amal wrote an essay because he really loved the government and knew that one day he wanted a career in the US Congress. Although he put his whole heart and soul into his letter, he had no idea that his essay would win the entire national contest! He wasn’t the only winner. Forty-nine other kids across America had also won the chance to visit Washington, DC, for the eighth annual Constitution Conference.
2On the trip, Jamal’s official title was “Junior Representative.” The kids who got to visit the nation’s capital had a very big day in store. The goal of the day was to teach kids the fundamentals of civil service. The organizers had planned a whole day of activities designed to help kids get an idea of how it would be to work in the different branches of government.
3First, all of the kids gathered in a large room made to look like the House floor. There, Jamal and the other winners said the Pledge of Allegiance and learned about the history of the Pledge. Several speakers went to the front of the room and made announcements. Then all of the kids watched and listened as the speakers debated. Some kids, who thought the day would be less educational, said the debate was monotonous. Jamal, however, enjoyed this exchange of words mostly because one day he wanted to be a great debater. To him, this was one of the best moments of the day.
Another fine show was when several new Americans reenacted their Pledge for Citizenship. Seeing how sincere those people were as they spoke made Jamal realize how lucky he was to be born in the United States.
5After lunch, the junior representatives listened to an author read from her work. Jamal’s mom had given him some money to get a souvenir of his big day, and Jamal decided to buy the author’s book. When she was done with her presentation, Jamal approached her and asked if she had any copies for sale. The woman gave him a copy for free and even wrote an inscription inside. She wrote, I hope you had a blast during the conference. I wish I had someone as ambitious as you working on my campaign. Jamal was touched by her words. He shook the woman’s hand and went back to join the other junior representatives.
When the experience was over and Jamal was back at home, his mother wanted to know all of the details of his adventure. Jamal smiled and showed her the note from the author; he described the debate. Jamal could not stop speaking about all of the fascinating things he had seen during his very first day of government work.
Catherine is a student who read about Jamal's experience. She expressed a strong opinion that Jamal enjoyed every bit of his special day as a junior representative. Which is the BEST example from the text that supports Catherine's opinion?
Responses
A The kids who got to visit the nation’s capital had a very big day in store.The kids who got to visit the nation’s capital had a very big day in store.
B Another fine show was when several new Americans reenacted their Pledge for Citizenship.Another fine show was when several new Americans reenacted their Pledge for Citizenship.
C Jamal, however, enjoyed this exchange of words mostly because one day he wanted to be a great debater.Jamal, however, enjoyed this exchange of words mostly because one day he wanted to be a great debater.
D Jamal wrote an essay because he really loved the government and knew that one day he wanted a career in the US Congress.
C – Jamal, however, enjoyed this exchange of words mostly because one day he wanted to be a great debater.
1 It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a large fortune must be in want of a wife.
2 However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property of someone or other of their daughters.
What is the main idea of the first two paragraphs?
Responses
A Mothers of daughters from poor families often agonize terribly over how their daughters will survive in the world.Mothers of daughters from poor families often agonize terribly over how their daughters will survive in the world.
B It is universally accepted that all men marry women in order to increase their own fortunes.It is universally accepted that all men marry women in order to increase their own fortunes.
C No matter what a man's own desires are, if he is rich, families will claim him for their daughters the moment he enters town.No matter what a man's own desires are, if he is rich, families will claim him for their daughters the moment he enters town.
D While single men with a large fortune are not always known to families, it doesn't take the men long to be universally known.While single men with a large fortune are not always known to families, it doesn't take the men long to be universally known.
C No matter what a man's own desires are, if he is rich, families will claim him for their daughters the moment he enters town.
1 Looking back, I was sure that I was going to die that November afternoon. Tornado watches in Alabama are as common as eggs are for breakfast. So much so, that I had begun to ignore them altogether. This disregard for Mother Nature’s power nearly proved fatal for me and my sister. As we approached a fresh red light on a main thoroughfare through Huntsville, I glanced at the sudden peculiar coloring of the sky. The unusual hue and the stillness of the air gave me a sudden sense of uneasiness. The light changed and we made the left turn that would lead us home. It was after the turn that everything around me seemed to be occurring in slow motion. I heard it before I saw anything. At first I was sure that a train or a big truck was directly behind the car. Then I saw the debris, not the image of swirling winds we tend to associate with a tornado, but trash and wires and dirt. I remember a sudden feeling of weightlessness as we were lifted off of the ground. Strangely, she lifted us up like a feather on a breeze. It seemed more like floating than flying until she launched us from her grip with a fury few will ever understand.
2 While I cannot remember the actual impact, pictures from the aftermath tell the story word for word. The tin can that once was a car was belly up in the top of a 100 foot maple. We hung there for hours, oblivious to the disaster around us. When rescuers could finally get to us, power lines made it too dangerous to touch the metal car. I awoke first 32 days after my ride in the sky and remembered much of the ordeal. My sister however, after lying in a coma for nearly three months, has no recollection of any detail from her life before the accident. Lack of oxygen erased her past. My physical wounds have long since healed, but I spend many hours below ground. The slightest hint of thunder or an awkward colored sunset sends me racing to my life below to hide from her.
Which best states the central idea of this passage?
Responses
A the author's relationship with her sisterthe author's relationship with her sister
B the dangers of driving in trafficthe dangers of driving in traffic
C how to improve tornado warningshow to improve tornado warnings
D the dangers of ignoring tornado watchesthe dangers of ignoring tornado watches
D the dangers of ignoring tornado watches
1 Jonathan was bored out of his mind. It was a beautiful, hot, sunny day, and under normal circumstances, he would have called his best friend, Chris. The two would have spent the day splashing around the creek or swimming at the community pool. Unfortunately, Jonathan no longer lived just minutes from Chris. Jonathan’s family had moved to a new house clear across the state to be closer to Jonathan’s grandmother. Most of Jonathan’s new neighbors were retirees or married couples with very young children. No one on his street jumped at the chance to toss around a football or have a water balloon fight. And, since it was right in the middle of summer vacation, Jonathan had yet to make a single new friend.
2 Jonathan bounced a soccer ball from his toe, to his knee, and back to his toe. Suddenly, he kicked the ball too hard. It sailed over the neighbor’s fence. Jonathan groaned and trudged toward his neighbor’s house to ask permission to fetch the ball.
3 Jonathan climbed the steps of Mr. Browning’s front porch and rang the bell. A few moments later, Mr. Browning opened the door.
4 “Hi, Mr. Browning, I’m Jonathan. My family just moved in next door. I accidentally kicked my soccer ball into your back yard and I was wondering if I could retrieve it,” Jonathan explained.
5 Mr. Browning eyed Jonathan for a second and then replied, “Sure thing, Johnny Boy. Follow me.”
6 Jonathan followed Mr. Browning down the hallway, through the kitchen, and onto the back porch. He plucked his soccer ball from the lawn. As he turned to leave, he noticed that Mr. Browning had a chess board set up on a small table on the back porch.
7 “Are you any good?” asked Jonathan, hooking his thumb toward the chess board.
8 Mr. Browning gave Jonathan a half smile. “Why?”
9 “My friend Chris and I play on rainy days all the time. Well, used to play,” Jonathan corrected.
10 “No longer friends?” asked Mr. Browning.
11 “It’s not that,” said Jonathan. “I left him behind when my family moved out here.”
12 “Humph. It seems we find ourselves in similar predicaments,” said Mr. Browning.
13 “What do you mean?” asked Jonathan.
14 “Well, that nice house over there that you just moved into belonged to my best friend, Walter Smithson. Ol’ Wally Boy got tired of caring for a big ol’ house and lawn all by himself, so he up and moved to an apartment in a retirement community ‘bout two hours from here. Wally and I used to play chess most every day,” said Mr. Browning. “I sure do miss that ol’ boy.”
15 Jonathan eyed the chess board and then settled into the seat opposite Mr. Browning. He picked up a black knight and positioned it on a different square.
16 “I don’t know that I’m as good as Wally Boy,” he said to Mr. Browning, “but I’ve been known to beat Chris a time or two.”
17 “Well then,” said Mr. Browning, “don’t mind if I do.” With that, he moved a white pawn.