Please Do Not Write on This

PLEASE DO NOT WRITE ON THIS

Units 1-5 Practice Quiz

Directions: Read each text and answer the questions below.

Passage 1

Would You Like a Liger?

Biologists have found that about 10 percent of animal species may sometimes breed with other species. This means that two animals of different species can produce offspring. Scientists have discovered more of these animals in the last 25 years. One example of a hybrid animal is the mule, which is a cross between a donkey and a horse.
It is more difficult for hybrid species to survive in the wild, however. Occasionally, species that are too different genetically might mate in nature. Many babies that come from the different species are unable to reproduce. This means that the hybrid species cannot grow in number. Zorses, which are a hybrid of a horse and a zebra, and mules, are two examples of species that cannot reproduce. Another problem that hybrid species have is that they face competition from the members of their parent species.
There are also positive things about producing hybrid species in the wild. Hybrids may develop adaptations to conditions that neither of their parents was able to live in. This could happen because of new gene combinations being produced in hybrids. Scientists have studied the adaptation of hybrid species using sunflower and honeysuckle plants.
Two common species of sunflower are the common sunflower and the prairie sunflower, and both species only grow in moist soil. Their hybrids can grow in desert climates and salt marshes, however. When parent sunflowers were planted in the desert, they failed to survive. Results of the studies done with plants are comparable to similar things that have happened in animals. The studies of animal and plant hybrids could help us discover how humans have adapted.

1.Which statement supports the idea that animal hybridization is unsuccessful?

A. / Many babies that come from the breeding of different species are unable to reproduce.
B. / The studies of animal and plant hybrids could lead to discoveries about how humans have adapted.
C. / One example of a hybrid animal is the mule, which is a cross between a donkey and a horse.
D. / Scientists have studied the adaptation of hybrid species using sunflower and honeysuckle plants.

2.Read this sentence from the passage.
When parent sunflowers were planted in the desert, they failed to survive.
Based on this statement, what is the author suggesting?

A. / Hybrid species will be wiped out by lack of adaptation in several years.
B. / Parent species may be less able to adapt than their hybrid offspring.
C. / Hybrids are born without the ability to adapt to the parents' conditions.
D. / Parent species will be unable to adapt after their offspring are born.

3.What does the statement "Results of the studies done with plants are comparable to similar things that have happened in animals" mean?

A. / Humans are unable to produce hybrid offspring like animals.
B. / Animals and plants are able to adapt but humans are not.
C. / Plant hybrids are more able to adapt than animal hybrids.
D. / Animal hybrids and plant hybrids are both able to adapt.

Passage 2

On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 became the first manned mission to land on the Moon. The mission involved astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins. Armstrong’s first steps on the Moon were accompanied by his historic words: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
The landing fulfilled the goal set by President John F. Kennedy eight years earlier. He wanted the United States to make it to the Moon within the decade. He believed this to be an important accomplishment in the space race against the U.S.S.R. Kennedy said, "We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard."
On the Moon, Astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin experimented with various methods of movement in the diminished gravity. Long leaping steps seemed to work best for moving about. They explored the surface for about two hours, collected 47 pounds of lunar samples, and planted the American flag on the Moon’s surface. The crew safely returned to earth a little over eight days after leaving.

4.Which of these best summarizes the passage?

A. / Apollo 11, with astronauts Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins, landed on the Moon on July 20, 1969, fulfilling the goal set by President Kennedy. After taking samples and placing a flag on the Moon, the mission returned to Earth.
B. / The astronauts of Apollo 11, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins, explored the surface of the Moon, experimented with movement, planted a flag on the Moon's surface, and returned to Earth.
C. / When Apollo 11 landed on the Moon, Neil Armstrong said the famous words, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." The mission, which also involved astronauts Aldrin and Collins, was the first to successfully land on the Moon.
D. / The Moon landing by Apollo 11, and astronauts Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins, fulfilled the goal set by President John F. Kennedy to reach the Moon in the decade. Kennedy wanted to stay on top in the space race against the U.S.S.R.

5.In a short summary of this article, which detail from the article would bemost importantto include?

A. / "Long leaping steps seemed to work best for moving about."
B. / "The mission involved astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins."
C. / "Kennedy said, 'We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things.' "
D. / "Armstrong's first steps on the Moon were accompanied by his historic words."

6.Which of these is the best summary of the second paragraph?

A. / American chose to go to the Moon in the 1960s and to do other things because they were hard and not easy.
B. / President Kennedy said that it was important for the America to stay ahead of the U.S.S.R. in the space race.
C. / The Moon landing of the Apollo 11 was important because it fulfilled the goal set by President Kennedy.
D. / The landing fulfilled President Kennedy's goal and kept America ahead in the space race with the U.S.S.R.

Passage 3

Fanny Frost
by A. Gautam

She's always sad in April,
even when flowers bloom.
She says it gives her a fever.
Summer gives her more gloom.
She looks out of the window
quietly, when it rains.
She doesn't dance, instead she says,
"The sky is sad, it drops its chains."
She loves the winters more—
to dance and ski, we're told.
The wool, the scarves, and gloves
She loves the white, the cold.

7.What statement about the seasons can be drawn from the theme of this poem?

A. / Seasons affect the way people view the world.
B. / Most people don't care about the seasonal changes.
C. / Some seasons make some people's lives boring.
D. / People act according to the season they are born in.

Passage 4

Joshua walked into basketball tryouts feeling confident. Considering how well he played over the summer, he felt that he was going to make the varsity team for sure. He had spent most of the summer playing in a basketball league, and although he hadn’t really known how to play, the more he practiced, the better he played. He played so well that one of the coaches from the varsity team asked him to try out.
As Joshua waited for tryouts to begin, he observed some varsity players on the court. His eyes widened at what he saw. All of them were unbelievably good. They were more experienced. They were taller. They were faster. Even if he made the team, he probably wouldn't get to play much. Joshua began to worry. He still had a lot to learn.
Coach Hasslegrove glimpsed his worried expression and came over to have a word with him. "Joshua,” he said, “all of these players were once like you. Just work hard. If you make the team, good. If not, then life isn't over. Go over there and just show us what you’ve got.”
Joshua nodded in reply and joined the others on the court. He passed the ball well and made most of his shots. What really got the coaches' attention, however, was his defense. He didn't let anyone get open. He covered his man so well, his man didn't score.
At the end of tryouts, Coach Hasslegrove called Joshua over. "You gave great effort,” he said, “and your defense is amazing! But you still need to learn some fundamentals. I want you to play this year on junior varsity. Keep practicing like you have, and I guarantee you’ll be on varsity next year."
Joshua did his best to suppress his disappointment. He didn’t make varsity, but next year, he was going to blow everyone away.

8.One theme of this story is that things don't always turn out the way you expect. Which event best reflects this theme?

A. / Joshua learns that he is good at defense.
B. / Joshua does not make the varsity team.
C. / Joshua plays basketball during the summer.
D. / Joshua gets advice from Coach Hasslegrove.

9.Which of these statements would Joshua most likely make?

A. / The coach doesn't really value good defense.
B. / Summer league isn't very challenging.
C. / I will practice every day to make my goal.
D. / Tall guys always have the advantage.

Passage 5

Too Much of a Mess
by Jon Caswell

Murphy had never seen so much clutter in one office. Although he had checked the room number, he was convinced it was just a storeroom and not the records office he was looking for. Murphy started to return to the main corridor, but then he noticed the top of the clerk's head behind a stack of files. The man looked up from what he was doing and asked, "May I help you?"
Murphy eyed the clutter in the office. Truth was he wasn't sure that the clerk could help him at all. He needed verification of a tax ID number. How could the clerk find anything in this mess?
Murphy stepped back and looked at the office number once again. "No, no, I have the wrong office," Murphy lied and walked down the hall.Maybe I can do this on the Internet, he thought as he pushed open the door to the main corridor.

10.How is Murphy affected by the setting?

A. / He doubts the man can help him.
B. / He wants to clean up the mess.
C. / He thinks the man must be crazy.
D. / He is curious about what is going on.

11.What is the setting of the passage?

A. / the clerk's home
B. / a storage building
C. / a dark basement
D. / an office building

Passage 6

The launch of the space shuttleAtlantishas been postponed while NASA evaluates a problem with the new robot arm on space station Alpha. The arm will be used to carry out the installation of a new U.S.-built airlock on the space station.
12. What can youinferfrom this paragraph?

A. / The space program is very expensive.
B. / The robot space arm is critical to the space shuttle's mission.
C. / The robot arm was poorly constructed.
D. / The space shuttle experiences frequent launch delays.

Passage 7

The dehydration of food involves removing the moisture from food so that it will last longer. Some people have food dehydration machines in their homes to help them preserve food for longer periods of time. To be successful at dehydrating food, start with fruits and vegetables. Meat and fish can also be dried, but they are more complicated. Only use the best quality produce for drying. Many people think that since the food will be wrinkled up when it is dried that low quality produce can be used. This is not so! Choose produce that is fresh, firm, clean, and free of bruises. Fruits and vegetables at the peak of ripeness always have the finest flavor. They are also prettier to look at. Unripened food will lack color after dehydrating. Overripe fruit will be too soft and mushy to dehydrate properly, and overripe vegetables become tough. In short, use the best quality produce you can get your hands on for dehydrating because that will determine the quality of the dried food you ultimately take out.
13. What wordbestdescribes the tone of this passage?

A. / adventurous
B. / hopeful
C. / negative
D. / informative

Passage 8

Allergic reactions to three native American plants—poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac, all members of the plant genusToxicodendron—have been sources of misery for many centuries. Native Americans warned the early settlers about the ill effects of these plants, and Captain John Smith described them in his journal, thus making the first report of an allergic disease in America.
14. What can the readerinferfrom this paragraph?

A. / Poison ivy killed entire tribes of Native Americans.
B. / A cure for poison ivy is being developed.
C. / Many native American plants cause very uncomfortable allergic reactions.
D. / Captain John Smith is known as a great physician.

Passage 9

My parents should have been home over an hour ago. I've been lying here, in bed, for hours, but I can't sleep. The room is dark except for the dull, yellow glow of the light in the alley shining through my curtains giving the room a sickly, haunted sort of look. That noise in the backyard happens every time I am close to sleep. The wind is howling, but still I can make out the faintskreeeeeesound, which is like nails on a chalkboard. At first I think it is the gate swinging, but then I remember that I had boarded the gate shut. It seems to be something moving slowly this way. But then the noise disappears, and I am near sleep again when suddenly I hear theskreeeeeeeesound. My heart is racing. I want to be brave but wonder where my parents are; they should have been home already. I need them to look out into the backyard to tell me everything is normal. Instead, I lie here with wide eyes in a cold sweat and scared out of my wits! They should be here!