Creating A National Capital

Based on the passage, the reader can infer that it was not easy to select a capital city. Read the following excerpt from the passage. Then click on the sentence that BEST supports this inference.

• The capital city of a country is called the national capital

• It is the seat of a country's government and where the president or head of state lives

• When the United States declared its independence from the British in 1776, the young country did not yet have a capital city

• In fact, it took almost 15 years for Americans to decide which city would be their national capital.

Read the following sentences from the passage.

But many people did not agree with the way he wanted to use land in the area, and they protested against L'Enfant's plan. Therefore, while some of his ideas were used, others were rejected.What is the meaning of the word "rejected" as it is used above?

• taken away

• saved

• not accepted

• rewarded

Imagine that, while researching the topic of this passage, you find another passage about the same topic. Read the following excerpt from this other passage.

Capital District

After the Revolutionary War ended in 1783, Americans expected their new government to establish a national capital, but Congress discovered that achieving that goal was difficult for several reasons. First, Americans disagreed about the choice of location. Northerners thought the capital should be in the North, and Southerners thought it should be in the South. Second, the residents of various cities clamored for their city to be chosen as the national capital. But Congressmen knew that they would be charged with favoritism no matter which city they chose. To end the bickering, Congress decided to create an entirely new capital city that was not located in any state. Thus, when Congress approved the United States Constitution in 1787, it included language to establish the nation's capital on federal land. President George Washington urged Congress to create that federal land from a chunk of land taken from Maryland, a Northern state, and from Virginia, a Southern state. Congress agreed to the compromise and appointed President Washington to oversee the building of the capital. 

How are the similarities and differences between Creating a National Capital and Capital District related to each author's point of view?

• The author of Creating a National Capital thinks that establishing the national capital would never have happened without the help of President George Washington, but the author of Capital District does not.

• Both authors recognize the great contribution that Pierre L'Enfant made to the planning of the national capital.

• The author of Capital District thinks that Americans made a mistake when choosing the location of the national capital, but the author of Creating a National Capital does not.

• Both authors think that selecting a location for the capital of the United States was a difficult process.

In this passage, the author concludes that by the 1880s, the District of Columbia started to look like a great capital. Consider whether or not the author's conclusion is logical and select the option below that provides the BEST evidence to support your reasoning.

• The author's conclusion is logical because the passage states, "When he and his wife, Abigail, moved into the White House in 1800, the plaster was still damp, and many of the rooms were cold and drafty."

• The author's conclusion is logical because the passage states that by the 1880s, "Large parks were built throughout the city, and streetlights could be seen glittering in the night."

• The author's conclusion is NOT logical because the passage states, "L'Enfant wanted a splendid city with grand streets and wide boulevards."

• The author's conclusion is NOT logical because the passage states, "Many of the politicians moving to the District of Columbia around 1800 had to put up with unfinished streets and uncomfortable living spaces."

Imagine you are having a discussion about this passage with your friend, Ruby. Ruby said, "Creating a national capital was not a simple task." Which question would be the BEST question to ask to connect to Ruby's statement?

• Which states are next to the national capital?

• When was the national capital founded?

• How long did it take to build the national capital?

• Who was the first president to live in the national capital?

Imagine you are writing an opinion essay in which you say that President and Mrs. Adams should have waited to move into the White House until it was finished. Which TWO details below would be appropriate to include in your essay?

• The White House was cold and drafty.

• The rooms were so small that laundry had to be hung in the President's unfinished office.

• Construction began on the White House in 1792.

• It took a long time to decide where the national capital would be built.

• Today's White House has 132 rooms and 35 bathrooms.

Which source would be most appropriate for locating information related to the topic of this passage?

• a current map of Washington, D.C.

• a historical fiction novel about the life of Abigail Adams

• an encyclopedia entry about the original White House

• a travel brochure advertising Washington, D.C.

Study the dictionary entry below.

volume (VOL-yoom) n. 1. a book that is part of a set  2. the amount of space an object takes up  3. a large amount  4. the degree of loudness of a sound

Now read the following sentence. I turned up the volume on my CD player and relaxed.

Which definition of "volume" is used in this sentence?

• definition 1

• definition 2

• definition 3

• definition 4

Read the following sentence.

Cammie's idea to paint our school pink and purple was a bit over the top.What is the meaning of the idiom "over the top" as it is used in this sentence?

• too high

• dangerous

• extreme

• out of sight

Imagine that you want to write a report about the importance of sleep. Read each detail and the source in which it was found. Then select the choice that would provide the BEST information about the topic of your report.

• A lack of sleep can negatively affect your health. -- a pamphlet written by a doctor about the benefits of sleep

• A new mattress will help you sleep better. -- an advertisement for a mattress store

• Make sure to get enough sleep before the big test tomorrow. -- a quote from your math teacher the day before your test

• Studies show that the average number of hours a person sleeps per night has declined in the last 50 years. -- an article written about people's sleeping habits.