Unit 2 Study Guide

Who says you can't go back in time? I just did, using Wormhole, the latest version of Kinema's "time travel machine." Unlike previous editions of Kinema's virtual reality software, this one features a full-body gaming suit and high-quality graphics that make the worlds of the past seem truly present.

It took me about an hour to get set up to play. The gaming suit had to be fitted to my exact dimensions. But after going through this somewhat inconvenient process, the suit fit me perfectly. It was surprisingly comfortable, too. Next time, I'll be able to just suit up and jump right into play mode.

The developers of Wormhole have created a truly immersive experience that's better than any I've ever had! If you want to explore the past as a participant, set aside some time and take the virtual leap into Wormhole. In the last week, I've piloted a Viking ship and held ancient treasures inside King Tut's tomb. It's a real blast into the past!

Which sentence best summarizes the author's opinion about the virtual reality software Wormhole?

• It provides a fantastic, lifelike experience for those who want to feel like they’re really in the past.

• The full-body suit and long setup process make the otherwise excellent experience too inconvenient.

My friends and I love spending summer afternoons hanging out at Silver Seas Water Park. Last year, the water park was closed for renovations, so we were extra excited to go back this year. After scanning our season passes, we headed straight to our favorite water feature: the lazy river. We've always enjoyed kicking back in our inner tubes, peacefully floating along the pool's winding path around the lush grounds.

The sparkling pool water looked so inviting! We hopped into our floats and settled in for a relaxing ride. How peaceful it was, slowly drifting along . . . until we rounded a bend and were suddenly blasted with ice-cold streams of water shooting from the sides of the pool. Before we could recover from that shock, we were guided under a drenching waterfall—not relaxing at all! Apparently, the park has updated our beloved lazy river with some "refreshing" water features. Sadly, not all updates are improvements.

Which sentence best summarizes the author's perspective about the renovated lazy river feature at Silver Seas Water Park?

• With its sparkling water and refreshing features, the lazy river is better than ever.

• The lazy river feature is no longer as relaxing and enjoyable as it was in the past.

My dog, Gigi, is so very gentle and sweet-natured that it's a little shocking what she does to her dog toys. No matter what the labels claim—like "the toughest toys for the toughest chewers"—she rips them to pieces within an hour, often within minutes.

I've searched everywhere for a longer-lasting dog toy, so I was excited to try the newest one from pet-goods company HardBitten. It's called "Tough Stuff," and as the name indicates, it's a stuffed toy, which Gigi loves best. It's even shaped like her favorite animal to menace: the squirrel.

Well, as advertised, this toy is virtually indestructible. After a week, it's still fully intact, nestled in Gigi's toy basket among the shredded remnants of her other toys. But alas, that's likely where it will stay. Gigi has completely lost interest in the toy; apparently, for her the best part of toys is tearing them to pieces. It seems the Tough Stuff toy is too tough, and what fun is that?

Which sentence best summarizes the author's point of view about the Tough Stuff dog toy?

• The toy is perfect for gentle, sweet-natured dogs who like to chew on something tough.

• 1. The toy is so difficult to destroy that it’s not that much fun for some dogs to play with.

Tryouts

Kayla tried to ignore her sore throat and stuffy nose. She was trying out for the soccer team, and Coach Markham would pick only the twenty best players.

Kayla sipped from her water bottle while she waited to do practice drills. She sneezed, and then Coach Markham signaled her to start. First, Kayla had to run across the field as fast as she could. She took off, but her stuffy nose made it hard to breathe. When she reached the end of the field, she felt dizzy and her head was swimming a little. She hoped the coach hadn't noticed.

Next, she and another girl had to compete for control of the soccer ball. The other girl quickly stole the ball from Kayla. Kayla was surprised. She was usually good at this. For the first time, she worried that she might not make the team.

Kayla struggled through the other drills, too. At the end of the tryout, she felt terrible and left as soon as she could.

A few days later, Kayla had recovered from her cold. She was still worried about her performance at the tryout, but maybe it wasn't too late to do something about it.

Kayla went to see Coach Markham. She explained that she hadn't done her best because of her cold. Coach Markham listened patiently and agreed to let Kayla join the team for the first practice.

That was all Kayla wanted. She knew she would be a valuable member of the team. She just needed a chance to prove it.

Which of the following best describes the main theme of the story? How do you know?

• 1. Failure.

  2. Failure is not always a bad thing. 

• 1. Second chances. Sometimes it pays to ask for a second chance.

Quest to the Top

Michael loved to play Legend of Starfell on his computer. He played online every day and was the expert among his friends. He showed them how to find all the hidden tools and tricks he had mastered.

One day, he was playing online with his friends and telling each of them what to do. In his excitement, he snapped at them when they made any kind of mistake.

"Michael, stop yelling," his friend Mark said over the headset.

"Yeah. I'm playing for fun here," said Jay. Michael apologized.

From then on, however, he started playing more on his own. That way he could be as competitive as he wanted. Sometimes he was already in the middle of a game when his friends wanted to start one. Michael would ignore their requests, so they played without him.

When summer vacation started, Michael filled entire days with Legend of Starfell. Meanwhile, his friends made plans to get together. If the plans didn't include gaming, Michael didn't bother to join them.

By summer's end, Michael's progress had stalled. He was highly ranked, but he couldn't break into the "elite pro" level. He was finally tired of playing.

At that point, his friends had stopped calling. When Michael called them, they were busy. Summer was almost over, and Michael had nothing to show for it except sore eyes from staring at his computer. He couldn't remember having much fun at all.

Which of the following best describes the main theme of the story? How do you know?

• Obsession.

  Obsession can cause you to neglect what is actually important.

• Hard work.

  Hard work can get you what you want

• 1. Failure.

  2. You can learn from failure.

Which of the following best defines theme?

• When and where a story takes place.

• The perspective that the narrator holds in relation to the events of the story.

• The order of events in a story.

• The message or moral of a story.

Which of the following best defines Point of View?

• When and where a story takes place.

• The perspective that the narrator holds in relation to the events of the story.

• The order of events in a story.

• The message or moral of a story.

Which of the following best defines plot?

• When and where a story takes place.

• The perspective that the narrator holds in relation to the events of the story.

• The order of events in a story.

• The message or moral of a story.