If you like recreational activities that involve wheels, concrete, or asphalt, then protect your brain by wearing a helmet. Helmets with a CPSC approval are good for biking and in-line skating and are available in most sporting goods stores. "Multi-sport" helmets with a Snell B-95 approval are designed for skateboarding, roller-skating, and riding scooters as well as biking and in-line skating. Snell B-95 rated helmets provide more protection, but you may have to check out more stores to find one. Some people don't wear helmets because they think helmets aren't cool. If you're shopping for a helmet, there are lots of options, so you can pick out your favorite color. Or decorate your helmet with stickers and reflectors to show your personal style. Helmets are designed to help prevent injuries to your head, because a serious fall or crash can cause permanent brain damage or death. And that's definitely not cool.

How does this author feel about helmets?

Tiny turtles may look cute and harmless, but small turtles can make people very ill. Turtles commonly carry bacteria called Salmonella on their outer skin and shell surfaces. People can get Salmonella by coming in contact with turtles or their habitats. Small turtles are most often put in contact with young children, who can become extremely ill from Salmonella. Because of this health risk, the FDA has banned the sale of small turtles with a shell less than four inches long. Despite the ban on selling turtles with a shell less than four inches, some pet shops, fleamarkets, street vendors, and online stores continue to sell small turtles, sometimes with devastating consequences. An example is the 2007 death of a four-week-old baby in Florida linked to Salmonella from a small turtle. The DNA of the Salmonella from the turtle matched the DNA of the Salmonella from the infant.

What is the author's point of view in this text?

Teenagers are dying and being injured every day because too many drivers are focusing on using a handheld phone instead of on the road. Motor-vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens. Mile for mile, they are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as all other drivers. And one in three teens who text say they have done so while driving. Sixteen percent of all teen drivers involved in fatal crashes were distracted while driving. Help prevent the loss of more lives.

What is the author's point of view in this text?

If you don’t yet know how to use a computer or the Internet, it’s very important to learn. Many public libraries and the Department of Labor’s One-Stop Career Centers offer free classes on using computers and the Internet. You also can use computers and the Internet for free at your local public library. Keep in mind that you don’t need to try to become a “computer expert” and learn everything a computer can do. After you learn to use the computer and Internet to help with getting a job and enrolling in an education program, you can decide whether or not you want to gain more computer skills.

How does the author feel about people learning to use computers?

As parents, we all want our children to grow up to be responsible citizens and good people. We want them to learn to feel, think, and act with respect for themselves and for other people. We want them to pursue their own well-being, while also being considerate of the needs and feelings of others. We want them to recognize and honor the democratic principles upon which our country was founded. We want them, in short, to develop strong character. The most important thing we can do for our children is to help them acquire values and skills that they can rely on throughout their lives. In doing so, they will have the best chance to lead good lives as individuals and as citizens of their communities and of America.

Which of these statements reveals the author's point of view?

A good education is the key to a better life and a stronger economy. A person’s earnings increase by 10 percent with each year of school they complete. Women with higher levels of education have healthier children. And increasing the average level of higher education in a country by just one year can add half a percentage point of growth to GDP. Over the last decade, the world has witnessed incredible increases in school enrollment. But tragically, studies show there is still a learning crisis—children attending school still leave without the ability to read, write and do basic math.

What is the author's point of view in this passage?

A water-efficient home helps you minimize your water use, harness water for reuse, conserve energy, and save money. Improving water efficiency in the home can decrease your water usage and save you money. Water heating can account for nearly a quarter of the energy consumed in your home. Meanwhile, toilets can account for almost a third of an average home’s indoor water consumption. You can take steps to conserve water without sacrificing conveniences by fixing leaky toilets, installing low-flow showerheads, and reusing water.

What is the author's point of view in this passage?

Unfortunately, not all schools and colleges are what they seem to be, especially some of those offering career and technical education programs. Some schools—often called “diploma mills”—are more interested in taking your money than in providing a good education. Online education programs can be diploma mills, too, though many are legitimate. The same is true for colleges or schools based in foreign countries but offering education in the United States. Some are legitimate; some are diploma mills. You need to do your research to be sure the school you want to attend is an accredited institution that will deliver on its promises. Otherwise, you may spend a lot of money—your own or your financial aid funds—for very little result.

What is the author's point of view in this passage?

Unfortunately, not all schools and colleges are what they seem to be, especially some of those offering career and technical education programs. Some schools—often called “diploma mills”—are more interested in taking your money than in providing a good education. Online education programs can be diploma mills, too, though many are legitimate. The same is true for colleges or schools based in foreign countries but offering education in the United States. Some are legitimate; some are diploma mills. You need to do your research to be sure the school you want to attend is an accredited institution that will deliver on its promises. Otherwise, you may spend a lot of money—your own or your financial aid funds—for very little result.

How does this excerpt reveal the author's point of view?

Teenagers are dying and being injured every day because too many drivers are focusing on using a handheld phone instead of on the road. Motor-vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens. Mile for mile, they are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as all other drivers. And one in three teens who text say they have done so while driving. Sixteen percent of all teen drivers involved in fatal crashes were distracted while driving. Help prevent the loss of more lives.

How does this excerpt reveal the author's point of view?