RI. 6.6 Author's POV & Purpose

Dog Training

For decades, centuries even, the most common way to train a dog was to punish the dog when it did something wrong. This is known as negative training. Often, a choke chain would be used. If the dog did something wrong, such as jumping up on someone or chasing a squirrel, the dog's trainer would swiftly yank on the chain. The choke chain would then squeeze the dog's throat in an uncomfortable way. Dogs learned that they would be choked if they chased squirrels, so they stopped chasing them. Usually.

Over the past 20 years, there has been a growing movement of positive dog training. In this method, the dog is taught to do the correct thing rather than being taught not to do the incorrect thing. For example, in positive dog training, the dog is not punished for chasing squirrels. Instead, the dog is rewarded, often with a treat, for staying still by the trainer when squirrels are nearby. After a dog has been rewarded enough times for doing something correctly, eventually it continues to do the correct thing even without a reward. Sometimes, the reward is changed to kind words and rubs rather than treats.

There are several benefits to positive dog training. First of all, the person training the dog never has to hurt the dog. Usually, if a person owns a dog, he or she loves dogs and doesn't really like hurting them. Secondly, the dog never has a reason to fear the owner. Fear is what causes dogs to bite people, sometimes for no reason. They are just trying to protect themselves from whatever they fear. If a dog does not fear a person, it has no reason to bite. Overall, this method of training creates a respectful relationship between pet and owner. Rather than one being dominant over the other, both dog and owner are working together. This type of bond can be deeper and more meaningful than any bond built upon hurting and pain.

Based on the passage, what is the author's attitude toward negative dog training?

• The author disagrees with negative dog training because it creates an unhealthy dynamic through punishment.

• The author disagrees with negative dog training because it does not always stop dogs from chasing squirrels.

• The author agrees with negative dog training because it promotes a respectful relationship between dog and owner.

• The author agrees with negative dog training because it has been used in behavioral correction for centuries.

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Healthy Lunches: You Have the Power

When it comes to lunch at school, you have the most control over the foods you eat. You can choose to bring your lunch from home or to buy one at school. When you buy your lunch, you can often choose which foods to place on your tray. When you have options for lunch, making healthy choices is important.

Choosing fruits and vegetables is the perfect start to creating a healthy lunch. You should try to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Therefore, getting a few servings in at lunch will help you meet that goal. You should also try to choose foods that contain whole grains, like wheat bread and brown rice. Also, what you choose to drink can make a difference in how healthy your lunch is. Milk and water are better choices than sugary drinks like juice and soda.

Why not just eat all the foods that you like and not worry about how healthy it is? Making healthy choices now is important because what you eat can affect how you feel. You need a variety of foods to get the energy to stay active in your busy life. You need the vitamins and minerals found in healthy foods to keep your body from getting sick. You have the power to create a healthy meal by making the right choices at lunchtime.

What is the author's main purpose in writing this article?

• to persuade the reader to choose healthy foods at lunchtime

• to warn the reader about the dangers of eating too much food

• to show the reader what it is like to eat lunch at school

• to convince the reader that school lunches are unhealthy

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Ballet

Ballet is one of the most beautiful forms of dance and one of the most difficult dances to learn. One could spend years just perfecting the dance movements. Ballet dancers have to be strong yet graceful in their motions. While some people see ballet as an art form, some think of it as a sport. Ballet dancers must be in excellent physical shape. They need endurance to perform long routines, strength to jump into the air, balance to turn around on their toes, and flexibility to stretch their legs high into the air. Though other sports players get more recognition for their feats, dancers should at least be viewed as highly trained athletes.

Based on the passage, the reader can see that the author

• wants people to appreciate ballet dancers as athletes.

• believes that ballet dancers are inferior to all athletes.

• attends ballet performances often in sports arenas.

• encourages people to dedicate years to learning ballet.

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Volunteering

Volunteering can be a great way to spend your summer vacation. You're not only helping others in your community, but you're also having fun and staying busy. You can participate in a wide variety of volunteering opportunities. You can work at a food pantry or help a local non-profit group. The important thing is to find volunteer work that interests you and find a way to get involved. Volunteering can help you gain experience you will need later in life. It can also be a great way to make new friends. Try volunteering the next time you are out of school!

Which of these best describes the author's attitude toward volunteering?

• uncaring

• encouraging

• bored

• worried

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Passage 1

Skateboarding is a sport just like any other. Many people look at skateboarders as though they were criminals. There is nothing illegal about the sport. However, because there are often not adequate facilities for practicing, skateboarders use public property. Instead of punishing skateboarders, we should work to build skate parks so they can practice safely and legally.

Passage 2

Skateboarders are a nuisance. They have no regard for the law. These people cause problems instead of simply practicing their skills. Skateboarding should be completely banned in the city limits, and the fines for breaking the ban should be larger. This would lower the city's overall crime rate.

How do the authors' attitudes toward skateboarding differ?

• The author of passage 1 approves of skateboarding; the author of passage 2 disapproves of skateboarding.

• The author of passage 1 is angry about skateboarding; the author of passage 2 is amused by skateboarding.

• The author of passage 1 is likes skateboarding; the author of passage 2 does not have an opinion about skateboarding.

• The author of passage 1 is excited about skateboarding; the author of passage 2 is confused by skateboarding.

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Survival Stories Keep the Reader Coming Back for More

by T. Herlinger

There is nothing like a good survival tale, especially one where the hero or heroine has to use cleverness and intelligence to make it through. My favorites as I was growing up were stories like My Side of the Mountain, by Jean Craighead George, about a boy who gets lost in the Catskill Mountains and has to live off the land. When the weeks go by and he hasn't been rescued, the boy even carves out an old tree trunk to use as shelter. I was enthralled by how he learns to use the natural world around him to survive.

The Long Winter, by Laura Ingalls Wilder, is another gripping story of survival. No one who's read the book could possibly forget the part where there's a blizzard and they have to brave sub-zero temperatures and blinding snow in order to feed their animals. Before the storm, the father had strung a rope from the house to the barn, and that's what they use to reach the animals when they can't see a thing in the snow. I was amazed at the characters' ability to make the best with what they had, and to come up with clever solutions to impossible situations like the blizzard.

What is it about these stories that made me read them over and over? I've never been to the Dakotas, where the Wilder book is set, and I've only driven through the Catskills. Yet something about these stories is universal. They are about survival, which everyone can relate to on some level. They are also about ordinary people who find themselves in difficult circumstances. We can all relate to that, too. But what keeps me and countless others coming back to the books is that incredible feeling of joy when the character triumphs over nature and survives in spite of the odds. It always makes me want to stand up and cheer. I find these books to be sources of comfort, as well. They tell me that if I were ever to get into such life-and-death circumstances, I could depend on my own wits and intelligence to get me through.

How does the author share his or her opinion in this selection?

• by giving general information about what takes place in survival stories

• by providing the facts of what happens in two survival stories

• by stating that most people generally love a good survival story

• by telling why he or she enjoyed two particular survival stories

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The Joys of Swimming at an Island Beach

by T. Herlinger

If you ever get the chance to swim at an island beach along the Pacific Coast, I'd highly recommend it. I recently had the opportunity on an island in Washington State, but I very nearly passed it up. There I was, visiting my brother and his kids, hanging out on a sunny, pebbly beach. We all had our swimsuits on, but only my niece Adele and I really wanted to go in the water. We stood a few feet apart, up to our knees in the freezing cold surf and daring each other to go under. Finally, Adele got brave and jumped in. "It's too cold!" she sputtered as she emerged, and she headed straight for the warm beach. I nearly followed her, eager to thaw out my practically numb toes. But I suddenly thought, how will I feel later if I don't go in? I just knew I'd regret it. So I took a deep breath and slipped down into the icy water. Yeow, was it ever cold! But as I splashed around a bit and started to swim, it got a tiny bit more comfortable.

After a few minutes, I got out and warmed up on the sunny beach. "You're crazy," my brother told me, shaking his head, "I would never go in there." I just smiled, my body buzzing happily from the chill of the water. Then I jumped up and went back in! The second time in the water was much better—nowhere near as cold. In fact, I could have stayed in there for days, just floating and paddling around like an otter. I can honestly say, those few minutes in the water made for the most memorable part of my whole trip! I can close my eyes now and easily recall the sun on the back of my head, the other islands floating in the distance, and the bracing water against my skin.

The great thing about island beaches is that they are often sheltered from the wind, as this one was. So the water isn't quite as cold as it is on coastal beaches. There's no chlorine to sting your eyes either, or dry out your skin, just cleansing saltwater. The salt also makes it easier to float, as it makes your body more buoyant. Finally, you get to swim in a natural place, surrounded by a beautiful view. Now how often do you get to do that?

What is the author's purpose in writing this selection?

• to inform the audience about good places to go swimming

• to boast to readers about having braved some very cold water

• to convince readers that island swimming is cold but worth it

• to explain how swimming in salt water is different from fresh water

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The Joys of Swimming at an Island Beach

by T. Herlinger

If you ever get the chance to swim at an island beach along the Pacific Coast, I'd highly recommend it. I recently had the opportunity on an island in Washington State, but I very nearly passed it up. There I was, visiting my brother and his kids, hanging out on a sunny, pebbly beach. We all had our swimsuits on, but only my niece Adele and I really wanted to go in the water. We stood a few feet apart, up to our knees in the freezing cold surf and daring each other to go under. Finally, Adele got brave and jumped in. "It's too cold!" she sputtered as she emerged, and she headed straight for the warm beach. I nearly followed her, eager to thaw out my practically numb toes. But I suddenly thought, how will I feel later if I don't go in? I just knew I'd regret it. So I took a deep breath and slipped down into the icy water. Yeow, was it ever cold! But as I splashed around a bit and started to swim, it got a tiny bit more comfortable.

After a few minutes, I got out and warmed up on the sunny beach. "You're crazy," my brother told me, shaking his head, "I would never go in there." I just smiled, my body buzzing happily from the chill of the water. Then I jumped up and went back in! The second time in the water was much better—nowhere near as cold. In fact, I could have stayed in there for days, just floating and paddling around like an otter. I can honestly say, those few minutes in the water made for the most memorable part of my whole trip! I can close my eyes now and easily recall the sun on the back of my head, the other islands floating in the distance, and the bracing water against my skin.

The great thing about island beaches is that they are often sheltered from the wind, as this one was. So the water isn't quite as cold as it is on coastal beaches. There's no chlorine to sting your eyes either, or dry out your skin, just cleansing saltwater. The salt also makes it easier to float, as it makes your body more buoyant. Finally, you get to swim in a natural place, surrounded by a beautiful view. Now how often do you get to do that?

How does the author share her opinion in this selection?

• by listing known facts about chlorinated pools and saltwater

• by telling a personal story of her swimming experience

• by describing the scenery where the beach was located

• by using dialogue to show a conversation between characters

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Vitamin D is often overlooked as an important component of nutrition. Vitamin D strengthens bones, promotes hair growth, and may even help people with depression. While exposure to sunlight provides us with Vitamin D, not everyone spends time outdoors. Moreover, because Vitamin D is found in fish and dairy foods, people with a vegan diet may not get enough of it. People ought to pay strict attention to the amount of Vitamin D they consume. During the wintertime, when sunlight is at a minimum, it is wise to keep Vitamin D supplements in your home. In this way, you can be sure to stay looking and feeling your best.

Based on the passage, which of these best describes the author's attitude toward Vitamin D?

• indifferent

• curious

• angry

• appreciative

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This year’s parade will consist of antique cars, marching bands, twirlers, and local politicians. Admission is free, though donations are also accepted. Parents are encouraged to bring children. Especially young children and infants may be sensitive to the loud noises. Portable bathrooms will be provided. Multiple refreshment stands will be located on either side of the parade route. The parade is expected to last approximately two hours, rain or shine.

Which of these best describes the author's tone?

• mocking

• persuasive

• anxious

• neutral

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