The Girl Who Silenced the World

Read this excerpt from "The Girl Who Silenced the World for Five Minutes.”

I'm only a child, yet I know if all the money spent on war was spent on ending poverty and finding environmental answers, what a wonderful place this earth would be!

Based on this excerpt, Suzuki most likely believes that

• money spent on war is money well spent.

• peace costs more than war and poverty.

• more money would help solve the problem of poverty.

• the Earth would be a perfect place without war.

At school, even in kindergarten, you teach us to behave in the world. You teach us . . .

• not to hurt other creatures,

• to share – not be greedy.

Then why do you go out and do the things you tell us not to do?

Based on the excerpt, Suzuki most likely believes that adults should behave

• more maturely than children.

• better than they did when they were in kindergarten.

• the same way they expect young children to.

• as examples for their children.

You grown-ups say you love us. I challenge you, please make your actions reflect your words.

According to Suzuki, to show love toward their children, grown-ups should

• act in a loving way toward the world.

• tell their children that they love them every day.

• talk about worldwide environmental issues.

• reflect on the problems and challenges in the world.

In “The Girl Who Silenced the World for Five Minutes,” what is the most likely reason Suzuki speaks about herself as “only a child”?

• to admit that although adults are older, they may not be wiser than she

• to warn adults that she is going to offend them in her speech

• to state that she is young; therefore, she has more answers than adults

• to make sure that adults do not take her thoughts too seriously

Read the excerpt from “The Girl Who Silenced the World for Five Minutes.”

In my country, we make so much waste, we buy and throw away, buy and throw away, and yet northern countries will not share with the needy. Even when we have more than enough, we are afraid to lose some of our wealth, afraid to share.

According to Suzuki, people in northern countries do not share because

• they prefer to waste their money.

• they think sharing is only for the needy.

• they buy a lot of material goods.

• they are afraid to lose what they have.

Which excerpt from “The Girl Who Silenced the World for Five Minutes” supports Suzuki’s argument that she is “losing [her] future”?

• Coming here today, I have no hidden agenda.

• Losing my future is not like losing an election or a few points on the stock market.

• And now we hear about animals and plants going extinct every day – vanishing forever.

• I'm only a child, yet I know we are all in this together and should act as one single world towards one single goal.

I'm only a child, yet I know we are all part of a family, five billion strong, in fact, thirty million species strong, and we all share the same air, water, and soil – borders and governments will never change that.

I'm only a child, yet I know we are all in this together and should act as one single world towards one single goal.

Why does Suzuki think people should “act as one single world”?

• We all have different governments.

• Borders separate our countries.

• There are five billion people on Earth.

• We all live on the same planet.

Which excerpt from “The Girl Who Silenced the World for Five Minutes” is an opinion?

• We are a group of twelve- and thirteen-year-olds from Canada. . . .

• We raised all the money ourselves to come six thousand miles. . . .

• I used to go fishing in Vancouver with my dad. . . .

• Losing my future is not like losing an election. . . .

Which excerpt from “The Girl Who Silenced the World for Five Minutes” is a fact?

• I am here to speak for all generations to come.

• I am afraid to go out in the sun now. . . .

• . . . a few years ago we found the fish full of cancers.

• . . . we act as if we have all the time we want. . . .

Which excerpt from “The Girl Who Silenced the World for Five Minutes” expresses an opinion?

• starving children around the world

• countless animals dying across this planet

• holes in the ozone

• I wonder if they will even exist for my children