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Reading 2. Which of the following best sums up the

activities within an ecosystem?
Directions: Read each passage below carefully and a. predator–prey relationships
actively. Answer the questions that follow each b. interactions among all members
passage. c. human–animal interactions
d. human relationship with the environment
Ecosystems
An ecosystem is a group of animals and plants 3. An ecosystem can most accurately be defined as
living in a specific region and interacting with a. a specific place.
one another and with their physical environ- b. a community of plants and animals.
ment. Ecosystems include physical and c. a group of animals working together.
chemical components, such as soils, water, and d. a protected environment.
nutrients. These components support the
organisms living in the ecosystem. Ecosystems The Story of Dr. Mudd
can also be thought of as the interactions On the night of April 14, 1865—five days after
among all organisms in a given habitat. These the Civil War ended—President Abraham
organisms may range from large animals to Lincoln was attending the theater in
microscopic bacteria and work together in Washington, D.C. In the middle of the
various ways. For example, one species may performance, an actor named John Wilkes
serve as food for another. People are part of the Booth, seeking to avenge the defeat of the
ecosystems where they live and work. Human South, slipped into the presidential box and
activities, such as housing developments and shot the president.
trash disposal, can greatly harm or even destroy Booth escaped the theater, but broke his
local ecosystems. Proper ecosystem manage- leg when he leaped from the president’s box
ment is crucial for the overall health and seat to the stage. Before anybody could stop
diversity of our planet. We must find ways to him, he limped out the back door, mounted a
protect local ecosystems without stifling waiting horse, and disappeared into the night
economic development. with a fellow conspirator.
Five hours later, at four o’clock in the
morning, Booth and his companion arrived at
Questions the home of Samuel Mudd, a doctor living in
southern Maryland. Dr. Mudd knew nothing
1. Which sentence best expresses the main idea of about the assassination of the president. Acting
this passage? as any doctor would with a stranger in distress,
a. Our actions can have a great impact on our he set the leg and persuaded the two travelers to
ecosystems. stay in his house for the rest of the night. The
b. Ecosystems have been badly managed in next morning, Booth and his friend, using false
the past. names, paid the bill and departed.
c. Humans must clean up their trash.
d. Ecosystems interact with one another.

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Because of this merciful act, Dr. Mudd Questions

was arrested, taken to Washington, and tried on
the charge that he was a friend of Booth’s and 4. What was the cause of Dr. Mudd’s conviction?
therefore helped plan the assassination. Dr. a. He helped Booth assassinate Lincoln.
Mudd insisted that he knew nothing of the plot. b. He helped Booth get away.
But the military courts, angry at the president’s c. The military courts wanted someone to pay
death, sentenced the unfortunate doctor to life for Lincoln’s death.
imprisonment. d. He lied to the military courts.
Dr. Mudd was imprisoned at Fort
Jefferson, an island fortress about 120 miles 5. An alternative title for this passage might be
west of the southern tip of Florida. a. Lincoln’s Assassination.
As horrible and unjust as this punishment b. Good Doc Gone Bad.
must have been, a greater plight lurked at Fort c. A Prison Abandoned.
Jefferson. The warm, humid climate was a d. An Unfair Trial for a Fair Man.
perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Again
and again, these pests spread yellow fever germs 6. What sort of doctor was Dr. Mudd?
to prisoners and guards alike. a. careless, sloppy
When the fever struck, Dr. Mudd b. generous, caring
volunteered his services, because he was the c. greedy, money-hungry
only doctor on the island. He had to fight the d. cold-hearted, unfeeling
disease, even after he was infected himself. In
spite of the fact that the guards and other 7. Dr. Mudd fought the yellow fever outbreak at
inmates called him “that Lincoln murderer,” Fort Jefferson because
and treated him very badly, he worked hard to a. there was no one else to treat the sick
fight the disease. prisoners.
Meanwhile, his wife was working b. he thought it would help get him a pardon.
heroically back in Washington for her c. he didn’t want to get sick himself.
husband’s cause. After a four-year struggle, she d. he was forced to by the prison warden.
secured a pardon for him—for a crime he never
committed. 8. Read this sentence from the essay.
Dr. Mudd returned to Maryland to pick
up the pieces of his shattered life. Soon after Dr. As horrible and unjust as this punish-
Mudd’s release, Fort Jefferson was abandoned. ment must have been, a greater plight
Today, the one-time prison is accessible to lurked at Fort Jefferson.
visitors as part of Dry Tortugas National Park. As it is used in this passage, plight most nearly
means
a. challenge.
b. difficulty.
c. scare.
d. sickness.

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Year-Round School versus Regular Questions

School Schedule
Both year-round school and regular school 9. What percentage of schools in the United
schedules are found throughout the United States use a year-round schedule?
States. With year-round school schedules, a. 96%
students attend classes for nine weeks and then b. 4%
have three weeks’ vacation. This continues all year c. more than 20%
long. The regular school schedule requires that d. less than 4%
students attend classes from September to June,
with a three-month summer vacation at the end 10. The author feels that
of the year. This schedule began because farmers a. each school should decide what schedule to
needed their children at home to help with crops follow.
during the summer. Today, most people work in b. year-round school is better.
businesses and offices. Year-round school is easier c. both year-round and regular school
for parents who work in businesses and don’t schedules have different advantages and
have the summer to be with their children. The disadvantages.
regular school schedule is great for kids who like d. the regular school schedule is better.
to have a long summer vacation. While some
educational systems have changed their schedules 11. The main organizing principle of this passage is
to keep up with their population, others still use a. chronology.
the old agrarian calendar. Both systems have b. order of importance.
disadvantages and advantages, which is why c. comparison and contrast.
schools use different systems. d. cause and effect.

Comparison of U.S. School Schedules A Sibling Rivalry

You will need to know the following words as you
4% read the story:
year-round
schedule
tandem: working together
maneuver: make a series of changes in direction

The man with the bullhorn encouraged the

runners as they made their way up the hill.
“Two hours, fifteen minutes, forty seconds.” His
96% deep, amplified voice boomed toward us.
regular It was mile 17 of the marathon.
schedule
“Hey, great stride!” a bearded spectator
yelled to me. He clapped loudly. “You’re looking
strong. Keep going—go, go, go!”
You betcha I’m looking strong, I thought,
In the United States, only 4% of schools currently use a
as I followed my younger sister, Laura. I had
year-round schedule, but the number has risen steadily in just gotten started. She had been diligently
the last 20 years. clocking eight-minute miles since the race had

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begun downtown. Initially in the middle of a Easing off the bridge and heading south
pack, which was several thousand people, she on Avila Boulevard, Laura and I found our pace
had been steadily passing other runners for the together again. Here we could hang to the left
past ten miles or so. We were now on the of the group and enjoy some brief conversation.
relatively steep rise to the St. Cecelia Bridge. “You keeping up okay?” she asked. Being her
Once we crossed, we would begin heading back older brother, and therefore unable to admit
into town, running along the east side of the weakness, I nodded convincingly.
Rincon River. Laura had asked me to run the “Hey, Lee!” yelled a waving man on the
most difficult section of the marathon with her. sidewalk. Immediately pleased that my
Not having trained for anything more marathon efforts had been recognized by
challenging than a brisk walk and with no someone I knew, I waved back and reflected on
experience running in organized events, I the importance of wearing tie-dyed clothing to
figured I might be good for two or three miles. a road race of this size. It made it a lot easier to
Despite our running in tandem, we were be spotted!
taking different approaches to the event. Laura The town marathon is a “people’s”
was on an aggressive tack, maneuvering quickly marathon in that it tends to be a family affair,
through the slowing pack of runners. She began with the runners and spectators creating a
calling out “On your left, sir” and “Excuse me” festival atmosphere. The crowds are demonstra-
as she doggedly yet gracefully attacked the bly vocal and supportive all day, which means a
rising slope approaching the bridge. Keeping up lot to the participants. I managed to run six
with her was no small feat. On one hand, I felt miles before bowing out, and Laura finished the
like saying to her, Wait up! On the other hand, I entire race in under four hours.
knew that a timely finish would be a personal I now pride myself on telling people that I
record for her. ran in a marathon. The distinction between
Up ahead, steel drums were playing. A having run a marathon and having run in a
group of percussionists was pounding out marathon seems unimportant. If pressed,
rhythms, chanting, and encouraging us with however, I’ll admit that I only ran one-fourth
their music and smiles. Crossing the bridge, I of one.
recalled the advice in the Marathon Handbook Inspired by this year’s experience, I plan
to be sure to spit off of the steely span. During to walk the course—really fast—next year. It’s
my preview of the route, it had seemed like a not because I’m jealous of my sister’s accom-
juvenile thing to do. But now it seemed like a plishment. This is not some silly sibling rivalry
fine idea, and I spat magnificently over the side in which I must do whatever she does. Rather,
of the bridge. Laura got free cookies at the finish line, and the
“I read the handbook, too!” trumpeted a promise of that will lead me to any goal.
triumphant woman behind me, who also let
loose over the side of the bridge. We had now
initiated a chain reaction of subsequent bridge
spitters. It was quite a sight, but I had other
things to occupy my attention, namely the back
of Laura’s jersey.

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Questions 16. Why was Lee glad he wore a tie-dyed shirt?

a. It helped people locate him easily.
12. This story is told from the point of view of b. The shirt brought him good luck.
a. Laura. c. It added to the festival atmosphere.
b. Lee. d. The shirt was a favorite of Laura’s.
c. both Laura and Lee.
d. an unidentified, third-person narrator. 17. What part of the marathon did Laura ask Lee
to run?
13. Read these sentences from the story. Below a. the last six miles
them are four definitions of tack. Which one b. the downhill section
describes the meaning of the word as used in c. the most difficult section
this section of the passage? d. the last two to three miles

Laura was on an aggressive tack, 18. At next year’s marathon, Lee plans to
maneuvering quickly through the slowing a. run half of the course.
pack of runners. She began calling out b. beat his sister Laura.
“On your left, sir” and “Excuse me” as she c. walk the race really fast.
doggedly yet gracefully attacked the rising d. improve his time.
slope approaching the bridge.

a. a sharp, pointed nail 19. Which of the following words best describes
b. something that attaches Laura as she is presented in this passage?
c. a sticky or adhesive quality a. competitive
d. a zigzag movement b. foolish
c. comical
14. What happened immediately after Lee spit over d. carefree
the side of the bridge?
a. Laura was embarrassed. 20. The author wants the reader to think that Lee
b. A woman spat over the bridge. a. is too aggressive.
c. Lee apologized for his manners. b. has little self-confidence.
d. Lee saw someone that he knew. c. has a future as a runner.
d. is a good-natured brother.
15. Why did the author write this story?
a. to explain how marathons are won 21. Lee tells Laura that he’s keeping up okay
b. to tell about the history of marathons because
c. to tell a story about a marathon experience a. he doesn’t want her to think he can’t keep
d. to show how difficult running in a up with her.
marathon can be b. he is always lying to her.
c. he really is doing okay.
d. he wants to motivate her.

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22. Which event is the climax of the passage? Together, they invented games that could be
a. Laura finishes the race. played on the ship, and they ran around the
b. Lee spits over the bridge. decks. One afternoon, tired of being pestered
c. Lee gets recognition from the crowd as he with questions, the ship’s engineer gave them a
runs. tour of the engines.
d. Laura and Lee begin the race. The next day, as Tatiana was walking
along the deck, she heard some of the
Journey to a New Life passengers talking about the Statue of Liberty.
For hundreds of years, people have come to the This conversation confused her because she
United States from other countries seeking a knew that liberty was an idea; it was intangible.
better life. One of the first sights to greet many No one could see or touch it, so how could you
immigrants is the Statue of Liberty. This is the make a statue of liberty? When she asked her
story of Tatiana and her journey to the United friend’s father, Mr. Dimitrivitch, he explained
States. that the statue looked like a woman, but it
represented freedom. This explanation just
In 1909, when Tatiana was just 11 years old, her made Tatiana more curious to see the statue for
parents and older brother traveled to the herself.
United States. Because the family could not One morning, Tatiana woke up to the
afford to buy her a ticket, she had to remain in sound of wild shouting. Convinced that the
Russia. She had lived with her uncle and ship must be sinking, she grabbed her lifejacket
cousins for almost a year in a small and and ran upstairs. All the passengers were
crowded house before the special letter arrived crowded onto the deck, but the ship wasn’t
from her father. “Dear Tatiana,” he wrote. “At sinking. The shouts were really cries of
last we have earned enough money to pay for excitement because the Louisa Jane had finally
your ticket. After you join us in New York, we reached the United States. When Tatiana
will travel by train to a place called South realized that she would soon see her family
Dakota where we have bought a farm.” again, she joined in with shouts of her own.
A week later, Tatiana’s uncle took her into As the Louisa Jane came closer to shore,
the city of St. Petersburg and, using the money the tall figure of a woman holding a torch
her father had sent, bought her a ticket for the became visible on the horizon. The cries died
Louisa Jane, a steamship that was leaving for away and the passengers stared in awed silence
America. Tatiana clutched her bag nervously at the Statue of Liberty. Tatiana gazed at the
and walked up the ramp onto the steamship woman’s solemn face as the ship steamed past.
that would be her home until she reached Mr. Dimitrivitch had told her that the statue
America. She listened to the ship’s whistle give a represented freedom, and she finally under-
piercing blast and then leaned over the railing stood what he meant. At that moment, Tatiana
to wave good-bye to her uncle. knew that she was free to start her new life.
Although she was lonely and missed her
family, Tatiana quickly made friends with the
other children aboard the Louisa Jane.

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Questions 28. Which of the following statements best

summarizes the story?
23. For Tatiana, the Statue of Liberty was a symbol a. Tatiana traveled to the United States.
of b. Tatiana, a Russian girl, had an amazing
a. a new beginning. journey by steamship to America.
b. interesting ideas. c. Many Russian families moved to America
c. the excitement of traveling. in the 1900s.
d. the ability to earn money. d. In 1909, a young Russian girl traveled to
America to join her family.
24. Which words in the story tell the reader that
these events took place long ago? Excerpt from “First,” a Short Story
a. “stared in awed silence at the Statue of First, you ought to know that I’m “only” fourteen.
Liberty” My mother points this out often. I can make my
b. “a steamship that was leaving for America” own decisions when I’m old enough to vote, she
c. “she was lonely and missed her family” says. Second, I should tell you that she’s right—
d. “Tatiana’s uncle took her into the city” I’m not always responsible. I sometimes take the
prize for grade-A dork. Take last weekend, for
25. The engineer showed the children the ship’s instance. I was staying at Dad’s, and I decided it
engines because was time I learned to drive. It was Sunday
a. he was tired of answering their many morning, 7 A.M., and I hadn’t slept well. I’d been
questions. up thinking about an argument, which I’ll tell
b. the parents asked him to amuse their you about in a minute. Well, nobody was up yet
children. in the neighborhood, so I thought it couldn’t
c. Tatiana had asked him to do so. hurt to back the car out of the garage and drive
d. the tour was included in the price of the around the block. But Dad has a clutch car. The R
tickets. on the shift handle was up on the left side, right
next to first gear. I guess you can guess the rest.
26. The best way to learn more about the kind of Dad’s always been understanding. He
ship described in this story would be to didn’t say, “Okay, little Miss Know-It-All, you
a. ask someone who builds sailboats. can just spend the rest of the year paying this
b. read a book about the immigrants in off,” which is what Mom would have said.
New York. Instead, Dad worried about what might have
c. visit a port where large ships dock. happened to me. To me. And that made me feel
d. look in an encyclopedia under Steamships. more guilty than anything. I think he’d be a
better number-one caregiver, but I can’t say
27. Which emotion did the passengers on the ship things like that to Mom. To her, I have to say,
feel when they saw the statue? “But Mom, Dad’s place is closer to school. I
a. excitement could ride my bike.”
b. awe To which she replies, “Amy Lynn, you
c. loneliness don’t own a bike. Remember? You left it in the
d. regret yard, and it was stolen. And you haven’t got the
patience to earn the money to replace it.”

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Questions 34. The narrator’s tone is

a. emotional and familiar.
29. How does the narrator show how she feels b. stuck-up and superior.
about her dad and mom? c. angry and sad.
a. through specific detail d. pleasant and charming.
b. by asking questions that make a point but
don’t invite a direct answer 35. The main conflict between the narrator and
c. through similes and metaphors her mother is about whether she
d. by contrasting her parents’ typical reactions a. can make her own decisions.
b. should live with her mom or her dad.
30. The first-person point of view in this story c. should be allowed to drive.
a. hides the narrator’s feelings. d. should pay for things she loses or breaks.
b. shows the thoughts and personality of the
narrator. 36. The narrator’s mom thinks the narrator is
c. makes the narrator seem cold and distant. a. too attached to her dad.
d. lets you hear the thoughts of all the b. too emotional.
characters. c. too shy.
d. irresponsible.
31. The narrator feels guilty because she
a. made her dad worry. 37. The narrator feels that her mom
b. ruined the car. a. is too busy to care for her.
c. broke the law. b. should never have divorced her dad.
d. didn’t tell her mom about the car incident. c. makes too many rules.
d. cares more about things than about people.
32. The narrator says she “sometimes take[s] the
prize for grade-A dork.” This word choice 38. What most likely happened with the car?
means to show a. The narrator put the car in first gear
a. that she doesn’t know proper English. instead of reverse. She ran into the garage
b. that she can’t judge her own actions. wall.
c. her age and culture. b. The narrator backed out of the driveway
d. that she thinks she’s better than other and into a neighbor’s car.
dorks. c. The narrator left the car in gear when she
was finished. When her dad started the car,
33. The quotation marks around “only” suggest he ran into the garage wall.
that the narrator d. The narrator broke the clutch while trying
a. is almost fifteen. to shift gears.
b. thinks fourteen is old enough for some
things.
c. wishes she were older.
d. thinks fourteen is a lousy age.

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Questions 40. How much does a monthly adult pass cost?

a. $28
39. What type of text is this? b. $12
a. instructions c. $32
b. informative d. $36
c. an advertisement
d. a narrative

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Composition

The four seasons of the year are characterized by different kinds of weather and activities. Which season is your
favorite and why? Write a focused paragraph with a clear thesis and several supporting statements.
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