Reading SOL Inferences and Generalizations

"[The Grand Canyon] is the land of music. The river thunders in a perpetual roar, swelling in floors of music when the storm gods play upon the rocks and fading away in soft and low murmurs when the infinite blue of heaven is unveiled. With the melody of the great tide rising and falling, swelling and vanishing forever, other melodies are heard in the gorges of the lateral canyons, while the waters plunge in the rapids among the rocks or leap in great cataracts."

-"The Most Sublime Spectacle on Earth" by John Wesley Powell

In this passage, the varied sounds heard in the Grand Canyon come from...

• rock slides

• the tide of the ocean

• musical concerts

• the river

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

"[The Grand Canyon] is the land of music. The river thunders in a perpetual roar, swelling in floors of music when the storm gods play upon the rocks and fading away in soft and low murmurs when the infinite blue of heaven is unveiled. With the melody of the great tide rising and falling, swelling and vanishing forever, other melodies are heard in the gorges of the lateral canyons, while the waters plunge in the rapids among the rocks or leap in great cataracts."

-"The Most Sublime Spectacle on Earth" by John Wesley Powell

Which of the following best describes the sounds heard during stormy weather in the Grand Canyon?

• a babbling brook

• thunder

• howling animals

• crashing rocks

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

"[The Grand Canyon] is the land of music. The river thunders in a perpetual roar, swelling in floors of music when the storm gods play upon the rocks and fading away in soft and low murmurs when the infinite blue of heaven is unveiled. With the melody of the great tide rising and falling, swelling and vanishing forever, other melodies are heard in the gorges of the lateral canyons, while the waters plunge in the rapids among the rocks or leap in great cataracts."

-"The Most Sublime Spectacle on Earth" by John Wesley Powell

In this passage, the Grand Canyon--

• overflows with sounds that are produced by the river

• is peaceful and quiet

• never changes

• is filled with magnificent shapes and vivid colors

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

"[The Grand Canyon] is the land of music. The river thunders in a perpetual roar, swelling in floors of music when the storm gods play upon the rocks and fading away in soft and low murmurs when the infinite blue of heaven is unveiled. With the melody of the great tide rising and falling, swelling and vanishing forever, other melodies are heard in the gorges of the lateral canyons, while the waters plunge in the rapids among the rocks or leap in great cataracts."

-"The Most Sublime Spectacle on Earth" by John Wesley Powell

Based on the passage, which of the following is most likely true of the river in the Grand Canyon?

• it has no waterfalls

• the river dries up to a trickle during the summer

• no fish live in the river

• streams join the river as it passes through the canyon

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RI.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

"[The Grand Canyon] is the land of music. The river thunders in a perpetual roar, swelling in floors of music when the storm gods play upon the rocks and fading away in soft and low murmurs when the infinite blue of heaven is unveiled. With the melody of the great tide rising and falling, swelling and vanishing forever, other melodies are heard in the gorges of the lateral canyons, while the waters plunge in the rapids among the rocks or leap in great cataracts."

-"The Most Sublime Spectacle on Earth" by John Wesley Powell

Why does the writer refer to the Grand Canyon as "the land of music"?

• he compares the sunsets of the canyon to symphonies of color

• the Grand Canyon is the site of a famous music festival

• The sounds of moving water, both from the river and from storms, echo off the canyon walls

• the sights and sounds of the canyon have inspired him to write a symphony

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

"[The Grand Canyon] is the land of music. The river thunders in a perpetual roar, swelling in floors of music when the storm gods play upon the rocks and fading away in soft and low murmurs when the infinite blue of heaven is unveiled. With the melody of the great tide rising and falling, swelling and vanishing forever, other melodies are heard in the gorges of the lateral canyons, while the waters plunge in the rapids among the rocks or leap in great cataracts."

-"The Most Sublime Spectacle on Earth" by John Wesley Powell

What is the "great tide" mentioned in this passage?

• the rise and fall of the ocean

• news from the outside world

• rushing water

• the pull of the moon's gravity

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

"[The Grand Canyon] is the land of music. The river thunders in a perpetual roar, swelling in floors of music when the storm gods play upon the rocks and fading away in soft and low murmurs when the infinite blue of heaven is unveiled. With the melody of the great tide rising and falling, swelling and vanishing forever, other melodies are heard in the gorges of the lateral canyons, while the waters plunge in the rapids among the rocks or leap in great cataracts."

-"The Most Sublime Spectacle on Earth" by John Wesley Powell

What is the best description of the tone of this passage?

• fearful

• awestruck

• bored

• surprised

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

"[The Grand Canyon] is the land of music. The river thunders in a perpetual roar, swelling in floors of music when the storm gods play upon the rocks and fading away in soft and low murmurs when the infinite blue of heaven is unveiled. With the melody of the great tide rising and falling, swelling and vanishing forever, other melodies are heard in the gorges of the lateral canyons, while the waters plunge in the rapids among the rocks or leap in great cataracts."

-"The Most Sublime Spectacle on Earth" by John Wesley Powell

Based on the passage, what is the most likely meaning of the word "sublime" from the title?

• jaded and tedious

• ordinary

• impressing the mind with a sense of grandeur or power

• to improve or refine

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

"[The Grand Canyon] is the land of music. The river thunders in a perpetual roar, swelling in floors of music when the storm gods play upon the rocks and fading away in soft and low murmurs when the infinite blue of heaven is unveiled. With the melody of the great tide rising and falling, swelling and vanishing forever, other melodies are heard in the gorges of the lateral canyons, while the waters plunge in the rapids among the rocks or leap in great cataracts."

-"The Most Sublime Spectacle on Earth" by John Wesley Powell

What main literary technique does the author use in this passage?

• metaphor

• imagery

• personification

• imagery and metaphor

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

"[The Grand Canyon] is the land of music. The river thunders in a perpetual roar, swelling in floors of music when the storm gods play upon the rocks and fading away in soft and low murmurs when the infinite blue of heaven is unveiled. With the melody of the great tide rising and falling, swelling and vanishing forever, other melodies are heard in the gorges of the lateral canyons, while the waters plunge in the rapids among the rocks or leap in great cataracts."

-"The Most Sublime Spectacle on Earth" by John Wesley Powell

Based on its use in the passage, "lateral" most likely means

• transparent

• coming from or related to the side

• to flow

• coming from or related to above

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4