Study Island
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Generation Date: 04/01/2014
Generated By: Che ryl Shelton
Title: 11th Grade ELA Multiple Interpretations
The Templetons' Nightmare
The Templetons had decided to pack their bags and leave for their villa in Vermont.
They needed to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Besides, their teenage
kids had agreed to keep them company. The Templetons left at once, before their
children could change their minds. They drove with great hopes for a quiet weekend as
Mrs. Templeton announced, "Kids, prepare to sit back and do absolutely nothing. We
are going to have a blast!"
The drive was not without incident. The family had survived a deer attack on their
SUV. Following the deer fiasco, the back tires were flat. Tyler had misplaced the toolbox
when he was helping his father change tires. After that, Jen decided to scream every
time her mother hit the brakes. After much fuss and screaming, the Templetons finally
arrived at their villa.
They had not been to the villa in a few years. The caretaker had abandoned the villa
in a state of pity. There was mold in the bathroom and curtains of spider web in every
single room of the building. Jen and Tyler whined as they were asked to help their
parents clean the villa. By the time the Templetons were done turning their vacation
home into a livable condition, it was time to head back to their busy city lives.
"I am as refreshed as a factory worker after a long day," Tyler remarked as the
Templetons left the villa.
1. Which sentence from the story is an example of irony?
A. "The caretaker had abandoned the villa in a state of pity."
B. "They had not been to the villa in a few years."
C. "I am as refreshed as a factory worker after a long day."
D. "The family had survived a deer attack on their SUV."
2. What is ironic about the Templetons' situation in the story?
A. The kids agree to come with their parents for a weekend getaway.
B. They try to have a relaxing weekend and spend their vacation in chaos.
C. They do not come prepared with things they need in a Vermont villa.
D. Their kids are lazy and whiny throughout the whole trip to Vermont.
"Our Town," the Story of the Watts Towe rs
Watts is a neighborhood in Los Angeles that has been home to different groups of workingclass Americans for decades. It is also home to what is considered the most ambitious piece of
monumental urban art in America—the Watts Towers.
The Watts Towers rise over 100 feet into the air. They are a group of colossal spirals of metal
and concrete, decorated with found objects—pieces of glass, shards of broken mirrors, broken
dishes, bottles, and seashells. The spires look like cold metal ice cream cones, or stalagmites
rising up from the bottom of a cave. They have been described as cathedral- like, monumental,
and exuberant. Amazingly, the giant decorative structure is the creation of a single man. His
name is Simon Rodia. An Italian immigrant, he spent 33 years constructing the Towers to
surround his small Los Angeles home.
Rodia was neither an architect nor an engineer. He worked without plans, creating the towers
as he felt on any given day. Each day, after coming home from his day at work as a stone mason,
he would strap himself into a window-washer's harness, and fasten himself to the outside of the
Towers, using the harness to hold himself safely as he worked. Some days he would add spires
of steel to the top, other days he would inlay colorful pieces of broken glass and shells, as if his
towers were a giant, three-dimensional mosaic. Neighbors are said to have thought him crazy,
but Rodia was unconcerned. For him, the building of the Towers, which he called "Our Town,"
was a labor of love. They were his way of giving thanks to the city and nation in which he was
able to make a good life after arriving as an Italian-speaking immigrant.
When he finally finished constructing the Towers, at the grand old age of 74, Rodia gave the
keys to his neighbors and moved to northern California to live out the rest of his days with his
family. He never saw the monument again.
The neighborhood is now home to a vibrant African American community, and the Watts
Jazz Festival is held in the shadow of the towers every year. Writer's Frederico and Stephen
Moramarco have described them as "some sort of antenna reverberating the essence of the
human spirit." The towers will forever be seen as a tribute to the dreams of the working class in
America. In building them, a single man, working alone for 33 years, using only found materials,
managed to create a stunning physical reminder of the possibility America affords all of her
people.
3.
Technology Enhanced Questions are not available in Word format.
The Price of Popularity
Jenny was a smart girl who had good grades and good friends. However, she
wanted to be like her sister Alex who was very popular in school. The girls followed
Alex's attire as the last word in fashion. The boys in school starved and struggled for
Alex's attention. As if that was not enough, even the teachers adored Alex who had won
many debate championships for the high school. Thus, Jenny became consumed with
the idea that high school was all about popularity.
Jenny started to try on her sister's outfits and shoes. Although she was much taller
than Alex, and had never walked around wearing heels, Jenny decided to wear her
sister's clothes and cling to her sense of style. One morning, Jenny left for school on the
bus, as she didn't want her parents dropping her off at school. She donned Alex's red
skirt dress and wore pencil heels to match.
As soon as Jenny got off the bus in front of the library, her feet landed on a pothole,
and the heel of her right shoe broke into three different miserable pieces. To add to
Jenny's predicament, a big patch of muddy stain attacked the red dress. A big crowd
had gathered out of nowhere, and Jenny lay fallen on the floor. She had heard the
laughter and the hushed voices. One of the onlookers said, "Doesn't she look
fantastic?"
4. Which of these best describes the irony in the story?
A. Jenny tries to become popular but ends up embarrassing herself.
B. Jenny tries on her sister's outfits, but she doesn't like wearing them.
C. Even the teachers adore Alex who is popular with many kids in school.
D. Alex does not have to try to become popular like her sister Jenny.
Thawing Arctic Ice
In recent decades, the Earth's atmosphere has been warming as a result of global warming and
climate change brought on primarily by people burning greater amounts of fossil fuels with cars,
power plants, and factories. Burning fossil fuels produces greenhouse gases, which are
compounds that create a greenhouse effect in the atmosphere. Even a slight increase in
atmospheric temperatures can have drastic effects on our planet. For instance, scientists theorize
that storms, droughts, epidemics, and species extinction will intensify due to climate change.
Seeing the full consequences of climate change and global warming could take decades;
nevertheless, this delay does not mean humanity should remain complacent.
Recent changes in the Arctic region support the theory that climate change will have drastic
effects. Unlike the Antarctic, which is a continent landmass covered in ice, the Arctic consists of
large glaciers and frozen ice sitting atop the Arctic Ocean. As the Earth warms, this ice is
melting at alarming rates. The Arctic ice mass has shrunken considerably in the last century. This
reduction in ice threatens the stability of the region. For example, polar bears depend on the
Arctic ice to live, breed, and hunt, so a loss of sea ice would most likely bring about the
extinction of the polar bear.
Whereas the frozen Arctic was once unnavigable, today, ships are able to pass through
previously unreachable areas in the Arctic. This has opened up access to resources, such as fossil
fuels and valuable minerals, that were once concealed beneath the depths of the Arctic ice.
Sudden access to this resource rich region has ignited a political showdown between nations that
border the Arctic. Although no single nation has sovereign power over the Arctic, countries such
as Russia, Canada, the United States, and Norway are vying to claim these newfound reso urces.
This international competition was exemplified in 2007 when a small Russian submarine planted
a Russian flag on the Arctic seabed, a move meant to show Russia's dominance in the region.
Other countries, however, have ignored this move and have attempted to mark claims in the
Arctic as well. Unfortunately, this access to Arctic resources has caused international leaders to
focus on obtaining those valuable resources rather than deal with the negative impacts of climate
change.
Ultimately, the melting Arctic ice reveals both the onset and the consequences of climate
change. Although the exposure of valuable resources due to climate change may seem like a
positive event, people should not ignore the broader and more perilous ramifications of climate
change: The transformations to our planet brought on by climate change will be irreversible and
uncontrollable. For example, even if people stop producing greenhouse gases right now, the
Arctic region may never return to its original state. Thus, do we really want to leave a planet to
our children and grandchildren that may not be as hospitable as the one which we have been
granted stewardship of?
5.
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The Betrayal
Pauline stopped abruptly when she saw Betty and Katherine ahead. With their arms
linked and heads close together, they were both deeply engrossed in conversation.
Pauline felt a stab of jealously. They were always telling secrets to each other and
leaving her out. For once, she wanted to be the one in on the secret. She walked
quickly to catch up to them but slowed down a few paces behind them, straining to hear
what they were saying.
“I can’t believe it! Your sister’s pregnant! That’s awesome!” she heard Katherine say.
“Yea, but don’t tell ANYONE, ok? She hasn’t even told her husband yet.”
“You know you can trust me.”
Pauline drew further away from them and smiled. With a plan forming in her mind,
she headed quickly toward homeroom.
*****
Grateful for a break in the day, Pauline rushed to the cafeteria to meet Betty and
Katherine. After grabbing a slice of pizza, Pauline plopped down in a seat next to them.
“Hey, you two! What’s going on?”
“Hey! Nothing much. Just trying to recover from algebra.” Betty said, rolling her eyes.
“Was the test bad? I don’t have that class until last period.”
“You should do fine. I bet you’ve been studying all week,” Katherine grinned. “I have
to run to the restroom. Be right back!”
After Katherine was gone, Pauline smiled conspiratorially at Betty and said, “So I
heard you're going to be an aunt! Congratulations!”
Betty froze and looked at her in disbelief. “How do you know?”
“Katherine told me during 2nd period,” Pauline lied.
“What? She promised me she wouldn’t tell anyone!”
Pauline shrugged and bit into her slice of pizza. “She didn’t act like it was a secret or
anything.”
“I can’t believe she broke her promise! Who knows what other secrets she’s spilled!”
“Sorry! I had no idea! Please don’t get mad at her. I would hate to be the cause of a
fight between you two!”
“Oh, don’t worry. I won’t say that you told me anything. I’ll find some other way to get
back at her. Don’t say anything to her either, ok?"
“My lips are sealed.”
“Thanks, Pauline. You’re the only one I can trust now.”
6. At the end of the story, Betty tells Pauline, "You're the only one I can trust now." Based on the
excerpt, why is this an example of dramatic irony?
A. because Betty doesn't mean what she says
B. because Betty can't keep a secret either
C. because Pauline wants to have Betty's trust
D. because Pauline is actually untrustworthy
Toy inventors are always looking for new ideas to entertain children. However, not all
toys were created with the purpose to entertain children. For example, Play Doh started
as a cleaning product. Noah and Joesph McVicker tried to sell the pliable material as
wallpaper cleaner. The non-toxic, soft substance was a great fit as a toy. After
marketing the product as a toy, Joe McVicker became a millionaire before the age of 27.
The Slinky is another item that did not start as a toy. Richard James, a naval engineer,
was trying to invent a way to stabilize the instruments on ships so that they would
remain accurate even when the ship was rocked by rough waves. He intended to use
tension springs to accomplish this task. He observed the strange movements of a spring
on board a ship. It flipped over itself as it fell. James repeated the falling motion several
times. The spring continued to flip end over end. James showed his wife, Betty, this
entertaining spectacle. Right away Betty identified the coiled spring as a great toy for
children. Betty named the toy Slinky. The couple invested money and had 400 of the
coils produced. After a demonstration at Gimbel’s department store in 1945, the 400
Slinkys were sold. Millions of Sli nkys have been sold to this day. It is impossible to know
when the next great toy may be invented by accident.
7. The main idea of this passage is
A. the Slinky was invented by accident.
B. not all toys were created as toys.
C. Play Doh was created as a cleaner.
D. toys are created to entertain children.
Toys are a major part of childhood in the United States. Children everywhere in the
United States ask their parents to buy them specific games, dolls, action figures,
building blocks, etc. How do the children know what they want? Manufacturers invest
millions of dollars into advertising toys not to adults, but to children. Toy commercials
appear during children’s television show breaks. The advertisers have a captive
audience. Children are bombarded with brand names and the latest and greatest
gadget that guarantees popularity. Without television commercials, toys would not be
sold in such large quantities. Research showed that toys introduced during the
children's television show Captain Kangaroo's time slot in the 1950’s had a great
increase in sales. Marketers have successfully been using that strategy ever since.
8. What is the main idea of this paragraph?
A. Parents should not let their children watch too much television.
B. Toy companies spend a lot of money to advertise to children.
C. Parents spend too much money on buying toys for their kids.
D. Toys are an important part of growing up in the United Sates.
People know that they should eat healthy foods and avoid unhealthy foods.
However, it is increasingly difficult to do so. Research shows that many ingredients
contained in many of the foods we eat are potentially harmful to our bodies.
Preservatives are linked to cancer. Preservatives are found in a variety of foods, s uch
as meats, dairy products, oils and baked goods. Food dyes are linked to hyperactivity in
children, as well as cancer. Food dyes are found in candy, baked goods, meats, drinks,
and processed fruits. Trans fats are linked with heart disease and obesity. Trans fats
are found in a lot of fast foods like burgers and french fries.
Many people argue that it is impossible to avoid all of the dangers lurking in our
food. A lot of people say that life is stressful enough without having to labor over every
food label looking for all the potential dangers. They say that we should live happily for
today, because we do not know what the future will bring. Others say that buying natural
foods is too expensive. People can get a lot more non-organic groceries for the same
amount they would pay for only a couple of bags of organic groceries. Regardless of a
person’s desire to eat only healthy foods, it is difficult to eliminate all of the hazardous
ingredients from his or her diet.
9. What is the main idea of this passage?
A. People have a difficult time avoiding unhealthy foods.
B. Children should not eat candy that contains food dye.
C. Children should not eat fast foods that contain trans fats.
D. People should eat only healthy foods so they can live longer.
10. What is the main idea of paragraph 2?
A. People can't afford to spend extra money on good food.
B. People don't want to take the time to read food labels.
C. People have a difficult time eating only healthy foods.
D. People are tired of being under so much pressure.
11. What is the main idea of the first paragraph?
A. Most people want to avoid eating unhealthy foods
B. Most health problems are caused by unhealthy foods
C. Many common foods contain harmful ingredients.
D. Many of people's favorite foods are the worst for them
12. Which event is the best example of dramatic irony?
When Nina comes home from school one day, her mother announces that it's almost time
for spring cleaning. In response, Nina mumbles, "I can't wait!"
Fernando gives his accountant, who is secretly about to steal his money, a handshake and
B.
sincerely says, "I'm lucky to have such a great accountant."
A.
C.
Carol spends hundreds of dollars on a new hairstyle in preparation for her date; however,
her hair accidentally catches on fire during dinner that night.
D. Scientists have discovered the first frog without lungs. This aquatic frog that breathes
through its skin was found in an isolated area of Indonesia.
13.
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14.
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15.
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16. Which event best demonstrates dramatic irony?
A. "Thanks a lot!" Vanessa cried, staring angrily at the huge dent in her fender.
B. A tornado with 150 mph winds destroyed over two hundred homes in Prattville, AL.
C. It started to rain in the middle of Michael and Erin's outdoor wedding ceremony.
D. Unaware of the prisoner's innocence, the federal jury sentenced him to life in prison.
Saving Mr. President
Just a few months after the inauguration, President Ronald Reagan survived an
assassination attempt. John Hinckley fired numerous shots that missed the President;
however, a bullet ricocheted off the bullet-proof windows of the presidential limousine
and struck Reagan in the chest. The windows made to protect the president from
gunfire were actually responsible for his being shot. The bullet missed Reagan's heart
by less than one inch, but it pierced his left lung.
17. What is ironic about President Reagan's situation?
A. The assassin misses Reagan's heart by less than an inch.
B. He gets shot because of the bullet-proof windows.
C. The Presidential limousine is not secure enough.
D. John Hinckley attacks Reagan soon after the inauguration.
The Perfect Necklace
Natalie walked into the pawn shop with a feeling of apprehension. The dingy walls
and wire-covered windows unnerved her, but she walked determi nedly to the jewelry
section. She wanted a nice necklace to go with her prom dress, not a cheap, fake one
that you can find at a discount store. According to her friend, she would be able to find a
good deal here.
A woman wearing a plaid shirt and jeans noticed her browsing. “Can I help you find
anything, hon?” she asked.
“Oh!” Natalie jumped. “I’m just looking for a necklace for prom.”
She stopped to admire some pearl strands on display.
“Hmm . . . well, what color is your dress?”
“Baby pink.”
“Well, honey. Today might be your lucky day. I just got this
darling necklace yesterday. Let me go get it.” She disappeared into
the back but shortly returned with a blue velvet case. She laid it on
the counter and opened it for Natalie to see.
A sharp intake of breathe revealed Natalie’s excitement. “It’s
gorgeous!” She traced the delicate pearls, admiring the large pink
pearl dangling at the bottom. This matches my dress perfectly,
Natalie thought to herself. “Ooo, and it even comes with earrings!” She looked at the
woman with hopeful eyes, “How much is it?”
“$800, but . . . for you, I’ll make it $600.”
Natalie’s heart plummeted. She only had $75 to spend. “Why is it so much?”
“Well, darling, those are real pearls you’re looking at, set in real white gold. You get
what ya pay for, you know.”
“Oh,” Natalie sighed in despair, “I don’t have that much on me. But I want it! It’s
absolutely perfect!” She paused, biting her lip thoughtfully. If she could just find a part time job somewhere, ask for a raise in her allowance, and maybe do some extra chores,
she could probably earn the money. “Will you give me two weeks to come up with the
money?" Natalie pleaded.
18. In the last paragraph, Natalie says, "It's absolutely perfect!" What would make her statement
an example of dramatic irony?
A. if Natalie ends up getting the necklace for free
B. if the reader discovers that Natalie is dreaming
C. if the reader knows that the necklace is fake
D. if Natalie actually thinks the necklace is ugly
Charlie pushed the lawn mower back into the garage and wiped the sweat off his
forehead. His dad was making him work hard for that extra allowance. Needing money
for his date, he had asked his dad yesterday for extra cash, and when he woke up that
morning, a list of chores was waiting for him. A note on the bottom read, “Finish these
chores, and the one hundred bucks is yours.”
He had cleaned the garage, painted the fence, and mowed the lawn, and now, as
the sun began to disappear, he was finally finished. He hurried into the house to
shower. Glancing at the time on the microwave, he froze in disbelief.
“7:30! Oh, man! The concert!” He grabbed his cell phone from the counter. It blinked
ominously.
*****
Barbara paced back and forth across the black and white linoleum floor.
“Where in the world can he be?!” she screamed aloud, waving her arms in
frustration. She had been waiting for Charlie for over an hour now. They were supposed
to be at the concert thirty minutes ago. Her fingertips were clenched tightly around her
cell phone. She had already called him eighteen times with no answer. The longer she
waited, the more she was convinced that he was standing her up. Humiliated and
depressed, Barbara went to her room to change. "That pig is going to pay for this," she
mumbled to herself.
19. Which sentence from the excerpt is an example of dramatic irony?
A.
"Charlie pushed the lawn mower back into the garage and wiped the sweat off his
forehead."
B. "A note on the bottom read, 'Finish these chores, and the one hundred bucks is yours.' "
C. "She had already called him eighteen times with no answer."
D. " 'That pig is going to pay for this,' she mumbled to herself."
Jane Goodall has tremendously affected the world with her passion for nature and
her desire to improve the environment fo r all living creatures. Jane is best known for her
dedication to chimpanzees. She was born on April 3, 1934, in London, England. The
stuffed chimp she received as a toddler was said to have first inspired her love of
chimpanzees. At the age of 8, Jane read Dr. Dolittle and was determined to go to Africa
one day. In May of 1956, Jane was invited to visit a friend's home in Kenya. Jane gladly
accepted the invitation. During her stay in Africa, she met Dr. Louis Leakey, a well known anthropologist. In April 1957, she became his secretary. Dr. Leakey arranged for
Jane to study the chimpanzees in Tanzania. At the age of 26, she arrived at the Gombe
Chimp Reserve in April 1960. Jane poured herself into her work observing the chimps.
She discovered chimp behaviors that were previously unknown. She was the first to
document chimps hunting, eating meat, and using tools to extract termites from
mounds.
Jane gained recognition for her ground -breaking work in 1963 when National
Geographic published an article about her life and work. Afterwards, Jane went to
college and earned a Ph.D. in Ethology from the University of Cambridge in 1965. The
university did not require her to obtain a bachelor's degree first. After Cambridge, she
returned to Tanzania to continue her chimpanzee research. Through her writings,
people worldwide have learned about the behaviors of chimps.
Researching chimpanzees was not the only contribution Jane has made. In 1977,
Ms. Goodall founded the Jane Goodall Institute, a nonprofit organiza tion that works to
preserve nature and helps poverty-stricken Africans. Jane also founded several
education programs called Roots and Shoots to teach young people about
conservation. In 2002, Dr. Goodall became the United Nations "Messenger of Peace." A
"Messenger of Peace" works as an advocate for conflict resolution, eradication of
poverty, weapons disarmament, environmentalism, AIDS/HIV treatment, and other
world issues. She was reappointed to this position in 2007.
Dr. Goodall has received many awards for her extraordinary work. Queen Elizabeth
II named her Dame of the British Empire, which is equivalent to knighthood, in 2003.
She has also received prestigious awards from Tanzania, Austria, Japan, and
worldwide organizations. Internationally, many universities have granted Dr. Goodall
honorary doctorates. Jane Goodall continues to inspire the world with her expertise in
environmental and humanitarian-related issues. She spends a lot of her time speaking
about conservation and encouraging others to make the world a better place to live.
20. What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Jane Goodall founded organizations that help people and the environment.
B. Jane Goodall has received many awards for her work as a conservationist.
C. Jane Goodall has spent her life working to make the world a better place.
D. Jane Goodall made remarkable discoveries about chimpanzee behavior.
21. What is the main idea of paragraph 4?
A. Dr. Goodall was named as a Dame of the British Empire.
B. Dr. Goodall has received many honors for her work.
C. Dr. Goodall has doctorates from several universities.
D. Dr. Goodall continues to speak about conservation.
22. What is the main idea of paragraph 1?
A. Jane Goodall achieved her dream of going to Africa.
B. Jane Goodall liked chimpanzees even as a child.
C. Jane Goodall is famous for her work with chimps.
D. Jane Goodall was born and raised in England.
23. What is the main idea of paragraph 3?
A. Dr. Goodall has contributed to society in numerous ways.
B. Dr. Goodall has served as the UN "Messenger of Peace."
C. Dr. Goodall established the Roots and Shoots program.
D. Dr. Goodall founded the Jane Goodall Institute.