I'll Be There For You
Read the excerpt from Iqbal.
That morning we had a bigger breakfast than usual—which alone put us in a good mood—and we were allowed to laugh and chat while we waited to pass the filthy curtain outside the bathroom.
The numskulls had already finished, and for the sake of the foreigners they wouldn't be chained to their looms that day. The rest of us were waiting on line, pushing and shoving.
"Be good, children! Be good," called the mistress, but it didn't sound like her usual nasty warning.
What can be inferred from this excerpt?
A.) The workshop was not a pleasant environment for the children.
B.) The children were well-fed and happy.
C.) Local people didn't like or trust foreign visitors.
D.) Only foreigners bought carpets from Hussain Khan's shop.
A.) The workshop was not a pleasant environment for the children.
Read the excerpt from The Code Book.
More than a hundred million e-mails are sent around the world each day, and they are all vulnerable to interception. Digital technology has aided communication, but it has also given rise to the possibility of those communications being monitored.
Which type of evidence is used in the excerpt?
A.) an example
B.) a story
C.) a quote
D.) a statistic
D.) a statistic
Read the excerpt from President Reagan’s Address at Moscow State University.
But progress is not foreordained. The key is freedom—freedom of thought, freedom of information, freedom of communication.
Which is true of these lines?
A.) Repetition is used to emphasize the importance of freedom.
B.) Repetition is used to argue that progress is inevitable.
C.) Allusion is used to emphasize the importance of freedom.
D.) Allusion is used to argue that progress is inevitable.
A.) Repetition is used to emphasize the importance of freedom.
Olivia is conducting research about the history of voting rights in the United States. Which source on her list is the most credible source?
A.) a political blog
B.) an encyclopedia
C.) a social media site
D.) a wiki site
B.) an encyclopedia
In which Disney World park does Star Wars Galaxy's Edge reside?
A.) Magic Kingdom
B.) Animal Kingdom
C.) Hollywood Studios
D.) EPCOT
In order for a fictionalized story to be based on real events, the author should include
A.) characters with strong feelings.
B.) historical material.
C.) a narrator.
D.) dialogue.
B.) historical material.
Read this quote from Zimmermann in The Code Book.
In the past, if the government wanted to violate the privacy of ordinary citizens, it had to expend a certain amount of effort to intercept and steam open and read paper mail, or listen to and possibly transcribe spoken telephone conversations. This is analogous to catching fish with a hook and a line, one fish at a time. Fortunately for freedom and democracy, this kind of labor-intensive monitoring is not practical on a large scale. Today, electronic mail is gradually replacing conventional paper mail, and is soon to be the norm for everyone, not the novelty it is today. Unlike paper mail, e-mail messages are just too easy to intercept and scan for interesting keywords. This can be done easily, routinely, automatically, and undetectably on a grand scale. This is analogous to driftnet fishing—making a quantitative and qualitative Orwellian difference to the health of democracy.
What is the purpose of the quote from Zimmermann?
A.) It explains how much faster e-mail travels than ordinary mail.
B.) It shows how easily digital mail can be monitored by outsiders.
C.) It states exactly how many people use e-mail instead of regular mail.
D.) It proves that e-mail is better for the health of democracy than regular mail.
B.) It shows how easily digital mail can be monitored by outsiders.
In My Story, why did Rosa Parks refuse to give up her bus seat to a white man on December 1, 1955?
A.) She wanted to go to court.
B.) She was too tired from work.
C.) She was sick of segregation.
D.) She wanted to get arrested.
C.) She was sick of segregation.
Roberto is conducting research about the ethics of confining animals in zoos. Which source on his list is the most credible?
A.) a site where people share stories about their experiences in zoos and their feelings about zoos
B.) a research study published on a university’s website about how being in a zoo affects animals
C.) an advertisement for a family vacation package that includes an amusement park and zoo
D.) a blog where a zoo owner discusses everyday life working at a zoo and caring for animals
B.) a research study published on a university’s website about how being in a zoo affects animals
Which is NOT among Embree's favorite Disney Princesses?
A.) Cinderella
B.) Sleeping Beauty
C.) Snow White
D.) Rapunzel
B.) Sleeping Beauty
Which idea best indicates that one of the purposes of the author of It's Our World, Too!: Young People Who Are Making a Difference is to persuade?
A.) The crowd applauds the students for writing the letter that was read at the football game.
B.) Jesse informs Neto about the harassing comments that are being made by the audience.
C.) Students keep themselves busy constructing floats and preparing for the parade.
D.) Andy makes copies of the students’ letters and ensures that the letters are passed out.
D.) Andy makes copies of the students’ letters and ensures that the letters are passed out.
Read the excerpt from The Code Book.
Alternatively, imagine that a bank receives an e-mail from a client, which instructs that all the client's funds should be transferred to a private numbered bank account in the Cayman Islands. Once again, without a handwritten signature, how does the bank know that the e-mail is really from the client? The e-mail could have been written by a criminal attempting to divert the money to his own Cayman Islands bank account. In order to develop trust on the Internet, it is essential that there is some form of reliable digital signature.
How does the author support the claim that "it is essential that there is some form of reliable digital signature”?
A.) by relating a personal story about how his digital signature was stolen
B.) by offering facts about the signatures banks use to prevent stolen accounts
C.) by sharing statistics about stolen money that was sent to the Cayman Islands
D.) by describing an example of how money could be stolen and sent abroad
D.) by describing an example of how money could be stolen and sent abroad
Read the excerpt from "A Quilt of a Country."
The reality is often quite different, a great national striving consisting frequently of failure. Many of the oft-told stories of the most pluralistic nation on earth are stories not of tolerance, but of bigotry. Slavery and sweatshops, the burning of crosses and the ostracism of the other. Children learn in social-studies class and in the news of the lynching of blacks, the denial of rights to women, the murders of gay men. It is difficult to know how to convince them that this amounts to "crown thy good with brotherhood," that amid all the failures is something spectacularly successful.
Which statement best summarizes the central idea of this excerpt?
A.) Due to the many cultures represented in our nation, our history is spoiled by racist acts.
B.) The high number of horrors committed in our diverse nation makes it difficult to believe in a united people.
C.) Children in American schools are only learning about the negative parts of American history—and none of the positive.
D.) Among all of the acts of hatred and racism, there is good in our population made of immigrants.
B.) The high number of horrors committed in our diverse nation makes it difficult to believe in a united people.
Ben is taking notes for his oral presentation about the impact of people using their cell phones while they drive. He finds data suggesting that people who are distracted on their phones get in accidents at higher rates than drivers who are not on their phones.
In which section of Ben’s presentation does this information belong?
A.) in the presentation of the solution
B.) in the presentation of the negative effects of the problem
C.) in the presentation of the title slide
D.) in the presentation of the positive effects of the solution
B.) in the presentation of the negative effects of the problem
Why is May 4th called Star Wars Day?
A.) Because there are four Star Wars movies
B.) Because it is a play on May the Force Be With You
C.) Because the main character has four eyes
D.) Because it has been four years since Star Wars was released
B.) Because it is a play on May the Force Be With You
Events that make a conflict more difficult are called
A.) causes.
B.) complications.
C.) reactions.
D.) resolutions.
B.) complications.
Read the excerpt from The Dark Game: True Spy Stories from Invisible Ink to CIA Moles.
Armed with invisible ink, a cipher system, and a passion to end the war and preserve the Union, Elizabeth Van Lew became Butler’s eyes and ears in the Confederate capital city. Truth be told, however, she became much more than that. She became a spymaster, the person responsible for running a network of agents, couriers, and safe houses that was very active during the war.
Which word best describes the tone of the passage?
A.) curious
B.) nostalgic
C.) triumphant
D.) respectful
D.) respectful
One purpose of President Reagan’s Address at Moscow State University was to
A.) inform listeners about well-known Russian writers.
B.) inform listeners about the importance of American history.
C.) persuade listeners to vote President Reagan into office.
D.) persuade listeners to embrace democratic freedoms.
D.) persuade listeners to embrace democratic freedoms.
Elgin is taking notes for his presentation about how people drink too much soda and other sugary drinks, and he finds information about how some cities and states are taxing sugary beverages at a higher rate to encourage people to make healthier choices.
In which portion of Elgin’s presentation does this information fit?
A.) the overview of the situation
B.) a solutionto the problem
C.) an effect of the solution
D.) an effect of the problem
B.) a solutionto the problem
What is Ms. Paul's middle name?
A.) Rachel
B.) Reyna
C.) Rochelle
D.) Riley
C.) Rochelle
Read this sentence about Della from "The Gift of the Magi."
Once she faltered for a minute and stood still while a tear or two splashed on the worn red carpet.
What theme do Della’s actions in this sentence best suggest?
A.) Sacrifice is more important than true love.
B.) Sacrifice for a loved one is not always easy.
C.) Sacrifice is part of a life lived to the very fullest.
D.) Sacrifice for a loved one does not always pay off.
B.) Sacrifice for a loved one is not always easy.
Read the excerpt from The Dark Game: True Spy Stories from Invisible Ink to CIA Moles.
One week later, news of the Zimmermann telegram was splashed across the front page of American newspapers. On April 6, 1917, the Congress of the United States declared war on Germany and its allies.
If the underlined word were replaced with the word "typed,” the tone of the excerpt would be
A.) more judgmental.
B.) more optimistic.
C.) less intellectual.
D.) less dramatic.
D.) less dramatic.
Read the excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr.’s "I Have a Dream” speech.
1) We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. 2) This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. 3) Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. 4) Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice.
Which sentence contains the strongest use of emotional connotation?
A.) Sentence 1
B.) Sentence 2
C.) Sentence 3
D.) Sentence 4
D.) Sentence 4
Which is the most reliable source for a presentation about the history of Washington, DC’s Smithsonian museums?
What type of animal does the class have a running joke about with Ms. Paul?
A.) Guinea Pigs
B.) Bunnies
C.) Goats
D.) Turtles
B.) Bunnies