Main Ideas: Social Studies and Science

Question 1 refers to the following passage.

Citizens of the United States, it is clear, have

a great many rights that give them freedoms all peoples hold dear: the freedom to think whatthey like; to voice those opinions, individually to their elected representatives or collectively in small or large assemblies; to worship as they choose or not to worship at all; to be safe from unreasonable searches of their persons, their homes, or their private papers. However, the theory of democratic government holds that along with these rights come responsibilities: to obey the laws; to pay legally imposed taxes; to serve on juries when called to do so; to be informed about issues and candidates; and to exercise the right to vote that has been won for so many through the toil and

tears of their predecessors.

_"Responsibilities of Citizenship" by Alonzo L. Hamby

The key thought of the passage is...

• Citizens have a great many rights and freedoms.

• Citizens have the freedom to think what they like.

• Citizens have a responsibility to obey the laws.

• Citizens have both rights and

  responsibilities.

Question 2 refers to the following passage.

The Sumerians created the world's earliest civilization in the southern part of what is

now called Iraq around 3000 B.c. They were responsible for important inventions such as large-scale irrigation, the first wheeled vehicles,

and the potter's wheel. They are credited with inventing writing, and with it, history, mathematics, astronomy, and law. Their city-states, such as Ur and Uruk, are considered the first cities. Their

clay tablets contain the world's oldest examples of record keeping and literature.

What is the main idea of this passage?

• Many aspects of modern life first appeared in ancient times.

• The Sumerian civilization began around 3000 B.C.

• The Sumerians created many of the foundations of civilized life.

• History began with the invention of writing by the Sumerians.

In the United States, every person and institution is subject to the rule of law. The legislative branch of our government, Congress, passes laws. The executive branch of the government, which includes the president, carries out the laws. The judicial branch, the courts, applies and interprets the laws. This distribution of responsibilities, knownas

the separation of powers, protects the freedom of Americans.

What is the main idea of this passage?

• Political power in the United States is shared among three branches.

• The separation of powers helps protect the freedom of Americans.

• Political power should not be concentrated in any one person.

• The judicial branch is responsible for justice in the United States.

Charles Lindbergh, piloting the Spirit of S.t Louis, has landed at Le Bourget Field

ni Paris. He has completed the first-ever transatlantic flight. He touched down 3

hours and 30 minutes after taking off from Roosevelt Field on Long Island, New York. Encountering fog and sleet, he had to fly blind part of the way at an altitude of 1,500 feet. At times he flew only 10 feet above the waves. His flight covered a distance of 3,610 miles. Since he was flying solo and his plane had only one engine and no radio, eh had very little room for error. Lindbergh is getting a hero's welcome in Paris.

What is the best title for this passage?

• Lindbergh Completes First Transatlantic

  Flight

• Lindbergh Does It!

• A Three-Hour Flight

• The Dangers of Flying

In 1859, while prospecting in Colorado, George Griffith discovered gold. He called his claim George's Town. The next year, word of his discovery spread and

the valley swarmed with other treasure seekers.But no more gold was found. Instead, other men discovered silver in the nearby mountains a few miles away in a

place that came to be called Silver Plume. For the next decade, George's Town-or Georgetown, as it later came to be known-was the greatest silver producer in the world.

What is the key idea for this passage?

• The origins of the name Georgetown

• In 1859, while prospecting in Colorado, George Griffith discovered gold.

• Though founded on gold, Georgetown became the greatest silver producer in the world.

• Other men discovered silver in the nearby mountains a few miles away in a

  place that came to be called Silver Plume.

Now there is even more of a need for "the green," in light of recent articles warning us of the hazards of chemicals that we, our- selves, introduce into our homes. Each time we bring clothes home from the cleaners, we release those chemicals into the closed-in air of our dwellings. Every cleanser releases its own assortment of fumes. Some of the chemicals are formaldehyde, chlorine, benzene, styrene, etc. Read the labels on many home products, the ingredients aren't even listed! During the winter, when those same windows are shut tight, we breathe in these chemicals causing symptoms much like allergies. In fact, most people probably dismiss the effects of these chemicals simply as a flare up of some allergy or other. The truth is that we are experiencing a syndrome that is called Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Now, what has this got to do with green plants? Everything healthy! Research has been conducted with two types of plants that have actually removed much of these harmful chemicals from the air. The two plants that seem to be the best bet for ridding one's home of such chemicals are ferns and palms. These plants release

moisture as part of photosynthesis and, as they do, pull chemicals

from the air into their leaves. Even NASA has conducted some green-

house experiments for long-term space exploration. Within hours, their plants (palms] had removed almost all traces of formaldehyde in

the room. Both species of plants are ancient, dating back more than a hundred million years. Another trait they share is that they both live long lives, 100 years or more. This we expect from trees, but ferns and palms are plants; plants that can grow to 65 feet in the proper setting! Even their individual leaves live for one to two years [ferns]

and one to nine years [palms]. Perhaps it is their primal qualities that have contributed to their ability to purify their environment.

What is the main idea of the passage?

• Our homes are full of contaminants.

• Our allergies are caused by chemicals found in the home.

• All plants release moisture in the home.

• Certain plants can purify the home of many harmful chemicals.

Now there is even more of a need for "the green," in light of recent articles warning us of the hazards of chemicals that we, our- selves, introduce into our homes. Each time we bring clothes home from the cleaners, we release those chemicals into the closed-in air of our dwellings. Every cleanser releases its own assortment of fumes. Some of the chemicals are formaldehyde, chlorine, benzene, styrene, etc. Read the labels on many home products, the ingredients aren't even listed! During the winter, when those same windows are shut tight, we breathe in these chemicals causing symptoms much like allergies. In fact, most people probably dismiss the effects of these chemicals simply as a flare up of some allergy or other. The truth is that we are experiencing a syndrome that is called Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Now, what has this got to do with green plants? Everything healthy! Research has been conducted with two types of plants that have actually removed much of these harmful chemicals from the air. The two plants that seem to be the best bet for ridding one's home of such chemicals are ferns and palms. These plants release

moisture as part of photosynthesis and, as they do, pull chemicals

from the air into their leaves. Even NASA has conducted some green-

house experiments for long-term space exploration. Within hours, their plants (palms] had removed almost all traces of formaldehyde in

the room. Both species of plants are ancient, dating back more than a hundred million years. Another trait they share is that they both live long lives, 100 years or more. This we expect from trees, but ferns and palms are plants; plants that can grow to 65 feet in the proper setting! Even their individual leaves live for one to two years [ferns]

and one to nine years [palms]. Perhaps it is their primal qualities that have contributed to their ability to purify their environment.

According to the passage, when a few harmful chemicals combine,

they can

• cause us to experience allergies.

• cause a monumental task for homeowners.

• contribute to a syndrome called Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.

• contribute to photosynthesis in plants.

Now there is even more of a need for "the green," in light of recent articles warning us of the hazards of chemicals that we, our- selves, introduce into our homes. Each time we bring clothes home from the cleaners, we release those chemicals into the closed-in air of our dwellings. Every cleanser releases its own assortment of fumes. Some of the chemicals are formaldehyde, chlorine, benzene, styrene, etc. Read the labels on many home products, the ingredients aren't even listed! During the winter, when those same windows are shut tight, we breathe in these chemicals causing symptoms much like allergies. In fact, most people probably dismiss the effects of these chemicals simply as a flare up of some allergy or other. The truth is that we are experiencing a syndrome that is called Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Now, what has this got to do with green plants? Everything healthy! Research has been conducted with two types of plants that have actually removed much of these harmful chemicals from the air. The two plants that seem to be the best bet for ridding one's home of such chemicals are ferns and palms. These plants release

moisture as part of photosynthesis and, as they do, pull chemicals

from the air into their leaves. Even NASA has conducted some green-

house experiments for long-term space exploration. Within hours, their plants (palms] had removed almost all traces of formaldehyde in

the room. Both species of plants are ancient, dating back more than a hundred million years. Another trait they share is that they both live long lives, 100 years or more. This we expect from trees, but ferns and palms are plants; plants that can grow to 65 feet in the proper setting! Even their individual leaves live for one to two years [ferns]

and one to nine years [palms]. Perhaps it is their primal qualities that have contributed to their ability to purify their environment.

The passage infers a relationship between the antiquity of ferns and palms and their ability to...

• live long.

• purify the air.

• grow leaves that live long.

• react successfully in research experiments

Now there is even more of a need for "the green," in light of recent articles warning us of the hazards of chemicals that we, our- selves, introduce into our homes. Each time we bring clothes home from the cleaners, we release those chemicals into the closed-in air of our dwellings. Every cleanser releases its own assortment of fumes. Some of the chemicals are formaldehyde, chlorine, benzene, styrene, etc. Read the labels on many home products, the ingredients aren't even listed! During the winter, when those same windows are shut tight, we breathe in these chemicals causing symptoms much like allergies. In fact, most people probably dismiss the effects of these chemicals simply as a flare up of some allergy or other. The truth is that we are experiencing a syndrome that is called Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Now, what has this got to do with green plants? Everything healthy! Research has been conducted with two types of plants that have actually removed much of these harmful chemicals from the air. The two plants that seem to be the best bet for ridding one's home of such chemicals are ferns and palms. These plants release

moisture as part of photosynthesis and, as they do, pull chemicals

from the air into their leaves. Even NASA has conducted some green-

house experiments for long-term space exploration. Within hours, their plants (palms] had removed almost all traces of formaldehyde in

the room. Both species of plants are ancient, dating back more than a hundred million years. Another trait they share is that they both live long lives, 100 years or more. This we expect from trees, but ferns and palms are plants; plants that can grow to 65 feet in the proper setting! Even their individual leaves live for one to two years [ferns]

and one to nine years [palms]. Perhaps it is their primal qualities that have contributed to their ability to purify their environment.

A good title for this passage is

• Research in the New Millennium.

• Home Dangers.

• Common Houseplants May Purify Your Home

• NASA Experiment Finds the Cure.

Despite their similarities, the pyramids of Egypt and Mesoamerica seem to be unrelated because of distinct differences in the time of

construction as well as their design and function. Historians have discovered that the construction of the pyramids in Egypt and Mesoamerica are separated by over 2,000 years. The Egyptians used only cut stone quarried many miles away from the pyramid sites--a construction method that enabled them to construct sturdy buildings that could withstand the test of time.

On the other hand, the pyramids of Mesoamerica were not built to withstand the ravages of time. Rather, the step pyramids rose in tiers, on the top of which a small temple was erected. Unlike the

Egyptians, they used irregular stones.

Also, they did not share the same basic design function. The

Egyptian pyramids were private tombs meant to separate the pharaoh's remains from the mainstream of society and protect him for

eternity, while the pyramids of Mesoamerica were primarily public temples of ritual and celebration.

The main idea of this passage is best summed up in which statement?

• Pyramids in Egypt and Mesoamerica are similar.

• Egyptians assisted Mesoamerican pyramid builders.

• Pyramids in Egypt and Mesoamerica have distinct differences.

• Scientists do not know who built the pyramids.