Wiping Out Graffiti in Houston Ed1.0

PART 1: Scenarios Directions: Select the vocabulary word that best fits the scenario. Type or write the letter of your answer choice in the column that says “My Answer.”

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Vocabulary Quiz for Unit 6: Graffiti — Art or Crime?

Multiple Choice

Due to the approaching storm, the government determined that it was necessary for residents to leave their homes and seek shelter in nearby towns.

• evolved

• defaced

• deemed

Multiple Choice

After years of taking cooking classes and practicing his skills in the kitchen, Josiah became a world-renowned chef.

• evolved

• contemporary

• superficial

Multiple Choice

When the teenage boys scrawled “Go Tigers!” on the wall of their rival school before the big game, they were arrested and charged with a crime.

• stature

• vandalism

• landmark

Multiple Choice

Bianca wanted to work with the best builders and designers on her new home. She asked around to be sure she was hiring people with the highest reputations.

• inevitability

• evolution

• stature

Multiple Choice

In 1972, someone severely damaged the statue in Rome known as the Pieta, one of Michelangelo’s masterpieces, by attacking it with a hammer.

• abstract

• deface

• evolve

Multiple Choice

Jackson Pollack, the artist, was known for pouring paint straight from the can onto a canvas, creating famous “drip paintings.”

• deem

• abstract

• vandalize

Multiple Choice

The novel Romiette and Julio, a modern version of Shakespeare’s classic play Romeo and Juliet, takes place in present day California.

• contemporary

• inevitable

• superficial

Multiple Choice

No matter how well you take care of your car, eventually certain repairs will have to be made because of basic wear and tear.

• landmark

• deem

• inevitable

Multiple Choice

Preston and his new roommate were still getting to know one another. Their first conversations were about easy topics, such as the weather and where they grew up.

• superficial

• contemporary

• landmark

Multiple Choice

The Great Pyramids of Giza are considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Every year thousands of people travel to Egypt to marvel at them.

• inevitable

• landmark

• abstract

Open Ended

Who should be responsible for the cost and work of cleaning up graffiti?

Multiple Choice

Which word best states the meaning of “prolific” as used in paragraph 11?

• artistic

• detailed

• isolated

• widespread

Multiple Choice

Which piece of evidence best demonstrates how graffiti impacts a city?

• “Community paintbrush murals are rarely defaced by graffiti and instill a sense of pride among those

  who live nearby.” (Paragraph 1)

• “It’s done without permission and it’s against the law.” (Paragraph 2)

• “Neighborhoods with illegal graffiti see a decrease in property value and a loss of business growth and

  tourism.” (Paragraph 3)

• “In the City of Houston, the penalty for tagging can be a misdemeanor if damage is less than $500.”

  (Paragraph 13)

Multiple Choice

Which statement most likely reflects how the city of Houston views the debate surrounding the protection of

graffiti? [RI.6]

• Protecting graffiti might build a stronger community.

• Protecting graffiti might discourage legitimate artists.

• Protecting graffiti might encourage people to create more of it.

• Protecting graffiti might be cheaper for cities than removing it.

Multiple Choice

How does the author’s repeated use of the words “vandals” and “vandalism” affect the reader? [RI.4]

• It reinforces the idea that graffiti is criminal.

• It emphasizes the idea that some graffiti is art.

• It illustrates that graffiti makes a city less desirable to live in.

• It reveals that only certain types of graffiti pose a threat to a community.

Multiple Choice

What common idea about graffiti does the author disprove? [RI.6]

• Graffiti is expensive for cities to remove.

• Gangs are responsible for the majority of graffiti.

• Graffiti can harm businesses and property values.

• Graffiti contributes to other crimes in a community.

Open Ended

Directions: Think about how this text supports one or both sides of our essay prompt: Should graffiti be protected? Which side of the issues does this article you just read best support? Provide evidence from the text.

Open Ended

Think back to the last text we read. Do you think the reaction of the Houston city government to graffiti is justified? Why or why not?

Poll

Do you think graffiti is a growing problem in most cities?

• A) Yes, it is increasing everywhere

• B) No, it is mostly limited to big cities

• C) It depends on the area

Poll

What do you think is the biggest reason graffiti continues to spread?

• A) The media makes it look cool

• B) People don’t see it as a real crime

• C) There aren’t enough police to stop it

• D) Cleaning it up is too expensive

Multiple Choice

According to the text, why is graffiti often considered an "intractable" problem?

• A) It is easy to clean up

• B) Graffiti offenders change their methods to avoid getting caught

• C) It is usually done by gangs

• D) Most cities don’t have any graffiti at all

Multiple Choice

What is one reason why graffiti is underreported?

• A) Many people do not view graffiti as a "real crime"

• B) The police always catch graffiti offenders

• C) It is easy to remove graffiti, so people don’t worry about it

• D) Most graffiti is legal and approved by the government

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT listed as a factor contributing to graffiti?

• A) Public disorder, like littering and loitering

• B) Shoplifting materials needed for graffiti

• C) Property destruction, such as slashed train seats

• D) Lack of available art classes in schools

Open Ended

Why does graffiti tend to spread once it appears in an area?

Open Ended

Directions: Think about how this text supports one or both sides of our essay prompt: Should graffiti be protected? Which side of the issues does this article you just read best support? Provide evidence from the text.