Rite of Passage
(Nonliterary-Essay)
Persevering Plants
(Informational-Paired)
The Cure for Concrete
(Informational-Journal Excerpt)
Invitation
(poetry)
The Lesson in Design
(Fiction)
100

In paragraph 4, what does the word notoriously mean?

Recognized in a negative way

100

How do the photograph and caption after paragraph 4 help the reader better understand the selection?

They demonstrate the effect endophytes can have on plants.

100

Which statement best expresses the main idea of paragraph 3?

Concrete has been and continues to be an important building material

100

Which of these ideas is emphasized by the simile in lines 7 and 8?

New poems do not come to mind right away.

100

Which sentence from the story creates an image of how tailoring can help people?

Mr. Simone paid his bill and then carefully, almost proudly, placed the newly perfected pants over his arm. (paragraph 4)

200

The organizers of the expedition created “penguin etiquette” most likely to —

minimize possible negative effects of visitors on the penguin habitat

200

How are paragraphs 2 through 4 organized?

They describe the steps Rodriguez followed while researching plants in his laboratory.

200

The information in paragraph 6 helps the reader understand that bioconcrete —

is effective in repairing water damage

200

Read the dictionary entry. 

afford \Ǩ-Ɏf˙ord\ v 1. to bear the financial cost of 2. to be able to spare or give up 3. to provide for another 4. to be the cause or source of 

Which definition best matches the way the word afford is used in line 4?

Definition 2

200

In paragraph 15, the word donned means —

put on

300

Which sentence from the selection best expresses the author’s enthusiasm during his observation of the penguins?

And I will never forget the penguin that, when I jokingly asked which way back to the helicopters, pointed a wing in the correct direction. (paragraph 18)

300

What is paragraph 1 mostly about?

The unusual conditions in which some plants can survive

300

How does the author organize paragraph 1?

By stating a popular belief about bacteria and then disproving it with examples

300

What process is the poet describing when she uses the words “i remove its muddy shoes and rearrange the pillows” in lines 21 and 22?

Revising a poem’s ideas and words

300

Read this sentence from paragraph 9. 

Mostly he drew during the free minutes of his day, when he could empty his mind and just trust his charcoal pencil. 

Based on this sentence, the reader can conclude that Andy —

feels compelled to sketch his designs at every opportunity

400

Read this sentence from paragraph 8. 

For the first time on our journey, we walked out on deck and felt the sweet bite of the cold, clean air on our faces. 

The sensory language in this sentence best reveals the author’s —

sense of relief and accomplishment at having arrived in Antarctica

400

Read this sentence from paragraph 2. 

When a bone breaks in the human body, it is able to repair itself. 

What is the most likely reason the author includes this information?

To provide an example of the goal of Jonkers’ research

400

The title of the poem is effective because it suggests that the speaker —

desires more poetry to come into her life

400

Read this sentence from paragraph 15. 

A morning full of whispers, jeers, and awkward questions left Andy slumped in his seat in art class like a spent parachute. 

The author uses a simile in this sentence to illustrate —

how discouraged Andy feels by his peers’ reactions to his outfit

500

Read this sentence from paragraph 5 of “Persevering Plants.” 

Rodriguez has tested his endophyte mixture on crops and achieved success.

 Which sentence from “The Cure for Concrete” shows a similar outcome for bioconcrete?

With the help of Jonkers’ bioconcrete, the lifeguard station has remained intact. (paragraph 6)

500

What do the contrasting images in lines 17 through 22 suggest?

Writing poetry is often not easy