Para Prep ELA

EXCERPT FROM MAYA ANGELOU'S MEMOIR

Until I was thirteen and left Arkansas for good, the store was my favorite place to be. Alone and empty in the mornings, it looked like an unopened present from a stranger. Opening the front doors was pulling the ribbon off the unexpected gift. The light would come in softly (we faced north), easing itself over the shelves of mackerel, salmon, tobacco, thread.

In the passage, Angelou is primarily concerned with

• outlining her chores in the store

• describing the items most often sold in the store

• discussing her perception of the store

• explaining why she left Arkansas

Throughout the world, there are places where the wind piles sand into strange hills and ridges called dunes. Interestingly, some dunes can be heard as well as seen. Dunes may squeak, roar, sing, or boom when disturbed. The sand a particular sand dune makes is determined by the way sand is distributed.

Scientists who have studied the sand grains from dunes under special microscopes, found that the grains must be highly polished, perfectly smooth round balls in order to produce sounds. The grains must be dry and are usually especially small. Dunes that make noise are usually composed mostly of quartz sand.

The type of sound made by a sand dune is determined by the

• temperature of the air

• way the sand is arranged

• amount of wind around the dune

• weight of the sand

Throughout the world, there are places where the wind piles sand into strange hills and ridges called dunes. Interestingly, some dunes can be heard as well as seen. Dunes may squeak, roar, sing, or boom when disturbed. The sand a particular sand dune makes is determined by the way sand is distributed.

Scientists who have studied the sand grains from dunes under special microscopes, found that the grains must be highly polished, perfectly smooth round balls in order to produce sounds. The grains must be dry and are usually especially small. Dunes that make noise are usually composed mostly of quartz sand.

In order to produce sounds, sand grains must be all of the following EXCEPT

• round

• polished

• large

• dry

Throughout the world, there are places where the wind piles sand into strange hills and ridges called dunes. Interestingly, some dunes can be heard as well as seen. Dunes may squeak, roar, sing, or boom when disturbed. The sand a particular sand dune makes is determined by the way sand is distributed.

Scientists who have studied the sand grains from dunes under special microscopes, found that the grains must be highly polished, perfectly smooth round balls in order to produce sounds. The grains must be dry and are usually especially small. Dunes that make noise are usually composed mostly of quartz sand.

In the context of the passage "smooth" most nearly means

• even

• easy

• bland

• agreeable

Many pet owners find that their pets are waiting at the door when the owners arrive home. Researchers have offered a number of theories to account for the pets' behavior. One is that the pets may be responding to events coinciding with their owners' arrival (their owners may always arrive at home shortly after the mail is delivered). Another possibilities is that the pets are responding to sensory cues that elude us (the pet may recognize the unique sound of the owner's car when the car is some distance away).

Which statement best describes the organization of the passage as a whole?

• A phenomenon is described and then two examples of it are provided.

• A phenomenon is described and then two possible explanations for it are presented.

• A theory is proposed and then shown to be incorrect.

• A problem is presented and then two solutions for it are provided.

The novelist Zane Grey was one of the early writers of the type of novel called the western. Today, however, modern historians dismiss Grey's romanticized description of the early American West. They point out that the Old West was actually a place of pointless violence and willful destruction of natural resources. And yet, Grey's fiction about the Old West continues to exert a powerful hold on the American imagination.

This passage suggest that modern historians find that Grey's books

• focus too much on the pointless violence of the Old West

• inaccurately portray life in the Old West

• contain imaginative descriptions of the Old West that readers enjoy today.

• realistically portray the loss of natural resources in the Old West

Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906) found against slavery until it was abolished in the mid 1860's. The Anthony expanded her goal to improving the status of all American women. She spent the second half of her life devoted to that cause. Anthony spoke around the country for a woman's right to own property and to vote in state and national elections. She should be considered the most influential figure in women's struggle for the right to vote and run for public office.

Which sentence is an expression of opinion rather than a statement of fact?

• Susan B. Anthony . . . the mid 1860's.

• She spent . . . that cause.

• Anthony spoke . . . national elections.

• She should . . . public office.

People have long known that food spoils at warm temperatures but not at cold temperatures. In fact, in 1626 an English scientist, Sir Francis Bacon, successfully preserved a chicken by stuffing it with snow. But the reason food spoils was not understood until after 1683, when the microscope was invented. For the first time scientist could see tiny living creatures--bacteria and molds-- that we call microbes. Some microbes are helpful, but others are harmful. Most are killed by very hot temperatures, multiply rapidly in warm temperatures, and do not multiply much in cold temperatures.

The paraprofessional ask the students why the author mentions Sir Francis Bacon. Which response from the students is most accurate?

• To explain why food spoiled at warm temperatures.

• To indicate when microbes, such as bacteria and molds, were first discovered.

• To provide an example of the kinds of food that were eaten in England in the 1600's

• To support the claim that people had long known that food does not spoil at cold temperatures.

People have long known that food spoils at warm temperatures but not at cold temperatures. In fact, in 1626 an English scientist, Sir Francis Bacon, successfully preserved a chicken by stuffing it with snow. But the reason food spoils was not understood until after 1683, when the microscope was invented. For the first time scientist could see tiny living creatures--bacteria and molds-- that we call microbes. Some microbes are helpful, but others are harmful. Most are killed by very hot temperatures, multiply rapidly in warm temperatures, and do not multiply much in cold temperatures.

What question could the paraprofessional ask the students that would help them understand why food spoils at warm temperatures?

• How do people benefit from helpful microbes?

• What happens to bacteria and molds at different temperatures?

• Why are some foods cooked and others eaten raw?

• When did people first know that food could be preserved at cold temperatures?

People have long known that food spoils at warm temperatures but not at cold temperatures. In fact, in 1626 an English scientist, Sir Francis Bacon, successfully preserved a chicken by stuffing it with snow. But the reason food spoils was not understood until after 1683, when the microscope was invented. For the first time scientist could see tiny living creatures--bacteria and molds-- that we call microbes. Some microbes are helpful, but others are harmful. Most are killed by very hot temperatures, multiply rapidly in warm temperatures, and do not multiply much in cold temperatures.

A paraprofessional is working with a student who is having trouble understanding the word "microbes". What would be the most effective strategy the paraprofessional could use to help the student understand those words?

• Have the student research the time period during which the microscope was invented.

• Encourage the student to sound out the word and practice spelling it out loud.

• Ask the student what purpose the phrase "tiny living creatures" serves in the passage.

• Suggest that the student reread the first sentence to find clues about the meaning of the word.