PSSA Prep - 2019-20 Item Sampler - Passage #1

PSSA Prep - 2019-20 Item Sampler

The Boyhood Diary of Theodore Roosevelt

May 12th 1869.— 

We go to Europe today. We sail in the English Steamship, Scotia. It was very hard parting from our friends. Old Grand Papa came up to us. While going to the docks I cried a great deal. Marry Ann, Ellie, and I were left by some coal there with nothing to do. We went in a little ship to the Scotia. We have nice staterooms and a gentleman showed us all round the ship. We started at 5. We 3 jumped around the deck and played. When we went to bed I was a little seasick.

The Boyhood Diary of Theodore Roosevelt

May 21st 1869. Sea.— 

Early in the morning at 4 we [took] the ship at Queenstown (Ireland). Ellie, the other boys, and I had a great play. The Irish sea looks (it is so smooth) like green glass. Gulls and ships keep passing us. We got off at Liverpool [England] and did not get to bed till one.

The Boyhood Diary of Theodore Roosevelt

June 1st 1869 [England]— 

Chatsworth is about 80 miles from Liverpool. Early in the morning Conie and I had a walk. We saw some darling little puppies just born. We drove on to Haden Hall, an old feudal castle of the 11th century. We saw the pewter1 plates to cook and eat with. We saw the dining room and kitchen with its huge fire place and a bedroom with its bed in it and some tapestry. On this last was a picture of a boar hunt in which the dogs were in armor. The coat of arms was a bear and bull with shield. We drove on among wild and picturesque scenery to the New Bath hotel. We chased ducks there and found a dead gosling in the river. After a while took cars to Liverpool. Saw a huge oak.

The Boyhood Diary of Theodore Roosevelt

York, June 14 1869 [England]— 

We had a row down the river Ouse for 2 miles. It was great fun. Ellie and I rowed. Conie and Papa walked some of the way back. Conie and I went alone to the museum where we saw birds and skeletons and Bamie and I went in for a spree and got two shillings worth of rock candy. 

The Boyhood Diary of Theodore Roosevelt

 June 3d 1869 [England]— 

Papa and I went to Hastings. We went right away to the queens hotel and had such a nice dinner. We then took a splendid walk on the beach. Coming back I had a goat wagon ride (great fun) and we then walked up to the old castle of Hastings. It was a mere ruin of the Saxon times but very, very much repaired and rebuilt by the Norman conqueror. We saw several pieces of iron things taken from the castle such as keys and melted iron. We had tea and then Papa went out for a walk and I put myself to bed all alone. 

The Boyhood Diary of Theodore Roosevelt

July 21st 1869 [Germany]— 

To Mainz. We went first in the cars and then for 8 or 9 hours in the boat up the Rhine River. We saw more beautiful scenery and old castles. We passed the Bishop of Enghiens tower and played with some other children. We had a splendid play.

Multiple Choice

In “The Boyhood Diary of Theodore Roosevelt,” how do most of the headings connect to the paragraphs of the passage?

• The headings give the topic for each section.

• The headings state questions, and the text answers them.

• The headings state effects, and the text explains the causes.

• The headings give the date and place for each section.

Multiple Choice

Which description states the overall structure of the events presented in “The Boyhood Diary of Theodore Roosevelt”?

• a comparison of different places visited on a trip

• a solution to a problem related to a place visited on a trip

• a sequence of events experienced during a trip

• a list of steps to increase enjoyment during a trip