Don't Mess with Texas

Texas: 1. Based on the ideas presented throughout the article, what can the reader conclude about the “Don’t mess with Texas” campaign?

• A) It was created to promote Texas tourism.
• B) It has become more focused on merchandise than messaging.
• C) It helps people take pride in their environment by addressing littering.
• D) It has struggled to connect with young Texans.

Texas: 2. The details in the section about the 1991 ad and the 2016 selfie campaign support the key idea that —

• A) Texans are encouraged to use bumper stickers to promote cleanliness.
• B) the campaign evolved with technology to reach new audiences.
• C) all Texans know that the slogan is about littering.
• D) the slogan has remained unchanged since it began.

Texas: 3. Why does the author use a cause-and-effect structure in paragraph 11?

• A) To explain why younger Texans dislike the slogan
• B) To highlight what made the campaign nationally famous
• C) To show how more Texans began understanding the slogan over time
• D) To compare early campaign ads to later social media efforts

Texas: 4. Which definition best matches the meaning of the word spot as used in paragraph 7?

• A) A small mark on a surface
• B) A physical location
• C) A brief advertisement
• D) A specific position on a map

Texas: 5. Read the following paragraph: In 1985, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) started a campaign to stop drivers from throwing litter on Texas highways... As it turns out, the main demographic of mess makers was young males between the ages of 16 and 24... Campaign managers designed bold “Don’t mess with Texas” bumper stickers and sold them in places that young adult males frequent. Which of the following ideas should be included in this paragraph to create a more complete summary of the campaign’s early strategy?

• A) The campaign used the slogan to appeal to Texans’ pride and independence.
• B) The slogan was originally created during a magazine interview.
• C) George Strait later helped people understand the slogan’s real meaning.
• D) The campaign has since become one of the most recognized slogans in America.

Texas: 6. Based on the article, what is the most likely way young Texans will engage with the campaign today?

• A) They’ll hear it on the radio.
• B) They’ll receive bumper stickers in the mail.
• C) They’ll view social media posts featuring celebrities.
• D) They’ll attend anti-littering events at fast food restaurants.

Texas: 7. What is the most likely reason the author includes a list of famous people in the article?

• A) To emphasize the slogan's popularity among celebrities
• B) To explain that music is central to the campaign’s success
• C) To show how Texans are encouraged to copy their role models
• D) To promote the work of Texas musicians and athletes