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Read the next two selections. Then answer the questions that follow them.

 

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Use the announcement to answer questions 14–17.

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Use "Never, Ever Run" to answer questions 18–22. 

18 Read the following dictionary entry for the word report.             Which definition represents the meaning of the word report as used in paragraph 7 of the story?    F Definition 1 G Definition 2 H Definition 3 J Definition 4		21 From information about Helen Thayer provided in the story, the reader can conclude that —       A Charlie had gone on many other adventures with Thayer B Thayer had never encountered a polar bear before C Thayer and Charlie were also threatened by Arctic wolves D Thayer had failed in a previous attempt to travel to the North Pole
19 The setting of the story is important because it helps the reader understand —       A what is important to remember when threatened by a polar bear B how critical it was for Thayer to pack extra food C the dangers and isolation Thayer faced on her journey to the North Pole D how aggressive polar bears can be when protecting their young		22 From her actions in paragraphs 4 through 8 of the story, Thayer can be described best as —   F determined to keep the bear from attacking Charlie G concerned for the safety of the mother bear and her cubs H doubtful that she will be able to complete her expedition J calm in the face of a challenging situation
20 What is the importance of paragraph 4?    F It shows that Thayer was prepared for a polar bear attack. G It explains why Thayer decided to bring Charlie along with her. H It demonstrates that Thayer is an experienced polar bear hunter. J It describes Thayer’s daily routine during her adventure in the Arctic.

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Use the announcement and "Never, Ever Run" to answer questions 23–26.

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27 Read this portion of an outline of information from this selection.       II. Smokejumpers   A. Equipment     1. Pulaski     2. ___________     3. Walkie-talkies     4. Fire-resistant tent       Which information belongs in the blank?       A Telescope B Firebreak C Shovel D Compass		32 From information about our nation’s forests provided in this selection, the reader can conclude that —    F there is at least one smokejumper base located in every forest G most of the forestland in the United States is located in the West H most forest fires occur as the result of a lightning strike J the largest forest in the United States is Lincoln National Forest
28 Paragraphs 8 and 9 are mainly about —    F the methods and equipment used by smokejumpers G how smokejumpers build firebreaks to stop fires H the forest ranger who invented the Pulaski tool J the special lightweight uniforms worn by smokejumpers		33 Smokejumpers are usually not able to use water to control fires because —       A water would cause trees and vegetation to grow back in the firebreak B there are no sources of water nearby and no pumping equipment C water is not an effective method of putting out wood-fueled fires D the tremendous heat would quickly burn through the fire hoses
29 Which sentence in the selection supports the idea that most forest fires occur during the summer?       A A fire spotter looks through a telescope at a plume of smoke rising into the summer sky. B It is a hot, dry June day deep within the Lincoln National Forest. C The fire must be contained before it blazes out of control. D During the hot, dry summer months, they are always on call, ready to fly into hard-to-reach areas to do battle with fire.		34 Smokejumpers strip an area of trees, brush, and other vegetation to —    F store their supplies G keep a fire from spreading H build a shelter J create a road for fire trucks
30 From information about controlling forest fires provided in this selection, the reader can conclude that —    F smokejumpers use firebreaks only as a last resort G lookout towers are located throughout large forests H fires often go out on their own before smokejumpers arrive J smokejumpers are used to fight only very small forest fires		35 Why does the ranger in charge wait for other towers to report the fire before sending the spotter plane out?         A The lookout who works in Lookout Tower 7 is too far from the fire to tell where it is. B The fire must be large enough to be seen from at least two towers before a plane can be sent out. C Lookout Tower 7’s azimuth indicator is old and may not be working properly. D Readings from more than one lookout tower are needed to determine a fire’s exact location.
31 In paragraph 11, what does the word replenish mean?       A Get below B Break through C Live within D Fill again		36 What can the reader conclude about smokejumpers?    F Smokejumpers must be in excellent physical condition. G Edward Pulaski was the Forest Service’s first smokejumper. H Smokejumpers work as spotters before becoming firefighters. J Hotshots are teams made up of the very best smokejumpers.

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Read this selection. Then answer the questions that follow it.

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37 In paragraph 5, what does the word interloper mean?       A An investigator B A student C An intruder D A prisoner		43 The author probably wrote this selection to —       A give the reader a complete history of the Great Wall B entertain the reader with ancient Chinese legends C describe the emotional experience of walking on the Great Wall D persuade the reader to visit the Great Wall in the near future
38 What causes the narrator to remember the legend of the young prince?    F The narrator reads a story that is similar to the legend. G The narrator has a dream about the young prince and his wife. H The narrator hears a mysterious, mournful cry. J The narrator longs to see friends and family back in Texas.		44 In paragraph 1, the narrator feels disoriented because —    F he is nervous about all the bicycles on the road G he has not adjusted to the time difference between Beijing and Houston H he is not used to the heavy traffic in Beijing J he is worried that Mr. Lao is ignoring the instructions of the traffic police
39 In paragraph 5, the word secluded means —       A hidden or separated B beautiful C strong and determined D primitive		45 How does the narrator’s view of the wall change by the end of the selection?       A The narrator is more impressed by the overwhelming size of the wall after seeing it in person. B The narrator understands that the wall is nothing more than stones and mortar. C The narrator considers the wall one of China’s greatest accomplishments. D The narrator regards the wall as a memorial to those who built it.
40 What word describes the mood that the author establishes at the beginning of paragraph 7?    F Eerie G Peaceful H Indifferent J Joyful		46 What can the reader conclude from the narrator’s statements about the Great Wall?    F The narrator is a Chinese American whose ancestors built the Great Wall. G This is the first time the narrator has visited the Great Wall. H The narrator has visited historic places similar to the Great Wall. J The narrator is not very impressed by the Great Wall.
41 The author’s use of the first-person point of view helps the reader understand —       A why the narrator wanted to visit the Great Wall B the thoughts and feelings of the narrator C Mr. Lao’s attitude about the Great Wall D how the Chinese peasants felt about the wall		47 In paragraph 8, what does it mean when the narrator says “the human cost was more stirring than the wall itself ”?       A The narrator doesn’t believe the wall is really the longest structure ever built. B The narrator believes that the wall is not as remarkable as the sacrifice of the people who built it. C The narrator thinks that the trip to see the wall was not worth the cost. D The narrator thinks the wall didn’t cost very much to build because it was built by peasants.
42 Which sentence from this selection supports the idea that the author knew something about the Great Wall before this visit?    F I remembered reading that Chinese peasants had been forced to build the wall, carrying in stones and other materials on their backs. G We had been told that very few Chinese people owned cars, but you wouldn’t have known it by looking at the roads. H As if reading my mind, Mr. Lao pointed out the stone hearths used to communicate across great distances. J I found myself thinking about the legend Mr. Lao had told us earlier that night.		48 Which sentence in this selection supports the idea that the narrator is sympathetic to the hardships faced by the peasants who built the wall?    F There was practically no sound, no night birds singing, no leaves rustling in the breeze, only my footsteps echoing off the surrounding mountains. G A new millennium had dawned, yet we still knew so little about the people, the culture, or the history of China. H The long stone serpent, as the peasants refer to it, was built to protect the Chinese Empire from invasion by foreign enemies. J I stopped and looked out over the side, feeling terribly insignificant and small in this place, this final home to generations of past souls—soldiers and slaves, peasants and princes.

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