Response Skills: Writing Responses That Demonstrate Understanding Of Texts Including Comparing Sources Across Genres (TEKS.ELA.6.6.B) Practice Test

Text 1 (Historical Fiction): Dust sifted through the seams of our farmhouse like flour from a torn sack. I tied a damp cloth over my mouth, just like Mama, and followed her outside. The sky was the color of rust, and the wind pushed at us as if it wanted our fields for itself. Our wheat lay flat, covered by dunes that hadn't been there yesterday. When I scooped a handful, the soil ran like sand. Mama said we'd try again next season, but I heard the quiver in her voice. We packed jars and blankets in a crate, just in case we had to leave before another storm came rolling over the horizon.

Text 2 (Nonfiction Article): During the 1930s, severe drought and poor farming practices contributed to a series of devastating dust storms across parts of the Great Plains. Without grasses and roots to hold topsoil in place, wind carried dry soil hundreds of miles, darkening skies and damaging crops. Many farms failed, forcing families to migrate in search of work and safer living conditions. Governments and scientists promoted soil conservation methods, such as contour plowing and planting windbreaks, to reduce erosion. These strategies, along with eventual changes in weather patterns, helped restore some stability. The Dust Bowl remains a significant example of how human choices and climate can combine to affect communities and the environment.

Text 1 (Realistic Fiction): The playground shadows stretched thin as the moon slid over the sun. I pressed the cardboard viewer to my face, heart thumping. The air cooled, and the birds went quiet like someone turned down the world's volume. Around me, people whispered and pointed. A thin ring ignited in the dark sky, bright enough to make me gasp even behind the viewer. For a moment, it felt like time stalled, as if we were holding our breath together. When light returned, we blinked and laughed, and I tried to memorize the warmth on my cheeks and the way the ordinary afternoon had transformed into something rare and shimmering.

Text 2 (Science Article): A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow on part of the Earth's surface. During a total eclipse, observers located in the path of totality experience the sky darkening, a noticeable drop in temperature, and the Sun's corona becoming visible. Safety precautions, such as using certified viewers, are essential to prevent eye damage. Eclipses follow predictable paths and times based on the alignment of celestial bodies. While totality usually lasts only a few minutes in any one place, partial phases extend longer, providing additional opportunities for safe observation and scientific measurement.