Egypt

Molly Kubik, 2016

Egypt is a country in northern Africa. Egypt is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south, and Libya to the west. The capital of Egypt is Cairo. Cairo is the largest city in Africa, and has been a very important place throughout Egypt's history. Cairo is a modern city. If you visit, you will see large buildings and many cars. Egypt has a very rich history. Long ago, the ancient Egyptians were a very advanced civilization. They were very intelligent people who built pyramids, invented ways to farm in the desert, invented a way of writing, and set up many schools. Ancient Egyptian writing was very advanced. Ancient Egyptians used hieroglyphics to write, which are small pictures that tell a written story. Although is very difficult to live in the desert, the ancient Egyptians were very resourceful and were able to create a prosperous civilization. Like the ancient Egyptians and modern day Egyptians mainly live near the Nile River. Modern day Egypt sometimes has problems. Over 82 million people live in Egypt. Some people live in poverty. Many poor people need jobs, homes, and education. There have been problems with wars. Egypt is working very hard to solve these problems. They are working hard to make their schools better, and are helping students to learn more. Egypt has a wonderful history, and it will have a great future too because people are working hard to make Egypt a great place.

Which statement best explains the main idea of the passage?

"The Dangers of Sugar" by Daniel Morrison (2014)

Sugar is a highly addictive substance that plays a dangerous role in the health and well-being of people around the world. It is particularly threatening to American health, as it is placed in everything from carbonated sodas to beef jerky and vegetable juice. The average American consumes seventy-five pounds of sugar every year—that is roughly the weight of a elementary school child. Many health experts believe that sugar is the number one contributing factor in the high rates of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes that can be found in the contemporary United States.

Why does the author believe that sugar is “particularly threatening to American health”?

Egypt

Molly Kubik, 2016

Egypt is a country in northern Africa. Egypt is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south, and Libya to the west. The capital of Egypt is Cairo. Cairo is the largest city in Africa, and has been a very important place throughout Egypt's history. Cairo is a modern city. If you visit, you will see large buildings and many cars. Egypt has a very rich history. Long ago, the ancient Egyptians were a very advanced civilization. They were very intelligent people who built pyramids, invented ways to farm in the desert, invented a way of writing, and set up many schools. Ancient Egyptian writing was very advanced. Ancient Egyptians used hieroglyphics to write, which are small pictures that tell a written story. Although is very difficult to live in the desert, the ancient Egyptians were very resourceful and were able to create a prosperous civilization. Like the ancient Egyptians and modern day Egyptians mainly live near the Nile River. Modern day Egypt sometimes has problems. Over 82 million people live in Egypt. Some people live in poverty. Many poor people need jobs, homes, and education. There have been problems with wars. Egypt is working very hard to solve these problems. They are working hard to make their schools better, and are helping students to learn more. Egypt has a wonderful history, and it will have a great future too because people are working hard to make Egypt a great place.

Which statement best explains the main idea of the passage?

"The Dangers of Sugar" by Daniel Morrison (2014)

Sugar is a highly addictive substance that plays a dangerous role in the health and well-being of people around the world. It is particularly threatening to American health, as it is placed in everything from carbonated sodas to beef jerky and vegetable juice. The average American consumes seventy-five pounds of sugar every year—that is roughly the weight of a elementary school child. Many health experts believe that sugar is the number one contributing factor in the high rates of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes that can be found in the contemporary United States.

Why does the author believe that sugar is “particularly threatening to American health”?

"The Dangers of Sugar" by Daniel Morrison (2014)

Sugar is a highly addictive substance that plays a dangerous role in the health and well-being of people around the world. It is particularly threatening to American health, as it is placed in everything from carbonated sodas to beef jerky and vegetable juice. The average American consumes seventy-five pounds of sugar every year—that is roughly the weight of a elementary school child. Many health experts believe that sugar is the number one contributing factor in the high rates of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes that can be found in the contemporary United States.

Why does the author believe that sugar is “particularly threatening to American health”?

Egypt

Molly Kubik, 2016

Egypt is a country in northern Africa. Egypt is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south, and Libya to the west. The capital of Egypt is Cairo. Cairo is the largest city in Africa, and has been a very important place throughout Egypt's history. Cairo is a modern city. If you visit, you will see large buildings and many cars. Egypt has a very rich history. Long ago, the ancient Egyptians were a very advanced civilization. They were very intelligent people who built pyramids, invented ways to farm in the desert, invented a way of writing, and set up many schools. Ancient Egyptian writing was very advanced. Ancient Egyptians used hieroglyphics to write, which are small pictures that tell a written story. Although is very difficult to live in the desert, the ancient Egyptians were very resourceful and were able to create a prosperous civilization. Like the ancient Egyptians and modern day Egyptians mainly live near the Nile River. Modern day Egypt sometimes has problems. Over 82 million people live in Egypt. Some people live in poverty. Many poor people need jobs, homes, and education. There have been problems with wars. Egypt is working very hard to solve these problems. They are working hard to make their schools better, and are helping students to learn more. Egypt has a wonderful history, and it will have a great future too because people are working hard to make Egypt a great place.

Which statement best explains the main idea of the passage?

Brandi Chastain - A Soccer Champion

Molly Kubik, 2016

The year 1999 was a big year for women's soccer. The United States Women's Soccer team played the Chinese Women's Soccer in the finals of the Women's World Cup. They were tied 4-4 in the final game. The whole world watched this game to see would be the World Champion. Over 90,000 people came to the game, which was hosted at the Rose Bowl in California, and over forty million people across the world watched the game on television. Because the game was tied, the winner had to be decided with penalty kicks. Everyone watched as United States player Brandi Chastain lined up to take her penalty kick, which would decide the game. She lined up, ran, and shot the ball! The ball flew into the upper right corner of the net. The Chinese goalie couldn't reach it. Brandi Chastain had scored! The United States won the game 5-4. They were the World Champions! Many people say that this was the most important moment of Brandi Chastain's whole soccer career. Brandi had always been a standout soccer player since she was very young. She played soccer in high school and college. She even played on the champion World Cup soccer team in 1991 and went to the 1996 Olympic games, where she won a gold medal. Soccer had always been a very important part of Brandi's life. In 1993, Brandi played professional soccer in Japan because there was no professional women's team in the United States for her to join. While she played there, she was voted to be the most valuable player. When she returned to the United States, she could not play professional soccer because there was still no professional women's team! Finally, in the spring of 2000, the United States formed a professional women's soccer league. Brandi Chastain played for San Francisco. As usual, Brandi remained in the spotlight. She was never afraid to play against tough teams and win. Brandi Chastain is truly a soccer champion.

What was important about Brandi Chastain's soccer goal in the 1999 Women's World Cup?

Adapted from A Catechism of Familiar Things: Their History and the Events Which Led to Their Discovery by the Benziger Brothers (1881)

The olive tree was a great favorite with the ancient Greeks, and scarcely an ancient custom existed with which the olive was not in some way associated: at their marriages and festivals, all parts of their dwellings, especially the doors, were ornamented with them, and the same custom prevails at the present day, both in public and private rejoicings. It was also scarcely less a favorite with the Romans, although it was not held in the same sacred light as amongst the Greeks. The olive-branch has likewise been universally considered the emblem of plenty, and as such, is found on the coins of those countries of which it is not a native.

According to the author, what does the olive-branch signify?

Adapted from A Catechism of Familiar Things: Their History and the Events Which Led to Their Discovery (1881) by the Benziger Brothers.

After bursting from the egg, it becomes a large worm or caterpillar of a yellowish-white color, (which is its first state); this caterpillar feeds on the leaves of the mulberry tree, until, arriving at maturity, it winds itself up in a silken bag or case, called a cocoon, about the size and shape of a pigeon's egg, and becomes a chrysalis, in which state it lies without signs of life. In about ten days it eats its way out of its case, a perfect butterfly, which lays a number of eggs and then dies. In the warmth of the summer weather, these eggs are hatched and become worms, as their parents did at first.

What can you infer about the life of a butterfly?

Brandi Chastain - A Soccer Champion

Molly Kubik, 2016

The year 1999 was a big year for women's soccer. The United States Women's Soccer team played the Chinese Women's Soccer in the finals of the Women's World Cup. They were tied 4-4 in the final game. The whole world watched this game to see would be the World Champion. Over 90,000 people came to the game, which was hosted at the Rose Bowl in California, and over forty million people across the world watched the game on television. Because the game was tied, the winner had to be decided with penalty kicks. Everyone watched as United States player Brandi Chastain lined up to take her penalty kick, which would decide the game. She lined up, ran, and shot the ball! The ball flew into the upper right corner of the net. The Chinese goalie couldn't reach it. Brandi Chastain had scored! The United States won the game 5-4. They were the World Champions! Many people say that this was the most important moment of Brandi Chastain's whole soccer career. Brandi had always been a standout soccer player since she was very young. She played soccer in high school and college. She even played on the champion World Cup soccer team in 1991 and went to the 1996 Olympic games, where she won a gold medal. Soccer had always been a very important part of Brandi's life. In 1993, Brandi played professional soccer in Japan because there was no professional women's team in the United States for her to join. While she played there, she was voted to be the most valuable player. When she returned to the United States, she could not play professional soccer because there was still no professional women's team! Finally, in the spring of 2000, the United States formed a professional women's soccer league. Brandi Chastain played for San Francisco. As usual, Brandi remained in the spotlight. She was never afraid to play against tough teams and win. Brandi Chastain is truly a soccer champion.

What was important about Brandi Chastain's soccer goal in the 1999 Women's World Cup?