ELA-8.PowerCheck.RI.5-Roughing It

Which paragraph introduces the idea that the author is proud of his travels?

• paragraph 1

• paragraph 2

• paragraph 3

• paragraph 4

Read the sentence below from paragraph 1.

And now we entered upon one of the species of deserts that is so hideous that it could be compared to the horrors of the Sahara—an 'alkali' desert.

How does this sentence best contribute to the meaning of the paragraph?

• It highlights the time needed by the crew to travel from Salt Lake City.

• It uses vivid language and a comparison to describe the desert landscape.

• It compares and contrasts the Sahara Desert with other familiar deserts in the region.

• It emphasizes the reasons why the group decided to leave the abandoned military camp.

Which two quotes best demonstrate the overall structure of the text as a travel narrative?

• “At eight in the morning we reached the remnant and ruin of what had been the important military station of 'Camp Floyd,' some forty-five or fifty miles from Salt Lake City.” (paragraph 1)

• "We plowed and dragged and groped along, the whole live-long night, and at the end of this uncomfortable twelve hours, we finished the forty-five mile part of the desert and got to the stage station, where the imported water was." (paragraph 2)

• "This enthusiasm, this stern thirst for adventure, wilted under the sultry August sun and did not last above one hour." (paragraph 3)

• "The poetry was all in the anticipation; there was none in the reality." (paragraph 3)

• "The occasional sneeze of a resting mule grated harshly on the grim stillness and made one feel more lonesome and forsaken than before." (paragraph 4)

Why does the author include paragraph 4?

• to record a detailed account of a specific location

• to elaborate on the harshness he previously described

• to convince the reader to avoid traveling through the desert

• to communicate about the feelings of discouragement within the group

How does the author introduce the harsh daytime desert crossing in paragraph 3?

• by detailing the specific geography of the desert they were crossing

• by explaining the slow nature of traveling by coach through a desert

• by highlighting the pleasant experience of crossing the desert at night

• by illustrating the appearance of the terrain during both day and night 

Which two text structures are utilized in the passage?

• chronological order

• description

• problem and solution

• procedural order

• sequential order

How do both the diction and structure contribute to the passage?

• They contribute to the passage being read as a travel diary.

• They contribute to the passage being read as a regretful essay.

• They contribute to the passage being read as a persuasive speech.

• They contribute to the passage being read as a letter of remembrance.