ELA Unit 2

4^th Grade English

Unit 2 Informational Overload

Pre/Post Assessment

Selected Response Items:

Directions: Read story and answer the questions that follow.

There's No Place Like Home

You Can Clean Up Your Community

Pollution. That word might make you think of black oil floating atop ocean water. You might think of gray exhaust pouring from factories. Or you might picture chemicals being sprayed on crops. But other forms of pollution threaten your well-being too.

Consider your "personal environment"— say, a 10-mile-wide circle around your home. What disturbs your enjoyment of those surroundings?

Cut Down the Noise

Noise is the number-one complaint of U.S. citizens. Noise stands ahead of crime, litter, and traffic, according to a U.S. Census Bureau survey. Does the noise of leaf blowers bother you? Do construction sounds ruin your day? Unpleasant human-made sounds are noise pollution, which comes from many sources.

Photos.com

photos.com- Noise pollution is a growing problem.

Loud noise can damage hearing. Even low-level noise can disturb sleep and give you headaches. It can cause blood pressure to rise. Noise can ruin digestion and make you feel anxious, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

The Council on the Environment of New York City offers these tips to cut noise:

· Turn it down! Keep music and television volume low.

· Help keep your pets quiet.

· Encourage your family and friends to use quieter vehicles and appliances.

Turn Down the Light

The attack on your senses isn’t limited to hearing. Light pollution is a problem too. Artificial light comes from sources such as streetlights and offices. Light trespass happens when unwanted light enters someone’s property. Sky glow occurs when light shines upward. It reflects off moisture and dust in the atmosphere. The result is a haze that makes it hard to see stars in the night sky.

Some researchers say artificial light disturbs sleep cycles. That can make it harder for the body to fight diseases. Stray light can cause insomnia—an inability to sleep. And that can cause daytime problems. People who don’t sleep are often crabby. They can have a hard time concentrating.

The International Dark-Sky Association offers the following advice.

· Ask yourself, "How much light do I need?" Use lighting only when you need it, and use the right amount of light for the task.

· Use timers to control lighting and save energy.

· Inside and outside your home, check that light is directed downward, where it is effective.

Clear the Line of Vision

Visual pollution refers to sights that people find ugly. They can include outdoor advertising, power lines, and cellular towers. Surveys have shown that most people object to billboard advertisements.

Visual pollution can lead to stress. Researchers at Texas A&M University studied two groups. The first group traveled on roads lined with signs and strip malls. The second group followed less-developed routes. Members of the first group showed higher stress. They had higher blood pressure and heart and breathing rates.

Some experts say that billboards distract drivers and cause accidents. That is especially true when the billboards use light and motion.

How can you rid your neighborhood of billboards, graffiti, and other pollution? Find strength in numbers.

· Join or start a volunteer group that carries out projects such as graffiti and litter cleanup.

· Look for ways to adopt areas to clean and clear. Many places have Adopt-a-Park or Adopt-a-Street programs.

· Attend city council and other local meetings. Become informed about issues such as billboard advertising and cell-phone towers in your community.

· Organize a letter-writing or e-mail campaign. Or start a Web site to publicize issues.

The final suggestions apply to all kinds of pollution problems. Remember, you can bring power to your cause by organizing your efforts. Complaining only goes so far. But with some help from others, you can really clean up!

A Success Story

Teens Against Graffiti (TAG) is a volunteer group in Santa Clarita, Calif. Members are working to wipe out graffiti from their community. School and church groups and individuals get together on the third Saturday of every month. They clean graffiti from road signs, bus benches, alleyways, and other places around town. The TAG teens say they "take pride in their community and … make a positive difference in the quality of life in Santa Clarita."

Copyright © 2016 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Question 10 ELAGSE4W1

In your opinion, which type of pollution (noise, visual, or light) causes people the biggest problem? Be sure to support your opinion with evidence from the text.

Question 9 ELAGSE4RI5

Different types of pollution are discussed in “There’s No Place Like Home.” How did the author structure this passage? Be sure to include one example from the text to support your answer.

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.5

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

Question 8 ELAGSE4RI1

Based on the information in the text, what can you infer about the author’s opinion on making your environment better?

A. There is nothing you can do about the different types of pollution.

B. Only adults can help make the environment better.

C. There are many things everyone can do to improve their surroundings.

D. Complaining is a good way to make pollution go away.

• A. There is nothing you can do about the different types of pollution.

• B. Only adults can help make the environment better.

• C. There are many things everyone can do to improve their surroundings

• D. Complaining is a good way to make pollution go away.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.6

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Question 7 ELAGSE4RI5

The author states that “noise is the number one complaint of U.S. citizens.” What is one way to help reduce noise?

A. You can clean graffiti from road signs, bus benches, and other places around town.

B. You can complain to your friends, family, and neighbors.

C. You can use lighting only when you need it.

D. You can encourage your family and friends to use quieter vehicles and appliances.

• A. You can clean graffiti from road signs, bus benches, and other places around town.

• B. You can complain to your friends, family, and neighbors.

• C. You can use lighting only when you need it.

• D. You can encourage your family and friends to use quieter vehicles and appliances.

Question 6 ELAGSE4L2

Choose the answer that best completes the sentence.

You might think crime, litter, and traffic are the biggest complaints of U.S. citizens, __________ noise is their number-one complaint.

A. yet

B. since

C. therefore

D. as a result

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1G

CCSS.L.3.1H

CCSS.L.5.1A

CCSS.L.5.1E

Question 5 ELAGSE4RI1

Read these sentences from the text.

“Loud noise can damage hearing. Even low-level noise can disturb sleep and give you headaches.”

Based on this evidence, what conclusion can be made?

A. Noise can cause your blood pressure to rise.

B. Noise doesn't have to be loud to have an effect on you.

C. Noise can ruin digestion and make you feel anxious.

D. Noise doesn't matter when you're sleeping.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

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Question 4 ELAGSE4RI1

Based on the information in the text, what can you infer about different forms of pollution?

A. Different forms of pollution may affect people in different ways.

B. Pollution is the same everywhere you go.

C. Pollution adds to your enjoyment of your surroundings.

D. All forms of pollution attack your sense of hearing.

• A. Different forms of pollution may affect people in different ways.

• B. Pollution is the same everywhere you go.

• C. Pollution adds to your enjoyment of your surroundings

• D. All forms of pollution attack your sense of hearing.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RF.4.4C

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Question 3 ELAGSE4RI2

What is the main idea of this text?

A. Researchers at Texas A&M University studied the effects of visual pollution on stress.

B. Your "personal environment" is a 10-mile-wide circle around your home.

C. There are many forms of pollution as well as many ways to cut down on pollution.

D. Teens Against Graffiti (TAG) is a volunteer group in California working to wipe out graffiti.

• A. Researchers at Texas A&M University studied the effects of visual pollution on stress

• B. Your "personal environment" is a 10-mile-wide circle around your home.

• C. There are many forms of pollution as well as many ways to cut down on pollution.

• D. Teens Against Graffiti (TAG) is a volunteer group in California working to wipe out graffiti.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RI.3.2

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Question 2 ELAGSE4RI1

What is visual pollution? Describe one negative effect visual pollution has on people. Support your answer with evidence from the text.

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.9

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Question 1 ELAGSE4RI1

What is noise pollution?

A. gray exhaust pouring from factories

B. unpleasant human-made sounds

C. black oil floating on top of ocean water

D. chemicals being sprayed on crops

• A. gray exhaust pouring from factories

• B. unpleasant human-made sounds

• C. black oil floating on top of ocean water

• D. chemicals being sprayed on crops

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.5

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5