one team one goal

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Student Name: Student Instructions:

Burger Battles

ONE TEAM ONE GOAL l""Jf!W Illl!lI~i

Test ID: 175101718151019

Description: Tapp Middle School 8th Grade Reading Unit 2

A new study shows fast-food advertising to kids is on the rise. There's a huge food

fight going on across d1e United States! On one side are the fast-food giants

Wendy's1 Burger King, McDonald's, KFC, and others. On the other side are many

health experts who say that too much fast food is ruining the health of kids. They

'ay most fast food has too many caJorie ; too much sodium, a chemical element in

salt; and too much saturated fat for kids to eat more than just once in a while.

Despite such warnings, kids are eating more fast food than ever. That's the

concJusion of a team at Yale University. The team, led by Jennifer Haffis, spent a

year studying what kids ate at fast -food restaurants. The Yale team discovered that

one- third of U.S. kids eat some type of fast food every day. It also found that 84

percent of parents take their 2- to 11-year-old kids out to eat fast food every week.

To Harris, the findings amount to a serious health crisis for kids and teens in the

United States. "There is a lot of research showing that eating fast food is harmful

to young people's health, increasing the rate of obesity," Harris told WR ews.

"The number of teens who arc overweight has tripled since 1980, and the number

of overweight kids younger than l3 has more than doubled during the same

period." Childhood obesity is known to increase the chances of heart disease and diabetes later in Jife. Diabetes is a disorder in which the body doesn ' t produce

enough insulin. That is a hormone that helps the body use the sugar i11 food for

energy.

Big Advertising

If eating a lot of fast food is bad for a person's health, why are so many kids

rushing off to McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, Taco BelJ, Pizza Hut, and

Wendy's? The restaurants all have tasty, low-cost food, for sure. But Harris says

that advertising aJso plays a big role. ''The companies put out a lot of ads ...

directed toward kids," she says. According to the report, 6- to 11 -year-olds saw

3.5 ads each day. Most of them appear 011 television, but many now also appear on

the Internet on kids ' sites. says Harris.

ln 2006, the major fast- food companies signed a voluntary agreement to help

promote their healthier menu selections. To promote is to highlight. In an e-mail to WR News, Neil Golden, McDonald ' s senior vice president and chief marketing

officer, said that his company has kept that pledge. ·'We primarily advertise our nonular 17S-calori e four- niece Chicken McNwn!et Hannv M ea l. which includes

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1· ·· r -··•·-- ~ · - - ------ - - - --- ,- --- - ·- - ----- - ---·---- -· oo -· ---•· c· r,,,1 -·--- --, ---- - -·- ---- - ---- --

Apple Dippers, low-fat caramel dip, and a jug of l percent low-fat milk,'' he wrote.

"We ... remain committed to offering our customers a wide variety of quality food

[choices that include] fruit, juice, and dairy options in our Happy Meals."

The Spirit of the Agreement

Harris beJie,ve~t fast-food companies need to do more. "If they had done what

they said they were going to do," she told WR News, "they would show only

Apple Dippers and milk in their advertising to children .... The ads usually only

show the [Happy Meal] box or the toy that comes with the Happy Meal." Once

kids are in the restaurant, she says, more often than not they buy Happy Meals that

contains fries, not Apple Dippers. "Parents have to specifically ask for the healthy

alternative," she says. "And often they just accept what's in the box.''

Fast Facts:

In 1972, peop1e in the United States spent $3 billion a year on fast food. [n 2009,

they spent more than $110 billion.

McDonald's has more than 31,000 restaurants in 119 countries on six continents.

Burger King has more than 12,000 restaurants in 73 countries. KFC has 16,264

restaurants in l 08 countries, serving about 12 million people.

KFC was the first U.S. fast-food chain in China, in 1992. Today, KFC is the

largest and fastest-growing fast-food chain in China, with more than 3,000

restaurants in more than 650 cities .

1. The primary purpose of the author in this passage is to describe

A. why fast-food restaurants are becoming more popular B. the problem of childhood obesity in the United States C. both the pros and cons of eating fast food once a week D. the results of a new study on fast-food restaurants

2. Why does the writer include the 11th paragraph ("In an e-mail to WR News, Neil Golden ... ") in the passage?

A. to warn people about the dangers of obesity B. to show the perspective of McDonald's C. to persuade people to order Apple Dippers D. to describe the contents of a Happy Meal

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3. The passage analyzes two sides of this argument: Are fast-food restaurants doing enough to promote healthier menu selections? The author's point of view appears to be ...

A. Fast-food restaurants need to do more to promote healthy choices. B. Most fast-food restaurants are doing enough to promote healthy choices. C. Fast-food restaurants are promoting too many healthy selections.- -- -· D. Fast-food restaurants should be closed until they promote healthier menus.

4. Should Cell Phone Use While Driving Be Banned? During your next car ride, pay attention to how many drivers you see talking on a cell phone. I guarantee that what you see will disturb you. An article in CQ Researcher states, "more than 111 million Americans use mobile phones-more than one-third of the population." These occupied drivers are increasing their risks of crashing at least six- to nine-fold. Numerous accidents have caused Americans to wonder, "Should talking on a cell phone while driving be banned?" In order to decrease the number of car accidents in America, people need to stop talking on their phones while driving.

According to Newsweek, collision rates for drivers using hand-held cell phones match the rates for drivers who are legally drunk. Holding a cell phone, having a conversation, steering a wheel, and concentrating on a road are too many tasks to juggle. A driver needs to fully concentrate on the road and prepare for obstacles such as pedestrians or sudden traffic. In 1999, a motorist dialing a cell phone lost control of her car and hit a toddler. Ryan Duffner was out walking the family dog with his mother in Lawrenceville, Georgia when his life tragically ended. A study conducted by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society found that "cell phone distraction causes 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries in the United States every year." If only those drivers had parked or waited to make those calls, little Ryan Duffner as well as thousands of others would still be alive today. In order to help eliminate these accidents, laws need to be enacted and enforced.

Handling a cell phone while driving has proven to be increasingly dangerous, yet people continue to do it. The government needs to get involved. The fear of receiving an outrageous fine will force people to stop talking on a cell phone while driving. "If the government sees the need to make more stringent efforts and issue more tickets [for distracted cell phone driving], we will. We did it for seatbelts, and no one thought it was important. But it saved lives," says Brian Walsh, a police official. Concentrating on the road is just as important as wearing a seatbelt. More Americans are realizing this important fact. Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia have already banned cell phone use while driving. The rest of the country, however, still needs convincing. Some foolish people still oppose these laws.

Jim Wolf believes that if the government bans talking on a cell phone while driving, they should ban changing radio stations, drinking a soda, and eating while driving as

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well. "Distraction is a serious concern, but I don't think it's substantially changed because of the cell phone," comments Jim. The research of Dr. David Strayer, a professor at the University of Utah, proves Jim wrong. According to him, "carrying on a conversation requires much more attention than passively listening to the radio or sipping a soda." It is a far more interactive activity and takes a lot more time. In Michigan alone, cellular phones contributed to 879 accidents in 2003; this proves that cell phones are a substantially great distraction on the road.

Banning cell phone use while driving will save lives and reduce the number of accidents in this country. That is what matters. Australia, China, Kenya, Russia, and many other countries have already realized this . When will America? How does the author weaken the opponents' position?

A. The author uses name-calling to hurt the feelings of opponents. B. The author uses statistics to prove an opponent's argument wrong. C. The author agrees with an opponent's argument to acquire trust. D. The author spreads rumors to ruin the reputations of opponents .

5. Read the following sentence from paragraph 1 of the article .

An article in CQ Researcher states, "more than 111 million Americans use mobile phones- more than one-third of the population."

Why is this piece of evidence not appropriate?

A.

B.

C.

D.

The reader will not believe the author because CQ Researcheris not trustworthy. The American statistic is not applicable since the intended audience is Canadian. One-third of the American population is not large enough to convince the reader. The number of people who use cell phones does not support the author's argument.

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....

6. From the article, it appears that the author believes that

A.

B.

C.

D.

banning cell phone use while driving will increase the number car accidents in America. banning cell phone use while driving will prevent a number of car accidents in America. banning cell phone use while driving will decrease the number of cell phones sold in America. banning cell phone use while driving will not affect the number of car accidents in America.

7. The author would most likely agree with the idea that

A.

B.

C.

D.

distraction is a serious concern but it has not substantially changed because of the cell phone. people who multitask are immune to accidents and can therefore, use cell phones while driving. more people are killed by drunk drivers than by people who are using cell phones while driving. the threat of getting a ticket causes people to obey laws even if they find the laws unimportant.

8. Connotation: (4 points)

A. the emotion or association that a word or phrase may arouse. B. the literal meaning of a word. C. author's choice of words.

9. Read the passage and answer the question below.

The Elmont High School Blazers struggled through their worst football season ever. Each week, they walked onto Elmont Field with the hope of victory and walked off with another loss. After four losses, with the stands nearly empty, the team still strode onto the field with pride.

Using context clues from the passage, what is the meaning of the word "strode"?

A. Walked slowly and dejectedly B. Walked purposefully C. Raced at a quick pace D. Moved hesitantly

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10. Denotation: (4 points)

A. the emotion or association that a word or phrase may arouse . B. the literal meaning of a word. C. author's choice of words.

11. Read the excerpt from E!i Wle;;et's Nobel Prize acceptance. speech

Do l have the righl to represent the multitudes who have ¢rished? Oo I lla~ie the rightto ac.ceptthis great hOnor on their t)M.;111? I do nol No one may speak for 111e dead, no one may Interpret their mutilate(! d~ms and visions. And yel I sense lhe.ir presence I always do-and at this moment more than ever. Tile presence of my parents. that of my little sister. The presence at my teacners, my friends. my companiORs ...

Which words best describe the tone of this excerpt?

A. angry and frustrated B. insecure and nervous C. solemn and thoughtful D. celebratory and hopeful

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"I Have a Dream'' by Martin Luther King. Jr.

6 It would be focal for che nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. TI1is sweltering

summer of the Negro' · legitimate di scontent will not pass until U1ere is an invigorating

autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen six ty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And

those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor

tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights . The whirlwinds of

revolt wil I continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

7 But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the wan:n threshold which

leads into the palace of justice: In. the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be

guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst fo r freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

8 We must forever conduct our struggle on the hi gh plane of dignity and discipline. We must

not all ow our creative p:rotest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again. we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force wi th soul force. The marvelous new

militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of aJI white

people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come

to realize that their destiny is tied up with our desti ny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom . \Ve cannot walk alone.

9 And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot

turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees or civil ri ghts, "\Vhen wi ll you be satisfied'?" We can never be satisfied a-; long as the Negro is the victi m of the unspeakable

horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bod,ies, heavy wi th the

fatlgue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of tbe highways and the hotels of the

cities. We cannot be atisfied as long as the negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of theiJ· self-hood

and robbed of their dignity by signs stating: "For Whites Only." We cannot be satisfied as

long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing

for which to vo te. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied unlit ''j ust-ice ro.lls down li ke waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."

12. Throughout his speech, Dr. King likely uses repetition for all of the following reasons EXCEPT

A. to emphasize the importance of his ideas B. to help his audience memorize his speech C. to appeal to the audience's emotions D. to give rhythm and unity to his speech

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13. Hyperbole: ( 4 points)

A. an obvious exaggeration for special effect. B. the making of pictures with words; appeals to the senses. C. 'refers to who tells a story and how it is told.

14. Imagery: (4 points)

A. the underlying meaning in a literary work. B. the making of pictures with words; appeals to the senses. C. refers to who tells a story and how it is told.

15. Maya is writing an argumentative piece thgat supports Representative Mark Jenkins's ideas presented in "Article Representative Urges Action on the Media." Which sentence should she include to make an appeal to logos in favor of restricting teens' media usage?

A.

B.

C.

D.

Parents, teachers, pediatricians, and other interested parties are discussing possible ways to limit teens' media usage. School administers should learn about the negative effects of extreme . media usage, especially when it involves protecting their own students. Research studies have shown that excessive media usage can cause children to have difficulties in school. New evidence suggests that teens who spend an hour or more engaged in media usage tend to be better problem solvers than their peers.

16. A student is writing a report to argue that renewable energy, like wind energy, should replace the use of fossil fuels, such as oil and coal.

Select ALL of the statements that support this argument.

A. B. C. D.

E .

Earth's fossil fuel supplies are limited and will run out one day. Fossil fuels are much cheaper to use than renewable energy sources. The production of renewable energy does less harm to the environment. Burning fossil fuels releases gases that have been linked to climate change. Renewable energy is still not reliable enough to eliminate all uses of fossil fuels.

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1 7. A student is writing a report to argue that the school day should start later in the morning.

Select ALL of the statements that support this argument.

Students are able to learn better if they are less tired during the school hours.

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

Teenagers often have to babysit their younger brothers and sisters after school. One study shows that later school times help improve student attendance rates. Some parents worry that a shift in school times will impact after-school activities. A change in school hours will help make sure students get enough sleep each night.

18. A student is preparing to write an essay to argue that children should not be allowed to be professional actors.

Select the sources that are LEAST LIKELY to be credible for this topic.

A. a blog post on the website for a talent management agency for children B. an interview of a child actor published in a national newspaper C. a study published in a journal of child psychology D. an advertisement for acting classes for children E. an opinion essay by the mother of a child actor

19. A student is preparing to do research for an essay.

Select the questions that will help the student choose the BEST sources.

A. Is the author an acknowledged expert on the topic? B. Does the publisher have an established reputation? C. Does the material provide current information? D. Is the material used to promote a product? E. Is the material entertaining to read?

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20. A student is preparing to write an essay to argue that American schools should provide more foreign language classes.

Select the sources that are MOST LIKELY to provide credible information for this topic.

A. a speech by the secretary of the United States Department of Education B. a blog post by an employee of a private, for-profit company C. a paper published by the National Education Association D. a blog post by an experienced university professor E. an advertisement for language instruction software

21. Select ALL the sentences that MOST clearly state an opinion.

A.

B.

Wild animals belong in their natural habitats and not in homes as pets. When wild animals are pets, they could possibly cause damage if they escape.

C.

D.

E.

It should be against the law to keep wild animals, like lions and monkeys, as pets. Wild animals need special food and housing, which most people are unable to provide. If a person is unable to take care of a wild animal, the animal may eventually end up at the zoo.

22. Put the notes in the BEST order to organize ideas for a paragraph.

What the supporters do not realize is that using free internet comes with risks.

For one, if you use free internet, it is easier for others to steal your personal information.

While many people feel that everyone should have access to free internet, this may not be in the best interest of the public.

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23. Here is a claim from a student's essay.

American teenagers spend money, but they have no idea how to manage their wealth.

Select the two sentences that present evidence that MOST logically supports this claim.

American teenagers spend more than $250 billion each year. A.

B. People who learn how to monitor spending are more likely to create and maintain budgets.

. C. American teenagers who have their own bank accounts tend to have a better understanding of money.

D.

E.

College graduates have a sound knowledge of finances, but only about a third of Americans graduate from college. A survey revealed that American teenagers are less knowledgeable about money than teenagers in China, New Zealand, and many other countries.

24. Read the final paragraph of a student's essay.

The lives of professional athletes may seem appealing to young people. After all, professional athletes are celebrities who have very exciting lives. However, kids should find other people in society to look up to. Kids should try and be more like people who make lasting contributions to our society, not people who can entertain a crowd for a couple of hours.

Select ALL the reasons that accurately explain why the paragraph is effective as a conclusion.

A. It recommends a course of action. B. It gives a summary of the main idea. C. It suggests topics for further research. D. It explains why the issue is important.

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As individuals, there are many ways we can save energy. We can walk or bike instead of riding in a car, and we can make sure the machines we buy are more energy efficient. However, the number of people on the planet is increasing, which means that the world's energy demands will increase too. It is time to find global solutions to the world's energy situation. We must expand our use of renewable energy sources now.


A. It introduces the thesis statement. B. It shows how the topic relates to the reader. C. It addresses the broader implications of the issue. D. It addresses weaknesses of possible counterarguments.


Children in this country need an education that will help them to be successful in today's world. Studying abroad will give students the skills they will need to do well in their careers. If your school doesn't offer study abroad programs right now, you should ask them to consider it. By giving students opportunities to study abroad, schools are investing in the children's future.


A. It includes important research. B. It addresses possible criticisms. C. It includes a specific call to action. D. It connects the topic to larger concepts. E. It introduces the thesis statement of the essay.

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Switching from a diet that contains meat to a vegetarian one might not be easy, but it can be done. Many people who don't want to completely eliminate meat from their diets overnight might find it easier to slowly start to reduce the meat that they eat. Start by giving up meat one day a week, and then gradually add more vegetarian days. Because there are so many benefits to a vegetarian diet. it is worth it to at least try eating more vegetarian meals to see if it works for you.

Select ALL the reasons that accurately explain why the underlined sentence is effective as a conclusion.

A. It suggests a course of action. B. It brings up a new point to consider. C. It emphasizes the importance of the topic. D. It provides statistics to back up the argument.

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one team one goal

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