Winter Break Packet
Grade 7 – English and Writing
Name ____________________________________
Due Wednesday, January 4
CLA parents – Please ensure your child answers every question in this packet.
The articles reinforce other content areas and also preview background for our next novel to
set your child up for success. Additionally, the essay question is required writing over break.
Recordallofyouranswersonthispage.
AuthorHarperLee: 1._________ OutoftheDust:
5._________ 9._________ 13._________
WasteNot,WantNot:
15._________
18._________
21._________
TheMiracleWorker: 25._________
28._________
32._________
InsideAlaska: 35._________
39._________
43._________
EchoandNarcissus: 45._________
48._________
Name_____________________________________
2._________ 3._________ 4._________
6._________ 7._________ 8._________
10._________
11._________
12._________
14._________
16._________
17._________
19._________
20._________
22._________
23._________
24._________
26._________
27._________
29._________
30._________
31._________
33._________
34._________
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37._________
38._________
40._________
41._________
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44._________
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47._________
49._________
50._________
Essayquestion:In500wordsorless,shareandincidentwhenyouorsomeoneyouknowwastreatedunfairly
oryoutreatedsomeoneunfairlybasedonrace,socioeconomicstatus,gender,religion,etc.Whywasthis
judgmentwrong?Howdidtheexperienceaffectyou?Whathaveyoudoneandwhatwillyoudotohelpend
intoleranceandcreateamoreinclusivecommunity?
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AuthorHarperLee,whowrote"ToKillaMockingbird,"hasdiedatage89
ByAssociatedPress
NEWYORK,N.Y.—HarperLee'snovelofracialinjustice,"ToKillaMockingbird,"becameclassroom
readingformillionsofyoungpeople.TheauthordiedThursdayattheageof89.PublisherHarperCollinssaid
inastatementFridaythatLeediedpeacefully.Itdidnotgiveanyotherdetails.
"TheworldknowsHarperLeewasabrilliantwriterbutwhatmanydon'tknowisthatshewasan
extraordinarywomanofgreatjoyfulness,humilityandkindness.Shelivedherlifethewayshewantedto—in
private—surroundedbybooksandthepeoplewholovedher,"MichaelMorrison,headofHarperCollinsU.S.
generalbooksgroup,said.
"Mockingbird"InspiredManyPeople
Formostofherlife,LeedividedhertimebetweenNewYorkCityandherhometownofMonroeville,
Alabama."ToKillaMockingbird,"publishedin1960,isaboutagirlnicknamedScoutgrowingupinaSouthern
towninthe1930s.Ittellsthestoryofablackmanwhohasbeenwronglyaccusedofattackingawhitewoman.
Scout'sfather,thelawyerAtticusFinch,defendshimdespitethreatsandhatred.
Thebookquicklybecameabest-seller.ItwonthePulitzerPrizeforthebestnovelandwasmadeintoa
moviein1962.ActorGregoryPeckwonanOscarforhisportrayalofAtticus.Asthecivilrightsmovement
grew,thenovelinspiredagenerationofyounglawyers.Itwasreadinhighschoolsalloverthecountryand
wasapopularchoiceforcitywide,ornationwide,readingprograms.
By2015,ithadsoldmorethan40millioncopiesworldwide,accordingtoHarperCollins.Itbecameoneof
themostwidelyreadAmericannovelsofthe20thcentury.In1991,aLibraryofCongresssurveyfoundthat
onlytheBiblehadamoreimportanteffectonpeople'slivesthan"ToKillaMockingbird."
LeeGuardedHerPrivacy
Leeherselfbecamemoremysteriousashernovelbecamemorefamous.Atfirst,shespokemuchabout
herbook.Butshebeganturningdowninterviewsinthelate1960s.Shedidnotpublishanotherbookuntil"Go
SetaWatchman"in2015."Watchman"wasactuallywrittenbefore"Mockingbird."Itwasset20yearslater,
usingthesamelocationandmanyofthesamecharacters.Readersandreviewersweredisappointedthat
Atticusseemednothingliketheherooftheearlierbook.In"Watchman,"Atticusthoughtthatblackandwhite
childrenshouldgotoseparateschoolsandsaidthatblacksdidnothavetobetreatedequally.
AccordingtofriendsandMonroevilletownsfolk,Leewasawarm,livelyandwittywoman.Sheenjoyed
life,playedgolf,lovedtoread,andwenttoplaysandconcerts.Yet,sheguardedherprivacylikeothersinher
generation,saidClaudiaDurstJohnson,whohaswrittenaboutLee'snovel.
"Mockingbird"MirroredLife
In2001,theChicagoPublicLibrarychose"Mockingbird"foritsfirstOneBook,OneChicagoprogram.In
2007,shereceivedaPresidentialMedalofFreedom.Aroundthesametime,Leewroteararepublisheditem
—forO,TheOprahMagazine—abouthowshebecameareaderasachildandremainedone."Now,75years
laterinanabundantsocietywherepeoplehavelaptops,cellphones,iPods,andmindslikeemptyrooms,Istill
plodalongwithbooks,"shewrote.
BorninMonroeville,NelleHarperLeewasknowntofamilyandfriendsasNelle(pronouncedNell).Like
AtticusFinch,herfatherwasalawyerandstatelegislator.LeeattendedHuntingdonCollegeinMontgomery
andthenwenttotheUniversityofAlabama,whereshewroteandbecameeditorofthecampusliterary
magazine.Shestudiedtobealawyer,butleftbeforegraduating.LeeheadtoNewYorktobecomeawriter.
Duringtheearly1950s,Leeworkedforanairline,writinginherfreetime.Finally,withaloanfrom
friends,shequitherjobtowritefull-time.
New,MemorableTitle
Thebook'sfirsttitlewas"Atticus."Itlaterbecame"ToKillaMockingbird"afteranoldsaying.Itwasall
righttokillabluejaybutasintokillamockingbird,whichgivestheworlditsmusic.
"ThoughMissLeethenhadneverpublishedevenanessayorashortstory,thiswasclearlynotthework
ofanamateur,"hereditorwrote."...Shehadlearnedtheessentialpartofhercraft,withnoso-called
professionalhelp,simplybyworkingatitandworkingatit,endlessly."
Hernovelwashugelypopular,butsomecriticssaidthebookwassentimentalandchildish.Somepeople
wereoffendedbecausethenovelhighlightedthebraveryofawhitemanwhodefendedblacks."Surelyitis
plaintothesimplestintelligencethat'ToKillaMockingbird'spellsoutinwordsofseldommorethantwo
syllablesacodeofhonorandconduct,"Leewroteintheearly1960s.ShesaidthebookwasbasedonChristian
values.
1.Basedonthesection"MockingbirdMirroredLife,"howdidLee'sfatherinfluenceherwritingof"ToKilla
Mockingbird"?
A.LeegavethecharacterofAtticusFinchthesameprofessionasherfather.
B.LeewasinspiredtowritethebookbasedonaneventthathappenedtoherfatherintheSouth.
C.Leeworkedasalawyerlikeherfatherandthatexperienceformedthefoundationofherbook.
D.LeewrotethebookaboutamannamedAtticusFinchwhowasdefendedbyherfatherinreallife.
2.Basedonthelastparagraphofthearticle,whichanswerchoiceBESTexplainshowLee'swritingstyle
influencedthepopularityof"ToKillaMockingbird"?
A.Herchoiceofvocabularymadeiteasyformanypeopletounderstandherbook.
B.Heruseofveryfewwordsinasentencemadeiteasyformanypeopletofinishthebookquickly.
C.Herdecisiontowriteaboutacertaintypeofbehaviormademanypeoplefeelintelligentwhenreadingher
book.
D.Herchoicetodeliverhermessageinasincerewayappealedtomanyintelligentpeople.
3.Readthesentencefromthefirstparagraphofthearticle:HarperLee'snovelofracialinjustice,"ToKilla
Mockingbird,"becameclassroomreadingformillionsofyoungpeople.
Whichanswerchoicecouldreplacetheword"injustice"WITHOUTalteringthemeaningofthesentence?
A.defiance B.outrage
C.unfairness D.ignorance
4.Readthesentencefromthesection"MockingbirdMirroredLife:”Now,75yearslaterinanabundant
societywherepeoplehavelaptops,cellphones,iPods,andmindslikeemptyrooms,Istillplodalongwith
books,"shewrote.Howdoestheword"plod"affectthemeaningofthesentence?
A.ItconveysthatLeeconsideredreadingbookstobeachore.
B.ItsuggeststhatLeelikestotakehertimewhenreadingbooks.
C.ItillustratesthatLeefelttoooldtoreplaceherbookswithtechnology.
D.ItemphasizesthatLeehastoreadataslowpacebecauseofherage.
TheseselectionsarefromKarenHesse’sbookOutoftheDust.Thespeakerisayounggirlwholiveswithher
familyintheMidwestduringthe1930s.Atthattime,seriousdroughtdestroyedthefarmers’cropsandcaused
greatduststorms.Peoplewereverypoorandsomefarmerslosttheirfarms.Readtheselectionsandanswer
thequestionsthatfollow.
OutoftheDustbyKarenHesse
Debts1
1Daddyisthinking
oftakingaloanfromMr.Rooseveltandhismen,
togetsomenewwheatplanted
2
wherethewintercrophasspindledoutanddied
.
Mr.Rooseveltpromises
Daddywon’thavetopayadime
tillthecropcomesin.
5Masays,“Bay,
ithasn’trainedenoughtogrowwheatin
threeyears.”
2Daddysays,
“
Icanturnthefieldsover,
startagain.
It’ssuretorainsoon.
Wheat’ssuretogrow.”
7IaskMa
how,
afterallthistime,
Daddystillbelievesinrain.
3Masays,“Whatifitdoesn’t?”
4Daddytakesoffhishat,
roughsuphishair,
putsthehatbackon.
“Courseit’llrain,”hesays.
6Daddylookslikeafightbrewing.
Hetakesthatredfaceofhisouttothebarn,
tokeepfromfeudingwithmypregnantma.
8“Well,itrainsenough,”Masays,
“nowandagain,
tokeepapersonhoping.
Butevenifitdidn’t
yourdaddywouldhavetobelieve.
It’scomingonspring,
andhe’safarmer.”
March1934
1Debts—moneyowedtoanother
2“wherethewintercrophasspindledoutanddied”—thewheatplantshavegrownthinanddied
FirstRain
4Mondaymorningdawns,
cloakedinmist.
1Sundaynight,
Istretchmylegsinmyironbed
undertheroof.
Iplaceawetclothovermynosetokeep
frombreathingdust
Ibuttonintomydress,sliponmysweater,
andpushmywayofftheporch,
stickingmyfaceintothefog,
intothemoistskinof
thefog.
andwipethegrimetracingsfromaroundmy
mouth,
andshiver,thinkingofMa.
Iamkeptcompanybythesoundofmyheart
drumming.
2Restless,
Itangleinthedustysheets,
sendingthesandflying,
cursingthegritagainstmyskin,
betweenmyteeth,
undermylids,
swearingI’llleavethisforsakenplace.
3Ihearthefirstdrops.
Likethetappingofastranger
atthedoorofadream,
therainchangeseverything.
Itstrokestheroof,
streakingthedustytin,
ponging,
aconcertofrainnotes,
spillingfromgutters,
gushingthroughgullies,
soakingintothethirstyearthoutside.
ThesoundofdrippingsurroundsmeasI
walktotown.
5Soakedtomyunderwear,
Ican’tbeartogo
throughtheschoolhousedoor,
Iwantonlytostandintherain.
6Mondayafternoon,
JoeDeLaFlorbrushesmudfromhishorse,
Mr.Kincannonhiresmyfather
topullhisOldsoutofthemuckonRoute64.
7Andlater,
whenthecloudslift,
thefarmers,surveyingtheirfields,
8nodtheirheadsas
thefrailstalksrevive,3
everyone,everything,gratefulforthismoment,
freeofthe
weightofdust.
January1935
3“thefrailstalksrevive”—theweakenedplantscomebacktolife
5.Whatproblemdoesthespeaker’sfamilyfaceinthepoem“Debts”?
A.Mr.Rooseveltistakingadvantageofthem.
B.Toomuchrainhaswashedawaytheircropsforthreeyearsinarow.
C.Alackofrainhaskilledtheircropsforthreeyearsinarow.
D.Daddynolongerbelievesfarmingisagoodidea.
6.Whatdostanzas1through5of“Debts”showaboutthefarm?
A.Ithasnotbeensuccessful.
B.Itisdifferentfromotherfarmsinthearea.
C.ItisnotlargeenoughforDaddy.
D.IthasbeentakenoverbyMr.Roosevelt.
7.Instanza4of“Debts,”whatisthemostlikelyreasonthatDaddyroughsuphishair?
A.Heisgettingreadytogotowork. B.Heisdryinghishairaftertherain.
C.Heisuncomfortablewithouthishat.
D.Heisworriedaboutborrowingthemoney.
8.Instanza6of“Debts,”whatdoesthewordfeudingmean?
A.talking
B.leaving
C.working D.quarreling
9.Basedonevidencefromthepoems,whatwastheweatherlikebetweenMarch1934andJanuary1935?
A.Itwasmostlyrainy.
B.Itwasmostlydry.
C.Itwasmostlymisty.
D.Itwasmostlyhot.
10.Instanza1of“FirstRain,”whydoesthespeakerplaceawetclothoverhernose?
A.toavoidbreathingthedustthatfillstheair
B.towashherfacelikeherMatoldherto
C.towarmhersoshe’llstopshivering
D.tohelpcalmherdrummingheart
11.Readthelinesfrom“FirstRain:”Likethetappingofastrangeratthedoorofadream
Whatistheeffectofcomparingtheraintoastrangeratthedoor?
A.Itshowsthattherainisasurprise.
B.Itshowsthattherainisaproblem.
C.Itshowsthatthespeakerisdreaming. D.Itshowsthatthespeakerisfrightened.
12.Instanza3of“FirstRain,”whydoesthespeakercomparethesoundoftherainto“aconcertofrain
notes”?
A.Shethinksitistheradio.
B.Itsoundslikemusictoher.
C.Shethinkssheisdreaming.
D.Itremindsherofasongsheknows.
13.Instanza5of“FirstRain,”whycan’tthespeakerbeartogothroughtheschoolhousedoor?
A.Sheisembarrassedtobesoakingwet.
B.Shewantstocontinueexperiencingtherainoutside.
C.Sheisashamedthatherfamily’sfarmisdoingpoorly. D.Shewantstobewithherpregnantmother.
14.Basedonstanzas7and8of“FirstRain,”howdothefarmersmostlikelyfeelaftertherain?
A.frailandweighteddown B.soakedandmuddy
C.hopefulandthankful
D.proudandrevived
EarlWeberlivedonasmallfarmduringtheGreatDepression,atimewhenmanypeopleintheUnitedStates
didnothavejobsormuchmoney.ReadhowtheWeberfamilylivedthroughthesehardtimes.Answerthe
questionsthatfollow.
WasteNot,WantNot
byEarlM.Weber
1WhenIwasgrowingupinthe1930s,theperiodoftheGreatDepression,Ididn’tthinkofourfamilyaspoor,
eventhoughweneverseemed
tohavemoney.IlivedonasmallfarminPennsylvaniawithmyparents,two
oldersisters,andyoungerbrother.Wehadanoldhorse,cow,afewpigs,aflockofchickens,andabiggarden.
Foodwasnotaproblem.Wehadourownsupplyofmilk,meat,eggs,freshvegetables,andMomma’s
homemadebread.Butmoneywasscarce.
2OnSundaymornings,MommawouldgiveeachofustwopenniesforourSundaySchoolofferings.Carefully
knottingmytwocentsinthecornerofahandkerchief,shewouldhandittomeandcautionmeto“becareful
nottoloseit.”Today,twopennieswon’tbuymuchofanything,butinthe1930severypennywasimportant.
3Asaboyofnine,Ihadonlyavagueideaofwhatitmeanttoliveduringhardtimes.Theweeklynewspaper
wouldcarrypicturesofpeoplestandinginlineforbread,andtheeveningnews-castonourtabletopCrosley
radiowouldtellaboutthehugenumberofjoblesspeopleandtheirhardships.Butthesereportsreferredto
peopleinthecities,andwelivedinthecountry.Weneverwenttobedhungry,andwedidn’tstandinlinefor
bread.
4Althoughmyfatherwasfortunatetohaveajobatthefeedmill,hissalaryofeighteendollarsaweekwas
barelyenoughtopaythefarmmort-gageandtheelectricbill,andtobuynecessitiesliketheourandyeast
Mommaneededtobakeherbread.
5Mommaearnedafewdollarsbakingpiesandbread,whichshesoldatthelocalmarket.Twentycentsfora
pieandtencentsforaloafofbread!SometimesIhelpedatthemarket,andifwehadagoodday,Momma
wouldgivemeanickelforanice-creamcone.
6Mommausedthemarketmoneytobuyclothingforthefamily.Withfourchildrenandtwoadultstoclothe,
sheseldomboughtanythingnew.OnedaywhenIwalkedtothemailboxattheendofourlane,Iwasexcited
toseeapack-agefromSears,RoebuckandCompany.Thatusuallymeantnewclothingforoneofus.Asit
turnedout,Iwastheluckyonethistime,withabrand-newpairofbrowntweedknee-lengthknickers.
Althoughwealwayswenttoschoollookingneatandclean,mostofourclothingwaspatched,darned*,or
mended.Sotome,anewpairofknickerswasveryspecial.
7Christmaswasspecial,too,becausethenwegotnewsocks,andforalittlewhilewewouldn’thavetowear
socksdarnedinthetoesandheels.
8Mommamadesomeofourclothing,using
atreadle(foot-powered)sewingmachine.Tomakenightgowns,
sheusedthemuslinsacksthatourchickenfeedcamein.Iworeanight-gownwith“PRATT’SCHICKENFEED”
printedinbigblacklettersonthefront.(Itwasn’tuntilyearslaterwhenmyhigh-schoolclasswentonan
overnighttripthatIgotmyfirststore-boughtpajamas.)Somecompaniesactuallyputtheirfeedinsacksmade
ofcolorfullypatternedcalico.Mommalikedthismaterialformakingapronsanddresses.
9Whenapieceofclothingwaswornout,itwasn’tthrownaway.First,allthebuttonswereremoved,sorted
bysizeandcolor,andputincansorglassjars.Thentheclothingwasexamined,andthebestpartswerecut
intostripsandsavedformakingrugs.
10Almostnothinginourhousewasthrownaway.Storeparcelsweregenerallytiedwithstring.Wesavedthis
stringbywindingitonaball.Oneofmyjobswastowashandflattenusedtincans.Wenailedthesepiecesof
tinoverholesinthebarnrooftostoptheleaksandoverholesinthecorncribtostopthemiceandratsfrom
eatingthecorn.
11Awoodencratewasconsideredarealprize.Wewouldtakeitapartforfutureprojects,beingcarefulnotto
splittheboards.Weevenstraightenedthebentnailsandstoredtheminatincan.
12Althoughwetendtothinkofrecyclingassomethingfairlynew,inthe1930sitwaspartofeverydaylife.
“Wastenot,wantnot”wasafamiliarandoftenrepeatedphraseduringthosedepressionyears.
Yesterday and Today
In the 1930s, a chocolate bar cost five cents. A single-dip ice-cream cone was also five cents. If that sounds
good, consider that children living in the country, if they were lucky enough to have a job, earned only ten
cents an hour for farm labor. Kids today pay around a dollar for an ice-cream cone and about the same for a
chocolate bar. But some can earn five dollars an hour baby-sitting or mowing lawns.
15.Accordingtothearticle,whydidmanypeoplewholivedinthecountryhaveenoughfoodduringthe
GreatDepression?
A.Theywaitedinlongbreadlinesforhourstogetfood.
B.Theycouldbuythefoodtheyneededatthefeedmill.
C.Theyhadplentyofmoneytobuyfoodatthegrocerystore.
D.Theycouldgrowmanykindsoffoodontheirfarms.
16.Accordingtothearticle,howdidtheauthor’smotherhelpthefamily?
A.Shewashedandflattenedtinstorepairholesintheroof.
B.Shestoodinlineforbreadforthefamily’sfoodeveryday.
C.Shebakedpiesandbreadtosellandmadethefamily’sclothes.
D.Shehadajobatthegrocerystore.
17.WhichwordBESTdescribestheauthorwhenhenoticedapackageinthemailbox?
A.proud
B.bored
C.thrilled
D.concerned
18.Accordingtothearticle,howdidtheauthor’smotherusefeedsacks?
A.Shemendedsockswiththem.
B.Sherepairedleaksintheroofwiththem.
C.Shepatchedholesinthecorncribwiththem.
D.Shemadenightgowns,dresses,andapronswiththem.
19.Accordingtothearticle,whendidtheauthorgethisfirstpairofstore-boughtpajamas?
A.inhighschool
B.onhisbirthday
C.whenhisotherpajamashadaholeinthem
D.onthedaythepackagecame
20.Accordingtothearticle,howmuchdidachildearnworkingonafarminthe1930s?
A.Fivecentsanhour
B.tencentsanhour C.onedollaranhour
D.fivedollarsanhour
21.Readthesentencefromparagraph3:Theweeklynewspaperwouldcarrypicturesofpeoplestandingin
lineforbread,andtheeveningnewscastonourtabletopCrosleyradiowouldtellaboutthehugenumberof
joblesspeopleandtheirhardships.Whichofthefollowingcouldreplacethewordhardships?
A.farms
B.difficulties C.families D.savings
22.In“WasteNot,WantNot,”theauthordescribeshowhisfamilyreusedalmosteverythingtheyhad.
WhichofthefollowingphrasesfromthepassagedoesNOTsupportthisidea?
A.“Weneverwenttobedhungry,andwedidn’tstandinlineforbread.”
B.“Almostnothinginourhousewasthrownaway.”
C.“Iworeanightgownwith‘PRATT’SCHICKENFEED’printedinbigblacklettersonthefront.”
D.“Awoodencratewasconsideredarealprize.”
23.IfEarlWeber’sfamilywerestillalivetoday,theywouldmostlikelydowhichofthefollowing?
A.eatatMcDonald’s
B.throwoutclothingassoonasitgotaholeinit
C.recycleplasticcontainers
D.driveabigsportutilityvehicle(SUV)
24.Whatwastheauthor’spurposeforincludingthe“YesterdayandToday”boxattheendofthearticle?
A.toletstudentsknowhowmuchanicecreamconecostinthe1930s
B.toexplainhowluckykidswereinthe1930sbecausechocolatebarsweresoinexpensive
C.torememberwhathislifewaslikeinthe1930s
D.tocomparehowmuchmoneychildreninthe1930scouldearnandspendcomparedtowhatchildrencan
earnandspendtoday
ThecharactersintheexcerptyouareabouttoreadareKateKeller,themother;CaptainArthurKeller,the
father;HelenKeller,thechild;andadoctor.TheMiracleWorkerisaplayfortelevisionaboutHelenKeller,
whosevisionandhearingwerelostfollowingachildhoodillness.ThisscenefromHelenKeller’slifetakesplace
in1882.Readtheexcerptbelow.Usetheinformationfromtheexcerpttoanswerthequestionsthatfollow.
THEMIRACLEWORKER
APLAYFORTELEVISIONbyWilliamGibsonACTONE
[Itisnight,andweareinachild’scrib,lookingup:whatweseeare
thecribrailingsandthreefacesinlamplight,lookingdown.They
havebeenthroughalongvigil;itshowsintheirtiredeyesand
disarrangedclothing.Oneisagentlewomanin
hertwentieswitha
kindlyandforbearingface,KATEKELLER;thesecondisadryelderly
DOCTOR,stethoscopeatneck,thermometerinfingers;thethirdis
adignifiedgentlemaninhisfortieswithchinwhiskers,CAPTAIN
ARTHURKELLER.Theirdressisthatof1880,andtheirvoicesare
southern.TheKELLERS’facesaredrawnandworried,untilthe
DOCTORspeaks.]
DOCTOR:She’lllive.
[KATEcloseshereyes.]You’relucky,Captain
Keller.Tellyounow,Ithoughtshewouldn’t.
KELLER[heavily]:Doctor.Don’tspareus.Willshebeallright?
DOCTOR:Hastheconstitutionofagoat.Outliveusall.Especiallyif
Idon’tgetsomesleep.
[Heremoveshisstethoscope,hisface
leavestherailing;wecontinuetohearhim,butseeKELLER’shand
acrossthecribtakeandsqueezeKATE’s.]
Yourunaneditorialinthatpaperofyours,CaptainKeller,wonders
ofmodernmedicine,wemaynotknowwhatwe’recuringbutwe
cureit.Well,callitacutecongestionofthestomachandbrain.
Spotlight On: Helen Keller
Helen Keller (1880-1968) was born
healthy, but an illness at 19 months
left her blind and deaf. When
she
was six years old, she began
working with Anne Sullivan, a
teacher at Perkins School for the
Blind in South Boston. Anne taught
Helen how to communicate, and
spent the rest of her life as Helen’s
friend and teacher. Helen’s
schooling finished at Radcliffe,
where she became the first deaf and
blind person to graduate from
college. She then devoted the rest
of her life to causes she believed in,
speaking out for the handicapped,
women’s rights, and the socialist
movement, among other issues.
Helen also founded her own
organization for preventing
blindness. Over the course of her
lifetime, she spoke in 39 countries
and met with every US president
from Grover Cleveland to Lyndon
B. Johnson.
[KELLERmovesaftertheDOCTOR,wehearthemoff-camera;weseeonlyKATE’stearfullyhappyfacehovering
overus,herhandadjustingtheblanket.]
KELLER:I’llseeyoutoyourbuggy.Iwon’tundertaketothankyou,Doctor—
DOCTOR[simultaneously]:Mainthingisthefever’sgone.I’veneverseenababy,morevitality,that’sthe
truth.Bymorningshe’llbeknockingdownyourfencesagain.
KELLER:Anythingthatyourecommendustodo,we’lldo—
DOCTOR:Mightputupstrongerfencing.Justlethergetwell,sheknowshowtodoitbetterthanwedo.Don’t
pokeatProvidence,ruleI’vealwaysmadeitapracticeto—
[Butthroughout,theirvoiceshavebeendyingoutoffocus,andtheimageofKATE’sfacehasbeguntoswim.
Musicstealsin;wehearthemusicwithoutdistortion,butlightandsoundotherwisearefailing.KATE’sserene
facesmilesdownwithlove,blurringinahalooflight,thenisaspot,thenisgone.Darkness.]
[CuttoCAPTAINKELLERstandinginhisyard,insidethegate,lampinhand,thelightedhousebehindhim;we
hear,butdonotseetheDOCTOR.]
DOCTOR:You’reapairofluckyparents,CaptainKeller.
KELLER[withweight]:Thankyou.
[TheDOCTORclicksagiddy-yap,weheartheclopofhoofsand
rollofwheels.KELLER’seyesfollowtheunseen
buggyoutofsight,thenlifttothestars,thankingthemtoo.Suddenlyfromthehousebehindhimcomesakni
ngscream;musicout.]
[CuttoKATE’sfaceagain,notfromthebaby’seyes,butacrossthecrib,andherlookisterrible;shechokes
downasecondscream.KELLERhurriesintoher,thelampaloft.]
KELLER:Katie!
KATE:Look.
[She makes a pass with her hand in the crib, at the unseen child’s face.]
KELLER:What,Katie?She’swell,sheneedsonlytimeto—
KATE:Shecan’tsee![She takes the lamp from him, moves it before the child’s face.]
She can’t see!
KELLER[hoarsely]:Helen.
KATE:Orhear.WhenIscreamedshedidn’tblink.Notaneyelash–
KELLER:Helen.Helen!
KATE:Shecan’thearyou.
KELLER:Helen!
[Hisfacehassomethinglikefuryinit,cryingthechild’sname;KATEalmostfaintingtakesupthebaby’shand,
pressingittohermouthtostopherowncry.Wegoclosetoherlips,kissingthebaby’shand.Dissolveonlips
andhand.]
25.Intheopeningtext,theplaywrightsetsthemoodbydiscussingthe
A.weather. B.facesofcharacters.
C.doctor’svoice.
D.agesofcharacters.
26.Itisclearfromtheauthor’sdescriptionintheopeningtextthatthethreecharacterslack
A.sleep.
B.acure.
C.style.
D.anxiety.
27.Thedoctor’sfirstwordsintheplayexpresswhatfeeling?
A.excitement B.disgust
C.surprise
D.pessimism
28.CaptainKeller’sfirstwordsintheplayexpresswhatfeeling?
A.anxiety
B.relief
C.thankfulness
D.anger
29.ThedoctorclearlybelievesthatbabyHelenisunusually
A.unresponsive.
B.smart.
C.strong.
D.lucky.
30.ThedoctorsaysthatbabyHelen“hastheconstitutionofagoat.”Whatdoesconstitutionmeanasitis
usedhere?
A.freedom B.physicalmake-up C.sound
D.legaldocument
31.Accordingtothisexcerpt,thedoctorbelievesthatthebabywill
A.beupsetinthemorning. B.getwell. C.losehersightandhearing.
D.crythroughthenight.
32.Afterthedoctorleaves,Mrs.KellerdiscoversthatbabyHelen
A.isunconscious.
B.ismissing. C.stillhasafever. D.isunresponsivetosoundormovement.
33.Accordingtothisexcerpt,Mrs.Kellerknowsthatthebabycan’thearwhenshenoticesthat
A.thebabyhasacutecongestionofthestomachandbrain.
B.thebabydidn’tblinkwhenMrs.Kellerputthelampnearthebaby’sface.
C.thebabydidn’tblinkwhenMrs.Kellerscreamed.
D.thebabydidn’tmovewhenthefireenginewentpastthehouse.
34.Whatisthemainideaofthisexcerpt?
A.Lovecansolveallproblems.
C.Happinesscanchangetogriefinaninstant.
B.Miraclescanhappen.
D.Modernmedicinecancuremanyillnesses.
InsideAlaska
byRobKnotts
1AsIlowermyselfintothecave,muddyropesquishesthroughmydescendingrackandspillsgummylittle
moundsofslimedownthefrontofmynylonsuit.Threemetersfartherdown-rope,theslantingwallveersinto
anarrowcrack.Atorrentofwaterblastsmyfacewithicysprayandpowerwashesmysuitsparklingclean.
2“OK!”myfriendEronGissbergshoutsupfromthecavepassagebelow.“You’reatthenextstation.”
3Ilookoveratared-and-white,polka-
dottedplasticribbonthatEronhastiedto
atinyknobofrockonthe
cavewall.The
heavystreamofwaterstillsplashesoffmyhelmet,andtheflameofthecarbidelantern
onthe
helmetsputtersandhissesbeneath
thedeluge.Atrickleofwaterfindsits
waydowntheneckofmysuit.I
shiverasIholdtheendofatapemeasureuptotheribbon,whiledanglingon-rope,tomeasurethedistance
fromtheribbondowntothenextstationEronhaspicked.
4“Onstation!”Ihavetoyellabovethenoiseofthe
waterfallforErontohearme.Thewallssqueeze
aroundmelikealimestonecoffin.Everybreath
producesacloudoffogthatmakesitdifficulttosee.
5EronandIarecreatingamapofthisverticalcave
onHecetaIsland,Alaska.Thiscaveandmorethansix
hundredotherslikeitintheTongassNationalForest
insoutheastAlaskaarepartofaprogramtomapall
thecavesintheregion.
6Thesemappingexpeditionswerestartedin1987by
KevinandCarleneAllred.Speciallytrainedcavers
suchasEronandItravelinoatplanes,helicopters,
andboatstothescatteredislandsofsoutheast
Alaska.Theseexplorersspendamontheachsummer
mappingthecaves.
RainForestinAlaska
7Inthisrainforest,theislandsgetmorethanonehundredinchesofrainyearly.Overthousandsofyears,
rainwaterhascarriedacidfromthesoildownintothecracksandcrevicesofthelimestonebedrock,dissolving
therockandwideningthefracturesintothecavesweknowtoday.
8Thesecavescanbedangerous.Mostofthemaresquirmylittleholesthatgostraightdownforhundredsof
meters.Looserocksandcoldtemperaturesareconstantthreats.
9Insomecavestherearehorizontalpassageswherecavershavefoundhuman-madetools,handwovencedar
baskets,ancientdrawingsonthewalls,andmany,manyanimalbones.Insidethedry,protectedareasofthe
caves,someoftheseobjectshavebeenpreservedforthousandsofyears.
10Whencaversfindsomethingthatdoesnotnaturallyoccurinacave,theynoteitslocationandinformthe
ForestServiceoftheirdiscovery.Scientistsusethisinformationtolearnmoreaboutthepeopleandanimals
whooncelivedinthearea.
AMystery
11Someofthesediscoveriesmayhelpchangeourideasaboutoneofthegreatmysteriesofscience:Howdid
thefirstAmericansandtheancestorsofAmericanIndianscometoliveonthesecontinents?
12FormanyyearsscientistshavethoughtthatthefirstpeopletomigrateintotheAmericasdidsoonfoot.
DuringtheIceAge(whichendedabouttenthousandyearsago),aneight-hundred-mile-widestripofland
calledtheBeringLandBridgeconnectedAlaskatoRussia.ManyscientiststhinkpeoplefromAsiabecamethe
firstAmericansbyfollowinglargeherdsofanimalsacrossthislandbridgeandsouththroughCanadaandthe
UnitedStates.
13Butthere’sanotherpossibility.MaybepeoplecamefromAsiainsmallboats,skippingfromoneislandto
anotheralongthecoast.
TheCaves’Clues
14Theislandcavesholdcluesaboutthosetimes.Insidethecaves,Dr.TimothyHeatonoftheUniversityof
SouthDakotahasfoundthebonesofmanykindsofanimalsthatarenowextinctfromthearea.Hediscovered
thatthebrownbear,ringedseal,arcticfox,redfox,landotter,andotherslivedontheseislandsduringthe
lastyearsoftheIceAge,whenglacierswerethoughttohavecoveredallofAlaska,includingtheislands.But
theislandsmusthavebeenfreefromice.Otherwise,theseanimalscouldnothavesurvived.Andice-free
islandsmeanthewaywasclearforpeopletomovealongthecoast.
15InJuly1996,Dr.HeatonledadiginasmallcaveonPrinceofWalesIsland.Hediscoveredtheoldesthuman
skeletalremainseverrecoveredinAlaska.Thebonesweredatedatabout9,200yearsago.Later,atthesame
cave,Dr.E.JamesDixonoftheDenverMuseumofNaturalHistorydiscoveredacampsiteofthesameage.
16ThesescientistshaveshownthathumanswerelivingonthesoutherncoastofAlaskaattheendoftheIce
Age.TheideathatthefirstAmericanscameonfootisstillalive,butnowthereisanotherreasonableidea:
theymighthavecomealongthecoastbyboat.
17AndthatiswhymanycaversreturntosoutheastAlaskaeachyear.Mappingacaveisnotjustachanceto
visitsomeofthelastunexploredregionsofourplanet.Itisalsoachancetohelpdiscovernewinformation
abouthowanimalsandhumansmigratedintotheAmericas.
35.Whatisthepurposeofparagraphs1-4?
A.toexplainwhythewriterwrotethearticle
C.topersuadethereadertobecomeacaver
B.todiscussthemainideaofthearticle
D.tointerestthereader
36.Inparagraph3,theworddelugemeans
A.alargeamountofwater.
B.atrickleofwater. C.alanternonahelmet.
D.asmallcave.
37.Whichofthefollowingobjectshavebeenfoundinthecaves?
A.woodenboats
B.glaciers
C.fossils
D.cedarbaskets
38.Whatisthemostimportantinformationinparagraphs7-10?
A.Cavers’discoverieshelpscientistslearnmoreaboutthepeopleandanimalswholivedinthearea.
B.Theislandsgetmorethan100inchesofrainyearly.
C.Looserocksandcoldtemperaturesmakethecavesdangerous.
D.Cavershavefoundthingsmadebyhumansthousandsofyearsago.
39.Whatdoesthewordmigratemeaninparagraph12?
A.tofollowlargeherdsofanimals
B.tomovefromoneplacetoanother
C.tocrossalandbridge
D.tofeelverygrateful
40.Foralongtime,scientiststhoughtthatthefirstpeoplecametotheAmericasonfoot.Accordingtothe
article,scientists’newideaisthatthefirstpeoplemightactuallyhavecometotheAmericas
A.byboat.
B.byswimming.
C.byfollowinglargeherdsofanimals.
D.bycampingoutincaves.
41.WhatcluesmakescientiststhinktheAlaskanIslandswerefreefromiceduringtheIceAge?
A.humanskeletalremains B.glaciers
C.animalbones
D.piecesofboats
42.WhatisimportantaboutthediscoverythattheAlaskanIslandswerefreeoficeduringtheiceage?
A.becauseitmeanshumanscouldhavemigratedtotheAmericasbyboat.
B.becauseitmeansthathumanscouldhavehuntedanimalslikethearcticfox.
C.becauseitexplainshowAsiaandtheAmericaswereonceconnected.
D.becauseitisevidenceofglobalwarming.
43.Accordingtothearticle,thetwoscientistswhoexploredthesamecaveonPrinceofWalesIslandwere
A.LewisandClark.
B.GissbergandKnotts.
C.TongassandHeceta.
D.HeatonandDixon.
44.WhatdidDr.HeatonfindonPrinceofWalesIsland?
A.awoolymammoth
B.bonesofanimalsthatarenowextinct
C.theoldesthumanskeletalremainseverrecoveredinAlaska
D.acampsitethatwas9,200yearsold
People in ancient Greece and Rome believed supernatural gods and goddesses, who
experienced human emotions like jealousy and passion, directed events in their world.
The myth of “Echo and Narcissus” shows the human qualities of the gods and explains
the origin of two things in nature, a narcissus flower and an echo.
EchoandNarcissus
1Liriope,therivernymph,gavebirthtoabeautifulchild.ThechildwasnamedNarcissus.Ashegrew,his
beautyincreased.Hisdazzlinglookshadastrangeeffectuponthewoodlandspirits,thewaterandtree
nymphs,aroundwhomhespenthisdays.Theyallfellinlovewithhim,buthewasoblivious,interestedonly
inhuntinginthehillswithhiscompanions.Hisprideinhisbeautygrewsogreatthathehadnothingbutscorn
forthefeelingsofothers.
2Therewasonenymph,Echobyname,whosawNarcissuschasingdeerintonetsinthehills.Echowas
instantlyseizedbyloveandcouldnotovercomeit.Secretly,shefollowedhimthroughthewilderness,waiting
forherchancetomakeherselfknowntohim-butonethingheldherback:shecouldnotinitiatespeechon
herown.Shecouldonlyrepeatwhatwassaidtoher.Thiswashercondition,andithadcomeaboutbecause
onedaythegoddessHerawasquestioningthenymphsaboutherhusbandZeus.SheaskedthemwhereZeus
was,suspectingthattheunfaithfulgodhadbeenchasingthelovelynymphsanddwellingamongthem.Indeed
hehad,andwhilehewasmakinghisescape,EchodistractedHerawiththeflowofentertainingconversation.
WhenHeralearnedshehadbeenfooled,shecursedEcho,saying,“Fromnowonyourwordswillnotbeyour
own.Youwillonlybeabletorepeatwhatissaidtoyou.Thatwayyourpowerstobeguile1anddistractwillbe
curtailed.”2
3ThereafterEchocouldonlyrepeatthewordssheheard.ShecouldnotannounceherselftoNarcissus.She
trailedhimsilently,hopingfortherightcircumstancetomeethimanddeclareherlove.OnedayNarcissus
hadwanderedawayfromhiscompanions,andwasintheforestlookingforthem.Echowasnearby,but
Narcissusdidnotseeher.“Isanyonehere?”hecried.“Here,”sheanswered.“Cometome,”hecalledout.
“Cometome,”shereplied.“Donotavoidme,”hepleaded.Shesaidthesametohim.“Letusmeet.”Hefell
backfromherscornfully.“YouarenottheoneIseek.IwoulddiebeforeIwouldbenearyou.”Echoadvanced
towardhim,pleading,“Iwouldbenearyou.”Butheranfromher.
4Hauntedbyrejectionandcrushedbyshame,Echohidherselfincavesandcoveredherselfwithleaves.She
begantowasteawayanddisappear.Intheendonlyherboneswereleft,andthesebecamerocks.Buther
voiceremained.Travelersandwanderershearditsometimes,answeringthemwiththeirownwords.StillEcho
didnotforgetNarcissus.
5Meanwhile,Narcissustoofellvictimtoacurse.Anothernymphhadfalleninlovewithhim,butwasalso
spurned.Thisonecriedtotheheavensforvengeance:“MayNarcissusfallintoalovethatisnotreturned!”e
goddessofrighteousanger,Nemesis,heardthesewords.Andsoithappenedthatonasunnyandhotday
Narcissusfoundhimselfatapondtowhichnoshepherd’sflockshadbeen,fromwhichnogoatshaddrunk.
Itwasawildplace.Agreenmeadowsurroundedit,andtalltreesshadeditfromthesunandsheltereditfrom
winds.Puttinghisfacetothewatersinordertoquenchhisthirst,Narcissuscaughtsightofhisreflectionfor
thefirsttime.Hewasastonishedbythebeautifulfacethatmethiseye.
6“Whatstar-likeeyesarethese;whatsmoothskin!Thatforehead,thatjaw,thatgorgeousflowinghair!Who
areyou?Drawneartome!”Hereachedhishandstothewater,butthereflectedimagedisintegrated.He
waitedforittoreappear.“Nofortressgatesnorcitywalls;nolongrockyhighway,notimpenetrableforestnor
unclimbablemountainstandsbetweenus.YetIcannotreachyou!Howcanthisbe?”Hecriedtotheendless
skies,“HowisitthatwhenIfindmylovehisverynearnesskeepsusfarapart?”Buttherewasnoanswer.
7Narcissuscouldnotleavehisplace.Entrancedbyhisownreflection,hebegantowasteawayfromhunger
andthirst.Hisstrengthandhislifeebbedawayanddidnotreturn.Echohoveredaroundhim,invisibleand
unforgetting.Herdisembodiedvoicerepeatedhisfinalword,whichwas“Alas.”Hedied,andhisspiritlefthis
body.Evenontheboatofsouls,crossingtheriverbetweenthisworldandtheotherone,Narcissusleaned
overtheedge,lookingintothosewaters,tryingtocatchaglimpseoftheimagethatsocaptivatedhim.
8Thenymphsheardofhisdeathandwenttothepondtoretrievehisbodyforthefuneralceremony.But
whentheygotthere,theyfoundnocorpse,onlyanewblossomwithsnowypetalsandayellowcorona.e
flowercametobecalled“Narcissus,”inhonorofthechildwhocametoknowhimselfandfellinlove.
1Beguile-leadbydeceptionortrickery:distract
2Curtail-makelessasifbycuttingawayapart;reduce
45.Readthesentencefromparagraph1:
Theyallfellinlovewithhimbuthewasoblivious,interestedonlyinhuntinginthehillswithhiscompanions.
Accordingtothesentenceabove,thebestsynonymfortheword“oblivious”is
A.unaware B.ignorant C.generous D.heroic
46.WhyisEchounabletospeakonherown?
A.Sheisterrified
B.SheiscursedbyZeus
C.SheisinlovewithNarcissus
D.SheiscursedbyHera
47.WhyisEcho“hauntedbyrejectionandcrushedwithshame”?
A.EchofooledHera B.Narcissusdoesnotwanttobewithher
C.Echodied D.EchokilledNarcissus
48.Thepurposeofthequotationmarksinparagraph2aretoshow
A.theauthor’sthoughts
B.acharacter’sthoughts
C.acharacter’sspokenwords
D.thetitleofthestory
49.Whatisthemainpurposeofparagraph6?
A.TodescribehowNarcissusfallsinlovewithEcho
B.TodescribehowNarcissusfallsinlovewithhimself
C.TodescribehowNarcissustalkstothesky
D.Todescribethefaceofaprince
50.WhichofthefollowingsentencesbestsupportstheideathatNarcissushad“nothingbutscornforthe
feelingsofothers”?
A.“IwoulddiebeforeIwouldbenearyou.”
B.“HowisitthatwhenIfindmylovehisverynearnesskeepsusfarapart?”
C.“Entrancedbyhisownreflection,hebegantowasteawayfromhungerandthirst.”
D.“Intheend,onlyherboneswereleft,andtheybecamerocks.”