origin. Since then, immigration has flourished.3 By the 1970s,




most immigrants entered the United States from countries in Asia and Latin America. Of the 10 million immigrantswho came to the U.S. between 2000 and 2009, 8 million were from Asia and Latin America.

There are over 240 million immigrants worldwide. One reason for the global growth of immigration is theimprovement of transportation and the decrease in cost. In the 18th century, you had to travel by boat to reachAmerica from Europe, and that could take over a month! Today, you can travel the same distance by plane in justeight hours.

Even though it has only increased over time, immigration has become a controversial4 topic in the 21st century.One reason for this controversy is that a number of immigrants have entered the United States without goingthrough the proper legal systems. In 2015, an estimated 11 million immigrants were living in the country withoutlegal permission. There are a lot of discussions around immigrants living in the United States without legalpermission. Some people feel as though this will mean fewer opportunities for American citizens, while others feelthat immigrants, regardless of their citizenship, help boost the economy and make valuable contributions to oursociety.

[10] No matter how trends change, immigration to the United States will remain strong. Estimates predict thatby 2065, 78 million people in the United States will have been born in other countries. There will always bevarying views and controversy about immigration. But just like they have been doing for nearly 250 years, peoplefrom all over the world will continue to move to the United States to become part of our communities, cultures, andcountry.

[1] 1. a situation in which there’s not enough food for a large group of people

[2] . Resentment (noun): a feeling of anger or displeasure, usually directed at another person 3. Flourish (verb): to grow and develop in a healthy way




6 Summarize the text "Immigration to the United States."

Be sure to include:

-Main/Central Idea of the text

-Who is the text about?

-What are they doing?

-Where/When were they doing it?

-Why/How are they doing it?

Write your answer on the lines below.

7 Pick TWO reasons for the global growth of immigration

A. More boats to travel to America

B. People enjoy the month it takes to sail across the ocean

C. Improvement in transportation

D. Decrease in the cost of transportation

E. Families wish to explore new regions of the world


Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled "Immigration to the UnitedStates ".


8 Based on “Immigration to the United States” by Michael A. Signal, what are the reasons that people chooseto immigrate to America? Choose the FOUR correct answers.

A. Better work opportunities

B. Better Climate or weather

C. Move closer to relatives

D. Join the American war efforts

E. Escape war and violence

F. Avoid famine and poverty

9 How does the author illustrate that United States immigration laws were discriminatory?

A. The author gives details about how the government uses immigration laws to imprison immigrants.

B. The author describes how the United States accepted immigrants from certain countries but not fromothers.

C. The author compares the different number of immigrants who came to the United States from Asia withthose who came from Latin America.

D. The author illustrates how the impact of World War I meant the United States government had to change itslaws

10 PART A: Which statement describes the two central ideas of the text?

A. America has a long history of immigration, and some groups of immigrants have been treated unfairly.

B. America has a long history of immigration and has always been welcoming towards immigrants.

C. America must limit the number of immigrants who enter the nation to preserve its resources, and somegroups of immigrants have been treated unfairly.

D. Immigrants have enjoyed a fairer treatment in America than in their home countries, and America must limitthe number of immigrants who enter the nation.

11 Part B: Which detail from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

A. "The country has a rich history of immigration"

B. "They took over the land"

C. "...forcibly brought to American shores from Africa."

D. "They make up the original population of North America."

12 How does paragraph 4 contribute to the development of ideas in the text?

A. It demonstrates how famine brought different groups of immigrants to America.

B. It shows why some people were unhappy when immigrants came to America.

C. It reveals some of the reasons why groups of immigrants came to America.

D. It discusses how people only immigrated to America to find gold


Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled "Immigration to the UnitedStates ".


Granny Fox Gives Reddy a Scareby Thornton W. Burgess

Reddy Fox lived with Granny Fox. You see, Reddy was one of a large family, so large that Mother Fox hadhard work to feed so many hungry little mouths and so she had let Reddy go to live with old Granny Fox. GrannyFox was the wisest, slyest, smartest fox in all the country round, and now that Reddy had grown so big, shethought it was about time that he began to learn the things that every fox should know. So every day she took himhunting with her and taught him all the things that she had learned about hunting: about how to steal FarmerBrown's chickens without awakening Bowser the Hound, and all about the thousand and one ways of fooling adog which she had learned.

This morning Granny Fox had taken Reddy across the Green Meadows, up through the Green Forest, andover to the railroad track. Reddy had never been there before and he didn't know just what to make of it. Grannytrotted ahead until they came to a long bridge. Then she stopped.

"Come here, Reddy, and look down," she commanded.

Reddy did as he was told, but a glance down made him giddy, so giddy that he nearly fell. Granny Foxgrinned.

"Come across," said she, and ran lightly across to the other side.

But Reddy Fox was afraid. Yes, Sir, he was afraid to take one step on the long bridge. He was afraid that hewould fall through into the water or onto the cruel rocks below. Granny Fox ran back to where Reddy sat.

"For shame, Reddy Fox!" said she. "What are you afraid of? Just don't look down and you will be safeenough. Now come along over with me."

But Reddy Fox hung back and begged to go home and whimpered. Suddenly Granny Fox sprang to herfeet, as if in great fright. "Bowser the Hound! Come, Reddy, come!" she cried, and started across the bridge asfast as she could go.

Reddy didn't stop to look or to think. His one idea was to get away from Bowser the Hound. "Wait, Granny!Wait!" he cried, and started after her as fast as he could run. He was in the middle of the bridge before heremembered it at all. When he was at last safely across, it was to find old Granny Fox sitting down laughing athim. Then for the first time Reddy looked behind him to see where Bowser the Hound might be. He was nowhereto be seen. Could he have fallen off the bridge?

"Where is Bowser the Hound?" cried Reddy.

"Home in Farmer Brown's dooryard," replied Granny Fox dryly. Reddy stared at her for a minute. Then hebegan to understand that Granny Fox had simply scared him into running across the bridge. Reddy felt verycheap, very cheap indeed. "Now we'll run back again," said Granny Fox. And this time Reddy did.

-Public Domain




13 What point of view is "Granny Fox Gives Reddy a Scare" written from?

A. First Person

B. Second Person

C. Third Person




Vikings & European Explorers - Christopher ColumbusIn 1492,

Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

Christopher Columbus was one of the greatest navigators of his day. His ability to explore the unknown and stickto his vision changed Europe's view of the world. His discoveries brought Europe and the Americas into contactfor the first time. But not everyone feels Columbus should be remembered as a hero.

Columbus became famous when he sailed west across the Atlantic Ocean in 1492. In the 1400s, Europeans werenot aware that the Americas existed. They believed that if they headed west, they would run straight into Asia.Europe wanted to trade with Asia for silk, gold, and spices. However, the trip to Asia around Africa was consideredtoo long and dangerous. Columbus wanted to find an easier and quicker route. He believed that the Earth wasmade up of a little water and a lot of land. He thought he'd reach Asia in no time if he headed west.

Columbus convinced King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella from Spain to pay for an expedition. They provided himwith three ships and money to make the journey west. It took two months for the Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria toreach San Salvador in the Caribbean. However, Columbus wrongly thought he was in India. He named the peoplehe met there "Indians." During this visit, and his next three visits, Columbus and his men brutally mistreated thenative people. They stole their land and claimed it for Spain. Their search for gold and a passage to Asia nevercame about.

Columbus' place in history will be debated for years to come. Some argue he was a man of courage and greatskill. Although he never did reach North America, Columbus was the first to explore the West Indies and parts ofCentral and South America. These discoveries introduced new foods from the Americas to Europe.

However, others argue Columbus treated the native people he encountered cruelly. He took land and naturalresources and began a long chapter of European abuse. Despite his remarkable achievements, Columbus didn'tbehave like a hero at all, critics argue. The debate about how Columbus should be remembered continues to thisday.




14 Part A According to the passage, the word mistreated means

A. to treat badly.

B. to treat well.

C. to treat carefully.

D. to treat wonderfully.

15 Part B What evidence from the passage best supports the answer to Part A?

A. “They stole their land and claimed it for Spain.” (paragraph 3)

B. “He named the people he met there ‘Indians.’” (paragraph 3)

C. “Europeans were not aware that the Americas existed.” (paragraph 2)

D. “Europe wanted to trade with Asia for silk, gold, and spices.” (paragraph 2)

16 Part A Columbus believed that Asia was ________ than it really is.

A. much smaller

B. much wider

C. much closer

D. much farther

17 Part B What evidence from the passage best supports the answer to Part A?

A. “Columbus became famous when he sailed west across the Atlantic Ocean in 1492” (Paragraph 2)

B. “However, the trip to Asia around Africa was considered too long and dangerous” (paragraph 2)

C. “It took two months for the Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria to reach San Salvador in the Caribbean.”(paragraph 3)

D. “He believed that the Earth was made up of a little water and a lot of land. He thought he’d reach Asia in notime if he headed west.” (paragraph 2)

18 Which statement expresses the author’s purpose of the article?

A. to educate the reader about Columbus

B. to get you to dislike Columbus

C. to get you to love Columbus

D. to teach you about King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella


Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled "Vikings & EuropeanExplorers - Christopher Columbus".


19 How was Columbus able to pay for his voyage to the Americas?

A. Columbus found the money in the street.

B. Columbus received the money as a gift from England.

C. Columbus had enough money saved to pay for the voyage.

D. Columbus was able to convince King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to pay for an expedition.

20 Why did Columbus sail west across the Atlantic Ocean?

A. Columbus enjoyed visiting the Americas.

B. Columbus wanted to find an easier and quicker route to Asia.

C. Columbus knew the Indians had gold and riches.

D. Columbus was a hero and sailing is what heroes do.

21 Columbus believed that he had reached India instead of Central and South America. Find the text evidencethat supports this.

A. “It took two months for the Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria to reach San Salvador in the Caribbean.”(paragraph 3)

B. “Columbus was one of the greatest navigators of his day.” (paragraph 1)

C. “He named the people he met there ‘Indians.’" (paragraph 3)

D. “He believed the Earth was made up of a little water and a lot of land.” (paragraph 2)


Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled "Vikings & EuropeanExplorers - Christopher Columbus".


The Story of Arachnea tale from Ancient Greece

As it is told, Arachne was a young woman who arrogantly offended the goddess Athena and suffered theconsequences. Here is one version of Arachne's arrogance which was spread throughout ancient Greece andserved as a warning to all mortals to respect the gods.

Arachne, a proud peasant girl, was a wonderful spinner and weaver of wool. The nymphs journeyed fromnear and far just to watch Arachne weave.

"Ah! Athena must have given you a gift!" declared a wood nymph one day. Athena was the goddess ofweaving and handicrafts and had given Arachne weaving lessons.

"Ha! Athena has taught me nothing!" Said Arachne. "I've taught myself everything I know!" And with that,she decided to challenge Athena to a contest.

"Let's see which of us should be called 'goddess of the loom'!" she said.

The nymphs were frightened to hear such mean words towards the powerful goddess who was thedaughter of Zeus. Athena herself was furious when word got back to her about Arachne's conceit. The goddessimmediately put on a disguise of an old woman and hobbled with a cane to Arachne's cottage.

When Arachne opened her door, Athena shook her finger. "If I were you," said the old woman, "I would notcompare myself so favorably to the great goddess Athena. I would feel humble toward her and ask her to pardonmy arrogance."

"You silly fool!" said Arachne. "What do you mean by coming to my door and telling me what to do? If thatgoddess is half so great as the world thinks, let her come here and show me!"

"She is here!" boomed a powerful voice, and before Arachne's eyes, the old woman instantly changed intothe goddess Athena.

Arachne remained defiant and said, "Hello, Athena. Do you dare to finally weave against me?"

Athena only glared at the girl.

"Come in if you like," Arachne said, bidding the goddess to enter.

Without speaking, Athena went into the cottage. Servants quickly dashed about, setting up two looms.Then Arachne and Athena set to work. Their busy fingers flew back and forth as they each wove rainbows ofcolors.

Athena wove a tapestry showing the twelve greatest gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus. But Arachnewove a tapestry showing not only the gods and goddesses, but their adventures also. She made her look foolish.This angered Athena and she tore into Arachne's tapestry. Athena asked for an apology. Arachne refused. Almostinstantly Arachne felt her head begin to shrink and her fingers grow into long, thin legs.

"Vain girl, since you love to weave so very much, why don't you go and spin forever." Athena had turnedArachne into a spider.

So it is said that all spiders have been punished for Arachne's boasting, since they are required to livewithin their own webs. Since then spiders have been called arachnids.




22 Read the following sentence from "The Story of Arachne."

Arachne, a proud peasant girl, was a wonderful spinner and weaver of wool.

What is the meaning of the word proud as it is used in the sentence?

A. to be poor

B. to be vain

C. to be happy

D. to be humble

23 The following question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.

Part A:

Which of these inferences about why Arachne challenged Athena to a contest is BEST supported by thetext?

A. Arachne was jealous of Athena's beauty.

B. Arachne's dream was to weave with Athena.

C. Arachne was mad that Athena went to her cottage.

D. Arachne wanted to prove she was a better weaver than Athena.

Part B:

Which sentence from the text BEST supports your answer in part A?

A. Arachne, a proud peasant girl, was a wonderful spinner and weaver of wool.

B. "Let's see which of us should be called 'goddess of the loom'!" she said.

C. Arachne remained defiant and said, "Hello, Athena. Do you dare to finally weave against me?"

D. "Vain girl, since you love to weave so very much, why don't you go and spin forever."


Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled "The Story of Arachne".


24 From whose point of view is the text "The Story of Arachne" told? How does this point of view help thereader understand the characters? Use details to explain your answer.



Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled "The Story of Arachne".


Roses in the AshesDarren found it first. It was a tiny, ramshackle hut in the woods behind his family’s ranch. It was the ultimatehideout for late—night club meetings in the summer. In winter, if he and his brother, Brett, lit a fire in the brickfireplace, it was a great place to have weekend sleepovers. They would roast marshmallows and stay awake untillong past midnight when the owls were beginning to call.

Nobody knew how the hut caught on fire, but some of the area farmers thought maybe it had been struck bylightning because the surrounding area was dry enough to invite a brush fire. After discovering the burnt remainsof the hut, they were in disbelief. All that was left was the fireplace, but it was mostly a pile of burned bricks.If ithad not been for the rosebush near where the front door of the hut used to be, Darren may have forgotten exactlywhere the hut had stood.

Before the fire, the rosebush was tall and wild, its base almost choked with weeds. After the fire, it bloomed again.At first, it was a tiny seedling, and soon, the weeds returned to surround its base. Despite the weeds, it thrived,and it bloomed from May to September, almost as if it were regularly watered and fertilized by a caring gardener.

Many years after the fire that destroyed their childhood hut, Darren and Brett were taking a walk through thewoods, searching for one of their father’s lost pigs. When they heard a squeal in a clearing, they began to run.Darren stopped when he saw the rosebush. It was the same one that stood beside the old hut’s front door. It wasin full bloom and its long, thorny branches seemed to beckon him as they waved in the wind.

“It’s still there. I can’t believe it!” Darren spoke in an awed whisper. “You know what? That bush reminds me ofwhen . . .”

“Of when what?”

“Of all those fun times. No responsibility. No work. No worries. Life was good then.”

“Yeah, I know. C’mon. Let's go find Dad's pig before dinner. I’m starving,” Brett said as he hurried toward thesquealing noise.

Darren took a final look at the rosebush and saluted respectfully.

25 Read the sentence from paragraph 1.

They would roast marshmallows and stay awake until long past midnight when the owls werebeginning to call.

What is the meaning of the word call as it is used in this sentence?

A. to use a telephone

B. to determine an outcome

C. to name something

D. to cry out to others




Source 1: City Council Debates Bag Ban / Source 2: No Bag BanSource 1: City Council Debates Bag Ban

Later this month the Rosedale City Council will discuss whether or not to pass a ban on plasticshopping bags. The ban would mean that stores would have to stop giving plastic bags to shoppers.Customers could either use reusable shopping bags or could pay ten cents for a paper bag.

The type of light plastic shopping bag we know today was invented in the 1960s in Sweden. UnitedStates companies began making the bags in the 1980s. Around this time, grocery stores began switchingfrom paper bags to plastic bags. The plastic bags are convenient to use and cheap.

However, problems came up as more stores started using the bags. If the bags end up in stormdrains, they can block water. This could cause streets to flood. Plastic bags also started becoming aproblem for ocean animals. The animals could get tangled up in bags floating in the water. Another problemwas bags being thrown away meant more trash in landfills.

To help improve these problems, cities began to pass bans on plastic bags in 2007. Studies havebeen done since cities have banned plastic bags. Some studies have shown that many fewer bags areending up in creeks, streets, and storm drains than before the bans.

Now Rosedale is considering its own law against plastic bags. Those who support the ban say thatit is an important step in protecting our creeks and oceans. Councilwoman Mindy Johnson says, "This banwill cut down on the amount of trash that ends up in our creeks and streams." Those against the ban saythat charging ten cents for paper bags will be unfair for shoppers. Store owner Mitchell Washington says, "Iwant my customers to have a choice of which type of bags to use."

There are many strong opinions on both sides of this debate. Getting rid of plastic bags could helpthe environment, but it could also have negative effects on business and shoppers. Citizens who are for oragainst the plastic bag ban can talk to their City Council members about this issue. The Council will soondecide the future of plastic bags in Rosedale.

Source 2: No Bag Ban

This week, the Rosedale City Council will be debating a ban on plastic bags in stores. I am ahardworking small business owner who has run a neighborhood grocery store in Rosedale for 28 years.This unfair plastic bag ban and paper bag fee would have a negative impact on the business I have workedso hard to build. The ban would also be bad for my customers. The points below are only some of thenegative effects of a plastic bag ban.

Customers will have to bring their own bags.

This could cause a big hassle for shoppers. It is inconvenient to have to remember to bring yourown bags with you just to pick up some groceries! I do not need anything to get in the way of peoplewanting to come in and shop.

There will be no option at all to get a plastic bag.

As a result, customers' choice would be taken away. People should have the choice to either usetheir own bags or to get a plastic bag if they want one. Everyone deserves to make the choice that is bestfor them. Many customers already do choose to bring their own bags, but they should not be forced to doso.

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Shoppers will have to pay for bags.

This would mean an increase in how much customers have to spend in my store. Because theywould be paying for either paper bags or paying to buy reusable bags, customers would not have as muchmoney to spend on products in the store. This could mean that shoppers buy less, and I would lose someimportant business.

Customers will start using reusable bags.

This could lead to people getting sick from bacteria in reusable bags. Most people do not oftenwash their reusable bags. Germs could get on the food that they buy. It would be a disaster if customersthought that my store made them sick.

As you can see, a ban on plastic bags would be harmful to many small businesses in Rosedalesuch as my grocery store. The City Council needs to hear from citizens on this issue. Tell the City Council tovote against the ban on plastic bags! Keep Rosedale business–friendly!

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26 Read the paragraph from "City Council Debates Bag Ban."

However, problems came up as more stores started using the bags. If the bags end up in stormdrains, they can block water. This could cause streets to flood. Plastic bags also started becoming aproblem for ocean animals. The animals could get tangled up in bags floating in the water. Another problemwas bags being thrown away meant more trash in landfills.

Choose the statement that best explains why the author chose to include this paragraph.

A. The paragraph shows the reader how to save ocean animals.

B. The paragraph explains how to fix storm drains.

C. The paragraph helps the reader see the damage plastic bags can do.

D. The paragraph shows how much trash goes into landfills.

27 This question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B.

Part A:

The author mentions that grocery stores began using plastic bags in the 1980s. What conclusion can bemade about why the author included this information?

A. to introduce options other than plastic bags

B. to explain why stores started using plastic bags

C. to provide a timeline for the history of plastic bags

D. to show how long problems have been caused by plastic bags


Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled "Source 1: City CouncilDebates Bag Ban / Source 2: No Bag Ban".


Part B:

Which sentence from the passage best supports your answer to Part A?

A. Customers could either use reusable shopping bags or could pay ten cents for a paper bag.

B. The type of light plastic shopping bag we know today was invented in the 1960s in Sweden.

C. The plastic bags are convenient to use and cheap.

D. If the bags end up in storm drains, they can block water.

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Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled "Source 1: City CouncilDebates Bag Ban / Source 2: No Bag Ban".


Source 1: Earthworms / Source 2: VermicompostingSource 1: Earthworms

Have you ever planted anything in a garden? If so, you have probably seen earthworms pushing their way throughthe soil. What you may not know is that these worms play a very important role in keeping the garden growingstrong.

Unless you live in the desert or in an area where the weather is always cold, you can find earthwormsalmost anywhere. But they prefer moist, soft soil. If you observe an earthworm closely, you will notice that its bodyis made up of rings. These rings are called annuli. They are covered in bristles called setae. It is a worm's setaethat allow it to move through the ground.

As a worm burrows in the earth, it swallows soil. Just like the food we eat, soil contains nutrients thatnourish plant life. Earthworms extract the nutrients from the soil they consume and return them to the ground sothat plants can absorb them through their roots. When earthworms burrow, they make tunnels that make it easierfor air, water, and nutrients to make it to the plants' roots.

Earthworms will eat nearly anything, but their favorite foods are dead plant materials. Leaves and otherplant parts are especially rich in nutrients. Over time, these materials decompose and become part of the soil.Earthworms speed up this process by devouring organic matter so that it can help the plants grow and thrivemuch sooner.

Although the common earthworm can grow as long as fourteen inches, most are only a few inches longand weigh little more than a penny. But even though they are small, the contribution they make is immense. Thenext time you take a stroll through a healthy, green garden, be sure to thank the earthworms that call it home!

Source 2: Vermicomposting

When you take care of your yard, you often end up with lots of dead leaves, grass clippings, and weedsthat have been pulled from the garden. It is easy to consider things like these to be waste. But do not throw themaway! You can use this "waste" to make compost. Compost is a nutrient–rich combination of organic materials thatcan be mixed with soil to nourish a garden's plants. Not all compost materials are found outside. Others, includingused coffee grounds, carrot tops, and eggshells, come from the kitchen. Composting is an excellent way torecycle leftover food.

Making compost is easy. You can simply make a pile of yard and food scraps or build a compost bin fromwire or wood. You must remember to turn the compost often with a shovel, so that nutrients, air, and moisture canbe distributed evenly. While there is not a lot of work involved, this method of composting does take a lot of time—as long as two years!

Fortunately, your compost pile will have visitors who will be more than happy to assist in the process.These include millipedes, snails, and a few microorganisms that are too small even to see! But the most helpful ofall are worms. They break down the compost materials, distribute nutrients throughout the pile, and help toincrease air and moisture. Some people rely on worms to do most of their composting work for them. Compostingusing worms is called vermicomposting.

To start vermicomposting, you will need a bin. A plastic container with a lid will work, as long as it is abouttwelve inches deep. Poke or drill holes in the sides and bottom, so that the worms will have air to generate in thesoil. Add a layer of moist newspaper that is a few inches deep to the container. Then, sprinkle a little soil on thetop.

Now, it’s time to add the worms. Red "wigglers" are the best kind to use. For each pound of worms you addto your bin, you will need to feed them about four pounds of food per week. Any kind of fruits and vegetables




(including their peels), bread, and other plant–based foods are acceptable to add to your vermicomposting bin.But you will want to avoid feeding your worms meat, cheese, or oily foods. They will not eat them!

After about two to three months, the worms will have replaced the newspaper and food scraps with richcompost. At this point, you can collect it to use in your garden or to nourish potted plants inside your home. Youcan then replace the newspaper, sprinkle it with more soil, and start all over again.


Part A:

What conclusion about vermicomposting is supported by the text "Source 2: Vermicomposting"?

A. It is not difficult to make.

B. It requires a certain kind of worm.

C. It helps plants grow taller.

D. It can be done using any type of food.

Part B:

Which sentence from "Source 2: Vermicomposting" best supports your answer to Part A?

A. Making compost is easy.

B. Red "wigglers" are the best kind to use.

C. Any kind of fruits or vegetables (including their peels), bread, and other plant–based foods are acceptableto add to your vermicomposting bin.

D. At this point, you can collect it to use in your garden or to nourish potted plants inside your home.

30 Which of the following best describes how the organizational structures of "Earthworms" and"Vermicomposting" are different?

A. "Earthworms" presents the problem earthworms are to gardens, but "Vermicomposting" gives the solutionto the problem.

B. "Earthworms" gives facts about earthworms and how they help gardens, but "Vermicomposting" gives step–by–step directions to create a compost pile.

C. "Earthworms" goes from simple to more difficult facts to understand about earthworms, but"Vermicomposting" starts with the hard facts and goes on to easier ones.

D. "Earthworms" goes through the development of an earthworm chronologically, but "Vermicomposting" givesthe cause and effect of adding earthworms to your compost pile.


Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled "Source 1: Earthworms / Source 2: Vermicomposting".



Part A:

Read the paragraph from "Vermicomposting."

Fortunately, your compost pile will have visitors who will be more than happy to assist in the process.These include millipedes, snails, and a few microorganisms that are too small even to see! But the mosthelpful of all are worms. They break down the compost materials, distribute nutrients throughout the pile,and help to increase air and moisture. Some people rely on worms to do most of their composting work forthem. Composting using worms is called vermicomposting.

Based on this information, what inference can be made about the author's main idea in "Earthworms"?

A. Earthworms will eat anything.

B. Earthworms help nourish gardens and help with composting.

C. Earthworms help speed up the decomposing process.

D. Earthworms prefer soft soil.

Part B:

Which line from "Earthworms" best supports your answer in part A?

A. What you may not know is that these worms play a very important role in keeping the garden growingstrong.

B. But they prefer moist, soft soil.

C. When earthworms burrow, they make tunnels that make it easier for air, water, and nutrients to make it tothe plants' roots.

D. Earthworms will eat nearly anything, but their favorite foods are dead plant materials.


Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled "Source 1: Earthworms / Source 2: Vermicomposting".


Going AwayNicholas folded his shirts and laid them in his suitcase neatly but silently. Three days ago, he was so angry

that he could not even think. While that period was over, he still had trouble accepting what was happening.

"I'm glad you've calmed down a little," said Richard from the end of the bed. He could tell that his youngerbrother was still furious. "Talking about it might benefit you."

Nicholas sighed and muttered the first words he had spoken in days. "I was going to be on the swim teamthis year, and I was going to play basketball."

"Don't be so quick to say what you will and won't be doing, Nicholas. You don't even know anything aboutthat boarding school."

A slight laugh escaped Nicholas's lips. Of course he knew all about the school—he had visited it with hisparents two weeks ago. He knew about the brick buildings, the quiet halls, and the students in their blanduniforms. He knew how its lack of feeling made him feel dull and cold. He knew it was not going to be anything likethe public school he had attended the year before.

"You've never even been to boarding school," Nicholas told his brother. "If it were just a school where youlived instead of living at home, that would be one thing, but this place is just so different from anything I have everknown."

"Well, just because it's different doesn't mean it will be worse. Besides, it may be more similar to what youhave known your whole life than you think." Richard rose from the bed and left the room, leaving Nicholas with hissuitcase.

After Richard was gone, Nicholas took a look underneath the row of crisp button–down shirts. He madesure that he had remembered to pack his most colorful swimsuit. It was not likely that he would need a swimsuit inboarding school. Then again, one could never be certain.

The weepy ivy plant's leaves hung over the ledge of Nicholas's window. Outside, the skies were gray. InsideNicholas's new dorm room, the yellow–brown walls were even gloomier. As he laid on his bed and looked at them,he was sure the walls had not been repainted since the hall was built over one hundred years ago.

Yet he found a little more excitement in that old building than he had expected when he heard voices andlaughter down the hallway. He thought about leaving his room to see who lived next door, but he was uneasyabout approaching someone he did not know. Occasionally he would see a fellow student running passed hisdoor—sometimes wearing a uniform and sometimes in their regular clothes. If only someone would stop at hisdoor...

"Hey there, what's up?" As if his request had been answered, he suddenly saw a boy sitting at the end ofhis bed, as if he had appeared from thin air. "My name is Marcus. What's yours?"

"Uh, my name is Nicholas," he replied. "I'm from Toledo, and this is my first day here."

"Cool! I'm from Detroit, so you and I are practically neighbors! Well, actually we ARE neighbors—I live inthe room right next to yours. I have been in boarding school for a year, so if you need to know your way around,ask me. Wow, I remember my first day, all I did was lay on the bed and stare at the walls. I was so scared becauseI had never really been away from home before, not even to go to summer camp. Some people say that schoolhere is a lot like being at camp, especially when it comes to sports."




The thought of playing sports got Nicholas's interest. "You actually play sports here? From what I've seen,it's just a lot of going to class and studying."

"I thought the same thing a year ago, because I had really wanted to be on the swim team in Detroit,"Marcus explained. "I soon found out that I was wrong, and I would be able to join swim after all. The swim teamhere has won the state championship three years in a row. The school even has an Olympic–sized pool!"

Marcus looked around the room. He did not seem to notice that Nicholas's heart was racing withexcitement. "So," he continued, "did you know that this dorm is over one hundred years old? I'll bet these wallshaven't been painted since it was built!"




32 What is theme of the passage "Going Away?" In your opinion, does Nicholas's conversation withMarcus help support the theme? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

Manage your time carefully so you can:

● reread the passage

● plan your response

● write your response

● revise and edit your response

Be sure to include:

● an introduction

● information from the passage for support

● a conclusion related to the information presented

Type your multi-paragraph response in the space below. What is theme of the passage "Going Away?" In your opinion, does Nicholas's conversation withMarcus help support the theme? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.



Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled "Going Away".


33 Read the sentences.

"Well, just because it's different doesn't mean it will be worse. Besides, it may be more similar to what youhave known your whole life than you think."

What is the meaning of the word similar?

A. better

B. interesting

C. exciting

D. alike

34 Read the paragraph.

"Hey there, what's up?" As if his request had been answered, he suddenly saw a boy sitting at theend of his bed, as if he had appeared from thin air. "My name is Marcus. What's yours?"

What effect does the author create by using the phrase from thin air?

A. It shows the reader that Marcus can move really quickly.

B. It helps the reader understand that Marcus likes to sneak around the dormitory halls.

C. It shows the reader that Marcus appeared out of nowhere.

D. It shows the reader that Nicholas was frightened when Marcus showed up in his room.


Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled "Going Away".


Source 1: Cars of the Future / Source 2: InventionsSource 1: Cars of the Future

Imagine getting a ride to soccer practice in a car that could drive itself. Well, that may not be too far in thefuture! A California company has been testing its self–driving car on actual city streets since 2008. The self–driving car can drive by itself without a human behind the wheel. So far during testing, the cars always havesomeone in the driver's seat. That person can take over the driving if there is a problem with the car. Theseamazing cars are not available to buy yet. Soon, though, self–driving cars could make big improvements to roadtravel.

Self–driving cars use computers and tools to do everything that human drivers can do—and more! A laseron top of the car spins around and around and can tell where objects are on all sides of the car. Cameras on thecar can see street signs and can tell if a traffic light is red, yellow, or green. The car's computers take in all of theinformation coming in from the lasers and cameras and use that to control the car. The car can tell when anothercar is stopping ahead and it will begin to brake. The steering wheel turns without the assistance of a person'shands. The gas pedal presses down without a person's foot pushing it. Computer maps tell the car how to getfrom one place to another. Human drivers could soon be a thing of the past!

Vehicles that drive themselves will mean changes for driving as we know it. Humans do not always drivesafely. They sometimes get distracted or sleepy while driving. Computers, however, do not. With more self–drivingcars on the road, there will be fewer car accidents. Self–driving cars do not drive faster than the speed limit or gettoo close to the other cars around them. Unlike humans, the tools on this car can see very far away and even inthe dark.

There are many helpful things about self–driving cars, though there are a few problems. For example, thelasers do not work as well in the rain. Also, it is tough for a self–driving car to handle a problem it was notexpecting. If traffic lights go out, there may be a person in the road to tell drivers when to go. However, the carscannot understand his or her hand signals.

Although many people enjoy driving, letting the cars do the driving will cut down on the number of problemson the road. In the future, cars that can drive themselves will make driving much safer. That future is not too faroff!

Glossary

laser: a narrow beam of light

Source 2: Inventions

From airplanes and televisions to cell phones and computers, we use inventions every day. There are manyways that inventions are useful. There are also some possible problems to think about. Not everyone agreeswhether using a new invention is the right choice.

One example of an invention is the electronic voting machine. When people voted in elections in the past,they used to mark their vote on a piece of paper. Now, though, many places use electronic voting machines wherevoters click on a computer screen to make their choice. Counting paper votes by hand takes a long time. Anelectronic voting machine counts much faster than a person and does not make mistakes.

However, some people are afraid that someone could break into the machines to make them count thevotes unfairly. Some people are concerned with what might happen if the machines break down. The machinesalso cost more than voting on paper. On the other hand, the electronic machines are easier to use and are muchbetter for people who cannot see. With more electronic voting machines, not as many people are needed to workat voting centers.




These are just some of the things to think about with a new invention. Inventions help us do things fasterand make our lives easier. They cut down on mistakes. Inventions can also create more waste and pollution.Some people might be afraid to switch over to using a new invention because they are just not used to using it.Inventions can cause problems we did not even expect. They can also help us do more than we thought waspossible. When it comes to inventions, use them wisely!

35 The following question has two parts. First, answer part A. Then, answer part B.

Part A:

In paragraph 3 of "Cars of the Future," what is most likely the author's reason for mentioning how humandrivers and self–driving cars handle distractions?

A. to show that roads are very dangerous in bad weather

B. to show that self–driving cars are safer than human drivers

C. to show that self–driving cars can drive just like human drivers

D. to show that it is easier for self–driving cars to get lost than it is for human drivers

Part B:

Which sentence from the text best supports your answer in part A?

A. Self–driving cars use computers and tools to do everything that human drivers can do—and more!

B. Vehicles that drive themselves will mean changes for driving as we know it.

C. With more self–driving cars on the road, there will be fewer car accidents.

D. For example, the lasers do not work as well in the rain.


Part A:

Read the sentence from "Inventions."

Some people might be afraid to switch over to using a new invention because they are just not used tousing it.

Based on this information, what inference can be made about self–driving cars in "Cars of the Future"?

A. Some people might get into accidents in self–driving cars.

B. Some people might not believe self–driving cars are real.

C. Some people might not want to try self–driving cars because they are so different.

D. Some people might be excited to use such a new and different type of car.


Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled "Source 1: Cars of theFuture / Source 2: Inventions".


Part B:

Which sentence from "Cars of the Future" best supports your answer in part A?

A. A laser on top of the car spins around and around and can tell where objects are on all sides of the car.

B. Vehicles that drive themselves will mean changes for driving as we know it.

C. With more self–driving cars on the road, there will be fewer car accidents.

D. In the future, cars that can drive themselves will make driving much safer.


Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled "Source 1: Cars of theFuture / Source 2: Inventions".


The Spiderby Jane Taylor

"Oh, look at that great ugly spider!" said Ann.And screaming, she brushed it away with her fan."Tis a frightful black creature as ever can be,I wish that it would not come crawling on me."

"Indeed," said her mother,"I'll offer to say,The poor thing will try to keep out of your way.For after the fright, and the fall, and the pain,It has much more reason than you to complain."

"But why are you afraid of the poor insect, my dear?If it hurt you, there'd be a reason for your fear;But its little black legs, as it hurried away,Did but tickle your arm, as they went, I dare say."

"For them to fear us we must agree to be just,Who in less than a moment can tread them to dust.But certainly we have no cause for alarm;For, were they to try, they could do us no harm."

"Now look! It has got to its home do you see,What a delicate web it has spun in the tree?Why here, my dear Ann is a lesson for you:Come learn from this spider what patience can do!"

"And when you are working you're tempted to play,Recollect what you see in this insect today.Or else, to your shame, it may seem to be true,That a poor little spider is wiser than you."

-Public Domain


Part A:

Which statement BEST describes how Ann and her mother are different?

A. Ann's mother believes that spiders should be feared, and Ann believes that her mother can learn fromspiders.

B. Ann's mother believes that spiders are afraid, and Ann believes that spiders are scary.

C. Ann believes that spiders should be feared, and her mother believes that Ann can learn from spiders.

D. Ann believes that spiders are wise, and her mother believes that spiders are of no use.




Part B:

Which stanzas from the poem provide the necessary details to answer part A?

A. Stanzas 1 and 2

B. Stanzas 1 and 3

C. Stanzas 1 and 4

D. Stanzas 1 and 5




Source 1: Striving for the Gold / Source 2: What Is Asthma?

If you're ever sitting in an Italian restaurant and notice a very tall, lean, young man gorging on spaghettiand chicken parmesan, you could be watching an Olympic champion and not even know it. Eating Italianfood is one way that swimmer Tom Dolan gears up for a big race—along with making sure his inhaler is full.Tom has a case of asthma that might prevent some people from walking down the street, but he has wontwo gold medals and has broken a world record.

Tom Dolan started swimming at age five, simply to prove that he could out-swim his older sister. He hasalways been highly competitive; when he was a child, his dad could always get him to drink an extra glass ofmilk by filling two glasses and challenging Tom to a race. At the age of eleven, he broke his arm and hismother told him to stop swimming until the cast was off. Instead, Tom covered the cast with a foam casingand kept on swimming.

When Tom was twelve, he was running on the playground and suddenly felt like he could not breathe. Hedid not tell his parents until it happened a second time. They took him straight to the doctor, who diagnosedhim with allergies and asthma. Tom was allergic to dust, mold, and pollen. Worst of all for a swimmer, hewas sensitive to chlorine!

Tom's asthma did not stop him from becoming a competitive swimmer in college though, nor did the factthat he was also diagnosed with exercise–induced asthma. This meant that his asthma would get worse ashe worked out more intensely. Another doctor said he also had a condition called tracheal stenosis, anarrow windpipe. Due to the tracheal stenosis and asthma, Tom could only take in about 10% as muchoxygen as his competitors.

Despite his medical conditions, Tom continued to swim. His best event was the 400–meter IndividualMedley (IM), which consists of 100 meters each of four different strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke,and freestyle. Sometimes Tom blacked out during practice, but never during a race. Even a collapse andsubsequent hospitalization in Hawaii during his sophomore year in college did not stop Tom. He had his eyeon the Olympics.

The Olympics in Atlanta in 1996 presented Tom with a special challenge. The heat and humidity createdsticky, heavy air that made it more difficult than usual for him to breathe. Going into the last 50 meters of the400–meter IM, Tom was 3/100ths of a second behind his toughest competition, Eric Namesnik, anotherAmerican swimmer. Tom pushed himself to the limit, beating Eric by 35/100ths of a second and setting aworld record for the event. He went on to win his second gold medal in the same event in Sydney in 2000.

Tom believes that he is a great swimmer because of, not in spite of, his medical problems. He feels that hisasthma taught him how to overcome adversity. As he says, he feels like he is one step ahead, because "Iknow that my body has gone through more stress and strain than anyone else in the pool." And, quitepossibly, more Italian food.

(Excerpt from a pamphlet on asthma distributed in doctors' offices)

Asthma is a disease that causes the bronchial tubes that bring air into a person's lungs to become red andswollen. Because air cannot move smoothly in and out of the lungs, asthma sufferers have difficultybreathing.

People of all ages can suffer from asthma, although it's most common in younger individuals (under age40). People who have asthma have sensitive airways that can react to a number of things, called "triggers,"which cause an asthma attack. Many things trigger asthma. Asthma triggers include pollens, mold, pet

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dander, cleaning solutions, air pollution, tobacco smoke, exercise, a change in the weather, and evenanxiety and stress.

Small portable inhalers can be an asthma sufferer's best friend. These devices deliver medicine directlyinto the lungs, which helps shrink the swollen airways and makes breathing easier. The medicine is squirtedinto the throat as a mist while the person inhales, holds their breath for 15 seconds, and then exhalesslowly.

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38 Using the passage “What is Asthma?” in your own words, explain what asthma is. How did asthmaaffect Tom Dolan’s life? How did he react to the challenges asthma created for him? Use evidencefrom both passages to support your answer.

Manage your time carefully so you can:

● reread the passage● plan your response● write your response● revise and edit your response

Be sure to include:

● an introduction● information from the passage for support● a conclusion related to the information presented

Type your multi-paragraph response in the space below.

Using the passage “What is Asthma?” in your own words, explain what asthma is. How did asthmaaffect Tom Dolan’s life? How did he react to the challenges asthma created for him? Use evidencefrom both passages to support your answer.



Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled "Source 1: Striving forthe Gold / Source 2: What Is Asthma?".


39 According to the pamphlet, how does the use of an inhaler affect someone who is having an asthma attack?

A. The use of an inhaler causes the lungs to become swollen and irritated.

B. The use of an inhaler is a trigger for an asthma attack.

C. The use of an inhaler is an effective cure for asthma for those over 40.

D. The use of an inhaler causes the swollen airways to shrink and allows for easier breathing.

40 Read the paragraph from "Striving for the Gold."

Tom believes that he is a great swimmer because of, not in spite of, his medical problems. He feelsthat his asthma taught him how to overcome adversity. As he says, he feels like he is one step ahead,because "I know that my body has gone through more stress and strain than anyone else in the pool." And,quite possibly, more Italian food.

Which BEST describes why the author chose to end the text with this paragraph?

A. to make the message seem more believable by quoting Tom

B. to give the reader a reason to eat more Italian food

C. to emphasize Tom's love for swimming and Italian food

D. to show what Tom had learned from his experience with asthma and being an athlete

41 Read the sentence from "What Is Asthma?".

Asthma is a disease that causes the bronchial tubes that bring air into a person's lungs to becomered and swollen.

Which BEST describes why the author chose to begin the text with this sentence?

A. to introduce what asthma was before giving further information about asthma

B. to let people know about his asthmatic condition

C. to let people know what color lungs turn

D. to explain how lungs work

42 Read the sentence from "Striving for Gold."

If you're ever sitting in an Italian restaurant and notice a very tall, lean, young man gorgingon spaghetti and chicken parmesan, you could be watching an Olympic champion and noteven know it.

What does the word gorging MOST LIKELY mean?

A. a small canyon

B. to eat a small amount slowly

C. to choose not to eat

D. to eat a lot very quickly




43 Read the paragraph from "What Is Asthma?".

People of all ages can suffer from asthma, although it's most common in younger individuals (underage 40). People who have asthma have sensitive airways that can react to a number of things, called"triggers," which cause an asthma attack. Many things trigger asthma. Asthma triggers include pollens,mold, pet dander, cleaning solutions, air pollution, tobacco smoke, exercise, a change in the weather, andeven anxiety and stress.

Which statement BEST describes the main idea of the paragraph?

A. Young individuals have asthma.

B. Asthma affects many people and can be caused by many different things.

C. Pollen and mold are the main causes of asthma.

D. A change in the weather can cause an asthma attack.

44 Read the paragraph from the text and the directions that follow.

Tom Dolan started swimming at age five, simply to prove that he could outswim his older sister. Hehas always been highly competitive; when he was a child, his dad could always get him to drink an extraglass of milk by filling two glasses and challenging Tom to a race. At the age of eleven, he broke his armand his mother told him to stop swimming until the cast was off. Instead, Tom covered the cast with a foamcasing and kept on swimming.

Which statement best describes the main idea of the paragraph?

A. Tom started swimming at an early age.

B. Tom likes to compete with his dad.

C. Tom does not back away from a challenge.

D. Tom is very skilled at fixing things.


Part A:

Read paragraph one from "What Is Asthma?"

Asthma is a disease that causes the bronchial tubes that bring air into a person's lungs tobecome red and swollen. Because air cannot move smoothly in and out of the lungs, asthmasufferers have difficulty breathing.

Based on this information, what can a reader conclude about Tom Dolan's asthma in "Striving for the Gold"?

A. He was sensitive to pollen.

B. He needed to use an inhaler.

C. He often had trouble breathing.

D. His lungs were always hurting.




Part B:

Which sentence from "Striving for the Gold" BEST supports your answer in part A?

A. Tom has a case of asthma that might prevent some people from walking down the street, but he has wontwo gold medals and has broken a world record.

B. When Tom was twelve, he was running on the playground and suddenly felt like he could not breathe.

C. Tom's asthma did not stop him from becoming a competitive swimmer in college though, nor did the factthat he was also diagnosed with exercise—induced asthma.

D. Even a collapse and subsequent hospitalization in Hawaii during his sophomore year in college did not stopTom.


Part A:

Which of these inferences about people who suffer from asthma is supported by both texts?

A. They are very sensitive to changes in the weather.

B. They often have to go to the hospital for treatment.

C. They often suffer from other lung problems as well.

D. They tend to have bigger appetites than other people.

Part B:

Which sentence from "Striving for the Gold" BEST supports your answer in part A?

A. Eating Italian food is one way that swimmer Tom Dolan gears up for a big race—along with making sure hisinhaler is full.

B. Tom was allergic to dust, mold, and pollen. Worst of all for a swimmer, he was sensitive to chlorine!

C. Due to the tracheal stenosis and asthma, Tom could only take in about 10% as much oxygen as hiscompetitors.

D. The heat and humidity created sticky, heavy air that made it more difficult than usual for him to breathe.


Part A:

What conclusion about asthma is supported by both texts?

A. People with asthma can lead very successful lives.

B. Asthma is a tough thing to have, but it can be controlled.

C. Asthma causes redness and swelling that makes breathing difficult.

D. Climate can make asthma worse, as can being in stressful situations.




Part B:

Which sentence from the text "What Is Asthma?" BEST supports your answer in part A?

A. Because air cannot move smoothly in and out of the lungs, asthma sufferers have difficulty breathing.

B. People of all ages can suffer from asthma, although it's most common in younger individuals (under age40).

C. People who have asthma have sensitive airways that can react to a number of things, called "triggers,"which cause an asthma attack.

D. These devices deliver medicine directly into the lungs, which helps shrink the swollen airways and makesbreathing easier.


Part A:

Read the sentence from "Striving for the Gold."

Eating Italian food is one way that swimmer Tom Dolan gears up for a big race—along withmaking sure his inhaler is full.

Based on the information in "What is Asthma?", what can a reader conclude about why having a full inhaleris important to Tom Dolan?

A. An inhaler will not work if it is not completely full.

B. An inhaler helps a person with asthma breathe.

C. An inhaler gives a swimmer extra energy during a race.

D. An inhaler protects against pollen, mold, and other triggers.

Part B:

Which sentence from "What is Asthma?" BEST supports your answer in part A?

A. Asthma is a disease that causes the bronchial tubes that bring air into a person's lungs to become red andswollen.

B. Because air cannot move smoothly in and out of the lungs, asthma sufferers have difficulty breathing.

C. People who have asthma have sensitive airways that can react to a number of things, called "triggers,"which cause an asthma attack.

D. These devices deliver medicine directly into the lungs, which helps shrink the swollen airways and makesbreathing easier.




49 Read this sentence.

He feels that his asthma taught him how to overcome adversity.

In this sentence, what does adversity mean?

A. a condition of trouble or difficulty

B. an opponent or enemy

C. a sport or contest of speed

D. to conquer or defeat

50 Which best explains the organizational strategy used in "Striving for the Gold"?

A. It explains the causes and effects of asthma.

B. It tells the life story of Tom Dolan in chronological order.

C. It compares and contrasts different lives of athletes with asthma.

D. It creates an argument that people who have asthma are just as athletic as those who do not.

51 Which detail from "Striving for the Gold" BEST supports the following statement?

The Olympics in Atlanta in 1996 presented Tom with a special challenge.

A. The heat and humidity created sticky, heavy air that made it more difficult than usual for him to breathe.

B. He has always been highly competitive...

C. Tom pushed himself to the limit, beating Eric by 35/100ths of a second and setting a world record for theevent.

D. He went on to win his second gold medal in the same event in Sydney in 2000.

52 Which of the following things can help stop an asthma attack, according to the pamphlet?

A. a small, portable inhaler

B. stress or anxiety

C. playing with your pet dog

D. smoking a cigarette

53 What, according to the pamphlet, causes a person with asthma to have difficulty breathing?

A. the swelling of the bronchial tubes

B. small portable inhalers

C. being under age 40

D. holding one's breath for more than 15 seconds




54 How does the word subsequent affect the meaning of this sentence from "Striving for the Gold"?

Even a collapse and subsequent hospitalization in Hawaii during his sophomore year in college did notstop Tom.

A. It explains that Tom Dolan was hospitalized after he collapsed.

B. It explains that Tom Dolan was hospitalized and then collapsed.

C. It explains that Tom Dolan was hospitalized during his collapse.

D. It explains that Tom Dolan was hospitalized anticipating his collapse.

55 What does this idiom mean as it is used in this sentence from "Striving for the Gold"?

He had his eye on the Olympics.

A. He wanted to compete in the Olympics.

B. He wanted to watch the Olympics on television.

C. He wanted to see how tough his Olympic competitors were.

D. He wanted to travel to Atlanta to see the Olympics.




An Adventurous WriterThe most inventive writer of the 19th century was the French author Jules Verne. He was a creative author

that loved science and adventure. As a young boy, Jules used his imagination to make up stories with his youngerbrother, Paul. His curiosity grew when he went on little adventures with his brother. They would often sneak to thenearby dock to see the boats. In fact, when Jules was only twelve years old, he tried to sneak onto a boat that wassailing to the West Indies. Unfortunately for him, his father found out about it before it left.

Jules's ideas grew even more as he got older. He was very smart and wanted to know how things worked.As a young adult, he mostly spent time in the library reading books on science and technology. Eventually, he fellin love with science fiction.

Jules read many books on dirigibles, or blimp–like machines. With the help of a friend, he came up with theidea of traveling in a balloon that would move up and down by catching the wind. At the same time, Verne noticedthat many people were interested in the country of Africa. Then a light went on. Verne thought to combine the twoideas together. He wrote a science fiction story about a balloon that traveled over Africa called Five Weeks in aBalloon. This was his first success as a writer. Jules became well known to readers.

Verne's writing style was very different. His books were a lot like travel books that allowed the reader toexplore along with the main characters. Using science, he was able to capture the imaginations of many readers.Even though he wrote about travel and science, Jules hardly traveled anywhere and never studied under a realscientist. In spite of his inexperience, he really fascinated his readers through his stories.

Jules wrote about things that often predicted the future of science. He wrote about traveling to the moon ina book called From the Earth to the Moon. This forecast was made almost a century before a real ship landed onthe moon. Another one of his new ideas was shown when he wrote a book about a submarine. He named itTwenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. It was pretty amazing because he wrote about them before they wereeven used. This adventure was about the Nautilus, a submarine that moved by electricity.

One of his most popular books was called Around the World in Eighty Days. In this story, the maincharacter, Phileas Fogg, took a wager to travel the world in eighty days. This story was so exciting that peoplecould not wait to read it. It was cut up into smaller pieces and published in a newspaper. People were able to readeach account as if it were really an article in the newspaper. Eventually it was put together into a novel and wasread all over the world. It was even made into a movie. In fact, many of his books were made into movies.

Jules Verne was a very gifted writer. During his lifetime, he wrote around eighty stories. Not only didchildren love his books, but adults did, too. His imagination and creative writing gave him popularity all over theworld.

1828 Jules Verne was born in Nantes

1840 Tried to run away, but got caught

1862 Wrote Five Weeks in a Balloon

1865 Wrote From the Earth to the Moon

1870 Wrote Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

1873 Around the World in Eighty Days was created

1905 Jules Verne passed away




56 What does the word "forecast" mean as it is used in paragraph 5?

A. a description of what an astronaut does in space

B. a description of the weather

C. a description of what the future will be like

D. a description of what the past was like

57 Read the following sentences from the text.

Verne's writing style was very different. His books were a lot like travel books that allowed the reader toexplore along with the main characters. Using science, he was able to capture the imaginations of manyreaders.

In these sentences, style means __________.

A. an original manner of expression

B. wearing the latest fashion

C. a way of living

D. a method of organizing

58 Read the following sentences.

He wrote a science fiction story about a balloon that traveled over Africa called Five Weeks in a Balloon.This was his first success as a writer. Jules became well known to readers.

In these sentences, what is the meaning of success?

A. a work of literature

B. to try to do something new

C. a person or thing that does or goes well

D. something based on imaginary events

59 Read the paragraph from the text.

Jules Verne was a very gifted writer. During his lifetime, he wrote around eighty stories. Not only didchildren love his books, but adults did, too. His imagination and creative writing gave him popularity all overthe world.

What is the meaning of the word gifted as it is used in these sentences?

A. daring

B. talented

C. loved

D. dedicated


Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled "An Adventurous Writer".


60 Read the following sentence from the text.

During his lifetime, he wrote around eighty stories.

A synonym is a word that means the same or nearly the same as another word. What is the synonym of theunderlined word?

A. approximately

B. all over

C. circle

D. exactly


Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled "An Adventurous Writer".

Illuminate Itembank™ Stop: You have finished the assessment.Generated On March 13, 2020, 11:15 AM PDT

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