READING SAMPLE 1: POETRY KCCT PRACTICE TEST

Transcription

1 Name READING SAMPLE 1: POETRY Date In the epic poem the Odyssey, the hero Odysseus journeys to many lands and endures many trials as he is returning home from the Trojan War. In Book XII, he receives information from the Goddess Kirkê about the dangers that lie ahead, and in this excerpt he meets one of those dangers, the Seirênês (or Sirens as we usually call them today). Read the following excerpt and answer questions 1 7. from the Odyssey by Homer translated by Robert Fitzgerald GRADE 10 Then said the Lady Kirkê: So: all those trials are over. Listen with care to this, now, and a god will arm your mind. Square in your ship s path are Seirênês, crying beauty to bewitch men coasting by; 5 woe to the innocent who hears that sound! He will not see his lady nor his children in joy, crowding about him, home from sea; the Seirênês will sing his mind away on their sweet meadow lolling.there are bones 10 of dead men rotting in a pile beside them and flayed skins shrivel around the spot. Steer wide; keep well to seaward; plug your oarsmen s ears with beeswax kneaded soft; none of the rest should hear that song. 15 But if you wish to listen, let the men tie you in the lugger, hand and foot, back to the mast, lashed to the mast, so you may hear those harpies thrilling voices; shout as you will, begging to be untied, your crew must only twist more line around you 20 and keep their stroke up, till the singers fade. What then? One of two courses you may take, and you yourself must weigh them. I shall not plan the whole action for you now, but only tell you of both. 25 Ahead are beetling rocks and dark blue glancing Amphitritê, surging, roars around them. Prowling Rocks, or Drifters, the gods in bliss have named them named them well. Not even birds can pass them by, not even the timorous doves that bear ambrosia 30 to Father Zeus; caught by downdrafts, they die on rockwall smooth as ice. lugger: small, wide sailing ship beetling: overhanging Amphitritê: sparkling seawater Grade 10 Copyright McDougal Littell Inc. All rights reserved. 1

2 READING SAMPLE 1: POETRY continued Each time, the Father wafts a new courier to make up his crew. Still less can ships get searoom of these Drifters, whose boiling surf, under high fiery winds, 35 carries tossing wreckage of ships and men. Only one ocean-going craft, the far-famed Argo, made it, sailing from Aiêta; but she, too, would have crashed on the big rocks if Hêra had not pulled her through, for love 40 of Iêson, her captain. A second course lies between headlands. One is a sharp mountain piercing the sky, with stormcloud round the peak dissolving never, not in the brightest summer, to show heaven s azure there, nor in the fall. 45 No mortal man could scale it, nor so much as land there, not with twenty hands and feet, so sheer the cliffs are as of polished stone. Midway that height, a cavern full of mist opens toward Erebos and evening. Skirting 50 Erebos: land of darkness this in the lugger, great Odysseus, beneath earth your master bowman, shooting from the deck, would come short of the cavemouth with his shaft; but that is the den of Skylla, where she yaps abominably, a newborn whelp s cry, 55 though she is huge and monstrous. God or man, no one could look on her in joy. Her legs and there are twelve are like great tentacles, unjointed, and upon her serpent necks are borne six heads like nightmares of ferocity, 60 with triple serried rows of fangs and deep gullets of black death. Half her length, she sways her heads in air, outside her horrid cleft, hunting the sea around that promontory for dolphins, dogfish, or what bigger game 65 thundering Amphitritê feeds in thousands. And no ship s company can claim to have passed her without loss and grief; she takes, from every ship, one man for every gullet. The opposite point seems more a tongue of land 70 you d touch with a good bowshot, at the narrows. A great wild fig, a shaggy mass of leaves, grows on it, and Kharybdis lurks below to swallow down the dark sea tide.three times from dawn to dusk she spews it up 75 and sucks it down again three times a whirling maelstrom; if you come upon her then the god who makes earth tremble could not save you. No, hug the cliff of Skylla, take your ship through on a racing stroke. Better to mourn 80 six men than lose them all, and the ship, too. maelstrom: large, violent whirlpool 2 Preparing for the KCCT in Reading/English Language Arts Copyright McDougal Littell Inc. All rights reserved.

3 Name READING SAMPLE 1: POETRY continued So her advice ran; but I faced her, saying: Only instruct me, goddess, if you will, how, if possible, can I pass Kharybdis, or fight off Skylla when she raids my crew? 85 Swiftly that loveliest goddess answered me: Must you have battle in your heart forever? The bloody toil of combat? Old contender, will you not yield to the immortal gods? That nightmare cannot die, being eternal 90 evil itself horror, and pain, and chaos; there is no fighting her, no power can fight her, all that avails is flight. Lose headway there along that rockface while you break out arms, and she ll swoop over you, I fear, once more, 95 taking one man again for every gullet. No, no, put all your backs into it, row on; invoke Blind Force, that bore this scourge of men, to keep her from a second strike against you. Then you will coast Thrinákia, the island 100 where Helios cattle graze, fine herds, and flocks of goodly sheep.the herds and flocks are seven, with fifty beasts in each. No lambs are dropped, or calves, and these fat cattle never die. Immortal, too, their cowherds are their shepherds 105 Phaëthousa and Lampetía, sweetly braided nymphs that divine Neaira bore to the overlord of high noon, Hêlios. These nymphs their gentle mother bred and placed upon Thrinákia, the distant land, 110 in care of flocks and cattle for their father. Now give those kine a wide berth, keep your thoughts intent upon your course for home, and hard seafaring brings you all to Ithaka. But if you raid the beeves, I see destruction 115 for ship and crew. Rough years then lie between you and your homecoming, alone and old, the one survivor, all companions lost. As Kirkê spoke, Dawn mounted her golden throne, and on the first rays Kirkê left me, taking 120 her way like a great goddess up the island. I made straight for the ship, roused up the men to get aboard and cast off at the stern. They scrambled to their places by the rowlocks Date GRADE 10 Grade 10 Copyright McDougal Littell Inc. All rights reserved. 3

4 READING SAMPLE 1: POETRY continued and all in line dipped oars in the grey sea. 125 But soon an off-shore breeze blew to our liking a canvas-bellying breeze, a lusty shipmate sent by the singing nymph with sunbright hair. So we made fast the braces, and we rested, letting the wind and steersman work the ship. 130 The crew being now silent before me, I addressed them, sore at heart: Dear friends, more than one man, or two, should know those things Kirkê foresaw for us and shared with me, so let me tell her forecast: then we die 135 with our eyes open, if we are going to die, or know what death we baffle if we can. Seirênês weaving a haunting song over the sea we are to shun, she said, and their green shore all sweet with clover; yet she urged that I 140 alone should listen to their song.therefore you are to tie me up, tight as a splint, erect along the mast, lashed to the mast, and if I shout and beg to be untied, take more turns of the rope to muffle me. 145 I rather dwelt on this part of the forecast, while our good ship made time, bound outward down the wind for the strange island of Seirênês. Then all at once the wind fell, and a calm came over all the sea, as though some power 150 lulled the swell. The crew were on their feet briskly, to furl the sail, and stow it; then, each in place, they poised the smooth oar blades and sent the white foam scudding by. I carved a massive cake of beeswax into bits 155 and rolled them in my hands until they softened no long task, for a burning heat came down from Hêlios, lord of high noon. Going forward I carried wax along the line, and laid it thick on their ears.they tied me up, then, plumb 160 plumb: in the exact amidships, back to the mast, lashed to the mast, center of the ship and took themselves again to rowing. Soon, as we came smartly within hailing distance, the two Seirênês, noting our fast ship off their point, made ready, and they sang. 165 This way, oh turn your bows, Akhaia s glory, As all the world allows Moor and be merry. 4 Preparing for the KCCT in Reading/English Language Arts Copyright McDougal Littell Inc. All rights reserved.

5 Name READING SAMPLE 1: POETRY continued Sweet coupled airs we sing. 170 No lonely seafarer Holds clear of entering Our green mirror. Pleased by each purling note Like honey twining 175 From her throat and my throat, Who lies a-pining? Date GRADE 10 Sea rovers here take joy Voyaging onward, As from our song of Troy 180 Greybeard and rower-boy Goeth more learned. All feats on that great field In the long warfare, Dark days the bright gods willed, 185 Wounds you bore there, Argos old soldiery On Troy beach teeming, Charmed out of time we see. No life on earth can be 190 Hid from our dreaming. The lovely voices in ardor appealing over the water made me crave to listen, and I tried to say Untie me! to the crew, jerking my brows; but they bent steady to the oars. Then Perimêdês 195 got to his feet, he and Eurýlokhos, and passed more line about, to hold me still. So all rowed on, until the Seirênês dropped under the sea rim, and their singing dwindled away When Kirkê tells Odysseus to listen and a god will arm your mind, she means A. she will give him a sword. B. she will give him information. C. she will give him her hand. D. she will give him a spear. Grade 10 Copyright McDougal Littell Inc. All rights reserved. 5

6 READING SAMPLE 1: POETRY continued 2. According to Kirkê, which of the following is the most difficult to escape? A. the Seirênês B. Skylla C. Kharybdis D. bees 3. The poet, Homer, uses the words back to the mast, lashed to the mast twice (lines 17 and 161).Why does Homer repeat these words? A. He wants readers to think Odysseus is forgetful. B. He wants readers to think Kirkê is speaking in both lines. C. He wants to emphasize how tightly Odysseus must be bound. D. He wants to emphasize the beauty of the words. 4. Who is the narrator of the passage from The Odyssey? A. Odysseus B. Homer C. Kirkê D. Skylla 5. When Homer writes that Dawn mounted her golden throne, he really means that A. a queen sat on the throne of Thrinakia. B. Kirkê sat on her throne. C. the day was about to end. D. another day was beginning. 6. The Seirênês, in describing their song, use the image like honey twining/from her throat and my throat when calling to Odysseus. How do the words honey and twining effectively evoke the Seirênês dangerous purpose? A. The words suggest that the Seirênês are very sweet. B. The words suggest how the Seirênês sweet voices will bind or tie up men. C. The words suggest that the Seirênês will feed Odysseus sweet food. D. The words suggest that the Seirênês will use string to tie up Odysseus. 6 Preparing for the KCCT in Reading/English Language Arts Copyright McDougal Littell Inc. All rights reserved.

7 Name READING SAMPLE 1: POETRY continued 7 Certain temptations call to us, just as the Seirênês called to Odysseus. a. Identify an advertisement, musical group, artist, or other ideas that try to attract teenagers. Date GRADE 10 b. Explain how the product (or musical group/artist/ideas) offered may actually be harmful for teenagers. Use specific details in describing the advertisement, musical group, artist, or ideas that you choose. Grade 10 Copyright McDougal Littell Inc. All rights reserved. 7

8 READING SAMPLE 2: INFORMATION Although the men in The Odyssey were fictitious characters, there are real people who undertake great sea adventures. The following article tells about several women who braved the sea and its hazards to become legends in the sailing world. Read the article below. Then answer questions Call of the Mermaid: Women Who Have Braved the Sea Alone In the Odyssey, Odysseus must have himself lashed to the mast and must stuff his crew s ears with wax so that they are not enchanted by Sirens, mermaids whose irresistible songs lure sailors to their deaths.the sea still calls to sailors, inviting and challenging them to cross its depths, but not all sailors who take the challenge are men. In the past twenty-five years, several women have set sail all alone to answer the mermaid s call, and all have lived to tell about it. The First Female Circumnavigators The first women to set records by circumnavigating, or sailing around the world, alone were Krystyna Choynowski-Liskiewicz from Poland and Naomi James from England. Choynowski- Liskiewicz was the first woman to sail around the world by herself. She was twenty-nine when she finished her 28,696-mile voyage in 1978, after two grueling years at sea. Naomi James completed her solo journey a few months after Choynowski-Liskiewicz did, but her voyage followed a different route. She used the traditional clipper ship route around Cape Horn, a cold, treacherous route used for centuries by merchant ships. Not only did James survive the iceberg-infested route that had sunk hundreds of ships, but she also set a record for solo sailing by making the trip in 272 days. The First American Woman In 1985, eighteen-year-old Tania Aebi answered an unusual and dangerous dare: to sail around the world by herself.the dare was unusual because it came from her own father, and it was dangerous because Aebi had relatively little sailing experience.aebi heard the mermaid s call, however, and she left New York for a two-year, 27,000-mile adventure with only her courage and her cat,tarzoon, to see her through. Her journey took her to exotic places like the Galapagos Islands, Samoa,Australia, Sri Lanka, Malta, and Gibraltar. Like Odysseus,Aebi encountered frightening seas as she survived monsoon winds, 45-foot waves, snapped masts, torn sails, and broken engines, as well as almost being run over by a giant freighter. She faced unnerving moments with customs agents in foreign lands, and she had to learn different etiquette for different places, especially in countries in which an unveiled, unmarried, and unaccompanied woman like Aebi was not always welcome. Her trip was not all hardship, however. She met many kind people, such as the poverty-stricken Sudanese who bought her a soda but refused to accept her payment for the drink. She also met the man whom she would marry a year after her return to New York in Although Aebi is known as the first American woman and the youngest person ever to circumnavigate the world alone, she is not recognized in official record books because at one point during her voyage she allowed a friend on board for a ride, not realizing that her generosity jeopardized her chance at official recognition. 8 Preparing for the KCCT in Reading/English Language Arts Copyright McDougal Littell Inc. All rights reserved.

9 Name READING SAMPLE 2: INFORMATION continued The Woman Who Raced Around the World Date In 1991, Frenchwoman Isabelle Autissier accomplished something plenty of men had done but that no woman had ever achieved. She became the first woman to complete the grueling solo circumnavigation race known as the Around Alone Challenge. In a race that has claimed two lives and has been so treacherous that fewer than half of the competitors have ever completed the race,autissier s achievement is remarkable.autissier did not stop there, however. She has continued to race, but not without some close calls.after leading the race in 1994,Autissier was overwhelmed by a gigantic wave that wrecked her boat, leaving her stranded in the Indian Ocean 1,000 miles from Australia. She survived four days before being rescued by an Australian navy ship. In the 1999 race,autissier again came close to death when her boat capsized in isolated waters.technology came to her rescue, however;autissier activated a radio beacon that helped others to locate her position, and she was finally rescued by a fellow competitor. GRADE 10 The Most Recent Woman to Go to Sea Alone Horrible weather, frightening storms, overwhelming mechanical problems none of these obstacles has kept women from continuing to break records as they sail around the world. Most recently,american Karen Thorndike heeded the mermaid s call to become the first official American woman to sail solo around the globe. She came up against the same problems encountered by other sailors, but it was a serious case of the flu that almost jeopardized her mission.when she became ill,thorndike activated a distress signal that was detected by the British Royal Navy off the Falkland Islands. Her radio was too weak to communicate with the navy directly, so she ed a friend in the United States, who then spoke by phone to the navy vessel HMS Norfolk. The Norfolk eventually reached Thorndike and got her the medical attention she needed to continue the journey later. On August 18, 1998, she completed the first solo circumnavigation around the five Great Capes by an American woman. Grade 10 Copyright McDougal Littell Inc. All rights reserved. 9

10 READING SAMPLE 2: INFORMATION continued 8. According to the map, which American woman sailed nearest to Europe? A. Naomi James B. Karen Thorndike C. Krystyna Chownowski-Liskiewicz D. Tania Aebi 9. Under which heading would you most likely find information about the Around Alone race? A. The First Female Circumnavigators B. The First American Woman C. The Woman Who Raced Around the World D. The Most Recent Woman to Go to Sea Alone Which pattern below best describes how the article is organized? A. sequence B. comparison and contrast C. cause and effect D. generalizations In the article, to what does call of the mermaid refer? A. radio transmissions B. C. a woman s singing D. a deep desire to sail the ocean Which of the following was most instrumental in assuring the rescues of both Isabelle Autissier and Karen Thorndike? A. food and medical supplies B. life preservers C. communications technology D. tear-proof sails Which American woman did not gain official recognition for her solo circumnavigation? A. Isabelle Autissier B. Karen Thorndike C. Naomi James D. Tania Aebi 10 Preparing for the KCCT in Reading/English Language Arts Copyright McDougal Littell Inc. All rights reserved.

11 Name READING SAMPLE 2: INFORMATION continued Date The following question asks you to use information from both the Odyssey and Call of the Mermaid. 14. In both the Odyssey and Call of the Mermaid the sailors face many dangers and challenges. Compare and contrast the experiences of the women sailors with those of Odysseus and his crew. Use at least two specific examples from the poem and the article to explain your answer. GRADE 10 Grade 10 Copyright McDougal Littell Inc. All rights reserved. 11

12 READING SAMPLE 3: FICTION In Robinson Crusoe, an adventure novel by Daniel Defoe ( ), the title character takes up a life at sea, against his parents wishes.after several close calls, he is caught in a violent storm and shipwrecked, alone, on an uninhabited island. Read his account of the shipwreck, and then answer questions from Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe In this distress, the wind still blowing very hard, one of our men, early in the morning, cried out, Land! and we had no sooner run out of the cabin to look out, in hopes of seeing whereabouts in the world we were, but the ship struck upon a sand, and in a moment, her motion being so stopped, the sea broke over her in such a manner, that we expected we should all have perished immediately; and we were immediately driven into our close quarters, to shelter us from the very foam and spray of the sea. It is not easy for any one who has not been in the like condition to describe or conceive the consternation of men in such circumstances: we knew nothing of where we were, or upon what land it was we were driven, whether an island or the main, whether inhabited or not inhabited; and as the rage of the wind was still great, though rather less than at first, we could not so much as hope to have the ship hold many minutes without breaking in pieces, unless the winds, by a kind of miracle, should turn immediately about. In a word, we sat looking one upon another, and expecting death every moment, and every man, acting accordingly, as preparing for another world; for there was little or nothing more for us to do in this; that which was our present comfort, and all the comfort we had, was that, contrary to our expectation, the ship did not break yet, and that the master said the wind began to abate. Now, though we thought that the wind did a little abate, yet the ship having thus struck upon the sand, and sticking too fast for us to expect her getting off, we were in a dreadful condition indeed, and had nothing to do but to think of saving our lives as well as we could.... We had another boat on board, but how to get her off into the sea was a doubtful thing; however, there was no room for debate, for we fancied the ship would break in pieces every minute, and some told us she was actually broken already. In this distress, the mate of our vessel lays hold of the boat, and with the help of the rest of the men, they got her slung over the ship s side; and getting all into her, let go, and committed ourselves, being eleven in number, to God s mercy and the wild sea.... And now our case was very dismal indeed; for we all saw plainly that the sea went so high that the boat could not live, and that we should be inevitably drowned.as to making sail, we had none, nor, if we had, could we have done anything with it; so we worked at the oar towards the land, though with heavy hearts, like men going to execution; for we all knew that when the boat came nearer the shore she would be dashed in a thousand pieces by the breach of the sea. However, we committed our souls to God in the most earnest manner; and the wind driving us towards the shore, we hastened our destruction with our own hands, pulling as well as we could towards land. What the shore was, whether rock or sand, whether steep or shoal, we knew not: the only hope that could rationally give us the least shadow of expectation, was, if we might happen into some bay or gulf, or the mouth of some river, where by great chance we might have run our boat in.... [B]ut as we made nearer and nearer the shore, the land looked more frightful than the sea. 12 Preparing for the KCCT in Reading/English Language Arts Copyright McDougal Littell Inc. All rights reserved.

13 Name READING SAMPLE 3: FICTION continued Date After we had rowed or rather driven about a league and a half, as we reckoned it, a raging wave, mountain-like,... took us with such a fury, that it overset the boat at once; and separating us, as well from the boat as from one another, gave us not time hardly to say, O God! for we were all swallowed up in a moment. Nothing can describe the confusion of thought which I felt when I sank into the water; for though I swam very well, yet I could not deliver myself from the waves so as to draw breath, till that a wave having driven me, or rather carried me, a vast way on towards the shore, and having spent itself, went back, and left me on land almost dry, but half dead with the water I took in. I had so much presence of mind, as well as breath left, that, seeing myself nearer the main land than I expected, I got upon my feet, and endeavoured to make on towards the land as fast as I could, before another wave should return and take me up again. But I soon found it was impossible to avoid it; for I saw the sea come after me as high as a great hill, and as furious as an enemy, which I had no means or strength to contend with: my business was to hold my breath, and raise myself upon the water, if I could; and so, by swimming, to preserve my breathing and pilot myself towards the shore, if possible: my greatest concern now being, that the sea, as it would carry me a great way towards the shore when it came on, might not carry me back again with it when it gave back towards the sea. The wave that came upon me again buried me at once 20 or 30 feet in its own body, and I could feel myself carried with a mighty force and swiftness towards the shore a very great way; but I held my breath, and assisted myself to swim still forward with all my might. I was ready to burst with holding my breath, when as I felt myself rising up, so, to my immediate relief, I found my head and hands shoot out above the surface of the water; and though it was not two seconds of time that I could keep myself so, yet it relieved me greatly, gave me breath and new courage. I was covered again with water a good while, but not so long but I held it out; and, finding the water had spent itself and began to return, I struck forward against the return of the waves, and felt ground again with my feet. I stood still a few moments to recover breath and till the water went from me, and then took to my heels and ran, with what strength I had, farther towards the shore....[t]wice more I was lifted up by the waves and carried forward as before, the shore being very flat. The last time of these two had well-near been fatal to me; for the sea having hurried me along, as before, landed me, or rather dashed me, against a piece of rock, and that with such force, as it left me senseless, and indeed helpless, as to my own deliverance; for the blow taking my side and breast, beat the breath, as it were, quite out of my body; and had it returned again immediately, I must have been strangled in the water; but I recovered a little before the return of the waves, and seeing I should be covered again with the water, I resolved to hold fast by a piece of the rock, and so to hold my breath, if possible, until the wave went back.... [Being] near land, I held my hold till the wave abated, and then fetched another run, which brought me so near the shore, that the next wave, though it went over me, yet did not so swallow me up as to carry me away; and the next run I took, I got to the mainland, where, to my great comfort, I clambered up the cliffs of the shore, and sat me down upon the grass, free from danger and quite out of the reach of the water. I was now landed, and safe on shore, and began to look up and thank God that my life was saved.... GRADE 10 Grade 10 Copyright McDougal Littell Inc. All rights reserved. 13

14 READING SAMPLE 3: FICTION continued I walked about on the shore lifting up my hands, and my whole being, as I may say, wrapt up in the contemplation of my deliverance; making a thousand gestures and motions, which I cannot describe, reflecting upon all my comrades that were drowned, and that there should not be one soul saved but myself; for, as for them, I never saw them afterwards, or any sign of them, except three of their hats, one cap, and two shoes that were not fellows. I cast my eyes to the stranded vessel, when, the breach and froth of the sea being so big, I could hardly see it, it lay so far off; and considered, Lord! how was it possible I could get on shore! Crusoe and his crewmates row for shore with heavy hearts, like men going to execution ; he then says that they hastened [their] destruction. Since the sailors want very much to live, Defoe is using the literary device called A. irony to increase the drama of the scene. B. personification to increase the drama of the scene. C. exaggeration to increase the drama of the scene. D. alliteration to increase the drama of the scene. As the crew frantically tries every possible method of escape, they generally believe that A. they will survive the storm. B. they will save the ship and its cargo. C. they will almost certainly drown. D. Crusoe will save them from drowning. Which trait of this excerpt most typifies adventure novels? A. It is told in the first person. B. It uses no contractions, such as don t and wouldn t. C. It narrates events as they occur, without flashbacks or flashforwards. D. It is packed with exciting details and life-threatening moments. Which of the following is not a reason that Crusoe survives the shipwreck? A. He continues to walk and swim toward high shore. B. The waves lift him toward the shore each time they lift him up. C. His crewmates help him fight his way to shore. D. He keeps his presence of mind and does not panic. 14 Preparing for the KCCT in Reading/English Language Arts Copyright McDougal Littell Inc. All rights reserved.

15 Name READING SAMPLE 3: FICTION continued 19. When the huge wave throws the crew from the lifeboat, Crusoe says that the suddenness of the event gave us not time hardly to say, O God! before they were cast overboard. Defoe goes against standard grammar rules and uses the double negative not hardly in order to A. show Crusoe s ignorance of proper grammar. B. emphasize the dire and dreadful circumstances in which the crew finds itself. C. let readers know that Crusoe alone will survive the shipwreck. D. confuse readers about what is happening at that point in the plot. Date GRADE Throughout the excerpt, Crusoe personifies the sea again and again. A. Identify at least two ways that sea is personified. B. Explain how the personification changes the conflict of the narrative. Grade 10 Copyright McDougal Littell Inc. All rights reserved. 15

16 READING SAMPLE 3: FICTION continued 21. From Crusoe s recounting of his experiences, we learn a good deal about him and what kind of man he is. Identify three traits that characterize Crusoe; and for each trait, explain what event, speech, or thought pointed this trait out to you. 16 Preparing for the KCCT in Reading/English Language Arts Copyright McDougal Littell Inc. All rights reserved.

17 Name READING SAMPLE 4: PERSUASIVE Date Waterways lakes, rivers, oceans give humans so much and ask of us very little. They provide beauty, recreation, water reserves, and more; but we must do our part to preserve them. One environmental program that monitors the wet environments of our nation is Frogwatch. Read the persuasive essay about Frogwatch, and then answer questions It might seem that large environmental problems occur far away chemical dumping in deserts, waste disposal in the oceans and oil spills in the Arctic. But problems in the environment are happening, not just in far-off deserts or oceans on the other side of the globe, but right where you live. Fortunately everyday, ordinary people like you are making a difference and helping to guard the planet.you can participate in a way that is fun, takes very little time, and contributes to your community s environmental health.you can take part in Frogwatch USA! It s just what it sounds like: you learn to watch frogs in your area. Frogwatch is run by the United States Geological Survey but manned extensively by volunteers all around the country. Why watch frogs and other amphibians? Frogs are barometer animals. By observing them and recording their habitat growth or loss, and their population gains or declines, scientists get a sense of how the wet environments of our country are faring in a time of increased agricultural and industrial growth and ever-quickening commercial development.what the frogs suffer, humans will eventually have to deal with as well. Frogs and other amphibians do seem to be on the decline these days, for many reasons, including our influence on their native habitat. Frogwatch USA asks its volunteers to help collect data which scientists can analyze in hopes of studying and reversing the decline. Here s what you would need to do: first, learn about the frogs and toads in your area. Kentucky watchers are on the lookout for twenty-one different species. If you are unsure of the different types of frogs and toads, the USGS has a Web site that links you to pictures of each species.you can click and listen to recordings of each frog s call until you become familiar with it. Once you know the frogs of your neighborhood, the USGS will help you select a wet environment where you can listen for frogs, perhaps a lake or river or even pond in your area. You ll receive instructions on what time of the evening frogs are out, and whether the season is right for frog sightings (breeding season is most active).you ll also get data sheets to fill out and send in on-line or by mail to the scientists at the USGS. You may be thinking that this sounds like a lot of work. It s not, really, once you get started. You frogwatch when and where you can twice weekly during breeding season would be ideal, but even a few visits a year are helpful.and you can spend as little as five minutes listening for frogs at your site, though you may want to stay longer to enjoy the evening s performance. This activity benefits frogs, the environment and you.you will gain an appreciation for these little creatures, learn about how humans interact with wet environments, and know that, in a small way, you are helping your world.taking a younger sibling, cousin, or friend with you can make your frogwatching even more fun, as you become a teacher and open the world to a child s young mind. GRADE 10 Grade 10 Copyright McDougal Littell Inc. All rights reserved. 17

18 READING SAMPLE 4: PERSUASIVE continued Consider frogwatching! You can find more information on the program at this Web site: Don t wait get a jump on this opportunity today! This essay s main purpose is A. to convince you that the environment is in a bad condition. B. to convince you to help gather data on frogs for a nationwide study. C. to convince you that frog populations are declining in your area. D. to convince you to teach younger children about frogwatching. From the writer s tone and choice of information, you can tell that A. the writer thinks that frogwatching might be fun but is probably a waste of time. B. the writer thinks that frogwatching is a tedious task but needs to be done. C. the writer thinks that frogwatching is a task that trained field scientists do best. D. the writer thinks that frogwatching is interesting, educational, and helpful. The light-hearted tone of the essay appeals to young people because A. young people insist on being entertained at all times. B. young people don t want to know about serious, discouraging problems in their world. C. young people are not capable of following a serious argument. D. young people are more likely to try a new activity if they think it will be fun as well as worthwhile. The most important reason the essay gives to frogwatch is A. that it gives people a chance to learn about frogs and other amphibians. B. that it is a national, government-sponsored effort to study frogs. C. that frogs are barometer animals whose health indicates the health of their environment. D. that young people may be able to use what they learn to clean the deserts. 18 Preparing for the KCCT in Reading/English Language Arts Copyright McDougal Littell Inc. All rights reserved.

19 Name READING SAMPLE 4: PERSUASIVE continued 26. The essay in general assumes that A. readers are not very interested in environmental issues. B. readers are interested in environmental issues and would like to help. C. readers cause problems in their environments. D. readers like frogs. Date GRADE The essay s persuasive tone could best be described as A. straightforward and matter-of-fact. B. rigorously scientific. C. serious and alarming. D. light-hearted and funny. 28. The author of this essay is trying to be persuasive. A. Identify three points the author uses to convince the reader to frog watch. B. Explain why those points were effective or ineffective. Use information from the speech to support your discussion. Grade 10 Copyright McDougal Littell Inc. All rights reserved. 19

20 READING SAMPLE 5: PRACTICAL/WORKPLACE Kirkê advised Odysseus about the dangers he faced on his voyage. Fortunately, recreational boaters don t face monsters and whirlpools! Although most boating adventures don t span the globe, problems can crop up even on a simple fishing trip. Read the following brochure to learn about boating safety, and then answer questions BOATING! TIPS AND TOOLS FOR A TERRIFIC TRIP Take this stuff to be safe and ready for any trouble personal flotation devices for every boater signal flares something to bail water with bright flashlights with extra batteries first aid kit sun protection extra dry clothes drinking water rope Remember these tips to prevent problems Always wear a PFD. Tell friends or family, where you are going and when you plan to be back. Don t overload the boat! Read the capacity plate before you load. Don t tie up against buoys or other navigational aids. Steer well clear of larger vessels and their wakes. If heavy weather comes up, steer against the wind and approach the waves at a 45 angle. Stay low in the boat. If someone falls into the water, follow these steps: REACH to the person with an oar, or other long object. Let the person grab the object; then pull the person in. If this doesn t work, attach a flotation device to a rope and THROW it to the person.again, let the person grab the device; then pull them in. Do not jump in after the person unless you are are a strong swimmer and have training in life saving. Otherwise, two people will be in trouble in the water instead of one! 20 Preparing for the KCCT in Reading/English Language Arts Copyright McDougal Littell Inc. All rights reserved.

21 Name READING SAMPLE 5: PRACTICAL/WORKPLACE continued PFDS DON T LEAVE THE DOCK WITHOUT ONE Why Do I Need a PFD? Accidents happen.you never know when you may be knocked out of a boat.a PFD will keep you afloat until help arrives. Even excellent swimmers can grow tired treading water or swimming to shore, and a PFD ensures that you will not have to work hard to stay above water. If you are knocked unconscious, most PFDs will keep your head above water. When Should I Wear a PFD? Any time you are on a boat that is moving you are at risk for drowning.the U.S. Coast Guard recommends wearing PFDs while on moving boats and during skiing, rafting, kayaking, and sailboarding.again, you never know when you may be knocked unconscious, and without a PFD on, you ll sink.you may think you ll have time to slip one on during an accident, but chances are you ll be too frantic to do so, or your boat could be overturned, making it impossible for you to reach a PFD. Who Should Wear a PFD? Everyone on the boat should wear one, but state laws vary.always check with local boating officials. Children, especially, need to wear PFDs at all times, and the PFD must be the right size. Check the PFD s label for weight recommendations, and make sure a child has on a PFD that will hold his or her weight. How Do I Wear a PFD? Date A PFD is no good if it doesn t fit properly. It should be designed for your weight and fit snugly around you.a PFD that is too big will slip off, and one that is too small may not hold you up.the U.S. Coast Guard recommends the Type I PFD, or off-shore life jacket, as being the most buoyant for all types of water and the best designed to float unconscious people in a face-upward position. Here s how a PFD should be worn: GRADE 10 PFD fits snugly below the neck but does not choke PFD fits snugly under the arms PFD belt is tight around the waist and around the bottom Correct Way to Wear a Type I PFD Grade 10 Copyright McDougal Littell Inc. All rights reserved. 21

22 READING SAMPLE 5: PRACTICAL/WORKPLACE continued The information included in the brochure implies that A. boaters out fishing rarely encounter any trouble. B. trouble can come quickly and without warning, and boaters must be prepared. C. trouble is bound to happen on any fishing trip. D. fishing is a dangerous pastime. One of the tips mentions the capacity plate. Given the context, the capacity plate must be A. a device that keeps you from adding too much fuel to the gas tank. B. information affixed to a boat that tells how many people may safely board. C. a reminder in the owner s manual about how to stow cargo safely. D. a law passed by the state of Kentucky limiting the number of passengers. The brochure s content and design tell you that its most important point is A. to get and use correctly appropriate PFDs. B. to file a float plan before leaving. C. to carry first aid equipment in case of injury. D. to pack enough food and water. According to the brochure, the correct way to wear a PFD is A. very loose. B. tight at the top and loose at the bottom. C. very tight. D. tight at the bottom and loose at the top. A child who falls off a boat wearing an adult PFD will most likely A. float on the water s surface. B. sink to the bottom. C. float on his or her back. D. slip out of the PFD. 22 Preparing for the KCCT in Reading/English Language Arts Copyright McDougal Littell Inc. All rights reserved.

23 Name READING SAMPLE 5: PRACTICAL/WORKPLACE continued 34. The information in the brochure is organized to convey important ideas. a. What are three main recommendations in the brochure? b. Explain the significance of the recommendations and why they are important. Date GRADE Draw material from the brochure and make a things to do list for a boating trip. List each thing that you need to do in the order that it needs to be done. Use transitional words such as first, next, and finally to organize your checklist. Grade 10 Copyright McDougal Littell Inc. All rights reserved. 23

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