Excerpt from Fly for Your Life/Excerpt from River of Dreams

1. Paragraphs 1 through 4 reveal that Alan is

• discouraged after several of his ideas fail

• overwhelmed and dismayed by his environment

• adventurous and enjoying the current challenge

• focused even in a life and death situation

2. In paragraph 4, what is the effect of the simile "with tools as brittle as glass"?

• It affects the plot by explaining that the tools were hard to see.

• It creates suspense by showing that the tools were missing some pieces.

• It adds to the setting by suggesting that the tools were reflecting the light off the snow.

• It increases danger by emphasizing that the tools were breakable in the cold.

3. Why does Alan use the compressed nitrogen?

• the nitrogen's energy will propel him toward the base before he runs out of air.

• the nitrogen is used for emergencies when astronauts become stranded.

• the nitrogen will stay liquid in the atmosphere.

• the nitrogen's cable can be cut and it will continue to work.

4. What quotation best reveals Alan's character?

• "As Alan glided toward the base, he flapped more often, watching the height-above-surface and distance-to-target displays."

• "He could see details on the surface more clearly now, because he was flying so low.'

• "Alan forced himself to stay calm. Panic would mean disaster."

• "His descent rate began to slow, but the muscles in his arms burned with pain."

5. In paragraph 9, "appendages" refers to something that

• calms a person

• is attached

• slows things down

• is lightweight

6. The main way the point of view affects the story is by making it

• formal

• lighthearted

• humorous

• suspenseful

7. Which sentence would be most important to include in a summary of the story?

• A cable connects space suits to a power source for spacewalks

• The power from the nitrogen blast allows Alan to travel farther and faster.

• Alan soars away from his target during part of his flight.

• The weather on Titan is cold and hazy.

8. As used in paragraph 2, what does the phrase "fading into the background" mean?

• disappearing from view

• losing its importance in people's minds

• moving farther and farther from the city

• remaining important only to those who value nature

9. Which claim from the article is least supported?

• "New York didn't seem to need the river anymore, except as a sewer. And that's what it became."

• "Industry on the river had made some New Yorkers filthy rich."

• "But it had just made the river filthy."

• "But now there were other dreamers in the valley, with their own dreams of wealth."

10. What is the role of paragraph 7 in the organization of the article?

• It compares the two groups of dreamers.

• It concludes the part of the article about industry.

• It introduces the part of the article about activists.

• It transitions to the part of the article where change occurs.