Reading

1. Reading Benchmark Review 2010

2. Worried someone else might see. You, a gob of grape jelly, Escape from my sandwich, Now plop... splat... on my shoe. The way you mark the canvas And slide to the floor, Slow and proud, like a royal prince, I am in awe of your power. Thou, purple highness, Are at this very moment– And this very moment alone– Stronger than I. A Small Blob A small blob from my lunch, You had to separate yourself from the rest, Stand out... cause a scene. You drip so carefree And tumble down my shirt, Coating your trail, Forever marking your territory, For no washing machine Will erase your memory. You are playing with me, Making me feel like I'm such a kid again, 1. What is the meaning of cause a scene in the sentence below? You had to separate yourself from the rest, Stand out . . . cause a scene. A. leave a stain B. create anxiety C. paint a picture D. draw attention D. Draw

3. 2. Which word is MOST closely connected to this phrase from the poem? Making me feel like I'm such a kid again, Worried someone else might see. A. sloppiness C. embarrassment B. clumsiness D. discouragement C. embarrassment 3. To what is the grape jelly compared in the poem? D. a royal figure A. a kid C. a painting B. a coat D. a royal figure 4. Why does the author use hyperbole in this line? I am in awe of your power. A. to show how humble the speaker has become B. to show how irritated the speaker has become C. to show how worried the speaker has become D. to show how unhappy the speaker has become A.

4. C. 5. To what is the shoe compared in the poem? A. a slide B. a floor C. a canvas D. a sandwich 6. What is the speaker's tone in these lines from the poem? Are at this very moment– And this very moment alone– Stronger than I. A. A. firm C. demanding B. hostile D. threatening 7. To what is the grape jelly compared in this line? Forever marking your territory A. an animal C. a hunter B. a traveler D. a prince A.

5. C. 8. Which line from the poem BEST describes the overall tone? A. Escape from my sandwich, B. Slow and proud, like a royal prince, C. Making me feel like I'm such a kid again, D. You had to separate yourself from the rest,

6. Environment Although most of us think of it in terms of unclean water and dirty air, pollution takes many forms. Visual pollution, meaning that which offends the eye, includes such eyesores as broken bottles, old tin cans, abandoned cars, bicycles and shopping carts, as well as all kinds of litter. This type of pollution has at least one saving grace: it is a serious problem, but it is one about which people can do something. First, people can take a fresh look at their surroundings—at home, at school, at work—and ask themselves how they can improve them. Then, people can set standards for their own attitudes, and act in the ways which will help, small as these ways may seem to be. Further, people can lend their support to others who are working toward similar ends, whether these are business firms, municipal agencies, groups of private citizens, or simply other concerned individuals. 9. The main topic in this passage is A. recycling old trash. B. working for an environmental group. C. seeing offensive trash and litter. D. helping to solve a pollution problem. D.

7. 10. The purpose of this brochure is to A. announce stamp exhibits. B. show stamp designs. C. offer reduced prices. D. help you order stamps. D. 11. The service advertised in this brochure is A. an easier way to make a purchase. B. a necessity of life. C. a cost-saving option. D. a consumer rip-off. A.

8. 12. If a person wishes to purchase items 1, 4, and 5 as part of the same order, which of the following is required? A. The person will need to go to a post office to make the purchase. B. The order will need to be signed for upon delivery. C. The person will need to make payment by certified check. D. The order will require a handling fee. B. 13. Payment should not be made by A. check. B. money order. C. cash. D. certified mail. C. 14. Which of these conditions is true? A. Stamps are delivered the next day. B. Only large orders are accepted. C. The purchaser must include a stamp for the return envelope. D. There is no service charge. D.

9. 8. About what percent of working women are blue-collar workers? A. 60 B. 45 C. 15 D. 2 C. 9. What occupational group has nearly the same percentage of male and female workers? A. white-collar workers B. blue-collar workers C. service workers D. farm workers D.

10. 10. Which sentence is the BEST topic sentence for the paragraph? Dogs need a lot of attention and love. They need to be fed, taken out for walks, and when their owners are not home, taken to a kennel for room and board. However, dogs can be trained to bark when strangers appear at the home. Many dog owners feel that their dogs know and respond to their feelings. A. Dogs are people's best friends. B. Despite their needs, dogs are sensitive to their owners. C. Many dog owners do not find their dogs worth the trouble they require. D. Although dogs require much care, their owners benefit from having them. D.

11. During World War II, many professional ballplayers were on the battlefield. Baseball was in need of players. Philip K. Wrigley, owner of the Chicago Cubs, came up with a scheme to find players. According to his plan, women would play in a league in the Midwest. He started with four teams. Many young women tried out for the few spots on the teams. The women worked hard, and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League became a success. After the war was over and the men returned, many people expected the women’s league to fail, but it prospered instead. In 1948, ten teams played in the league, and almost a million fans filled the stands. However, by 1954 television was broadcasting games and attendance at games plummeted. As the teams lost their fans, money to advertise games and to bring on new players dried up. All the same, the All-American Girls made history. 11. Using context clues, the best word to define plummeted is — a. dropped b. brought c. played d. rose A.

12. Jamal and his friends stood outside their local community center. The bulldozer stood about ten feet away from the front door, ready to make its first strike. Jamal could hardly bear to watch. The community had tried everything. People signed petitions, went to town meetings, and sent letters to local politicians. Nothing worked. The community center was being torn down, and no one could stop it. Apparently, the local government thought that the city needed another shopping mall to bring in more money. As the bulldozer revved up and inched over to the community center’s wall, tears welled up in Jamal’s eyes. He had spent much of his childhood in that community center. He had made so many friends there. He had so many wonderful moments. And now it was all coming to the end. Suddenly, Jamal’s dad came sprinting down the street, waving a white sheet of paper. “Stop! Stop!” he demanded, holding the paper high in the air. The bulldozer stopped, and the air grew thick with anticipation. Could there still be hope? 12. Which event foreshadows the destruction of the community center? a. Jamal and his friends stood outside their local community center. b. He had spent much of his childhood in that community center. c. The bulldozer stood about ten feet away from the front door, ready to make its first strike. d. He had made so many friends there. C.

13. 13. Which detail might you underline to help you understand how Jamal feels about the community center? a. “The bulldozer stood about ten feet away from the front door.” b. “The community center was being torn down.” c. “Tears welled up in Jamal’s eyes.” d. “Suddenly, Jamal’s dad came sprinting down the street.” C. 14. What is the meaning of lovable in the following sentence? Her cute, spunky puppy is so lovable. a. to become affectionate b. to act in an affectionate way c. state of being in love d. capable of being loved D.

14. All clothes are not created equal. That’s why Windmark has made its latest washing machine, the T1100 Deluxe. With five speed settings, the T1100 can handle your heaviest denims and your most delicate hand-washable fabrics. The T1100 also offers a second rinse option for tough stains. Purchase a Windmark T1100 Deluxe by September 30 and get an unbeatable ten-year warranty for half the price. This warranty doesn’t cover problems caused by natural disasters or the owner’s mishandling. If any problems continue after a service representative has attempted a repair, your T1100 Deluxe will be replaced at no extra cost to you. 15. What is the main idea of this passage? a. The T1100 will be serviced free of charge for ten years. b. The T1100 has desirable features and is covered by a warranty. c. The T1100 has five speed settings and a second rinse option. d. The T1100 is too complicated for most service representatives to fix. B. 16. This passage is an example of — a. reflective writing b. an expository essay c. a narrative essay d. persuasive writing D.

15. 17. What is the meaning of the underlined word in this sentence? Everyone was rushing frantically about the site, collapsing tents into piles of canvas and throwing supplies haphazardly into packs. a. quietly. b. angrily. c. carelessly. d. thoughtfully C. [It is early morning in the Vargas house. Kwame’s parents and his sister are still asleep. The faint light of dawn can be seen through the window of Kwame’s bedroom, where he stands in front of a full-length mirror. In the distance can be heard the sound of a chirping bird. Kwame holds several note cards in his hand. He studies one of the cards for a minute. Then he squares his shoulders, looks confidently into the mirror, and recites the opening line of his speech.] 18. To whom might these stage directions be most useful? a. someone who is reading the play b. someone who is reviewing the play c. someone who is watching the play d. the author of the play A.

16. 19. Which statement below is an example of internal conflict? A. Joe wants to be class president, but so does Kim. B. A hurricane destroys a family’s home. C. Sarah wants to get a job, but the law says she’s too young. D. Derek wants to go to college, but he’s afraid of failing. D 20. What is the purpose of a writer when he/she favors one side of an issue, or tries to convince the reader of his/her point of view? A. to inform B. to entertain C. to persuade D. to reflect C

17. 21. Making predictions while reading helps you — a. remember the plot and character names b. make connections between present and future events c. understand text structure and graphic aids d. use personal experience to understand selections B Dawn was just breaking when Jake and I broke camp. The mountainside was quiet and the air was cold as we hiked upward, our packs heavy on our backs. Our goal was to reach the peak by noon. But an hour later, the sky was gray, and heavy clouds threatened to spill snow. “I can hardly tell that it’s morning,” I noted. “Matt, should we turn back?” Jake asked. “Getting stranded in a blizzard wasn’t part of the plan.” I hesitated. This was the fifth day of the climb, and I hated to give up when we were so close. “We may never have this chance again. We can make it in another two hours; I know it.” 22. Which statement best describes the plot? a. Matt and Jake become lost when they leave camp before dawn. b. Matt and Jake try to reach the top of a mountain before the snow falls. c. Matt and Jake leave their packs behind while they climb a mountain. d. Matt and Jake climb a mountain at the coldest time of the year. B

18. 23. Which statement is part of the rising action? a. Jake and Matt break camp. b. The mountainside is quiet. c. The goal was to reach the peak by noon. d. Jake asks whether they should turn back. D 24. Which term refers to the process by which a writer reveals a character’s personality? a. conflict b. character analysis c. point of view d. characterization D 25. What is meant by the term theme in a narrative? a. the central message of a story b. the music that goes with the story c. the setting and action of the story d. the conclusion of the story A