Study Island Copyright 2014 Edmentum - All rights reserved. Generation Date: 04/01/2014 Generated By: Cheryl Shelton Title: 10th Grade Reading Authors Point of View The origins of ice cream date all the way back to the 4th century BC, when Persians developed a chilled pudding dish they served to royalty. But ice cream didn't acquire its name until the American colonists dubbed it so. Actually, they called it "iced cream" because it sounded like the familiar phrase "iced tea." It was later shortened to simply "ice cream." New York City opened the first ice cream parlor in America in the year 1776, the same year the United States became a nation. 1. The author intended this passage to do which of the following? A. teach the audience about the history of ancient Persia B. entertain readers with a humorous story about ice cream C. persuade readers that they should eat more ice cream D. inform the audience about the history of ice cream Director J. J. Abrams' 2009 Star Trek movie, starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, and others, does not disappoint. In my view, not si nce The Wrath of Khan has a version of the Star Trek tale been so captivating and enthralling. The fireballs, explosions, and fight scenes are achieved with special effects designed to dazzle but not overwhelm. From the opening battle scenes, I was on the edge of my seat and I stayed there. The old, familiar characters seem freshly realized, given new life by the writing as well as superb performances by the cast. Perhaps the only exception is Chekov (Anton Yelchin), who seems to be tacked on as an afterthought. Chekov was a rather boring character even in the original series, and making him more interesting and integral is a challenge every Star Trek movie has faced. Chris Pine as James T. Kirk and Zach Quinto as the young Spock more than do the roles justice. Karl Urban as Dr. McCoy will have you howling every time he utters the now legendary line, "I'm a doctor, Jim." Zoe Saldana as Uhuru is electrifying the camera loves her, and she gives the traditionally staid character a sultry twist. To give the plot away would be a crime, so I will merely say that the writers have
succeeded where others have failed. They have paid homage to the original TV series, while also throwing in a few surprises that even the most diehard Trekkie will not see coming. Admittedly, the adventures of the starship Enterprise have gotten a bit old and tired over the years, and I knew it would take a miracle to draw me back into the story. J.J. Abrams managed to pull off exactly that. 2. Which word describes the author's attitude toward the movie as a whole? A. informative B. passable C. masterful D. traditional 3. Which of these best describes the author's attitude toward the character of McCoy in the 2009 film? A. His character is a bit boring. B. He lends humor to the adventure story. C. He is integral to the film's plot. D. He was tacked on as an afterthought. 4. The author of this passage would most likely agree that A. remakes of classics should not deviate in any way from the original. B. in the hands of the right director, old stories can be made new again. C. movie sequels never achieve the same success as the original film. D. once a story has been told too many times, nothing can revitalize it. 5. Which of these characterizes the author's view of the 2009 film's plot? A. bogged down by too many unnecessary fight scenes B. heavy on action but light on character development C. respectful toward the original but also creative D. straightforward and predictable like the original 6. This piece of writing would most likely appear in which of these places?
A. a biography of the film director B. a syllabus for a film appreciation class C. a movie and entertainment Web site D. a newspaper ad for local movies How much sleep do you estimate the average teenager needs? The fact is, teenagers who are still growing need 9 or 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night. Do most children get that much? It's highly unlikely. In the United States alone, an estimated 30% to 40% don't get adequate sleep. Most teenagers try to stay up later than they're allowed to watch a favorite TV show or chat online. Parents often give in to the teenager's plea, and the cycle begins. The teen goes to sleep progressively later every night, and pretty soon, he or she is sleep deprived. The activities teens occupy themselves with before sleep can also affect the quality of it. Playing video games, for example, keeps the mind active and makes it difficult to fall sleep. Caffeine products also have a negative impact on rest. Coffee, soda, or chocolate ramps up the brain and makes sleeping nearly impossible. Not getting enough sleep can adversely affect the nervous system, making a young person restless or jumpy. School work can also be negatively affected. The teenager who is sleep-deprived will have a hard time finishing homework and doing it well. Sufficient sleep is also needed for the immune system to fend off illness. Kids can become edgy and grumpy from inadequate sleep, making it hard for them to solve personal problems and maintain friendships and relationships. Sleep is the way our bodies rejuvenate and recover from the day's stresses. It should take a higher priority than TV, computer time, and even homework. Teenagers will no doubt put up a fuss if given an early bedtime, but the fact is, without adequate rest, life will become downright hard to manage and impossible to enjoy. 7. What is the author's main purpose in writing this selection? A. to persuade readers that teens need more sleep to function well B. to explain to readers why teenagers sometimes act funny or rude C. to entertain readers with stories about teenagers' sleep habits D. to inform readers about techniques for improving sleep quality 8. Read this sentence from the passage above: "In the United States alone, an estimated 30% to 40% don't get adequate sleep." How does this sentence help to advance the author's point of view? A. The statistic gives weight to the author's opinion that kids don't get enough sleep. B. The statistic compares kids in the United States to those in other countries.
C. The statistic is meant to show that sleep deprivation only affects a few people. D. The statistic makes it clear that most kids in the United States get plenty of sleep. 9. What would the author probably think about text messaging before bed? A. that it would have no obvious impact on quality of sleep B. that it would exercise the brain and prepare it for sleep C. that it would keep the brain too active to sleep D. that the teen would feel better rested in the morning 10. What is the author's attitude toward parents in this passage? A. They should set an example and go to sleep early. B. They need to be firmer with kids about bedtime. C. They should not let kids play video games. D. They often discipline teenagers too harshly. New guidelines were recently published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to improve the way people eat. Recommendations include lowering salt intake, eating less sugar and saturated fats, and eating more fruits and vegetables. These guides have come out every 5 years, but though they are developed by reputable scientists, the public virtually ignores them. Countless studies have linked overeating and sedentary lives with multiple diseases and increased medical costs. Even with highprofile figures like Michelle Obama leading the fight for healthier lifestyles, the old habits die hard. The need to shift to healthier eating is more urgent now than ever. Weight problems are epidemics in the United States, as is the equally pressing problem of undernourishment. For example, people today eat far too much salt. This salt addiction has been proven to increase the risk for heart disease and stroke, as well as other costly and life-threatening illnesses. The new guidelines give specific recommendations regarding how much daily salt is healthy. However, it's doubtful whether Americans will heed the advice. They'd rather watch cable TV and eat French fries than make changes that would likely prolong their lives. Thankfully, the USDA has become proactive in changing the way we Americans eat. Most people are familiar with the famous food pyramid the agency developed years ago, showing the food groups and servings of each group. However, the agency's guidelines go far beyond the colorful posters hanging in schools across the nation. School meal programs are impacted by the document, as are decisions about the
labeling of foods and how foods are marketed to young people. In particular, by using the guidelines to target school breakfast and lunch programs, the USDA hopes to make healthy foods an easy alternative for kids. Clearly, adults cannot be counted on to make healthy eating a priority. With the USDA's help, school kids will get started early on a lifetime of good diet habits. 11. The author of this selection feels A. that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. B. that people will wise up and start following the USDA guide. C. that kids will reject the healthy school lunch options. D. that Americans don't want to change their eating habits. 12. Based on the information in this passage, which of these statements would the author probably agree with? A. Following USDA food guidelines will have little effect on health care costs. B. Americans are gradually reducing their salt consumption. C. The USDA food pyramid did not provide much useful information. D. Good diet and exercise are the keys to leading healthy lives. 13. Which word describes the author's attitude toward the USDA? A. skeptical B. disdainful C. neutral D. approving 14. What can readers tell about the author's attitude in this passage? A. The author thinks USDA guides should come out more often. B. The author places a high value on scientific results. C. The author values exercise more than a healthy diet. D. The author believes that hospitals charge too much. The latest play at the Westside Community Theater, Orin Hilyard's drama Crossing the River, starts out pleasantly enough. Josie, daughter of Ella and Josiah Jones, sits on the edge of the stage, reading aloud from her diary. When the reading goes on and
on, the audience understandably begins to fidget. Here is a story, told mostly through these painfully long journal entries, of a pioneer family that endures terrible hardships as they make their way out West. Henrietta Hopkins as Josie does her best with the stilted words, but the playwright has not given her much to work with. Though Hilyard says he did years of research to make the language true to the times, he failed to choose the most compelling bits of the pioneer story to bring to life. Instead, we get humdrum tales of Josie's squabbles with her brothers. I, for one, would have much preferred to know what crossing the plains in a covered wagon was really like for a child of 12 what strange sights and formidable adversaries were met along the way. Even the mundane events described in her journal could have been dramatic in the hands of a more skilled playwright. Hilyard breaks the first rule of good storytelling, and certainly of good drama: He tells us rather than showing us. Ella Jones, played admirably by veteran actress Lana Barton, has no less daunting a challenge: to make something meaty out of the spare dialogue. Simply grunting under the weight of water pails she's hauling or agreeing to every harebrained idea her husband proposes is not exactly the stuff of great characterizations. Amazingly, even Barton's considerable talent is not enough to make her Ella memorable. Josiah (Rueben Knowles) has at least been given some moving dialogue, as he struggles to keep his family alive on the grueling journey, but the plot meanders like the rolling river the family tries countless times to cross. What we are left with is a sense that pioneer days were excruciating all right, but only because no one ever had anything interesting to say. 15. Where would this selection most likely be found? A. on the Web site for Westside Community Theater B. in a collection of plays by Orin Hilyard C. in a nonfiction book about pioneer days D. on the theater page in a local newspaper 16. Read the following sentence from the passage: "Henrietta Hopkins as Josie does her best with the stilted words, but the playwright has not given her much to work with." How does this sentence help to advance the author's point of view? A. It praises the playwright for his strong writing and unique plot. B. It explains why the pioneer family was crossing the plains. C. It shows that the girl's acting left something to be desired. D. It conveys that the acting was strong but the writing was weak.
17. The author of this selection feels A. that Hilyard's play is dull and lifeless. B. that good acting makes up for a boring script. C. that the play tells a fascinating story. D. that Barton's portrayal of Ella is unforgettable. 18. Which sentence best describes the author's attitude toward Lana Barton? A. He thinks she's a great actress who wasn't able to save the play. B. He thinks a better actress could have improved the play. C. He thinks the other actors far outshone Barton's simple performance. D. He thinks her acting made a mediocre play into a great one. Marietta, Ohio, may not be on your short list for a vacation destination, but I encourage you to consider visiting this historic town. Located right on the Ohio River, on the National Scenic Waterway, this Old World city boasts a string of picturesque covered bridges. You could easily lose yourself in an afternoon of strolling back and forth across them, as well as exploring the town's myriad other treasures. Summers here are blistering hot and the winters mighty chilly, so spring or fall might be best for a first-time look-see. The locals don't mind the extreme temperatures, though. In fact, you'll find it hard to upset the warm and happy folks who call Marietta their home. They welcome visitors, too and are glad to show off their little piece of paradise. The town glitters with quaint, Appalachian charm, yet it doesn't lack the modern conveniences. You might say it's the best of both worlds a step back in time with all the comforts of today. The downtown streets are like a walk back into history. You'll enjoy the candy stores, pubs, and cafes, and don't forget to take a riverboat tour! The view from the river really shows off this entrancing town. Stay for a week, and, if you're like me, you'll wonder why on earth you didn't visit sooner! 19. The author probably wrote this passage because he or she wants to A. inform the audience of facts regarding Marietta. B. explain why the town of Marietta is popular. C. entertain readers with stories of Marietta. D. convince people to come visit Marietta. 20. Which word describes the author's feelings about the town of Marietta?
A. delighted B. bored C. ambivalent D. critical 21. This piece of writing would most likely appear A. on a news Web site. B. in a government report. C. in the preface to a novel. D. in a travel magazine. 22. What can the reader tell about the author's attitude toward the townspeople? A. The author feels neutral toward them. B. The author strongly dislikes them. C. The author generally distrusts them. D. The author is quite fond of them. No travel destination can beat China for its fascinating history, from the mysterious dynasties of ancient times to the economic powerhouse it is today. Take a tour with Paradise Travel, and you'll be treated to a feast for the senses in the spectacular cities of Beijing, Shanghai, and others as you cruise the Yangtze River! Come experience for yourself China's fast-paced cities, eye-popping scenery, and polite and friendly people. Book now for supersaver tours that will fit any budget. 23. What is the author's purpose in writing this passage? A. to entertain readers with travel stories from far-off lands B. to instruct readers in what sights they should see in China C. to convince readers to book a tour with Paradise Travel D. to inform the audience about the history of China