Common Core Passages Week 16

The School Project

“That looks terrible,” said Lena as she grabbed her brother’s school project.

“Thanks for the boost of confidence,” said Anthony sarcastically.

“Look at it. It is so sloppy. The lines are crooked. You are a great artist, so I am just shocked,” said Lena.

“I did not feel like doing the school project. That’s all,” said Anthony.

“We all feel like that at times. Just fix it,” said Lena.

Afterschool Tutoring

I am tired of this, thought Kayli as she finished her last math problem. She was tired of doing the math work, so she scribbled down any answer and did not try to solve the problem.

A few days later, Kayli was called up to the teacher’s desk. “I am putting you in afterschool math tutoring. I thought you were pretty good in math, but the quality of your work has not been what I expected lately,” said Mrs. Dietz.

Kayli frowned. She would miss hanging out with her friends. This was rotten news. She tried to change the teacher’s mind.

What is the theme that both stories teach?

• They both teach the theme that one should usually try his or her best.

• They both teach the theme that one should always try his or her best.

• They both teach the theme that one should always present their argument well.

The School Project

“That looks terrible,” said Lena as she grabbed her brother’s school project.

“Thanks for the boost of confidence,” said Anthony sarcastically.

“Look at it. It is so sloppy. The lines are crooked. You are a great artist, so I am just shocked,” said Lena.

“I did not feel like doing the school project. That’s all,” said Anthony.

“We all feel like that at times. Just fix it,” said Lena.

Afterschool Tutoring

I am tired of this, thought Kayli as she finished her last math problem. She was tired of doing the math work, so she scribbled down any answer and did not try to solve the problem.

A few days later, Kayli was called up to the teacher’s desk. “I am putting you in afterschool math tutoring. I thought you were pretty good in math, but the quality of your work has not been what I expected lately,” said Mrs. Dietz.

Kayli frowned. She would miss hanging out with her friends. This was rotten news. She tried to change the teacher’s mind.

How did they teach this theme?

• In both stories they did the work over.

• In both stories they tried to convince the other person they were right.

• In both stories they did not do their best.

Afterschool Tutoring

I am tired of this, thought Kayli as she finished her last math problem. She was tired of doing the math work, so she scribbled down any answer and did not try to solve the problem.

A few days later, Kayli was called up to the teacher’s desk. “I am putting you in afterschool math tutoring. I thought you were pretty good in math, but the quality of your work has not been what I expected lately,” said Mrs. Dietz.

Kayli frowned. She would miss hanging out with her friends. This was rotten news. She tried to change the teacher’s mind.

Why did Kayli rush through her work?

• She did not feel like doing her work.

• She wanted to play with her friends.

• She didn't like math.

April’s Best Friend

April watched her best friend Denise laugh and joke with the new girl, Tara, as they walked down the

hallway. Hey, that’s my best friend, thought April.

Later that evening, April called Denise. “That new girl Tara looks like a trouble maker. Do you see the way she looks at people?” asked April.

“Tara is actually a great person. I want to invite you over to hang out with us,” replied Denise.

What character trait best describes April?

• jealous

• rebellious

• frustrated

April’s Best Friend

April watched her best friend Denise laugh and joke with the new girl, Tara, as they walked down the

hallway. Hey, that’s my best friend, thought April.

Later that evening, April called Denise. “That new girl Tara looks like a trouble maker. Do you see the way she looks at people?” asked April.

“Tara is actually a great person. I want to invite you over to hang out with us,” replied Denise.

April is concerned about Tara because-

• She thinks that Tara is mean.

• She has been too busy to hang out.

• She thinks Tara is taking away her best friend.

Becoming Invisible

“Will I actually become invisible?” Tyler pointed at the box that sat on the shelf of the store as he asked the question.

The clerk leaned in closer and looked keenly at Tyler. “Yes, it works,” he said hesitantly. “But, it’s not for sale.”

“It has a price on the box. I really want to buy it,” said Tyler.

The store clerk reached onto the shelf and lowered the box of invisible powder onto the sales counter. His words were slow and deliberate. “I’m not responsible for anything that happens,” the store clerk said. “You have to make sure to follow the directions exactly the way they are on the box.”

Tyler ignored the words of the store clerk and rubbed his pointer finger over the images on the box. Then he grabbed a ten dollar bill from his pocket and handed it over to the clerk.

As the clerk placed the box of powder into the bag, he gave one last reminder to Tyler. “Follow all of the directions.”

A reader can predict that Tyler will most likely-

• lose the box of invisible powder

• not follow the directions on the box

• make too many things invisible

Becoming Invisible

“Will I actually become invisible?” Tyler pointed at the box that sat on the shelf of the store as he asked the question.

The clerk leaned in closer and looked keenly at Tyler. “Yes, it works,” he said hesitantly. “But, it’s not for sale.”

“It has a price on the box. I really want to buy it,” said Tyler.

The store clerk reached onto the shelf and lowered the box of invisible powder onto the sales counter. His words were slow and deliberate. “I’m not responsible for anything that happens,” the store clerk said. “You have to make sure to follow the directions exactly the way they are on the box.”

Tyler ignored the words of the store clerk and rubbed his pointer finger over the images on the box. Then he grabbed a ten dollar bill from his pocket and handed it over to the clerk.

As the clerk placed the box of powder into the bag, he gave one last reminder to Tyler. “Follow all of the directions.”

What details helped you answer question 1?

• He didn't listen to the store clerk and he was excited.

• He ran out of the store in a hurry.

• He was invisible at the end.

Becoming Invisible

The Insult

"Stay away from him, he smells like old cheese!" I yelled out to the other kids at recess. The young boy whom I was teasing collapsed on the ground right then and there and cried. At once I wasn't sure what to do. I didn't mean for him to cry. I just wanted to tease him a little and make everyone laugh. When people laugh they are happy with me and don’t ignore me. Now they are looking at me in a way I didn't want them to look.

Based on the information in the scene, the reader can

determine-

• the narrator is a funny person

• the narrator is looking for attention in the wrong way

• the narrator is usually a mean person

Becoming Invisible

The Insult

"Stay away from him, he smells like old cheese!" I yelled out to the other kids at recess. The young boy whom I was teasing collapsed on the ground right then and there and cried. At once I wasn't sure what to do. I didn't mean for him to cry. I just wanted to tease him a little and make everyone laugh. When people laugh they are happy with me and don’t ignore me. Now they are looking at me in a way I didn't want them to look.

What is the theme of this text?

• Always be honest.

• Don't seek revenge.

• Don't hurt others to make yourself feel better.

The Dare

I was running. The faster I could get away the better off I would be. It was an accident, but I was sure that no one would believe me if I said that. So I ran. It all started when Chris dared me to go to the school at night and take a picture of our classroom. That was easy. It was getting out again that caused me a problem. The doors automatically locked at night, and I didn't have a way out. So I tried to open a window and slide out that way. But when I landed on the ground under the window there was a cracking sound. I had broken something, a light I think. I knew I would be in trouble if I stayed ,so I ran home as fast as I could. I just hope that no one notices the broken light under the window tomorrow.

The Bicycle

“Chicken! Bock, bock, bock!” yelled Gabe as she circled around Terence flapping his arms wildly like a chicken.

“I know. He is probably scared like a baby,” added Carlos as he looked at Terence.

Terence knew that stealing the bicycle was wrong, but he hated it when his friends Gabe and Carlos called him names.

Just as the boys attempted to grab the bicycle that was on the sidewalk outside of the store, a clerk ran outside and yelled at the boys.

“You boys are in big trouble now! I saw everything. Police!

Police!” the store clerk yelled as he flagged down a police officer.

What is the character in “The Dare” most worried about?

• finishing the dare

• someone teasing him

• getting caught for breaking into the school