"Sir Edmund Hillary"

"Sir Edmund Hillary" Sir Edmund Hillary by Mona Gedney 1 Sir Edmund Hillary, a beekeeper from New Zealand, was a twentieth-century hero. Many climbers had attempted to conquer Mount Everest, the highest peak on Earth, located in the Himalayan Mountains of Nepal. In 1953, Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa guide from Nepal, successfully reached Everest's crest. Theirs was the eighth major struggle with Everest since 1920, and the first successful one. 2 Hillary had climbed numerous mountains before being invited to join the British expedition to the top of the world in 1953. After his successful climb, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and became famous around the world as Sir Edmund Hillary. His fame did not slow him down; he continued to climb mountains and explore remote areas. He visited the Antarctic, and he followed the Ganges River in India from its mouth to its source. He also wrote several books about his experiences. 3 Sir Hillary returned many times to Nepal and devoted much of his time to improving life there. He was instrumental in building schools and hospitals for the Sherpa villages. He once remarked that being able to help the Sherpa villages "has given me more satisfaction than a footprint on a mountain." The welfare of the Nepalese Sherpas remained important to him throughout his life. In 2003, he was made an honorary citizen of Nepal. Sir Edmund Hillary died in 2008. His foundation, the Himalayan Trust, continues his humanitarian works. Generated On March 28, 2018, 4:04 PM PDT Page 1

Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled ""Sir Edmund Hillary"". 1 Which evidence from the passage best supports the idea that Hillary's efforts in Nepal were appreciated? A. "In 2003, he was made an honorary citizen of Nepal." (paragraph 3) B. "In 1953, Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa guide from Nepal, successfully reached Everest's crest." (paragraph 1) C. "He once remarked that being able to help the Sherpa villages 'has given me more satisfaction than a footprint on a mountain.'" (paragraph 3) D. "Sir Edmund Hillary, a beekeeper from New Zealand, was a twentieth-century hero." (paragraph 1) 2 What does the photograph at the beginning of the passage help the reader better understand? A. the harsh conditions on Everest B. Hillary's skill as an explorer C. Hillary's loyalty to the Sherpas D. the appeal of mountain climbing 3 Which sentence is best supported by the photograph at the beginning of the passage? A. "His fame did not slow him down; he continued to climb mountains and explore remote areas." (paragraph 2) B. "Many climbers had attempted to conquer Mount Everest, the highest peak on Earth, located in the Himalayan Mountains of Nepal." (paragraph 1) C. "In 1953, Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa guide from Nepal, successfully reached Everest's crest." (paragraph 1) D. "Sir Hillary returned many times to Nepal and devoted much of his time to improving life there." (paragraph 3) Generated On March 28, 2018, 4:04 PM PDT Page 2

Amusement Park Physics Amusement Park Physics by Sereen Jouda 1 Many schools schedule physics day field trips at area amusement parks. While enjoying the park, students complete exercises that teach them about motion and force. NASA has even partnered with some schools to teach students how amusement park physics are related to spaceflight. These field trips are effective learning tools because the students enjoy themselves while learning about velocity, energy, and gravity. 2 Velocity is an easy principle to see in action at amusement parks: the faster the ride, the more fun it is. Measuring the velocity of a free-fall ride, when cars are dropped vertically, is especially easy. Students can calculate the velocity of a car by measuring the time it takes for it to fall a certain distance. Some amusement park rides also use gravity to create excitement. For example, free-fall rides drop their riders for several seconds, creating a sensation of weightlessness. Roller coaster riders also feel the effects of gravity as they reach the bottom of a curve. Gravity presses them down into the car, making them feel very heavy. 3 Roller coasters demonstrate two types of energy. Potential, or stored, energy can produce motion. A roller coaster car at the top of a hill can easily roll downhill, so it has a lot of potential energy. While the car is rushing down the hill, it has kinetic energy: energy in motion. Students can calculate the potential energy of the car using its weight and height off the ground. Kinetic energy is calculated using the mass of the car and its velocity. Both types of energy make the rides exciting! The anticipation of pausing on the hilltop, with lots of potential energy, is almost as fun as flying down the hill while experiencing kinetic energy. 4 Amusement park rides show students physics principles in action. NASA has designed activities that apply physics principles to spaceflight. Students learn that some roller coasters allow riders to experience up to three times Earth s gravity, which is the same force that astronauts feel during launch! The weightlessness felt on some rides is what astronauts experience constantly in space. With thrilling and educational entertainment, amusement parks can help students learn some fundamental principles of physics. 4 How does the author support the claim that amusement parks represent effective learning opportunities? A. by describing the activities designed by NASA B. by showing how to calculate the velocity of an object C. by explaining the differences between the two types of energy D. by describing how the fun of rides is related to physics principles Generated On March 28, 2018, 4:04 PM PDT Page 3

Why We Love Roller Coasters Why We Love Roller Coasters by Marco Grey 1 Most people avoid situations where they re turned upside down or flung through the air at high speed. People who ride roller coasters seem to enjoy it, though, because the lines to ride them at most amusement parks can be hours long. Why are people drawn to these frightening experiences? Because the fear feels good. 2 Dr. Frank Farley, a psychologist at the University of Wisconsin, states that thrill-seekers are people who particularly enjoy taking risks. Fear attracts thrill-seekers to roller coasters and more dangerous activities, like skydiving. Intense fear triggers a flood of chemicals in the brain, including adrenaline. The result is a feeling of extreme focus and heightened awareness that is unlike anything most people experience in daily life. Many people find this sensation pleasurable. Roller coasters also create the illusion of danger. Finishing the ride makes people feel as though they have overcome actual danger, which is deeply satisfying. 3 The brain also releases oxytocin, often called the bonding chemical, during frightening experiences. Therefore, riding a roller coaster makes us feel closer to the people who rode it with us. Intense emotional experiences also distract people from their daily concerns; it is hard to worry about homework or finances when you re screaming in terror. 4 Roller coasters also give people the opportunity to experience new sensations. For example, the gravitational forces riders feel on hills or curves can be as strong as the forces astronauts experience during launch! People also do not have many other opportunities to turn upside down, travel hundreds of feet in the air, or experience free fall. People who enjoy intense experiences find these rides thrilling. 5 As roller coaster technology has progressed, the rides have become more and more extreme. Amusement parks compete to build the tallest, fastest, and scariest coasters in the world. People continue to flock to these rides for the psychological thrills and new sensations they provide. 5 Which detail is included by both authors? A. A person's brain releases chemicals, such as adrenaline and oxytocin, when riding a roller coaster. B. Riding roller coasters often allows riders to forget about everyday stress and feel closer to others. C. Roller coasters are useful learning tools because they demonstrate potential and kinetic energy. D. The gravitational forces on a roller coaster can be as strong as the ones astronauts feel during launch. Generated On March 28, 2018, 4:04 PM PDT Page 4

Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled "Why We Love Roller Coasters". 6 How are the passages different? A. One passage focuses on field trips to amusement parks planned by physics teachers, and the other focuses on field trips to amusement parks planned by chemistry teachers. B. One passage focuses on the role chemicals in the brain play in amusement park rides, and the other focuses on the role that physics principles play in amusement park rides. C. One passage focuses on homework that physics students have to do at amusement parks, and the other focuses on people who visit amusement parks to forget about homework. D. One passage focuses on how gravitational forces make people feel like astronauts on amusement park rides, and the other focuses on how astronauts train at amusement parks. 7 How are the passages similar? A. They both show why schools are increasingly planning field trips to amusement parks. B. They both explain how NASA uses amusement parks as teaching tools for students. C. They both make complex content easier to learn by applying it to amusement parks. D. They both explain the popularity of amusement parks by applying psychology concepts. 8 In which two ways are the passages similar? A. They both make complex content easier to learn by applying it to amusement parks. B. They both explain how NASA uses amusement parks as teaching tools for students. C. They both show why schools are increasingly planning field trips to amusement parks. D. They both describe how amusement parks can make people feel similar to astronauts. E. They both explain the reason people feel closer to other people at amusement parks. F. They both explain the popularity of amusement parks by applying psychology concepts. Generated On March 28, 2018, 4:04 PM PDT Page 5

Directions: Answer the following question(s). 9 Which of these would be considered a biased opinion? A. Many people think that the Victorians lived by a rigid moral code. B. The Texas saddle was a vast improvement over Mexican saddle design. C. Forty percent of landfills are made up of paper. D. Polar bears are the largest land predators in the North. 10 Read the ad description below and then answer the question. An old television commercial for Ford Mustang showed a teacher wearing glasses with her hair up in a bun. When she got in the Mustang convertible, she threw away her glasses and let her hair hang free as she drove away, obviously a new person. This ad uses which propaganda technique? A. testimonial B. stereotyping C. bandwagon D. bias 11 Read the selection below and then answer the question. The book Charlotte's Web is great! I just love it. I think everyone should read it. I'm glad that my teacher put it on the required book list, because I liked it so much that I read every word, and got an A on my test. Go out and buy this book now! Is this argument weak or strong, and why? A. This argument is weak because it states a very strong opinion. B. This argument is strong because it states a very strong opinion. C. This argument is strong because it is very persuasive and shows a positive experience. D. This argument is weak because the writer does not support the opinion with facts. 12 Read the selection below and then answer the question. The book The War of the Worlds, by H.G. Wells, is a well-written, suspenseful thriller that all students should read. As you begin to read, you can't help but notice that the narration gives the illusion of distance like a news report about something that happened long ago. Wells leaves not a single detail out. His abundance of description helps bring the events in the story and its characters to life. For example, on page 7, the author writes: Then suddenly he noticed with a start that some of the grey clinker, the ashy incrustation that covered the meteorite, was falling off the circular edge of the end. It was dropping off in flakes and raining down upon the sand. A large piece suddenly came off and fell with a sharp noise that brought his heart into his mouth. Is this argument weak or strong, and why? A. The argument is strong because the writer cites specific relevant details. B. The argument is weak because it only mentions a couple relevant points and details. C. The argument is weak because it is short and doesn't show a lot of emotion. D. The argument is strong because the writer says a lot about H.G. Wells. Generated On March 28, 2018, 4:04 PM PDT Page 6

New Account - Comprehension Directions: Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question. Pine Forest Bank Date: 05/18/14 Thank you for opening an account at Pine Forest Bank. Enclosed is your ATM card which you can use to withdraw cash at locations worldwide. Your temporary password is printed in the box on the right. This password gives access to your checking and savings account balances. 6786 We recommend that you change this password once every few months. Also, never write down or tell anyone your password. This will discourage criminals who may attempt to access your account. If you need assistance, please call our 24 Hour Customer Care Number: 1-800-888-8888 We look forward to serving you! Account holder: Pat Q. Public 555 Stratton Lane Tulsa, OK 55555 Acct.# 559944 00F4455G 13 Who sent this message in the mail? A. the Customer Care Department B. Pine Forest Bank C. Pat Q. Public D. criminals 14 Why is the given password only a "temporary password"? A. The bank reserves the right to change the password without notice. B. The customer will not have money at the bank forever. C. The customer needs to change the password. D. The ATM satisfies temporary needs for cash. 15 Which is not a precaution an ATM card holder would use to deter crime? A. Never write down the password number. B. Never open an account at another bank. C. Never share the password number. D. Never leave the ATM card lying around. Stop: You have finished the assessment. Generated On March 28, 2018, 4:04 PM PDT Page 7