Show:
The Bookworm
My Early Home
Pattern for Freedom
The King and the Bee
My Mother's Kitchen
100
What is the most likely reason the author uses examples of story plots in paragraph 1?
A. to show the reader how characters are created B. to persuade the reader to write science fiction C. to introduce the reader to science fiction writing D. to show the reader different approaches to writing
100
What is the main purpose of paragraphs 1 and 2 in the selection?
A. to summarize the plot B. to explain the conflict C. to describe the setting D. to present the characters
100
In paragraph 2, why does the author put the words “spare time” in quotation marks?
A. to suggest that the women were usually kept very busy B. to suggest that the women did not have permission to quilt C. to suggest that the women pretended to work while they quilted D. to suggest that the women did not need much time for themselves
100
Read the examples from lines 14 and 15 in the box below. • (Yawning) • (Stretching out on bench) In the play, what is the main purpose of the words in parentheses?
A. The words are spoken by a narrator. B. The words give directions to the actors. C. The words tell which character is speaking. D. The words explain the thoughts of characters.
100
Read lines 3 and 4 of the poem in the box below. Sparsely furnished Crowded with warmth What does the poet most likely mean by the contrast in the lines?
A. A room can be full of love even if the family has few possessions. B. A room can seem cramped even if it contains no furniture. C. A memory often seems better than real life. D. A kitchen is the room used most in a home.
200
Which fact about Asimov’s early life best predicted his future career?
A. He moved to the United States with his parents. B. He read books at the library instead of buying them. C. He helped his parents in their New York candy store. D. He taught himself to read when he was four years old.
200
Based on paragraph 6, how is the narrator different from the other colts?
A. He has a father who watches out for him. B. He is expected to do finer things with his life. C. He is more shy and hesitant to join in the games. D. He lives in better quarters and enjoys more freedom.
200
Based on paragraph 3, how did quilts most help unite African people from different countries?
A. The quilts helped people express their anger. B. The quilts helped people forget old disputes. C. The quilts helped people communicate with one another. D. The quilts helped people understand differences in other cultures.
200
What do lines 20–25 suggest about the bee stinging King Solomon?
A. The bee wants to warn the king. B. The bee hopes to wake the king. C. The bee does not mean to sting the king. D. The bee does not think the sting will harm the king.
200
Line 10 contrasts the mother’s strength with her
A. past. B. hope. C. sorrow. D. gentleness.
300
Based on paragraph 9, for which of his stories did Asimov receive the most praise?
A. “Ring Around the Sun” B. “The Martian Way” C. “Stowaway” D. “Nightfall”
300
In paragraph 7, why does the narrator mention that the master has a nickname for Duchess?
A. to show that Duchess is special to the master B. to show why the other horses resent Duchess C. to show why the other horses treat Duchess differently D. to show that Duchess needs extra attention from the master
300
Based on the article, which quilt is based on a quilt maker’s original design?
A. “Whirligig” B. “Crazy Quilt” C. “Jacob’s Ladder” D. “Drunkard’s Path”
300
In line 59, what does King Solomon describe as “gauze and velvet”?
A. the flower’s fragrance B. the bee’s appearance C. the flower’s beauty D. the bee’s calmness
300
Read lines 21 and 22 from the poem in the box below. Lines upon her face, features carved of hard times Lines around her eyes, creases of happy times What does the speaker suggest about the lines in his mother’s face?
A. They seem to change as time passes. B. They are more obvious in the bright light. C. They are created by both joy and sadness. D. They represent both the past and the future.
400
Based on paragraph 10, what is a main reason Asimov’s work is respected?
A. He made sure the information in his stories was correct. B. He wrote stories about a great variety of subjects. C. He included entertaining characters in his stories. D. He wrote more stories than any other writer.
400
What do paragraphs 10 and 11 best show about the master?
A. He expects people to be hard workers. B. He is impatient with people who disobey him. C. He is very strict with his horses and his workers. D. He cares deeply about protecting his horses and his farm.
400
Based on paragraphs 6 and 7, how did the use of the color black in quilts change over time?
A. It came to mean power rather than loss. B. It came to mean wealth rather than poverty. C. It came to mean protection rather than death. D. It came to mean success rather than failure.
400
Which of the following best states the theme of the play?
A. Patience is a virtue. B. It is better to be happy than rich. C. Even the smallest creature is important. D. Courage can be found in surprising places.
400
What is suggested by the phrase “light up dark corners” in line 25?
A. The mother knows the secrets of her son. B. The mother makes difficult times easier for her son. C. The mother shows concern that her son is too serious. D. The mother seems most alive to her son in the evening.
500
Read the sentence from paragraph 12 in the box below. Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine is still being published today and is cultivating a whole new generation of award-winning authors. Based on the article, what does the phrase “cultivating a whole new generation of . . . authors” most likely mean?
A. The magazine may inspire its readers to become writers. B. The magazine gives readers information about Asimov’s life. C. The magazine continues to reprint some of Asimov’s best stories. D. The magazine sponsors a writing contest similar to one Asimov won.
500
Based on the selection, why is the colt most likely telling the story?
A. to explain why he is cautious around humans B. to suggest his mother was too strict C. to show how the master changed D. to share a fond memory
500
Read the sentence from paragraph 3 in the box below. The snake motif represented the West African god of fertility, and flower patterns symbolized the Haitian goddess of love. Based on the sentence, what does the word motif mean?
A. quilt B. design C. warning D. superstition
500
Read the sentence from lines 2 and 3 in the box below. SEtting: . . . Ornamental vases stand at right. Based on the meaning of the word “ornament,” what does the word ornamental most likely mean?
A. practical B. historical C. decorative D. imaginary
500
Based on the poem, explain why the speaker’s memory of his mother’s kitchen is important to him. Support your answer with important details from the poem.
Answers will vary.