Analyzing and Evaluating Text

Mrs. Jones opened the door to the classroom just as the bell sounded the change of classes. Time had slipped up on her in the last class, and she wasn’t totally prepared for the next class to start. She still had a few papers scattered on top of her desk, but she decided to clear them as soon as her students settled down to work on the warm- up activity. She checked the roll and made her way to the computer to enter the absent students into the computer. Passing by her desk on the way to her computer, she thought the top of her desk was a bit more disheveled than she remembered, so she sat down to straighten the papers. Under several sheets, she uncovered a slightly addled praying mantis that someone had slipped beneath the papers on their way into the room. “Great!” she thought to herself. “Now I’ll have to watch them every day to see what will turn up next!”

Which of the following is an accurate and appropriate summary?

• Mrs. Jones noticed that the papers on her desk seemed to be more scattered than she had left them. She soon discovered that a student had hidden a praying mantis underneath them.

• When Mrs. Jones found a praying mantis on her desk, she realized that a student had placed it there. She had not been ready for the next class, so the insect was easy to hide beneath disheveled papers on her desk.

• Mrs. Jones wasn’t ready for her next class, so an incoming student was able to hide a praying mantis under the papers on her desk. She realized she would have to watch her students more carefully in the future.

• When the bell ran, Mrs. Jones opened the door for her next class of students. She had not been able to straighten her desk between classes and wasn’t really ready for the next class. She planned on cleaning up the mess once students were busy working at their desks.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

She moved all the papers away from the praying mantis except one sheet. Mrs. Jones then picked up her other materials and began the lesson. For a while, she forgot about the insect on her desk. After handing out the study sheets for the chapter, she walked back to her desk and found the praying mantis on top of the sheet of paper she had left beside it. She slid it gently inside the trash can and hoped that it would not be able to climb the sides of the plastic bag that lined the receptacle. At the end of the day, she would take the trash can containing the insect into the school courtyard so it could escape outside. However, a short time later one of the girls spotted the praying mantis that had assumed its natural praying stance on the rim of the trash can. Mrs. Jones reassured the student that the insect was harmless. She told the class that since they had brought the praying mantis into the room, it would live there, have free rein to go wherever it pleased, and could feed off the silverfish living in the moldy books stored in the back.

Which of the following is an accurate and appropriate summary of the paragraph?

• Mrs. Jones used a single piece of paper to eventually place the praying mantis into the trash can. She planned to release it at the end of the day. The mantis crawled to the rim of the trash can and was spotted by a student. Mrs. Jones told the students that since they were responsible for bringing the insect into the classroom, it would remain there.

• The praying mantis crawled to the rim of the trash can after Mrs. Jones had placed it inside the receptacle. Since the insect was harmless, she decided to allow it to have free reign in the classroom.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

When our school hours changed, starting later in the morning, it was a blessing in disguise. What seemed to be a disaster was really a huge benefit to me. The later starting time also meant a later end time, making me lose my place in the community theater where I have been part of an acting team for two years. When I called the actors’ team leader, she said she was so sorry that this was happening. Then she said that it was time that I moved into the advanced acting team anyway. She said I could start attending that theater practice with those later hours immediately! And I thought this would never happen. Who would have thought that later hours would bring so much good.

Which of the following is an appropriate and accurate explication of this paragraph?

• A.Most people agree that starting school is a good idea.

• At first, starting school later seemed to have negative consequences, but it turned out to be beneficial for me.

• Being promoted to the advanced acting team is something I didn’t think would ever happen.

• School starting later in the morning caused me to lose my place in the community theater.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Although common, the pesky house fly is the most dangerous flying pest in the world. It looks harmless enough, but its habits make it a definite health hazard. The fly is a born scavenger that travels from place to place and spreads germs from the filthy places it frequents. Flies are drawn to trash dumps, pet manure, rotting carcasses, and other equally filthy places. The house fly vomits onto its potential meal fluids that aid in digestion. Then it sucks up its soggy liquid dinner. If the fly lands on your plate, it does the same thing to your food if it stays there long enough, so keeping your home free of them is important to staying healthier.

Which of the following is an appropriate and accurate explication of this paragraph?

• House flies are insects that are attracted to filthy places.

• People should kill house flies that enter their home immediately.

• The unsanitary habits of the common house fly make it a threat to human health.

• House flies vomit a fluid onto their food to predigest it and then suck up their meal.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

A kissing bug sounds like a lovable insect, but it’s anything but cute. In fact, it can be downright deadly. It’s the “kiss” of the bug that can kill or make a person dangerously ill. Like the tick, the kissing bug is a vector, a carrier of disease. This bug “kisses” its victims on the lips or any other exposed surface where it can get blood. It bites when least expected- when a person is asleep and defenseless. It helps itself to a meal, becomes bloated from its victim’s blood, and crawls slowly away. If a person is lucky, that’s all it does. The unlucky can have a severe, life- threatening allergic reaction to a bite, or a person may find out years later that he or she has Chagas Disease that has been dormant in the body since the bite. If left untreated, Chagas Disease, caused by parasitic protozoan left behind by the kissing bug, can lead to death. Fortunately for people living in the United States, kissing bugs, especially ones infected with the dangerous parasite, are not common here. They are, however, commonly found in Central and South America.

Which of the following is an appropriate and accurate explication of this paragraph?

• Ticks and kissing bugs have a lot in common because they are both vectors that crawl around inside people’s homes.

• The bite of a kissing bug can result in serious health problems or even death.

• People who sleep without insect repellent take the chance of being bitten by the kissing bug.

• Although the name “kissing bug” sounds cute, this bug is actually a very ugly insect.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

People did not always have to search high and low for salt. At one time, when the members of early civilizations hunted wild animals and gathered wild plants, salt was in the food naturally. Since salt is an element in the earth, it Is part of the nutrients that plants absorb with ground water.

Which of the following is an appropriate and accurate explication of this paragraph?

• People would not need to look for salt if they ate wild plants and animals.

• Hunting for wild animals and gathering wild plants is a good way for people today to get the salt they need for good health.

• Ground water supplied early civilizations with a steady source of salt.

• People did not have to look for salt when it was a natural part of the food they ate.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

People who say they hate jazz are typically exhibiting a knee jerk reaction. Jazz includes many forms and levels of improvisational twists on its traditional roots, changing with every era. Jazz made its musical debut during the “Roaring Twenties” and has been linked to excessive emotional energy ever since. People love to hate jazz. Its discordant notes, sudden tempo shifts, and lack of traditional rhythm mark it as a cutting-edge sound. However, when exposed to different trends, from soft tones of Soul Jazz and Smooth Jazz to the more frenetic arrangements of Jazz Rap or Nu Jazz, people often find the jazz that speaks to them.

Which of the following is an appropriate and accurate explication of this paragraph?

• Jazz music was created during the 1920s.

• Jazz music stays current by changing its tempo and rhythm.

• People who think they don’t like jazz may actually enjoy some types of jazz

• A.People who hate jazz should give it another chance.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

A friend of mine breeds and raises Yorkies. Although she raises them to sell, she is very particular about the kind of people who buy the dogs. She does a background check on the prospective owners to uncover characteristics of the potential owner that may be unsuitable for this type of dog. For example, because her dogs are so small and too fragile to be handled by young children, she won’t allow people with young children to purchase the dogs.

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

• •A friend of mine breeds and raises Yorkies.

• •My friend carefully screens anyone who wants to buy a Yorkie that she breeds and raises.

• •People with young children should not own Yorkies.

• •Yorkies are small, fragile dogs.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Yorkies have above average intelligence and can generally understand a new command after fifteen repetitions. Having no undercoats, they don’t shed as much as short- haired dogs, so there is less chance of allergies from their dander. Being inquisitive, they prance around checking things out. Since they were bred to kill rats in small places, they show courage and an instinct to protect. Being productive, they are inclined to bark at strangers but may be easily accepting of them. They’re playful and energetic and generally get along with other dogs.

Which of the following is the main idea of the paragraph?

• Yorkies are intelligent dogs that are playful, energetic, and inquisitive.

• Yorkies are easily trained.

• Yorkies have many positive characteristics.

• Yorkies are desirable because they don’t shed as much as most dogs.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Peep loved to go outside, but she couldn’t because of her deformed legs. I hated having to keep her inside because of her deformity, so I decided to find a way for her to go outside. I went to a shopping center and bought a baby stroller and a small square plastic tub. I placed the tub into the seat of the stroller, placed Peep inside the tub, and off we went. I walked around the neighborhood and pushed her in the stroller with her barking excitedly. Everyone thought it was hilarious, but I didn’t care. She was enjoying being outside, and I was enjoying her.

Which of the following correctly states the main idea of this paragraph?

• Peep loved to go outside, but she couldn’t because of her deformed legs.

• I hated having to keep her inside because of her deformity, so I decided to find a way for her to go outside.

• I placed the tub into the seat of the stroller, placed peep inside the tub, and off we went.

• I walked around the neighborhood and pushed her in the stroller with her barking excitedly.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2