WorksheetsREview (but did you learn something) Winter Benchmark
Total questions: 10
Worksheet time: 3hrs 30mins
1. Use the following passage to answer the question.
Japan has long had a large population for its land area, especially since the Baby Boom following World War II. This is particularly true in Japan’s cities. For example, according to a 2010 census, the metropolitan Tokyo-Yokohama area has an estimated 35 million residents. The population of the entire country is roughly 128 million. Tokyo-Yokohama is considered the most populous urban center in the world. Some Japanese cultural traditions have been attributed to such crowding. For example, the Japanese people use very formal behaviors like bowing, and use very formal language during social interactions. One theory is that this formality, at least in part, is a means of creating psychological distance and space between individuals, as sufficient physical space is lacking. The expression “too close for comfort” may aptly describe the situation in Japan’s most crowded cities, and this physical proximity is offset by reducing social closeness.
In this passage, the author’s main purpose is to:
describe a hypothesis of social behavior based on demographics.
give a complete summary of the demographic features of Japan.
explain why the population of Japan has increased since the war.
argue that Japan has the highest population density in the world.
A fuel cell is a kind of battery. It makes electricity. One side of the cell is filled with hydrogen. The other is filled with oxygen that comes from the air. The hydrogen separates into electrons and protons. The electrons supply the power for the motor. The protons mix with the oxygen to make water. The water passes out of the cell.
problem /solution
question & answer
description
cause and effect
This morning was crazy. My alarm clock was set for PM instead of AM, so I woke up really late. I just threw on some clothes and ran out the door. I rode my bike as fast as I could and thought that I was going to be late for sure, but when I got there everyone was outside and there were firetrucks all lined up in front of school. I guess somebody pulled the fire alarm before class started. It worked out though, because nobody really noticed or minded that I was tardy.
Cause and Effect
Problem and Solution
Compare and Contrast
Chronological
Which supporting detail best supports this topic sentence?
It takes a lot of hard work to become a professional athlete.
The pros live the good life.
Professional athletes spend countless hours practicing their sports.
People like professional football players make a lot of money.
All of us can be professional athletes.
. Which supporting detail best supports this topic sentence?
Subway is a healthier option than McDonald's.
A lot of people choose to eat Subway for lunch and dinner.
Subway uses fresh ingredients whereas McDonald's has processed fried food.
McDonald's French fries are salty and delicious.
It's best to just cook food at home.
6 Today the now-famous wartime slogan has been rewritten in different ways. Some people have created fun phrases like “Keep Calm and Call Mom” or “Keep Calm and Eat a Cupcake.” Others have added sarcasm to the slogan by writing versions such as “Now Panic and Freak Out” or “Keep Calm and This Poster Is Getting Old.” No matter the version or interpretation of the Keep Calm slogan, it is highly recognizable. Many online shopping websites continue to sell a variety of products with some form of the Keep Calm and Carry On slogan. And variations of the slogan show up on social networking sites daily
What is the main idea of paragraph 6?
The Keep Calm slogan has been posted many times on social media sites.
The Keep Calm slogan and its various forms have become a popular part of current culture.
There is discord between people who like the original Keep Calm slogan and those who don’t.
People realized that the Keep Calm phrase was a good slogan for online advertising.
5 Besides the optimistic message, the simple design and understated tone of the poster helped lead to its popularity and marketability. Because it was cheap to reproduce and easy to customize, many companies capitalized on the appeal of the catchy slogan. The motto became trendy and could be spotted on mugs, T-shirts, and mouse pads.
The author includes the information in paragraph 5 most likely to —
explain the origin of the Keep Calm motto
describe how products with the Keep Calm motto are made
express an opinion about the popularity of the Keep Calm motto
offer reasons why the Keep Calm motto has become so widespread
3 In the program students in fourth through sixth grade become citizens of JA Biz Town, where they learn how to run a city. Students use a portion of their school day to learn about business strategies and the roles of workers and city leaders. Then they create and oversee the management of a simulated city made up of a bank, businesses, restaurants, and retail stores. It is not unusual to see a BizTown student wearing a hard hat and learning about construction or interviewing for a job with actual business owners. BizTown students become managers, clerks, and customers. They even pay taxes and elect their own mayor. They also make their own laws and must abide by them or else pay fines. These students don’t just learn about how a town works—they make real-life decisions that affect what goes on in their town. Pershing Elementary School teacher Luz Pineda is an advocate of BizTown. “This program prepares children for the future,” she said. “This shows them what will really happen when they’re adults.” 4 Junior Achievement also provides middle and high school students with a challenging program called JA Finance Park. Each student is assigned an age, a job, a salary, and a family. They must create a personal budget and plan a career that will help them meet their goals and live within their budget. JoAnn Goldberger, senior director of strategic partnerships for Junior Achievement of Reading Page 8 Central Maryland, states, “We teach them how to save for the future on whatever budget they have. Maybe they can’t afford that mansion with a pool. Maybe a sports car isn’t really feasible when you have three kids. Not everybody can be Justin Bieber.” Finance Park is designed to ensure the real-world experience is real indeed. An “unlucky chance card” can assign a student a flat tire or a broken air conditioner, training them to plan for and solve the kinds of problems their parents encounter every day.
The author includes quotations in paragraphs 3 and 4 in order to —
recognize the contributions volunteers have made to Junior Achievement
demonstrate that many adults support the work Junior Achievement does
show that successful adults participated in Junior Achievement as students
inspire students to become involved with Junior Achievement
5 By taking part in Junior Achievement, students learn not only the importance of choosing a career and managing their finances but also the skills needed in order to be successful in doing so. Junior Achievement teaches students skills and concepts such as preparing for a job interview, understanding how officials are elected, analyzing the steps to opening a business, and paying taxes. It also allows students to experience the value of giving through volunteer work and community service.
How does paragraph 5 help inform the reader about Junior Achievement?
By summarizing the benefits of participating in Junior Achievement
By emphasizing the changes Junior Achievement has made in order to meet the demands of modern life
By explaining how community members assist in organizing Junior Achievement programs
By showing how important it is for teachers to motivate students to participate in Junior Achievement programs
3 Alyssa’s Status: 5:54 A.M. The glorious male Gallus gallus domesticus, more commonly known as the rooster, perches himself upon the post. His delicate feathers glimmer in the sunrise. He flaps his wings twice and rears back his head. His call clamors through the countryside, crying out to all creatures that morning has come. 14 Thumbs Up
Read this sentence from paragraph 3.
His call clamors through the countryside, crying out to all creatures that morning has come.
The descriptive language in this sentence
gives Alyssa’s post a dramatic effect
shows how Alyssa’s attitude has changed throughout the story
mimics the sound of the rooster’s call
emphasizes that hearing the rooster is an important event in the plot
