rskills® progress monitoring test...

Test 2b

rBook Flex II

NAME: DATE:

rSkills Test 2b, page

rSkills Progress Monitoring®

DIRECTIONS: This is a reading test. Follow the directions for each partof the test, and choose the best answer to each question.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

1

Sample .A Mara listened to music after lunch. Then she and her friend Tianiawent to the mall.What did Mara do right after lunch?

She called her friend.She ate a snack.She listened to music.She went to the mall.

Sample .B The ship was so enormous that it took us ten minutes to walk fromthe front to the back.A synonym for enormous is—

huge.colorful.loud.crowded.

See Answer Key at end of test.

Go on to the next page to begin the test.TM ® & © Scholastic Inc. All rights reserved.

rBook Flex IIrSkills Test 2b, page 2

ComprehensionRead the following government text. Then answer questions 1–5.

China’s Three Gorges DamThe mighty Yangtze River is Asia’s longest river. More than 50 years ago

Chairman Mao dreamed of building a dam on the river. “The dam will cut through the clouds and rain,” wrote Mao in a poem. “And a smooth lake willappear amid the deep canyons.”

Mao’s dream came true in 2006. But it had some unplanned consequences.

A Solution to Old ProblemsFrom southwest China the Yangtze flows east to the city of Shanghai. For

thousands of years it brought food and soil—and sometimes terrible floods—tothe millions who live near it. In 1992, China’s Congress finally voted to build theThree Gorges Dam on the Yangtze. Even then, there were fears about what harmbuilding a dam could do.

China’s leaders hoped that the good points would outweigh the bad. TheYangtze often flooded in the past, killing thousands of people at a time. Its fastflow and whirlpools made boat travel dangerous. By controlling the river, thedam would make floods less likely to happen. The flow of the river could also beused to generate electricity.

Building the dam created a 360 mile “smooth lake” behind it called areservoir. There are no rapids or whirlpools in the new reservoir, so shipping hasimproved. The dam generates enough electricity to power 18.2 million homes.

New ProblemsHowever, at more than $100 billion and counting, the project has been

expensive. The reservoir needed a lot more land. Before the dam could be built,more than 1.3 million people were forced to move. These people received poorland or tiny apartments in return. They lost work and income. Many people whowere used to growing their own food could no longer do so. Corrupt officialstook some of the money these people should have gotten.

The reservoir’s banks have eroded quickly, causing landslides. Millionsmore people had to move, and more money went to building up areas that weresliding.

Along with people’s homes, the dam covered old mines, factories, andtrash dumps. The waste from these places makes the water dirty and unsafe todrink. Cleaning up the water will cost even more.

The rising waters also affected fishing. According to some people who fishfor a living, the fish now hide in the middle of the reservoir, where dense waterplants protect them from fishing nets. In the East China Sea, the amount of fishcaught each year is decreasing. One reason is that the dam keeps back algae andtiny organisms that used to flow into the sea, so fish cannot feed on them.

Even the flooding may return. Because the river now carries less soil, thewater below the dam flows faster. The speedy current is washing awayriverbanks, making flooding more likely.

Perhaps scariest of all is the chance of earthquakes. Earthquakes havebroken other dams in China and caused huge floods. If the Three Gorges Damwas damaged in an earthquake, flooding would be massive.

In September 2007, officials admitted that the dam has caused manyproblems. In fact, they said, the project could cause a huge disaster if preventivesteps are not taken soon. In the shadow of Three Gorges Dam, China’s peoplehope that the problems will be solved soon so the benefits can be enjoyed. Thepeople of China understand that a project of this size will have some problems.But the project can also provide great benefits to millions of people.

GO ONTM ® & © Scholastic Inc. All rights reserved.


The mighty Yangtze River is Asia’s longest river. More than 50 years agoChairman Mao dreamed of building a dam on the river. “The dam will cutthrough the clouds and rain,” wrote Mao in a poem. “And a smooth lake willappear amid the deep canyons.”



thousands of years it brought food and soil—and sometimes terrible floods—tothe millions who live near it. In 1992, China’s Congress finally voted to build theThree Gorges Dam on the Yangtze. Even then, there were fears about what harm building a dam could do.


Building the dam created a 360 mile “smooth lake” behind it called a reservoir. There are no rapids or whirlpools in the new reservoir, so shipping hasimproved. The dam generates enough electricity to power 18.2 million homes.











The mighty Yangtze River is Asia’s longest river. More than 50 years agoChairman Mao dreamed of building a dam on the river. “The dam will cutthrough the clouds and rain,” wrote Mao in a poem. “And a smooth lake willappear amid the deep canyons.”



thousands of years it brought food and soil—and sometimes terrible floods—tothe millions who live near it. In 1992, China’s Congress finally voted to build theThree Gorges Dam on the Yangtze. Even then, there were fears about what harmbuilding a dam could do.


Building the dam created a 360 mile “smooth lake” behind it called a reservoir. There are no rapids or whirlpools in the new reservoir, so shipping hasimproved. The dam generates enough electricity to power 18.2 million homes.









1 What is this text mostly about?.

why the Yangtze floodsbad floods in Chinawhy dams are a bad ideaa new dam built in China

2 Which sentence from the text begins with a sequence signal phrase?.

In 1992, China’s Congress finally voted to build the Three Gorges Damon the Yangtze.By controlling the river, the dam would make floods less likely.Along with people’s homes, the dam covered old mines, factories, andtrash dumps.Because the river now carries less silt, the water below the dam flowsfaster.

3 Which event happened before the Three Gorges Dam was built?.

Fish disappeared from the East China Sea.More than 1.3 million people had to move.Waste from mines made the reservoir dirty.Shipping on the Yangtze River improved.



4. Which detail supports the view that the dam was a good idea?The dam has created a reservoir that is 360 miles long.Chairman Mao wrote a poem about putting a dam on the Yangtze.The dam generates enough electricity for millions of homes.People living along the Yangtze no longer grow their own food.

5. Which event happened last?The reservoir covered hundreds of cities, towns, and villages.Earthquakes caused huge floods in China.Fish became harder to catch on the Yangtze River.Officials admitted that the Three Gorges Dam has created many problems.



Read the following world cultures text. Then answer questions 6–10.

China’s New Economic Development ZoneKashgar, China. China’s central government has announced plans for a

new Economic Development Zone (EDZ) in Kashgar. This is an area that isplanned and built to bring in business. The Kashgar province is located near theborder with Tajikistan. This will be the first EDZ in that part of China. Kashgar’snew status will bring plenty of trade and business, but not without controversy.

As an EDZ, Kashgar will receive financial help from the government. Thismoney will repair old roads and railroads and build new ones. New buildings arealso being planned. For five years, businesses in the province pay lower taxesthan other parts of China so they can make more money.

In return, the Kashgar EDZ is expected to greatly increase trade withCentral Asia. The region has 1.3 billion potential customers. China wants theirbusiness.

An Ancient MarketplaceKashgar already hosts the world’s largest open-air market. Traders meet

there weekly to sell everything from cloth to melons to horses. New businesseswill add to that exchange. New factories will create more jobs. Having EDZstatus will help Kashgar attract people willing to help start new businesses,bringing more money into the province. Officials also hope that better traderelations will help avoid political conflicts with other countries.

Kashgar has been a center for buying and selling goods since ancient times.Located between desert and mountains near two large rivers, it was a key stop onthe east–west route called the Silk Road.

Little is known about Kashgar’s early history. It was first settled in thesecond century BCE. A group of people called the Uighurs (WEE-goors) settledin Kashgar in the 800s. The area was invaded numerous times. Its first ruler wasGenghis Khan in the thirteenth century. Another famous raider, Tamerlane, tookover in the fourteenth century. Over the next 500 years, various Mongol, Turkic,Chinese, and other groups fought to control the area. In the 1800s, the British andRussians also got involved. Finally, in 1884, the province officially became partof China. After the Communists took control of China in 1949, Kashgar wasmade an “Autonomous Region,” meaning that it would have its own local government. Through it all, Kashgar remained an important place to do business.

Modernizing KashgarToday, China’s announcement about Kashgar’s EDZ status comes soon

after some controversial actions in the area. Starting in 2009, a large part ofKashgar’s Old City was torn down. People were forced to leave their homes.(Some houses had been owned by the same family for generations.) Entire blockswere bulldozed. Modern apartments will replace traditional mud huts. New shopswill open in place of crowded bazaars. Wider streets will allow cars and trucks toget through.

Worldwide, people mourned the loss of this historic area. For centuries, Kashgar was a major Islamic learning center. Scholars traveled there from allover Asia. Its mosques (Islamic holy buildings) were a collection of Islamicarchitecture. Its mazelike streets preserved an ancient way of life. Now those aregone. Only a small section remains as a kind of tourist museum.

The Uighur QuestionSome believe the new development was intended to break the Uighurs’

spirit. The Uighurs are a Turkic people. They are a large group in the provincebut a minority in China as a whole. Their language is different from other parts ofChina. So are their customs and religion. Most Uighurs are Muslim, while mostChinese are not religious. Some Uighurs want the province to be independent.All these factors have led to conflicts with the Chinese people who live inKashgar. Some of the confrontations have become violent.

Chinese officials deny that the Kashgar project was anti-Uighur. The OldCity was dangerous, they say. It was too crowded. The old buildings would notstand up to fires and earthquakes. They were just protecting their citizens.

Whatever the truth, there is agreement on one point. Modernizing centralKashgar will make it easier for new businesses to move in. And new business iswhat China’s latest Economic Development Zone is all about.



Kashgar, China. China’s central government has announced plans for anew Economic Development Zone (EDZ) in Kashgar. This is an area that isplanned and built to bring in business. The Kashgar province is located near theborder with Tajikistan. This will be the first EDZ in that part of China. Kashgar’snew status will bring plenty of trade and business, but not without controversy.






Little is known about Kashgar’s early history. It was first settled in thesecond century BCE. A group of people called the Uighurs (WEE-goors) settledin Kashgar in the 800s. The area was invaded numerous times. Its first ruler wasGenghis Khan in the thirteenth century. Another famous raider, Tamerlane, tookover in the fourteenth century. Over the next 500 years, various Mongol, Turkic,Chinese, and other groups fought to control the area. In the 1800s, the British andRussians also got involved. Finally, in 1884, the province officially became partof China. After the Communists took control of China in 1949, Kashgar wasmade an “Autonomous Region,” meaning that it would have its own local government. Through it all, Kashgar remained an important place to do business.

Modernizing Kashgar Today, China’s announcement about Kashgar’s EDZ status comes soon





Chinese officials deny that the Kashgar project was anti-Uighur. The OldCity was dangerous, they say. It was too crowded. The old buildings would notstand up to fires and earthquakes. They were just protecting their citizens.




Kashgar, China. China’s central government has announced plans for anew Economic Development Zone (EDZ) in Kashgar. This is an area that isplanned and built to bring in business. The Kashgar province is located near theborder with Tajikistan. This will be the first EDZ in that part of China. Kashgar’snew status will bring plenty of trade and business, but not without controversy.






Little is known about Kashgar’s early history. It was first settled in thesecond century BCE. A group of people called the Uighurs (WEE-goors) settledin Kashgar in the 800s. The area was invaded numerous times. Its first ruler wasGenghis Khan in the thirteenth century. Another famous raider, Tamerlane, tookover in the fourteenth century. Over the next 500 years, various Mongol, Turkic,Chinese, and other groups fought to control the area. In the 1800s, the British andRussians also got involved. Finally, in 1884, the province officially became partof China. After the Communists took control of China in 1949, Kashgar wasmade an “Autonomous Region,” meaning that it would have its own localgovernment. Through it all, Kashgar remained an important place to do business.

Modernizing KashgarToday, China’s announcement about Kashgar’s EDZ status comes soon





Chinese officials deny that the Kashgar project was anti-Uighur. The Old City was dangerous, they say. It was too crowded. The old buildings would notstand up to fires and earthquakes. They were just protecting their citizens.




6. What is the main idea of this text?China plans to build new factories in Kashgar.China has created a new Economic Development Zone in Kashgar.China wants to modernize trade and business.China has been in conflict with the Uighur people in Kashgar.

7. Who took control of the Kashgar area first?the RussiansTamerlanethe CommunistsGenghis Khan

8. Which event occurred after Kashgar became an official part of China?Parts of Kashgar’s Old City were destroyed.The Uighurs moved into Kashgar.Kashgar became an important trading center.The Silk Road was routed through Kashgar.

9. Look at the map. If you traveled through Kashgar on the Old Silk Roadgoing west, you would travel into—

Tajikistan.Pakistan.Kazakhstan.Tibet.



10. In recent years, Kashgar has been the site of many conflicts between theChinese and the—

Mongols.silk traders.Uighurs.communists.



Vocabulary/Word StudyRead each question and decide which is the best answer. Fill in the circle next to the answer you have chosen.

11. Our school was built to endure a hurricane without getting damaged.A synonym for endure is—

collapse.withstand.create.utilize.

12. The chef thought the soup was too bland, so he added more salt and spices.A synonym for bland is—

flavorless.messy.bitter.spicy.

13. When our team started winning, we were so enthusiastic that we cheered.Which word is a synonym for enthusiastic?

silentconfusedexcitedupset



14. That company uses wind power to generate electricity.A synonym for generate is—

consume.introduce.exchange.create.

15. Which words are antonyms?massive/hugesevere/harshslowly/swiftlydifficult/tough

16. Rachel’s upbeat attitude puts the rest of the team in a good mood.An antonym for upbeat is—

healthy.negative.cheerful.normal.

17. The airplane began to descend toward the runway.An antonym for descend is—

drop.pilot.climb.schedule.



18. I can tell that Aunt Sonya is a dancer by how gracefully she walks.An antonym for gracefully is—

smoothly.bravely.quickly.awkwardly.



ConventionsRead each question and decide which is the best answer. Fill in the circle next to the answer you have chosen.

19. What is the best way to correct this sentence and fragment?A car coming down his street. Wyatt jumped off the porch.

A car coming down his street because Wyatt jumped off the porch.Coming down his street, Wyatt jumped off the porch.Jumping off the porch, a car came down Wyatt's street.As a car came down his street, Wyatt jumped off the porch.

20. What is the best way to correct this fragment?A stray dog in the neighborhood?

A stray dog in the neighborhood last week?Did you see a stray dog in the neighborhood?Quite often a stray dog in the neighborhood?A stray dog in the neighborhood for a while?

21. Which sentence has correct capitalization?Julius Sterling Morton left Michigan in 1854.He was a journalist and became editor of the Nebraska city news.Morton organized the first arbor day celebration on April 10, 1872.Today the holiday is usually celebrated on the last friday in April.



22. Choose the sentence with correct capitalization.Do you know mr. Thornton?He works at a Courthouse.I know he lives in Texas.He wants to retire to florida.

23. What is the best way to correct this sentence fragment?Spinach and kale, green leafy vegetables.

Green, leafy vegetables, spinach and kale.Spinach and kale are green, leafy vegetables.Spinach and kale green, leafy vegetables.Green, leafy vegetables being spinach and kale.

24. What is the best way to correct this fragment?Need to arrive early to get tickets.

We need to arrive early to get tickets.To get tickets, need to arrive early.Need to arrive early to get tickets for the game.Because you need to arrive early to get tickets.

25. Which sentence has correct capitalization?My cousin lena believes that eleven is a lucky number.She was born on November 11 at Eleven O’clock in the morning.Her hometown, bloomington, has eleven letters in its name.Of course, her favorite restaurant is on Eleventh Street.


Write your answer in your own words on the lines below or on theanswer document. Use complete sentences.

Open Response


26 Review the text “China’s New Economic Development Zone.” The EDZ and the Old City redevelopment both support the same goal of the Chinese government. Write one or two sentences to explain that goal.

.


Write your answer in your own words on the lines below or on theanswer document. Use complete sentences.

Open Response


27 Review the two texts, “China’s Three Gorges Dam” and “China's NewEconomic Development Zone.” What did you learn about modern China'sgovernment and its goals from these two articles? Write two or threesentences to explain.

.


Writing Prompt


Read the prompt. Write your response below or on the answer document.If you need more space, continue writing on a separate paper.

STOP

28 Write a narrative paragraph about meeting someone from another country ora different cultural background. Remember to

• state the topic in the introductory sentence,• list events in time order, using vivid details,• connect ideas with transition/linking words,• summarize the topic with a concluding sentence, and• use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.

.

TM ® & © Scholastic Inc. All rights reserved.

Writing Prompt


Read the prompt. Write your response below or on the answer document.If you need more space, continue writing on a separate paper.

STOP

.


Test 2b Answer KeySample Questions


A.B.

Comprehension1. Main Idea and Details2. Sequence of Events3. Sequence of Events4. Main Idea and Details5. Sequence of Events6. Main Idea and Details7. Sequence of Events8. Sequence of Events9. Sequence of Events

10. Main Idea and Details

Vocabulary/Word Study11. Synonyms12. Synonyms13. Synonyms14. Synonyms15. Antonyms16. Antonyms17. Antonyms18. Antonyms

Conventions19. Correcting Sentence Fragments20. Correcting Sentence Fragments21. Using Capitals22. Using Capitals23. Correcting Sentence Fragments24. Correcting Sentence Fragments25. Using Capitals


Test 2b Answer KeyOpen Response (sample answers):


26 . Both projects support the goal of bringing new business to the area.Being an EDZ will provide new roads, railroads, buildings, and otherfacilities to support businesses. Clearing out the Old City makes roomfor some of those facilities to be built.(2 points: Synthesize)

27 . China's government is trying to modernize China by building damsand creating economic development zones. These plans have bothgood and bad effects, and the people of China seem less importantthan the future of the economy.(4 points: Synthesize)


28. Answers will vary. Use the rubrics from the SAM Portfolio tab to assess student responses.

Writing Prompt:

NAME: DATE:

Test 2b Answer Document

Multiple Choice Questions


1 .2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7 .8 .9 .

10 .11 .12 .13 .14 .15 .16 .17 .18 .19 .20 .21 .22 .23 .24 .25 .


NAME: DATE:


Open Response


26 .


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Open Response


27 .


NAME: DATE:


Writing Prompt


28 .


NAME: DATE:


Writing Prompt


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