Central Idea and Development
Which statement best expresses the central idea of the informational passage?
A. Cities should eliminate highways entirely in order to improve environmental conditions.
B. Highway construction projects rarely achieved the economic goals that planners originally expected.
C. Urban planners are reconsidering the role of highways because earlier designs created both benefits and significant social and environmental challenges.
D. Transportation planning should prioritize environmental concerns above all other factors.
C. Urban planners are reconsidering the role of highways because earlier designs created both benefits and significant social and environmental challenges.
Which statement best describes the primary conflict in the passage?
A. Marcus struggles internally as he reflects on how the end of the season will affect his future.
B. Marcus worries that the opposing team may defeat his team during the championship game.
C. Marcus disagrees with Coach Alvarez about the importance of extra practice.
D. Marcus becomes frustrated that his teammates left practice early.
A. Marcus struggles internally as he reflects on how the end of the season will affect his future.
Which detail most strongly suggests that Marcus feels uncertain about the future?
A. He acknowledges that the championship game will be difficult.
B. He continues practicing after the official practice session has ended.
C. He observes the banners hanging above the bleachers.
D. He retrieves the basketball after missing a free throw.
B. He continues practicing after the official practice session has ended.
What is the effect of the phrase “echoed across the empty court”?
A. It emphasizes the quiet atmosphere and Marcus’s sense of isolation.
B. It suggests that the gym is unusually large compared with other gyms.
C. It highlights Marcus’s frustration with his teammates.
D. It illustrates the loud excitement of a competitive game.
A. It emphasizes the quiet atmosphere and Marcus’s sense of isolation.
What is the author’s primary purpose in the informational passage?
A. To describe how highways are constructed in urban environments.
B. To explain the debate surrounding highway removal and the factors cities must consider.
C. To persuade readers that automobiles should no longer be used in cities.
D. To illustrate the historical development of American highway systems.
B. To explain the debate surrounding highway removal and the factors cities must consider.
Which statement best explains how paragraph two develops the central idea?
A. It describes historical reasons that highways were originally constructed.
B. It provides examples of cities attempting alternative designs to address problems created by highways.
C. It argues that transportation planners underestimated the importance of automobiles.
D. It emphasizes that most cities have already removed major highways.
B. It provides examples of cities attempting alternative designs to address problems created by highways.
How does the empty gym setting contribute to the meaning of the passage?
A. It creates a sense of excitement as Marcus prepares for the championship game.
B. It highlights the contrast between the loud energy of competition and the quiet moment of reflection Marcus experiences.
C. It reveals that Marcus prefers practicing independently rather than working with teammates.
D. It demonstrates that the team rarely uses the gym outside scheduled practices.
B. It highlights the contrast between the loud energy of competition and the quiet moment of reflection Marcus experiences.
Which inference about Coach Alvarez is best supported by the passage?
A. She believes Marcus should focus only on winning the championship game.
B. She understands that Marcus’s concern involves more than just basketball.
C. She is frustrated that Marcus stayed late after practice.
D. She believes Marcus is overconfident about the upcoming game.
B. She understands that Marcus’s concern involves more than just basketball.
What does Marcus most nearly mean when he says “this all changes”?
A. The team will adopt a different strategy for the championship game.
B. The end of the season will bring new stages in his life.
C. The coach will likely alter the practice schedule.
D. The team will soon receive recognition for its accomplishments.
B. The end of the season will bring new stages in his life.
Which strategy does the author primarily use?
A. Presenting both supporting and opposing perspectives regarding highway removal.
B. Providing emotional anecdotes from residents affected by highway construction.
C. Using humor to criticize transportation planners.
D. Explaining step-by-step processes for redesigning cities.
A. Presenting both supporting and opposing perspectives regarding highway removal.
(Select TWO)
Which details best develop the author’s explanation of why some cities remove highways?
A. Elevated highways were originally celebrated as technological achievements.
B. Some highway corridors have been replaced with parks and pedestrian spaces.
C. Removing highways may reconnect neighborhoods and encourage economic activity.
D. Many highways were constructed during the mid-twentieth century.
B. Some highway corridors have been replaced with parks and pedestrian spaces.
and
C. Removing highways may reconnect neighborhoods and encourage economic activity.
Why does the author most likely describe the banners hanging above the bleachers?
A. To suggest Marcus feels pressure to outperform previous championship teams.
B. To illustrate how successful the school’s basketball program has been historically.
C. To emphasize Marcus’s awareness of the program’s history and his place within it.
D. To explain why the championship game will attract a large audience.
C. To emphasize Marcus’s awareness of the program’s history and his place within it.
(Select TWO)
Which details best support the inference that Marcus has invested significant effort in the season?
A. The sound of the basketball echoes across the gym.
B. Marcus reflects on how quickly the season has passed.
C. Marcus remains in the gym practicing after everyone else has left.
D. The coach stands in the doorway observing Marcus.
B. Marcus reflects on how quickly the season has passed.
and
C. Marcus remains in the gym practicing after everyone else has left.
Which statement best explains the effect of the imagery in the opening paragraph?
A. It highlights Marcus’s frustration with his performance.
B. It emphasizes the excitement of preparing for an important game.
C. It illustrates the physical exhaustion Marcus feels after practice.
D. It contrasts the quiet moment of reflection with the intensity of the season.
D. It contrasts the quiet moment of reflection with the intensity of the season.
(Select ALL)
Which types of evidence does the author include?
A. Examples of cities experimenting with alternative transportation systems.
B. Discussion of concerns raised by critics of highway removal.
C. Personal narratives describing residents’ daily commutes.
D. Explanations of how transportation systems affect communities.
A. Examples of cities experimenting with alternative transportation systems.
and
B. Discussion of concerns raised by critics of highway removal.
and
D. Explanations of how transportation systems affect communities.
Which statement best explains the purpose of the final paragraph?
A. It introduces a new argument suggesting that transportation planning has become less important in modern cities.
B. It explains that the debate about highways reflects a broader shift toward prioritizing community well-being in urban design.
C. It argues that automobile travel will eventually disappear from large cities.
D. It provides historical context explaining how highways were constructed.
B. It explains that the debate about highways reflects a broader shift toward prioritizing community well-being in urban design.
(Select ALL)
Which elements contribute most to the reflective tone of the passage?
A. The repeated sound of the basketball echoing in the empty gym.
B. Marcus’s realization that the season has passed quickly.
C. The coach’s calm conversation about what Marcus’s effort represents.
D. The anticipation surrounding the upcoming championship game.
A. The repeated sound of the basketball echoing in the empty gym.
and
B. Marcus’s realization that the season has passed quickly.
and
C. The coach’s calm conversation about what Marcus’s effort represents.
Why does Coach Alvarez respond calmly to Marcus’s concerns?
A. She believes the championship game will resolve Marcus’s worries.
B. She assumes Marcus will quickly forget about basketball after graduation.
C. She recognizes that Marcus is reflecting on the significance of the season ending.
D. She wants Marcus to focus more on the opposing team’s strategy.
C. She recognizes that Marcus is reflecting on the significance of the season ending.
Which phrase contributes most strongly to the passage’s reflective tone?
A. “retrieved the ball”
B. “the season’s final practice”
C. “stepped into the doorway”
D. “championship game”
B. “the season’s final practice”
Which additional evidence would most strengthen the author’s argument?
A. Personal stories from commuters who enjoy driving on highways.
B. Historical descriptions of early highway construction projects.
C. Maps showing the geographic location of highways across the United States.
D. Data showing improvements in air quality or economic activity after highway removal.
D. Data showing improvements in air quality or economic activity after highway removal.
(Part A / Part B)
Part A
Which statement best describes the author’s overall perspective?
A. The author strongly argues that highway removal should occur in every city.
B. The author emphasizes that transportation debates are unnecessary because highways remain effective.
C. The author suggests that economic growth should remain the primary factor in transportation decisions.
D. The author presents multiple viewpoints while emphasizing the importance of careful planning.
Part B
Which sentence best supports the answer?
A. “Highways often divided neighborhoods and increased air pollution.”
B. “These projects were widely celebrated as symbols of economic growth.”
C. “City planners must balance economic, environmental, and social factors.”
D. “Several cities have begun experimenting with alternatives.”
D. The author presents multiple viewpoints while emphasizing the importance of careful planning.
and
C. “City planners must balance economic, environmental, and social factors.”
(Part A / Part B)
Part A
What realization does Marcus begin to reach by the end of the passage?
A. The championship game will determine the overall success of the season.
B. His teammates should have stayed longer to practice.
C. The season’s meaning comes from the effort and growth it represents rather than only the final outcome.
D. He should stop worrying about the future and focus entirely on winning the game.
Part B
Which line best supports this idea?
A. “The banners hanging above the bleachers seemed to watch him.”
B. “Maybe tomorrow just shows you what all this work meant.”
C. “Marcus retrieved the ball and shrugged.”
D. “Tomorrow night would be the championship game.”
C. The season’s meaning comes from the effort and growth it represents rather than only the final outcome..
and
B. “Maybe tomorrow just shows you what all this work meant.”
Which inference about the relationship between Marcus and Coach Alvarez is best supported?
A. Their relationship focuses mainly on competition and performance.
B. Marcus frequently disagrees with the coach about training decisions.
C. Coach Alvarez views Marcus as one of the team’s least committed players.
D. Coach Alvarez serves as a mentor who encourages Marcus to reflect on the meaning of his experiences.
D. Coach Alvarez serves as a mentor who encourages Marcus to reflect on the meaning of his experiences.
The author most likely includes the repeated sound of the basketball in order to
A. demonstrate how large the gymnasium is compared with other facilities.
B. emphasize Marcus’s determination to perfect his technique.
C. symbolize the passing of time as the season approaches its conclusion.
D. illustrate how distracting the empty gym environment has become.
C. symbolize the passing of time as the season approaches its conclusion.
A student is writing an explanatory essay about how transportation decisions affect communities.
Which evidence from the passage would be most relevant to include?
A. The statement explaining that highways were once symbols of technological progress.
B. The claim that removing highways may reconnect communities and encourage economic activity.
C. The description of how cities invested heavily in highway construction during the twentieth century.
D. The explanation that some critics worry about increased congestion.
B. The claim that removing highways may reconnect communities and encourage economic activity.