Reading: Allied with Green
According to the passage, what is the main idea of Lucy’s “What I Believe In” paper?
B — The importance/value of green (Lucy’s “What I Believe In” paper is primarily about green and its significance).
What does the word “allied” most nearly mean in the title “Allied with Green”?
B — Joined in partnership with.
Define a phrase in a way that distinguishes it from a clause.
C — A group of related words used as a single part of speech, without both a subject and a verb.
How does sentence variety (sentence types and fragments) function in Lucy’s essay — is it used to create a steady, formal tone or to mirror thought and feeling?
B — A mix of sentence types to mirror thought.
Which theme best matches Lucy’s and her father’s actions: money, harmony with nature, urban growth, or the power of writing?
B — Harmony with nature requires awareness, care, and sometimes sacrifice.
In paragraph 5, the phrase “green has had many second thoughts” most nearly suggests what about nature?
B — Nature has struggled to survive during the drought (implies nature reconsidering, struggling).
In context, what meaning of “tend” is suggested at the end of the story?
B — A simple but sacred act of caring for green (tend = to care for).
Which of these is a prepositional phrase: “will be studying,” “the tall building,” “under the table,” or “running quickly”?
C — under the table.
Identify one example from the passage that shows how the author develops a theme through action rather than direct statement.
Example answer: Lucy’s and her father’s small actions (saving water to water plants, planting trees) develop the theme through action rather than direct didactic statement.
What inference can you draw about the community’s view of green from the examples in the story?
Inference: The community undervalues green but some individuals act to protect it; evidence: water saved for plants, father planting trees.
What practical habit does Lucy’s family follow after washing fruits and vegetables?
B — Use it to water plants.
What does the phrase “taken for granted, like air” imply about people’s attitudes toward green?
B — They take it for granted, like air (meaning people don’t notice or value it).
What does an adjective phrase modify?
B — A noun or pronoun.
How does the detail about Lucy’s father planting trees serve as an example of indirect characterization?
Example answer: Planting trees in medians shows the father’s care and values without the author explicitly labeling him as compassionate.
Based on the passage, why might people “take green for granted”? Provide one piece of textual evidence.
Example evidence: People take green for granted “like air” — shows invisibility of green despite importance.
Why does Lucy’s father plant trees in medians, as described in the story?
C — As an apology for environmental damage (father plants trees in medians as restitution/repair).
Identify the meaning of “second thoughts” as used when discussing green in the passage.
B — People are reconsidering/hesitating about green because of environmental challenges (second thoughts = reconsideration).
In the sentence “She hurried toward the exit,” what does the phrase “toward the exit” modify?
B — hurried (it modifies the verb).
Which sentence-level technique helps the author emphasize the everyday sacredness of caring for green (look for diction, repetition, or sentence fragments)?
Example answer: Use of short declarative or fragment sentences that focus attention on small acts (teacher to confirm specific lines).
How does Lucy’s admiration for Robert Isabell help reinforce the story’s central theme?
Example answer: Isabell’s ability to use plants to transform spaces reinforces that green can change experience and mood, aligning with theme of respect and care.
Which detail best shows how Lucy’s admiration for Robert Isabell connects to her view of green spaces?
B — He used plants to create transporting, magical settings (this connects to Lucy’s admiration and view of green spaces).
Explain how the word “transporting” (as used to describe Isabell’s settings) enhances the reader’s understanding of his work.
Answer explains nuance — “transporting” = causing one to feel moved to another place or memory; illustrates the power of plants to create atmosphere (teacher should look for that interpretation).
Which example is a participial phrase: “to win the game,” “winning the game,” “will win the game,” or “wins the game”?
B — winning the game (a participial phrase functioning as adjective).
Explain how the author uses a specific sensory detail (sight, sound, or smell) to strengthen the reader’s experience of green spaces.
Example answer: A sensory detail (e.g., smell of earth, sight of green medians) is used to create vividness — teacher to match to exact passage wording.
Synthesize the author’s message: what does the story suggest about the relationship between small acts (like saving water or planting trees) and larger environmental care?
Synthesis: Small routine acts of care accumulate into meaningful stewardship; teacher should expect responses connecting household acts to larger environmental responsibility.