Conclusions and Inferences

Thomas Jefferson was born in western Goochland County, Virginia. In 1760 he entered the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. He later studied law and was reasonably successful as a lawyer, but his main source of income came from farming his land. In 1767 Jefferson began work on his mountaintop estate, Monticello, near what is now Charlottesville, Virginia. He designed the mansion himself.

Which of the following can the reader infer from the passage above?

• Jefferson was a man with many experiences

• Thomas Jefferson was born in Western Goochland County, VA

• Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Indepencence

• Jefferson was the third president of the United States

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CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RL.6.2

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CCSS.RL.8.1

A dog was out walking one day carrying along his favorite bone in his mouth. He was trotting happily along when he came to a bridge. As he crossed the bridge, he looked over the side at the river that flowed below. When he looked closer, he saw a second dog looking up at him. He noticed that the second dog had a much bigger bone than he did!

The first dog became anxious. He decided that he wanted the bigger bone for himself. He crouched closely to the water and placed his mouth near the edge of the river. He was getting himself ready to snatch the bigger bone from the second dog's mouth. The first dog opened his mouth to bark, which caused his bone to fall with a splash as it fell into the river.

The first dog sat there puzzled. The big bone had disappeared. Both he and the second dog looked upon each other sadly.

adapted from "The Dog and Its Reflection" by Aesop

Which of the following can be concluded from the passage?

• The dog loses his bone because of greed.

• The dog will never again want a bone.

• The dog will be more careful in the future.

• The dog does not cross the bridge often.

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CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.1

The city of Dallas, Texas, passed a curfew this year restricting the movement of minors during the day. Because people under the age of 18 are supposed to be in school during the day, the curfew is meant to affect primarily children who choose to skip school or those who decide to drop out. The chief of police explained, "The idea of the curfew came up after large jumps in the rates of theft and vandalism during the day."

Several groups in the community were in favor of the measure. Others believe it is a mistake. Brenely Watson spoke on behalf of a group of concerned citizens. She said, "The police department has no proof that minors are responsible for the increased crime. Perhaps someone should look in a mirror if they really need someone to blame." Mrs. Watson has a 15-year-old son who has perfect attendance at school.

The city council voted in favor of the curfew. It is now law. The mayor praised the police department before and after the vote. "The chief needs us to do everything in our power to help the brave men and women of the police department," he said. "Stopping crime depends on more people than just those wearing badges."

Which of these statements is supported by the article?

• The mayor does not believe that the police are capable of solving the crime problem.

• The mayor believes the police are able to take care of the crime problem alone.

• The mayor does not believe that the crime problem is caused by the city's minors.

• The mayor believes the entire community needs to help with the crime problem.

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CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.6.1

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CCSS.RL.7.1

Cy Young

And here's the pitch. Steee-rike three! You're out!

Fans of the Cleveland Spiders from 1890 to 1901 heard that cry often when their talented pitcher, the great Cy Young, was on the mound. Young pitched his first professional game on August 6, 1890, leading his team to a win against the Chicago White Sox. That was the beginning of a great baseball career.

He was the first major league pitcher to pitch a perfect game, allowing no batter to reach first base. Over the course of his 22-year career, Young won 511 games—a major league record—and averaged about 23 victories a season. After his time with the Spiders, Young played with the Boston Red Sox. Then, he played with the Boston Braves and finally with the Cleveland Indians. His record put him into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937.

Cy wasn't his real name. He was born Denton True Young in Gilmore, Ohio, on March 29, 1867. He earned his nickname when a bystander observed that he could throw the ball with the force of a cyclone. He was known as Cy from that moment on. Young retired from baseball in 1911.

Young's sport is played by people of all ages. Before professional athletes became interested in the sport and started playing, it was played by children and amateurs. Since Cy Young's time, baseball has been known as "the national pastime." Today, millions of people throughout the world attend baseball games at state-of-the-art ballparks. Broadcasts of baseball games are watched on millions of televisions for every game.

adapted from http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/jb/progress/cy_1

Which idea from the article shows that Cy Young was a strong pitcher?

• His nickname Cy stood for cyclone

• He was born in Ohio in March 1867

• His real name was Denton True Young

• He played in Cleveland for 11 years.

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CCSS.RL.7.2

Astronauts Living in Space

by Becky Bray and Patrick Meyer

Astronauts living in space do many of the same things they would do on Earth. They eat, sleep, work, wash, and have fun, just as we do on land.

The astronauts are prepared to meet the challenges of living in space. They must have a college degree in engineering and must complete at least 1500 hours of instructional flying time. They must graduate from a school for jet pilots.

They also must meet stiff requirements and undergo difficult training before they are approved for a space trip. Training in jet aircraft and simulated spacecraft prepares them to cope with the effects of weightlessness. In addition, they must be in excellent physical condition when they enter the spacecraft, and they must maintain their health during the flight.

Astronauts have to be careful when eating in the space shuttle because their food can float away. Sticky foods are the best, and crumbly food isn't sent to space. Many foods have the water removed, so they weigh less and take up less room. Before eating, the astronauts add water and squish the food and water around in a plastic bag so that it is not too dry to eat. Astronauts can add hot water for hot food, but there is no refrigerator on the shuttle, so no cold drinks.

Astronauts agree that sleeping in the shuttle is an adventure, too. Some astronauts like to float free in the shuttle to sleep, gently bouncing off a wall once in a while. Other astronauts sleep better if they are zipped into a sleeping bag. They say it feels more like sleeping in a bed on Earth. There's even a little pillow that they can fasten to their heads with a strap.

Staying clean is harder in space, too. There is no shower or bathtub on the shuttle, so astronauts have to take sponge baths. They can brush their teeth the regular way but have to be careful that toothpaste globs don't drift away.

One of the most important things astronauts must do every day in space is exercise. Without gravity, the human body starts to lose muscle and bone tissue. To keep their bodies strong, astronauts exercise using a treadmill or rowing machine.

In spite of the many similarities between living on Earth and living on the space shuttle, space is still a hostile environment for human beings. We still have much to learn about how to make our astronauts comfortable in space.

According to the selection, which statement about living in space is true?

• Astronauts have to learn different ways to do simple tasks

• Living in space is exactly like living at home on Earth.

• Astronauts do not have time to sleep when on the shuttle.

• Living in space is easier for women than it is for men.

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CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

The Flu

The flu is mainly a respiratory disease. That means it affects the lungs and airways. The virus is inhaled and comes in contact with the cells of the upper air passages. It gets into the cells that line these passages and multiplies within them. New flu viruses are then released from the infected cells and infect the other cells. The flu may spread deep within the lungs. The virus may also be carried away in air and infect other people.

Researchers and doctors try to prevent the spread of the flu through vaccinations. Most flu vaccines consist of killed flu viruses. These vaccines offer some protection but are not as effective as scientists would like them to be. During the 1970s, new kinds of vaccines were developed and became available in some parts of the world. Scientists believe such vaccines may offer better protection than killed virus vaccines do. Other methods are also being tested to produce better vaccines. In addition to vaccines, other drugs can be used to treat or prevent certain types of flu.

Most of the deaths associated with the flu are caused by infections. When the body is fighting the flu, it is not strong enough to fight the other diseases the body comes in contact with. Doctors try to control these infections with antibiotics and other drugs. If a patient gets another infection, it can affect other areas of the body like the heart, stomach, and muscles.

The reader can conclude that the flu

• can lead to serious health problems.

• helps people fight other infections.

• is spread by the killed flu vaccines.

• is only found in the United States.

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CCSS.RI.8.1

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The Discovery of Penicillin

For the longest time, people have been terrified of infection. Before the mid-twentieth century, doctors would have to cut off the part of the body that became infected. Many patients lost their limbs this way, and even more died from the surgery. People tried to use herbal treatments to cure infection, but this was ineffective. Then, Louis Pasteur discovered that germs would not grow on a certain bread mould. Pasteur’s discovery led to the study of antibiotics.

For many years, scientists tried to find out why germs would not grow on moulds. This process was perfected when Sir Alexander Fleming made a breakthrough in 1928. His discovery was completely by accident. Fleming was known for being untidy. He had left a dish of bacteria out on a table overnight, and it became contaminated with a fungus. Fleming found that this fungus produced a substance he called penicillin. He then just needed to find a way to get the drug to the public.

Fleming worked hard for years to make his drug available to large numbers of people. The earliest form of the drug was a powder. The idea was to sprinkle the powder on the wound to treat infection. This did not work often because the drug did not get deep enough into a wound, and the patient would become infected.

About fifteen years later, two American companies discovered methods to make the drug on a large scale. They began selling penicillin to the public. Soon, everyone was recovering from bacterial infections, especially the type in wounds. This was good news, too. Nations around the globe had just become involved in World War II.

Which of the following can the reader infer from this article?

• There can only be one way to treat a bacterial infection.

• After World War II, research on penicillin came to an end.

• Research takes time and much effort from many poeple.

• Millions of people every year come down with infection.

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CCSS.RI.6.5

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CCSS.RI.9-10.5

Jonah is from Chicago. One day, his parents decided to take a family vacation in the West. His mother wanted to visit her brother Jim whom she hadn't seen in a long time. Uncle Jim and Aunt Sally lived in Los Angeles. While there, they planned to see the ocean. Jonah was very excited because he had never been to California—or to the ocean! California is nearly 3,000 miles away from Chicago, but his parents wanted to drive.

The family prepared for their trip and packed the car. Suitcases, blankets, snacks, and books were tossed into the trunk. Jonah brought his headphones so he could listen to the music he liked. No classical music for him! Once they were on the road, he closed his eyes and dreamed about the ocean. Jonah could hear the waves washing up on the shore. He could smell the salt air and feel the cool breeze on his neck.

They drove for several days before they arrived in Los Angeles. Jonah's aunt was glad to see them, and she greeted Jonah with a big hug. The families had lunch together, but all Jonah could think about was the ocean. Finally, his uncle Jim turned to him and asked, "How would you like to see the ocean, Jonah?" Jonah responded with a shout, which made his uncle smile.

Jonah's uncle drove them to Ocean Beach and parked the car. When Jonah stepped out, he heard the crashing of the waves. The smell of the ocean filled his head, and the breeze brushed across his body. It was all just as he had imagined.

What is the most likely reason the family drives to California?

• to see the countryside

• to take a long drive

• to stop at interesting places

• to visit Jonah's relatives

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CCSS.RI.7.1

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Smoke and Fire

The door opened on a scene that looked like a disaster film. The air was billowing with dark clouds of smoke. I could barely make out the shapes of my neighbors as they emerged from their apartments in pajamas and slippers. Everyone seemed frozen in time as the shock washed over them. I spotted a next-door neighbor running by.

"Where is it?" I yelled, trying to make my high voice heard over the fire alarm. "Where's the fire?"

He just shook his head and pushed past me. Everyone on the floor had the same slightly wild look that man had.

I forced myself to think logically. The tenth story was too far up for fire-fighting equipment to reach, and there were no exterior fire escapes—no way to get down without going through the building itself. The amount of smoke made it clear that there was fire—a big fire—somewhere in the building. Fire goes up, I thought. If the fire was below us, it would reach us soon. If it was above us, we were in less danger. Either way, staying on the tenth floor made no sense.

All of this registered in about six-tenths of a second. A family from down the hall came out of their apartment and rushed past me, yelling to each other. They dashed through the doors that led to the elevator.

"No!" I yelled, when I saw where they were going. "Not there! Take the stairs!" I wondered how they could push the elevator button every single day without noticing the signs that said, "In case of fire, do not use elevator. Take the stairs." I had a sudden image of what it would be like to be trapped in an elevator during a fire, choking on smoke and helplessly waiting for the flames.

adapted from Expecting Adam by Martha Beck

What can the reader conclude about the narrator?

• She does not like her neighbors.

• She is afraid of riding elevators.

• She thinks clearly under pressure.

• She knows the fire fighters.

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CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

Even in a city as large and industrialized as Kansas City, beautiful nature can be found and enjoyed. Parks and nature preserves are located all over the city. Sometimes, it can be hard to find them unless you know where to begin looking. A good place to start is the Parks Department Web site. On it, you will find the locations of these and other great parks.

For the nature lover, hiking trails are very important. Trails can be smooth sidewalks through manicured parks or rough dirt tracks through wilderness areas. Kansas City has both and everything in between. Whether you are a young, avid hiker or a senior citizen looking for a leisurely stroll, you will find something.

Shawnee Mission Park is one of Kansas City’s most popular parks. This 1,250 acre park is one of the most visited parks in the state. It has beautiful hiking trails for people of all ages and abilities. Native wildlife is everywhere! Also, Shawnee Mission Park has a sparkling lake and camp grounds. For the dog lovers, Shawnee Mission Park has one of the largest off-leash dog parks in the city!

A short drive outside of Kansas City will take you to Fleming Park, the largest park in the area. Fleming Park is a popular destination for bird watchers and is the home of the Burroughs Audubon Library. The park also contains two lakes, campgrounds, and hundreds of miles of trails. Don’t forget your bathing suit and your wildlife guide!

In the city, it is easy to forget that we are animals and that we live with nature. Get out to one of these great parks to remember those facts. If you do not have access to a car, check the Parks Department Web site and look for something in your area or just off of the public transportation routes. It is worth your time.

The reader can infer that the writer probably began researching this article

• by talking to the citizens of Kansas City

• at the Kansas City public library

• on the Parks Department Web site

• by driving around searching for parks

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