WorksheetsPSSA Sampler September 2021
Total questions: 10
Worksheet time: 10mins
1. Read the sentence from the passage.
"But this water has no reassuring bottom close to my feet."
Why does the author include the sentence in the passage?
to illustrate how the ocean waters are more dangerous in the summer than they are in the winter
to compare her current experience in the ocean with her experience in a pool as a youth
to explain how her goal to do research in the ocean is a goal she regrets having made
to establish the fact that the water conditions are an unpredictable characteristic of the ocean
2. Which idea does the author convey by writing that newborn whale calves are "tailor-made for fundraising posters"?
Newborn whale calves are the focus of expensive research
Newborn whale calves have an emotional impact on people
Newborn whale calves are interesting subjects for photographers
Newborn whale calves need more attention from environmental groups
3. How does the author develop the central idea that humpback whales are extremely wary of humans?
by describing the distances that humpback whales travel each year
by describing the remote areas of the ocean inhabited by humpback whales
by emphasizing the caution that must be used to approach humpback whales
by emphasizing how little time humpback whales spend at the surface of the ocean
4. Which sentence does the author include in the passage to disprove a theory?
"New humpback moms rarely rest with such young calves in tow, so my teammate, John Cesere and I know that is a moment not to be missed.
"We've already spent an hour with this pair, following from our research boat at a discreet distance, plotting their movements, dive patterns and surface activity."
"To get the full perspective, we need to see the underwater portion, so with that in mind, we gently push away from the side of the boat..."
"However, as it turns out, even the smallest calves are thermo-neutral, generating enough metabolic heat to keep them toasty warm..."
Part One
5. What is the meaning of the statement that humpback whales have come "back from the brink"?
The whales were close to becoming extinct
The whales are now popular with the public
The whales are now flourishing in deeper waters
The whales were being chased away by predators
Part Two
5. Which phrase from the passage best provides the context to support the answer in Part One? Choose one answer.
"success story"
"environmental awareness"
"endangered species"
"around the globe"
6. Read the sentence from the passage.
"As whale-watching companies switch to larger vessels and land use along the shoreline transitions from agriculture to housing, the coastal regions of west Maui are becoming more and more urbanized."
What is the meaning of the word transitions in the sentence?
changes
improves
expands
commences
Part One
7. Based on the passage, which event has most directly influenced the author's current research plans?
the change in the preferred habitat of female humpback whales and their calves
the increased public interest in the preservation of humpback whale populations
the opportunity to make a documentary about humpback whale calves
the presence of male humpback whales in different areas of the ocean
Part Two
7. Which sentences from the passage support the answer in Part One? Choose two answers.
A. "...we have yet to document exactly where and when pregnant females give birth.."
B. "...females and their young calves are moving away from some regions of the shoreline.."
C. "...For maternal females in Maui waters, is there a cost to this offshore switch?"
D. "...but my lingering thought for today--exactly who was watching who?"
A, B
B, C
C, D
A, D
What are the key words in the following prompt:
Nature often has a role in many myths. Write an essay analyzing the role of nature in both the passage and the poem. Use evidence from both the passage and the poem to support your response.
myth, nature
essay, evidence
both, support
analyzing, response
