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Table of Contents
To the Student . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
California Standards for English Language Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Activities

Standard

Reading Comprehension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Reading Comprehension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Form and Express an Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Reading Comprehension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Organization and Focus in Writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Reading Comprehension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Analyze and Interpret Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Reading Comprehension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Share Knowledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

10

Reading Comprehension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

11

Analyze and Interpret Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

12

Organization and Focus in Writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

13

Language Mastery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

14

Write a Narrative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

15

Reading Comprehension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

16

Form and Express an Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

17

Communicate Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

18

Understanding a Concept . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

19

Evaluate the Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

20

Reading Comprehension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

21

Word Analysis and Vocabulary Development . . . . . . . . . 41

22

Analyze and Interpret Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

23

Understand and Interpret Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

24

Express an Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

25

Reading Comprehension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

26

Express an Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

iii

To the Student
Directions to students for using skill activities:
Read the entire passage carefully before answering the questions.
Use context clues to try to understand words you do not recognize.
In writing activities, you need to pay attention to grammar, punctuation, and spelling, as well as content.
Develop your writing activities fully and in an organized manner.
In addition to understanding content, in many cases you will be asked to identify an authors point of
view, the purpose of a piece of writing, or the audience to which it is targeted.

The following rubrics are meant to guide you as you complete the activities in this booklet. In addition
to answering multiple-choice questions, you will have to write short and extended responses. The chart
below shows the criteria your teacher will use to grade your work. Follow these when developing your
responses.

RUBRIC A
2

iv

CRITERIA

answer is correct and accurate

each part of the question is addressed; information is correctly used
no spelling, capitalization, punctuation, or usage errors
answer is correct
at least one part of the question is not addressed
some spelling, capitalization, punctuation, or usage errors
wrong answer or no response at all
illegible

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

POINTS

RUBRIC B
POINTS
4

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

CRITERIA

responds to the prompt

appropriate to the audience
generally well-developed ideas
logical flow of ideas
sense of completeness
each main idea supported by details
precise and interesting word choice
sophisticated and consistent command of standard English
free of spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and usage errors
responds to the prompt
appropriate to the audience
some main points underdeveloped
ideas might not be in the most effective order
sense of completeness
each main idea supported by details, but details might be sketchy
word choice adequate to convey meaning; some precise, vivid words
number and type of grammar errors not sufficient to interfere with meaning
consistent command of standard English
few, if any, spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and usage errors
responds partially to the prompt but is off target in some way
might not show evidence of attentiveness to audience
focus on topic not consistently sustained
order of ideas not effective
piece seems incomplete
uneven development; narrative details sketchy
word choice adequate to convey meaning, but few precise words
number and type of grammar errors might interfere with the meaning
in some places
weakness in command of standard English
some spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and usage errors
evidence of attempt to respond to prompt
no evidence of attentiveness to audience
focus on topic not sustained
piece is not complete
half or more of main ideas not supported by details
sentence style choppy; vocabulary limited
number and type of grammar errors obscure meaning
inadequate grasp of standard English
frequent errors in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and usage
does not respond to the type of writing the prompt is intended to elicit
illegible
consists of lists, notes, or drawings rather than sentences and paragraphs
amount of writing too minimal to be evaluated

California Standards for English Language Arts

Grade 6
Standard
Set 1.0

1.2
1.4
Standard
Set 2.0

2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.6
2.7
2.8

Word Analysis, Fluency, and Systematic Vocabulary Development

Students use their knowledge of word origins and word relationships, as well as historical
and literary context clues, to determine the meaning of specialized vocabulary and to
understand the precise meaning of grade-level-appropriate words.
Identify and interpret figurative language and words with multiple meanings.
Monitor expository text for unknown words or words with novel meanings by using
word, sentence, and paragraph clues to determine meaning.
Reading Comprehension (Focus on Informational Materials)
Students read and understand grade-level-appropriate material. They describe and connect the essential ideas, arguments, and perspectives of the text by using their knowledge
of text structure, organization, and purpose. The selections in Recommended Literature,
Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve illustrate the quality and complexity of the materials
to be read by students. In addition, by grade eight, students read one million words annually on their own, including a good representation of grade-level-appropriate narrative
and expository text (e.g., classic and contemporary literature, magazines, newspapers,
online information). In grade six, students continue to make progress toward this goal.
Identify the structural features of popular media (e.g., newspapers, magazines, online
information) and use the features to obtain information.
Analyze text that uses the compare-and-contrast organizational pattern.
Connect and clarify main ideas by identifying their relationships to other sources and
related topics.
Clarify an understanding of texts by creating outlines, logical notes, summaries, or
reports.
Determine the adequacy and appropriateness of the evidence for an authors conclusions.
Make reasonable assertions about a text through accurate, supporting citations.
Note instances of unsupported inferences, fallacious reasoning, persuasion, and propaganda in text.

WRITING (W)
Standard
Set 1.0

1.3
1.6

vi

Writing Strategies
Students write clear, coherent, and focused essays. The writing exhibits students awareness of the audience and purpose. Essays contain formal introductions, supporting evidence, and conclusions. Students progress through the stages of the writing process as
needed.
Use a variety of effective and coherent organizational patterns, including comparison and
contrast; organization by categories; and arrangement by spatial order, order of importance, or climactic order.
Revise writing to improve the organization and consistency of ideas within and between
paragraphs.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

READING (R)

Standard
Set 2.0

2.1

2.2

2.4

2.5

Writing Applications (Genres and Their Characteristics)

Students write narrative, expository, persuasive, and descriptive texts of at least 500 to
700 words in each genre. Student writing demonstrates a command of standard American English and the research, organizational, and drafting strategies outlined in Writing
Standard 1.0.
Using the writing strategies of grade six outlined in Writing Standard 1.0, students write
narratives: (a) Establish and develop a plot and setting and present a point of view that is
appropriate to the stories. (b) Include sensory details and concrete language to develop
plot and character. (c) Use a range of narrative devices (e.g., dialogue, suspense).
Using the writing strategies of grade six outlined in Writing Standard 1.0, students write
expository compositions (e.g., description, explanation, comparison and contrast, problem and solution): (a) State the thesis or purpose. (b) Explain the situation. (c) Follow an
organizational pattern appropriate to the type of composition. (d) Offer persuasive evidence to validate arguments and conclusions as needed.
Using the writing strategies of grade six outlined in Writing Standard 1.0, students write
responses to literature: (a) Develop an interpretation exhibiting careful reading, understanding, and insight. (b) Organize the interpretation around several clear ideas,
premises, or images. (c) Develop and justify the interpretation through sustained use of
examples and textual evidence.
Using the writing strategies of grade six outlined in Writing Standard 1.0, students write
persuasive compositions: (a) State a clear position on a proposition or proposal. (b) Support the position with organized and relevant evidence. (c) Anticipate and address reader
concerns and counterarguments.

WRITTEN AND ORAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE CONVENTIONS (WO)

Standard
Set 1.0

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

1.1
1.3
1.5

Written and Oral English Language Conventions

Students write and speak with a command of standard English conventions appropriate
to this grade level.
Use simple, compound, and compound-complex sentences; use effective coordination
and subordination of ideas to express complete thoughts.
Use colons after the salutation in business letters, semicolons to connect independent
clauses, and commas when linking two clauses with a conjunction in compound
sentences.
Spell frequently misspelled words correctly (e.g., their, theyre, there).

vii

Grade 7
READING (R)
Standard
Set 1.0

1.2
1.3
Standard
Set 2.0

2.1
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6

Word Analysis, Fluency, and Systematic Vocabulary Development

Students use their knowledge of word origins and word relationships, as well as historical
and literary context clues, to determine the meaning of specialized vocabulary and to
understand the precise meaning of grade-level-appropriate words.
Use knowledge of Greek, Latin, and Anglo-Saxon roots and affixes to understand
content-area vocabulary
Clarify word meanings through the use of definition, example, restatement, or contrast.
Reading Comprehension (Focus on Informational Materials)
Students read and understand grade-level-appropriate material. They describe and connect the essential ideas, arguments, and perspectives of the text by using their knowledge
of text structure, organization, and purpose. The selections in Recommended Literature,
Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve illustrate the quality and complexity of the materials
to be read by students. In addition, by grade eight, students read one million words annually on their own, including a good representation of grade-level-appropriate narrative
and expository text (e.g., classic and contemporary literature, magazines, newspapers,
online information). In grade seven, students make substantial progress toward this goal.
Understand and analyze the differences in structure and purpose between various categories
of informational materials (e.g., textbooks, newspapers, instructional manuals, signs).
Analyze text that uses the cause-and-effect organizational pattern.
Identify and trace the development of an authors argument, point of view, or perspective
in text.
Understand and explain the use of a simple mechanical device by following technical
directions.
Assess the adequacy, accuracy, and appropriateness of the authors evidence to support
claims and assertions, noting instances of bias and stereotyping.

Standard
Set 1.0

1.1
1.2
1.7

viii

Writing Strategies
Students write clear, coherent, and focused essays. The writing exhibits students awareness of the audience and purpose. Essays contain formal introductions, supporting evidence, and conclusions. Students progress through the stages of the writing process as
needed.
Create an organizational structure that balances all aspects of the composition and uses
effective transitions between sentences to unify important ideas.
Support all statements and claims with anecdotes, descriptions, facts and statistics, and
specific examples.
Revise writing to improve organization and word choice after checking the logic of the
ideas and the precision of the vocabulary.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

WRITING (W)

Standard
Set 2.0

2.1

2.2

2.4

Writing Applications (Genres and Their Characteristics)

Students write narrative, expository, persuasive, and descriptive texts of at least 500 to
700 words in each genre. The writing demonstrates a command of standard American
English and the research, organizational, and drafting strategies outlined in Writing
Standard 1.0.
Using the writing strategies of grade seven outlined in Writing Standard 1.0, students
write fictional or autobiographical narratives: (a) Develop a standard plot line (having
a beginning, conflict, rising action, climax, and denouement) and point of view.
(b) Develop complex major and minor characters and a definite setting. (c) Use
a range of appropriate strategies (e.g., dialogue; suspense; naming of specific narrative
action, including movement, gestures, and expressions).
Using the writing strategies of grade seven outlined in Writing Standard 1.0, students
write responses to literature: (a) Develop interpretations exhibiting careful reading,
understanding, and insight. (b) Organize interpretations around several clear ideas,
premises, or images from the literary work. (c) Justify interpretations through sustained
use of examples and textual evidence.
Using the writing strategies of grade seven outlined in Writing Standard 1.0, students
write persuasive compositions: (a) State a clear position or perspective in support
of a proposition or proposal. (b) Describe the points in support of the proposition,
employing well-articulated evidence. (c) Anticipate and address reader concerns and
counterarguments.

WRITTEN AND ORAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE CONVENTIONS (WO)

Standard
Set 1.0

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

1.1
1.4

Written and Oral English Language Conventions

Students write and speak with a command of standard English conventions appropriate
to the grade level.
Place modifiers properly and use the active voice.
Demonstrate the mechanics of writing (e.g., quotation marks, commas at end of dependent clauses) and appropriate English usage (e.g., pronoun reference).

ix

Grade 8
READING (R)
Standard
Set 1.0

1.3
Standard
Set 2.0

2.2
2.5

Word Analysis, Fluency, and Systematic Vocabulary Development

Students use their knowledge of word origins and word relationships, as well as historical
and literary context clues, to determine the meaning of specialized vocabulary and to
understand the precise meaning of grade-level-appropriate words.
Use word meanings within the appropriate context and show ability to verify those
meanings by definition, restatement, example, comparison, or contrast.
Reading Comprehension (Focus on Informational Materials)
Students read and understand grade-level-appropriate material. They describe and connect the essential ideas, arguments, and perspectives of the text by using their knowledge
of text structure, organization, and purpose. The selections in Recommended Literature,
Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve illustrate the quality and complexity of the materials
to be read by students. In addition, students read one million words annually on their
own, including a good representation of narrative and expository text (e.g., classic and
contemporary literature, magazines, newspapers, online information).
Analyze text that uses proposition and support patterns.
Understand and explain the use of a complex mechanical device by following technical
directions.

Standard
Set 1.0

1.1
1.2
1.3
Standard
Set 2.0

2.1

2.4

Writing Strategies
Students write clear, coherent, and focused essays. The writing exhibits students awareness of audience and purpose. Essays contain formal introductions, supporting evidence,
and conclusions. Students progress through the stages of the writing process as needed.
Create compositions that establish a controlling impression, have a coherent thesis, and
end with a clear and well-supported conclusion.
Establish coherence within and among paragraphs through effective transitions, parallel
structures, and similar writing techniques.
Support theses or conclusions with analogies, paraphrases, quotations, opinions from
authorities, comparisons, and similar devices.
Writing Applications (Genres and Their Characteristics)
Students write narrative, expository, persuasive, and descriptive essays of at least 500 to
700 words in each genre. Student writing demonstrates a command of standard American English and the research, organizational, and drafting strategies outlined in Writing
Standard 1.0.
Using the writing strategies of grade eight outlined in Writing Standard 1.0, students
write biographies, autobiographies, short stories, or narratives: (a) Relate a clear, coherent
incident, event, or situation by using well-chosen details. (b) Reveal the significance of, or
the writers attitude about, the subject. (c) Employ narrative and descriptive strategies
(e.g., relevant dialogue, specific action, physical description, background description,
comparison or contrast of characters).
Using the writing strategies of grade eight outlined in Writing Standard 1.0, students
write persuasive compositions: (a) Include a well-defined thesis (i.e., one that makes a
clear and knowledgeable judgment). (b) Present detailed evidence, examples, and reasoning to support arguments, differentiating between facts and opinion. (c) Provide details,
reasons, and examples, arranging them effectively by anticipating and answering reader
concerns and counterarguments.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

WRITING (W)

2.6

Using the writing strategies of grade eight outlined in Writing Standard 1.0, students
write technical documents: (a) Identify the sequence of activities needed to design a system, operate a tool, or explain the bylaws of an organization. (b) Include all the factors
and variables that need to be considered. (c) Use formatting techniques (e.g., headings,
differing fonts) to aid comprehension.

WRITTEN AND ORAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE CONVENTIONS (WO)

Standard
Set 1.0

1.1

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

1.5

Written and Oral English Language Conventions

Students write and speak with a command of standard English conventions appropriate
to this grade level.
Use correct and varied sentence types and sentence openings to present a lively and effective personal style.
Use correct punctuation and capitalization.

xi

Name

Date

ELA6: R2.1

Activity

Class

Reading Comprehension

ELA7:
ELA7:
R2.1, R2.3
ELA8:
ELA8: R1.3

Directions: Read the magazine article below, then answer the questions.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Cerro Grande Forest Fire Not

What Was Prescribed
June 20, 2000On May 5, a fire intentionally set
by the National Park Service at Bandelier National
Monument in New Mexico began burning out of
control. What began as a prescribed burn became
Cerro Grande fireone of the worst fires in New
Mexicos history. The fire was prescribed to remove
brush and undergrowth in parts of the forest. By
burning away this wildfire fuel, the Park Service
hoped to prevent a natural, uncontrollable wildfire
from occurring. It also hoped to restore the natural
cycle of fire necessary for forests to survive.
Forest fires can serve a purpose. The variety
of plants in an area is often ten times greater
after a wildfire because of the nutrient-rich soil
that fires can produce. Fires burn mineral-storing
parts of plants into ash. Rain or snow dissolves
the ash into the soil, providing essential minerals
to the soil. Some plants even depend on fire for
survival. Many pine trees cannot reproduce without the help of fire. Their cones will not open
and release seeds unless heated.

Multiple
Choice

Many natural forest fires are started by lightning. However, it is common practice for the
National Park Service to prescribe burns such as
the one in New Mexico. Unfortunately in this
case, good intentions had devastating results.
Strong winds and hot weather caused the fire to
spread rapidly, making it difficult to contain. By
May 10, the fire had consumed more than 7,200
hectares of land. It also had destroyed many
homes along the edge of the forest near Los
Alamos, New Mexico. Thousands of people had
to be evacuated. Embers from the fire were being
carried up to a mile away by the wind, causing
spot fires to erupt. When the fire was finally contained on June 6, it had burned almost 20,000
hectares of land, more than 200 homes, and
caused more than $1 billion in damage.
Time will tell whether the forest will ultimately benefit from the fire or be forever damaged. The enormous amount of damage might
outweigh any benefits. Most certainly, the lives
of the people who watched the fire swallow up
so much of the land have been forever changed.

1. What does the word prescribed mean in prescribed burn?

a. to order
b. to outlaw
c. to give medical advice
d. to claim a right to
2. Which is an opinion from the article?
a. Many pine trees cannot reproduce without the help of fire.
b. By June 6, the fire had consumed more than 20,000 hectares of land.
c. Most certainly, the lives of the people who watched the fire swallow
up so much of the land have been forever changed.
d. Many natural forest fires are started by lightning.
3. What is a spot fire?
a. a smaller fire burning in the middle of the main fire
b. a fire set on the boundaries of a wildfire to control it
c. a fire started away from the main wildfire by embers from it
d. a fire intentionally set to control undergrowth and brush
1

Name

Date

Class

Activity 1 (continued)

4. What caused the Cerro Grande fire to consume so much land so quickly?
a. too much undergrowth
b. spot fires erupting
c. heavy rain
d. strong winds

Short
Answer

5. What is the authors attitude toward the National Park Service? Use
information from the article to support your answer.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

6. How would the article change if the author was writing it for a newspaper in Los Alamos, where many people lost their homes?

Name

Date

Class

Activity

ELA6: R2.3, R2.8

ELA7: R2.3, R2.6

Reading Comprehension

Directions: Read the passage below and examine the diagram. Then answer the questions.
A rain shadow is an area that receives little rainfall because it is on the downwind side of a mountain or mountain range. When winds encounter a mountain, air is forced to go up and over the mountain. As the air rises, it expands and
cools. Cool air is unable to hold as much moisture as warm air, so the moisture
often condenses, forming clouds. Precipitation then falls from the clouds on the
upwind side of the mountain.
As air moves over the mountains and begins to descend on the downwind side,
it becomes warmer. Clouds do not form easily in the warmer air. Because the
warm, dry winds on the downwind side of the mountains produce very little
precipitation, this area is called the rain shadow. In some parts of the world, rain
shadow areas have become deserts because they receive so little rainfall. Californias Death Valley is part of a rain shadow.
The following diagram illustrates how a rain shadow occurs.

Cool air

Warm, dry air

ow

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Clouds

nw

ind

U p w in d
Rain shadow
Mountain range

Large amount of precipitation

Little precipitation or
desert conditions

Name

Date

Class

Activity 2 (continued)

Multiple
Choice

1. What causes clouds to form on the upwind side of mountain ranges?

a. The warm winds cause moisture to condense, forming clouds.
b. The mountains keep the air from circulating, forming clouds.
c. The strong winds push the air into the mountains, forming clouds.
d. The air rises and cools as it hits the mountain, forming clouds.
2. Land in a rain shadow area most likely would
a. be covered with thick forests.
b. be desert.
c. have many lakes.
d. be used for farming.
3. Why did the author write this passage?
a. to discuss how clouds form
b. to tell how deserts are formed
c. to give information about rain shadows
d. to explain how mountains affect weather

Short
Answer

5. What three questions could you ask someone to determine whether

they live in a rain shadow?

6. Do you think a written explanation or a detailed drawing is most

useful in explaining rain shadows? Explain.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

4. Which detail is NOT supported in the passage?

a. Some rain shadows are deserts.
b. Death Valley is in California.
c. Air cools and expands as it rises.
d. The downwind side receives more precipitation.

Name

Date

Activity

Form and Express

an Opinion

Class
ELA6: W2.2, W2.4
ELA7: W1.1, W2.2
ELA8: W1.1, WO1.1

Directions: Read the passage below, then complete the writing activity that follows.
Keiko the killer whale was the star of the Free Willy movies released in the
1990s. In 1996, it was revealed that Keiko was living in a cramped tank of warm
water at an amusement park in Mexico. He was very sick. He captured the hearts
of thousands of young people and environmentalists, who banded together to
help him regain his freedom. He was moved to the Oregon Coast Aquarium to
be rehabilitated. Once healthy, he was moved to an open-water pen in Klettsvik
Bay off southern Iceland in 1998. The goal was to release him as soon as he was
prepared to return to the wild. His crew of caretakers took him on several ocean
walks to get him ready for his return to the sea.
When Keiko was finally granted his freedom, he refused to swim away. When
his caretakers escorted him to the open seas, Keiko always returned. Because he
has depended on humans for 20 years, Keiko had trouble readjusting to life in
the wild. Hallur Hallsson, a spokesperson for the organization that cares for
Keiko said, It is likely that he will remain in captivity until the end of his life.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

What is your reaction to Keikos plight? Do you think people were justified in helping him win his
freedom? Do you think they were disappointed when they learned he did not want to return to the
wild? Write three personal journal entries that might have been written by someone who was
involved in the Free Willy campaign.
1. The first entry should be written on the day that person decided to join the campaign.
2. The second entry should be written after Keikos successful relocation to Iceland.
3. The third should be written after it was announced that Keiko showed no desire to return to the wild.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Name

Date
Class

Activity 3 (continued)

Name

Date

Class

Activity

ELA6: R1.4

ELA7: R2.3

Reading Comprehension

ELA8: R2.2

Directions: Read the two newspaper articles below, then answer the questions.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Navy Sonar May Be

Responsible for Beached
Whales
March 16 In the past two days, at least 16
whales have beached themselves on the shores
of three islands in the Bahamas. Concerned
bystanders were able to push some of the 12foot to 15-foot whales back into the water, but
seven of the whales have died.
Although the cause has not been determined,
some scientists think that tests being conducted
by the U.S. Navy in the area might be the cause
of the whales strange behavior. The ships were
using sonar to detect submarines. Whales are
highly sensitive to sound, and very loud noises
created by the sonar tests could have disoriented
the whales and even caused ear damage. Scientists said they will investigate to find the cause of
the strange behavior. They plan to conduct
necropsies on some of the whales to determine
the cause of their deaths.

Multiple
Choice

Report Released on Dead

Whales
June 14 Marine biologists reported today that
the seven whales who died last March in the
Bahamas probably were disoriented by a distant
explosion or an intense acoustic event. The loud
noise caused bleeding and damage to the tissues
around the whales inner ears, disorienting them
and causing them to swim ashore.
Biologist Darlene Ketten of the National Marine
Fisheries Service said that there might be a link
between the death of the whales and the sound
generated by Navy sonar tests, but she cannot say
for sure. One possibility is that the loud noise was
caused by an underwater landslide in the area.
According to the report, except for damage to
their ears, the whales were healthy and free from
disease. Whatever the cause, a Navy spokesperson said, We hope to build upon what we will
learn . . . to ensure that it does not happen again
anywhere in the world.

1. What newsworthy event was the reporter writing about in these two
articles?
a. Seven whales died mysteriously.
b. The Navy was conducting sonar testing.
c. Research shows that whales are sensitive to sound.
d. Scientists are performing tests on dead whales.
2. Most readers might infer from the first article that
a. the whales died of natural causes.
b. Navy sonar tests were probably responsible for the whales deaths.
c. these whales are on the endangered species list.
d. the Navy is not responsible for the death of the whales.
3. In the last sentence of the first article, what does the word necropsies
mean?
a. written reports provided to government agencies
b. medical examinations to determine cause of death
c. X rays of vital organs
d. underwater studies conducted on marine animals and plants
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Activity 4 (continued)

4. Which of the following statements is NOT presented as a fact in either

article?
a. Navy sonar tests caused the death of the whales.
b. Seven whales died in the Bahamas.
c. Whales are sensitive to sound.
d. Some of the whales examined had damage to their inner ears.

Short
Answer

5. Do you think the Navy tests were responsible for the whales deaths?
Use information from the two articles to support your opinion.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

6. What might be different about these two articles if the reporter was
writing them for a team of marine biologists?

Name

Date

Activity

Organization and Focus

in Writing

Class
ELA6: W2.2, WO1.1
ELA7: W1.1, WO1.4
ELA8: W2.1, WO1.1

Directions: Read the passage below, then complete the writing activity that follows.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

One hundred years ago, no one would have expected that televisions, video
cameras, compact disc players, and computers would be common household
items. In the last century, technology has continually changed the way people do
things. Sometimes technology makes life easier, and sometimes it makes it more
difficult. Write an essay explaining how technology has affected your life. Discuss
whether the effects have been positive or negative. Include specific details and
examples from your life.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Name

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Activity 5 (continued)

Name

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Class

Activity

ELA6: R2.1, R2.7

ELA7: R2.4, R2.6

Reading Comprehension

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Directions: Read the passage below, then answer the questions.

The U. S. space program got a boost in 1997 with the Mars Pathfinder mission. Thousands of people watched as the Sojourner rover landed on Mars. The
tiny rover, just 11 kg in weight and 0.6 m in length, could be controlled remotely
from Earth. The goal of the mission was to study the environment of Mars. The
rover gathered data on soil and rocks on the surface of Mars. It sent back incredible pictures of the Martian surface.
The Mars Pathfinder mission is part of NASAs Discovery missionslow-cost
missions to explore Mars. But just how low is the cost? The Mars Surveyor 98 space
program cost $193.1 million to develop, another $91.7 million to launch, and $42.8
million to run. This is a hefty price tag for a mission that failed.
The Mars Surveyor 98 was made up of two spacecraftthe Mars Climate
Orbiter and the Mars Polar Lander. The Climate Orbiter reached Mars on
September 23, 1999. It was scheduled to pass behind Mars and then reestablish
radio contact with Earth. But no radio signal was ever received. Scientists think a
mix-up of English and metric measurements caused the Orbiter to get too close
to Mars and burn up in its atmosphere.
The Mars Polar Lander encountered a similar fate just months later when it disappeared on December 3, 1999. Its mission was to search for water and ice at Mars
south pole. But communication was lost and its not known whether it ever landed
on the planet. A report on the mission assumes that the Lander crashed into the
surface of Mars. Apparently, the legs of the Lander interfered with communications.
This led scientists to believe that it had landed, so they turned off the engines, making it impossible for it to land safely.
The two lost spacecraft were valued at $320 million. Its time to reexamine our
goals in space exploration and determine whether or not its worth the price. We
cannot continue to invest dollars in space programs and receive nothing in return.

Multiple
Choice

1. Which two spacecraft on the Mars Surveyor 98 were lost?

a. Polar Lander and Climate Orbiter
b. Climate Orbiter and Sojourner
c. Pathfinder and Polar Lander
d. Climate Orbiter and Pathfinder
2. What was NASAs first clue that the Climate Orbiter might be in trouble?
a. It did not reestablish radio contact after passing behind Mars.
b. It was orbiting too close to Mars.
c. The engines were turned off.
d. The rover sent back pictures of the mishap.
3. Where would an article like the one you just read most likely be published?
a. in an encyclopedia
b. on the editorial page of a newspaper
c. in a factual report written by NASA engineers
d. in a letter to members of Congress to gather support for the space
program
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Activity 6 (continued)

4. Which of these statements from the article is NOT an opinion?

a. Its time to reexamine our goals in space exploration and determine
whether or not its worth the price.
b. We cannot continue to invest dollars in space programs and receive
nothing in return.
c. The two lost spacecraft were valued at $320 million.
d. This is a hefty price tag for a mission that failed.

Short
Answer

5. In the last sentence, the author writes, We cannot continue to invest

dollars in space programs and receive nothing in return. Do you agree
with this statement? Explain.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

6. How do you think a group of NASA engineers who worked on this

mission might respond to this article?

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ELA6: R2.1, R2.3

Activity

Analyze and Interpret Information

Directions: Examine the map and read the weather report. Then answer the questions.
Today's Forecast C

Darwin
32
23

Cairns
26
20

Broome
33
20

Rockhampton
28
12

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Alice Springs
32
18
Kalgoorlie
29
11
Perth
21
10

Brisbane
25
15
Adelaide
21
8
Melbourne
21
7

Sydney
23
12

High Temperature
Low Temperature

The forecast for today calls for fairly warm temperatures around much of
Australia. The temperatures will stay in the low 30s for much of northwest Australia. Those areas also can expect continued sun. Clouds cover much of the rest
of the country with the Sun peaking through only occasionally. Youll want to
carry an umbrella in Cairns and a light jacket along much of the southern coast,
as the low temperatures will dip into the 30s. All in all, expect a beautiful spring
day and much of the same throughout the rest of the week.

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Activity 7 (continued)

Multiple
Choice

1. If the map is correct, what is the one incorrect fact in the weather report?
a. Northwest Australia will have temperatures in the 30s.
b. Youll want to carry an umbrella in Cairns.
c. Youll want to carry a light jacket along much of the southern coast.
d. Overnight temperatures on the southern coast will dip into the 30s.
2. Most people who live in Alice Springs probably will wear
a. long sleeves and pants.
b. shorts and a tank top.
c. a sweatshirt and shorts.
d. long pants and a T-shirt.
3. What is the expected low temperature in Adelaide?
a. 21
b. 8
c. 12
d. 23

Short
Answer

5. This weather report was written to inform but it is written in a friendly,

informal tone. Give an example of one or two words or phrases that
help to make the report reader-friendly.

6. The weather report states, all in all, expect a beautiful spring day. Write
at least one detail from the passage that does NOT support this idea.

14

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

4. You most likely would find a weather map with todays forecast in
a. an almanac.
b. an encyclopedia.
c. a newspaper.
d. a magazine.

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Activity

ELA6: R1.4, R2.6

ELA7:R1.3, R2.6
ELA7:

Reading Comprehension

Directions: Read the article below, then answer the questions.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

On the Edge of Extinction

In 1900, there were an estimated 100,000
tigers on Earth. Today, only between 5,000 and
7,500 remain. Total extinction of tigers by 2010
is a very real threat.
Why are tigers disappearing? The criminal act
of poaching is the main reason. Poaching is illegal, but it is very profitable. Tiger parts are worth
large amounts of money. The parts of a single
tiger can be worth $5 million. In the past, the
hide of the tiger was a great prize; now the prize
is the tigers bones. The bones are used to make
many traditional Asian medicines. Many of these
medicines are exported from Asia, some of them
to the United States. In 1950, about 4,000 South
China tigers lived in the wild. By 1998, this number had dropped to less than 30 wild tigers.
Even though the U. S. Congress passed legislation to stop the import of tiger parts, poachers continue to get around the rules. They smuggle tiger
parts in with other legal products. The United

Multiple
Choice

States has fewer than 100 wildlife inspectors to

check products coming into the country. It is not
difficult to get tiger parts into the country without
being caught. Even when inspectors find medicines made with tiger bones, they cannot always
prove it. The high temperature needed to make the
medicines makes it impossible to tell whether the
bone was that of a tiger or another animal.
You would expect most tiger products to be
sold in secret in the United States. Many of them
are sold openly in small medicine shops in some
of the nations larger cities. The demand for the
products is great enough to outweigh the risk of
getting caught selling them.
Some groups are working to decrease the
number of tiger products sold, by helping find
other options. For example, the bones of wild
mole rats, a species that is abundant, have been
used to make medicines. Finding alternatives to
create less demand for tiger parts is one of the
first steps to ending tiger poaching.

1. The main idea of this article is that

a. poaching tigers is illegal.
b. tiger bones are used in medicine.
c. more needs to be done to stop the poaching of tigers.
d. poachers smuggle tiger parts into the United States.
2. This passage does NOT discuss
a. where tiger medicines are sold in the United States.
b. how tiger parts are exported from Asia.
c. alternatives to using tiger bones in medicine.
d. the number of tigers living in the wild.
3. Why did the author write this passage?
a. to show people how to smuggle tiger parts
b. to tell people where to find tiger medicines
c. to inform people about tiger poaching
d. to tell people which tiger part to use for laziness

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Activity 8 (continued)

4. In the third paragraph, what is the meaning of the word legislation?

a. plans
b. ideas
c. tests
d. laws

Short
Answer

5. If you wanted to persuade someone that tiger poaching is wrong, do

you think a written, spoken, or visual message might be most effective?
Why?

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

6. What support does the author give for the statement, Total extinction
of tigers by 2010 is a very real threat? Give two examples.

16

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ELA6: W2.2, WO1.5

Activity

Class

Share Knowledge

Directions: Read the passage below, then complete the writing activity that follows.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Your seven-year-old neighbor has just developed a new interest in science and
wants to learn all that she can. You know that many examples of science are all
around you, so you decide to take her on a science tour of your house or your
neighborhood to point them out. Write a detailed description of a tour that you
might plan for your young neighbor. Your tour should include at least five examples of everyday objects or events that illustrate common science concepts. Your
examples could illustrate changes in states of matter; elements and their properties; simple machines, such as wheels and axles or levers; temperature and heat;
action and reaction; gravity; or any other science concepts that you could explain
easily to a seven-year-old. List your examples in the order in which you would
visit them on your tour. Then write what you would say about each.

17

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Name

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Activity 9 (continued)

Name

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ELA6: R1.2, R2.3

Activity

10

Class

Reading Comprehension

ELA7: R2.4
ELA8: W1.3

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Directions: Read the passage below, then answer the questions.

Ice sheets are huge masses of ice that form in some places where snow falls
faster than it can melt. The worlds second largest ice sheet is the 1.8 millionsquare-km sheet of ice that covers most of Greenland. Gravity causes the ice to
flow from higher elevations at the center of the ice sheet to lower elevations at
the edges. In some places, the ice reaches the sea where it breaks off and forms
icebergs.
Recently it has become possible to directly measure whether parts of the ice
sheet are thickening or thinning. Researchers from NASA and other places used
a laser mounted on an airplane to measure the height of the southern part of the
ice sheet surface in 1993 and 1994, and again in 1998. Their results showed that
while much of the ice sheet was thickening slowly, near the southeastern coast
the ice sheet was thinning by as much as several meters per year.
The size of the measured thinning was suprising. One possible explanation is
that the ice is thinning in response to a warming climate. Since the last part of
the nineteenth century, Earths mean temperature has increased by about 1C.
Measurements show that the 1990s were the warmest decade of the past 100
years, while 1998 was the warmest year since 1860. This increase in Earths average temperature often is called global warming. Global warming may be causing
part of the ice sheet to thin.
Some scientists suspect that global warming may be caused by an increase in
greenhouse gases in Earths atmosphere. Burning fossil fuels produces the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Measurements show that the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been increasing since the middle of the eighteenth
century. Global warming has been occurring over the time that carbon dioxide
levels have been rising.
If global warming caused the Greenland ice sheet to completely melt, the
result could be catastrophic. The ice sheet contains enough ice to raise the level
of the ocean by about 6 m if it were completely melted. If this were to happen,
coastal cities throughout the world, such as New York City, would experience
massive flooding.

Multiple
Choice

1. According to the passage, what might be causing part of the Greenland

ice sheet to thin?
a. too little snow
b. global warming
c. carbon dioxide
d. rising sea levels
2. What is the definition of the word mean in the third paragraph?
a. average
b. lowest
c. highest
d. Fahrenheit
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Activity 10 (continued)

3. What is the authors attitude about global warming?

a. The author thinks it will not change Earths climate.
b. The author thinks it is only a theory.
c. The author does not take it seriously.
d. The author thinks it has occurred.
4. This passage suggests that what is happening in Greenland
a. will cause the Greenland ice sheet to disappear.
b. should not be a concern for scientists.
c. might be due to global warming.
d. will increase Earths temperature.
5. How did researchers measure the thickening and thinning of the ice sheet?

6. Why do you think the author wrote this passage? If the last paragraph
of the passage was deleted would your response be the same? Explain.

20

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Short
Answer

Name

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Activity

11

Analyze and Interpret

Information

Class
ELA6: R2.8
ELA7:R2.6, W1.2
ELA7:

Directions: Read the travel brochure below, then answer the questions.

Canyon Rock Tours

South Rim Drive
(555) 602-7548

A unique look at the Grand Canyon from a geologists perspective.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Let our professional geologists give you the most

informative Grand Canyon tour available.
The Rocks

The Formations

Learn about the amazing history of the

Grand Canyon by looking at its many layers
of rock. See trace fossils of animals and
plants that lived millions of years ago. Touch
Precambrian rocks that are 2 billion years
old. Find out which minerals give the rock
layers their colors of red, yellow, and green.

Visit different rock formations and witness

how erosion and weathering have shaped one
of the worlds most beautiful canyons.
The Views
Enjoy your lunch break at Yavapai Observation Station. The station overlooks the
canyon with a view that is breathtaking and
unforgettable.

Tours depart every day, except Sunday, at 9 A.M. from the Grand Canyon
Village Visitor Center. Tours return around 5 P.M.
Cost is $30 per person.
Be sure to pack a sack lunch and bring plenty of drinking water.
This tour involves extensive hiking and requires some rock-climbing
experience. Please dress in layers and wear appropriate shoes.
Note: Reservations are required at least two days in advance for groups of six or more.

Multiple
Choice

1. Which of the following statements from this brochure is a form of bias?

a. Find out which minerals give the rock layers their colors of red, yellow, and green.
b. Let our professional geologists give you the most informative Grand
Canyon tour available.
c. Touch Precambrian rocks that are 2 billion years old.
d. Cost is $30 per person.
2. Which shoes would be most appropriate for this tour?
a. sneakers
b. sandals
c. dress shoes
d. hiking boots
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Activity 11 (continued)

3. Tourists are required to make reservations at least two days in advance if

a. they have a group of six or more people.
b. they want to go on a certain day.
c. they do not want to pack a lunch.
d. they would like a private tour.
4. Who would be most likely to take this tour?
a. people who want to see the Colorado River
b. people who do not like to hike
c. people who are interested in rocks
d. people who want to hike across the Grand Canyon
5. Your 70-year-old grandfather, who uses a wheelchair, did not get a
chance to see this brochure. Hes interested in geology and thinks hed
like to go on the tour Sunday at 11 A.M. Hes willing to spend up to
$25. He asked you if the tour is a good choice for him. What do you tell
him? Explain your answer using details from the brochure.

6. The brochure contains factual information and opinions. List one

opinion from the brochure and explain what makes it an opinion.

22

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Short
Answer

Name

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Activity

12

Organization and
Focus in Writing

Class
ELA6: W2.5, WO1.3
ELA7: W2.4, WO1.4
ELA8: W2.4, WO1.1

Directions: Read the passage below, then complete the writing activity that follows.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Students in Pennsylvania are cleaning upcleaning up waste, that is. School

districts throughout the state have started recycling programs or have expanded
existing ones. As a result of their efforts, waste disposal costs have decreased, students have learned more about environmental issues, and important natural
resources have been saved.
These students have worked hard to ensure that their recycling programs are
successful. One of the things they did to get their programs off the ground was
to concentrate on a single area of the school that is a source of a lot of recyclables. For example, some programs focused on recycling soft-drink cans and
other materials from the school cafeteria. Other programs recycled newspapers,
magazines, and paper from the school library. Students set up collection bins
throughout the school and made sure the other students knew about them. The
bins were clearly marked so recycling became an easy, everyday habit for students and staff. Students also involved school custodians and partnered with a
local recycling service company to pick up the materials in the bins. Finally, students used the school newspaper, the school Web site, and handcrafted posters to
educate and reeducate students and staff about the benefits of recycling.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection,
recycling paper cuts air pollution by 75 percent. Recycling a ton of glass saves the
equivalent of 34 L of fuel oil. Recycling just one soft-drink can save enough electricity to light a 100-W bulb for 3.5 hours.
Write a persuasive letter to your school principal suggesting a school recycling program. Be sure to
include reasons why recycling is a good idea, details on how the program should work, and how you
plan to promote the project. Remember to write in formal letter format.

23

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Name

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Activity 12 (continued)

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ELA6: W1.6

Activity

13

Class

Language Mastery

ELA7: W1.7

Directions: Read the passage below, then answer the questions.

In the United States, 33 million people become sick each year from foodborne illnesses and 5,000 to 9,000 people die. One way to make foods safer is to
expose them to radiation. This process, called irradiation, kills harmful bacteria
and parasites and slows spoilage. Some people do not approve of the use of irradiation. They say its safety has not been proved. Those who support its use say it
will make safe food available to more people. The World Health Organization,
an agency that sets global standards for health, supports irradiation as a way of
protecting the publics health.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Multiple
Choice

1. Which of the following sentences would be the best topic sentence for
this paragraph?
a. Radiation is energy that travels by waves in all directions from its
source.
b. Food poisoning is a real problem.
c. In 1930, a French scientist patented a process of irradiation.
d. The bacterium that causes botulism is clostridium botulinum.
2. Which of the following sentences contains a misspelled word?
a. One way to make foods safer is to expose them to radiation.
b. They say its safety has not been proved.
c. The World Health Organization, an agency that sets global standards for health, supports irradiation as a way of protecting the
publics health.
d. Those who support its use say it will make safe food availible to
more people.
3. What is the subject of the sentence: The World Health Organization, an
agency that sets global standards for health, supports irradiation as a
way of protecting the publics health.
a. The World Health Organization
b. agency
c. health
d. irradiation
4. If you divided this paragraph into two paragraphs, which sentence
would you choose to be the first sentence of your second paragraph?
a. Some people do not approve of the use of irradiation.
b. They say its safety has not been proved.
c. This process, called irradiation, kills harmful bacteria and parasites
and slows spoilage.
d. One way to make foods safer is to expose them to radiation.

25

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Activity 13 (continued)

Short
Answer

5. Create two simple sentences from one of the compound sentences in

the passage.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

6. If you wanted to develop this paragraph into a more complete article,

list three topics you would develop further.

26

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Activity

ELA6: W1.3, W2.1

14

ELA7: W1.1, W2.1

Write a Narrative

ELA8: W1.2, W2.1

Directions: Read the passage below, then complete the writing activity that follows.
Montserrat is a small island in the Caribbean that is governed by Britain. In
1995, Montserrats Soufrire Hills volcano became active. It erupted in September 1996 and again on June 25, August 3, September 21, and December 26, 1997.
It caused extensive damage on the island. Nineteen people were killed in one of
the 1997 explosions. Almost 7,000 of the islands 11,000 residents permanently
left the island. Dozens of islanders stayed, however, saying they did not want to
move to overcrowded and unsanitary shelters.
In 1998, the volcano became silent. Scientists and islanders thought things
were back to normal. Islanders looked forward to moving back. But in November 1999, the volcano began spewing molten rock. In March 2000, the volcano
briefly explodedproving it was not going to remain silent.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Imagine you are a resident and have chosen not to leave the island. Write a narrative describing what
you will do if the volcano erupts again.

27

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Name

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Activity 14 (continued)

Name

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ELA8: R1.3

Activity

15

Class

Reading Comprehension

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Directions: Read the passage below, then answer the questions.

Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. An estuary is a
body of water along a coast in which river and seawater mix. More than 100,000
streams and rivers drain into the Chesapeake Bay from Delaware, Maryland,
New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
Its watershed, or drainage basin, covers 26 hectares. More than 15 million people
live in the watershed. This huge population has had a great impact on the bay
and its plants and animals.
Everything that happens in the watershed affects the bay. The same rivers and
streams that drain into the bay also add pollutants. Some pollutants take a very
indirect route. For example, a farmer might spray a pesticide on his field. A thunderstorm then could wash some of that pesticide into a creek. The creek could
flow into a river and the river into the bay, carrying the pesticide pollutants with it.
Pollutants also can take a direct route to the bay. Many wastewater treatment
plants release effluent into the bay. Effluent is water with waste material in it.
Effluent contains an excess of two nutrientsnitrogen and phosphorus.
Although these nutrients are necessary for life, they can be very harmful to the
bay. They cause algae in the water to grow out of control. This sudden explosion
of algae is called an algal bloom. Algal blooms block the sun and cause underwater plants to die. This has a ripple effect on the animals in the estuary that
depend on the underwater plants for food. When the algae dies and begins to
decompose, it also uses up precious oxygen supplies, causing fish and other living things to die.
The good news for the bay is that people are trying to save it. In 1983, the
states in the watershed, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, signed
an agreement to protect the bay. They signed a similar agreement in 1987 and
again in 2000. As part of the agreement, effluent entering Chesapeake Bay is
treated before its released. This is one way of reducing the amount of nitrogen
and phosphorus that enters the bay. More people also are becoming aware of
how their actions directly affect the bay. Cleanup efforts and environmental
awareness are having a positive effect on the bay.

Multiple
Choice

1. The best synonym for the term effluent is

a. algal bloom.
b. watershed.
c. waste material.
d. estuary.
2. What is the main cause of algal blooms?
a. untreated wastewater
b. excess nitrogen and phosphorus
c. runoff water from thunderstorms
d. too little oxygen in the water

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Activity 15 (continued)

3. When was the first Chesapeake Bay agreement signed?

a. 1983
b. 1987
c. 1993
d. 2000
4. Which of the following is not directly stated in the passage but can be
inferred?
a. People should think about how things they do affect the bay.
b. Wastewater treatment plants should pay to clean up the bay.
c. Farmers are causing the most pollution in the bay.
d. Pesticides should not be used by states that border the bay.
5. Give an example of how a pollutant from 300 km away might get into
Chesapeake Bay.

6. Name one thing that people living in the Chesapeake Bay watershed
can do to help protect the bay.

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Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Short
Answer

Name

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Activity

16

Form and Express

an Opinion

Class
ELA6: W2.5, WO1.1
ELA7: W2.4, WO1.1
ELA8: W1.1, W2.4

Directions: Read the passage, then complete the writing activity that follows.
Every year, the United States government funds research on many different
diseases. This research has led to better treatments, vaccines, and even cures. In
1999, the National Institutes of Health had an annual budget of $15.6 billion.
That amount was one-fourth the total spent publicly and privately worldwide on
disease research. Much of the money was spent on research for diseases such as
AIDS, breast cancer, and diabetes. Diseases that affect a greater number of people usually receive more funding for research.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

On which disease do you think the government should spend the most research money? Why? Write
a statement to express your opinion. Include information to support your belief and list at least
three reasons to defend your position. You might want to include whether or not you or someone
you know has been affected by the disease.

31

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Name

32

Date
Class

Activity 16 (continued)

Name

Date

Activity

17

Communicate
Information

Class
ELA6: W2.2, WO1.3
ELA7: W1.1, WO1.4
ELA8: W2.6, WO1.5

Directions: Read the passage below, then complete the writing activity that follows.
Microwave ovens are convenient because they cook food so quickly. Today,
they are commonplace and inexpensive. However, in 1952, when they first came
on the market, the few people who could afford to buy them had to pay more
than a thousand dollars.
Microwaves are very efficient. They use little electricity because they heat only
the food. The oven generates high-frequency electromagnetic waves, called
microwaves. The water, fats, and sugars in the food absorb these microwaves.
Then the molecules in the food begin to move or become excited. All of this
movement generates heat inside the food. Thats why microwaves cook food
from the inside out.
Most plastics and glassware do not absorb microwaves. Thats why they are
used in microwave cooking. Metal, on the other hand, blocks microwaves. Thats
why foods cannot be microwaved in metal containers. Even a small piece of aluminum foil can make sparks fly inside a microwave.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Based on your own experience, compose a set of step-by-step instructions explaining how to use a
microwave oven. Be sure to include a short list of dos and donts. If you do not have a microwave or
have never used one, choose another household appliance on which to base your instructions.

33

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Name

34

Date
Class

Activity 17 (continued)

Name

Date

Class

Activity

ELA7: R1.3, R2.5

18

ELA8: R1.3, R2.5

Understanding a Concept

Directions: Examine the diagram and read the description that follows. Then answer the questions.
1

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Roller coasters are among the most popular amusement park rides. They are
exhilarating and thrilling to the people who ride them. How a roller coaster
works is quite simple.
1. Almost all roller coasters start by going up a hill. The coaster is pulled up the
hill by a moving chain. A motor provides the energy for the moving chain.
The energy from the motor is transferred to the coaster.
2. At the top of the hill, the coaster has stored energy. It has the most stored
energy on the first hill. As the coaster goes over the top of the hill, the chain
is released and the coaster falls freely on the tracks.
3. As the coaster moves rapidly down the first hill, its stored energy changes
into energy of motion, or kinetic energy. It has kinetic energy because it is
moving. This kinetic energy carries it to the top of the next hill.
4. The kinetic energy is converted back into stored energy when the coaster
reaches the top of the second hill. As it goes down the second hill, the stored
energy is again changed into kinetic energy. This happens over and over on
each hill until the coaster reaches the station and is stopped by the coasters
operator.
Note: Each hill of a roller coaster must be smaller than the one before it for the
coaster to have enough energy to make it over all of the hills. The coaster loses
some of its energy between hills because of track friction and air resistance.

Multiple
Choice

1. Which number on the diagram shows the roller coaster at the point
where it has the most stored energy?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4

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Date

Class

Activity 18 (continued)

Multiple
Choice

2. Which statement from the passage is an opinion?

a. A motor provides the energy for the moving chain.
b. Almost all roller coasters start by going up a hill.
c. They are exhilarating and thrilling to the people who ride them.
d. The energy from the motor is transferred to the coaster.
3. Where would you be most likely to find this passage?
a. in a chemistry book
b. in an almanac
c. in a physics book
d. in a dictionary
4. What is the meaning of the word friction in the note at the end of the
passage?
a. floating
b. rubbing
c. slipping
d. gliding

Short
Answer

36

6. Predict what would happen if the third hill on a roller coaster ride were
bigger than the first hill. Explain your answer.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

5. Name two places you could look to find information on kinetic and
stored energy.

Name

Date

ELA6: R2.3, R2.7

Activity

19

Class

Evaluate the Text

ELA7: R2.4

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Directions: Read the passage below, then answer the questions.

For thousands of years, people throughout the world have used plants to treat
illness. Ethnobotanistsscientists who study the plant knowledge of native cultureshave made many discoveries that led to the development of important
medicines we use today. In fact, one fourth of all prescription drugs in the
United States have plant chemicals as an active ingredient.
In the early 1600s, a European monk saw Native Americans in the Andes
Mountains grind the roots, bark, and branches of the cinchonas tree. They used
the finely ground powder they called fever bark to treat high body temperatures. The fever-reducing ingredient in the plant is called quinine, from the
Spanish word quinaquina. Today, an artificial form of quinine is used in controlling the recurrence of a disease called malaria.
The commonly used drug, aspirin, came from a plant called queen of the
meadow. Many years ago, the roots of the plant were boiled. People drank the
tea containing salicylic acid as a treatment for fever and pain. Today, we use a
synthetic form of aspirin with the same characteristics.
Some cancer medicines were discovered because Native Americans used the
rosy periwinkle plant in the treatment of diabetes. When scientists studied the
plant to find out whether it was effective against diabetes, they discovered that
two of the plants ingredients kill leukemia cells. Their findings resulted in treatments for leukemia and Hodgkins disease.
In the mid-1990s, ethnobotanists began looking at a plant used by native healers
to treat diseases caused by viruses. The native healers, or shamans, traditionally
have been the ones trained to know which plants are good for healing. Ethnobotanists found that the plant used by the shamans contains a chemical called
prostratin. Prostratin might stop the growth of the virus that causes acquired
immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS. Some ethnobotanists think shamans could
be an important link in the process of turning plants into prescriptions.

Multiple
Choice

1. The author thinks ethnobotany is

a. not effective.
b. not worthwhile.
c. only good for curing fevers.
d. a valuable science.
2. What is the authors main point in this passage?
a. Aspirin was developed many years ago from a salicylic acid tea.
b. All plants contain powerful medicines.
c. Important medicines have come from plants.
d. Ethnobotanists study the plant knowledge of native cultures.
3. What does the word shaman in the last paragraph mean?
a. a person who looks at plants used by native healers
b. a person trained to know which plants are good for healing
c. the bark and branches from the cinchonas tree
d. the study of native healing

37

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Date

Class

Activity 19 (continued)

4. What did Native Americans use powder from the cinchonas tree for?
a. to fight diabetes
b. to cure malaria
c. to treat fevers
d. to treat pain

Short
Answer

5. Describe how medicines that are used to treat leukemia and Hodgkins
disease were discovered.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

6. Why do some ethnobotanists believe that shamans could be an important link in the process of turning plants into prescriptions?

38

Name

Date

Class

Activity

ELA6: R2.4, R2.7

20

ELA7: R2.4, W1.2

Reading Comprehension

Directions: Read the passage below, then answer the questions.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Humans have the amazing ability to communicate with each other through
language. Human babies can learn any one of thousands of languages. Normally,
the first language they learn is the one spoken by their parents. There is good
evidence that babies brains are already programmed to learn language. For
example, they are able to notice the difference between sounds at the age of one
month. This has been proven with infants from families who speak different languages. In an experiment, these babies could tell the difference between sounds
even if the babies parents never used them. This means that these babies were
born with the ability to tell the two sounds apart.
Babies also babble in the same language around the world. It doesnt matter
whether they are Ethiopian, Japanese, or American, their early sounds are the
same. Between seven and eight months of age, babies start babbling in syllables.
They take the sound ba and turn it into ba-ba-ba. The babbling sounds they
make are common to most languages.
Children usually begin forming words by their first birthday. Most babies first
words are for objects familiar to them, such as clothes, foods, toys, animals, and
people. When children reach the age of two, they use about 270 different words.
By the time they are six, they use about 2,600 words.
Although much research is left to be done in the language field, it seems that
learning language is a natural function of the brain. As long as a baby is exposed
to a language, the baby will learn it.

Multiple
Choice

1. What is the main idea of this passage?

a. All babies make babbling sounds.
b. Babies around the world sound the same.
c. Babies are naturally able to learn a language.
d. Children know about 2,600 words at the age of six.
2. Which of the following statements is NOT presented as a fact in the
passage?
a. Children know about 270 words by the age of two.
b. All babies can tell differences between words at one month old.
c. Children start forming words by their first birthday.
d. Babies start babbling in syllables between seven and eight months old.
3. Which of the following best describes the authors reason for writing
this article?
a. to inform
b. to entertain
c. to persuade
d. to express a personal opinion

39

Name

Date

Class

Activity 20 (continued)

4. This passage was probably written for

a. experts in language learning.
b. people learning to speak Spanish.
c. students studying the syllables of words.
d. parents interested in how babies learn language.

Short
Answer

5. What proof does the passage give that babies are born with the ability
to tell the difference between sounds at the age of one month?

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

6. How would you summarize this passage? Write your answer in two or
three sentences.

40

Name

Date

Activity

21

Class

Word Analysis and

Vocabulary Development

ELA7: R1.2

Directions: Read the passage and examine the chart. Then answer the questions.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Greek and Latin root words often are used in scientific terminology. Some scientific words are the same in English as they originally were in Greek or Latin.
For example, the Latin words species, genera, spectrum, bacillus, and coccyx are
still used today in their original form. Other words use Greek or Latin prefixes or
suffixes. The chart below lists some commonly used prefixes and suffixes and
their meanings.
Latin or Greek prefix

Meaning

a, an

lack of, negative

bi

twice, double

bio

related to life

bronch

windpipe

chlor

green

chrom

color

endo

within

exo

outside

gravi

heavy

herpe

reptile

hyper

excess

hypo

under

intra

inside

leuko

white

micro

small

macro

large

neuro

nerve

ortho

straight, upright

proto

first

Latin or Greek suffix

Meaning

derma

skin

ectomy

to cut out

emia

blood

itis

disease or
inflammation

logy

study

osis

disease

41

Name

Date

Class

Activity 21 (continued)

Multiple
Choice

1. What is a tonsillectomy?
a. a disease of the tonsils
b. study of the tonsils
c. cutting out of the tonsils
d. an inflammation of the tonsils
2. A disease that affects the skin is called
a. leukemia.
b. bronchitis.
c. dermatitis.
d. neuritis.
3. The study of reptiles is known as
a. biology.
b. neurology.
c. chromatography.
d. herpetology.

Short
Answer

5. What is the difference between an endoskeleton and an exoskeleton? A

microcyte and a macrocyte?

6. Why do you think scientists rely on Greek and Latin words and names
for classification?

42

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

4. In Greek, the word therme means heat. If someones body heat or

temperature was too low, what word could you use to describe this
condition?
a. thermometer
b. thermotropic
c. hyperthermia
d. hypothermia

Name

Date

Activity

22

Class

Analyze and Interpret

Information

ELA6: R2.1, R2.2

Directions: Read the passage and examine the sample Web site. Then answer the questions.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

From the Hubble Space Telescope to DNA fingerprinting, science has always
been about technology. Computer technology has been a part of the world since
the 1950s. The computer revolution led to the evolution of the Internet in the
1990s and now worldwide communication and information exchange is available in almost every business, school, and home in the United States. Scientists
use the Internet to gather information, to showcase their work, to find sources of
funding for research, and to work with other scientists. The following sample of
a Web site illustrates one kind of scientific community on the Internet.

43

Name

Date

Class

Activity 22 (continued)

Multiple
Choice

1. Which link on the Web site might you visit if you wanted to get a scientific research grant?
a. Funding and Grant Opportunities
b. Meetings and Conferences
c. Idea Xchange
d. Science News Updates
2. Which keyword(s) would you use to search for information on the
increase in Earths temperature due to the greenhouse effect?
a. geothermal energy
b. greenhouse plants
c. Earth
d. global warming
3. What information would you NOT find on this Web site?
a. meetings and conferences
b. career opportunities
c. funding and grant opportunities
d. discussion forums

Short
Answer

5. What can the Scientific Xchange offer on its Web site that would make
it more user friendly for international scientists?

6. Using only the Scientific Xchange Web site, how might you go about
compiling a multinational list of scientists who are studying tectonic
plate movement?

44

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

4. Which link would you use to locate scientists outside the United States?
a. Find a Colleague
b. Security Statement
c. International Partnerships
d. Discussion Forums

Name

Date

Activity

23

Class

Understand and
Interpret Data

ELA6: R2.3, R2.7

ELA7: R2.4

Directions: Read the passage and examine the table. Then answer the questions.
If youve ever been outside on a cold winter day, you know that the wind can
make it seem much colder than what the thermometer indicates. This is because
the wind is blowing away the layer of warm air that surrounds your body. Also, it
is causing the moisture on your skin to evaporate. Both of these actions make
you feel colder. Its similar to blowing on hot food to cool it down more quickly.
This phenomenon, called the wind chill factor, can be calculated using the
wind speed and the temperature. The wind chill factor not only gives an indication of how uncomfortable outside temperatures are, it also provides a guide
to help you avoid frostbite. On a calm day, bare skin can freeze in about 1 h
when it is exposed to a temperature of
18C or less and a wind speed of 16
km/h. At the same temperature with a wind speed of 64 km/h, frostbite can
occur in just 10 min.
Look at the table below to see how wind speed affects temperature.

Wind Chill Index

Wind speed (km/h)

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Temperature C

16

24

32

40

48

How it feels
4

3

2

5

7

9

11

0

6

9

11

13

14

1

3

9

13

16

17

19

4

6

12

17

19

22

23

7

9

16

21

23

26

28

9

12

19

24

27

30

32

12

14

23

28

31

34

36

15

18

26

32

35

38

41

18

21

30

35

39

42

45

21

23

33

39

43

46

51

23

26

37

43

46

50

53

26

29

40

46

51

54

57

29

32

43

50

55

59

62

45

Name

Date

Class

Activity 23 (continued)

Multiple
Choice

1. Which two variables does the wind chill factor take into account?
a. wind direction and temperature
b. temperature and precipitation
c. wind speed and temperature
d. precipitation and wind speed
2. If the temperature is
12C and the wind speed is 16 km/h, what is the
wind chill factor?
a.
23C
b.
28C
c.
14C
d.
19C
3. If the temperature is
1C, what would the wind speed have to be to
cause frostbite to bare skin in about 1 h?
a. 16 km/h
b. 24 km/h
c. 32 km/h
d. 40 km/h

Short
Answer

5. Why do you think the wind chill factor table does not include wind
speeds above 50 km/h?

6. Suppose youre a member of the school ski club. What would you tell
club members about todays ski trip if you discovered that the wind
chill factor had reached
18C?

46

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

4. When does it feel colder?

a. when the temperature is 4C and the wind is blowing at 48 km/h
b. when the temperature is
7C and the wind is blowing at 8 km/h
c. when the temperature is
1C and the wind is blowing at 16 km/h
d. when the temperature is 2C and the wind is blowing at 24 km/h

Name

Date

Class

Activity

ELA6: W1.3, W2.5

24

ELA7: W1.2, W2.4

Express an Opinion

ELA8: W1.1, W2.4

Directions: Read the passage below, then complete the writing activity.
Its not uncommon for different scientists to do similar research on the same
topic. For example, scientists in almost every country are trying to find a treatment or cure for the virus that causes AIDS. Scientists often share information
and discoveries with each other. It helps them to learn from one another.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Write an essay on how working with a partner or in a group can help you with science at school. Be
sure to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of learning with a partner or in a group environment, as well as why its helpful to compare scientific results with others.

47

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Name

48

Date
Class

Activity 24 (continued)

Name

Date

ELA6: R2.4, R2.7

Activity

25

Class

Reading Comprehension

ELA7: R2.3

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Directions: Read the passage below, then answer the questions.

Animals interact with each other in many different ways. Some animals partner with other animals in a relationship that is beneficial to both. One of the
most interesting examples of that kind of a relationship is the one between
ants and aphids.
Aphids are small insects that eat the roots, leaves, and stems of plants. They
produce a sweet, sticky fluid called honeydew. Honeydew is waste material for
aphids, but it is food for ants. Ants, however, do not search for honeydew left
behind by aphids. Instead, they keep aphids in their nests.
Honeypot ants live in the southwestern part of the United States. They are
one type of ant that keeps aphids in their nests. They milk the aphids by
stroking them with their antennas. This causes the aphids to secrete the honeydew. Honeypot ants even have workers that store the honeydew in their bellies.
The workers consume so much honeydew that they cannot move. Their purpose
is to bring up honeydew from their stomachs and give it to the other ants as they
need it.
Honeypot ants protect and care for the aphids. They collect food for them and
care for their eggs. They protect them from predators like birds and spiders. If
the aphids are in danger, the honeypot ants will move them to new nests. They
even will move them to underground burrows during the winter.
The aphids also benefit from this relationship. They do not have to search for
food, and they are protected from their predators. Because secreting honeydew is
a natural process for aphids, they do not have to do any extra work. Living
together is advantageous for ants and aphids.

Multiple
Choice

1. Which statement is an opinion from the passage?

a. One of the most interesting examples of that kind of relationship is
the one between ants and aphids.
b. Honeypot ants even have workers that store the honeydew in their
bellies.
c. Aphids are small insects that eat the roots, leaves, and stems of plants.
d. Some animals form relationships that are beneficial to both.
2. How do ants milk aphids?
a. They squeeze their bodies.
b. They move them from nest to nest.
c. They feed them stems, roots, and leaves.
d. They stroke them with their antennas.
3. The central idea of this passage is that
a. aphids use ants to find food.
b. ants use aphids as slaves to produce food.
c. ants and aphids have a mutually beneficial relationship.
d. ants and aphids are destructive to each other.
49

Name

Date

Class

Activity 25 (continued)

4. Which statement below does NOT describe something discussed in this

passage?
a. Ants eat honeydew that aphids produce.
b. Aphids transmit viruses between plants.
c. Ants protect their aphids from predators.
d. Aphids are protected and cared for by ants.

Short
Answer

5. Describe a relationship between a person and an animal that would be

considered mutually beneficial.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

6. Summarize this passage for your teacher.

50

Name

Date

ELA6: W1.3, W2.5

Activity

26

Class

Express an Opinion

ELA7: W1.1, W2.4

ELA8: W1.1, W2.4

Directions: Read the passage below, then complete the writing activity that follows.
In 1996, scientists successfully cloned a sheep they named Dolly. Clones are
organisms that are exact copies of each other. Since the birth of Dolly, people
have wondered about the possibility of cloning humans. Eventually, science
could make it possible for people to make copies of themselves. Many governments, scientists, and specialists in ethics around the world have started discussing whether or not cloning of human beings should be allowed.

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Do you think the cloning of humans is a good idea? Write your opinion and give at least four reasons to support it.

51

Copyright Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Name

52

Date
Class

Activity 26 (continued)

McGraw-Hill
ISBN-13: 978-0-07-875509-5
ISBN-10: 0-07-875509-3