"A Shrinking River" (ThinkUp!)

1. 1 . Part A

Which statement summarizes the main idea of the selection?

• The Rio Grande is an important source of water.

• The Rio Grande provides entertainment for people.

• The Rio Grande is one of the longest Rivers in America.

• The Rio Grande provides a place for scientists to research.

1 . Part B

Which sentence from the selection supports your answer in Part A?

• "For many years, the American Southwest had not received enough rain."

• "The river enhances the park's beauty and supports trees and wildlife that might not otherwise survive."

• "He wanted to learn how changes in the river were affecting those who lived nearby."

• "In Thompson's opinion, the many dams that have been built on the Rio Grande are harming the river."

2 . Which of these ideas is supported by details in paragraph 9 ("Many factors...") and paragraph 10 ("Another cause...")?

• The Rio Grande has problems caused by the overuse of water.

• States in the American Southwest are Texas and New Mexico.

• Several dams hold back the water from the Rio Grande.

• Man-made structure have harmed the Rio Grande.

3 . Why is the inset at the end of the selection most likely included?

• to help the reader understand where the river is located

• to help the reader confirm the facts presented in the text

• to help the reader visualize the appearance of the Rio Grande

• to help the reader learn additional facts about the Rio Grande

4. 4 . Why does the author include the photograph in the selection?

• to help the reader visualize the ways rangers help the Rio Grande

• to help the reader visualize the vegetation that grows near the Rio Grande

• to help the reader visualize how the Rio Grande appears when it is dried up

• to help the reader visualize how animals will suffer when the Rio Grande is dried up

5. 5 . Which detail from the selection supports the idea that the Rio Grande is a troubled river?

• "It begins in the snowy mountains of Colorado where silvery fish flash in its depths."

• "The first sign of trouble occurred in 2001."

• "The next spring brought more rain than usual."

• "These dry spots have been bad news for fish, turtles and other creatures."

6 . Which word from the last paragraph helps the reader understand the meaning of conservation?

• "dry"

• "reduce"

• "fortunately"

• "embraced"

7 . What main idea is supported by the details in this paragraph?

• McDonald spoke to people who live along the Rio Grande.

• A disappearing Rio Grande will negatively impact people's lives.

• McDonald wanted to discover why the Rio Grande is disappearing.

• Many people own businesses that are located on the Rio Grande river.

8 . Which is one cause of the Rio Grande's problems?

• the rapid growth of cities along the banks of the river

• the addition of new species in the rivers waters

• the increase of rainfall each year

• the concerns of park rangers