Study Island
Copyright © 2014 Edmentum - All rights reserved.
Generation Date: 04/03/2014
Generated By: Cheryl Shelton
Title: 7th Grade - Literature
First Game of the Season
by Courtney Goff
Brightly-colored leaves from the oak trees had begun to fall, and workers had spent
most of the morning clearing them from the field for the game. The cool September wind
blew more leaves onto the ground making them harder to clear.
Buses lined the curb on both sides of the stadium, snaking all the way back to the
parking lot entrance. Each school’s marching band unloaded their instruments and filed
through the gates to take their place in the bleachers. Thousands of excited students,
wearing their team’s colors, rushed into the stadium and filled the stands. Cheerleaders
practiced their stunts on the sidelines of the field performing flips and flying high into the
air.
In the locker room, the players were much more subdued. They stretched and
dressed in their uniforms before gathering around the coach. They knelt down and
listened carefully to the coach’s last-minute pep talk. The players left the locker room
and headed down the hall blinking into the setting sun as they stepped out onto the
field.
All the fans stood up at once to cheer for the teams as they ran out onto the field,
and the cheerleaders leapt and shouted to energize the crowd. Everyone anticipated
the first game of the season each year, and now it was finally here. Parents of the
players sat in the front rows of the stadium cheering the loudest of all. Horns and drums
from each team’s marching band played loudly with their music vibrating across the
field.
On the ground, the teams faced each other, shaking hands before the game began.
They stared up toward the end of the field, imagining the ball sailing through the
goalposts. As the players prepared to get in their positions, a referee approached the
50-yard line. He handed a football to the home team’s center, and it was time for kickoff.
1. Which sentence from the story best shows that it is evening?
A. "Everyone anticipated the first game of the season each year, and now it was finally here."
"Horns and drums from each team's marching band played loudly with their music
B.
vibrating across the field."
C.
"Thousands of excited students, wearing their team's colors, rushed into the stadium and
filled the stands."
D.
"The players left the locker room and headed down the hall blinking into the setting sun as
they stepped out onto the field."
2. Which details in the story show where the story takes place?
A. "stadium" and "field"
B. "team" and "band"
C. "leaves" and "trees"
D. "buses" and "instruments"
Some people believe that any food labeled "diet," "low fat," "heart healthy," or "low
carb" is good for everyone. In reality, good nutrition is not always a one-size-fits-all deal.
In fact, some people who read food labels might actually be putting harmful things into
their bodies.
For example, certain foods that are low in calories can be high in other things, such
as sodium. Frozen dinners can be quite high in sodium, although some of those dinners
are low fat. Someone looking for a low-calorie meal might do well to eat a frozen meal
every now and then; many are portion-controlled and loaded with vegetables. However,
someone who is under doctor's orders to control their sodium intake might want to make
another choice. Just because a meal contains a lot of vegetables does not mean it is an
equally good choice for everyone.
In addition, some foods that are low in carbohydrates can be high in sugar. People
often look at the number of carbs on a food's label because they know carbs contribute
to fat. However, a product low in carbs but high in sugar can be equally damaging.
Sugar does not break down quickly in the body. Products high in sugar can keep you
coming back for more while simultaneously building fat. Therefore, someone looking to
maintain a healthy weight must look at a product's carb and sugar content. Also, too
much sugar contributes to diabetes, so people in danger of developing diabetes need to
keep an eye on more than a label's carb count.
In general, it is a good idea to try to weigh all items that are listed on a product's
label. Trying to take into account all aspects of the food you eat is critical to your overall
health and well-being. Being alert to a food's total nutritional value can help maintain
good health for years to come.
3. Which of the following is likely true based on this passage?
A. No one is recommended to eat frozen dinners because they contain too much sodium.
B. Foods that are healthy for some people can actually be unhealthy for other people.
C. Most people eat too much sugar and are at a serious risk of becoming diabetic.
D. Cutting back on carbohydrates is the best thing people can do to maintain good health.
4. Which sentence from the passage shows that people need to be more observant when it comes
to reading food labels?
A.
Trying to take into account all aspects of the food you eat is critical to your overall health
and well-being.
B.
People often look at the number of carbs on a food's label because they know carbs
contribute to fat.
C.
In fact, some people who read food labels might actually be putting harmful things into
their bodies.
D.
Just because a meal contains a lot of vegetables does not mean it is an equally good choice
for everyone.
Key to the Unknown
Kevin and Harry had been best friends for as long as either of them could remember.
They had lived on the same block since first grade. Although their families were not
particularly close, each mother considered the other boy her son. During the summer
after the sixth grade, the two boys made a fort about a half-mile into some woods at the
edge of town. There was a good trail, one they could ride their bikes on.
Near the fort there was a dilapidated, old house, a barn, and chicken coop with its
roof caved in. In fact, there were big holes in all the buildings. Although the buildings
weren’t totally safe, they were too inviting for two young boys.
One day, they were exploring inside the old farmhouse. It was sunny outside, but in
certain parts of the house, it was always dark. That’s where they were when Harry
stepped on a rotten board and the whole floor gave way beneath him. He screamed as
he fell about three feet to the ground. A huge cloud of dust rose from the collapsed floor
and covered Harry.
Luckily, Kevin was still outside the door of that room, and that floor didn’t collapse.
But he was scared that Harry might be injured. "Are you okay? What happened? Where
are you?" he yelled into the dust.
"I’m right here," Harry coughed. "I’m not hurt or anything." He fanned his arms
around to get rid of the dust. Kevin kneeled down and took a look. He reached out his
hand to pull Harry up, but instead Harry hunkered down and peered into the dark crawl
space below the floor. "Do we still have that flashlight at the fort?" he asked.
"Sure do," Kevin said as he rushed off to get it.
When he returned he climbed down with Harry, and together they pushed the old
flooring aside. The light revealed inches of dust but nothing of much interest. It was kind
of creepy because there were some spider webs hanging about. As Kevin started to
climb out, his foot knocked against something solid. He directed the light to it, and there
was a reflection. He pushed aside the dust to reveal a key!
The eyes of both boys grew huge. In their minds they could see the treasure chest
the key would open. Harry grabbed the key and both boys clamored out of the hole. As
soon as they were standing on something solid they started looking for the lock the key
fit. They scoured the place every day for a week, but they never found a lock it fit.
Eventually, they hung it up in their fort and jokingly called it the "key to the unknown."
5. Why do the boys get excited?
A. They see a big spider that lives near the key.
B. They imagine the key will open a treasure chest.
C. They believe they have found a secret hiding place.
D. They doubted the flashlight batteries would work.
6. Why does Harry ask Kevin for the flashlight?
A. so he can kill a spider with it
B. so Kevin will leave him alone
C. so he can avoid the worst dust
D. so he can look beneath the floor
One of the most popular characters in children's literature is the Mad Hatter, from
Lewis Carroll's popular book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Alice happens upon the
Mad Hatter at a "mad," or crazy, tea party. The characters at the tea party are the Mad
Hatter, the March Hare, and the Dormouse. They are drinking tea as if time doesn't exist
and so have no reason to hurry. The way the Mad Hatter acts and speaks does make it
seem as if he may be a little crazy.
The character of the Mad Hatter was likely inspired by the phrase "mad as a hatter."
A hatter is a person who makes hats. Today, no one works with mercury without proper
protection. But before the dangers were understood, hatters often worked with mercury
to cure the felt used in many hats. It was impossible for the hatters to avoid inhaling
mercury fumes. They sometimes developed mercury poisoning. Mercury poisoning
caused brain damage and could result in confused speech. Listening to the Mad Hatter
at the mad tea party, one can guess that he probably did spend too much time with
mercury!
7. Which detail would be most important to include in a summary of the passage?
A. Alice meets the character of the Mad Hatter at a crazy tea party.
B. Today, hatters would not think of working with mercury without protection.
C. Mercury poisoning could cause brain damage and confused speech.
D. The Mad Hatter, the March Hare, and the Dormouse are all at the tea party.
8. Which is the best summary of this passage?
A.
It was common for hatters to go crazy because they developed mercury poisoning from
making hats without proper protection.
B.
The Mad Hatter was one of the most popular characters from Lewis Carroll's book Alice's
Adventures in Wonderland.
C.
The character of the Mad Hatter may have been inspired by hat makers who went crazy
from mercury poisoning.
D.
Alice meets the popular character of the Mad Hatter at a tea party that was also attended by
the March Hare and the Dormouse.
It was a dark and cold winter morning. Jim and his brother Carl waited impatiently for
the school bus. Carl chewed on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
"I hate going to school," Jim said. "You never know what might go wrong during the
day. We might have a pop quiz or be attacked by the school bully."
Carl finished the last sandwich bite and moved on to a thermos filled with chocolate
milk. "It's a lot more fun in my class."
"Sure," Jim said. "It's because you're in kindergarten. Everything's fun in
kindergarten."
The bus arrived. Both boys walked into it and separated to find their friends. As Jim
sat down next to his best friend Mike, he noticed something.
"Hey, my lunchbox feels really light."
9. Based on the story, which event causes Jim's lunchbox to feel light?
A. Jim's mom forgets to pack his lunch.
B. Jim's lunch falls out of his lunchbox.
C. The school bully steals Jim's lunch.
D. Carl eats Jim's lunch at the bus stop.
You read a novel about a boy with leukemia. In the story, his mother loves him very much
and is determined to find a cure for the boy. She takes him to the best hospitals in the country.
She does tons of research and contacts people all over the world. People tell her to give up and
that she's wasting her time and money, but she doesn't listen to them. Through the months and
years of the boy's illness, she takes care of him and assures him he will get better. Finally, when
it seems there is no hope, a doctor prescribes a treatment that seems to help. By the end of the
story, the boy is getting better and better, and it seems he will fully recover.
10.
People tell her to give up and that she's wasting her time and money, but she doesn't listen to
them.
Look at the sentence above. What theme from the passage is reflected in this sentence?
A. Other people usually know more than you do.
B. Follow your heart instead of following others.
C. The advice of others is often the best advice.
D. Different ideas are helpful in solving difficult problems.
11.
Stacy couldn't wait to get to Macy's the first thing in the morning. She wanted to
be one of those people that stood outside the store and rushed in as soon as the doors
were open. She put on her clothes and wore comfortable shoes in case she had to wait
awhile. When she got there, a whole bunch of people were already in line. She didn't
mind waiting, though. As soon as the doors were open, Stacy rushed in with the others.
She wanted to buy gifts for family and friends for the holidays. Since Stacy had to save
up for school, she didn't want to pay an arm and a leg to buy the gifts.
The phrase an arm and a leg means that Stacy
A. did not want to walk to the shopping mall.
B. did not want to spend a lot of money.
C. did not want to use her hands and legs.
D. did not like touching things while shopping.
12.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a preacher and a civil rights leader. He was born
in 1929 and died in 1968. In 1963, he organized the March on Washington which
brought more than 200,000 people together. In 1964, he was awarded the Nobel Peace
Prize.
In 1968, he was shot and killed in Memphis by an assassin's bullet on the balcony of
the motel where he was staying. James Earl Ray was convicted of his murder.
Which of the following can the reader infer from the passage above?
A. James Earl Ray was a racist.
B. Dr. King was a great public speaker.
C. Memphis is a very dangerous city.
D. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a major political figure in the 1960s.
13.
In the fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel," a brother and sister find a house made of candy in
the forest, are invited inside by an old woman, and are almost cooked and eaten by the woman,
who turns out to be a witch. In "Little Red Riding Hood," a little girl is on her way through the
forest to see her grandmother and tells a wolf where the grandmother lives. The wolf races ahead
of the little girl and eats her grandmother.
What recurring theme is present in both stories?
A. Wolves and witches are mean.
B. The forest is a dangerous place.
C. Do not trust strangers.
D. Always be prepared.
14.
Summer Job
Juan began mowing lawns for money last summer. He started mowing at the
beginning of May. It was spring, it rained often and continued through the summer, and
the lawns on Juan's block grew fast. He was able to mow lawns all summer, and he
made some good money! This year was completely different. The weather did not
cooperate. Most of Juan's customers told him that he did not need to mow as often. By
the end of the summer, Juan made less than half of what he made the year before.
Which of these statements is supported by the paragraph?
A. This was a much hotter summer than last summer.
B. There was less rain this summer than last summer.
C. This was a much colder summer than last summer.
D. There was less wind this summer than last summer.
Olympic athletes spend hours training starting at an early age. Those who do make it
to the Olympic Games often do not win medals—and these are the top athletes of the
world. Wilma Rudolph not only made it to the Olympics, she won three gold medals.
Wilma Rudolph was born on June 23, 1940, in St. Bethlehem, Tennessee. She came
from a very big family. She was the 17th of 19 children in her family. The family moved
to Clarksville, Tennessee, which is where Wilma grew up. When Wilma was young, she
had polio and scarlet fever. The polio left her without the use of one of her legs. She
needed to wear leg braces to walk. Eventually, she was able to walk with a special
shoe. After about three years, she didn't need the special shoe anymore.
In high school, Wilma played basketball and ran track. She broke all the state
basketball records and won all her track meets. Wilma went to Tennessee State
University and started training for the Olympics. In July of 1960, Wilma went to the
Olympics in Rome, Italy. She won three gold medals and was called the "World's
Fastest Woman." She was later named female athlete of the year.
Wilma became a coach and an athletic consultant in Chicago, Illinois. She died in
1994 of a brain tumor. Wilma will be remembered for her courage as a young child
overcoming her illness, her athletic ability, and her dedication to reaching her goals. To
this day, Wilma's life continues to inspire people to reach their personal goals.
15. According to the passage, Wilma was courageous because
A. she participated in the 1960 Summer Olympics.
B. she was one of the youngest in a large family.
C. she was a successful basketball player.
D. she overcame her illness and became a successful athlete.
16. According to the passage, by overcoming childhood diseases and going on to win Olympic
medals, Wilma Rudolph became
A. a critic of others.
B. an inspiration to others.
C. a well-known doctor.
D. a sportscaster.
17. Which of the following phrases best describes Wilma Rudolph?
A. easily discouraged
B. dissapointed to be a coach
C. extremely wealthy
D. determined to excel
When I was a kid, I lived in a little town called Elm Ridge. Everyone knew their best
friend since pre-K, which was pretty much our whole lives. In third grade, my best friend
Becky and I spent all of our free time making friendship bracelets for one another, just
like all the other girls in our school. We could spend hours lying together on our beds,
weaving the colors as intricately as our tiny fingers could manage. Every color meant
something: Red meant you were smart, white meant you were nice, blue meant you
were brave, etc. I had an entire collection of bracelets. Honestly, it seemed like some of
the girls in my class had hundreds or even thousands of bracelets. I kept mine in a
special box and refused to leave the house without wearing at least three or four.
But the summer after third grade, my family moved away. We moved to a bigger
town, where kids did not know all of their friends since pre-K. They also did not know
anything about friendship bracelets. On my first day of fourth grade, when I proudly
displayed to the girls in my class a red-white-and-blue bracelet Becky had made me,
they looked at me like I had two heads. These girls were into these crazy neon barrettes
you bought at the mall, not bracelets you made yourself. I put my friendship bracelets in
a box in one of my drawers and never dared showed them to anyone ever again.
Even though I would never see Becky after I moved, I would look at my bracelets all
the time, wishing my bed were back in my old room in Elm Ridge and that Becky were
laying beside me, our tiny fingers weaving threads together for hours and hours.
18. Which sentence from the story shows that the bracelets are important to the narrator?
A.
These girls were into these crazy neon barrettes you bought at the mall, not bracelets you
made yourself.
B.
I kept mine in a special box and refused to leave the house without wearing at least three or
four.
C.
Honestly, it seemed like some of the girls in my class had hundreds or even thousands of
bracelets.
D.
I put my friendship bracelets in a box in one of my drawers and never dared showed them
to anyone ever again.
19. Based on what the narrator says in paragraph one, why does Becky give the narrator a redwhite-and-blue friendship bracelet?
A. She knows the narrator is sad to be moving away.
B. She is scared the narrator will forget about her.
C. She thinks the narrator is smart, nice, and brave.
D. She and the narrator have been friends since pre-K.
20. At the end of the story, the reader can tell that the narrator
A. forgets about living in Elm Ridge.
B. misses being friends with Becky.
C. no longer enjoys making bracelets.
D. thinks the bracelets are childish.