Key Ideas and Details
How does the author develop a central idea of the passage in paragraphs 1 through 5?
A By explaining the differences between Kennedy and Ferguson, the author develops the idea that the two characters balance each other.
B By describing the early friendship between Kennedy and Ferguson, the author develops the idea that they were once much more alike.
C By comparing and contrasting Kennedy and Ferguson, the author develops the idea that Kennedy worries about Ferguson being in danger.
D By telling the history of Kennedy and Ferguson, the author develops the idea that they have grown tired of each other.
C By comparing and contrasting Kennedy and Ferguson, the author develops the idea that Kennedy worries about Ferguson being in danger.
Part A
How should the sentence I’m highly honored! be interpreted by the reader?
“Oh, indeed! I’m highly honored!” (paragraph 27)
A It should be read as an ironic statement because Richard Kennedy is not being sincere.
B It should be taken literally because Richard Kennedy is touched by the doctor’s reassurance.
C It should be seen as humorous because Richard Kennedy is trying to make the doctor laugh.
D It should be regarded as an exaggeration because Richard Kennedy is only slightly honored.
A It should be read as an ironic statement because Richard Kennedy is not being sincere.
Many traditional stories tell how a heroic man or woman saves a group of people from an evil or corrupt ruler. How is the play different from such stories?
A In the play, people work together to save themselves instead of relying on a hero.
B In the play, the hero who helps the people is a child rather than an adult.
C In the play, it is the ruler rather than the people who needs to be helped.
D In the play, the hero’s actions create more problems instead of solving them.
B In the play, the hero who helps the people is a child rather than an adult.
Read this sentence from the passage.
The high school has its own station so why can’t we.
Which of the following correctly replaces the underlined part of the sentence?
A station; so why can’t we?
B station. So why can’t we.
C station, so why can’t we?
D station, so why, can’t we?
C station, so why can’t we?
Which excerpt from the poster would most benefit from being presented in audio format?
A “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?”
B “Serve on King Day, and throughout the year.”
C “Make it a day on, not a day off.”
D “Corporation for National & Community Service”
A “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?”
What is the central idea of the passage?
A The Amazons married the Scythians to create the Sauromatians.
B Mythology and reality mix to create modern knowledge of the Amazons.
C The Amazons were religious and honored the goddess Artemis with a temple in Ephesus.
D Ancient people sometimes feared and sometimes admired the military skills of the Amazons.
B Mythology and reality mix to create modern knowledge of the Amazons.
Part B
Select the detail from the passage that supports the answer in Part A.
A “holding out the copy of the Daily Telegraph”
B “the gallant Scot gave way to a genuine explosion of wrath”
C “the Scotchman gave a leap that a wild goat would not have been ashamed of”
D “stood speechless with amazement”
B “the gallant Scot gave way to a genuine explosion of wrath”
Many religious works include a character who gives in to temptation. For example, in the story of Adam and Eve, a serpent tempts Eve to eat a forbidden fruit. How does the character of Mrs. Sommers update this type of literary character?
A The story is set in a city instead of a garden, so Mrs. Sommers is tempted
to spend extra money on her daughter’s shoes instead of being tempted to eat a forbidden fruit.
B Because Mrs. Sommers is a mother, she is tempted to buy too many items for her children instead of being tempted to take a bite from the forbidden fruit.
C Because of the modern setting, Mrs. Sommers is tempted to spend money on what she wants instead of being tempted to take a bite from the forbidden fruit.
D Because the character of Mrs. Sommers is poor, she is tempted to steal a pair of stockings from a store instead of being tempted to take a bite from the forbidden fruit.
C Because of the modern setting, Mrs. Sommers is tempted to spend money on what she wants instead of being tempted to take a bite from the forbidden fruit.
Read this sentence from the passage.
Everyone knows Brentwood High has a radio station: one of the most popular in town, but few people realize 100 kids are behind it.
Which of the following correctly replaces the underlined part of the sentence?
A a radio station—one of
B a radio station, one of
C a radio station. One of
D a radio station; one of
B a radio station, one of
What advantage does the poster have over the audio presentations in conveying information about Martin Luther King, Jr., Day?
A The poster shows a type of service that can be done on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day.
B The poster shows what King looked like.
C The poster has a quotation from King.
D The poster tells how to find out more about serving on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day.
C The poster has a quotation from King.
Read these lines from the beginning of the play.
GAO: Your Imperial Highness—
EMPRESS: Who dares to interrupt the Empress?
CHAO: Oh powerful ruler, Mistress of the Multitudes—
YUAN: And possessor of uncounted riches—
EMPRESS: Ah, yes—well, get on with it. What do you want? My elephant is hungry. CHILD: I’m hungry, too.
What does this dialogue most clearly reveal?
A Unlike the villagers, the child is not afraid to speak directly to the empress.
B Each of the villagers tries to outdo the others with compliments for the empress.
C The empress knows the villagers well and considers them her peers.
D Like the villagers, the child is fearful of the punishment she will receive.
B Each of the villagers tries to outdo the others with compliments for the empress.
What is the meaning of the word conceive as it is used in this sentence from the passage?
“To prevent the greatest piece of folly that ever was conceived.” (paragraph 17)
A to understand clearly
B to develop an idea
C to have an opinion
D to begin or originate
B to develop an idea
Which sentence supports the claim that gene transfers are a breakthrough that could help humans?
A “After years of observing and experimenting with these types of creatures, scientists discovered a protein called green-fluorescent protein, which is responsible for giving the jellyfish and other creatures the ability to glow.”
B “The answer to that question lies not in the fact that the dog glows but that scientists have created a method to transfer genes.”
C “And these gene transfers could lead to a better understanding, if not a cure, for many different kinds of diseases.”
D “However, though many studies have been conducted using human volunteers, the type of gene testing that scientists have done on dogs cannot be conducted on humans.”
C “And these gene transfers could lead to a better understanding, if not a cure, for many different kinds of diseases.”
Read this sentence from the passage.
Mr. Smith our faculty advisor told us, “The most important thing you need is a plan.”
Which of the following correctly replaces the underlined part of the sentence?
A Mr. Smith our faculty advisor told us:
B Mr. Smith, our faculty advisor, told us,
C Mr. Smith our faculty, advisor told us,
D Mr. Smith, our faculty advisor told us,
B Mr. Smith, our faculty advisor, told us,
What is the advantage of the audio presentations over the poster to convey information about Martin Luther King, Jr., Day?
A The audios teach people about the history of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day.
B The audios inspire people to serve on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day.
C The audios introduce listeners to people directly influenced by King.
D The audios remind people how King felt about serving others.
C The audios introduce listeners to people directly influenced by King.
Part A
What does the play suggest about children and adults?
A Children and adults must work together to solve problems.
B Children are sometimes more creative than adults.
C Children should not speak up against adults.
D Children should listen to adults to keep safe.
B Children are sometimes more creative than adults.
Read the following excerpt from a play adapted from Five Weeks in a Balloon.
SETTING: It is morning, outside DR. SAMUEL FERGUSON’s modest home in London. RICHARD KENNEDY exits a cab, runs up the steps, and pounds on the door. SAMUEL opens it.
SAMUEL (Enthusiastic but not surprised): Well hello, Richard! What are you doing here?
RICHARD (Shaken): What do you think? I’m here to stop you from committing the most outrageous foolishness of your life!
SAMUEL (Furrowing his brow): Foolishness?
RICHARD (Holding out and waving a copy of the Daily Telegraph, open to the article about SAMUEL and his plan to cross Africa in a balloon): Is it true what the paper says? What on earth can you be thinking?
SAMUEL (Smiling): Is that what all this fuss is about? Come inside, my dear friend, and take a seat.
(The two men step inside and enter SAMUEL’s front room. SAMUEL gestures toward the couch.)
RICHARD (Angrily): No, I will not sit down! Are you honestly going to attempt this ill-fated journey?
SAMUEL (Calmly): Absolutely. All my preparations are coming along most smoothly.
How does the format of the play tell the story differently than the narrative does?
A The play describes the scene more clearly.
B The play states the characters’ emotions.
C The play states what the characters are thinking.
D The play describes the actions of the characters
B The play states the characters’ emotions.
The author of “Cars Without Gasoline Are Here” claims that “the history of the early automobile is a history of changing technology.” Which sentence develops this claim?
A “People often feel as if the use of a gasoline engine has been integral to the automobile for as long as cars have been on the road.”
B “They feel that if the gasoline engine disappears, automobiles will never be as fast, safe, or comfortable as they are now, much like people must have felt as the car replaced the horse-drawn carriage.”
C “Some early cars ran on strange fuels like gunpowder and coal gas.”
D “Plus, the price of gas is rising, which means new technologies must be invented to
utilize other forms of energy.”
C “Some early cars ran on strange fuels like gunpowder and coal gas.”
Read this sentence from the passage.
Families could donate used equipment—such as computers and CD players, to help cut down on the cost to the school.
Which of the following correctly replaces the underlined part of the sentence?
A CD players. To
B CDplayers...to
C CD players; to
D CD players—to
D CD players—to
What is the purpose of both the audio presentations and the poster?
A to explain why Martin Luther King, Jr., Day is an important holiday
B to compare King to other famous people
C to inform people about King’s life
D to persuade people to help others on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day
D to persuade people to help others on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day
Select two details from the text that support the answer in Part A.
A The child tells the empress that, like the elephant, she is hungry.
B The child’s mother tells her to go and play instead of bothering the empress.
C The adults point out that they know how to read, write, add, and subtract.
D The adults give up when the empress says they cannot use a scale to weigh the elephant.
E The child shows a solution by playing with a water lily, some pebbles, and her toy boat.
F The child asks for one of the elephant’s peanuts for her reward.
D The adults give up when the empress says they cannot use a scale to weigh the elephant.
E The child shows a solution by playing with a water lily, some pebbles, and her toy boat.
Which synonym has the same connotation as fate as it is used in the passage?
“If they did so, then certainly they would share the fate of the ancient Amazons— death at the hands of Greece’s masterful warriors.” (paragraph 10)
A destiny
B fortune
C doom
D luck
C doom
The author of “Cars Without Gasoline Are Here” claims that new technologies are changing the way modern automobiles are fueled. Select the three details that are relevant to this claim.
A Some early cars ran on gunpowder and coal gas.
B The survival of Earth hinges on our response to the energy crisis.
C Biogas powers cars and does not pollute as much as gasoline.
D The fully electric car is powered only by electric motors and battery packs.
E Hydrogen can be combined with oxygen from the air to power a car.
F Hydrogen is the most plentiful element in the universe.
C Biogas powers cars and does not pollute as much as gasoline.
D The fully electric car is powered only by electric motors and battery packs.
E Hydrogen can be combined with oxygen from the air to power a car.
Read this sentence from the passage.
Operating our own radio station will have given us something to do after school besides playing video games and hanging out.
Which of the following correctly replaces the underlined part of the sentence?
A would have given us
B will have gave us
C would give us
D will have given us
C would give us
What is a disadvantage of the poster over the audio presentations?
A The poster does not provide detailed information about King’s life and influence; the audios do.
B The poster cannot persuade people to volunteer; the audios can.
C The poster does not tell how people can find more information; the audios do.
D The poster cannot inspire people to take action; the audios can.
A The poster does not provide detailed information about King’s life and influence; the audios do.