Week 11 Beat the Teacher

What is the central idea of the passage?

• Charles Darwin is know for his theory of evolution and natural selection.

• Aristotle and Theophrastus are not as popular as Charles Darwin.

• Darvin went on a voyage on a ship called the Beagle in 1831.

• Darwin noticed similarities and differences between different species.

Answer explanation

The central idea of the question is about identifying the key observation made by Darwin. The correct answer is that Darwin noticed similarities and differences between different species. This is the core concept of his theory of evolution and natural selection, which is not explicitly mentioned in the other options. Therefore, this option best represents the central idea of the passage.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

Read this sentence from the passage,

Throughout all this, Darwin felt keenly interested in the natural world.

What is the meaning of the word keenly in this sentence?

• intensely

• cold

• sharply

• bitter

Answer explanation

In the given sentence, the word 'keenly' is used to describe Darwin's interest in the natural world. Among the provided options, 'intensely' best captures the meaning of 'keenly' in this context, as it indicates a strong and deep interest. The other options, such as 'cold,' 'sharply,' and 'bitter,' do not convey the same level of enthusiasm and engagement that Darwin had for the natural world.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

Based on the details in the passage, you can infer that

• Darwin's father wanted Darwin to be a minister, not a scientist.

• the Beagle cam back to England to pick up important supplies.

• Darwin won awards for the autobiography he wrote.

• the scientist wanted Darwin to be a minister for the Beagle's trip.

Answer explanation

The correct answer is 'Darwin's father wanted Darwin to be a minister, not a scientist.' This is inferred from the question. The other options do not align with the information provided in the question. Therefore, they are incorrect. The question does not provide any information about the Beagle coming back to England for supplies, Darwin winning awards for his autobiography, or a scientist wanting Darwin to be a minister for the Beagle's trip.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.1

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

Read the sentence from the passage.

How often does a scientist become a household name?

What does the author MOST LIKELY mean by the phrase household name?

• a name people give to their houses

• a family's name

• a name people mention at home

• a name for things used at home

Answer explanation

The question asks about the meaning of the phrase 'household name' in the context of a scientist. The correct answer is 'a name people mention at home'. This implies that a scientist becomes a 'household name' when their work is so significant that people frequently discuss it in their homes, indicating widespread recognition and familiarity.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

Which of the following details from the passage BEST supports the idea that Darwin's theory was supported by the observations he made from his trip on the Beagle?

• "Darwin's father was against the voyage, but Darwin's uncle encouraged him to go."

• "Once Darwin returned to England in 1836, he focused on writing his ideas down."

• "At the time, there were different theories about how species develop."

• "Other scientists accused him of taking other people's ideas and simply writing them up in a new book.

Answer explanation

The correct answer is that Darwin focused on writing his ideas down after returning to England in 1836. This statement directly supports the idea that Darwin's theory was supported by the observations he made during his voyage on the Beagle, as it implies that he used these observations to formulate his ideas and theories.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RL.6.2