Study Island
Copyright © 2014 Edmentum - All rights reserved.
Generation Date: 04/02/2014
Generated By: Che ryl Shelton
Title: 12th Grade ELA Theme
Bugs in Flight
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The sky above you may appear blue on a clear summer day, but according to scientist
Jason Chapman's survey in Great Britain, in one summer month, there are 3 billion insects
passing high overhead. Nearer the equator, such as over Louisiana or Texas, the number
could be as high as 6 billion. Why would insects need to fly at high altitude? Mosquitoes,
spiders, and other insects sometimes need to go elsewhere to locate food or to find a home or
a mate.
If you look carefully, you may be able to see insects launch. Entomologist Matt
Greenstone says that they stand up as high as they can, trying to get themselves into a layer
of air that is more turbulent. If they are fortunate enough to hitch a ride on a column of air
that's moving upward, they can be carried along on it.
Research on high- flying insects began in 1926, using airplanes. The aviator Charles
Lindbergh even assisted with such early studies. On his 1933 crossing of the Atlantic, he
flew with sticky glass slides attached to his plane to collect insects. Various bugs were
caught at 2,460 to 5,410 feet over the ocean and as high as 12,000 feet over Greenland. That
may seem incredibly high, but in a 1961 study, a similar insect trap on a Super-Constellation
airplane caught a single termite at a record-breaking altitude—19,000 feet.
1. What is the best summary of paragraph 3?
Even the likes of legendary aviator Charles Lindbergh got in on the act, as scientists tried
to figure out which type of insect could fly the highest.
Riding on great columns of upward current, the insects ride up to high a ltitudes and then
B.
get stuck on glass plates affixed to the bottom of airplanes.
A.
C.
It seems that the skies above Greenland have some of the most high- flying insects, as
airplanes have caught them as high as 12,000 feet in the air.
D.
Sticky glass plates on airplanes have been used to catch high- flying insects, demonstrating
that bugs can fly thousands of feet above land or sea.
2. Which sentence best summarizes the above selection?
A.
One method of researching the flying habits of insects is to affix a sticky glass plate to the
bottom an airplane and have it fly at high altitudes to catch bugs.
B.
Scientists have discovered that insects such as mosquitoes and termites sometimes fly at
high altitudes in order to find a home, a meal, or a mate.
C.
Charles Lindbergh, world- famous aviator, crossed the Atlantic in 1933 with a device
attached to the airplane that was designed to catch high- flying insects.
D.
Termites sometimes get up on their hind legs to hitch a ride on a wind current, and one
termite was caught flying as high as 19,000 feet.
Bravery
Avery waited for the class to be over so that he could be alone with his thoughts.
Today, the voice in his heart was loud and clear. It had requested him to stop passing
around that flier about Mrs. Windem, the music teacher. Roberto had also warned him
against such stupidity.
"You think you will look cool in front of the class, but you will only be acting like a
fool; trust me!" Roberto had alerted his friend. However, Avery had found it hard to
resist his urges. Often, he acted first and contemplated later. Even though he found
mischief thrilling, he felt the pleasure was getting to be too short-lived. That day, he had
passed around the flier to a few boys and then snatched them back before it reached
more of his classmates. He could not understand why he was behaving that way. Mrs.
Windem, who had noticed the commotion in the classroom, continued with the lesson
despite the disturbance.
Avery was not even focusing on the class anymore. He wanted to talk to the teacher
face to face and perhaps utter some words of apology. While Mrs. Windem was still
talking about Mozart, Ted snatched one of the fliers from Avery's hands and passed it to
a girl sitting next to him.
"Are you being a chicken?" Ted hissed at Avery.
Unable to let the awful prank continue, Roberto intervened before the girl opened up
the rolled up flier. He requested the girl to return it to him and thanked her for agreeing
to do so.
Avery, the biggest, toughest boy in Virtue High was beside himself that afternoon.
When his eyes met with the teacher's, he recognized the affectionate and
understanding expression they displayed. The eyes told that he was already forgiven. At
the same moment, Avery felt a gentle tap on his back. He knew what Roberto was
trying to say to him without using words.
3. A theme in this story is a person's relationship with others. Which of these themes builds on it
in the plot?
A. Sensitive people are blind to truth.
B. A person's size does not matter.
C. Hate leads to the downfall of others.
D. True friends are hard to find.
4. Avery, the central character, represents major themes in this passage. Which of these is an
important theme in the plot?
A. People change over time.
B. People tend to become alike.
C. Advice is not always helpful.
D. Honesty is not always rewarded.
5. Multiple themes in a passage can be represented by multiple characters. The theme of "good
wins over evil" is characterized by
A. Avery.
B. Ted.
C. the girl.
D. Mozart.
6. A passage can have more than one central theme. Which of these phrases best represents a
theme of the passage?
A. rebelling and defying authority
B. music transforms people's lives
C. gender differences and stereotypes
D. the illusion of paradise on earth
7. The title of the passage symbolizes an important theme in this passage. Which sentence best
reflects this theme?
A. Fear stops teachers from punishing kids.
B. Not doing the right thing is cowardice.
C. Girls are more fearless than school boys.
D. Only the brave disturb the peace in class.
Fossil Hunting
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Dinosaurs roamed the Earth millions of years ago on every continent, which suggests that
dinosaur fossils would be easy to find. However, they only exist in certain types of rock, so
you have to know which type you're looking for.
Rocks are divided into categories corresponding to how they were formed. Metamorphic
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rock forms when any type of rock is altered by tremendous pressure or heat. Igneous rock is
made when hot volcanic magma cools down and hardens. Sedimentary rock forms when
"sediment" (particles of rock or organic material) compresses as it piles up over time. It is
this last type that provides the right environment for fossils to form.
Many of the most significant dinosaur fossil finds came from dinosaurs that died and
were covered with sediment soon after (such as from a sandstorm or by sinking into mud).
This is the perfect situation for fossils to develop. The skin and organs decompose very fast,
but harder areas like bones and teeth stay intact. As time passes, more and more sediment
piles on top, which turns to rock. Water passing through it contains minerals, which
gradually replace the chemicals in the dinosaur bones. The result of this process is a copy of
the original, made of something like rock—a fossilized version that will last for eons,
allowing us to study the remains long after the original matter is gone.
8. Which sentence best summarizes the third paragraph?
Fossil hunting is a pastime even amateurs can enjoy, as evidenced by the thousands of
tourists who visit dinosaur fossil beds around the world each year.
The softer parts of dead animals decompose first, while teeth and bones last much longer,
B.
enabling archaeologists to study multiple creatures from prehistoric time periods.
A.
C.
Dinosaur fossils are made when sediment piles over the animal, minerals from water
replace the bones' chemicals, and a rock-like substance forms.
D.
Water is the key element in the formation of fossils, as it flows through rock and brings
minerals that slowly come to replace the bones' chemicals.
9. What sentence best summarizes the above selection?
A. Although dinosaurs lived on all the continents, fossils have only been found on a few.
B.
The best dinosaur fossils are found in sedimentary rock that began to form soon after the
dinosaur's death.
C.
There are different types of rock where fossils can be found, though sedimentary is most
common.
D.
Fossils are formed when water passes through the rock, replacing the original matter with
minerals.
10. Which sentence offers the best summary of paragraph 2?
A.
Depending on how they're formed, rocks can be igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary,
where fossils are typically found.
B.
Dinosaur fossils are generally found in sedimentary rock, where layers of material have
built up over many years.
C. Sedimentary rocks are those formed when particles of rock or organic materials pile up
over time.
D.
Most types of rock are made when high pressure builds up and presses on organic
materials, heating it up.
One night, as Yann woke up to get a glass of water, he noticed that his parents were
up late and talking in the living room.
"What time are they flying in again?" Ramona asked her husband, sipping tea.
"Eight. I will pick them up. Will you have enough time to fix dinner before they
come?" Juan responded, sounding concerned.
"Sure, I will ask Yann and Maria to help," Ramona reassured Juan. "Let's get some
sleep. We can't fix their fates, but we can help them get through this rough patch."
Because Yann was not old enough to be up that late, he stayed out of sight and
listened to his parents' conversation in the hallway instead. He was curious about the
visitors and their troubles.
Yann found out the next day that his parents were preparing for the arrival of the
Carloses, their friends from back home. Ignacio Carlos arrived at Yann's house with his
wife Palomina and their little girl America.
The house was a fiesta every single night when the Carloses stayed. Yann had to
give up his room for his father's friends while America and Maria shared a room. Yann
slept on the folding couch in the living room and, without anyone's notice, overheard the
conversations in every room.
"Aren't we intruding?" Palomina was heard asking her husband. "How long shall we
stay here, Ignacio?"
"Juan will help us, dear," Ignacio replied. "I don't know how long. They took
everything. We have to wait for a few weeks to get everything straightened out."
"All we did was lend Juan enough for a plane ticket years ago. Why would they help
us this much?" Palomina expressed her doubts.
"Well, we did what we could," Ignacio replied. "They are doing what they can. It
works like that with us!"
Before he knew it, Yann had uncovered his family history. He had understood why
his father picked up strangers from his home country and given them food and shelter
time and again. That was his way of giving back to his country while he was away from
it. Yann thought about his family a lot that night as he drifted back to sleep.
11. Which of these themes do Juan's actions reflect?
A. People are insecure about their inner strengths.
B. Society trains people to differ from others.
C. Patriotism can be reflected in many ways.
D. It is easier to criticize than to help a person.
12. Which of these is a universal message found in the story?
A. Good deeds are rewarded.
B. Success follows hard work.
C. Nature's beauty is an escape.
D. Life is usually predictable.
13. A theme of this story is the power of friendship. Which of these themes in the story is closely
related to it?
A. Take care of the less fortunate.
B. One should learn from children.
C. Never stop believing in dreams.
D. People struggle with society.
Roses for Julia
by T. Herlinger
It happened the first time a month before prom—Julia found a perfect little tea rose
on her desk when she walked into 6th-period English. She assumed the last student
had left it behind, so she set it aside and forgot about it. Then it happened again the
next day, and she knew it couldn't be a coincidence.
"Someone's got a crush on you!" Julia friend Anthony teased as he slid off his
backpack and sat down beside her. "Want me to find out who it is?" he grinned. "I have
my spies, you know."
"Don't you dare!" Julia punched him in the shoulder. W hen a week of tea roses had
gone by, her curiosity got the better of her. "Okay," she cornered Anthony at the end of
class on Friday, "I can't stand this—I've got to know who's bestowing these little gifts
upon me."
"I'm way ahead of you." Anthony took Julia's arm and steered her past the lockers
out into the afternoon sunlight. "There's the man himself—I got to class early and
witnessed him placing the rose on your desk."
Julia looked where Anthony pointed. There was Billy Hayes, a kid she barely knew,
who sat in the back of her biology class. He was just unlocking his bike. Julia's heart
had been thumping but now it slowed and steadied.
"Are you certain it's him?" Julia whispered.
"Oh yeah, I'm positive." He gave her a little nudge, and she reluctantly crossed the
pavement to where Billy stood, hoping all the while there would be some sign,
something to tell her what she thought of this boy. But as he looked up at her approach,
all she felt was empty. A blond lock of his hair fell across one eye, and she tried to see it
as cute and charming, but it was just a lock of hair—nothing special.
"Hi, Billy," Julia said as cheerily as she could, though she could hear its hollowness
ringing in her ears. Don't hurt him, a voice in her head kept saying. How could she avoid
it? "Thanks for the tea roses. They're beautiful."
Billy blushed crimson and looked away, but she could see he was grinning.
"I'm glad you like them," Billy responded, then cleared his throat and took a deep
breath. "I was wondering, if you don't already have a date for prom. . . ."
"Listen, Billy," Julia interrupted, "I don't have a date, and you're really nice to ask, but
I'm just not a prom sort of person. I'm actually going to see a play that night," she fibbed,
"with my family, but thanks, really. . . ." She trailed off as Billy pulled his bicycle out and
nearly ran over her toes.
"No problem, I can handle it," Billy said, sounding like he was going to burst out
crying.
"I've got to go, Billy, but. . . take care." It was all she could think of to say as she
walked off in the other direction toward home, feeling like a big, unsociable heel.
14. Which word best summarizes Anthony's role in Julia's life?
A. jealous
B. neutral
C. supportive
D. gossipy
15. Which is the best summary of Julia's feelings about Billy?
A. She is angry that Billy left all those roses for her.
B. She doesn't feel much of anything toward him.
C. She is excited by his invitation to the dance.
D. She is frustrated that he always acts so shy.
16. Which sentence best summarizes this passage?
A. Billy gets jilted by Julia and won't speak to her.
B. Julia is courted by a boy she wishes she could like.
C. The prom is coming up, and Julia is dying to go.
D. Anthony offers to spy on one of Julia's friends.
New History
by A. Gautam
I did not know I knew so little about my father. The afternoon he picked me up from
the airport was the first time I noticed his shriveled looks. I gave my father a hug and felt
his bones in my arms. With Mom in the hospice, I figured he was not eating well.
Instead of requesting him to take me to a drive -through restaurant because I could not
wait for food till we got home, I kept thinking about my father's thin frame. Even his eyes
seemed to stray into the distance as we waited for my luggage. He did not notice me
trying to grab the suitcase from the conveyer belt. Even last summer, he would not have
let me carry a light duffel bag on my own. He used to be the strongest man I knew. All
the quarterbacks I had met in my life did not measure up to my father in strength. That
was history now.
So, we left for home, already dreading getting there without Mom waiting for us. And,
she was not with us in the car to fill the silence—we had to talk to each other. I
remembered trying hard to get a word in between Mom and Dad's endless
conversations. They laughed and giggled a whole lot. Every once in a while, Mom would
turn around to check up on me and resume talking to my father.
"Welcome home, son," my father said. "Sure missed you a lot."
It was unusual for my father to be so expressive and emotional. "Yeah, Father. I
missed you guys, too. We did well this season. I really have to hit the books hard,
though. They are letting me retake the mid-terms I missed. Can you believe it?"
"Well, you are their star player. I am glad you are dedicated to your studies, too, my
boy!" my father said, driving slowly.
How did he know I was getting serious about school?, I wondered. I hadn't told
anyone about my plans for college either. I watched him as if I was really seeing him for
the first time in my life. Then, I noticed that I had just seen him and not really heard him
enough. Was he trying to take on the responsibilities of Mom? I found myself asking all
these questions.
"Listen, your mama is excited to have you home. She will be home soon, you know
it. She just needs better care for a while. So, don't you worry about a thing, alright?" my
father voiced his concerns, tried to reassure me, and patted my knee, which was way
up on the dashboard. I had grown more in a month.
During the thirty-minute drive, my father mostly talked, and I mostly thought. Unlike
before, I actually listened. I wondered if I would have listened as carefully if he were
talking to my mother. I even thought about quitting sports so I could be around longer
and keep my father company. It seemed like a good idea at first, since I could see Mom
every day if I wanted to. I almost thought about letting my father know about my inkling
right away, but I stopped. I remembered what Mom had always told me: "sleep on it." I
remembered my parents' cheering faces at every game. I could hear them applauding
and yelling "Go Jonny!" as the noise of the crowd faded. Then, I looked hard at my
father again.
As if he could read my thoughts, he patted my knee again and said, "Whatever you
decide to do with your life, we will always be proud of you, my boy!"
By the time we reached home, I had made up my mind. I was going to be strong for
my family.
17. The change in the narrator is influenced by his relationship with the family. Which of these
themes best expresses this fact?
A. People should find beauty in simple things.
B. People must move on from the past.
C. Things are not always what they seem.
D. Sports uplift a young person's spirits.
18. A theme of this passage is
A. the American dream.
B. disillusionment with life.
C. struggle with self.
D. the power of nature.
19. As evident by the change in the narrator's character, an important theme in the passage is
A. fear of the unknown and lack of courage.
B. coming of age and knowing oneself.
C. honoring the historical past for identity.
D. alienation and isolation from society.
Mila fell asleep on the final steps of the stairs of her college library as she was
climbing down them. Luckily, it was at two in the morning, and nobody saw her fall.
More importantly, she was not hurt—at least on the outside. That night, she wept a little
on the bottom of the stairs. It's too much, Mila thought between sobs. I did not think it
would be so hard to manage it all. I am just 18! This is my first year. I have three and a
half years left here! Mila tried to wipe her tears on her work shirt from the cafeteria. She
hated how it smelled like greasy, fried food even though her shift had ended several
hours ago.
The quiet corner of the college library had seemed so cold that night. All Mila had
wanted was someone or something to inspire her and tell her that everything was going
to be alright. But, there had only been an oblivious desk worker many feet away. He had
seemed content. Mila longed to feel what she had seen on his face.
As her sleep-deprived eyes itched and burned, she remembered her father's eyes at
the airport. He had been so proud to send the first one in his family off to college. Am I
doing this for my parents or me? she asked herself.
Then, she realized she did not want her work shirt to smell like fat and grease when
she is 30. At that moment, she no longer doubted her professor who had promised her
more scholarship funds next year if she made all "A'"s this semester. As she slowly got
up to head to her dormitory room, she suddenly felt overcome by a change. Her legs
carried her faster. Suddenly, Mila also stopped questioning her ability to focus. Before
she knew it, she was in her room opening her mail. There was a letter congratulating
her on a full-ride scholarship and grant for the rest of her college career.
20. A theme in this passage is striving towards a goal. Which of these themes in the story further
enriches this theme?
A. Sorrow is the shadow of happiness.
B. The road to scholarship is easy.
C. It is hard to disappoint a loved one.
D. One cannot control his or her destiny.
21. The author ends this story on a bright note. Which of these themes of the passage best
reflects this sense of optimism?
A. Life is easier for men.
B. Fast food is for everyone.
C. Hard work pays off.
D. A library gives peace.
22. In this story, Mila understands that everything worthwhile is difficult. Which of these themes
in the passage also reflects this?
A. Scholarships make college easy.
B. Healthy food motivates a student.
C. You have to be your own resource.
D. Stairs are for climbing and falling.