Persevering Plants & The Cure for Concrete PAIRED PASSAGE

Use “Persevering Plants” (pp. 11–12) to answer questions 9–13. Then fill

in the answers on your answer document.

9 Which characteristic of the geothermal vents made the survival of nearby plants so

surprising?

• A The depth of the holes

• B The heat they generate

• C The number of them that exist

• D The amount of pressure they release

Use “Persevering Plants” (pp. 11–12) to answer questions 9–13. Then fill

in the answers on your answer document.

10 How do the photograph and caption after paragraph 4 help the reader better understand the

selection?

• F They explain how endophytes work to help plants.

• G They demonstrate the effect endophytes can have on plants.

• H They illustrate what kinds of plants endophytes can help.

• J They show the conditions against which endophytes can protect plants.

Use “Persevering Plants” (pp. 11–12) to answer questions 9–13. Then fill

in the answers on your answer document.

11 How are paragraphs 2 through 4 organized?

• A They compare the plants Rodriguez collected to the endophytes living on the plants.

• B They describe the steps Rodriguez followed while researching plants in his laboratory.

• C They explain the problem Rodriguez was trying to solve based on his observations.

• D They describe the structure of the plants Rodriguez collected from a harsh environment.

Use “Persevering Plants” (pp. 11–12) to answer questions 9–13. Then fill

in the answers on your answer document.

12 What is paragraph 1 mostly about?

• F The unusual conditions in which some plants can survive

• G The occurrence of geothermal vents in several western states

• H The way geothermal vents release pressure in the form of steam

• J The types of plants that microbiologists have observed at a national park

Use “Persevering Plants” (pp. 11–12) to answer questions 9–13. Then fill

in the answers on your answer document.

13 An idea emphasized throughout the selection is that Rodriguez’s endophyte solution —

• A can improve plant life in national parks

• B eliminates the need to water plants regularly

• C will allow farmers to plant crops regardless of the season

• D can restore a plant’s natural resistance to the effects of a harsh climate

Use “The Cure for Concrete” (pp. 13–14) to answer questions 14–18. Then

fill in the answers on your answer document.

14 Which statement best expresses the main idea of paragraph 3?

• F Modern highways and bridges are often constructed with concrete.

• G Concrete was used by ancient Romans to build massive structures.

• H The demand for concrete has doubled in the last decade.

• J Concrete has been and continues to be an important building material.

Use “The Cure for Concrete” (pp. 13–14) to answer questions 14–18. Then

fill in the answers on your answer document.

14 Which statement best expresses the main idea of paragraph 3?

• F Modern highways and bridges are often constructed with concrete.

• G Concrete was used by ancient Romans to build massive structures.

• H The demand for concrete has doubled in the last decade.

• J Concrete has been and continues to be an important building material.

Use “The Cure for Concrete” (pp. 13–14) to answer questions 14–18. Then

fill in the answers on your answer document.

15 The information in paragraph 6 helps the reader understand that bioconcrete —

• A works best in areas affected by harsh weather conditions

• B is effective in repairing water damage

• C has a maximum weight that it can support

• D is limited to use in certain parts of the world

Use “The Cure for Concrete” (pp. 13–14) to answer questions 14–18. Then

fill in the answers on your answer document.

16 How does the author organize paragraph 1?

• F By listing types of bacteria and then telling how they help fight diseases in the

  human body

• G By defining bacteria and then explaining how bacteria are used in some products

• H By stating a popular belief about bacteria and then disproving it with examples

• J By comparing good and bad bacteria and then describing how bacteria work

Use “The Cure for Concrete” (pp. 13–14) to answer questions 14–18. Then

fill in the answers on your answer document.

17 What is the best summary of the article?

• A Concrete is a popular material, but it can develop cracks over time. Microbiologist Hendrik

  Jonkers believes that adding bacteria to concrete can help remedy this problem and

  provide savings for the construction industry.

• B Hendrik Jonkers, a Dutch microbiologist, noticed that concrete cracks over time. He

  decided to add bacteria to concrete to make a substance called bioconcrete. The bacteria

  are placed inside plastic capsules that are mixed into wet concrete.

• C A Dutch microbiologist named Hendrik Jonkers became interested in investigating how

  bacteria might be applied to concrete to fill cracks in concrete caused by water. He

  developed a self-healing bioconcrete that works to make concrete more durable.

• D Microbiologist Hendrik Jonkers wondered if concrete could repair itself in the same way

  that human bones do. He developed bioconcrete, which was used to build a lifeguard

  station near a lake in the Netherlands and repair an irrigation system in Ecuador.