8th Grade Reading - A.C.E Review

ASK

100

What is the official name for the Killer Whale?

The official name is the Orca.

200

 What does the text tell us is happening to the Killer Whale population?

The population is decreasing / declining.

300

Why is it difficult for scientists to protect Killer Whales?

We don't know where Killer Whales spend most of the year, so it's hard to figure out which areas to protect.

400

What skill do Killer Whales use to find their food?

 Echolocation (they make high-pitched clicks that bounce off objects to locate and stun their prey).

500

What are THREE different reasons mentioned in the text for why Killer Whales are endangered?

1. Some people hunt Killer Whales for sport
2. Major oil spills have harmed their environment
3. Oil spills have destroyed the things they need to survive (their food sources/habitat)

Cite

100

Find the sentence that tells us Killer Whales are part of the dolphin family.

"Killer Whales are the largest members of the dolphin family and have sharp teeth." (Paragraph 2)

200

What quote from the text shows that Killer Whales eat many different types of food?

"Their diet includes fish, squid, birds, and even marine mammals." (Paragraph 2)

300

Locate the sentence that explains how many Killer Whales exist worldwide.

"While we don't know the exact number of Killer Whales worldwide, it's estimated to be around 50,000." (Paragraph 3)

400

Find evidence in the text that explains what echolocation is and how it works

Like dolphins, Killer Whales use a special skill called echolocation. They make high-pitched clicks that bounce off objects in the water. This helps them locate and stun their prey." (Paragraph 2)

500

Identify TWO specific threats to Killer Whales mentioned in paragraph 3.

1. Some people hunt Killer Whales for sport
2. Major oil spills have harmed their environment and the things they need to survive

Explain

100

Why do you think the author mentions that people have seen Killer Whales at SeaWorld and in movies?

The author is showing that Killer Whales are well-known and loved by people, which makes it more important/urgent to protect them. It also establishes that despite being popular, they are still endangered.

200

What does it mean that Killer Whales are "social animals" and live in pods? Why is this important?

 It means they live together in groups and depend on each other for survival. This is important because if the population declines, it could break apart these social groups and make it harder for them to survive and reproduce.

300

Explain why hunting Killer Whales for sport is described as "a big problem."

Hunting for sport directly kills Killer Whales and reduces their already declining population. This is a major threat because it's caused by human activity and can be controlled/stopped.

400

How does echolocation help Killer Whales survive? What would happen if they couldn't echolocate?

Echolocation helps them locate food (prey) and stun it so they can eat. Without echolocation, they wouldn't be able to find or catch their food, so they would starve and couldn't survive.

500

Why is it important for scientists to know where Killer Whales spend most of the year? How does this help protect them?

 If scientists know where Killer Whales are located, they can establish marine protected areas in those regions to prevent hunting and limit oil spills. This information is essential for creating effective conservation strategies and laws to protect them.

ACE Mastery

100

Ask a question about why Killer Whales are endangered, cite one piece of evidence from the text, and explain what it reveals.

• Ask: Why are Killer Whales endangered?
• Cite: "Some people hunt Killer Whales for sport" (Paragraph 3)
• Explain: This shows that human hunting is directly reducing the Killer Whale population, making them endangered.

200

Identify what makes Killer Whales unique animals, find two specific details from the text that support this, and explain why these characteristics are important.

• Ask/Identify: Killer Whales are unique because they are intelligent, social, and skilled hunters.
• Cite:
  1. "They are incredibly social animals and often live together in groups called pods."
  2. "They make high-pitched clicks that bounce off objects in the water. This helps them locate and stun their prey."
• Explain: These characteristics show that Killer Whales are complex animals with advanced communication and hunting abilities. Their social nature means they depend on each other, making population loss even more damaging.

300

Determine what the main problem is with protecting Killer Whales, cite the evidence from the text, and explain what scientists need to do to solve this problem.

• Ask/Determine: The main problem is that we lack information about where Killer Whales live.
• Cite: "One of the reasons it's tough is that we still have much to learn about where Killer Whales spend most of the year. Without this information, it's hard to figure out which areas to protect."
• Explain: Scientists need to conduct more research to find out where Killer Whales spend their time so they can establish protected areas and create effective conservation laws in those regions.

400

Explain how the author uses examples (like SeaWorld and "Blackfish") to support their message about Killer Whales. Cite these examples and explain why the author included them.

• Ask/Explain: The author uses cultural references to show that Killer Whales are beloved by people.
• Cite: "You may have seen them at places like SeaWorld, watched their story in the movie 'Blackfish,' or learned about them on TV."
• Explain: By mentioning these popular examples, the author shows that Killer Whales are well-known and loved by society. This makes the reader care about them more and understand why it's urgent to protect an endangered species that so many people already care about.

500

Based on the text, synthesize what you've learned: What is threatening Killer Whales, what do we need to learn about them, and what should be done to help? Cite at least three pieces of evidence and explain how they connect to create a complete picture of the problem.

• Ask: What is the complete picture of the Killer Whale crisis?
• Cite:
  1. "Some people hunt Killer Whales for sport, which is a big problem. Additionally, major oil spills have harmed their environment and the things they need to survive." (Threats)
  2. "It's estimated to be around 50,000" and "their population is declining" (Current situation)
  3. "We still have much to learn about where Killer Whales spend most of the year. Without this information, it's hard to figure out which areas to protect. Scientists are currently doing more research to gather this knowledge." (What we need)
• Explain: Killer Whales face multiple human-caused threats (hunting and pollution) that are reducing their population. To effectively protect them, scientists must research their migration and habitat patterns. Once we understand where they live, we can create protected areas and enforce laws to stop hunting and prevent oil spills. This comprehensive approach—understanding the problem, learning about their behavior, and using that knowledge to create targeted protections—is necessary to save this endangered species.

Bonus

100

What is Mr. Garrett's Nick name?

Peanut

200

What does ELAR mean?

English Language Arts & Reading 

300

What year was Parkview built?

1956

400

How many STAAR test do you have to take to graduate high school? 

5

500

What is the ParkView Mascot?

Cowboy