Grade 10 ELA Unit 4 Post Test
(Teacher Edition) Assessment ID:
ib.195794
Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question(s) that follow.
Ready to Blast Off Ready to Blast Off Civilians look forward to the day when they can blast off into space. They fantasize about being in private spaceships designed to take them to their vacation destinations. This dream will not come true in the near future, but through the efforts of people like Burt Rutan, civilian space travel will become a reality. Burt Rutan, an aerospace engineer and designer of SpaceShipOne, contributed to the idea that private industries have the capability of giving private citizens a chance to journey into space. SpaceShipOne has made several successful journeys proving that the dream of space travel is closer to being a reality. During its latest launch, SpaceShipOne went higher than ever before. It flew out of the Earth's atmosphere and made a safe journey back to Earth. The entire flight lasted an hour and a half from the time the rocket ship was carried to its launching point to its return to land. While the flight out of our atmosphere and into space lasted only about three minutes, Mr. Rutan expects that longer flights with passengers will soon follow. "Our hope is that this will be a benchmark...for a lot more people to not only have fun, but to reap the benefits of what we believe might be out there," Rutan commented. "Just like when early airplanes were flying in 1910, we didn't know what the benefits were, but we were doing it because it was fun." The X Prize Twenty–six rocketeering teams from all over the world competed for a $10 million "X Prize" offered by the Ansari X Prize Foundation from St. Louis. The "X Prize" was offered to the first privately funded spaceship to carry three people, reach 62 miles above the Earth, and successfully repeat the flight within two weeks. The frontrunner for the prize was SpaceShipOne, designed by Burt Rutan. Its crew had performed numerous test flights, the final test flight being on June 21, 2004. This flight was very successful. Next, the team attempted to win the "X Prize" by duplicating the test flight twice. Each flight carried three passengers or their equivalence in weight. Their success won him the $10 million prize, and may have encouraged the creation of even more rockets. "X Prize" replicates the actions of a St. Louis group that offered $25,000 (the Orteig prize) for the first airplane to fly non–stop across the Atlantic Ocean. The goal was to initiate the development of airplanes that would transport people over long distances. Pilot Charles Lindbergh won the prize and thus sparked the creation of the commercial aviation industry. Similarly, many prizes spurred the Wright brothers' motivation to create their airplane. Today, the Ansari X Prize Foundation continues to encourage the development of private spacecraft with the goal of supporting the expansion of the private, commercial space flight industry. People may one day realize their dreams as they spend their vacations in space.
Illuminate Itembank™ Generated On September 23, 2014, 11:02 AM PDT
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Grade 10 ELA Unit 4 Post Test
(Teacher Edition)
Assessment ID:
ib.195794
Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled "Ready to Blast Off".
1
TEACHER READS:
2
TEACHER READS:
Read the question to yourself and select the best answer.
Read the question to yourself and select the best answer.
What is the main purpose of the last paragraph of "The X Prize"?
Which statement from "Ready to Blast Off" best supports the author's main point?
A. to explain how many rocketeering teams participated in the X Prize
B. to describe the qualifications needed to win the X Prize
C. to tell how the X Prize contributes to the development of the private space
D. to explain why Rutan is committed to private space travel
A. Civilians look forward to the day when they can blast off into space.
B. This dream will not come true in the near future, but through the efforts of people like Burt Rutan, civilian space travel will become a reality.
C. During its latest launch, SpaceShipOne went higher than ever before.
D. It flew out of Earth's atmosphere and made a safe journey back to Earth.
Master ID: 42561 Revision: 1 Correct: C Rationale: A. Student(s) may have confused the first paragraph of the passage with the last paragraph of the passage. B. Student(s) may not have read the passage carefully and incorrectly chose the main idea of the first paragraph rather than the last paragraph. C. Correct answer D. Student(s) may have confused the last paragraph of the passage "Ready to Blast Off" with the last paragraph of "The X Prize". Standards: CCSS.LA.9-10.RI.9-10.6
Illuminate Itembank™ Generated On September 23, 2014, 11:02 AM PDT
Master ID: 40319 Revision: 1 Correct: B Rationale: A. Student(s) may have understood that the passage was about the exploration of civilian space travel, but may not have understood that this sentence does not best support the author's main point which is how the launch and help of Burt Rutan is making this dream a reality. B. Correct answer C. Student(s) may not have understood the question and chose the option that best described the launch of SpaceShipOne. D. Student(s) may not have understood the main point that the author was trying to make and chose the option that describes the successful launch of SpaceShipOne. Standards: CCSS.LA.9-10.RI.9-10.6
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(Teacher Edition) Assessment ID:
Grade 10 ELA Unit 4 Post Test
ib.195794
Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question(s) that follow.
The Diving Board Peering into the glassy, translucent water, Aiden never imagined that standing on the edge of a diving board would feel like peering over the edge of the world. After all, it was only six feet up, but from where he was positioned, it felt like an insurmountable sixty. As the sweltering heat of the Sun beat down on his neck and back, the board slightly pulsated up and down from the weight of his body. This created a queasy, uneasy feeling in Aiden's stomach and it was one that he was not unacquainted with. As he stood on the lanky diving board squinting down at his friend Gavin, he remembered back to the beginning of middle school and the terrified feeling he experienced in Mrs. Erdon's English class. Seventh grade seemed like it was just yesterday, but he had to concede that a lot had transpired in two years. Because he was leaving his elementary school and beginning middle school, Aiden had an immense amount of apprehension and angst. Besides the fact that the new school was twice the size of his previous one, the student body was also enlarged which added to his anxieties. Furthermore, his older brother told him that the teachers would be rigorous and the classes more exigent; he questioned how he would ever survive in this jungle. Thankfully, he had English class first period which was his preferred subject, and to improve matters, his best friend Gavin was in the same class. Gavin and Aiden had been comrades since second grade and they complemented each other in just about everything. Where English was Aiden's best subject, it was Gavin's worst; Gavin made up for this in math though and often helped Aiden with his algebra homework. Now, at a new school and on a fresh adventure, the two boys were resolved to face whatever was going to come their way. Approximately four and a half minutes later, their tenacity plummeted when Aiden and Gavin procured their class schedules and found out that they had the notorious "Mrs. Erdon" for English. Her reputation preceded her; the kids around campus called her "The Tormentor." Despite the fact that it was the inaugural day, Mrs. Erdon lived up to her fame and wasted no time on introductions. She brusquely declared that all students would be giving introductory speeches in front of their peers tomorrow; terror swept over Aiden as Mrs. Erdon expounded on the first assignment. Aiden abhorred public speaking and by the sound of the grouses and moans in the classroom, he was not alone. Aiden had always treasured English class, but he had never had to give a speech before and the thought of it was revolting. As they sauntered out of the classroom that day, Aiden griped to Gavin, "I don't know how I am ever going to get through this." Gavin replied, "Yeah, me too, but you can do it— you can do anything." The remainder of Aiden's first day at his new school was plagued with the guaranteed "F" he knew he would be getting in his English class that year. That evening Aiden's mom noticed that he had not eaten his dinner and was very subdued. Later, she went up to his room, pulled out his tattered brown desk chair, and sat down. "Something wrong Aiden?" she asked unwearyingly. "I just cannot do this speech for English class, Mom. The teacher already hates me and anyway, I'm not good at talking in front of people." In a reassuring tone, Aiden's mom recounted a story of when she had to traverse a balance beam backwards for gym class. "I was so frightened," she said, "that beam was four feet off the ground, and I thought I could never do it." "What did you do?" Aiden asked inquisitively. "My coach told me to believe in myself and you know Aiden, the satisfaction I got after I reached the end of that beam showed me that I had sold myself short." She paused reflectively for a moment and then resumed, "You are capable of so much more than you think; you do not give yourself enough credit just like I didn't when I was younger. You need to conquer your trepidations and believe in yourself."
Illuminate Itembank™ Generated On September 23, 2014, 11:02 AM PDT
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Grade 10 ELA Unit 4 Post Test
(Teacher Edition)
Assessment ID:
ib.195794
Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question(s) that follow. While lying awake in bed that night staring pensively at the ceiling, Aiden cogitated about his mom's story and her words of encouragement. "Am I really capable of this?" he questioned. "I guess it couldn't hurt to attempt it, after all, eventually, I do need to face my fears." Aiden rolled out of his bed, grasped his pen and notebook and sat down at his desk, resolute to compose a speech that would not be soon forgotten. Unsatisfied with mediocrity, each draft he wrote was superior to the preceding one. The next morning, Aiden shuffled into his English class weary and anxious, but primed to excel. And now, as he stood vacillating on the edge of the coarse, seasoned diving board, it evoked the feeling of gratification that overtook him after he delivered his speech that day. Even though that was almost two years ago, the sense of accomplishment was just as pervasive as he reminisced on that life-changing event. He wasn't just an orator that day, he also ascertained that he had more strength than he fathomed. Now, as his mother's words once again reverberated in his head, he knew it was time for him to have faith in himself again, and he almost laughed at how puerile he had been in being so timorous. "Come on Aiden, you can do it!" he heard Gavin bellow at him from below. Creeping his toes over the edge of the diving board, he felt the familiar confidence and inner-strength that he once knew and now coveted. He eased backwards, and then taking a forward stride with his left foot, he bounced on the diving board, sprung into the air and, with arms flailing, he plunged into the sapphire water. The chlorine filled his nostrils and his skin rejoiced at the alleviation of the cool water. It was anything but graceful, but he felt like he had faced his fears and conquered the world.
Illuminate Itembank™ Generated On September 23, 2014, 11:02 AM PDT
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Grade 10 ELA Unit 4 Post Test
(Teacher Edition)
Assessment ID:
ib.195794
Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled "The Diving Board".
3
TEACHER READS:
4
TEACHER READS:
Read the question to yourself and select the best answer.
Read the question to yourself and select the best answer.
What is the effect of Aiden's interaction with Gavin?
What is the effect of Aiden's interaction with his mother?
A. It shows that Aiden has a supportive friend who has fears of his own to overcome.
B. It shows that Gavin does not really care about anyone other than himself.
C. It shows that Aiden is jealous of Gavin and wishes he could be more like him.
D. It shows that everyone dislikes giving speeches. Master ID: 91364 Revision: 1 Correct: A Rationale: A. Correct answer B. Student(s) may have not understood that he does support Aiden in math and while he is on the diving board trying to overcome his fear. C. Student(s) may have not understood that there is no inference of Aiden being jealous of Gavin. Student(s) may have not understood that the author gives no inclination that Gavin delivered his speech or handled the anxiety of delivering a speech any better than Aiden did. D. Student(s) may have not understood that this is a generalization and just because Aiden and Gavin do not like giving a speech, it does not necessarily that everyone dislikes giving speeches. Standards: CCSS.LA.9-10.RL.9-10.3
Illuminate Itembank™ Generated On September 23, 2014, 11:02 AM PDT
A. It shows that he was being a coward in not facing his fears.
B. It provides insight into why his mother is the way that she is.
C. It gives him an appreciation for his mother. D. It gives him encouragement to face his own fears. Master ID: 91363 Revision: 1 Correct: D Rationale: A. Student(s) may have not understood that there is no evidence that Aiden was being "cowardly" by not wanting to give his speech. B. Student(s) may have not understood that the reader does not get to know Aiden's mother any further in the story and therefore does not have the opportunity to see if the story she tells helps to explain "the way that she is." C. Student(s) may have not understood that even though Aiden likely does appreciate his mother, we do not see evidence of this being a direct effect from the interaction that he has with her. D. Correct answer Standards: CCSS.LA.9-10.RL.9-10.3
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