Understanding Language and Commitment

What central idea is developed by the comparison of studying French to “setting in a canoe from California to China” in paragraph 6?

• You need to travel to learn new languages.

• Working too hard can cause a person to give up.

• Difficult tasks can feel rewarding and discouraging.

• People often worry too much about tasks that are far ahead.

Which statement best describes Coates’ relationship with learning French?

• Coates is giving up on French because he doesn’t use it much.

• Coates views learning French as a good struggle.

• Coates finds French to be a beautiful language.

• Coates is learning French to honor his mother.

Which piece of evidence best captures the central idea of the text?

• “I did not always ‘feel’ I could effectively study a foreign language.” (Paragraph 1)

• “I didn’t feel it this summer at Middlebury, despite the difference in my entrance and exit scores.” (Paragraph 3)

• “That is why I ignore all the research about children and their language advantage.” (Paragraph 4)

• “The lows are the norm. The Struggle is the norm. May it ever be thus.” (Paragraph 6)

Read the following sentence from Paragraph 3: I felt, as I always feel, like I was stumbling around in the dark. I still feel like that. But I also feel like I am getting better at stumbling. How does this sentence develop one of Coates central claims?

• It reveals how much he dislikes learning the French language.

• It emphasizes how little guidance he has in learning French.

• It illustrates that he is making progress through struggle.

• It demonstrates how often he has to study to improve.

Accomplish – Which of the following best describes what it means to 'accomplish' something?

• To attempt something but fail

• To successfully complete a task or goal

• To forget about a goal

• To ignore responsibilities

Attain – Which of the following is an example of attaining something?

• Earning a college degree after years of studying

• Buying a gift for a friend

• Watching a movie with friends

• Losing interest in a hobby

Commit – What does it mean to commit to something?

• To dedicate yourself to completing a task

• To give up when something is too difficult

• To try something once and then quit

• To avoid responsibilities

Inspire – A teacher inspires their students when they:

• Give them extra homework

• Make them feel motivated to achieve their goals

• Ignore their questions in class

• Ask them to memorize facts without understanding

Rehearse – Why do musicians rehearse before a concert?

• To get better at playing their music

• To have fun with their instruments

• To take a break before the concert

• To impress their friends

Advantage – What is an advantage of exercising regularly?

• It improves your health

• It makes you tired all the time

• It prevents you from working hard

• It makes studying more difficult