Selection: H-9

H-9

Grade level: 8

Word count: 1657 words

Author: Ben Robinson

Synopsis: Germs are everywhere so it's a good idea to have a plan of protection.

Excerpt: After the athletic director and Coach Carter were notified, new policies to arrest the spread of MRSA and prevent future contamination were adopted. All athletes were checked and those who showed signs of infection received treatment. The mats had to be washed after every practice and meet to eliminate any residue from perspiration. In addition, all wrestlers were required to wash their hands with soap or hand sanitizer in the bathroom before and after practice. Finally, all team members had to wash their uniforms after every use.

Question: How could Steve's case of MRSA be viewed as something positive?

1. New policies were enacted to prevent its spread to others.
2. Wrestling team members were provided with new mats.
3. Infected members were barred from watching sports events.
4. Bathrooms were cleaned and inspected at regular intervals.

Selection: H-32

H-32

Grade level: 8

Word count: 2030 words

Author: Anna Fisher

Synopsis: Many people escaped from East Germany through tunnels under the Berlin Wall, but some did not make it.

Excerpt: "It's the anniversary of the construction of the Berlin Wall," Gram unexpectedly remarked, as Maggie started back into the kitchen. "Do you know about the wall that separated West Berlin from East Berlin?"

Maggie paused and faced her grandmother. "Of course, Gram, we studied the Cold War in history class. People from the eastern side couldn't escape, while those on the western side were free."

Then, one day, we watched as members of the Soviet militia brought out rolls of barbed wire, stringing it along the east-west border. Living conditions had worsened in East Germany, as the economic situation became bleak; in fact, government officials forced people to work on state-owned farms because there was a food shortage.

Question: In which two ways were the lives of people in East Berlin different from those in West Berlin?

1. East Berliners could not travel freely to and from the area.
2. East Berliners experienced shortages of food.
3. East Berliners were not permitted to get an education.
4. East Berliners had to turn in all their valuables to the government.
5. East Berliners had no means of sending letters through the mail.

Selection: H-34

H-34

Grade level: 8

Word count: 2065 words

Author: Claire O'Connell

Synopsis: The pressure is on Lucas. He is the only one of his brothers left to take over the family fishing business.

Excerpt: Lucas Tanner scratched a mosquito bite on his arm and then cast his line. "Saw the rest of the riggers go out to Minette Point this morning, so I guess we'll be the only fishing smack in Oyster Bay."

Mr. Tanner wrenched a dead shrimp from his barb, threw it over the side of the skiff, and hooked the curve of his Eagle Claw into an eyelet. "There's too much competition unless we find more remote inlets. After the oil spill of 2010, it's been near impossible to make a living, especially with your brothers off truck driving.

Question: Choose the sentence in this excerpt that indicates why Lucas and his father decided to fish in Oyster Bay.