Inferences
This is where the “pain” comes in. You see, to reach Antarctica, ships must pass through a notoriously violent area of ocean called the Drake Passage, considered to be the roughest stretch of sea on the planet.
In paragraph 4, what does the word notoriously mean?
A. Frequently traveled
B. Hard to locate
C. Recognized in a negative way
C. Recognized in a negative way
Concrete is one of the most important building materials. It was even used by the ancient Romans to build massive structures such as the Colosseum. Today it is used to construct highways, bridges, and high-rise buildings. In fact, concrete demand has doubled in the last decade. Concrete production now accounts for 5% of the world’s carbon emissions, which is harmful to the environment.
Which statement best expresses the main idea of paragraph 3?
A. Modern highways and bridges are often constructed with concrete.
B. Concrete was used by ancient Romans to build massive structures.
C. The demand for concrete has doubled in the last decade.
D. Concrete has been and continues to be an important building material
D. Concrete has been and continues to be an important building material
Bacteria have a reputation for being harmful. However, not all bacteria are bad. Some food products, such as yogurt, contain good bacteria. The human body even stores bacteria that help us produce vitamins and fight diseases.
How does the author organize paragraph 1?
A. By listing types of bacteria and then telling how they help fight diseases in the human body
B. By defining bacteria and then explaining how bacteria are used in some products
C. By stating a popular belief about bacteria and then disproving it with examples
D. By comparing good and bad bacteria and then describing how bacteria work
C. By stating a popular belief about bacteria and then disproving it with examples
invitation
by Mackenzie Connellee
used to write poetry in art class
when the teacher wasn’t looking,
but now i don’t take art and i can’t
afford not to pay attention in my
5 classes. now i write poetry in my
free time but that’s difficult
because words don’t appear like
a dog when you call their name, no,
poetry is anything but convenient.
10 right now it’s 1:05 A.M. because poetry
shook me by the shoulders and said
hey, this is important but now i’m wondering
Which of these ideas is emphasized by the simile in lines 7 and 8?
A. Poetry can appear in many different forms.
B. New poems can be valued like a companion.
C. New poems do not come to mind right away.
D. Poetry writing is not as enjoyable as having a pet.
C. New poems do not come to mind right away.
One difference between the selections “Breaking Out of the Box” and “A Bountiful Billboard” is that “A Bountiful Billboard” —
F focuses on a project specific to a location
G discusses the future potential of an idea
H compares various uses for the same material
J expresses concerns about a new idea
F focuses on a project specific to a location
Which sentence from the selection best explains why some people may prefer human-to-human communication?
A. Despite the efficiency of these systems, many people find them impersonal, stilted, and sometimes frustrating.
B. Even the advanced human-machine interfaces used today are unable to trick the judge consistently into thinking a computer is a human.
C. Simply put, the reason is that human beings rely on more than words to produce utterances and derive meaning from them.
D. While the potential for spontaneous communication between a human and a machine may seem exciting, this possibility concerns some people.
A. Despite the efficiency of these systems, many people find them impersonal, stilted, and sometimes frustrating.
Yellowstone National Park extends across a unique area of land in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Thousands of geothermal vents that lie just below the earth’s surface cover this vast region. Geothermal vents are deep holes in the ground that release built-up pressure in the form of steam and scalding-hot water. The temperature of the ground near these hot spots can rise to more than 150 degrees Fahrenheit. During a trip to Yellowstone, microbiologist Rusty Rodriguez noticed something peculiar. He observed many plants thriving in the searing soil despite these intense conditions. Rodriguez wondered how these plants were able to flourish in such extreme temperatures while other plants in similar or milder environments perish.
What is paragraph 1 mostly about?
A. The unusual conditions in which some plants can survive
B. The occurrence of geothermal vents in several western states
C. The way geothermal vents release pressure in the form of steam
D. The types of plants that microbiologists have observed at a national park
A. The unusual conditions in which some plants can survive
To solve this mystery Rodriguez took plant samples back to his laboratory for investigation. Under a microscope he saw tiny strands of fungi called endophytes living on the plants. Rodriguez’s research revealed that the endophytes made the plants better able to handle climate stressors such as drought, heat, and cold. Correspondingly, the plant provided sugar to support the existence of the fungi.
About 80 percent of the earth’s plants have a strain of endophyte fungus living on them. However, in the last few decades the fungi have unintentionally been destroyed by pesticides and fertilizer. Rodriguez believed that if the fungi could somehow be added back to a plant, its natural protection could be restored.
Rodriguez extracted endophyte fungi from several native plants known for surviving extreme temperatures to create a mixture. He found that when the mixture is applied to seeds, plants become immune to many of the agricultural woes that plague farmers. When plants are restored with endophyte fungi, they are protected from heat or cold. They also require less water and fertilizer to grow. Overall, plants are much healthier and more resilient.
How are paragraphs 2 through 4 organized?
A. They compare the plants Rodriguez collected to the endophytes living on the plants.
B. They describe the steps Rodriguez followed while researching plants in his laboratory.
C. They explain the problem Rodriguez was trying to solve based on his observations.
D. They describe the structure of the plants Rodriguez collected from a harsh environment.
B. They describe the steps Rodriguez followed while researching plants in his laboratory.
My blond-haired little brother sat cross-legged in the wagon. I flipped the handle back to him so he could steer while I pushed from the back. We rattled down our dirt driveway and onto the street. In my mind’s eye, I can still see us on that long-ago afternoon: two little boys in shorts beneath a glaring summer sun, both of us dusty and sweat-streaked, shirtless and barefoot.
What does the sensory language in paragraph 7 help the reader understand?
F. The doubts the author had about being able to complete his adventure
G. The difficulty the author had pushing his wagon along the street
H. The distance between the author’s house and the store
J. The details that the author remembers most vividly about that day
J. The details that the author remembers most vividly about that day
What is one important benefit of shipping container apartment buildings and the billboard in Lima?
A Both inform people about an opportunity.
B Both prevent landfills from overflowing.
C Both provide a resource to a community.
D Both are found in urban and rural areas.
C. Both provide a resource to a community.
Read lines 19-22.
her front quarters extending as far as they can go
20 toward those regions she yearns for:
fenceless acreage, the lots of desire
she is denied.
In lines 20 through 22, the speaker observes that the dog wants to —
F. return to the comfort of her home
G. explore new areas beyond the fence
H. follow the familiar path around the field
J. take breaks during the walk with the speaker
G. explore new areas beyond the fence
We passed the light greenhouse of our retired neighbors, the Wills, and their corn patch in the empty lot between our houses, the stalks yellow and withered. We passed Mrs. Rachle’s house and looked for Rosie, our playmate, and best friend. She stayed with her grandmother during the day while her parents worked. She would probably be up for an adventure, but we didn’t see her. She might have been taking her afternoon nap.
Head down and bent over almost double, keeping a sharp eye out for painful goat head weeds that had snaked onto the shoulder of the road during the hot Central Texas summer, I pushed Kenny to the intersection with Parrish, a slightly busier street than Strickland. We looked both ways, twice, as we had been taught, and then scurried across the street and turned left for the half-block stretch to Miss Andrews’ store.
Paragraphs 8 and 9 are mainly a description of —
A. the way the author and Kenny worked together to push the wagon along
B. the typical routine the author followed when he went to the grocery store
C. the different neighbors the author saw on the way to the grocery store
D. the safety measures the author took when walking along the shoulder of the road
B. the typical routine the author followed when he went to the grocery store
Read paragraph 3.
“But I was born to do the long jump. My instinct is to jump,” Teresa said as she sat on a bench. “When I’m on the Olympic team, you’ll see what I mean.”
Teresa’s comments influence the theme of the story because they show that she —
A. does not know a lot about long jumping
B. thinks that her coach does not give her useful advice
C. believes that she is a better long jumper than she actually is
D. feels as though she has to prove her abilities to others
C. believes that she is a better long jumper than she actually is
Read this sentence from paragraph 2.
A thin ribbon of cloud seemed to envelop cone-shaped Little Baldy from bottom to top like the new rope Pa had just bought for the windlass over our well.
The author uses imagery in this sentence most likely to show how —
F the narrator was inspired to plant corn on Little Baldy in a specific pattern
G large Little Baldy seemed to the narrator before he began the project
H the narrator is surprised by his father’s ability to repair equipment on the farm
J proud the narrator thinks his father will be with the outcome of the project
F the narrator was inspired to plant corn on Little Baldy in a specific pattern
Read this sentence from “Breaking Out of the Box.”
By cutting out hallways and creatively stacking the containers, engineers are maximizing the use of the boxes.
Which sentence from “A Bountiful Billboard” is related to this idea?
F This can supply hundreds of families with water each month.
G They made a billboard that extracted moisture from the air and converted it into drinkable water.
H But the citizens of Lima and other cities in arid regions around the world are hopeful.
J Additionally, UTEC recorded a 28 percent increase in enrollment since the installation of the billboard.
G. They made a billboard that extracted moisture from the air and converted it into drinkable water.
Read paragraph 8.
A celebrity is all about fame—temporary, superficial fame, usually for qualities that are easy to see: a pretty face, a good hook shot, a great dance move. A hero, by contrast, is about character—qualities beneath the surface that aren’t visible until they prompt action. Qualities like courage, hope, compassion, and perseverance.
Read the origin of the word superficial.
from the Latin super- (“on top of”) and -facies (“face”)
Based on this information, what is the meaning of the word superficial in paragraph 8?
F Not known
G Unexpected
H Undervalued
J Without depth
J. Without depth
Read paragraphs 1 and 2.
Writer and filmmaker Sande Zeig was hurrying through the Phoenix, Arizona, airport one afternoon when a group of women wearing bright yellow shirts caught her eye. “The air was just vibrating around them,” Zeig recalls. “I asked who they were, and they said they were Apache firefighters. And ‘I want to make a film about you’ just came out of my mouth.” Zeig’s documentary, Apache 8, was entered in the Native American Film + Video Festival in 2011 and has made its way to other film festivals across the country. It tells the remarkable story of the first all-woman American Indian firefighting crew.
The women of Apache 8 have been fighting fierce blazes in Arizona and across the western United States for more than 30 years. Zeig’s documentary highlights these brave women and the crew they lead. Ronnie Lupe, the chairman of the White Mountain Apache Tribe, said, “They can climb the highest mountain, carry the heaviest burden on their back, and still put out the fire. We are so proud of them.”
Paragraphs 1 and 2 are mainly about the reasons —
A the Apache 8 women have been fighting fires for more than 30 years
B Zeig decided to feature the Apache 8 crew in a film
C Zeig had to seek permission to film the Apache 8 crew
D the Apache 8 crew encourages girls and young women
B Zeig decided to feature the Apache 8 crew in a film
Read paragraph 8.
A celebrity is all about fame—temporary, superficial fame, usually for qualities that are easy to see: a pretty face, a good hook shot, a great dance move. A hero, by contrast, is about character—qualities beneath the surface that aren’t visible until they prompt action. Qualities like courage, hope, compassion, and perseverance.
The author organizes paragraph 8 by —
A providing definitions of the words celebrity and hero
B giving examples of celebrities and heroes
C discussing the differences between celebrities and heroes
D explaining the origins of the words celebrity and hero
C. discussing the differences between celebrities and heroes
Read paragraph 1.
One morning in February I left home in a white cloud that had settled over the deep valleys. I could not see an object ten feet in front of me in this mist. I crossed the pasture into the orchard and the mist began to thin. When I reached the ridge road, the light thin air was clear of mist. I looked over the sea of rolling white clouds. The tops of the dark winter hills jutted up like little islands.
The simile in paragraph 1 helps the reader understand why the narrator —
F takes a specific path to school in the morning
G wants to think of a project that will be useful to his family
H notices the part of the landscape he will use for his project
J rides over the land quickly on his way to school
H notices the part of the landscape he will use for his project
Both selections explore ideas that involve —
A using technology to keep the environment clean
B collaborating to solve an urban problem
C redesigning an object to serve a new purpose
D recycling materials that are typically considered trash
C redesigning an object to serve a new purpose
Which sentence suggests that catching crabs is a popular activity on the beach?
F A seasoned crab chaser, Hallie only holds them in her partially sand-filled bucket overnight.
G Operating on pure fight-or-flight instinct, the crabs don’t realize it’s all just a game when a kid is on their trail.
H It’s the seaside version of catching fireflies and putting them in a jar, except that the crabs are bigger than bugs, about the size of a small child’s fist.
J When ghost crabs spot something threatening or bigger than they are—like a little girl with a flashlight and a green plastic bucket with a yellow handle—their eight legs can propel them up to speeds of 10 mph.
H It’s the seaside version of catching fireflies and putting them in a jar, except that the crabs are bigger than bugs, about the size of a small child’s fist.
Read paragraphs 4 and 5.
Supermarket Strategy
4 Store owners know that milk and eggs are common items on many grocery lists, so these items should be at the front of the store, right? Actually, most stores place those items deeper into the store so that shoppers have to pass tantalizing products on their way to get the needed items. Sights and smells are also powerful and persuasive tools. Florists, bakeries, and produce sections are usually at the front of the store because the items in them will appeal to shoppers’ senses, enticing customers to make purchases. Managers know that red signs get the attention of shoppers and that yellow and white signs have a calming effect. They also know that the human eye is likely to focus on products that are at eye level, so that is where the most expensive products are placed on the shelves. Less expensive products are placed higher or lower. Some companies negotiate with the supermarket to ensure that their products are in prime locations to make them more appealing than a competing brand’s products.
5 Supermarkets know that they can sell products that customers may not even be looking for by placing items commonly bought together, like cheese and crackers, close to each other. Some stores no longer use straight rows of aisles across the store but create loops of aisles that force customers to walk past products they may not ordinarily shop for. And there are other industry tricks that increase food sales. The products at the end of an aisle are more likely to be sold, so items that are close to expiring or that need to sell quickly are often placed there. Many grocers feature chopped or shredded vegetables in their produce departments. Customers like the expediency of these products, but buying them can cost more than twice as much as purchasing the items whole.
What are paragraphs 4 and 5 mainly about?
F The reason companies request a particular space to display their products in a supermarket
G The products that are the most profitable for the supermarket to sell
H The different designs used by supermarkets to keep their products organized
J The specific techniques used by supermarkets to encourage people to purchase more products
J The specific techniques used by supermarkets to encourage people to purchase more products
Read paragraphs 8-11.
8 A celebrity is all about fame—temporary, superficial fame, usually for qualities that are easy to see: a pretty face, a good hook shot, a great dance move. A hero, by contrast, is about character—qualities beneath the surface that aren’t visible until they prompt action. Qualities like courage, hope, compassion, and perseverance.
9 Heroes, real heroes, are all around us. They truly hold our world together, through their unselfish devotion to helping others, supporting families, teaching children, protecting the environment. They don’t want fame, or glory, or even credit; they just want to help. In so many ways, these unsung heroes steer the boat in which all of us sail.
10 Yet . . . young people hear a lot more about celebrities than about heroes, in every form of media. Worse yet, young people are treated too often as just another target market by advertisers. The underlying message they get from all this is that their self-worth comes from what they buy—which drink, which shoes, which cell phone—not who they are down inside. 11 What gets lost in this? Young people’s sense of their own potential for heroic qualities—their own power to make a positive difference in the world.
The author included the information in paragraphs 8 through 11 probably to —
F explain why becoming a hero is important
G show that heroes and celebrities are both valued
H demonstrate that society does not support the development of heroes
J describe how society turns ordinary celebrities into real heroes
H. demonstrate that society does not support the development of heroes
Read lines 11 and 12 from the poem.
They will have perils to meet, but they will meet them, As the early settlers did on American shores.
Why does the poet compare space travelers to the early settlers of America?
A To highlight the difficulties that the early settlers encountered when venturing into new places
B To imply that the obstacles the early settlers faced discouraged them from exploring new lands
C To suggest that explorers will overcome the difficulties in space just as explorers in the past overcame their difficulties
D To demonstrate that explorers will encounter the same challenges in space as explorers in the past did in other frontiers
C To suggest that explorers will overcome the difficulties in space just as explorers in the past overcame their difficulties
Which sentence from the selection supports the idea that creating structures from shipping containers is cost-efficient?
A Shipping containers are used to haul cargo on ships, trains, and trucks.
B One trend that has gained popularity is creating houses from retired shipping containers.
C With all these options and new purposes, fewer shipping containers will be headed to the junkyard.
D Urban areas and colleges that struggle to provide affordable housing have also begun to explore building container housing and work spaces.
D. Urban areas and colleges that struggle to provide affordable housing have also begun to explore building container housing and work spaces.