CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.1

Description: Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
Maps to Reading Plus skills: 1A, 1A, 1B, 1B, 2B, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3A, 3B, 3B, 3C, 3C, 4C, 4C, 5A, 5B, 5B, 6A, 6A, 6B, 6C, 7C, 7C, 8A, 8A, 8B, 8B, 9A, 9A, 9B

Exemplars

1A: Recalling Explicit Details

1A: Recalling Explicit Details

Description: Identifying explicit details including character, time, setting and speaker

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-8

I-8

Grade level: 9
Word count: 1716 words
Author: H.H. Munro
Synopsis: The legend about the Cernogratz wolves is just a story -- isn't it? An elderly servant says otherwise.
Excerpt: "Hark! What is that other sound?" asked the startled Baron, as a noise of splitting and crashing was heard.

It was a tree falling in the park.

There was a moment of constrained silence, and then the banker's wife spoke.

"It is the intense cold that is splitting the trees. It is also the cold that has brought the wolves out in such numbers. It is many years since we have had such a cold winter."

The Baroness eagerly agreed that the cold was responsible for these things. It was the cold of the open window, too, which caused the heart failure that made the doctor's ministrations unnecessary for the old Fraulein.

Question: The Baroness and her guests said both the howling wolves and the falling trees were due to
  1. the extreme cold.
  2. the rise of the full moon.
  3. sheer coincidence.
  4. bad luck.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Write three questions about a selection that will require additional research or fact-checking to answer them. Provide the answers to these questions.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

1B: Analyzing Implicit Details

1B: Analyzing Implicit Details

Description: Drawing Conclusions, Making Inferences from information in text

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-8

I-8

Grade level: 9
Word count: 1716 words
Author: H.H. Munro
Synopsis: The legend about the Cernogratz wolves is just a story -- isn't it? An elderly servant says otherwise.
Excerpt: "I dare say her grandfather was a pantry boy or something of the sort in the castle," snickered the Baron, "that part of the story may be true."

The merchant from Hamburg said nothing; he had seen tears in the old woman's eyes when she spoke of guarding her memories -- or, being of an imaginative disposition, he thought he had.

Question: When the Baron and Baroness criticized Amalie after she left the room, why did the merchant from Hamburg say nothing?
  1. He thought Amalie was telling the truth, but then he doubted himself.
  2. The Baron and Baroness had already voiced what he had been thinking.
  3. He was busy reading a book and ignored the entire conversation.
  4. The Baron and Baroness did not ask him about his opinion on the matter.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Give an example of something you learned about a situation or event in the selection by reading between the lines.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

2B: Analyzing Relative Importance

2B: Analyzing Relative Importance

Description: Determining Relative Importance

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-10

I-10

Grade level: 9
Word count: 1732 words
Author: Mary R. Dunn
Synopsis: You can learn a lot of interesting things about ancient people from their bones.
Excerpt: When a map of Florida appeared on the screen, students thought it must be a mistake, but Professor Linus pointed to a town in the central part of the state labeled Titusville, which he described as one of the most significant archeological sites in North America. The land being developed was a bog and had, at one time in the past, been used as a cemetery. The peat in the region had preserved the skeletons of about 168 prehistoric people buried there.

Question: Based on this excerpt, what was the most unusual aspect of the Titusville site?
  1. It was a bog that preserved prehistoric bodies.
  2. It appeared on a map of the central part of Florida.
  3. It was being developed by a construction company.
  4. It had been used in the past as a vacation resort.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Create a Facebook fan page for a selection. Include the most important information to share with fans.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

3A: Predicting Outcomes

3A: Predicting Outcomes

Description: Predicting Outcomes

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-5

I-5

Grade level: 9
Word count: 1794 words
Author: Tuck Danbridge
Synopsis: "El Duque" left his homeland of Cuba to pursue a pitching career in the U.S.
Excerpt: Two years after arriving in America, Livan had now achieved status as a genuine baseball star. As Livan celebrated and sprayed champagne over his jubilant teammates, his brother Orlando was still in Cuba, with no salary and no championship ring. However, that was about to change.

Question: What could have happened to El Duque if Livan had never left Cuba?
  1. He might not have sought an opportunity to play baseball in America.
  2. He might have signed a million-dollar contract with a Cuban team.
  3. He might have been arrested as a potential risk to flee his homeland.
  4. He might have lost interest in baseball and retired at a young age.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Use a selection you have read to finish this statement: "If only (a character) had done (this action) instead of (this action), then (make a prediction about what might have happened)." Use details from the selection to illustrate and support your prediction.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

3B: Analyzing Plot/Character

3B: Analyzing Plot/Character

Description: Analyzing setting, plot, and character

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-22

I-22

Grade level: 9
Word count: 2135 words
Author: Marian Iorio
Synopsis: Frida Kahlo was a Mexican artist, and one of the few women of her time to achieve world recognition.
Excerpt: Regardless of her affliction, she was a fearless tomboy, furthering her closeness to her father. Together they practiced soccer and engaged in various athletic activities to build strength in her weakened leg. They went on nature walks, collecting specimens to view under his microscope, and shared intellectual and creative pursuits, including painting.

Question: The relationship between Frida and her father can be described as
  1. nurturing and spirited.
  2. competitive and strained.
  3. formal and unemotional.
  4. passive and reserved.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Describe a character with whom you empathize, and explain why you feel this way.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

3C: Analyzing Cause/Effect

3C: Analyzing Cause/Effect

Description: Analyzing Cause and Effect

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-36

I-36

Grade level: 9
Word count: 2302 words
Author: Erica Cirino
Synopsis: Brothers want to see a new pirate film, but they don't have enough money. Will their plan to get the money work out?
Excerpt: Once upstairs we plunked down on my bottom bunk and began to draft our ransom note. I wrote the note while John thought up what we should say, since he was the creative one but had terrible spelling and handwriting. I tried to conceal my identity from Mom and Dad by writing the note while holding the pen in my left hand, since I normally use my right hand.

Question: Why did Jay write the ransom note with his left hand?
  1. He did not want his parents to recognize his handwriting.
  2. He wanted it to look as if John wrote the note.
  3. He was writing the draft with his left hand but would use his right hand for the actual note.
  4. He had better handwriting when using his left hand.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Describe the cause and effect relationship in a selection you read.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

4C: Visualizing

4C: Visualizing

Description: Visualizing

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-35

I-35

Grade level: 9
Word count: 2532 words
Author: Ambrose Bierce
Synopsis: A captain's fear of battle leads to tragic consequences.
Excerpt: Of all the Federal Army on that summer morning none had accepted battle more joyously than Anderton Graffenreid. His spirit was buoyant and his faculties were riotous. He was in a state of mental exaltation and scarcely could endure the enemy's tardiness in advancing to the attack. To him this was opportunity—for the result he cared nothing. Victory or defeat, as God might will; in one or in the other he should prove himself a soldier and a hero; he should vindicate his right to the respect of his men and the companionship of his brother officers—to the consideration of his superiors.

Question: Read this excerpt. Which expression would most likely appear on Captain Graffenreid's face?
  1. determination
  2. worry
  3. sadness
  4. embarrassment

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Describe an example of a particularly vivid scene from a selection. Explain what technique the author used to create such a clear picture of the setting or event you found memorable.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

5A: Examining Text Structure

5A: Examining Text Structure

Description: Examining Text Structure

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-38

I-38

Grade level: 9
Word count: 1934 words
Author: Emily Bronte
Synopsis: A tenant visits his new landlord, receiving a cold welcome but gaining some insight into the mysterious owner of Wuthering Heights.
Excerpt: "Mr. Lockwood, your new tenant, sir. I do myself the honor of calling as soon as possible after my arrival, to express the hope that I have not inconvenienced you by my perseverance in soliciting the occupation of Thrushcross Grange: I heard yesterday you had had some thoughts. . ."

Question: Who is the narrator of this selection?
  1. Mr. Lockwood
  2. Emily Bronte
  3. Joseph
  4. Mr. Heathcliff

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Describe how the author of a selection uses details to advance the plot.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

5B: Examining Sequence

5B: Examining Sequence

Description: Examining Sequence of Ideas and Events

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-44

I-44

Grade level: 9
Word count: 2021 words
Author: Diane Lang
Synopsis: After experiencing homelessness, Jeremy makes something of his life by starting a business and helping others.
Excerpt: After landing in Minneapolis, we took a lengthy bus ride to Star Lake Wilderness Camp, located near small-town Brainerd. Once we arrived at our campsite, we unloaded our equipment: tents, sleeping bags, water jugs, cleaning supplies, and coolers of food.

After attending night school, I slept with my sparse belongings on a bench in Jefferson Park, a dangerous area across from the Drop-In Center, a place that helps find shelter and food for homeless people. Occasionally, a volunteer at the Drop-In Center would find a bed for me, but only for a few nights--competition was really stiff.

His agent loved my work, and a year later my creations were winning the respect of artists, journalists, photographers, and celebrities alike. I became a full-time artist and traveled often to Atlanta for photo shoots, much to the delight of my parents.

Then one night in Port-au-Prince, a random band performed "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," and my days spent in Sam's Gym drifted back to me. At that particular moment, I felt empty and purposeless.

Question: Put the following settings in order from first to last as they appear in the selection.
  1. Star Lake Wilderness Camp
  2. Drop-In Center at Jefferson Park
  3. parents' home in Atlanta, Georgia
  4. band concert in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Create a timeline of the sequence of events in a selection. Use the Internet or other research tools to find other historical events that occurred during the same timeframe and incorporate the dates on your timeline.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

6A: Recognizing Author's Intent

6A: Recognizing Author's Intent

Description: Recognizing Author's Purpose

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-34

I-34

Grade level: 9
Word count: 1729 words
Author: Leo Tolstoy
Synopsis: The learned men in the kingdom are unable to answer the king's questions. Can a wise hermit provide the answers?
Excerpt: No excerpt is available for this question.
Question: Tolstoy intended for this selection to
  1. teach about morality.
  2. entertain with humor.
  3. instruct about history.
  4. persuade with facts.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: What was the author's primary intent when he or she wrote a selection? What other objectives might the author have had in mind when writing the selection?

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

6B: Recognizing Persuasion

6B: Recognizing Persuasion

Description: Recognizing Persuasive Devices

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-41

I-41

Grade level: 9
Word count: 1904 words
Author: Luke Cooper
Synopsis: Gustavo Dudamel embodies the power and magic of music.
Excerpt: "Music does more than nourish the human spirit," he adds. "Its very practice instills focus and discipline, respect for others, a spirit of collaboration, and many other positive values that make us better citizens of the world."

Dudamel is convinced that classical music can be a powerful force for social change. "When a little boy or girl, especially from a disadvantaged community, goes to [play in] the orchestra, it can change the life of a family and a community," he explains.

Question: The author of this selection is most likely to agree with which of the following statements?
  1. Music instills values that can be a powerful force for making people and the world a better place.
  2. Classical music is an elite art form that holds no interest for today's young people.
  3. A conductor of an orchestra has a responsibility to follow the musical score as the composer intended.
  4. A more mature conductor usually can generate more excitement than a younger one.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Write a summary of a selection from a perspective that is opposite from the selection.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

7C: Interpreting Images

7C: Interpreting Images

Description: Intepreting Images and Maps

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-34

I-34

Grade level: 9
Word count: 1729 words
Author: Leo Tolstoy
Synopsis: The learned men in the kingdom are unable to answer the king's questions. Can a wise hermit provide the answers?
Image:
Question image failed to load
Question: What significance does this item have in the selection?
  1. If the King did not take this item from the hermit, he would have been attacked.
  2. If the King took this item from the hermit, he would have been attacked.
  3. If the man did not take this item from the hermit, he would have met the King.
  4. If the man took this item from the hermit, he would have met the King.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Describe how images used in a text added to the mood or overall understanding of the text. Use images and details from a selection you have read to illustrate and explain your answer.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

8A: Judging Validity

8A: Judging Validity

Description: Judge Validity

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-10

I-10

Grade level: 9
Word count: 1732 words
Author: Mary R. Dunn
Synopsis: You can learn a lot of interesting things about ancient people from their bones.
Excerpt: In his final example, Professor Linus discussed the skeleton of a young woman found on a 4,000-year-old site in the Arabian Peninsula. The woman had very slender arm and leg bones, probably from a disease like polio. She would have needed 24-hour care and the people in her tribe would have needed to tend to her day and night.

Question: What evidence supports the scientists' reasoning that the young woman's remains found in the Arabian Peninsula had a bone disease?
  1. Her arm and leg bones were very slender.
  2. She was found with casts on her limbs.
  3. The people of her tribe avoided her.
  4. People of that region often had polio.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Imagine you are an attorney. Write an opening statement to the jury that argues the validity of a selection you read. Provide supportive evidence.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

8B: Reasoning

8B: Reasoning

Description: Reasoning

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-7

I-7

Grade level: 9
Word count: 1833 words
Author: Charles Dickens
Synopsis: A young orphan, whose life's expectations are dim, meets a strange man while visiting his parents' graves in the village churchyard.
Excerpt: You fail, or you go from my words in any partickler, no matter how small it is, and your heart and your liver shall be tore out, roasted, and ate. Now, I ain't alone, as you may think I am. There's a young man hid with me, in comparison with which young man I am a Angel. That young man hears the words I speak. That young man has a horrible secret way pecooliar to himself, of getting at a boy, and at his heart, and at his liver. It is in wain for a boy to attempt to hide himself from that young man. A boy may lock his door, may be warm in bed, may tuck himself up, may draw the clothes over his head, may think himself comfortable and safe, but that young man will softly creep and creep his way to him and tear him open. I am a keeping that horrible young man from harming of you at the present moment, with great difficulty. I find it wery hard to hold that young man off of your inside. Now, what do you say?"

Question: Based on this excerpt, the old stranger mentions there is a young man with him because
  1. Pip might think the old stranger does not look strong enough to carry out his threats.
  2. Pip would feel less threatened by a young man and want to be his friend.
  3. the stranger would need the help of a young man to cut off the leg iron.
  4. a young man would want Pip to bring him more supplies.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Describe a scene from a selection. Explain how you put together clues from that scene to figure out how and why something happened.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

9A: Comparing/Contrasting

9A: Comparing/Contrasting

Description: Compare, Contrast, and/or Integrate

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-35

I-35

Grade level: 9
Word count: 2532 words
Author: Ambrose Bierce
Synopsis: A captain's fear of battle leads to tragic consequences.
Excerpt: Suddenly, from the forest a half-mile in front—apparently from among the upper branches of the trees, but really from the ridge beyond—rose a tall column of white smoke. A moment later came a deep, jarring explosion, followed—almost attended—by a hideous rushing sound that seemed to leap forward across the intervening space with inconceivable rapidity, rising from whisper to roar with too quick a gradation for attention to note the successive stages of its horrible progression! A visible tremor ran along the lines of men; all were startled into motion. Captain Graffenreid dodged and threw up his hands to one side of his head, palms outward.

The enemy's shot was not answered; the officer in command at that exposed part of the line had evidently no desire to provoke a cannonade. For the forbearance Captain Graffenreid was conscious of a sense of gratitude. He had not known that the flight of a projectile was a phenomenon of so appalling character. His conception of war had already undergone a profound change, and he was conscious that his new feeling was manifesting itself in visible perturbation. His blood was boiling in his veins; he had a choking sensation and felt that if he had a command to give it would be inaudible, or at least unintelligible. The hand in which he held his sword trembled; the other moved automatically, clutching at various parts of his clothing. He found a difficulty in standing still and fancied that his men observed it. Was it fear? He feared it was.

Question: Based on this excerpt, in which way does Captain Graffenreid differ from the other men fighting in his troop.
  1. He is more nervous during battle.
  2. He is braver during battle.
  3. He has more fighting experience.
  4. He rides a horse during battle.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Create a Venn diagram to demonstrate the physical, emotional, and intellectual similarities and differences between two characters from selections you have read.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

9B: Classifying

9B: Classifying

Description: Classify

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-34

I-34

Grade level: 9
Word count: 1729 words
Author: Leo Tolstoy
Synopsis: The learned men in the kingdom are unable to answer the king's questions. Can a wise hermit provide the answers?
Excerpt: "You are tired," said the King, "let me take the spade and work awhile for you."

"Thanks!" said the hermit, and, giving the spade to the King, he sat down on the ground.

But the King did not give him the spade, and continued to dig. One hour passed, and another.

The King turned round, and saw a bearded man come running out of the wood. The man held his hands pressed against his stomach, and blood was flowing from under them. When he reached the King, he fell fainting on the ground moaning feebly. The King and the hermit loosened the man's clothing. The King washed it as best he could, and bandaged it with his handkerchief and with a towel the hermit had.

The King was very glad to have made peace with his enemy so easily, and to have gained him for a friend, and he not only forgave him, but said he would send his servants and his own physician to attend him, and promised to restore his property.

Question: The King learns the answers to his three questions after he performs three acts of compassion in this selection. What were the three acts?
  1. He helped the hermit dig, he cared for the wounded man, and he made peace with the wounded man.
  2. He helped the hermit dig, he paid for a doctor for the wounded man, and he fed the guard.
  3. He cared for the wounded man, he brought gifts for the hermit's family, and he made peace with the guard.
  4. He made peace with the hermit, he helped the wounded man, and he found jobs for the learned men.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: List three of your personal interests. By using the Internet or visiting a library, find five books that relate to each of those interests. Label the books as fiction or non-fiction and indicate how each book relates to an interest.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

1A: Recalling Explicit Details

1A: Recalling Explicit Details

Description: Identifying explicit details including character, time, setting and speaker

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-1

I-1

Grade level: 9
Word count: 1740 words
Author: Peter Kupfer
Synopsis: Many bright minds came together to make the new Bay Bridge in San Francisco a technological wonder.
Excerpt: The idea of building a bridge between San Francisco and Oakland had been discussed since the California Gold Rush in the 1840s, but because the water separating the two cities was so wide (more than four miles) and so deep (more than 100 feet in some places), many people thought it would be too challenging and too costly to build. Finally, in 1926, the state of California set up a special commission to plan and build a bridge connecting the two cities. The commission decided that the most suitable solution was to build two separate bridges linked by Yerba Buena Island.

Question: Why did people think it would be too difficult to build the original Bay Bridge?
  1. The water at the building site was so wide and deep.
  2. Steel would have to be shipped from the East Coast.
  3. No suitable locations could be found on each shore.
  4. A special commission said there was no money to pay for it.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Create a website for a non-fiction selection you read. Include the main idea and supporting details. Include images that would help viewers of your website better understand the topic.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

1B: Analyzing Implicit Details

1B: Analyzing Implicit Details

Description: Drawing Conclusions, Making Inferences from information in text

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-6

I-6

Grade level: 9
Word count: 1546 words
Author: Henry David Thoreau
Synopsis: Have you ever felt that life is just work, work, work? That's just what Thoreau felt too, over 150 years ago.
Excerpt: As for my own business, even that kind of surveying which I could do with most satisfaction, my employers do not want. They would prefer that I should do my work coarsely and not too well. When I observe that there are different ways of surveying, my employer commonly asks which will give him the most land, not which is most correct.

Question: At the time this essay was written, how did Thoreau make his living?
  1. as a surveyor
  2. as a banker
  3. as a teacher
  4. as a lawmaker

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Write a question about one additional fact you would have liked to learn from a selection you read. Answer the question by using the Internet or other research tools to find the necessary information.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

2B: Analyzing Relative Importance

2B: Analyzing Relative Importance

Description: Determining Relative Importance

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-17

I-17

Grade level: 9
Word count: 2235 words
Author: Nancy McCloskey
Synopsis: The discovery of the structure of DNA has helped people learn about their heritage.
Excerpt: Decker realized that the project was a good way to teach students about DNA and human migration, and to change their perspective on race. "By giving students this information, tangible evidence, it changes their attitudes on diversity," said Decker. "It brings history to life."

Question: According to Professor Decker, what was the most important benefit of teaching his students about DNA?
  1. giving them a new perspective on racial diversity
  2. increasing their knowledge of animal migration
  3. inspiring them to pursue careers in science
  4. providing information about life in ancient times

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: When reading for information, why is it important to concentrate on the most important facts? Give an example from your social studies or science textbook of how you would do this.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

2C: Summarizing

2C: Summarizing

Description: Summarizing

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-4

I-4

Grade level: 9
Word count: 1787 words
Author: Patrick Henry
Synopsis: A passionate speaker stirs his audience to make a historical decision.
Excerpt: Henry's speech had stirred up the patriotism of the people, and George Mason, one of the "Founding Fathers" of the United States, was very impressed with the young lawyer's skill as a public speaker. He said about Henry, "He is by far the most powerful speaker I ever heard. Every word he says not only engages but commands the attention, and your passions are no longer your own when he addresses them."

Question: In this excerpt, what is Mason really saying about Henry?
  1. His words aroused feelings that inspired people to take action.
  2. His words commanded people to do something they didn't want to do.
  3. His words were too powerful for the people to understand.
  4. His words angered those people who did not agree with him.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Create a news report based on a selection you have read. Report facts from the selection as well as additional facts you researched from reputable sources.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

3A: Predicting Outcomes

3A: Predicting Outcomes

Description: Predicting Outcomes

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-1

I-1

Grade level: 9
Word count: 1740 words
Author: Peter Kupfer
Synopsis: Many bright minds came together to make the new Bay Bridge in San Francisco a technological wonder.
Excerpt: The state of California has designated the bridge a "lifeline" structure. What that means is that just surviving a major earthquake without tumbling into the bay is not sufficient. Within a few hours of a big quake, the bridge should be usable by emergency vehicles rushing to provide aid to stricken residents. "There will be damage (in a major quake)," said Nader, "but the damage will be repairable, and the bridge should be quickly returned to service."

Question: If an earthquake were to hit San Francisco, the new Bay Bridge probably
  1. would have minor damage.
  2. would be irreparably damaged.
  3. would have major damage.
  4. would have no damage.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Use a selection you have read to finish this statement: "If only (a character) had done (this action) instead of (this action), then (make a prediction about what might have happened)." Use details from the selection to illustrate and support your prediction.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

3B: Analyzing Plot/Character

3B: Analyzing Plot/Character

Description: Analyzing setting, plot, and character

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-12

I-12

Grade level: 9
Word count: 2083 words
Author: Jake Gibson
Synopsis: The term avatar and the concept behind its use in video games have roots in Hindu mythology.
Excerpt: Without that avatar, the user could not enter these fantasy worlds because they are artificial and digitally enhanced environments that can be observed only through a gaming console or computer.

Like the gods in Hindu mythology who cannot visit Earth unless in avatar form, so too users cannot enter the fantasy worlds of their favorite video game without creating an avatar to represent them.

Question: How are Hindu avatars and video game avatars similar?
  1. both allow interaction with an otherwise unreachable world
  2. both have bodies that are subject to the laws of nature
  3. both lack freedom and are destined to a life of struggle
  4. both take the form of monsters to show their power

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Think about the characters in a selection. What motivates these characters to act the way they do?

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

3C: Analyzing Cause/Effect

3C: Analyzing Cause/Effect

Description: Analyzing Cause and Effect

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-4

I-4

Grade level: 9
Word count: 1787 words
Author: Patrick Henry
Synopsis: A passionate speaker stirs his audience to make a historical decision.
Excerpt: Not long after that, Henry won a fight with the British governor of the colony, Lord Dunsmore, over the return of a large amount of the Virginia troop's gunpowder that the governor had sent to a British ship. The Governor felt the British would be safer if the gunpowder was away from the reach of the troops, but Henry challenged the Governor, who ended up making a large payment to the troops for the gunpowder he had taken.

Question: Why did Lord Dunsmore transport the troop's gunpowder to a ship offshore?
  1. He was afraid the troops would use it against the British.
  2. He planned to store it in a dry place so it would not be ruined.
  3. He wanted to inspect it before returning it to the troops.
  4. He was planning to pay the troops a good price for it.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Describe the cause and effect relationship in a selection you read.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

4C: Visualizing

4C: Visualizing

Description: Visualizing

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-12

I-12

Grade level: 9
Word count: 2083 words
Author: Jake Gibson
Synopsis: The term avatar and the concept behind its use in video games have roots in Hindu mythology.
Excerpt: The prophecy continues with Vishnu incarnating as Kalki, a warrior similar in appearance to the Rama avatar. Kalki is supposed to enter India bearing weapons and riding on a white horse. This final avatar is considered god-like, possessing unlimited power and singlehandedly defeating the invaders in India.

Question: According to the prophecy, what will the people expect to see when the avatar Kalki arrives in India to defeat the foreign invaders?
  1. a warrior bearing weapons on a white horse
  2. a gold-skinned god descending from heaven
  3. a wild animal carrying a demon in its teeth
  4. a monster ascending from the seafloor

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Describe an example of a particularly vivid scene from a selection. Explain what technique the author used to create such a clear picture of the setting or event you found memorable.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

5B: Examining Sequence

5B: Examining Sequence

Description: Examining Sequence of Ideas and Events

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-19

I-19

Grade level: 9
Word count: 1977 words
Author: Karen Berman
Synopsis: Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver wants students to appreciate the taste and value of healthful eating.
Excerpt: In 2002, he started a restaurant in London called Fifteen. At the restaurant, he arranged to train 15 young people from disadvantaged backgrounds each year so they could get jobs in the restaurant industry.

Oliver instituted his campaign for better lunches in London's Kidbrooke School, and took his camera crew along to film a TV show.

Soon afterward, Oliver founded a group called Feed Me Better. After drafting an online petition for better school food, he received more than 271,000 signatures.

He began with a show in which he traveled around the country eating different kinds of food. He chose as his target a community in Huntington, West Virginia, a small town known for its poor health statistics.

He called this program "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution," using techniques he had developed for "Jamie's School Dinners" and "Jamie's Ministry of Food."

Question: Put the four social activist projects Oliver created in the order in which they occurred, starting with the earliest.
  1. He started a restaurant called Fifteen.
  2. He instituted a campaign for better lunches at Kidbrooke School.
  3. He founded a group called Feed Me Better.
  4. He went to West Virgina to start Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Think about the selections you have read that explain how something happens or is done. Explain the process in complete detail in your own words, so that people reading your instructions are able to understand or perform the entire process successfully on their own.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

6A: Recognizing Author's Intent

6A: Recognizing Author's Intent

Description: Recognizing Author's Purpose

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-43

I-43

Grade level: 9
Word count: 1906 words
Author: Katherine Menard
Synopsis: During these events each team, called a "colla," builds and dismantles its own human tower.
Excerpt: These human towers, called castells, are a longstanding and beloved tradition of Catalonia, a region in easternmost Spain. The art and craft of assembling (and instantly disassembling) castells dates back to the early 1700s, but has grown enormously in popularity in recent years. Castells are featured at special festivals, most of which are held in the vicinity of Barcelona, the largest city in Catalonia.

Question: What is the author's purpose in describing other towers in the beginning of this selection?
  1. to highlight the cultural significance of the castells
  2. to demonstrate how much more difficult it is to build physical towers than castells
  3. to suggest that the castelliers should invest their energy and talent in more permanent structures
  4. to show that large cities have erected significant structures

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Describe how the author of an argument tries to prove that he or she is right.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

6C: Recognizing Mood/Tone

6C: Recognizing Mood/Tone

Description: Recognizing Mood and Tone

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-9

I-9

Grade level: 9
Word count: 1814 words
Author: Tamara Smith
Synopsis: Want to change the world? Then do what Wangari did: plant a tree.
Excerpt: She founded her own organization called Envirocare, a business dedicated to the empowerment and independence of women through the planting of trees. This opportunity gave many women the confidence and agency to direct not only their own lives but also the future of their country. Envirocare unfortunately ran into many financial problems and ultimately failed. But Wangari knew she had created an important model and was determined to find new solutions.

Question: The primary tone in this part of the selection is one of
  1. persistence.
  2. jubilation.
  3. hesitation.
  4. impatience.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: What kinds of language or other text structure elements (tone) are used to create an excited or adventurous mood? Use details from a selection you have read to illustrate and explain your answer.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

7C: Interpreting Images

7C: Interpreting Images

Description: Intepreting Images and Maps

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-11

I-11

Grade level: 9
Word count: 1755 words
Author: Joan Novelli
Synopsis: Got a wave, a spiral, or a snowflake? There's a mathematical equation for that!
Image:
Question image failed to load
Question: What does the graph of a sound wave of a human heart, as shown in this image, have to do with a fractal pattern?
  1. The graph is so similar to a fractal pattern that medical researchers can use it to check a heart's health.
  2. The graph, like a fractal pattern, rotates around an axis and therefore always looks the same when it spins.
  3. The graph is so different from a fractal pattern that it have no scientific value.
  4. Once the graph or a fractal pattern is magnified, the repetition of geometric shapes can no longer be seen.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Choose an image from a nonfiction selection you have read. Use the image as inspiration to write a new fictional piece on the same topic.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

8A: Judging Validity

8A: Judging Validity

Description: Judge Validity

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-45

I-45

Grade level: 9
Word count: 1885 words
Author: Peter Brassai
Synopsis: Mo'ne Davis became the first girl to earn a win and pitch a shutout in Little League World Series history.
Excerpt: Davis is the first African-American girl, the fourth American girl, and the 18th girl overall to play in the Little League World Series. Those are splendid feats, especially when you consider that more than 9,000 boys have participated in the tournament since it was established in 1947. Her triumphs on the diamond have made her a media darling and a household name in many American homes. Like Brazilian soccer star Pele, Mo'ne requires only one name to be recognized.

Question: Choose the sentence in this excerpt that provides important details that support the main idea that Davis is breaking down gender barriers.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Think about how an author's bias affects the validity of a claim. Choose a selection you have read and explain whether or not the author's bias has caused him or her to make a false claim.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

8B: Reasoning

8B: Reasoning

Description: Reasoning

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-43

I-43

Grade level: 9
Word count: 1906 words
Author: Katherine Menard
Synopsis: During these events each team, called a "colla," builds and dismantles its own human tower.
Excerpt: After Franco's death in 1975, the Catalan people began to make their voices heard again, and Catalan cultural pride resurged. Catalans have continued to assert their determination to be an independent sovereign country, no longer part of Spain. This movement has become particularly strong since the turn of the 21st century. Catalans have tried to work with the Spanish government to claim their right to independence and their pride in their distinct culture and traditions, as well as to seek recognition for their contributions to the economy of Spain.

Question: Why did the death of Francisco Franco lead to a resurgence in the popularity of castell building?
  1. The lifting of restrictions that Franco had imposed allowed for greater expression of the Catalan culture.
  2. The end of the Franco regime made people see that working hard was not that important.
  3. After Franco's death parents were no longer reluctant to permit their young children to participate in physical activities.
  4. After Franco died, the Spanish government was eager to erect buildings in his honor.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Do people learn by studying the past? Use details from a selection you have read, as well as your reasoning skills, to support your answer.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions

9A: Comparing/Contrasting

9A: Comparing/Contrasting

Description: Compare, Contrast, and/or Integrate

SeeReader
✓ standard met

Selection: I-46

I-46

Grade level: 9
Word count: 2076 words
Author: Joe Novelli
Synopsis: Nive grew up surrounded by whales, icebergs, and the swirling northern lights, and was motivated to use her talents to create and explore.
Excerpt: Greenland is known for its extreme seasons and the bizarre effects of being positioned so close to the North Pole. Notable among these is the daylight, with the summertime sun never fully disappearing, setting upon the horizon only to rise again a few hours later. The viewer's perception of this is a continuous transition between sunset and sunrise, causing brilliant swathes of color dancing over the sky for hours.

The extreme seasons' flip side is the impenetrable darkness of winter, lasting all day and night with only soft dusk for a few daytime hours. But this harsh period of perpetual night provides an utterly awe-inspiring experience: watching the Northern Lights sweep and spiral across the sky like a celestial ballet of greens and purples. The lights arc from horizon to horizon, bending and swirling around one another at alarming speeds. The motion of the spiraling lights in the center of the arc gives one the perception of a living sky, breathing and pulsing.

Question: How do these two paragraphs work together?
  1. They both illustrate contrasting examples of the uniqueness of Greenland's extreme climate.
  2. They both illustrate similar climatic phenomena and how they effect Greenland's environment.
  3. They both illustrate how Greenland's environment affects its economy and cultural arts.
  4. They both illustrate the aesthetic influence Greenland's environment has on Nive's songwriting.

Writing
✓ standard met

Writing prompt: Use a Venn diagram to compare two non-fiction selections on the same topic.

Evaluator

Organization: Certica Solutions