Text 1: Main Idea and Key Details
Which statement best expresses a central idea of the text?
A. Weather can damage crops and affect farming decisions.
B. Cleveland Abbe’s work led to the development of modern weather forecasting systems.
C. The U.S. government created the Weather Bureau to support the military.
D. Scientific instruments are important for measuring weather conditions.
Part B:
Which detail from the text best supports the answer to Part A?
A. “Heavy rains might delay planting or drown plants…”
B. “He proposed setting up a network of weather observers…”
C. “The bureau’s instrument division tested thousands of barometers…”
D. “He worked on his grandfather’s farm…”
B. Cleveland Abbe’s work led to the development of modern weather forecasting systems.
B. “He proposed setting up a network of weather observers…”
Click on the statement that best describes what the author most likely intended by mentioning Cleveland Abbe at the end of the first paragraph of the text.
A. The author is contrasting outdated approaches to meteorology with today's more efficient operations.
B. The author is pointing out that Abbe would be proud of the students he taught as a university professor.
C. The author is connecting the founder of the modern Weather Service to the organization's modern achievements.
D. The author is pointing out that Abbe was skilled at working with community organizations to obtain funding for his projects.
C. The author is connecting the founder of the modern Weather Service to the organization's modern achievements.
Part A:
How does the author mainly develop her point of view about the program?
A. By comparing it to other music camps
B. By including quotes from the Perlmans that describe the program’s values
C. By explaining the history of music education
D. By listing problems students face in music
Part B:
Which detail best supports the answer to Part A?
A. “Mrs. Perlman… explained, ‘One of the unique aspects of our program…’”
B. “Students attend a weekly dinner…” (Middle)
C. “Mr. Perlman advises students…” (Beginning)
D. “He can take vacation from music…” (End)
Part A:
B. By including quotes from the Perlmans that describe the program’s values
Part B:
A. “Mrs. Perlman… explained, ‘One of the unique aspects of our program…’”
Which statement best describes how the author organizes the beginning of the text?
A. By describing the history of the Perlman Music Program
B. By introducing Itzhak Perlman’s beliefs about music and discipline
C. By explaining how students are selected for the program
D. By comparing different types of music programs
B. By introducing Itzhak Perlman’s beliefs about music and discipline
How does Jason’s attention to time affect events at the beginning of the story?
A. It causes him to forget about his piano lesson
B. It shows that he enjoys surprising his teacher
C. It leads him to prepare early and wait for his teacher’s arrival
D. It makes him feel nervous about playing music
C. It leads him to prepare early and wait for his teacher’s arrival
Part A:
How does the author introduce the central idea in the text?
A. By describing Abbe’s early experiences with weather on a farm
B. By explaining how the Weather Bureau was created
C. By listing tools used to measure weather
D. By describing national weather reports
Part B:
Which sentence best supports the answer to Part A?
A. “He even thought of dividing the country into four standard time zones…”
B. “In the summers, he worked on his grandfather’s farm…”
C. “By 1872, the Weather Bureau was sending out more than 500 daily weather bulletins…”
D. “Abbe worked hard to make each forecast consistent and precise…”
A. By describing Abbe’s early experiences with weather on a farm
B. “In the summers, he worked on his grandfather’s farm…”
Part A: What can be inferred about Abbe’s approach to weather forecasting?
A. He relied on personal observations
B. He depended mostly on others’ opinions
C. He used organized data from multiple sources to make predictions
D. He focused only on astronomy
Part B:
Which detail best supports the answer to Part A?
A. “He studied astronomy while teaching…”
B. “Observers would record eight different things…”
C. “He worked on his grandfather’s farm…”
D. “His hard work established today’s National Weather Service…”
C. He used organized data from multiple sources to make predictions
B. “Observers would record eight different things…”
Part A:
Which statement best describes the author’s point of view toward the Perlman Music Program?
A. The program provides structure but may limit students’ independence
B. The program balances high-level training with a supportive environment for students
C. The program focuses primarily on preparing students for professional careers
D. The program emphasizes discipline over enjoyment
Part B:
Which detail best supports the answer to Part A?
A. “We try to create a healthy, happy, normal environment. It doesn't mean they don't work really hard, but there's a lot of talking that goes on"
B. “ "If you don't do well, it doesn't mean it's your fault,"
C. “You have to have some sort of discipline. I always felt I was more successful when I had a routine."
D. “Tomorrow's professional musicians from the ages of eleven to eighteen play to their heart's content."
Part A:
B. The program balances high-level training with a supportive environment for students
Part B:
A. “We try to create a healthy, happy, normal environment. It doesn't mean they don't work really hard, but there's a lot of talking that goes on"
How does the author’s decision to include quotations from the Perlmans affect the structure of the text?
A. It interrupts the flow of information with unrelated opinions
B. It shifts the focus away from the program itself
C. It adds personal perspectives that help explain the program’s values
D. It extends the nature of the text to read as a script
C. It adds personal perspectives that help explain the program’s values
How does Jason’s preference for routine influence his actions during his piano lessons?
A. It causes him to avoid learning new music
B. It helps him quickly move through familiar exercises like scales
C. It prevents him from listening to his teacher’s advice
D. It makes him rely on others to guide his practice
B. It helps him quickly move through familiar exercises like scales
Part A:
Which statement best explains how a key idea is developed in the middle of the text?
A. The author explains Abbe’s childhood to show his personality.
B. The author describes Abbe’s network of observers to show how he improved forecasting.
C. The author lists scientific tools to explain how weather works.
D. The author describes government actions to show political support.
Part B:
Which detail best supports the answer to Part A?
A. “Observers would record eight different things…”
B. “Abbe was born in New York City…”
C. “President Ulysses S. Grant signed a bill…”
D. “Despite failing health, Abbe was part of the Weather Bureau…”
B. The author describes Abbe’s network of observers to show how he improved forecasting.
A. “Observers would record eight different things…”
Part A:
What can the reader infer about why the U.S. government supported Abbe’s work?
A. His work was already successful and useful to larger groups
B. He requested funding for personal research
C. His work focused on military strategy
D. He was the only scientist studying weather
Part B:
Which detail best supports the answer to Part A?
A. “The success of Abbe’s local weather reports helped him gain attention…”
B. “He worked on his grandfather’s farm…”
C. “The bureau tested thousands of barometers…”
D. “He studied astronomy…”
A. His work was already successful and useful to larger groups
A. “The success of Abbe’s local weather reports helped him gain attention…”
Part A: Which statement best explains the author’s overall attitude toward Itzhak Perlman?
A. She presents him as overly strict
B. She presents him as talented and thoughtful about teaching and learning
C. She presents him as distant from students
D. She presents him as mainly focused on fame
Part B:
Which TWO details best support the answer to Part A?
A. “Mr. Perlman advises students… you have to love what you do…”
B. "'I can take vacation from music for a while when I just want to relax,' he said and chuckled. But he did caution, 'The important thing is not to go on vacation while you do your music, or while you do anything else in the arts.''
C. “He tries to conduct and coach them.”
D. "'One of the unique aspects of our program is that we are small, only thirty-five students, and small means intimate.'"
Part A:
B. She presents him as talented and thoughtful about teaching and learning
Part B:
A. “Mr. Perlman advises students… you have to love what you do…”
B. "'I can take vacation from music for a while when I just want to relax,' he said and chuckled. But he did caution, 'The important thing is not to go on vacation while you do your music, or while you do anything else in the arts.''
How does the organization of the text contribute to the reader’s understanding of the Perlman Music Program?
A. It presents information in a problem-and-solution format to explain challenges students face
B. It compares multiple programs of Itzhak Perlman's to highlight differences in teaching styles across programs
C. It focuses on a single event and performance to show the importance of music-making
D. It moves from general ideas about music to specific details about the program, helping readers see how those ideas are applied
D. It moves from general ideas about music to specific details about the program, helping readers see how those ideas are applied
How does the introduction of the Rachmaninov piece affect Jason’s thoughts and reactions?
A. It challenges him while also increasing his curiosity and engagement with the composer’s work
B. It makes him question whether he should continue playing piano
C. It causes him to feel confident because he has played similar music before
D. It leads him to focus more on his teacher than on the music
A. It challenges him while also increasing his curiosity and engagement with the composer’s work
Part A:
Which statement best explains how the author develops the central idea across the entire text?
A. By comparing Abbe to other scientists of his time
B. By presenting problems with weather prediction and explaining why they failed
C. By tracing Abbe’s growth from early interest to national impact
D. By focusing mainly on the tools used in meteorology
Part B:
Which two details best support the answer to Part A?
Select two answers.
A. “He worked on his grandfather’s farm…”
B. “He was the only one who knew enough about meteorology…”
C. “The first official public forecast appeared…”
D. “The bureau’s instrument division tested thousands…”
Part A:
C. By tracing Abbe’s growth from early interest to national impact
Part B:
A. “He worked on his grandfather’s farm…”
C. “The first official public forecast appeared…”
What can be inferred about Abbe’s role in the development of weather forecasting?
A. He played a minor role in a larger system
B. He contributed mainly as a teacher
C. He was a key figure whose work shaped the system and helped others continue it
D. He focused only on scientific tools
Part B:
Which TWO details best support the answer to Part A?
A. “For the first six months, Abbe was the only one who knew enough…”
B. “He worked on his grandfather’s farm…”
C. “He taught others to measure and predict the weather.”
D. “The bureau’s instrument division tested thousands…”
Part A:
C. He was a key figure whose work shaped the system and helped others continue it
Part B:
A. “For the first six months, Abbe was the only one who knew enough…”
C. “He taught others to measure and predict the weather.”
Part A:
Which statement best explains how the author’s point of view is developed across the text?
A. By focusing only on the daily schedule of the program
B. By presenting both positive and negative perspectives of the program
C. By highlighting the program’s supportive environment and unique opportunities throughout the text
D. By explaining the history of music education in detail
Part B:
Which TWO details best support the answer to Part A?
A. “We care about the total child…”
B. “He worked on his grandfather’s farm…”
C. "The children are at first awed by, and then come to accept, the active involvement of famous musicians in their training"
D. "A modest man, Itzhak Perlman remarked on himself and his tremendous talent, 'I don't think there's anything unusual. People say -You're amazing- but I say that I do whatever I am capable of doing.'"
Part A:
C. By highlighting the program’s supportive environment and unique opportunities throughout the text
Part B:
A. “We care about the total child…”
C. "The children are at first awed by, and then come to accept, the active involvement of famous musicians in their training"
Which statement best explains how the author’s use of different sections contributes to the overall impact of the text?
A. Each section introduces a new topic unrelated to the main idea
B. The sections focus mostly on technical details about music instruction, including that of Toby Perlman
C. The sections emphasize the challenges of becoming a professional musician
D. The sections build on one another to show both the structure of the program and the experiences of the students
D. The sections build on one another to show both the structure of the program and the experiences of the students
How does the shift from Jason’s past lesson to the present-day performance contribute to the development of his character?
A. It shows that Jason has become piano teacher himself
B. It reveals that Jason has had to rely less on his teacher in order to become the piano player he is today
C. It suggests that Jason prefers performing to practicing
D. It highlights how Jason’s earlier experiences and practice have prepared him for a professional performance
D. It highlights how Jason’s earlier experiences and practice have prepared him for a professional performance
Which statement best explains why the author includes information about Abbe teaching others and expanding the Weather Bureau?
A. To show that Abbe could not complete his work alone and needed help
B. To emphasize that weather forecasting became more accurate over time
C. To develop the idea that Abbe’s work had a lasting and widespread impact
D. To explain how the government funded scientific research
Part B:
Which detail best supports the answer to Part A?
A. “He taught others to measure and predict the weather.”
B. “The Weather Bureau was sending out more than 500 daily weather bulletins…”
C. “He studied astronomy while teaching…”
D. “He worked on his grandfather’s farm…”
C. To develop the idea that Abbe’s work had a lasting and widespread impact
B. “The Weather Bureau was sending out more than 500 daily weather bulletins…”
Part A: What can be inferred about the long-term impact of Abbe’s work?
A. His work mainly influenced farming
B. His work was limited to one region as it was only relevent to rare patterns of weather
C. His work created systems that continued to develop after his lifetime
D. His work focused only on scientific research
Part B:
Which TWO details best support the answer to Part A?
A. “The first official public forecast appeared…”
B. “By 1872, the Weather Bureau was sending out more than 500 daily weather bulletins…”
C. “His hard work established today’s National Weather Service…”
D. “He worked on his grandfather’s farm…”
Part A:
C. His work created systems that continued to develop after his lifetime
Part B:
B. “By 1872, the Weather Bureau was sending out more than 500 daily weather bulletins…”
C. “His hard work established today’s National Weather Service…”
Which statement best explains how the author’s selection of details shapes the reader’s understanding of the Perlman Music Program?
A. The author includes details about both structure and student life to show that the program is balanced, though demanding.
B. The author selects mostly positive descriptions and participant perspectives to create a strongly favorable impression of the program.
C. The author focuses on specific examples of instruction to show how students improve their technical skills.
D. The author includes a range of perspectives to allow readers to form their own opinion about the program.
Part B:
Which TWO details best support the answer to Part A?
A. "We care about the total child. We try to create a healthy, happy, normal environment during their stay....They come to us and suddenly they're a part of a community, a family, and they find out that many of the feelings they have are shared by other kids.”
B. "Second, the playing level is very high, but it's highly noncompetitive." Instead of auditioning for seats in the orchestra according to ability, as is tradition, 'Our kids are seated in the section randomly.'"
C. "And number two, you have to have some sort of discipline. I always felt I was more successful when I had a routine."
D. “Toby Perlman enthusiastically states that 'It's like a fairy tale program, it's so wonderful. No matter what I say about it, I can't put into words what it feels like, tastes like, and smells like when you're there.'"
Part A:
B. The author selects mostly positive descriptions and participant perspectives to create a strongly favorable impression of the program.
Part B:
A. "We care about the total child. We try to create a healthy, happy, normal environment during their stay....They come to us and suddenly they're a part of a community, a family, and they find out that many of the feelings they have are shared by other kids.”
D. “Toby Perlman enthusiastically states that 'It's like a fairy tale program, it's so wonderful. No matter what I say about it, I can't put into words what it feels like, tastes like, and smells like when you're there.'"
Which statement best explains how the author’s structural choices shape the reader’s overall impression of the Perlman Music Program?
A. By organizing the text around strict routines and expectations, the author shows that the program is highly demanding
B. By focusing on the program’s schedule, the author shows how students manage their time
C. By presenting events in chronological order, the author shows how the program has changed over time
D. By combining descriptive sections with quotations and examples, the author creates a detailed and consistently positive portrayal of the program
D. By combining descriptive sections with quotations and examples, the author creates a detailed and consistently positive portrayal of the program
How do Jason’s thoughts about “habit memory” and his experiences with practicing interact with later events in the story?
A. They explain why Jason avoids difficult pieces of music
B. They show that Jason depends entirely on memorization rather than skill
C. They suggest that Jason no longer needs guidance from his teacher
D. They foreshadow how Jason would one day be able to perform confidently without focusing on every individual note
D. They foreshadow how Jason would one day be able to perform confidently without focusing on every individual note