KEY DETAILS
The term “Emerald Isle” is synonymous with Ireland and its rolling hills and valleys of green. But how did Ireland come to be known as the Emerald Isle? Ireland’s greenery certainly had a lot to do with it, but there's more to the story and it began with a poet. Ireland was first called the “Emerald Isle” in William Drennan’s poem, "When Erin First Rose". Which key idea is being developed with this excerpt?
Ireland is known has the “Emerald Isle”.
William Drennan wrote a poem about Ireland.
William Drennan’s poem about Ireland was called, “When Erin First Rose.”
Ireland became known as the “Emerald Isle” through its greenery, and an Irish poem.
4. Ireland became known as the “Emerald Isle” through its greenery, and an Irish poem.
(1) Pet ownership may not be for everyone. (2) Yes, owning a pet can bring you great joy. (3) Also, it teaches owners to be more responsible. (4) However, owners sometimes find that they simply do not have enough time to take care of a pet.
Which sentence contains a negative detail of pet ownership?
Sentence 1
Sentence 2
Sentence 3
Sentence 4
4. Sentence 4: (4) However, owners sometimes find that they simply do not have enough time to take care of a pet.
King Edward VIII decided to abdicate his throne in favor of his son.
What does “abdicate” mean?
A. to pursue
B. to share
C. to step down from
D. to talk about
C. to step down from
Lightly smack each orange on the counter. Cut each one in half. Squeeze into a glass. You may also use a citrus reamer to do this. If you want less pulp, use a hand juicer with a strainer.
The purpose of this excerpt is to -
teach someone how to pick out an orange
teach someone how to peel an orange
teach someone how to use a citrus reamer
teach someone how to make orange juice
4. teach someone how to make orange juice
Every year, the crime rate in our town goes up. We write letters to the politicians, but they go unanswered. If you hear them speak on the radio or television, you would think our town was crime-free. They just don’t want to hear the truth.
Integrate the information in this excerpt. What is the main issue?
Crime rate is difficult to determine.
The crime rate is bad, but politicians aren’t listening.
Crime rates are increasing in all major towns.
Many politicians speak on the radio and television.
2. The crime rate is bad, but politicians aren’t listening.
Hands Across America was a public event on Sunday, May 25, 1986, in which approximately 6.5 million people held hands for fifteen minutes in an attempt to form a continuous human chain across the United States. Many participants donated ten dollars to reserve their place in line.
What is the central idea of this excerpt?
Hands Across America was fun.
Hands Across America was very inexpensive.
Hands Across America was an attempted show of unity.
Hands Across America occurred on May 25, 1986.
3. Hands Across America was an attempted show of unity.
(1) Touching a snail holds no danger because they aren't poisonous. (2) If you like to eat them, however, you can't just pick up a garden snail and cook it. (3) Snails ingest dangerous chemicals, such as pesticides and snail bait, as they move through flower beds looking for food. (4) This is why they aren’t always good to eat.
Which sentence contains details about why you should be careful about eating snails?
Sentence 1
Sentence 2
Sentence 3
Sentence 4
3. Sentence 3: (3) Snails ingest dangerous chemicals, such as pesticides and snail bait, as they move through flower beds looking for food.
DOUBLE JEOPARDY
Marge and her best friend Mary sauntered down the rode.
What does it mean to “saunter”?
A. to walk slowly with a cheerful attitude
B. to run at top speed
C. to compete against another person
D. to skip and hop with joy
A. to walk slowly with a cheerful attitude
Birchwood School offers two spring sports. They are baseball and track. Baseball requires the ability to hit a ball, run to the bases, throw a ball, and catch a ball. Track requires short sprints and long-distance running. Both sports will keep students in good shape.
What is the structure of this excerpt?
Chronological Order
Problem and Solution
Compare and Contrast
Cause and Effect
3. Compare and Contrast
George thinks it is bad to cheat on tests. He would rather get a low grade than cheat. On Thursday, he saw his friend, Frederick, cheating on the math test. George values their friendship, but also feels that his teacher needs to know that Frederick cheated. He just doesn’t want to be the one to tell her.
Integrate the information in this excerpt. What is the main issue?
Children cheat on math tests.
George doesn’t want to be friends with Frederick anymore.
Frederick is angry that George is going to tell on him for cheating.
George wants his teacher to know that Frederick cheated, but he doesn’t want to be the one to tell her.
4. George wants his teacher to know that Frederick cheated, but he doesn’t want to be the one to tell her.
Educational volunteers work without pay in elementary, middle and high school classrooms. Their work is difficult, but very rewarding. Teachers are very grateful for their volunteers. Most schools have openings for this type of work.
Which is the BEST summary of this excerpt?
Volunteering for schools is fun.
Volunteers are needed at every school.
Educational volunteers work in elementary school classrooms.
Educational volunteers work hard and are greatly appreciated.
4. Educational volunteers work hard and are greatly appreciated.
(1) Jenna has been a good friend to Maxine for two years. (2) They sat next to each other in lunch and walked to all of their classes together. (3) Maxine, however, has been very rude to Jenna lately. (4) She doesn’t sit or walk with her anymore. (5) In fact, she completely ignores her.
During which sentence does the focus of the excerpt begin to change?
Sentence 2
Sentence 3
Sentence 4
Sentence 5
2. Sentence 3: Maxine, however, has been very rude to Jenna lately.
The drugstore was losing money every quarter. Most employees were already looking for other jobs. Eric’s suggestion about a three-day sale was just a Band-Aid for the problem. The company needed a solution that would work.
What is emphasized with the metaphor in this excerpt?
A. Eric’s cheerful attitude.
B. The interest in the store.
C. The uselessness of Eric’s solution.
D. The new jobs that the workers were looking for.
C. The uselessness of Eric’s solution.
Eric’s suggestion about a three-day sale was just a Band-Aid for the problem.
It was Ben’s birthday, and he couldn’t wait to open his present from his best friend, Dave. It was a Yankees jersey! The name of his favorite player was on the back. When he tried it on, it was much too small for him. Dave noticed his disappointment. Fortunately he save the receipt, and exchanged it for a larger size. Ben was delighted!
Which is the BEST way to define this text structure?
Definition
Problem and Solution
Compare and Contrast
Chronological Order
2. Problem and Solution
(1) Basketball is a good sport. (2) It teaches children good sportsmanship. (3) It also keeps them in shape. (4) Most children who play basketball don’t like to run. (5) Many schools have basketball teams.
Which sentence has a claim that doesn’t make sense?
(4) Most children who play basketball don’t like to run.
In three studies, we provided a test of how rudeness affects performance at the workplace. The results were all the same. They showed that rudeness reduced performance on routine tasks, as well as creative tasks.
What does this excerpt infer?
Rudeness should be against the law.
Rudeness can result in profit loss at the workplace.
Rudeness happens at every workplace.
Rudeness doesn’t really decrease routine performance tasks.
2. Rudeness can result in profit loss at the workplace.
An inference is an educated guess. You can infer profit losses will come if performance tasks are down due to rudeness.
(1) Jello is easy to make. (2) Simply whisk together 1 cup of hot water with 1 packet of jello in a large bowl. (3) Then add 1 cup of cold water to the mixture and whisk it in.
(4) Most people prefer cherry jello over blueberry. (5) Pour the mixture into a jello mold. (6) Let the jello set in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours, and then serve.
Which sentence from the excerpt is unnecessary, and should be omitted?
Sentence 4: (4) Most people prefer cherry jello over blueberry.
The garden was a wonderland. The bees played hide and seek as they buzzed in and out of the flowers. The children stayed outside for hours, enjoying everything the garden had to offer.
What is emphasized with the personification in this excerpt?
A. The excitement of the children
B. The movement of the bees
C. The sound of the bees
D. The game the children were playing
B. The movement of the bees – Personification:
The bees played hide and seek as they buzzed in and out of the flowers.
(1) Sarah used to enjoy babysitting Tom, but lately he has been a handful. (2) “How can I get out of this?” Sarah asked herself. (3) Her mother reminded her it was time to go. (4) “I don’t have the energy to pretend that I like Tom today,” Sarah thought as she closed the front door.
Which sentence reveals sarcasm?
(4) “I don’t have the energy to pretend that I like Tom today,” Sarah thought as she closed the front door.
(1) Sarah takes piano lessons on Thursday afternoons. (2) She learns three new songs per week. (3) She practices these songs for 45 minutes per day. (4) Playing the piano exposes Sarah to classical music. (5) It also keeps her legs in good shape.
Which sentence has a claim that doesn’t make sense?
(5) It also keeps her legs in good shape.
“It is a matter of shame that in the morning the birds should be awake earlier than you.”
Which idea is being introduced with this quotation?
Birds wake up too early.
Don’t waste the day.
Birds wake people up in the morning.
Don’t criticize others.
2. Don’t waste the day.
(1) So you just purchased a new computer? (2) Remember to follow all of the directions for setting it up. (3) Most computers come with step by step directions. (4) It is also important to install antivirus software. (5) Without it, your computer can slow down, crash, or become exposed to spammers. (6) Various antivirus software is available online.
Which sentence explains the reason why people use antivirus software?
Sentence 5: (5) Without it, your computer can slow down, crash, or become exposed to spammers.
Mary had a compassionate response when she heard about Ben’s situation.
What does “compassionate” mean?
A. Angry
B. Jealous
C. Sympathetic
D. Loud
C. Sympathetic
DOUBLE JEOPARDY
When Juan was 12 years old, he got a job delivering newspapers. He delivered 50 newspapers a week. He wanted to save up his money to buy tickets to a concert. He thought to himself, this is going to take me about four weeks to save up my money.
Which is the point of view of this excerpt?
1st person
3rd person
B. 3rd person
In third-person point of view, the narrator tells us about what's happening in the story.
(1) Tanya asked her mother about their ancestry. (2) She was creating her family tree for a history assignment.
(3) Tanya’s mother advised her to speak with her grandmother. (4) Tanya’s grandmother is known as the family historian.
Which sentence from the excerpt explains why Tanya needs the information?
(2) She was creating her family tree for a history assignment.