Central Idea/Support

It's no surprise that exercise increases energy. The physical challenge prepares your body in a variety of ways. Blood sugar is more quickly converted to fuel, more oxygen is supplied to your cells, and fight-or-flight hormones are released. Instead of leaving you exhausted, exercise energizes. Do it in the morning for an all-day high or later in the afternoon for a pick-me-up.

Which of the following best identifies the central idea of this passage?

• Exercise increases your energy.

• Exercise is easier than it looks.

• Everyone should exercise daily.

• Exercise makes you live longer.

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CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

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CCSS.RL.8.2

Shuttle Endeavour will thunder into orbit this week with an American flag on its right wing. The ship will carry its most international crew ever launched. The spaceship is headed for the International Space Station. Four Americans are on board, along with Russian, Canadian, and Italian astronauts. This multinational crew will be symbolic of those who will work and live on the growing outpost. The station is a joint project of 16 nations on four continents.

This passage is mostly about...

• the American flag on the space shuttle's wing.

• the brand new International Space Station.

• the Russian aboard the American space shuttle.

• the cultural crew aboard the space shuttle.

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CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

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CCSS.RL.8.2

Most people want to think that they are in control of their pets. However, a study by Karen McComb at the University of Sussex found that cat owners are controlled by their cats. Cat owners probably won’t have too much trouble believing this. Cats make a fairly loud noise by mixing a purr with a cry. The sound seems to be less annoying to humans than straight meowing. Using this sound, cats tell humans when they want to eat and when they want the door opened. The purr part of the sound keeps humans from becoming too annoyed, so the cat gets exactly what he or she wants.

Which sentence from the paragraph supports the idea that cats have a smart way of getting what they want? 

• "Most people want to think that they are in control of their pets."
• "The purr part of the sound keeps humans from becoming too annoyed."
• "Cat owners probably won't have too much trouble believing this."
• "Cats make a fairly loud noise by mixing a purr with a cry."

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CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

 In 1972, five men broke into offices of the Democratic Party in Washington, D.C. Members of the media and Congress connected the burglary to members of President Nixon's reelection campaign. Nixon and his staff denied the accusations and committed illegal acts to hide the truth. As the House of Representatives debated impeaching Nixon, he resigned in disgrace rather than face a vote of impeachment. This episode will forever be known as the Watergate scandal; named after the office building that was burglarized.
What is this paragraph mostly about?

• The U.S. Congress
• Impeachment
• The Watergate scandal
• President Nixon

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

Which of the following statements best summarizes the passage?

• The story of the invasion of life is nearly the same everywhere in the world.

• Hawaii's story is unique because of the great distance life had to travel in order to get there.

• The jet stream causes the wind to move away from Asia and blow right over Hawaii.

• Certain species, like Hawaiian crickets, struggle and adapt to survive.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

Which sentence from the article best expresses the central idea?

• "One species every 70,000 years! That's the rate at which plants and animals once colonized the Hawaiian Islands."

• "It took time, but these barren new 'worlds,' risen from the sea and born of fire, finally surrendered to the slow but persistent assault of life."

• Hawaii is the most isolated island group on Earth, yet life did get to Hawaii, and it did so in three ways: by wind, wings, and water.

• "They had to struggle to survive on harsh Hawaii, feeding on organic debris tossed to shore by wind."

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CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

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CCSS.RL.8.2

Which detail best conveys the central idea of paragraph 4?

• Insects and seeds travel on birds that migrate or flee from storms.

• The great frigate bird has an impressive, two-meter wingspan.

• Berry seeds often drop into cracks and crevices and start to root.

• Birds can loosen seeds and snails when they preen their feathers.

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CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

Which detail should NOT be included in a summary of the passage?

• Insects, seeds, and spiders can take alternate means of transport to Hawaii-- such as hitching a ride on a migrating or storm-driven bird.

• Many of Hawaii's plants, spiders, and insects have origins in Asia, thanks to a torrent of thin air called the jet stream.

• Partnered with the wind, surface currents waltz around the world's oceans, carrying with them all sorts of debris.

• One plant whose seeds meet these requirements is the Hala-- one of the world's oldest known flowering plants, dating back to 250 million years ago.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

How does the author introduce the central idea of the passage?

• He helps the reader visualize the Hawaiian islands.

• He describes how life arrived on islands around the world.

• He grabs the reader's attention with shocking facts.

• He tells the story of a bird who carried life to Hawaii on his wings.

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CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

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Another title for this passage could be

• Wind, Wings, and Water

• The Story of Life

• Across the Universe

• Hawaiian Animals

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CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

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CCSS.RL.8.2