NeSA 7 ELA Part 1

1. Read the paragraph from a student’s draft of a report.

Athletes at the university were not always known as the Cornhuskers, however. Their original nickname was the Old Gold Knights. Then the school adopted scarlet and cream as its colors. Through the 1899 football season, the athletes were known as the Bug eaters. This was an appropriate nickname in an agricultural region where bull bats were a blessing to farmers and a menace to crop devouring insects. Still, the Cornhuskers did not emerge for another decade. Finally, at the turn of the century and after one less-than-glorious season, the university felt that a new image was overdue. The Cornhuskers came to stay.

Which sentence BEST begins the paragraph?

• A. The University of Nebraska has a proud and honored tradition in collegiate athletics.

• B. Some of the most exciting careers begin on practice fields at the University of Nebraska.

• C. The University of Nebraska may have one of the most recognized nicknames in college sports.

• D. It should be no surprise that the University of Nebraska offers advanced studies in agriculture.

2. A student is writing a paragraph describing an event. She is looking for more precise words to use.

Read the paragraph.

Raindrops drummed on the roof as Mia finished getting ready for school. Just as the news meteorologist had predicted, Mia’s morning commute would be interrupted by a downpour. She peeked out the window and surveyed her neighborhood. She watched as water splashed off the hoods of cars and puddles transformed into small rivers in the street. Mia was dreading the walk to the bus stop, but she needed to arrive to school on time. So Mia zipped up her jacket and grabbed her umbrella. Then, she went out the door and sprinted the three blocks to the bus stop.

Select two words that could replace went to make the paragraph more precise. Select two.

• A. coasted

• B. darted

• C. moved

• D. rushed

• E. sauntered

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3. A student is writing a research report about spiders. The student found a source. Read the source and

select one claim that the author makes that is NOT supported by credible evidence.

 

Spider silk, spun into beautiful webs to trap insects for food, is fascinating. This silk features several unique qualities. According to the National Nature Project, spider silk is stronger than steel, by weight, and yet it is more elastic than a rubber band. Scientists study spider silk because they hope to create materials with similar properties. Researchers at Utah State University are attempting to create synthetic spider silk for uses such as replacements for plastics and stronger airbags in cars. According to a man who makes online videos about current events, though, synthetic spider silk will probably take another twenty years to develop.

• A. Spider silk, spun into beautiful webs to trap insects for food, is fascinating.

• B. This silk features several unique qualities.

• C. According to the National Nature Project, spider silk is stronger than steel, by weight, and yet it

  is more elastic than a rubber band.

• D. Scientists study spider silk because they hope to create materials with similar properties.

• F. According to a man who makes online videos about current events, though, synthetic spider silk

  will probably take another twenty years to develop.

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4. Which evidence from “Adventurous Storyteller” BEST supports the idea that London was very determined to be a writer?

• A. London wrote stories about working people and the hard times they had making a living.

• B. His goal was to write at least one thousand words every day. He refused to stop even when he was sick.

• C. He was the best-selling and highest paid author of his day. Many people also considered him to be the best writer.

• D. Readers can enjoy Jack London’s energy and his talent for telling wonderful stories each time they open one of his novels.

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5A. This question has two parts. Answer part A, and then answer part B.

Part A

Read the sentence from “Adventurous Storyteller.”

“He once said, ‘I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.’”

 

What does the sentence mean?

• A. London preferred to live a life of excitement instead of a plain, safe one.

• B. London preferred to write fantasy stories instead of realistic, believable ones.

• C. London preferred to have a life of fame instead of a simple, normal one.

• D. London preferred to think about faraway places instead of nearby, familiar ones.

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5B. Part B

Select two details from the passage that support the answer in part A.

Select two.

• A. London grew up near the waterfront.

• B. London spent many hours reading at a library in Oakland, California.

• C. London left Berkeley because he wanted a livelier lifestyle.

• D. London worked in a wide variety of jobs, from a sailor to a gold prospector.

• E. London published many books and hundreds of articles.

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6. Which idea from “Adventurous Storyteller” is supported by the timeline?

• A. London educated himself before becoming a writer.

• B. London’s writing career developed after his gold rush experience.

• C. London was an American writer of adventure tales throughout his entire life.

• D. London’s famous stories were written about his time in Alaska.

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7. What is the author’s main purpose in “Adventurous Storyteller”?

• A. to describe the early life experiences of Jack London

• B. to describe the process of becoming a published writer

• C. to inform about the different job options of a time period

• D. to inform about how Jack London became a famous writer

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8. Read the sentence from The Call of the Wild.

“He was friendly, in a treacherous sort of way, smiling into one’s face the while he meditated some underhand trick, as, for instance, when he stole from Buck’s food at the first meal. . . .”

 

Which word is a synonym for treacherous?

• A. confusing

• B. deceiving

• C. persuasive

• D. dangerous

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9. Select two sentences that should be removed from a summary of The Call of the Wild. Select two.

• B. Buck is one dog that is led away from the owner he knows and placed on a ship heading north with new owners.

• C. Buck is a strong dog with a furry coat.

• D. Buck is not emotionally attached to his new owners, but he does grow to respect them.

• E. He also develops the same feeling for the other dogs on the ship.

• F. Curly is a Newfoundland and Perrault is a French-Canadian.

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