Q2 DCA Review

Read the excerpt from "An Elephant’s ‘Aha!’ Moment.”

To probe how elephants solve problems, the researcher and his colleagues tested Kandula and two other National Zoo elephants—Kandula’s mother, 33, and a 61-year-old elephant neighbor—in a series of experiments.

As used in the excerpt, probe most nearly means 

• adjust

• challenge

• examine

• train

Which details provide the best evidence for the answer to Part A?

• These elephants usually live in tropical forests…

• …they regularly solve problems in their lives.

• …whether the animals complete tasks by trial and error, by watching other animals or by quickly realizing the solution on their own…

• The only way to know was to present an elephant with a problem and watch.

Read the excerpt from “An Elephant’s ‘Aha!’ Moment.” 

These elephants usually live in tropical forests, and Foerder told Science News that they regularly solve problems in their lives. The challenge for scientists was distinguishing whether the animals complete tasks by trial and error, by watching other animals or by quickly realizing the solution on their own (insight). The only way to know was to present an elephant with a problem and watch.

As used in the excerpt, distinguishing most nearly means

• 
  defending.

• determining.

• changing.

• adjusting.

Which choice best summarizes the passage?

• Kandula is unlike other elephants since his brain uniquely resembles a human brain.

• he scientists who studied Kandula's behavior used questionable methods that produced unreliable results.

• Thorough observations of elephant behavior have proven that elephants are smarter than most other animals. 

• Results from a series of experiments suggest that elephant brain processes may be different from what scientists originally thought.

Which option best describes how Buck responds to the challenges he faces at the camp?

• He goes into the tent and gets help from Perrault and Francois

• He learns to take care of himself and get the rest he needs.

• He is able to get along and share with the other dogs.

• He figures out how to impress Francois and Perrault.

In the excerpt from The Call of the Wild, which theme most directly relates to Buck’s situation?

• the value of family

• the power of nature

• the loss of innocence

• the importance of sacrifice

Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to Part A? 

• He lay down on the snow and attempted to sleep, but the frost soon drove him shivering to his feet.

• A whiff of warm air ascended to his nostrils, and there, curled up under the snow in a snug ball, lay Billee.

• The day had been long and arduous, and he slept soundly and comfortably, though he growled and barked and wrestled with bad dreams.

• Ere he landed on his feet, he saw the white camp spread out before him and knew where he was and remembered all that had passed.

Read the excerpt from The Call of the Wild.

But a friendly little yelp reassured him, and he went back to investigate. A whiff of warm air ascended to his nostrils, and there, curled up under the snow in a snug ball, lay Billee. He whined placatingly, squirmed and wriggled to show his good will and intentions, and even ventured, as a bribe for peace, to lick Buck's face with his warm wet tongue.

As used in the excerpt, which definition most closely matches the word placatingly?

• in a way meant to annoy

• in a way that tends to be awkward

• 
  in a way meant to soothe

• in a way marked with exhaustion

Read the excerpt from The Call of the Wild.

Then where could they possibly be? With drooping tail and shivering body, very forlorn indeed, he aimlessly circled the tent.

As used in the excerpt, forlorn most nearly means 

• lonely

• pleased

• hopeful

• excited

In context, which version of sentence 1 (reproduced below) is the best version of a topic sentence for the passage?

The story of Ali and Zahra, a brother and sister living in Iran, is called Children of Heaven.

• 
  NO CHANGE

• The film The Children of Heaven is a wonderful story.

• The film The Children of Heaven tells the story of Ali and Zahra, a brother and sister living in Iran.

• The film The Children of Heaven has characters named Ali and Zahra.