Research Report Plan

A student has made a plan for research. Read the plan and the directions that follow. Research Report Plan Topic: the origins of geological formations Audience: instructor and classmates in science class Purpose: to inform Research Question: How do underground caves form? The student needs to find a credible or trustworthy source with relevant information. Which of these is the MOST USEFUL source for the information needed to answer the research question?

• an encyclopedia of earth science from the school library that has a section titled "Limestone Cave Formation"

• a dictionary from the school library that has the meanings of the words "geological" and "formations"

• www.geosee.com/mcycavvideo

• www.geopedia.com/geology

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Choose the two best sentences to add at the beginning of the paragraph to provide an introduction on the topic of how telephones have changed over time.

When people made calls on old–fashioned rotary phones, they actually had to dial each number on the face of the device.  The caller then spoke into a receiver that was attached by a cord to the base of the phone.  This type of phone had another cord that had to be plugged into the wall.  Because of these two cords, callers could not move too far away from the phone.  They also were not able to easily perform other tasks while talking.

The invention of the cordless phone allowed people to move around the house or office while having a conversation.  The speaker option also freed them to do other tasks while on the phone, such as cooking dinner or folding laundry.  They still could not go too far away—they had to stay close enough to the base to keep from losing the connection.

Then the cell phone was developed, and everything changed.  The cell phone is smaller, lighter, and requires no wires or plugs.  It has given callers the freedom to talk from almost anywhere in the world!

• A telephone booth allowed a caller to talk privately when away from home.

• The phones we use today were not always so portable and convenient.

• Changes to the telephone improved the way people connect and communicate with each other.

• Some people are uncomfortable with the technology of the current phones.

• The cost of making a call on a cell phone has greatly increased over the years.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

Which sentence is the BEST introduction to the piece?

The park, which includes one main island and many smaller ones, usually attracts fewer than 30,000 visitors a year. One reason may be that the only way to get to the park is by boat or seaplane; there are no bridges to the islands. Another is that the park is closed during the winter and early spring because of weather. Once visitors do arrive, they are greeted by a roadless green wilderness where the best way to get around is by canoe or on foot. Although Isle Royale is not for everyone, those who love to escape from civilization find it very appealing.

• There are several ferry companies based in Michigan that take visitors to Isle Royale National Park.

• Lake Superior, where Isle Royale can be found, is one of the five Great Lakes that form the largest body of fresh water on the planet.

• There are so many beautiful and interesting parks in our National Park System that it is hard to choose the best one.

• Isle Royale National Park, located in Lake Superior, is one of the least-visited of all the national parks.

A student is writing an essay about the 'factory girls' who worked in the cotton mills in Lowell, Massachusetts. The student needs help revising the draft to include a conclusion. Read the paragraph and answer the question that follows.

During the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s, many young girls moved to Lowell, Massachusetts, to work in the cotton mills. Many of these girls had grown up on farms and had never lived in a city. Their families hoped that the girls could earn a decent wage by working in the factories. Sometimes the girls were expected to earn enough money to pay their families' debts or help send a brother to college. The girls worked under very poor conditions in the mills. They often spent twelve hours a day at their machines. They lived together in boarding houses where they shared rooms with other 'factory girls.' Soon many of the girls became sick from the long hours and the poor conditions.

Choose the two sentences that could best conclude the essay.

• Working in the cotton mills was considered an appropriate job for women.

• Some of the girls were also expected to do chores at their boarding houses.

• Factory work was only one way that young girls could earn a living during the 1800s.

• The cotton mills were a drastic change from the farm work most of these girls were used to.

• Working conditions in the cotton mills were not ideal to say the least.

While writing his research paper on weather patterns, Greg came across the following information within an article.

Weather patterns are hard to predict. Many people have spent their whole lives trying to decipher the Earth's weather, only to leave this planet with no more information than when they entered it.

Which of the following ideas from Greg's paper BEST supports the information he found in the article?

• Weather is essential to life.

• Earth's weather can be dangerous.

• Many people will study weather all their lives.

• Earth's weather is something that people will never fully understand.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

A student is writing an essay on George Washington Carver. The student wants to revise the essay to include a concluding statement. Read the essay and answer the question that follows. George Washington Carver, a famous African–American scientist and inventor, was born in Missouri in 1864. Carver became known as 'the Peanut Man' because of his famous research and inventions using the peanut. In 1896, Carver moved to Tuskegee, Alabama to teach at an all–black college started by Booker T. Washington. While teaching at the college, Carver learned a great deal about cotton, one of the most important crops in the south. Carver discovered that a certain type of insect was eating and destroying the cotton crops of many farmers. Through his research, Carver learned that these insects would not eat peanuts. Carver convinced farmers to rotate their crops regularly to prevent insects from completely destroying all of their cotton crops. Farmers were not immediately convinced, but over time began planting other crops like peanuts, soybeans, and sweet potatoes. By rotating crops, farmers were able to make money from multiple crops. Since farmers were not convinced immediately about the benefits of the peanut, George Washington Carver spent time researching the plant. He conducted experiments and found interesting ways to use the peanuts and other plants. During that time, he created over one hundred products using peanuts. Some of those products include dye, fuel, soap, and even shampoo. Which TWO sentences could BEST conclude the essay?

• In short, George Washington Carver's research helped increase the importance of the peanut.

• George Washington Carver also created many new products using the sweet potato and the soybean.

• Finally, George Washington Carver also created other products, such as cosmetics and paints, from the peanut plant.

• While many people believe George Washington Carver invented peanut butter, it was actually developed hundreds of years earlier.

• George Washington Carver's research surrounding the peanut helped southern farmers expand their crops and make more money.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

A student is writing an essay about the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The student wants to revise the essay to include a conclusion. Read the draft of the essay and complete the task that follows. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the most famous buildings in the world because of its tilt. When builders began construction on the bell tower, they did not intend for it to lean. In 1173, builders started construction on the tower in Pisa, Italy. As they started work on the second story, they noticed the tower start to lean. They had not thought about the softness of the soil in the area. The soil, mostly made of clay and sand, was not able to support such a heavy structure. Builders tried to solve the problem by making the southern end of the structure taller than the sinking northern side. They built two more steps on the north side of the tower than on the south side. Despite the change, the building continued to lean. The tower was finally completed in 1372. Construction was delayed several times because of wars and other problems in Italy. Experts think the delays in construction may have saved the tower from falling to the ground completely. They think because the construction was so slow it gave the ground time to adjust to the heavy structure's weight. Choose the paragraph that would best conclude the student's essay.

• While the Leaning Tower of Pisa is the most famous tower in Pisa, it is not the only one that leans. Two churches in the city also lean due to the soft soil throughout the city.

• In the late twentieth century, workers tried to fix the Leaning Tower of Pisa's tilt. While they were not able to completely fix the lean, they were able to lessen the tilt by almost two degrees.

• The original purpose of the Leaning Tower of Pisa was to show Pisa's power and strength. Over time, it has had several different purposes including its use as a watch tower during World War II.

• Even though the Leaning Tower of Pisa was not meant to lean, the lean is what makes it so famous. The mistakes made during its construction make it a popular place for people to visit each year.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

A student is writing an essay about the history of ice cream. The student wants to revise the essay to include a conclusion. Read the draft of the essay and complete the task that follows. Ice cream is a favorite treat for many people. It is especially enjoyable on a hot summer day. The origins of ice cream can be traced all the way back to over two thousand years ago. People enjoyed a cold treat of sweetly flavored snow or ice. Ice cream was first introduced in colonial America during the middle of the 1700s. Early presidents, like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, were known to enjoy ice cream treats. Thomas Jefferson had his own eighteen step recipe for vanilla ice cream. Ice cream did not become widely available until the late 1800s. During that time, ice cream shops started to open in towns all over the country. Those shops led to new ice cream treats like the ice cream soda and sundae. More changes for ice cream came in the 1900s when the ice cream cone became more popular. The ice cream cone made ice cream a more portable treat. Home also started to have their own freezers. Home freezers allowed people to buy packaged ice cream of all flavors at the grocery store and enjoy it at home anytime. Choose the paragraph that could best conclude the student's essay.

• Today, people can find ice cream almost anywhere. Restaurants and ice cream shops serve ice cream in all sorts of interesting ways. People can get shakes, floats, and even ice cream cakes. The possibilities are endless.

• The sweet treat loved by so many has changed greatly during its life span. It started as a simple, sweet snow and is now made in different flavors and styles. Ice cream is sure to continue to advance during the twenty-first century.

• A walk down the ice cream aisle at the grocery store can lead to a difficult choice. There are hundreds of flavors from which to choose. The freezers are lined with flavors ranging from vanilla to butter pecan to mint chip.

• Ice cream is not the only frozen treat people can enjoy. Frozen yogurt, sherbet, sorbet, and gelato are all growing in popularity. They are a great option for people interested in a different sweet treat to cool down with on a hot summer day.

What does the word relationship in the sentence below reveal about the meanings of cog and organization? She is a small but vital cog in the large organization.

• A cog can be thought of as a piece of a whole, and an organization is usually made up of more than one person.

• A cog can be thought of as a person who is willing to cheat, and an organization is usually more trustworthy.

• Cog is used to refer to women, while organization is used to refer to both males and females.

• Cog is used to refer to the idea of importance, while organization is used to refer to the idea of size.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4