PARCC Grade 9 ELA Practice Test Questions
Global warming and the depletion of natural resources are constant threats to the future of our planet. All people have a responsibility to be proactive participants in the fight to save Earth by working now to conserve resources for later. Participation begins with our everyday choices. From what you buy to what you do to how much you use, your decisions affect the planet and everyone around you. Now is the time to take action. When choosing what to buy, look for sustainable products made from renewable or recycled resources. The packaging of the products you buy is just as important as the products themselves. Is the item minimally packaged in a recycled container? How did the product reach the store? Locally grown food and other products manufactured within your community are the best choices. The fewer miles a product traveled to reach you, the fewer resources it required.
You can continue to make a difference for the planet in how you use what you bought and the resources you have available. Remember the locally grown food you purchased? Don’t pile it on your plate at dinner. Food that remains on your plate is a wasted resource, and you can always go back for seconds. You should try to be aware of your consumption of water and energy. Turn off the water when you brush your teeth, and limit your showers to five minutes. Turn off the lights, and don’t leave appliances or chargers plugged in when not in use.
Together, we can use less, waste less, recycle more, and make the right choices. It may be the only chance we have.
1. What is the author's primary purpose in writing this article?
1. D: Various parts of the article are intended to scare (choice A), warn (choice B), and inspire (choice C) people, but the primary purpose of the article is to offer practical advice about what products people should buy and how to use their available resources to make responsible decisions for the future of our planet.
2. Part A: How does the author make a connection between the second and third paragraphs?
2. Part A: A: The author begins the third paragraph with, "You can continue to make a difference for the planet in how you use what you bought and the resources you have available." This sentence makes the connection between the second paragraph which deals with what people should buy and the third paragraph which makes suggestions for how to use what they have.
2. Part B: What specific item is used as an example in paragraph 2 and 3?
Part B: B: In paragraph 2 he mentions "Locally grown food and other products," and in paragraph 3 he mentions "Remember the locally grown food you purchased?"
3. What is the main idea of this article?
3. B: The author does suggest that people should use less water and energy (choice A), but these are only two suggestions among many and not the main idea of the article. The article does not say that people are destroying the earth (choice C) or make a suggestion that people organize their acquaintances (choice D).
4. Which organizational pattern did the author use?
4. D: The author presents the problems of global warming and the rapid depletion of the planet's natural resources and offers several practical suggestions for how to stop global warming and use remaining resources judiciously.
5. What does the author say is the place to begin saving our planet?
5. C: The author makes suggestions to use less water (choice B) and buy locally grown food (choice D), but they are not suggested as the place to begin saving the planet. The author does not suggest getting rid of products that are not earth friendly (choice A). The author states: "Participation begins with our everyday choices."
6. Part A: What does the author imply will happen if people do not follow his suggestions?
6. Part A: C: The author does not mention running out of resources in a specific time period (choice A), the cost of water and energy (choice B), or the possibility of hardship for local farmers (choice D).
6. Part B: Which sentence supports your answer from Part A?
Part B: D: The sentence that best shows that the author is implying that global warming and the depletion of natural resources will continue is, "Global warming and the depletion of natural resources are constant threats to the future of our planet."
7. You are working with a group to compile further research on what people can do to help the environment. Your teacher has asked your group to present a broad overview of the topic. Which of the following would be the best choice for dividing the topic among the individuals in your group?
7. D: Choice D gives the broadest interpretation of the topic. Choice A focuses solely on recycling; choice B focuses on the choice of products to be purchased; and choice C focuses on recycling, one type of energy-saving product (hybrid cars), and ways to conserve one resource (water).
8. "When choosing what to buy, look for sustainable products made from renewable or recycled resources."
8. A: "When choosing what to buy, look for sustainable products made from renewable or recycled resources." The context of this sentence indicates that sustainable means renewable or able to be used again.
9. Part A: "You should try to be aware of your consumption of water and energy." What does the word "consumption" mean in the context of this selection?
9. Part A: D: As the passage states: "You should try to be aware of your consumption of water and energy. Turn off the water when you brush your teeth, and limit your showers to five minutes. Turn off the lights, and don't leave appliances or chargers plugged in when not in use." The contexts of these sentences indicate that consumption means the depletion of goods (e.g., water and energy).
9. Part B: Based on your answer in Part A, give a sentence from the paragraph that supports your answer.
Part B: Any of the sentences above that give context to what the word "consumption" mean are acceptable answers.
10. The author makes a general suggestion to the reader: "You should try to be aware of your consumption of water and energy." Which of the following is one way the author specifies that this suggestion be carried out?
10. C: Of the choices available, this is the only sentence that offers specific ideas for carrying out the author's suggestion to the reader of limiting consumption of energy.