Q2 Benchmark - Critical Thinking

PART ONE - Written Reflection + 1-5.

The first half of the review.

​Do these six activities and when you are finished, work on your Progress Learning Challenge for the week.

Open Ended

What was the profession you chose?

Dropdown

​ ​ Rhyme

Example ​ ​

Select answer

Effect on Meaning: ​ ​ ​

Select answer

Dropdown

​ ​ Alliteration

Example ​ ​ ​

Select answer

Effect on Meaning: ​ ​ ​

Select answer

Dropdown

​ ​ Metaphor​

Example ​ ​ ​

Select answer

​ ​

Effect on Meaning: ​ ​ ​​

Select answer

• ​Separate examples from the text and the descriptions of effect.

• ​Check each element for consistency between examples and effects.

​CHART

Multiple Choice

What does 'concurring' mean as it is used in line 3?

• to be combined or associated with

• to be in agreement with

• to cooperate or work together

• to be happening at the same time

• ​Confirm that the word you pick is defined by the etymology or dictionary entry.

• Look at the word's use in the text. Never decide the answer without checking the connotative meaning of the text.

ETYMOLOgY

Multiple Choice

In the Lacoon group sculpture, which element of the sea serpents does the author emphasize?

• The regret of the Trojans for not listening to Laocoon.

• Laocoon's anguish as his sons are strangled by the serpents.

• Laocoon's hesitation to fight against the sea serpents.

• The admiration of the Trojans for Pallas' quick revenge.

• ​Confirm that your answer only includes facts in the the text.

• When you analyze an image, be sure the answer you pick accurately describes the image.

IMAGE

Multiple Choice

In paragraph 5, how does the author use multiple text structures to develop the claim that refraining from using technology has a positive effect on children?

• The author describes + uses a chronological text structure.

• The author presents cause and effect + a comparison.

• The author describes + proposes a solution.

• The author presents problems + describes reasons.

• ​Take time to step back and check your work.

• Think through the steps of structure logically.

• Know your text structures:

  1. Problem and solution (lack of something + need for solution)

  2. Compare and contrast (lacking vs. necessary)

  3. Chronological (narrative structure easy to follow)

TEXT STRUCTURE

Check out this paragraph.

The kids who attended the camp and refrained from using technological devices did significantly better in identifying the emotions than the other group of kids did. Going just five days without any exposure to technology somehow enabled the group to read emotions better. The researchers attributed the difference in responses to the fact that the kids at the camp had far more direct interaction with people.

Multiple Choice

"As a country, we should set parameters to limit our exposure to screens - and increase our exposure to another."

PART A

What is the meaning of the word parameters as it is used in paragraph 1?

• boundaries

• physical properties

• openings

• characteristic elements

Multiple Choice

"As a country, we should set parameters to limit our exposure to screens - and increase our exposure to another."

PART B

Which phrase provides a clue to the answer in Part A?

• "as a country"

• "limit our exposure"

• "increase our exposure"

• "to each other"

• ​Confirm that the answer you select is based on the meaning in the text.

• Confirm that your answer to Part B is consistent with your answer to Part A.

TWO-Part QUestions

PART TWO - 6-10.

The second half of the review.

​Do these five activities and when you are finished, work to achieve the best score you can on your Progress Learning Challenge for the week.

Multiple Choice

What is the best paraphrase of paragraph 1?

• People argue about whether or not individuals should have more or less access to technology . . .

• There have been many disagreements about how much screen time people should be exposed to . . .

• A lot of people think that we spend too much time in front of screens . . .

• Many people will argue that we spend too much time doing things like surfing the internet . . .

​People argue about whether or not individuals should have more or less access to technology. However, it is important to remember that there are many positive outcomes for people who use technology so we should not say that it is all bad. (This is a summary, not a paraphrase.)

​There have been many disagreements about how much screen time people should be exposed to, but there are clear positive effects of technology. For example, people argue over whether or not video games help or hurt children even though there is clear evidence that they can improve a child's mood and their interpersonal connections. It is important to remember that the internet plays a major role in keeping people connected. (This includes facts not in the original paragraph.)

​A lot of people think that we spend too much time in front of screens, and playing video games. However, there are clear benefits to using technology more and more often. For example, playing video games and surfing the internet have shown to improve the moods or children and adults alike. Therefore, we should promote the use of screens for everyone.

​Many people will argue that we spend too much time doing things like searching the internet and playing video games. However, people rarely talk about the benefits of technology-based activities. They can improve children's abilities to learn as well as their moods. Another positive effect is improving connections with others. Therefore, we shouldn't be so quick to put these activities down.

• ​Focus on only the original meaning of the text selected. What does it cover? What does it not?

• As you review the text, try paraphrasing it yourself.

• ​Choose an answer that describes just what the text covers.

PARAPHRASING

Multiple Choice

How does the author's description of the emergence of the United States and the Soviet Union as superpowers in the Cold War in paragraph 1 develop the central argument of the passage?

• The author suggests there were long-term causes aggravated by the United States, setting up the argument that the United States overreacted.

• The author compares the ideologies of the two powers, setting up the argument that peace was less important during this time.

• The author presents a series of events from history that occurred after a major war and argues that they affected Americans' feelings about their government.

• The author describes the conflict between the two major powers and sets up the rest of the arguments around the United State's reaction to this conflict.

Check out this paragraph.

In the period following World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as the two leading world powers. The distrust of the USSR and its communist ideology flowed like an electric current through the American consciousness. When the Soviet Union completed its first successful test of an atomic bomb in 1949, that national distrust turned into hostility and fear; the period now referred to as the Cold War had begun. In the United States, this era was defined by economic and political competition with the Soviets. It was during the Cold War that patriotism became synonymous with opposition to communism.

• ​Take time to step back and check your work.

• Think through the steps of structure logically.

• Know your text structures:

  1. Problem and solution (lack of something + need for solution)

  2. Compare and contrast (lacking vs. necessary)

  3. Chronological (narrative structure easy to follow)

TEXT STRUCTURE

Multiple Choice

There is little doubt that the authors of this law intended to draft the American education system into the fight against communism.

Part A

What is the meaning of the word "draft" as it is used in this sentence?

• to recruit someone to go to war on one's behalf

• to write down ideas about a subject

• to create a document that can be edited

• to fight against a common enemy

Multiple Choice

There is little doubt that the authors of this law intended to draft the American education system into the fight against communism.

Part B

Which phrase provides a clue to the answer in Part A?

• "overthrow of the United States" (paragraph 3)

• "there is little doubt"

  (paragraph 3)

• "authors of this law"

  (paragraph 3)

• "into the fight"

  (paragraph 3)

• ​Confirm that the answer you select is based on the meaning in the text.

• Confirm that your answer to Part B is consistent with your answer to Part A.

TWO-Part QUestions

Multiple Choice

What is the best paraphrase of paragraph 2?

• The launch of Sputnik by the Russians in the fall of 1957 jolted the American public into questioning . . .

• The Cold War was a period of economic and political tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union . . .

• Because of the launch of Sputnik, the federal government passed the

• The launch of Sputnik was a marvel for all of humanity and brought people together . . .

Check out this paragraph.

In October 1957, the Russians launched Sputnik 1, becoming the first nation to successfully put a satellite into orbit around Earth. The announcement shattered the faith of the American public in their country's superiority. The terrifying implications of the Cold War began to take hold in the national consciousness. With rockets capable of launching objects into space came the very real threat of intercontinental missiles armed with nuclear warheads. If success in the Cold War was measured by progress in technology, then Americans had clearly fallen behind. The only sure path to avoiding total destruction was to become the technologically superior nation.

• ​Focus on only the original meaning of the text selected. What does it cover? What does it not?

• As you review the text, try paraphrasing it yourself.

• ​Choose an answer that describes just what the text covers.

PARAPHRASING

Multiple Choice

Part A

What text structure does the author use to explain what it is like to run in an OCR?

• Compare and contrast

• Sequence

• Chronological

• Problem and solution

Multiple Choice

Part B

What effect does the text structure

identified in Part A

have on the work as a whole?

• The author is able to highlight what makes OCRs different from traditional foot races.

• The author is able to show why ORCs are superior to traditional foot races.

• The author is able to list the benefits of OCRs as well as the cost of the OCRs.

• The author is able to appeal to readers on both sides of the issue for OCRs and against.

• ​Take time to step back and check your work.

• Think through the steps of structure logically.

• Know your text structures:

  1. Problem and solution (lack of something + need for solution)

  2. Compare and contrast (lacking vs. necessary)

  3. Chronological (narrative structure easy to follow - also known as a sequence.)

TEXT STRUCTURE

Multiple Choice

What is the best way to think about Benchmark 2 so that you succeed?

• Oh no. I didn't do well on the first one.

• I can do this. I know more now. My notes will help.

• Not a problem. No need for notes. Got this.

• I do not understand my notes, so I am going to guess.