Semester 1 ELA Review

What is the central idea of the passage?

Millions of acres of tropical rainforest have been destroyed. Many animals and people lose their homes when the rain forest is cut down. Today, people are destroying the forests so quickly that the animals are unable to adapt. Many of these animals, such as the leopard, need miles and miles of untouched rain forest in order to live. Furthermore, as more of the rainforest is destroyed, the risk of air pollution and loss of oxygen increases.

• Leopards are losing their homes

• The destruction of the rain forest is harming humans and animals.

• The destruction of the rain forest is an interesting subject

• Forests provide oxygen for humans and animals

What is the central idea of the passage?

Thomas Edison’s life span is known as “The age of Edison.” If it wasn’t for Thomas Edison, we might not have electric lights, telephones, movie cameras, or computers! Think of all the ways these great products affect our lives today. Edison held over 1,000 patents and received dozens of awards during his lifetime for his inventions and contributions to science.

• The light bulb was an important invention

• Thomas Edison was an important inventor

• Thomas Edison was an excellent student

• Creating inventions is a difficult process

What is the central idea of the passage?

In 1969, Apollo 11’s successful landing on the moon was seen on TV all around the world. At last, men had walked on the moon for the first time ever! Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin became famous American heroes. This mission was a great achievement for the U.S. space program, and led to six more Apollo flights in the years to come. The mission's success also led to further deep space explorations by the United States and other countries around the world.

• Apollo 11’s landing was an important moment in history

• Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin are heroes

• People were surprised about Apollo 11's success

• Millions watched the Apollo 11 moon landing

What is the central idea of the passage?

In training to be a knight, a person was expected to study hard and learn good manners. They were taught to play musical instruments, sing, and recite poetry. They also studied reading, writing, geometry, and strategy games. Another knight would then teach the person to shoot a bow and arrow, fight with a sword, and ride a horse. To say the least, knights had a well-rounded education.

• Knights learned a variety of subjects while training

• Knights were very talented individuals

• Knights were very hard working

• Sword fighting was the most important subject a knight learned

What is the central idea of the passage?

Before the Industrial Revolution, most cloth was hand-made in people’s homes. They used spinning wheels and weaving looms to make their own clothes. This took a lot of time and hard work! But during the Industrial Revolution, machines were built that made great quantities of cloth very quickly. Before long, machines were built to make other products, such as paper and even cars! This saved people much time and energy.

• The Industrial Revolution allowed goods to be made faster and easier

• Cloth was difficult to make before machines

• The Industrial Revolution helped the world prosper

• Spinning wheels were used to make cloth before machines

The lost campers sweltered in the heat of the desert sun.

• ate

• burned

• slept

• sunbathed

Congress put a tariff on overseas goods so the price would not be lower than domestic products.

• stamp

• prohibition

• ad

• tax

The scared rock climber balanced precariously on the edge of the cliff.

• gracefully

• lazily

• dangerously

• hopefully

We often travel to New England in the autumn to see the bright colors of the fall foliage.

• hurricane

• plays

• snow

• leaves

Each student was allotted two tickets to the dance.

• allowed

• joyful

• taken

• fed