english language arts: grade 7...from right ho, jeeves excerpts from right ho, jeeves by p. g....

Name: Date:

English Language Arts: Grade 7

North Carolina Interim 3 Exam

Testing Guidelines & Directions:

• You will have 120 minutes to take this interim exam. This time includes reading the passages,

answering the multiple choice questions, and composing your constructed response.

• Make sure you bubble your answer choices on your multiple choice document. You must write your final draft of the constructed response in your test booklet.

• You may answer the questions, including your constructed response, in any order.

• You may use a pen or a pencil.

• You may not use a dictionary or a thesaurus during any portion of this exam.

• The test proctor may not answer any questions about the test unless they are about the directions.

• If you finish before the 120 minutes have passed, you may check your work.

35 North Carolina Assessment 2 ©Curriculum Associates, LLC Copying is not permitted.

Read the passage. Then answer the questions that follow.

P. G. Wodehouse’s novels follow the adventures of Bertram “Bertie” Wooster, an English gentleman, and Jeeves, his butler. In this excerpt, Bertie receives several urgent telegrams from his aunt Dahlia Travers and seeks Jeeves’s help to know how to respond.

from Right Ho, Jeeves Excerpts from Right Ho, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse, published by Herbert Jenkins Ltd. (1922).

1 The first of the telegram1 arrived shortly after noon, and Jeeves brought it in. . . . It was from my Aunt

Dahlia, operating from Market Snodsbury, a small town of sorts a mile or two along the main road as you

leave her country seat.

2 It ran as follows:

3 Come at once. Travers.

4 And when I say it puzzled me like the dickens, I am understating it; if anything. As mysterious a

communication, I considered, as was ever flashed over the wires . . . I read it backwards. I read it forwards. As

a matter of fact, I have a sort of recollection of even smelling it. But it still baffled me.

5 Consider the facts, I mean. It was only a few hours since this aunt and I had parted, after being in

constant association for nearly two months. And yet here she was . . . pleading for another reunion. Bertram

Wooster is not accustomed to this gluttonous2 appetite for his society. Ask anyone who knows me, and they

will tell you that after two months of my company, what the normal person feels is that that will about do for

the present. Indeed, I have known people who couldn’t stick it out for more than a few days.

6 Before sitting down to the well-cooked, therefore, I sent this reply:

7 Perplexed. Explain. Bertie.

8 To this I received an answer during the after-luncheon sleep:

9 What on earth is there to be perplexed about . . . ? Come at once. Travers.

10 . . .[A] couple of turns about the room, and I had my response ready:

11 How do you mean come at once? Regards. Bertie.

12 I append the comeback:

13 I mean come at once. . . . What did you think I meant? Come at once or expect an aunt’s curse first post tomorrow. Love. Travers.

1 telegram: a form of written long-distance communication, most popular before the invention of the telephone 2 gluttonous: hungry for more

Assessment 2

Go On


14 I then dispatched the following message, wishing to get everything quite clear:

15 When you say “Come” do you mean “Come to Brinkley Court”? And when you say “At once” do you

mean “At once”? Fogged. At a loss. All the best. Bertie.

16 I sent this one off on my way to the Drones, where I spent a restful afternoon throwing cards into a

top-hat with some of the better element. Returning in the evening hush, I found the answer waiting for me:

17 Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. It doesn’t matter whether you understand or not. You just come at once,

as I tell you, and for heaven’s sake stop this back-chat. Do you think I am made of money that I can afford to send you telegrams every ten minutes. Stop being a fathead and come immediately. Love. Travers.

18 It was at this point that I felt the need of getting a second opinion. I pressed the bell.

19 “Jeeves, . . . Read these,” I said, handing him the papers in the case.

20 He scanned them.

21 “What do you make of it, Jeeves?”

22 “I think Mrs. Travers wishes you to come at once, sir.”

23 “You gather that too, do you?”

24 “Yes, sir.”

25 “I put the same construction on the thing. But why, Jeeves? Dash it all, she’s just had nearly two

months of me.”

26 “Yes, sir.”

27 “And many people consider the medium dose for an adult two days.”

28 “Yes, sir. I appreciate the point you raise. Nevertheless, Mrs. Travers appears very insistent. I think it

would be well to acquiesce3 in her wishes.”

29 “Pop down, you mean?”

30 “Yes, sir.”

31 “Well, I certainly can’t go at once. I’ve an important conference on at the Drones tonight. Pongo

Twistleton’s birthday party, you remember.”

32 “Yes, sir.” . . .

33 “Well, anyway, returning to the agenda4, I can’t go down to Brinkley Court or anywhere else yet

awhile. That’s final. I’ll tell you what, Jeeves. Give me form and pencil, and I’ll wire her that I’ll be with her

some time next week or the week after. Dash it all, she ought to be able to hold out without me for a few days.

It only requires will power.”

34 “Yes, sir.”

35 “Right ho, then. I’ll wire ‘Expect me tomorrow fortnight5’ or words to some such effect. That ought to

meet the case. Then if you will toddle round the corner and send it off, that will be that.”

36 “Very good, sir.”

3 acquiesce: agree 4 agenda: plan, task at hand 5 fortnight: two weeks. In this case, Bertie Wooster plans to tell Aunt Dahlia that he will come to Brinkley Court

two weeks from tomorrow.


37 And so the long day wore on till it was time for me to dress for Pongo’s party.

38 . . . It was well after four when I got home, and by that time I was about ready to turn in. I can just

remember groping for the bed and crawling into it, and it seemed to me that the lemon had scarcely touched

the pillow before I was aroused by the sound of the door opening.

39 I was barely ticking over, but I contrived to raise an eyelid.

40 “Is that my tea, Jeeves?”

41 “No, sir. It is Mrs. Travers.”

42 And a moment later there was a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and the relative had crossed the

threshold at fifty m.p.h. under her own steam.

1 What does Bertie mean by “conference”

in paragraph 31?

A social gathering

B business meeting

C political meeting

D trade gathering

2 How might the story be different if Mrs.

Travers were the narrator?

A Readers would know what both she and Bertie are thinking.

B Readers would see exactly what she wrote in her telegrams.

C Readers would see why Bertie is unwilling to go to her.

D Readers would know why she wants to see Bertie so badly.

3 Which theme is expressed in the story?

A Family relationships can be challenging.

B Work is more important than play.

C Friendship is worth more than money.

D Time is valuable and should not be wasted.

4 One central idea of the story is that some

people who feel very important do very

little work. Which event from the story

develops this idea?

A Mrs. Travers wants to see Bertie right away though she’s just left him.

B Bertie and Mrs. Travers exchange several telegrams in one day.

C Bertie throws cards into a top-hat instead of going to Mrs. Travers.

D Bertie and Jeeves discuss the meaning of Mrs. Travers’s telegrams.

Go On


5 Which words in a telegram from the

story suggest that Bertie really does

know what his aunt wants but doesn’t

want to do it?

A “Come at once.”

B “What on earth is there to be perplexed about . . .?”

C “How do you mean come at once?”

D “And when you say ‘At once’ do you mean ‘At once’?”

6 Which of the following character’s

actions contributes the most to the way

the story progresses?

A Mrs. Travers has recently returned home after visiting Bertie only a few

days before the story begins.

B Bertie repeatedly responds to Mrs. Travers’s telegrams acting as if he

doesn’t understand what she wants.

C Bertie asks Jeeves whether he is correct in assuming that Mrs. Travers

wants him to visit her immediately.

D Jeeves comes into the room and wakes Bertie a short time after

Bertie returns from the Drones.

7 Which of these gives the best summary

of the story?

A Bertie Wooster gets a telegram asking him to come to his aunt’s

home. At first he is unsure what she

wants, since she has just left him. He

is finally so curious that he goes to

visit her.

B Bertie Wooster has a telegram exchange with his aunt, who wants

him to visit her. He is angry, and

finally decides to ignore her. Days

later, he drives to her house and

confronts her.

C Bertie Wooster exchanges telegrams with his aunt. She asks him to come

to her house at once. He is confused

because they have just ended a long

visit. He decides to visit her later, but

she arrives in his bedroom.

D Bertie Wooster cannot understand why his aunt wants him to visit her.

He has just returned home after a

long visit. He is very busy with family

and business. He asks Jeeves to tell

her he’s sorry, but he cannot get

away.



A Look Inside the Looking Glass by Kathiann M. Kowalski, Odyssey

1 Alice entered a crazy, backward world in Lewis Carroll’s classic book, Through the Looking Glass. Look inside a real mirror, though, and you’ll find some fascinating technology.

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall

2 Glass mirror-making began around the 13th century. Craftsmen improved their techniques over the

next several hundred years. Now modern mirror-making takes place in factories, with strict quality control

and machines that do much of the work.

3 The wall mirrors around your home start out as a piece of flat glass—usually from 1/8- to 1/4-inch

thick. “It has to be the best quality of glass that we can produce,” says Tom Mewbourne at glassmaker AFG

Industries, Inc., in Tennessee. This means no bubbles, no bits of foreign material, no lines, and no distortions.

4 Most mirror glass has the same makeup as window glass—mostly silica, plus limestone and tiny

amounts of carbon and other materials. But mirror glass must pass stricter inspection standards. After all,

when you look through a window your eyes are usually focused at or near infinity, so you don’t notice defects.

When you comb your hair in a mirror, your eyes are focused much closer, on a point less than two feet away,

so the defects are more apparent.

5 At the mirror factory, the glass goes on a conveyor belt for a process called chemical wet deposition.

First, cleaning removes any dirt or other impurities. Next, a sprayer coats the glass with a thin layer of tin

chloride solution. After that, another sprayer applies a very thin coating of silver nitrate solution.

6 “When it’s applied onto this glass surface with the tin already there, it in essence plates,” says Drew

Mayberry at Lenoir Mirror Company in North Carolina. “It creates a surface.” Other factories often use

aluminum solutions instead of silver. But, says Mayberry, “Nothing gives you as true a reflection as a coating

of silver.”

7 The silvery coating is only about two micrometers, or microns, thick, but this is enough to make the

glass opaque1 and to reflect light. Layers of copper, paint, or other material go over the silvery layer to protect

it. Additional processes grind and seal the mirror edges. These steps help to prevent oxidation2, which can

cause black spots. Curved mirrors are made in a similar way, except that the glass curves either inward

(concave) or outward (convex).

More Mirrors

8 With most mirrors, you look through the glass to see your reflection. However, some “first-surface”

mirrors have the reflective coating in front of the glass. These mirrors are more fragile, but they produce

better quality for telescopes and other special uses.

9 The silvery coating also can include different metals. “Nighttime” rearview mirrors in cars often use

lead sulfide, for example, so that approaching headlights don’t blind drivers.

1 opaque: impenetrable by light; cannot be seen through 2 oxidation: the combination of a substance with oxygen Go On

Go On


10 Then there are two-way mirrors. Some are made like standard metallic mirrors, but with a thinner

silvery layer so that they’re not really opaque. Others are highly reflective glass, like that used on the exterior

of some office buildings. In either case, two-way mirrors only work if the room being observed is more

brightly lit than the viewing area. (Think of it as looking into a well-lit room from outside at night. If the

drapes are open, you can see in, but people inside won’t see you.)

High-Performance Mirrors

11 A conventional mirror reflects a broad range of light energy from all angles, but it also absorbs some

of that energy. In many cases, that’s no problem. In high-power applications, though, even a tiny percentage

of energy absorption can destroy that mirror. Also, some applications use only a narrow band of the

electromagnetic spectrum, such as red light or infrared light. That’s where dielectric mirrors come in.

12 “Dielectric is basically a material that does not conduct electricity,” explains Esther Ceren at CVI

Optical Components in California. Examples include aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, and silicon dioxide.

These substances are normally transparent.

13 The manufacturing process layers different dielectric materials inside a vacuum chamber3 at very

high temperatures. “High-performance dielectric mirrors can have 40, even 50 layers, depending on the

application,” says Ceren. Each layer may be less than a millionth of an inch thick.

14 The resulting device reflects back virtually all of the energy within certain wavelengths of the

electromagnetic spectrum4, while letting energy in other wavelengths pass through. Which wavelengths get

reflected depends on the layers’ composition, which varies based on the mirror’s intended use. Many detection

systems use dielectric mirrors. Lasers, copiers, and some astronomy instruments also use dielectric mirrors.

15 Beyond all of this, scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a

mirror that combines some qualities of conventional mirrors with dielectric mirrors. Their “perfect mirror”

(as they call it) can reflect light from many different angles. However, it absorbs little or no energy. And it can

be made to reflect certain wavelengths of energy.

16 Last spring, doctors at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston used the “perfect mirror” to reflect

and direct a laser beam inside a cancer patient. The mirror let doctors remove a tumor with only minimally

invasive surgery, instead of a major operation.

17 Who will develop some of the next advances in mirror technology? Look in the mirror. Maybe it will

be you!

3 vacuum chamber: a space empty of matter 4 electromagnetic spectrum: the range of all possible electromagnetic radiation


8 Which statement best describes the impact

of the author’s word choice in paragraph 1?

A The author uses the word fascinating to express interest in the topic.

B The author uses the word backward to criticize mirror technology.

C The author uses the word find to create a dark and mysterious tone.

D The author uses the word classic to contribute a hint of humor.

9 Read this sentence from the passage.

First, cleaning removes any dirt or

other impurities.

The prefix im- means not. What does the word “impurities” mean?

A useful additions

B fake ingredients

C mysterious objects

D unwanted materials

10 How does the author develop the idea

that mirror-making technology has

advanced over time?

A The author explains how 13th- century mirrors were made and

compares those steps to modern

manufacturing techniques.

B The author compares the production of household mirrors

to the production of mirrors with

specialized uses.

C The author describes how experts are able to transform ordinary glass

into everyday wall mirrors.

D The author reveals that there have been few real changes in mirror-

making since the 13th century.


The mirror let doctors remove a tumor

with only minimally invasive surgery,

instead of a major operation.

Which antonym helps clarify the

meaning of “minimally”?

A mirror

B only

C invasive

D major

12 Which sentence from the text best shows

the author’s intent to provide details

about the process of mirror making?

A “Alice entered a crazy, backward world in Lewis Carroll’s classic book,

Through the Looking Glass.”

B “Now modern mirror-making takes place in factories, with strict quality

control and machines that do much

of the work.”

C “A conventional mirror reflects a broad range of light energy from all

angles, but it also absorbs some of

that energy.”

D “Last spring, doctors at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston

used the “perfect mirror” to reflect

and direct a laser beam inside a

cancer patient.”


Read the passage and the story. Then answer the questions that follow.

Gandhi’s Salt March by Alex DiPaolo

1 In 1930, India was a British colony, and British “salt laws” made it a crime for anyone other than the

British government to produce or sell salt. The government also required people to pay a high salt tax on this

already expensive daily necessity.

2 A movement for Indian independence from British rule had been gaining strength for more than a

decade. Its key figure was Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948), the leader of the Indian National Congress

Party. On January 1, 1930, the Congress Party voted to declare complete independence from British rule.

January 26 was celebrated as Independence Day. The party looked to Gandhi to decide what to do next to

force Britain to accept that declaration.

3 Gandhi believed in nonviolent civil disobedience. He decided that nonviolent resistance to the salt

laws would be a powerful way to draw attention to the oppression of British rule. In a letter to Lord Irwin, the

British viceroy,1 he explained why he regarded “British rule as a curse.” He summarized the “evils” that Britain

had inflicted on India. Gandhi also declared his belief in nonviolent resistance as a powerful force to oppose

those evils. He then boldly announced his plan to break the salt laws:

4 “But if you cannot see your way to deal with these evils and my letter makes no appeal to your heart,

on the 11th day of this month,2 I shall proceed with such coworkers of the Ashram3 as I can take, to disregard

the provisions of the salt laws. . . . As the Independence Movement is essentially for the poorest in the land,

the beginning will be made with this evil. . . .”4

5 The viceroy’s secretary replied to Gandhi’s letter, stating that his Excellency regretted that Gandhi

would be breaking the law and endangering the “public peace.” Frustrated with this response, Gandhi wrote

in the journal Young India, “On bended knees I asked for bread and I have received stone instead.”5

6 Gandhi proceeded with his plan to break the salt laws, attracting international attention. On the

morning of March 12, Gandhi and 78 of his followers set out on a 241-mile march to the village of Dandi on

the Arabian Sea. The march took 24 days. Along the way, Gandhi stopped in villages to make speeches and

give interviews. Addressing large crowds, he called on people to join his nonviolent movement and defy the

British government: to make their own salt, spin their own cloth, and boycott British goods.

7 On April 6, Gandhi and his followers marched to the shore of the Arabian Sea. With over 2,000

supporters watching, Gandhi broke the salt laws by picking up a lump of salt that had dried on the sand.

1 viceroy: the person appointed by the British monarchy to rule colonial India 2 The march, however, started on March 12. 3 Ashram: religious retreat for the followers of a Hindu teacher or leader. Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram was located on the banks of

the Sabarmati River in central India. 4 letter from Gandhi to Lord Irwin, 2 March 1930, in vol. 48, The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, (New Delhi:

Publications Division, Government of India, 1999), 365–366, PDF e-book http://www.gandhiserve.org/cwmg/

VOL048.PDF. 5 Gandhi, column in Young India, 12 March 1930, in vol. 48, The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, 08.

http://www.gandhiserve.org/cwmg/

Go On


8 Gandhi’s act of defiance inspired protests throughout India. Millions of Indians broke the law by

boiling sea water to make salt. Tens of thousands were arrested, beaten, and imprisoned. Gandhi was finally

arrested on May 5, after informing Lord Irwin that he intended to lead a nonviolent march to take over a salt

factory. The march went on without him, and police brutally attacked thousands of unarmed protesters.

Newspapers from around the world reported on the violence, turning Gandhi’s civil disobedience movement

into a media event that discredited the British Empire.

9 Gandhi was released from prison after nine months. By early March 1931, he and Lord Irwin had

negotiated a truce. The British government agreed to hold a conference in London to discuss the possibility of

Indian independence. Gandhi attended, representing the Indian National Congress Party, but the talks broke

down.

10 Although India did not achieve independence until 1947, Gandhi’s Salt March was a major political

turning point. It undermined British authority and attracted worldwide attention to the Indian independence

movement. It also showed ordinary people what they could achieve through the simplest act of protest—

boiling sea water to make salt.


Tales of a Salt Revolutionary by Rebecca Surendra

1 The aunties arrived one by one: first came Aunty Madira, the youngest and cheeriest; then Aunty

Daya, the middle sister and the sternest of the three; and finally Aunty Jenya, the oldest and most generous

with sweets. Mother greeted each of her sisters, who in turn pulled out large glass containers that they’d been

hiding in the folds of their saris. When accepting the containers, Mother cast furtive glances in the direction

of the doors and windows, then quickly carried each container to the kitchen, clutching it close to her body

like it was a guilty secret.

2 While the aunties drank tea in the sitting room, I snuck into the kitchen to find out what was in the

containers. It only took one sniff to recognize the smell: seawater. I was puzzled—why on earth would the

aunties have brought containers of seawater to our home, and why had mother acted so strangely when she

received them? She hadn’t seemed surprised, I wondered to myself—in fact, she seemed to be expecting the

containers. Just as I was contemplating, mother bustled into the kitchen, humming, with a gleam in her eye

and a spring in her step, clearly up to something secretive and exciting. I took a gamble that her good mood

meant it was acceptable for me to ask about the containers. “Why did the aunties all bring containers of

seawater, Mother?”

3 “Today is a big day; we’re going to be revolutionaries, Vikram,” Mother replied quietly, but

enthusiastically. I didn’t reply, though, since I couldn’t figure out what in the world seawater had to do with

revolution. My confusion must have been written all over my face, because Mother chuckled to herself before

she continued. “We’re going to break the salt laws,” she exclaimed, straightening a stray lock of my hair

affectionately. “We’re going to boil that seawater to make our own salt, but you mustn’t tell anyone—not your

cousins or your friends. It’s very important to keep this a secret because we could get in trouble if the

authorities find out.”

4 But her explanation just left me with more questions. Making salt seemed like such a strange thing to

outlaw—after all, didn’t everyone need salt for cooking? “Why is it against the law to make salt, Mother?” My

mind was still struggling to understand.

5 Mother’s smiling face turned serious as she considered how to answer my question. “Because,” she

sighed and sat down, folding her hands in her lap, leaning closer and speaking in a hushed tone, barely louder

than a whisper. “The British authorities have forbidden the unauthorized sale of salt in all of India, saying that

they’re the only ones who are allowed to sell salt, and to make profits they’ve put a very large tax on salt. But if

nobody buys their salt, what do you think will happen then?”

6 The answer seemed obvious to me, but Mother looked as though she expected me to say something

especially smart. “Well, if we don’t buy salt, then, um, nobody would have any salt . . . right?” I looked at Mother

with question marks in my eyes, hoping my answer would be the correct one and that it would please her.

7 “No, darling,” she said, smiling gently. I was disappointed that my answer hadn’t been correct, but it

felt good that my mother wanted to help me figure out the answer. “We’ll always find a way to get salt, even if

the authorities forbid it, because we need salt for our cooking. That’s why we think it is wrong for the British

to control our access to salt—it’s something every family needs. I’m asking you to consider how our boycott of

salt will affect the British rulers.”

Go On


8 Suddenly, as the answer materialized in my mind, my face brightened. “Oh, I understand! If we make

our own salt and don’t buy their taxed salt, then they won’t make any money!”

9 Now Mother was very pleased. “Exactly,” she said, getting more animated by the second. “If enough

people participate in the boycott, the colonial government will lose much of its income, and without enough

money, they can’t maintain control of our country. We’ll have a free India at last!” By now she was standing

and using her hands to gesture while she spoke, and I could see how passionate she was about this cause. I

knew that she had trusted me, even though I was only nine years old, to be a part of things that were very

important to her. “Now, you go keep your brothers and sisters busy—no one comes inside the kitchen, do you

understand? They’re too young to keep such a secret like this.”

10 I nodded and gave Mother a long hug before she returned to the aunties. Replaying our conversation

in my mind, I recalled bits of other conversations I’d overheard in the past—my parents and aunts and uncles

stayed up late talking about politics, their voices full of passion and emotion. I usually fell asleep by the time

they really got going, but I’d picked up a few details; for example, they talked often about a man named

Gandhi, who, I gathered, was a leader of the independence movement. Now that my mind was filled with what

Mother and I had discussed, I wanted to know more about him, so I vowed to pay more attention to their

conversations.

11 As I walked upstairs to where my siblings were playing, I imagined that I, too, was helping Gandhi on

his mission in a small way. I kept the young ones busy, playing games and reading them books. When I heard

the laughing and triumphant shouts from downstairs—We did it! We have broken the salt laws!—I distracted

my little brothers and sisters by singing and clapping my hands. I imagined that by the time they were my age,

there’d be an independent India, free from British colonial rule. The India they’d know would be different.

13 Which of the following claims is best supported by “Gandhi’s Salt March”?

A Many Indians already refused to pay the salt tax.

B Many Indians thought the salt laws were unfair.

C Gandhi believed that breaking the law was always unacceptable.

D Gandhi believed that violence was needed to defeat Britain.

14 Which idea follows from the information in paragraphs 6 and 7 of “Gandhi’s Salt March”?

A Gandhi believed that civil disobedience should be carried out openly to be effective.

B British rule was not the “curse” Gandhi made it out to be.

C Gandhi was a private man who tried to avoid being the center of public attention.

D British rule was ineffective at best and cruel at its worst in India.


15 Paragraphs 6 through 8 of “Gandhi’s Salt March” give details about the Salt March itself. How

does the author develop the ideas in this section of the passage?

A by describing how the protest began with 78 followers but had grown to millions of protesters just two months later

B by contrasting the goals of Gandhi and his followers with those of Lord Irwin and the British government

C by listing the challenges of making the 241-mile march and experiencing the British violence against the protesters

D by looking at the importance of Gandhi’s civil disobedience movement on Indians and other groups

16 In paragraph 8 of “Gandhi’s Salt March,” which synonym helps clarify the meaning of

“defiance”?

A act

B protesters

C disobedience

D violence

17 Based on information in “Gandhi’s Salt March,” which statement best describes the

interactions of Indian protesters and the British?

A Both the protesters and the British were willing to use any methods necessary to achieve their goals.

B The British used the media to expose what they felt were unfair demands by Indian protesters.

C Although the Indians used peaceful resistance in their protests, the British responded violently.

D Although the British wanted to bargain with the protesters, the Indians refused to give up on any of their demands.

Go On


18 In the last paragraph of the historical account, the author states that “Gandhi’s Salt March was

a major political turning point. It undermined British authority. . . .” Which detail from the

passage best supports the author’s claim?

A “Gandhi believed in nonviolent civil disobedience.”

B “The viceroy’s secretary replied to Gandhi’s letter . . .”

C “The march took 24 days.”

D “Newspapers from around the world reported on the violence . . .”

19 Which of the following statements about the containers brought by the aunties in the

beginning of “Tales of a Salt Revolutionary” is accurate?

A They are to be used to create a surprise for the narrator’s mother.

B They contain something that is rare and valuable.

C They are to be used to do something that is forbidden.

D They contain a material that spoils easily.

20 Based on context clues, what is the most likely meaning of the word “boycott” in paragraph 7

of “Tales of a Salt Revolutionary”?

A a government ban on buying a product

B an organized refusal to buy a product

C the illegal production of a product

D an unfair tax on a product

21 Which sentence from the passage best reveals the theme of “Tales of a Salt Revolutionary”?

A “While the aunties drank tea in the sitting room, I snuck into the kitchen to find out what was in the containers.”

B “‘It’s very important to keep this a secret because we could get in trouble if the authorities find out.’”

C “‘I’m asking you to consider how our boycott of salt will affect the British rulers.’”

D “‘If enough people participate in the boycott, the colonial government will lose much of its income, and without enough money, they can’t maintain control of our country.’”


22 Which is the most important way the author develops the central idea that the British salt

laws were unjust in “Tales of a Salt Revolutionary”?

A by showing how secretive the women are about breaking the salt laws

B by revealing the the narrator does not understand his mother’s point of view at first

C by showing through the narrator’s mother’s words what people in India thought about the law

D by revealing the narrator’s desire to say something “especially smart”

23 Which statement best explains the impact of the setting in “Tales of a Salt Revolutionary”?

A The setting allows the narrator to act heroically.

B The events in the plot could have taken place in any setting.

C The specific place and time period set the plot in motion.

D The setting prevents the main characters from getting what they want.

24 Which evidence from “Tales of a Salt Revolutionary” shows that the narrator now fully accepts

his mother’s point of view?

A “The answer seemed obvious to me, but Mother looked as though she expected me to say something especially smart.”

B “‘Well, if we don’t buy salt, then, um, nobody would have any salt . . . right?’”

C ”I was disappointed that my answer hadn’t been correct, but it felt good that my mother wanted to help me figure out the answer.”

D “‘Oh, I understand! If we make our own salt and don’t buy their taxed salt, then they won’t make any money!’”

25 What is one difference between the fiction passage and the historical account?

A The fiction passage shows women breaking the law. The historical account suggests that it was mainly men who broke the law.

B In the fiction passage, the narrator’s mother talks excitedly about a salt boycott. The historical account does not mention a boycott.

C In the fiction passage, the women boil seawater secretly. The historical account suggests that people acted openly to break the salt laws.

D In the fiction passage, the women boil seawater to make salt. The historical account suggests that most people broke the salt laws by collecting salt from beaches.

Go On


26 Which statement explains how historical information is presented differently in the two

passages?

A Most of the historical information in the fiction passage is revealed by the thoughts of the first-person narrator, whereas most of the historical information in the historical

passage is revealed through quotations from Gandhi’s writings.

B Most of the historical information in the fiction passage is revealed through dialogue between the narrator and his mother, whereas most of the historical information in the

historical passage is given from the author’s point of view.

C Most of the historical information in the fiction passage is revealed through quotations from Gandhi’s writings, whereas most of the historical information in the historical

passage is given through the title and headings.

D Most of the historical information in the fiction passage is revealed through flashbacks, whereas most of the historical information in the historical passage is revealed through

quotations from an eye-witness to the Salt March.

27 What is one similarity between “Gandhi’s Salt March” and “Tales of a Salt Revolutionary”?

A Both show how ordinary Indian people engaged in acts of civil disobedience.

B Both show how young people actively participated in Gandhi’s Salt March.

C Both reveal the consequences of engaging in acts of civil disobedience.

D Both show the active role of women in the Indian independence movement.

Go On


This is a rough draft of a report. It has some mistakes. Read the report. Then answer the questions that

follow.

Margaret Knight

Margaret Knight is noted for her many practical inventions, among them the paper bag.

Margaret Knight was born in York, Maine, in 1838. Her nickname was Mattie, and as a young girl,

she was very capable, building kites and sleds for her brothers. From the age of nine through her

teens, she was employed as a worker in a textile mill in Manchester, New Hampshire.

While working at the mill, Mattie witnessed many accidents caused by the shuttle of the

weaving machines that were horrible. The infamous shuttle was known as the “ kiss of

death.” At the tender age of twelve, Mattie invented a stop mechanism to control the shuttle. If

a worker or object was caught in the machine, the stop-action device was

activated. At first no one would listen to her as she attempted to explain the invention.

After all, in addition to being so young, she was a girl. What would a girl know about

machinery? Her brother-in-law convinced the mill manager to hear her out. Her invention was

added to the shuttle and saved many lives.

Because of Mattie ’s life-saving invention, she was hired to work at a paper-bag

factory. Here, Mattie put her creative resources to work again, discovered a new way to


make paper bags that wouldn’ t be flimsy. Her invention would automatically fold and glue

the bags to create a flat bottom. The part she invented is still used today in paper-bag

production.

Margaret Knight was one of the most creative productive female inventors ever. She had 27

patents to her credit. In her later years, she was referred to as the female Edison. After a long

happy life, she died in 1914.

28 Read this sentence from the report.

From the age of nine through her

teens, she was employed as a worker

in a textile mill in Manchester, New

Hampshire.

Which phrase can be taken out of

the sentence without changing the

meaning?

A through her teens

B as a worker

C in a textile mill

D in Manchester, New Hampshire


While working at the mill, Mattie

witnessed many accidents caused by

the shuttle of the weaving machines

that were horrible.

Which revision best corrects the

misplaced modifier in the sentence?

A While working at the mill, Mattie witnessed many accidents caused by

the shuttle of the horrible weaving

machines.

B While working at the mill, Mattie witnessed many accidents caused by

the shuttle of the weaving machines

with horror.

C While working at the mill, Mattie witnessed many horrible accidents

caused by the shuttle of the

weaving machines.

D While working at the mill, horrible Mattie witnessed many accidents

caused by the shuttle of the

weaving machines.



If a worker or object was caught in

the machine, the stop-action device

was activated.

Which describes the underlined sentence

element?

A a clause that can stand alone as a sentence

B a clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence

C a phrase that functions in the sentence as an adverb

D a phrase that functions in the sentence as an adjective


Here, Mattie put her creative

resources to work again, discovered

a new way to make paper bags that

wouldn’t be flimsy.

Which of the following is the best

revision of the sentence?

A Here, Mattie put her creative resources to work again and, she

discovered a new way to make

paper bags that wouldn’t be flimsy.

B Here. Mattie put her creative resources to work again. And she



C Mattie put her creative resources to work again, here discovering a

new way to make paper bags that

wouldn’t be flimsy.

D Here, Mattie put her creative resources to work again, and she




Margaret Knight was one of the most

creative productive female inventors

ever.

Which of the following should replace

the underlined part to make the

sentence correct?

A creative productive, female

B creative, productive female

C creative, productive, female

D creative productive, female,


After a long happy life, she died in

1914.

What is the correct way to write this

sentence?

A After a long, happy life, she died in 1914.

B After a long/happy life, she died in 1914.

C After a long-happy life, she died in 1914.

D After a long happy life she died in 1914.

Go On



The Ozark Big-Eared Bat by Stephanie Petrie

1 What’s the big deal about this little bat? With a thirteen-inch wingspan, the Ozark Big-eared Bat

weighs just under half of an ounce, less than the weight of three quarters. Most of that weight is in its ears,

which are each more than an inch in length. The Ozark Big-eared Bat doesn’t cause much trouble, but it is a

little critter that has landed on the endangered species list.

Characteristics

2 The bat is a rare subspecies of big-eared bat. Like other species, this bat’s food consists primarily of

moths and other night-flying insects. The bats locate their prey using echolocation. In other words, they make

a high-pitched cry which, when directed towards a solid object, echoes back to them.

3 Females usually give birth to one bat pup every spring. Amazingly, the bat pup weighs almost a

quarter of the adult bat’s body weight. At birth, the baby pup’s large ears cover its eyes for the first few days of

its life. Then, the big ears that give the bats their name stand upright or point forward, except during

hibernation, when they curl up, much like the horns of a ram.

Habitat

4 The Ozark Big-eared Bat lives in a few isolated populations, mostly in the limestone caves of the

Ozark mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma. The bats have two types of caves: those used for maternity, and

those used for hibernation. In the summer months, females live together in small colonies. The maternity

caves, where the female bats gather to raise their young, are near food supplies and are well-protected from

nature’s elements. The hibernation caves are where the bats go for the long winter months until spring arrives.

Both males and females live together in the fall and winter for hibernation.

5 The bats prefer to live in caves near forests where there are beech, maple, and hickory trees. They are

secretive in nature and easily disturbed. Normally, a bat will hibernate throughout the winter, relying on fat

stores to stay alive until spring. But because these bats hibernate near the entrance of the caves, their regular

hibernation is easily disturbed when humans enter the caves. This interruption means that they may use up a

significant amount of their fat supply as their metabolism increases. As a result of disturbance, a bat may

starve to death before spring comes and they are able to leave the cave and eat again.

6 Over the years, the Ozark Big-eared Bat’s living territory has been shrinking due to invasion of

human habitation and exploration of the caves in which the bats make their homes. It is estimated that only

around 1,800 of these bats are still alive in the wild.

Efforts at Conservation

7 The United States Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Ozark Big-eared Bat as an endangered species

in 1979. Very little was known about the bat at the time, due to its rarity, isolated habitat, and secretive nature.

In 1986, the Oklahoma Bat Caves National Wildlife Refuge was established. Scientists have been investigating

the bat ever since.


8 Using night-vision scopes and other equipment, scientists can monitor the caves in the preserve.

They can then count and observe the bat population as they leave the cave. Using video equipment means that

the disruption to the bats can be minimized. Even so, any intrusion into their habitat is a disturbance to the

bats. With the small number of bats left in the population, any kind of disturbance is risky, and could push

the bat closer to extinction. For this reason, the value of any field work done is carefully measured against the

potential negative impact on the bats.

Big-eared Bats in Danger

9 The greatest threat to the bat is disturbance by humans. When humans explore these caves they leave

a “footprint” that disturbs the bats. Human interference can cause a bat colony to leave their cave in search of a

new, more remote location. The clearing of forest land for housing development has also had a significant

impact on the bat.

10 Bats definitely need to be protected from this type of invasion by humans. Sometimes cave vandalism

is deliberate, but more often people’s actions stem from ignorance. Bat conservation organizations are making

efforts to educate people about the fragile Ozark Big-eared Bat. As people learn about the bat and its plight,

they often become enthusiastic supporters of bat conservation. While humans will continue to change habitats

to meet their needs, there must also be respect for the creatures that call these habitats home.


When humans explore these caves

they leave a “footprint” that disturbs

the bats. Human interference can

cause a bat colony to leave their cave

in search of a new, more remote

location. The clearing of forest land

for housing development has also had

a significant impact on the bat.

Which of the author’s arguments does

this evidence support?

A “The Ozark Big-eared Bat doesn’t cause much trouble, but it is a

little critter that has landed on the

endangered species list.”

B “The greatest threat to the bat is disturbance by humans.”

C “They are secretive in nature and easily disturbed.”

D “As people learn about the bat and its plight, they often become

enthusiastic supporters of bat

conservation.”


While humans will continue to change

habitats to meet their needs, there

must also be respect for the creatures

that call these habitats home.

Which two words have similar definitions

but slightly different meanings as they

are used in this sentence?

A humans, habitats

B habitats, home

C respect, humans

D creatures, home

Go On


36 One central idea of the passage is that

the danger to these bats requires human

intervention. Which of the following tells

another central idea about the Ozark

Big-eared Bat from the passage?

A The bat weighs less than half an ounce and has an impressive

wingspan of thirteen inches.

B People should not visit the bats’ caves unless they have night-vision

goggles.

C To save the Ozark Big-eared Bat, conservationists are educating cave

visitors.

D Human factors, both intentional and otherwise, account for these bats’

endangered status.

37 Which of the following develops the idea

that people’s actions have had a negative

impact on the bats?

A People educate other people so they will embrace the bats’ cause.

B People set up preserves to keep humans away from the bats.

C People enter the bats’ caves during the months the bats are hibernating.

D People make sure their research impacts bats as little as possible.

38 Which sentence best reveals that people

are working to save the bats?

A “The Ozark Big-eared Bat doesn’t cause much trouble, but it is a

little critter that has landed on the

endangered species list.”

B ”With the small number of bats left in the population, any kind of

disturbance is risky, and could push

the bat closer to extinction.”

C ”The greatest threat to the bat is disturbance by humans.”

D ”Bat conservation organizations are making efforts to educate

people about the fragile Ozark

Big-eared Bat.”

39 Which statement best sums up

the challenges faced by the Ozark

Big-eared Bat?

A Many factors have led to their decline, but the bats can be saved

with careful action.

B The already low population of bats is in danger because of human activity and

their specific habitat needs.

C The bats are sometimes unable to hibernate and often starve over the

winter.

D Scientists discovered the bats in 1979 and added them to a list of

protected species.


Read the play. Then answer the questions that follow.

Heracles and the Cattle of Geryon by Charles F. Baker, Calliope

CHARACTERS

HERACLES: Greek demigod

SAILOR: crew member on Heracles’ ship

NARRATOR

LOOKOUT: crew member on Heracles’ ship

GERYON: three-bodied monster

ACT I

1 Geryon, a three-bodied monster, lives on the island of Erythea to the west, where he tends a herd of cattle

with the help of a giant named Eurytion and a two-headed hound named Orthus. Heracles’ task is to

bring back the cattle to King Eurystheus. The cousin of Heracles and the person who sent him on his

journey of labors, Eurystheus was under the spell of Hera, who whispered commands into his ear.

SCENE 1

2 Heracles is on a golden ship given to him by Helius, the Sun. He is sailing west on the Mediterranean Sea

with his crew.

3 HERACLES (addressing his crew): My Tenth Labor is to bring back the cattle of a creature called

Geryon to my cousin, Eurystheus.

4 SAILOR: How shall we accomplish this fearsome task?

5 HERACLES: With the same courage that helped us complete the previous nine labors.

6 SAILOR: We have come to the end of the sea. We cannot sail through the passage here because it is too

narrow and full of rocks. How shall we get to the island of Erythea in the ocean beyond?

7 HERACLES: I will move the rocks to either side of the passage so that we can continue into the

unknown and thus my next adventure.

8 NARRATOR: Heracles lifts the huge boulders that block the passage onto his shoulders and heaves them

to the sides, creating two large mountains. These come to be known as the Pillars of Heracles, or the

Strait of Gibraltar, as the site is called today. The ship then continues on its journey into the ocean ahead.

Go On


SCENE 2

9 The ship reaches the island of Erythea. Heracles immediately leaves to search for the cattle. Several hours

go by before he is sighted by a lookout.

10 LOOKOUT (shouting): Heracles is coming!

11 SAILOR: Does he have the cattle?

12 LOOKOUT: Yes, he’s bringing them down the valley. There are many of them, and they are red!

13 SAILOR: Is he alone?

14 LOOKOUT: Yes. There is no sign of Geryon.

15 SAILOR: We’ll get ready to bring the cattle aboard.

16 NARRATOR: Heracles refuses the help of the crew and lifts all of the cattle onto the beached ship.

17 SAILOR: Did you see the creature Geryon?

18 HERACLES: No, but I heard from the villagers nearby that he is a terrible monster. They said that he has

the body of three men, joined at the waist but again three men from the hips downward!

19 SAILOR (frightened): Oh, no!

20 HERACLES: They also told me that he is helped by a giant herdsman, Eurytion, and has a fierce,

two-headed dog called Orthus.

21 SAILOR (shaking with fear): I hope they don’t find us before we can push off from shore.

22 HERACLES: At least I don’t feel so bad stealing the cattle of a horrible monster.

23 NARRATOR: Heracles continues to load the cattle onto the ship. Suddenly, a loud roar echoes

throughout the valley from where Heracles has just come. The sailors all turn with a look of terror on

their faces. A gigantic monster with three heads and swinging three huge clubs in three of his hands is

charging toward them on three sets of feet! A ferocious black two-headed dog is running beside him.

Following close by is the giant Eurytion, also swinging a club.

24 The frightened sailors, screaming in terror, all run for safety and board the ship.

25 SAILORS: May the gods protect us!

26 GERYON (speaking in a thunderous voice): Where are my cattle? Who stole my cattle?

27 HERACLES: I did!

28 GERYON: You shall not get away with this evil deed. You will pay for your actions!

29 NARRATOR: With his club, Heracles slays the hound who has run ahead and leaps to attack him.

He then turns to the crew of the ship, shouting an order to them.

30 HERACLES: Get me my bow and poisoned arrows!

31 NARRATOR: Two sailors return from the ship with his weapons.

32 SAILORS (shaking with fear): Please protect us from these fearsome creatures!


33 NARRATOR: The sailors hand Heracles his bow and several arrows. He swiftly kills Geryon and the

giant Eurytion.

34 HERACLES (triumphantly): My Tenth Labor has been completed! Now we must sail back and bring the

cattle to King Eurystheus.

35 SAILOR: I wonder what your next labor will be.

36 HERACLES: My destiny is in the hands of the gods, and I must follow their wishes if I am to gain

immortality.

37 Heracles and his crew complete their journey and deliver the cattle. Heracles then returns his golden ship

to the Sun. Eurystheus sacrifices the cattle to Hera, and Heracles continues on to his next adventure, once

again to the lands of the unknown, to return some day as a hero and a god.

40 How does the setting in Scene 1 contribute to the reader’s understanding of Heracles?

A The end of the sea lets the reader know that this will be Heracles’ last voyage.

B Facing the narrow passage proves how Heracles is fearful of challenges.

C The rocks provide a chance to show one of Heracles’ important skills.

D Sailing in the Mediterranean Sea demonstrates that Heracles prefers traveling by ship.

41 Read these sentences from the play.

The sailors all turn with a look of terror on their faces. A gigantic monster with three heads

and swinging three huge clubs in three of his hands is charging toward them on three sets

of feet!

How does the repetition of the word “three” add to a feeling of dread?

A by illustrating how great a danger the sailors are facing

B by proving that no one could escape from the monster alive

C by making the monster seem scarier than it actually is

D by identifying the monster as a made-up creature

Go On


42 What is the effect of the author breaking “Heracles and the Cattle of Geryon” into two

scenes?

A The first scene allows the narrator to develop the setting, while the second scene explains the origins of the characters.

B The reader sees a very different but equally important side of Heracles in each scene.

C The monsters’ traits are established in the first scene, so the dangers of Heracles' actions are understood in the second scene.

D The absence of Geryon in the first scene leads to a feeling of hope among the sailors that is supported in the second scene.

43 Which sentence from the passage best shows that Heracles is favored by the Greek gods?

A “He then turns to the crew of the ship, shouting an order to them.”

B “Two sailors return from the ship with his weapons.”

C “Heracles and his crew complete their journey and deliver the cattle.”

D “Heracles then returns his golden ship to the Sun.”

44 Which of the following lines best reveals a theme of “Heracles and the Cattle of Geryon”?

A “No, but I heard from the villagers nearby that he is a terrible monster.”

B “These come to be known as the Pillars of Heracles, or the Strait of Gibraltar, as the site is called today.”

C “Suddenly, a loud roar echoes throughout the valley from where Heracles has just come.”

D “With the same courage that helped us complete the previous nine labors.”

Go On


45 How is the idea of Geryon’s fearsomeness developed throughout “Heracles and the Cattle of

Geryon”?

A Heracles first moves the rocks, and later he moves the cattle by himself.

B The sailors become more and more afraid in each scene of the play.

C At first Geryon does not notice Heracles, but then he becomes angry.

D The king is said to be under the spell of Hera who whispers in his ear.

46 Which statement would best begin a summary of the play?

A Heracles leaves with a group of sailors to recover his cousin Eurystheus’s cattle.

B Heracles seems to be excited to begin his journey across the Mediterranean Sea.

C Heracles and his sailors come to a passage that is too narrow for their ship to pass through.

D Heracles is a Greek demigod who performs a series of labors to prove his strength.


Read the passages. Then answer the questions that follow.

Did Franklin Really Collect Electric Fire

from the Sky? by Neve Reed

1 The story of Benjamin Franklin and his kite experiment is one that captivates people of all ages. It

begins when a thunderstorm is on its way. Most of the sensible people in the area are indoors seeking shelter.

But not Benjamin Franklin! He’s flying a kite with a piece of metal attached to the top. His goal: to prove that

lightning is a form of electricity. The story goes that a bolt of lightning soon struck his kite, traveling down the

string and charging a metal key near the end. Franklin touched the key, and the “very evident electric spark”

he felt proved his theory correct.

2 This experiment is much more exciting than the idea of a scientist writing a paper at a desk or

working in the laboratory. However, it’s also quite likely that it didn’t happen, at least not in the way people

imagine. Evidence for this statement comes from numerous sources, including current knowledge and

correspondence written by Franklin himself.

Priestley’s Account of Franklin’s Experiment

3 Joseph Priestley was the man who recounted the story of Franklin’s experiment conducted in 1752.

June 15th is often cited as the date. An entire chapter of Priestley’s book, The History and Present State of

Electricity with Original Experiments, is devoted to Franklin’s work on the similarities between electricity and lightning. He explains how Franklin planned to use a kite to draw “lightning from the clouds,” and gives an

account of the actual experiment.

4 There are a few points that should be made about Priestley’s account. The first is that it’s not clear

exactly where his information comes from. Priestley says it was obtained from the “best authority,” but then

goes on to say that Franklin’s son was the only witness present during the experiment. If the information

came from Franklin himself, why didn’t Priestley say so?

5 The second is that a close reading of the section that describes the actual experiment does not

explicitly state that the kite was struck by a bolt of lightning. He does mention thunderstorms and drawing lightning from the clouds. But is it possible that “lightning” is being used interchangeably with “electrical

charges” here, an assertion that is supported by the thoughts of some modern scientists? Wouldn’t the actual

dramatic lightning strike have been a focus of Priestley’s story? If, that is, it actually took place.


Franklin’s Letter

6 One of the best pieces of evidence we have comes from Franklin himself. In 1752, he wrote a letter to

a friend. In it, he describes how he performed the experiment.

7 However, some believe Franklin was merely describing how he would theoretically use a kite to prove that electricity and lightning were one in the same. There are several details about the setup that would make

actually performing the experiment impractical. These include flying the kite from inside a building, keeping

the silk ribbon dry, and not allowing the twine to touch any portion of the door or window.

8 Furthermore, the letter is far from a formal description of Franklin’s hypothesis, procedure, results,

and conclusions. It would seem likely that Franklin would have presented his findings to the scientific

community in an official report, but there is no indication that one exists.

The Danger Factor

9 One of the strongest pieces of evidence against the commonly held belief that Franklin’s kite was

struck by lightning is that he most likely wouldn’t have survived. This was proven through an investigation

conducted on a popular television program. The analysis showed that the massive amount of electricity in a

bolt of lightning could have traveled down a wet piece of twine and charged a metal key at the end. However,

the chances that Franklin could have touched the metal and lived to tell others about it are slim to none.

Additionally, it’s likely the scientist himself would have known the dangers of touching something that had

been struck by lightning based on his previous work with electricity.

What Current Scientists Believe

10 Some believe that the experiment never actually took place at all. A more likely explanation based on

the information available, though, is that Franklin did fly a kite a short time before a thunderstorm. The storm clouds would have contained the same static electricity found in lightning, although in much smaller

amounts. These charged clouds could have produced the results described by Priestley in his well-known

account. The investigation still probably wasn’t the wisest idea on Franklin’s part, but it is entirely possible that

the scientist could have completed this version of the experiment and escaped unharmed.

Go On


Franklin’s Strike of Brilliance by Marshall Greggs

1 Benjamin Franklin was one of the country’s Founders and a prominent eighteenth century scientist.

Few people today would dispute the importance of his studies on electricity. But, there is still debate about the

nature of his kite experiment, and whether it ever actually took place at all. The story goes that Franklin went

out in a lightning storm and “proved” that lightning was a form of electricity when a bolt struck the metal

attached to his kite.

2 As incredible as it may seem, there are several pieces of evidence that suggest the kite story is true.

First, there are accounts that were written during Franklin’s time. Second, many elements of both accounts are

supported by what we know today about the nature of electricity and lightning.

From the Pen of Franklin Himself

3 It was not some unknown person who shared the details of Franklin’s kite experiment. Nor did

another scientist guess about how he performed it after the fact. Rather, Franklin personally recorded the

specifics in a letter addressed to a man by the name of Peter Collinson.

4 In his letter, Franklin clearly describes how he built the kite. He also conveys that the investigation

took place during a storm when he says “This kite is to be raised when a thunder-gust appears to be coming

on . . .” and “As soon as any of the thunder clouds come over the kite, the pointed wire will draw the electric

fire from them . . .”

5 Some people today feel that this account is hypothetical. In other words, Franklin is describing how

he would have done the experiment. A quick scan of the first paragraph of his letter, however, suggests this is not the case. He clearly states that the experiment “has succeeded.” There is only one obvious way to interpret

this wording: that the experiment had already been performed at the time Franklin penned the letter.

Priestley’s Account of the Kite Experiment

6 Franklin wasn’t the only person who described his plan to harness the electrical fire from the sky.

Joseph Priestley, a scientist of Franklin’s time and author of several books, also explained it in detail. In fact,

he devoted a substantial section of his 1775 book, which was titled The History and Present State of Electricity

with Original Experiments, to the work of Benjamin Franklin.

7 Speaking of Franklin’s dangerous investigation, Priestley stated that “Dr. Franklin, astonishing as it

must have appeared, contrived actually to bring lightning from the heavens, by means of an electrical kite,

which he raised when a storm of thunder was perceived to be coming on. This kite had a pointed wire fixed

upon it, by which it drew the lightning from the clouds.” He also explained that after the kite appeared to be

“electrified,” Franklin “presented his knuckle to the key” and “perceived a very evident electric spark.”

8 Priestley himself was a scientist. Therefore, it seems unlikely that he would use the term “lightning”

instead of “electrical charges,” something that has been suggested by skeptics. And it is hard to imagine that

he would have been willing to lie and risk his reputation, and possibly his entire career, to make up a story

about Franklin.


Support from Other Scientists of the Time

9 Priestley suggests in his book that Franklin was not the only person to perform the kite experiment.

He states that others also succeeded, and that “electricians” in France confirmed Franklin’s theory about

lightning being a form of electricity before the kite experiment was ever completed. On their own, these

statements do not necessarily mean that the accounts described above are completely accurate. However, the

fact that other scientists did similar work does make them more believable.

Franklin’s Experiment: Sound Science

10 A final piece of evidence that must be mentioned is that both accounts are consistent with what

scientists now know about lightning and electrical charges. For example, thunder clouds carry negative

charges. These charges could travel down a string to a piece of metal (the key mentioned in both accounts).

Opposite charges attract. Franklin’s body would have carried a positive charge. If he brought any part of his

body near the key, the charge could have definitely “jumped” from the key to him. This would account for the

“spark” or “electric fire” described by the two scientists. If the reports by Franklin and Priestley were largely

made up, there is a good chance that at least some of the details would contradict current knowledge.

11 Was Franklin’s kite experiment dangerous? Yes. Would any scientist today try to recreate it? Probably

not. Could Franklin have been seriously injured or worse? Absolutely. However, none of these questions or

answers is a good reason to doubt that the daring scientist’s experiment actually took place.

47 The author of “Did Franklin Really Collect Electric Fire from the Sky?” states that it is quite

unlikely that Franklin’s kite experiment happened as we think. What sentence from the

passage provides evidence for the author’s belief?

A “The story of Benjamin Franklin and his kite experiment is one that captivates people of all ages.”

B “However, the chances that Franklin could have touched the metal and lived to tell others about it are slim to none.”

C “Some believe that the experiment never actually took place at all.”

D “These charged clouds could have produced the results described by Priestley in his well- known account.”

48 Based on the information in “Did Franklin Really Collect Electric Fire from the Sky?” how did

Priestley’s account influence some modern scientists?

A It drove them to question, in general, the way that experiments are set up.

B It compelled them to seek the truth by recreating the experiment on television.

C It led them to look for an alternate meaning for a term used to describe the experiment.

D It convinced them that there was, in fact, no witness at all to the experiment.

Go On


49 According to “Did Franklin Really Collect Electric Fire from the Sky?” there are two main

reasons that Franklin’s experiment was doubtful. Which of these statements best expresses

those two reasons?

A Such an experiment would have been unsafe and impractical. In addition, it was poorly recorded for the scientific community.

B Franklin admitted in his letter that he had actually conducted the experiment before the storm. The setup for the experiment was impossible, as well.

C Priestley’s eyewitness account did not include any details. Also, a television show proved the lightning would not have reached the key.

D Franklin’s prediction about electricity and lightning proved false. Moreover, the dramatic lightning bolt was definitely just an “electrical charge.”

50 How do the four sections with headings support the main ideas in “Did Franklin Really Collect

Electric Fire from the Sky?”

A Each section offers a problem with the lightning story and an alternative solution for what might have happened.

B Two of the sections focus on different causes for the writer’s doubt, while the other two show how it might have happened.

C Three sections describe why the experiment probably did not occur, while the other offers a possible alternative.

D Each section compares and contrasts different accounts of the experiment, including those of people in the past and present.

51 What is the author’s main purpose for writing “Did Franklin Really Collect Electric Fire from

the Sky?”

A She argues that Franklin’s experiment did not happen as reported.

B She shows Priestley intentionally gave a false account of Franklin’s experiment.

C She questions modern interpretations of Franklin’s experiment.

D She separates scientific facts about electricity from Franklin’s opinions.


52 Which inference can you draw from “Did Franklin Really Collect Electric Fire from the Sky?”

A The smaller amounts of static electricity in clouds before a storm actually endangered Franklin just as much as real lightning would have.

B The idea of a death-defying experiment is thrilling, but the reality is that Franklin likely would not have risked his life for science.

C Because he focused neither on the difficulties nor dangers of flying a kite indoors, Priestley’s account is weakened.

D Franklin was probably more interested in making an exciting scientific story than in harnessing the true power of electricity.

53 Read this thesaurus entry.

Now, read this sentence from “Franklin’s Strike of Brilliance.”

In fact, he devoted a substantial section of his 1775 book, which was titled The History and

Present State of Electricity with Original Experiments, to the work of Benjamin Franklin.

Which of the thesaurus entries would best replace the word “substantial” in this sentence?

A considerable

B physical

C husky

D meaningful

54 In the section of “Franklin’s Strike of Brilliance” that is headed “Franklin’s Experiment: Sound

Science,” how does the author set his position apart from critics of Franklin’s experiment?

A by proposing that modern scientists would not attempt something similar

B by listing the specific scientific facts of the experiment

C by emphasizing the very real danger of the experiment

D by saying that invented results would have been exposed over time

substantial (adj) 1. considerable, meaningful

2. husky, oversized 3. physical, concrete

Go On


55 Read these sentences from “Franklin’s Strike of Brilliance.”

If he brought any part of his body near the key, the charge could have definitely “jumped”

from the key to him. This would account for the “spark” or “electric fire” described by the

two scientists.

How do these sentences support the author’s claim that the experiment really occurred?

A Electricity, as Franklin proved, can act unpredictably. In this particular experiment, the “spark” was probably not electricity. However, similar results from French scientists

suggest that the experiment must have happened.

B In science, results for similar experiments should be similar. Franklin’s account lines up with modern observation of the same phenomenon. Therefore, the experiment must

have occurred.

C The details of the experiment are needed for understanding whether the experiment could have happened at all. While these happen to be unimportant details, they relate

strongly to Priestley’s account. Therefore, the experiment must have happened.

D Science is based not only upon experimental investigation of nature, but also upon human contact with nature. If this detail about Franklin’s body drawing the charge from

the key were not included, we would not believe that the experiment occurred.

56 Read this sentence from “Franklin’s Strike of Brilliance.”

If the reports by Franklin and Priestley were largely made up, there is a good chance that at

least some of the details would contradict current knowledge.

What does the word “contradict” mean in this sentence?

A support with evidence

B experiment with

C transform into

D state the contrary of


57 Which detail from “Franklin’s Strike of Brilliance” supports the ideas that the experiment

happened, and happened as Franklin described it?

A “Speaking of Franklin’s dangerous investigation, Priestley stated that ‘Dr. Franklin, astonishing as it must have appeared, contrived actually to bring lightning from the

heavens, by means of an electrical kite, which he raised when a storm of thunder was

perceived to be coming on.’”

B “And it is hard to imagine that he would have been willing to lie and risk his reputation, and possibly his entire career, to make up a story about Franklin.”

C “He states that others also succeeded, and that ‘electricians’ in France confirmed Franklin’s theory about lightning being a form of electricity before the kite experiment

was ever completed.”

D “If the reports by Franklin and Priestley were largely made up, there is a good chance that at least some of the details would contradict current knowledge.”

58 What was the author’s main reason for writing “Franklin’s Strike of Brilliance”?

A to contest the facts in Priestley’s account of the experiment

B to argue that Franklin’s experiment was not only possible but actually occurred

C to suggest the experiment’s results aren’t quite supported by modern knowledge

D to propose that French “electricians” were superior scientists

59 What is a major way in which the two passages differ in their treatment of Priestley’s account

of the experiment?

A One passage uses Priestley’s profession to support its argument, while the other questions his sources and documentation of facts.

B One passage discusses Priestley’s unfamiliarity with Franklin’s scientific ventures, while the other claims he knew Franklin’s work well.

C One passage uses direct quotations from Priestley’s account to prove its point, while the other ignores his actual words entirely.

D One passage denies that Priestley took any part in the experiment, while the other gives a detailed account of his direct involvement.

Go On


60 Which evidence stated in “Franklin’s Strike of Brilliance” shows an essential piece of

information that the author of “Did Franklin Really Collect Electric Fire from the Sky?”

left out?

A “It was not some unknown person who shared the details of Franklin’s kite experiment.”

B “He clearly states that the experiment ‘has succeeded.’”

C “This kite had a pointed wire fixed upon it, by which it drew the lightning from the clouds.”

D “Could Franklin have been seriously injured or worse? Absolutely.”

Go On


This is a rough draft of a report. It has some mistakes. Read the report. Then answer the questions that

follow.

Father of the National Park System

John Muir was an important American environmentalist. Muir was born in 1838 in

Dunbar, Scotland. After he emigrated with his family to the United States in 1849, he

became fascinated by the natural beauty of Wisconsin. Although he had had little formal

education, Muir studied natural sciences at the University of Wisconsin in childhood.

In 1867, Muir was blinded in an accident in a carriage factory. He recovered his sight but

decided to quit factory work and study nature instead. He began a thousand mile trek to Florida

and Cuba. Following a trip to California in 1868, Muir was captivated by the

Sierra Nevada and Yosemite Valley. However, Muir later became very concerned about the

destruction of land caused by the grazing of sheep and cattle. Alarmed by the damage, Muir

lobbied for forest conservation, wrote articles, and gave public lectures. As a result of his efforts

to protect the wilderness, Congress created Yosemite National Park in 1890.

Muir ’s ef forts yielded other positive results. For example, he urged the creation of

other national parks, including Sequoia, Grand Canyon, and Mount Rainier. For this reason, Muir

became known as the father of the national park system. In 1892, Muir and some of


his supporters founded the Sierra Club. Its purpose was to preserve the Sierra Nevada,

and the Sierra Club boasts 750,000 members today.

In addition to being a pioneer in conservation, Muir was also a renowned and

accomplished nature writer. His books include The Mountains of California, Steep

Trails, and My First Summer in the Sierra. Following John Muir’s death in 1914, the John Muir Trail

in California was created to honor John Muir.


Although he had had little formal education, Muir studied natural sciences at the University of Wisconsin in childhood.

Which revision best corrects the misplaced modifier in the sentence?

A Although he had had little formal education, Muir studied in childhood natural sciences at the University of Wisconsin.

B Although he had had little formal education, Muir studied natural sciences in childhood at the University of Wisconsin.

C Although in childhood he had had little formal education, Muir studied natural sciences at the University of Wisconsin.

D Although he had had little formal education, Muir in childhood studied natural sciences at the University of Wisconsin.

62 Which of the following groups of words from the passage is a dependent clause?

A “After he emigrated with his family to the United States in 1849”

B “Alarmed by the damage”

C “In addition to being a pioneer in conservation”

D “Muir was also a renowned and accomplished nature writer”

Go On



Its purpose was to preserve the Sierra Nevada, and the Sierra Club boasts 750,000 members

today.

What type of sentence is this?

A simple

B compound

C complex

D compound-complex


In addition to being a pioneer in conservation, Muir was also a renowned and accomplished nature writer.

Which of the following edits does not change the meaning of the underlined part of the sentence?

A a renowned, accomplished nature writer

B a renowned but accomplished nature writer

C a renowned or accomplished, nature, writer

D a renowned (accomplished) nature writer


Following John Muir’s death in 1914, the John Muir Trail in California was created to honor

John Muir.

Which revision best eliminates the wordiness in the sentence?

A Following John Muir’s death in 1914, the John Muir Trail in California was created to honor John.

B Following John Muir’s death in 1914, a trail in California was created to honor John Muir.

C Following his death in 1914, the John Muir Trail in California was created to honor him.

D Following his death in 1914, to honor John Muir a trail in California called the John Muir

Trail was created.

STOP

english language arts: grade 7...from right ho, jeeves excerpts from right ho, jeeves by p. g....

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