Study Island
Copyright © 2014 Edmentum - All rights reserved.
Generation Date: 12/10/2014
Generated By: Cheryl Shelton
Title: Grade 7 Blizzard Bag 2014-2015 ELA-Day 3
Storm at Sea
by R. Lee Walters
Over the seas, the ship rolled on high waves.
Over the waves, the storm's high winds howled.
Over the howls, the thunder, the thunder rose
And the lightning, the lightning flashed wildly.
Over the storm's squall, the captain fought the winds.
Over the wind's strength, the sailors climbed the sails.
Over the sails' tatters, the clouds, the clouds parted
And the moon, the moon shone victoriously.
1. The poet repeats the phrase "Over the…" in this poem to
A. mimic the moon's rays.
B. build up the suspense.
C. make the lines rhyme.
D. make it sound like rain.
Mikkel loved dance music. He was familiar with all of the popular techno and hip-hop
artists. Mikkel longed to be a DJ. He had friends that owned their own speakers, stereo
equipment, and turntables. Sometimes, he would go and help them when they were hired to
play music at events. He learned all of their tricks. Mikkel just wished that he could afford his
own equipment, so he could make money doing what he loved—playing music.
Mikkel looked through his belongings to see if he could sell anything. He had a skateboard
and a bicycle that he never used anymore. He also had an old guitar that he had never learned
to play. He could probably get a couple hundred bucks for these items, but it was not enough to
buy DJ equipment. He needed a job, one that would not interfere with school or his passion.
Mikkel thought about his skills and his interests. He wanted to get a job that would help him
develop into a better DJ. He checked the local music shop to see if the owners needed any parttime help, but they did not. Then, he gathered his courage and called the local radio station to
ask if there were any job opportunities there. The radio station did not need his help either.
Mikkel told Spike, one of his DJ friends, about wanting to get his own equipment. Spike
offered to pay Mikkel for helping him set up and take down his equipment at events. Spike also
told Mikkel that he would be willing to sell his old equipment to him for a good price. That was
the kind of break Mikkel needed. He knew that with the right equipment he would be able to
start his own DJ business. He felt very fortunate to have a friend like Spike.
2. What does Mikkel do first to try to solve his problem?
A. He calls the radio station to see if he can DJ for it.
B. Mikkel inquires at the local music store about a job.
C. Mikkel asks his friend Spike for help to earn money.
D. He tries to find enough valuable belongings to sell.
3. What is the main conflict in the story?
A. Mikkel cannot afford to buy DJ equipment.
B. The music store does not want Mikkel's help.
C. The local radio station will not hire Mikkel.
D. Mikkel does not want to sell his belongings.
4.
Sharie crashed into the door because she was as blind as a bat without her glasses.
What is the effect of the simile in this sentence?
A. to explain how Sharie got glasses
B. to show that Sharie liked animals
C. to show Sharie could not see well
D. to explain Sharie knew how to fly
5. Max was a stubborn dog. He would not listen if I told him not to misbehave. I was getting
tired of his tantrums, but at the same time, I loved Max. He was stubborn all right, but he was a
great guard dog. I've never had to worry about leaving the house locked up. Max took care of
the house when I was away. Nobody dared trespass because they knew how ferocious he was.
Max loved animal crackers, and he would listen to me at the drop of a hat when I offered the
crackers to him.
The phrase at the drop of a hat means Max
A. loved dropping the hat and picking it up.
B. listened when his owner dropped a hat.
C. was willing to do something immediately.
D. was fond of playing with hats.
Panic
Sid was nowhere to be seen.
"He was just here a minute ago," Naomi spoke just above a whisper. She had looked all over
the house for Sid in a state of panic. It was Naomi's first day as a baby sitter, and she really
needed that job. More importantly, Sid was just a little boy.
"I thought he was too little to run away," Naomi talked to herself, as she often did while
feeling stressed. "Where could he possibly be?" She tried to remember where she had seen Sid
last. "Was it the living room or the drive way?" She remembered Sid's sad face as he watched
his mother leave for work. He was hanging on to door of the coat hanger closet in the living
room.
In a matter of moments, Naomi ran to the living room and opened the closet. There she
found Sid curled up and fast asleep with his mother's scarf in his hands.
"Poor baby," Naomi said, planting a kiss on Sid's forehead. Feeling relieved, she lifted him
and put him in the crib. For now, Naomi's job and the bicycle she wanted to buy were both
secure.
6. How would the story be different if it were told from Sid's point of view?
A. It would show more about Sid's feelings when his mom leaves for work.
B. It would include the details of Naomi's previous experience as a babysitter.
C. It would describe the thoughts and feelings of each character in the story.
D. It would address the reader directly while narrating the events in the story.
Passage 1
Many people may know Paul Hewson as Bono, the lead singer of the Irish rock band U2. He is
also an activist for human rights. An activist is someone who believes in a cause so much that
he or she takes action to help that cause. Bono and his band have performed in many benefit
shows to raise money for people in Africa. He performed in the Band Aid and Live Aid shows. He
has also started several organizations to provide food, medical care, and education for people
in Africa. Bono is a co-founder of ONE and (RED). These organizations raise funds for Africa.
Bono also helped start a clothing company called EDUN to make clothes in developing countries
like Africa. Bono has traveled to Africa to volunteer in feeding programs and to raise awareness
of problems there. He has also been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to help
poor people in Africa.
Passage 2
Ingrid Newkirk began working with animals at a Maryland animal shelter in 1972. She did not
like the harsh treatment animals received there. She moved on to become an animal
investigator for Montgomery County in Maryland. Then, Newkirk became the chief of the
animal-disease-control division for Washington, D.C. She started the organization called PETA
(People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) in 1980. Her main goal as leader of PETA was to
stop animal cruelty. Ingrid has worked hard to expose poor treatment of animals in labs. She
has also drawn attention to the treatment of animals in the field of entertainment. Under
Ingrid’s guidance, PETA has won many animal cruelty cases.
7. According to the two passages, how are Bono and Newkirk different from each other?
A. Ingrid is recognized for her work; Bono is not known for his work.
B. Bono works for human rights; Ingrid works for animal rights.
C. Ingrid started an organization; Bono has not started an organization.
D. Bono gives a lot of time to his cause; Ingrid does not give time to hers.
8. What is the common theme in both of the passages?
A. Animals should be respected and treated fairly by people around the world.
B. It is important to stand up for your beliefs to make a positive difference.
C. You should give a lot of your time and money to help starving people in Africa.
D. Musicians have the biggest impact in helping raise money for important causes.
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."
9. What is a major event in the passage?
A. Harry and Kevin hang the key in their fort.
B. Harry and Kevin build a fort in the woods.
C. Harry and Kevin ride their bikes to the fort.
D. Harry falls through the floor in the farmhouse.
10. Why does Harry ask Kevin for the flashlight?
A. so Kevin will leave him alone
B. so he can kill a spider with it
C. so he can look beneath the floor
D. so he can avoid the worst dust
11. Why do the boys get excited?
A. They believe they have found a secret hiding place.
B. They doubted the flashlight batteries would work.
C. They imagine the key will open a treasure chest.
D. They see a big spider that lives near the key.
Tiger
by William Blake
Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
12. What is the effect of the metaphor used in the first sentence?
A. It gets the reader curious about otherworldly creatures.
B. It makes the reader want to know more about the forest.
C. It highlights the glowing eyes of the tiger in the dark.
D. It tells the reader about creatures prowling at night.
Plum Finger
by Sunny
Fee, fie, foe, fum,
Jill put her finger in a plum.
The plum got her finger nice and tight,
and it wouldn’t let go without a fight.
13. Which line contains an example of alliteration?
A. line 1
B. line 2
C. line 3
D. line 4