UNIT 1 WEEK 3

1. UNIT 1 WEEK 3 • “A Continent on Ice” • “Desert Life”

2. READ THE ARTICLE “A CONTINENT ON ICE” BEFORE ANSWERING NUMBERS 1 THROUGH 10. • Now answer Numbers 1 through 10. Base your answers on “A Continent of Ice.”

3. 1. READ THIS EXCERPT FROM THE ARTICLE. • Imagine a place with bone-chilling temperatures and blizzards so thick you cannot see your hand in front of your face. You try to perceive your surroundings, but all you see is endless ice. • What does perceive mean in the excerpt above? • A. deny • B. observe • C. touch • D. welcome

4. 2. READ THIS SENTENCE FROM THE ARTICLE. • It is the coldest zone on Earth, and about 98 percent of the continent is covered with ice. • The origin of the word zone is the Greek root zon-, meaning “belt.” Knowing this suggests that a climate zone is most likely • F. an icy area in the center of colder climates. • G. a continent on Earth that has its own climate. • H. a band around Earth with one type of climate. • I. a moving mass of air that changes the climate.

5. 3. WHICH DETAIL FROM THE ARTICLE TELLS YOU THAT THE ENVIRONMENT OF ANTARCTICA IS EXTREME? • A. Plant life grows in areas that are ice-free. • B. Antarctica has a surprising variety of life. • C. Antarctica is almost entirely covered in ice. • D. Lichens and mosses survive in coastal areas.

6. 4. READ THIS SENTENCE FROM THE ARTICLE. • Antarctica is located in the southern hemisphere of the globe. • The word hemisphere includes the Greek roots hemi, meaning “half”, and sphero, meaning “sphere or ball.” A hemisphere is • F. an area that is half of Earth. • G. a planet half the size of Earth. • H. half an ocean that circles Earth. • I. a continent that covers half of Earth.

7. 5. WHICH PARAGRAPH WOULD THE FOLLOWING DETAIL BEST SUPPORT? • Antarctica is the fifth-largest continent and the only one located entirely within a polar circle. • A. paragraph 1, page 25 • B. paragraph 2, page 25 • C. paragraph 3, page 25 • D. paragraph 4, page 25

8. 6. READ THE EXCERPT FROM THE ARTICLE. • Algae and microscopic plants called diatoms live in the ocean surrounding the continent. Diatoms are made up of only one cell. • The word microscopic comes from two Greek roots micro- and scop-, Scop- means “to see.” What is the most likely meaning of micro-? • F. invisible • G. large • H. small • I. transparent

9. 7. WHICH DETAIL WOULD BEST SUPPORT THE MAIN IDEA OF THE SECOND PARAGRAPH ON PAGE 26? • A. The temperature ranges from 212 degrees Celsius to 260 degrees Celsius. • B. Ninety percent of the world’s ice is in Antarctica. • C. Adelie penguins live farther sound than most other penguins. • D. Crabeater seals are another seal variety swimming in Antarctic waters.

10. 8. WHY DO ANTARCTIC SEALS HAVE THICK LAYERS OF BLUBBER? • F. to dive to depths of 400 meters • G. to live in holes or cracks in the ice • H. to survive in freezing temperature • I. to protect them from the harsh winds

11. 9. WHICH PARAGRAPH WOULD THE FOLLOWING DETAIL BEST SUPPORT? • The snow petrel, an Antarctic bird about the size of a pigeon, does not migrate long distances but moves north as winter sets in. • A. paragraph 3, page 25 • B. paragraph 4, page 25 • C. paragraph 3, page 26 • D. paragraph 4, page 26

12. 10. READ THIS EXCERPT FROM THE ARTICLE. • The islands are important to many of the birds’ life cycles. They are where the birds go to breed. • The origin of the word cycles is the Greek root cycl-, meaning “circle.” What type of cycle is being described in this excerpt? • F. islands that form a circle • G. patterns in which birds fly • H. processes that repeat • I. circles forming a pattern

13. READ THE ARTICLE “DESERT LIFE” BEFORE ANSWERING NUMBERS 11 THROUGH 20. • Now answer Numbers 11 through 20. Base your answers on “Desert Life.”

14. 11. READ THIS EXCERPT FROM THE ARTICLE. • With a telescope, you scan the land around you. Stretching out into the distance, you see nothing but sand, tumbleweeds, and strange-looking plants called cacti. • The word telescope comes from the Greek roots tele- and scop-. Scop- means “too see.” What is the most likely meaning of tele-? • A. far • B. near • C. small • D. unusual

15. 12. READ THIS EXCERPT FROM THE ARTICLE. • It is a dust storm, a cyclone of sand headed your way. High winds whip stinging sand through the air. • The origin of the word cyclone is the Greek root cycl-, meaning “circle.” What does the word cyclone mean? • F. a circle around a storm • G. a wind that blows in a circle • H. a circular pattern in the sand • I. a storm that rotates in a circle

16. 13. WHICH DETAIL WOULD BEST SUPPORT THE MAIN IDEA OF THE THIRD PARAGRAPH ON PAGE 30? • A. The Sonoran Desert toad eats mice and insects. • B. The pocket mouse can quickly run from its predators. • C. More and more people visit and even move into the desert. • D. Most of the Sonoran Desert’s rain falls in spring and autumn.

17. 14. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT THE SONORAN DESERT GETS 10 TO 12 INCHES OF RAINFALL EACH YEAR? • F. because it is less rainfall than most deserts get • G. because it is enough rain to support a variety of life • H. because plants such as cacti have shallow root systems • I. because plants and animals have adapted to the climate

18. 15. READ THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE FROM THE ARTICLE. • A scientist studying in this desert would find a surprising variety of life to note in his or her log. • The origin of the word log is the Greek root log-, meaning “word.” What does the word log mean in the sentence above? • A. a written record • B. a tool for writing • C. a spoken account • D. a story to be told aloud

19. 16. WHICH DETAIL WOULD BEST SUPPORT THE MAIN IDEA OF THE FOURTH PARAGRAPH ON PAGE 30? • F. The mesquite tree is another type of desert tree. • G. The collard peccary is a mammal that feeds on cacti. • H. The Colorado River flows through the Sonoran Desert. • I. Prickly pear cacti are also common in the Sonoran Desert.

20. 17. WHICH PARAGRAPH WOULD THE FOLLOWING DETAIL BEST SUPPORT? • The stiff hairs that rise from the pronghorn antelope’s body let heat escape, keeping the animal cool. • A. paragraph 3, page 30 • B. paragraph 2, page 31 • C. paragraph 3, page31 • D. paragraph 4, page 31

21. 18. READ THIS SENTENCE FROM THE ARTICLE. • In the desert, water is precious and every drop is recycled. • The origin of the word recycled is the Greek root cycl-, meaning “circle.” Which of the following words most likely comes from the same Greek root? • F. bicycle • G. cymbal • H. icicle • I. reusable

22. 19. READ THIS EXCERPT FROM THE ARTICLE. • Animals that live in the Sonoran Desert must adapt to its harsh conditions. The black-tailed jackrabbit, for example, uses its huge ears to survive. • What does adapt mean in the excerpt above? • A. adjust • B. escape • C. exit • D. move

23. 20. WHAT TEXT EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THE IDEA THAT EVERY LIVING THING IN THE SONORAN DESERT IS PART OF THE DESERT FOOD CHAIN? • F. Cacti are abundant in the Sonoran Desert. • G. Bighorn sheep are able to jump away from predators. • H. Smaller rodents and birds are prey for meat-eating animals. • I. The desert ironwood provides shade and shelter for animals.

24. ESSAY • Identify a common main idea in “A Continent of Ice” and “Desert Life.” • How is this main idea conveyed through the details in both passages? • Include accurate, explicit text evidence from both passages to support your answer.