Midterm Study Guide 2018

Part A: What is the central idea of the entire text? RI 6.2.1

• The fight or flight response is a stress response that can occur during stressful situations and it is important to understand what happens to our bodies in order to handle such circumstances.

• The fight or flight response is a simple body response when we are in dangerous situations.

• It is crucial to know what fight or flight responses are because it helps scientists study mental and physical behaviors.

• Our ancient ancestors had to face many dangers early on and they had to decide whether to fight or flee.

Part B: How does the author convey the central idea? RI 6.2.2/ RI 6.1

• By emphasizing the importance of knowing what to do when you’re taking a jog or giving a presentation at work.

• By showing how people can save their life and the lives of others if they always flee from stressful situations.

• By including examples of what happens during a fight or flight response and how we can handle ourselves during those situations.

• By stating facts about many life threatening situations that children can respond to physically or emotionally.

Read the following summaries of the text. Select the 1 summary that best summarizes the passage. RI 6.2.3

• Have you ever wondered what to do if a large ferocious dog comes at you while you are going for a jog? Well, I have something you should learn: the fight or flight response. This handy dandy reaction is when your body tries to figure out if it is better to stay or leave a dangerous situation. It is very important to learn how to deal with stressful situations so read more about it!

• The fight or flight response is a reaction that happens when you encounter something that is mentally or physically terrifying. Your body prepares itself to either stay and confront the situation or run to safety. Physical signs such as rapid breathing or high blood pressure can clue you in that the fight or flight response in your body as begun. It is important to learn how to deal with stress and danger so you can better prepare yourself in those situations in your daily life. Ultimately, you are the only one who will know how to handle the situation for yourself.

• The fight-or-flight response was first described in the 1920s by American physiologist Walter Cannon. Cannon realized that the body helps itself to mobilize resources to deal with threatening circumstances. Today the fight-or-flight response is recognized as a stress response.

• The fight or flight response is a heavily debated topic that is being studied in psychology. Learning how people cope or combat stress is an interesting topic to study so it can help people in the future who have similar anxieties. The fight or flight response is when your body starts to react mentally and physically to danger that is present. It takes about 20 to 60 minutes before your hormones return to its regular levels again.

Part A Which sentence best supports the key idea that is elaborated in paragraph 5? RI.6.3.3

• The body’s nervous system takes some time to return to normal levels.

• If you begin breathing faster, that means you are going through a fight or flight response.

• Thinking of times when you are stressed can help you understand your body better.

• There are multiple physical signs that indicate that the body is going through a fight or flight response.

Part B How does the author elaborate on the key idea found in paragraph 5? RI.6.1

• By analyzing different ways on how to deal with stress on a daily basis.

• By introducing several situations that a person has to encounter before their body returns back to normal.

• By providing specific examples of what the body could go through when approached with a terrifying situation.

• By explaining how trembling during a morning jog can mean there is danger nearby.

Part A What is one way the author illustrates? RI.6.3.2

• The author gives examples of situations that could cause a fight or flight response.

• The author compares a fight or flight response to various studies in the psychology field.

• The author provides sequenced events that could lead to only mental responses.

• The author states how different the fight or flight response is to superpowers.

Part B. Which sentence best supports the answer to Part A? RI.6.1

• “...realized that the body helps itself to mobilize resources to deal with threatening circumstances.” (paragraph 3)

• “...such as encountering a large growling dog during your morning jog…” (paragraph 5)

• “...you will do something brave and survive the danger.” (paragraph 7)

• “However, some situations are best avoided and so, like with superpowers…” (paragraph 9)

Part A: Reread paragraph 1. What does triggered mean in this context? RI 6.4

• To stop

• To slow down

• To thicken

• To cause

Part B: Which phrase from paragraph 1 best supports the answer to Part A? RI 6.1

• “...also known as…”

• “...either stay and deal…”

• “... a reaction that occurs…”

• “...run away to safety…”

Why are paragraphs 6-9 important to the overall structure of the article? RI 6.5.1

• They compare and contrast fight or flight responses a person may encounter and why it is important to understand those responses when in a stressful situation.

• They list specific situations in sequential order and how to deal with them when encountered.

• They elaborate on solutions that help psychologists study the human mind.

• They illustrate key individuals who have experienced fight or flight responses in the classroom.