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English Grade 7 — Benchmark 3

English 7th

Grade — Benchmark 3

Review the content below and answer the questions that follow.

Extreme Sports

Extreme sports are activities that are considered to be more dangerous, or high risk,

than traditional sports. Mistakes in these sports can be costly and may even cause

serious injury. Many people who are involved with extreme sports say that they enjoy

the adrenaline rush that often results when they participate in these sports. Extreme

sports can create the same sensation as watching a scary movie or having someone

frighten you. The experience causes your body to generate chemicals that can give you

a sense of well-being.

The definition of extreme sports has changed over the last few years. During the 1970s,

only certain sports like hang-gliding were thought of as extreme. Today, nearly every

kind of sport has an extreme form. Even swimming can be extreme!

Many ports have gained the reputation of being extreme because they have been

modified from their original ―safe‖ versions. One example is mountain biking. While

regular bicycling is generally safe, riding over steep terrain is considered dangerous.

This makes it extreme. Swimming is generally safe if it is done in a pool. When done

by a person in a shark-infested water with a strong current, swimming becomes

extreme!

In the past, extreme sports had high risks of injury. However, in recent years, quality

standards and technological advances in equipment have reduced the chance of

injury. Today, many injuries are the result of lack of training. Generally, however,

injuries are caused by overconfidence.

Researchers have found that most serious injuries occur among experienced

participants. A person who is confident about his or her abilities may become careless

and show poor judgment. An athlete with a false sense of security can push beyond his

or her ability. If this overconfidence is combined with a failure to take simple

precautions, such as wearing a helmet or checking safety equipment, the results can be

deadly.

Learn how to play it safe! Click here for more details on how to be safe while

participating in extreme sports!


1) According to the passage, what is the

MAIN cause of sports injuries?

A poor judgment

B overconfidence

C training too hard

D lack of knowledge

ItemID A2K.1103192 Correct B

Standard: 7RC 2.3

2) Which of the following would be MOST

dangerous when skateboarding?

A not following the rules

B not wearing gloves

C not wearing a helmet

D not having confidence

ItemID A2K.1017242

Correct C

Standard: 7RC 2.2

3) Which website would most likely contain

the BEST information about some of the

dangers posed by extreme sports?

A http://www.dailyglider.com/items_for_sal

e.html

B http://www.adventure4u.com/makeit_extr

eme.html

C http://www.lifetimesafetie.com/checklist_t

o_go.html

D http://www.whitewatercrazie.com/greatest

_moments.html

ItemID A2K.1018327

Correct C

Standard: 7RC 2.2

4) If a student wanted to find a university

website about extreme sports, what should

the address contain?

A .com

B .edu

C .gov

D .net

ItemID A2K.1018328

Correct B

Standard: 7RC 2.2

5) According to the passage, what can

extreme athletes do to help ensure they

DON’T get hurt?

A be overconfident

B check their equipment

C train harder

D have friends help them be extreme

ItemID A2K.1103192

Correct B

Standard: 7RC 2.3


Look at the outline and then answer the

questions that follow.

Adventures in New Zealand

I. Natural Beauty

a. National parks

b. Famous overnight hikes

c. Spectacular water

d. Glaciers and unusual formations

e. Wildlife

II. Man-Made Adventures

a. Traditional high-adventure sports

b. Inventors of adrenaline-rush

activities

c. Historic culture the Maori people

III. Culinary Adventures

a. Exotic meat

b. Growing wine country

c. Colonial English influence

d. Asian influences

6) Imagine that you are going to write a

report from this outline. Which of the

following sentences would be the best way

to transition from topic I to topic II?

A Since New Zealand is such a beautiful

country, it is no wonder that people come

here for these, and other, activities.

B But nature is not all that New Zealand

offers; some of the biggest draws of the

country are man-made.

C The craziest adventures that New Zealand

offers are man-made, although the natural

part of the country is also nice.

D Nature is just one of many reasons to

come to New Zealand. You should also

come here to try the wonderful food.

ItemID A2KC.1198889

Correct B

Standard: 7WS 1.1

7) Imagine that you are going to write a

report from this outline. Which of the

following would be the best way to

transition from topic II to topic III?

A Food is another kind of adventure that

New Zealand offers.

B If you want to cook, or just eat out, there

are many choices available to you.

C The Maori people have always enjoyed

the interesting ingredients available to

them in New Zealand.

D Once you‘re tired of doing high-adventure

sports, you‘ll almost certainly need to eat

something.

ItemID A2KC.1198890

Correct A

Standard: 7WS 1.1

8) Which of the following is the most effective

way to transition between section I.b and

I.c?

A If you feel like being lazy, New Zealand

has great water activities.

B If you prefer swimming instead of hiking,

New Zealand offers specular water

attractions.

C Tired of hiking? Go see some glaciers!

D Great bodies of water are also present in

New Zealand.

ItemID A2KC.1199697

Correct B

Standard: 7WS 1.1


9) Which of the following research ideas

would be most helpful in completing

section II a?

A go out and try high-adrenaline sports

B invent some high-adrenaline sports of

your own

C read about high-adrenaline sports in New

Zealand

D read a restaurant and hotel guide of New

Zealand

ItemID A2KC.1199697

Correct C

Standard: 7WS 1.4

10) Imagine you are going to write a report

from this outline. Which of the following

would give you the best foundation from

which to start?

A read articles or a book about the Maori

people in New Zealand

B read articles or a general book about New

Zealand

C read a cookbook that comes from New

Zealand

D read a restaurant and hotel guide of New

Zealand

ItemID A2KC.1199698

Correct B

Standard: 7WS 1.4


Middletown

(1)Everyone knows that Middletown is a nice

place to live. (2)Its citizens are happy, and its

businesses are successful. (3)Its political leaders

work for the good of all. (4)The streets of

Middletown are clean, and the children are well

educated.

(5)Long ago, as Wylan Burns and his brothers

were traveling west to seek their fortunes, the wheel

of their wagon broke. (6)This led to an argument

about who was the most skilled at fixing wagon

wheels. (7)Wylan, the oldest, thought he was the

most skilled because of his experience. (8)Jakes, the

youngest, thought he was the most skilled because

of his education. (9)Argyle, who was neither the

youngest nor the oldest, didn‘t want to waste time

being caught in the middle of a fight.

(10)So, Wylan and Jakes decide to play a game

of cards to determine who would have the honor of

fixing the wagon wheel. (11)Although Jakes won

the first hand, Wylan convinced him that they

should play the best two out of three. (12)Then

Jakes convinced Wylan that they should play the

best three out of four. (13)Well the game continued

into the evening. (14)Sometime between moonrise

and sunrise, the combatants finally drifted off to

sleep. (15)When they awoke, the wagon, the broken

wheel, and Argyle were nowhere to be found.

(16)The brothers continued west on foot,

whining and shoving each other all the way.

(17)―We should have fixed the wagon wheel

together,‖ they both thought to themselves.

(18)Eventually, they came upon a small settlement.

(19)To their surprise, their brother Argyle was its

leader. (20)The brothers, with heads hanging, asked

very politely if they could stay.

(21)Before that, the small settlement grew into

a town. (22)The townspeople decided to name it

Middletown in honor of Wylan and Jakes, who

learned that it‘s best to put aside petty conflicts and

find a middle ground. (23)This just goes to show

that competition with your friends and family

members never results in anything positive.

11) Which of these, if any, is the BEST way to

write the underlined word in sentence (10)?

A decided

B had decided

C were deciding

D No change.

ItemID A2K.1124929 Correct A

Standard: 7WC 1.4

12) Which of these, if any, is the BEST way to

correct the underlined part of sentence

(21)?

A Besides,

B Sometime later,

C At that moment,

D No change.

ItemID A2K.1124619

Correct B

Standard: 7WC 1.4

13) Which of the following is the BEST way to

correct the underlined part of sentence

(13)?

A Well, the game continued into the

evening.

B Well—the game continued into the

evening.

C Well; the game continued into the

evening.

D No change.

Correct A

Standard: 7WC 1.4


The following two questions to not refer to a

passage.

14) Which change should be made to the

sentence below?

Patrick makes the hotter chili of anyone in his

cooking class.

A change hotter to hot

B change hotter to hottest

C change hotter to most hottest

D change hotter to more hotter

ItemID A2KC.1095810

Correct B

Standard: 7WC 1.1

15) What does the word lucky modify in the

sentence below?

Janeen is lucky that she won the school raffle.

A Janeen

B is

C won

D raffle

ItemID A2KC.1095963

Correct A

Standard: 7WC 1.1


The Physics of Scream Machines

by John Soennichsen

As you‘re rushing down the steepest hill of a

theme park‘s roller coaster, you‘re probably not

thinking about science. But you may be wondering

about the safety of the ride. It is the science of

physics that makes roller coasters safe.

Roller coasters are supposed to be scary.

The builders of the rides design them to be that

way. But these scream machines must also be safe

and secure. That‘s where physics comes in. Physics

is the science of matter and energy and their

interactions. Or, put another way, physics is about

things and how they move and work together.

Roller coaster cars have no motors or other

sources of power. Except for the first ―lift‖ hill, they

rely on gravity and energy to make them move. As

a chain pulls the cars up the first hill, the cars are

absorbing what scientists call potential energy

(energy that is stored for later use). As the cars

reach the top of the first hill and begin to go down

the other side, the potential energy is changed to

kinetic energy (the energy possessed by an object in

motion).

The force with the greatest effect on roller

coaster cars is gravity. Because roller coasters have

no motors, they rely on gravity to drop down that

first hill. Then kinetic energy takes them up and

down other hills and around the banked curves of

the ride. The trick is to keep the cars going fast

enough to climb all the hills but not so fast that they

leave the track.

Gravity also affects the ride experience. The

G is the unit of gravitational force. The normal

force of Earth‘s gravity is 1 G. Astronauts in a

spaceship feel about 3 Gs of force as they leave

Earth‘s surface. Some roller coasters deliver up to 4

Gs or 5 Gs, but this doesn‘t mean the rides are more

intense than a launching rocket. That‘s because

riders experience these forces for only a few

seconds at a time, while the astronauts must endure

the gravitational forces for a much longer period.

The force of gravity affects the speed of

roller coaster cars throughout the ride. As the cars

go down a hill, gravity pulls them toward Earth, and

they accelerate (go faster). But as roller coaster cars

begin to climb up another hill, gravity tries to pull

them back to Earth, so the cars slow down, or

decelerate, as they climb the hill.

A second force also works to slow them

down. This force is called friction. Friction can be

produced by wind blowing against a rolling car and

by the metal surface of the wheels pushing against

the metal track. Friction helps roller coaster cars

slow down as they approach the station.

When a roller coaster has a sudden banked

curve or loop, other forces of physics come into

play. Moving objects tend to continue moving at the

same speed and in the same direction until acted

upon by another force. According to the laws of

physics, any motion in a curved path needs a force

directed toward the center of the curved path. This

force is called the centripetal (center-seeking) force.

When you travel around a curve or through a loop

in a roller coaster, you can experience this force

pushing the car in a circle. It will feel as if your

body is being pushed to the left or right or–in the

case of a loop–toward the floor of the car, even

when you are completely upside down.

Inertia is what causes a roller coaster car to

move very slowly at first and to resist slowing down

later in the ride. Velocity is the speed of an object

moving in a certain direction, and the velocity of a

roller coaster car changes as the track changes

direction. Weightlessness is the feeling riders get

because of gravity and velocity acting on them at

the same time.

Most people don‘t think about physics as

they fly around the track of a roller coaster. But as

you return safely to the station, it‘s good to know

that the laws of physics were working together to

keep you safe and sound!


16) Which statement MOST LIKELY

describes the purpose of this passage?

A to explain how roller coasters work

B to persuade people not to ride roller

coasters

C to compare roller coasters and space

shuttles

D to show that most roller coasters are

dangerous

ItemID A2K.1016198

Correct A

Standard: 7RC 2.1

17) Where would you MOST LIKELY expect

to see this passage?

A a newspaper

B an encyclopedia

C a school textbook

D a nature magazine

ItemID A2K.1016200

Correct C

Standard: 7RC 2.1

18) Which magazine article is MOST LIKELY

to provide additional information about the

safety of roller coasters?

A Roller Coasters: A Short History

B Theme Parks: How Risky Are the Rides?

C New Thrill Rides Open at Area

Amusement Parks

D Long Lines Don‘t Discourage Roller-

Coaster Fans

ItemID A2K.1103176

Correct B

Standard: 7RC 2.2

19) Which of the following resources would be

the MOST useful for additional research

on how roller coasters work?

A a book chapter from a physics book on the

physics of roller coasters

B an encyclopedia article on the history

roller coasters

C an internet website dedicated to roller

coaster fans

D roller coaster blueprints

ItemID A2K.1016200

Correct A

Standard: 7WS 1.4


Two Eyes in the Sky

by Clifton L. Taulbert

It was 1976, and Sara Miller was in the seventh

grade. Sara lived in a small town in western Kansas

where exciting things rarely happened. Her parents

were wheat farmers. Every evening after supper,

Sara‘s father read the local newspaper aloud. Most

of the time, Sara paid little or no attention. She

found it all very boring. But on this particular

evening Sara‘s interest was piqued. She listened to

all her father had to say.

―It seems we have eyes in the sky,‖ he said, and

he kept reading about two butterfly-shaped

spacecraft called ―Landsats.‖

Sara had always been interested in outer space.

She wanted to know more.

―What are Landsats?‖ she asked.

―Landsats are satellites that circle in space,

taking pictures of Earth and its natural formations.‖

On many nights Sara had looked up into the

sky from the back porch and imagined what was

happening there. Mostly she kept her feelings to

herself. Tonight her father‘s comments started a

conversation.

―Dad, I always feel that something important is

happening in the sky. Now I know I‘m right. Will

you tell me all about these Landsats?‖ she asked.

She went around the table and leaned over her

father‘s shoulder.

―It seems that the United States government has

launched a spacecraft to take pictures of Earth to

reveal places and trends that our geologists and

engineers might otherwise never see, like unusual

land formations, new mineral deposits, and hidden

supplies of fresh water,‖ he told her.

―It‘s good to know that while I‘m looking up in

the sky at night, trained eyes are looking at Earth to

make sure we have the best information possible to

help make our planet more habitable,‖ Sara replied.

Her father explained the satellites were about

570 miles above Earth. As they rotated, pictures

were taken, and electrical signals were sent back to

Earth. The signals were converted to photographs.

The next day at school, armed with this new

and exciting information, Sara told her friends about

the eyes in the sky that could see everything. Her

friends had not read the article, and they did not

believe Sara.

Sara‘s teacher overheard the conversations and

came up with a plan. ―I think you should do a class

report on these ‗eyes in the sky‘ for Friday‘s science

class.‖

It was Tuesday, so Sara had only a few days to

gather the information. Her father cut out the

newspaper article. Sara and a friend went to the

library, where Sara learned that James C. Fletcher,

head of the National Aeronautics and Space

Administration, had launched the two Landsat

spacecraft in 1972 and 1975. She also learned how

electrical signals were being sent back to Earth and

the images were recorded on magnetic tapes and

sent to the technicians at Goddard Space Flight

Center in Maryland, where they were reconstructed

into photo-like images.

On Friday, Sara gave her report to her science

class. After the presentation, her teacher challenged

the class to think about the information they had

heard. She suggested they do further research on the

subject and withhold immediate judgment. The

students agreed.


20) How does the timeline help the reader

better understand the information in “Two

Eyes in the Sky”?

A It shows the reader when the first satellite

was launched.

B It tells the reader the year in which

Landsat 5 was launched.

C It informs the reader that satellites were

still being launched in 2000.

D It gives the reader a better understanding

of the history of the Landsat.

ItemID A2K.1017980

Correct D

Standard: 7RC 2.1

21) Why were the Landsat satellites launched?

A to study outer space

B to take pictures of Earth

C to investigate life on nearby planets

D to photograph land formations on the

Moon

ItemID A2K.1103186

Correct B

Standard: 7RC 2.3

22) What is the purpose of this passage?

A to persuade readers with an inspiring story

about a real person

B to entertain readers with a fantastical story

about science fiction

C to inform readers about scientific facts by

sharing them in an amusing story

D to teach readers about an important part of

history through words and pictures

ItemID A2K.1113322

Correct C

Standard: 7RC 2.1


ZAP Pagers

Model 510DX

Directions for Operation

Note: ZAP Pager Model 5100X requires one standard AA battery (not included).

Chi/Off: Press the button to turn on the pager. If the screen doesn't light up immediately, check to see if

the AA battery has been installed properly. Press the Power button again to turn off the pager.

Volume Control: When you have received a message, the pager will beep three times. If you wish to turn off

this beeper function, press button. The screen will read "Beeper Off (the pager will now vibrate when you

have a message). When you wish to turn the sound back on, press the button again. The screen will read

"Beeper OD."

Message Retrieval and Deletion: To retrieve messages, press the Message button. Your messages will be

displayed the order in which they have been received, from earliest to latest. To erase a message, press the

Delete button. Once you have deleted a message you cannot retrieve in

Message Storage: Your pager can store up to 20 messages of five lines each. Messages are stored indefinitely

until they are deleted.

30-Day Limited Warranty

Zap Pager Models 3100, 3100X, 4100, 4100X, 5100, and 5100X

Zap Pager Models 3100, 3100X, 4100, 4100X, 5100, and 5100X are guaranteed against defects in workmanship

Iota period of 30 days from the date of purchase. Only defects in workmanship are covered under this

agreement. Zip Zip Electronics is not responsible for (1) damages caused from misuse or accident by the

consumer or retailer, or (2) from repairs or attempted repairs by persons other than Zip Zip personnel.

Send all defective parts, packaging, and any original store receipts (with date and name of retailer clearly

visible) to the address below.

Zip Zip Electronics

Zap Pager Dept.

23 Mandel Ave. #4

Haverford, PA 19041 USA

Please allow 6-8 weeks for your refund to be processed. No phone calls, please.

This warranty is valid only in the United States of America and applies only to Zap Pager Models 3100, 3100X,


23) How do users retrieve their messages?

A press DEL

B press PWR

C press BPR

D press MSG

ItemID A2KC.1198877 Correct D

Standard: 7RC 2.5

24) If the power is on and the beeper only

vibrates when a message is received, you

should

A check the battery for a loose connection.

B change the battery because it is wearing

out.

C check the screen to see if the beeper

function is turned off.

D send the pager back to the factory because

is needs to be repaired.

ItemID A2KC.1198876

Correct C

Standard: 7RC 2.5

25) If the pager screen is blank, which of these

steps should be done first?

A change the battery

B press the Power button

C press the Message button

D make sure the battery is connected

ItemID A2KC.1198875 Correct B

Standard: 7RC 2.5


World War 11 Chapter 4: The Role of Women

Many women did end up on the frontlines during World War II, but they were not

there to fight. These women were there to report the news to the people back home.

Because men were needed to do the actual fighting, the armed forces hired women

to perform jobs that men had done before the war. One of these jobs was reporting.

Women photographers and journalists reported for duty. They wrote the articles and

snapped the pictures that told the American people what was happening in Europe and in

the Pacific.

Therese Bonney was one of the photographers who took pictures of the effects of

the fighting in Europe. She said, "I go forth alone, try to get the truth and then bring it

back and try to make others face it and do something about it." Bonney tried to change

what she could by taking pictures so that others could see the terrible results of war.

For Toni Frissell, the chance to do combat photography was more attractive than her

previous job. She had been a fashion photographer for popular magazines, but she

longed to do more serious reporting. Now, however, Frissell had a chance to do the job

and do it well. Before the war, all the serious reporting was done by men. Frissell used

her fashion training to take pictures of women in uniform. Those images helped people

see female soldiers in a better light. She also took pictures of African American fighter

pilots that showed them to be able and valiant, at a time when there was a great deal of

racial prejudice among many Americans.

Janet Flanner was a writer before she reported on World War II. She was hired to do

ten-minute weekly reports over the radio. Flanner preferred having time to write longer

stories than speaking for ten minutes every week. When the war was over, she happily

gave up broadcast news and returned to writing, but she left her mark on radio anyway.

Miranda Curry 84


Working Mothers

World War II took working men away from their families. Wives who had never worked

before had to find jobs to support themselves and their children. Some women whose

husbands did not go off to war still needed to work. This was because the nation needed

women to help support the war effort by taking the jobs that men had left when they joined

the armed forces.

Working mothers became more common all over the country. Most of them worked nights so

that they could still be home for their children during the day. A typical working mother

worked nights at a factory and got home in the morning, in time to get her children ready for

school. Then she would do some housework, take a short nap, and wake up when the children

came home for lunch. After they left for school in the afternoon, she would nap again and

wake up before they got home from school. Then she would make dinner, do any other

chores, and go to work again at night. Working mothers usually got about five or six hours of

sleep a day, but not all at once.

By 1943, about one-third of working women were mothers. They had to balance taking care

of their children and household chores with their jobs. Back then, chores were much harder

than they are now. Few people had automatic washing machines or dryers. Sometimes doing

the laundry would take an entire day. Meals were made from scratch. Dishes were washed by

hand. Because groceries and banks were only open during the day, women sometimes found it

difficult to take care of household business.

In the 1940s, many men did not help with household work. Many of them felt that they were

helping by allowing their wives to hold down jobs. Soon, families became used to having two

paychecks, and after the war, many women stayed at their jobs.


26) A student is writing a research paper. She

wants to include the following sentence

from the Internet source.

“Because groceries and banks were only open

during the day, women sometimes found it

difficult to take care of household business.”

Which information would be included in

the bibliography entry for the research

paper?

A p. 84

B 1943

C Miranda Curry

D ―Working Mothers‖

ItemID A2K.1224252

Correct D

Standard: 7WS 1.5

27) A student is writing a research paper. He

wants to include the fact that women were

hired to do jobs that had previously been

held by soldiers. Which shows the correct

way to write the source of the information

in the bibliography entry for the research

paper?

A Chapter 4: the role of women

B Chapter 4: The role of women

C Chapter 4: The Role of Women

D ―Chapter 4: The Role of Women‖

ItemID A2K.1224253

Correct D

Standard: 7WS 1.5

28) What does the underlined phrase describe

in the sentence below?

The company is having its annual meeting at

a hotel with a pool and health club.

A company

B its

C meeting

D hotel

ItemID A2KC.1095807

Correct D

Standard: 7WC 1.1

29) Read the following sentence containing a

citation

Frogs are nature’s most aerobatic

amphibians (Kermit, 2001.)

The underlined portion of the sentence

should be changed to:

A amphibians (Kermit 2001).

B amphibians (kermit, 2001).

C amphibians (Kermit; 2001.)

D No change

ItemID A2KC.1095807

Correct A Standard: 7WC 1.1

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