Student Name:
Student Instructions:
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Test ID:
129311416090919
Description: 9th Grade Lit/Comp Unit 1 Post Test
The Encounter
by M. Kendall Hunt
Benjamin walked into the kitchen, blanched, and backed out of it, keeping his eyes carefully averted. He
had forgotten that his two older brothers had been home alone for the past month. Both were college
students, home for the summer to earn some extra money. "And to destroy our way of life," Benjamin
added silently. He, his mother, and younger sister had arrived home from their grandmother's very late last
night, a day earlier than they were expected, and he was the first one to see the state of the kitchen. He
knew his mother would have a coronary when she saw it, and he momentarily relished the thought that
she'd make them pay dearly for the destruction. But he had to get going so he turned his thoughts to
breakfast.
Although he didn't want to, he forced himself to walk back into the room. He had to eat something before
leaving for his new job at the community recreation center where he would be giving swimming lessons to
elementary school students. Finding anything edible would be the trick. He grimaced when his feet stuck to
the floor as he started toward the refrigerator. Devon and Damon must have spilled a whole jar of honey
and cleaned it up in their usual haphazard manner, leaving a healthy coating that had now attracted a layer
of dirt and a sprinkling of potato chips. He wondered if they had left for work early, hoping to be out of the
house before Mom saw the mess they had made. He allowed himself a brief grin as he pictured them trying
to offer her an acceptable explanation for the devastation of her kitchen. It looked like the aftermath of a
party thrown by a horde of eight-year-olds.
Every available surface was covered with dirty dishes, plastic wrappers, and frozen food cartons, and two
scorched pans were soaking in the sink. A black banana peel was draped casually across an empty cereal
box. Taking a single breath was enough to inform Benjamin that the trash had lingered too long in the
kitchen, and the stovetop gave ample evidence of cooking experiments gone wrong.
Benjamin braced himself before opening the refrigerator door, but the sight and scent of its interior still
sent him reeling. A closer investigation revealed a drawer filled with decaying salad greens, probably those
that their mother had purchased and placed there a month ago. Two or three dishes held remnants of earlier
dinners; much earlier, judging by their frosting of mold. Finally, Benjamin unearthed a jar of grape jelly
from the back of the refrigerator.
He knew it would be too much to expect to find a slice of fresh bread, so he inspected the cabinet shelf that
customarily held crackers. Instead of two or three boxes, he found one plastic wrapper containing two
diminutive crackers. He had determined that he would have peanut butter and jelly on crackers, but when
he opened the peanut butter jar, he discovered that was empty. In fact, it was so empty that its interior
looked almost polished. Sighing, he returned the jelly to the refrigerator and resigned himself to a breakfast
of two crackers.
From upstairs he could hear the clattering of feet hurrying down the hallway. "Devon and Damon trying to
make a break for it," he thought, shaking his head. They would have been wiser to leave at dawn. As they
started down the stairs, their mother's voice rose over the noise of their departure, calling to them to wait
and have breakfast with her.
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"Can't, Mom! We're already late!" called Devon, and they resumed their hurried escape, bursting into the
kitchen and heading for the back door. They were not quick enough, however. They had opened the door
and gotten partway across the patio when their mother's voice stopped them in their tracks. Even though the
morning was already hot, her words had an arctic chill.
"Come in here, gentlemen," she called in a deceptively gentle tone. "We need to talk." They walked slowly
back into the kitchen, heads down, shoulders slumped. Benjamin grinned and settled onto the one clean
chair he could find. He didn't want to miss a moment of their encounter.
1. What does the word blanched mean as it is used in paragraph 1?
A.
chuckled
B.
stopped
C.
stared
D.
paled
2. What does the phrase "deceptively gentle tone" in paragraph 8 indicate?
A.
The boys' mother will not be gentle.
B.
The boys' mother is not sure who to blame.
C.
The boys' mother will try to be gentle.
D.
The boys' mother is often tricky.
3. What can be inferred about Benjamin from this sentence?
"He grimaced when his feet stuck to the floor as he started toward the refrigerator." (paragraph 2)
A.
He is disgusted by his older brothers' habits.
B.
He is frightened by his older brothers.
C.
He is elated by his older brothers.
D.
He is amused by his older brothers' habits.
4. What is the result of Benjamin, his mother, and his sister arriving home a day early?
A.
All of the food for the next day's dinner is still frozen.
B.
Devon and Damon have not had time to go grocery shopping.
C.
The family can all work together to repair the state of the kitchen.
D.
Devon and Damon don't have time to clean up the mess in the kitchen.
5. How does the author develop the theme of the passage?
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A.
by describing the messy kitchen that leads to the encounter between Devon, Damon, and their mother
B.
by showing that Benjamin is worried because of his unruly brothers' lack of cleanliness
C.
by showing that Devon and Damon try to run away from the mess they have created
D.
by highlighting Benjamin's dislike for Devon and Damon because of the messy kitchen
Misty, en Pointe
by Rochelle Dufresne
If you had happened past the Sunset Inn in Gardena, California, in the mid-1990s, you might have seen a
mother and four children living in one of the motel's rooms. The mother, Sylvia DelaCerna, had fled a
troubled marriage and was struggling financially. She didn't have a car and worked twelve to fourteen
hours a day at two jobs. For her daughter Misty, this was a blessing cloaked in hardship. After school,
while her mother worked, Misty went to the Boys and Girls Club in San Pedro. There, she began
practicing one of the most athletically rigorous and demanding arts in the world: classical ballet. This
experience would forever change the life of Misty Copeland.
Classical ballet is a traditional and very formal discipline. It emphasizes fluidity and precision to create a
very distinct style of movement. Dancers ("ballerina" is a title reserved for only the most accomplished
female practitioners) must keep their head, shoulders, and hips aligned while constantly maintaining clean
footwork and elegant arm positioning. Sports athletes, like football and baseball players, sometimes take
ballet lessons to improve their flexibility, speed, agility, balance, endurance, and focus.
Misty was first exposed to ballet on Friday afternoons, when Cynthia Bradley gave free classes. After just
one lesson, Cynthia offered Misty a full scholarship to attend her San Pedro Dance Center. At first, Misty
declined because of her mother's work schedule. But Cynthia refused to let Misty's raw potential go to
waste. She began driving Misty to the dance studio after school. Soon, Misty was living with Cynthia's
family during the week so that she could devote more time to dance, and making a two-hour bus ride to
the Sunset Inn each weekend.
Most ballet dancers begin lessons at very early ages, usually between three and ten. Misty Copeland
began at the unthinkable age of thirteen. Dancers rarely use pointe shoes — slippers that allow wearers to
dance on the tips of their toes — until they have a few years of experience. Misty was dancing in them
after only a month. Several years of training and practice are typically required before students are
proficient in ballet. Misty was performing after only three months, before she had even seen a
professional ballet production. By the time Misty was fourteen years old, she was winning national
competitions, and her performances as Clara in The Nutcracker drew crowds of 2,000 to a small venue.
She had been studying ballet for only eight months.
Misty fully dedicated herself to her art. Cynthia homeschooled Misty so the young dancer could
concentrate on ballet. The extra focus paid off, and for the next three summers Misty attended advanced,
intensive workshops. The first summer she spent at the San Francisco Ballet, and the next two were at the
American Ballet Theatre, two of the most prestigious institutions in the country.
Around this time, Sylvia DelaCerna became dissatisfied with Cynthia Bradley's influence on her daughter.
After a difficult legal struggle, Misty reluctantly returned to the Sunset Inn and re-enrolled in public
school. Sylvia hired an agent and immediately pushed Misty toward paying roles. Gerald Arpino, artistic
director of Chicago's Joffrey Ballet, told the Los Angeles Times that this was "all wrong," that Misty
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would "learn the things that are commercially eye-catching and never know the art of performing as a
great ballerina."
Luckily, these fears didn't come to pass. In 2000, the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) invited Misty to join
its junior dance troupe. Within the year, she graduated to the ABT Studio Company, which prepares
dancers for professional performance. The next year, she became a member of the company's corps de
ballet and began dancing minor roles in productions.
Unfortunately, it wasn't a smooth transition. She stood out, she says, as "a little brown-skinned girl in a
sea of whiteness." With her mixed African American, German, and Italian descent, she felt like an
outsider. "Ballet has long been the province of the white and wealthy," Misty comments in her
autobiography. According to Virginia Johnson, former dancer and editor of Pointe magazine, that
environment can cause nonwhite performers to feel insecure and disingenuous to themselves and their
heritage. These feelings drive minority performers away from ballet, leading to a dearth of role models,
which in turn discourages children from participating in what seems an exclusive and elitist art.
This hasn't diverted Misty, who finds herself in good historic company. Her predecessors include Raven
Wilkinson, who was one of the first professional African American dancers to work with a major
company in the 1950s. Around the same time, Janet Collins became the first African American ballet
dancer to perform at the Metropolitan Opera House. It wasn't until 1990 that Lauren Anderson became the
first African American promoted to principal dancer at a major dance company, the Houston Ballet. ABT
itself has a history of supporting African American artists. Anne Benna Sims was ABT's first African
American dancer and later their first African American soloist. The second was Nora Kimball. Misty
joined their rank in 2007, when she became one of the youngest female soloists in ABT's history. In 2015,
she carried their torch further by becoming ABT's first female African American principal dancer. She is
the second African American principal at ABT since Desmond Richardson in 1997, and both follow the
great Arthur Mitchell, who became the nation's first African American principal in 1962.
But this parade of success is deceptive; diversity in ballet is still low. The School of American Ballet
began holding community auditions in 1998 with the hope of attracting nontraditional students. Since
then, their minority enrollment has moved from thirteen to twenty-two percent — appreciable, but still
low. Since professional companies recruit from such schools, the former's diversity is representative of the
latter's.
This lack of diversity stems in part from the expense of practicing ballet. "Our daily toe-crushing
exercises make pointe shoes as disposable as tissues, but they can cost as much as $80 a pair," writes
Misty. At the other end of the spectrum, many creative directors have an idealized image of the ballerina.
That image is based on the very traditional ballet aesthetic, which does not include minority dancers.
As ABT's first African American lead in Swan Lake, Misty is a rare bird — but she doesn't want to be.
She is currently the spokesperson for Project Plié, which seeks to diversify the ethnic makeup of
American ballet companies. Moreover, her tenacious attitude is a beacon for aspiring dancers. Take, for
example, her first lead role in Firebird. On opening night, Misty had six stress fractures in her shin, but
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not even broken bones could stop her from dancing.
"Being African American has pushed me to work harder than I might have if I didn't have that obstacle,"
Misty told the Wall Street Journal in December 2014. Of her days in the corps de ballet, she recalls, "my
backup plan was to outdance everyone, to be so technically perfect and unbelievably lyrical in my
movements that all anyone would be able to see was my talent, not [. . .] the color of my skin." But that
battle is far from over, in the larger world of ballet and in Misty's own career. She writes, "I still worry,
far more than I should, about what the ballet world thinks of me [and] whether I will ever be accepted and
seen as a well-rounded artist deserving of respect. Or will I forever be 'the black ballerina,' an oddity who
doesn't quite compare?"
6. Read this summary of the passage.
Despite disadvantages in her early life, Misty Copeland has achieved great success in the world of ballet. Her natural
ability allowed her to study at prestigious schools and become a principal dancer with one of the best ballet companies
in the country.
Which important detail is missing from this summary?
A.
There have been several African American dancers in the history of ballet, and Misty is the newest,
brightest star in the pantheon.
B.
For a long time, Misty felt anxious and alone, but like many great African American dancers before her, she
was determined not to be held back.
C.
Misty's artistic potential was jeopardized when her mother pressured her to perform in shows that would
help the family make money.
D.
Even though she doesn't fit the profile of a classical ballerina, Misty has earned lead roles in The Nutcracker
and Swan Lake.
Read the following passage and answer questions 7 through 12.
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Cut Back On Cars
by Katrina Petersen, Winner of the Ninth-Grade Essay Contest
The day is sunny and bright; the top is down, and the convertible is cruising smoothly along a winding
beachside road. To most Americans, that sounds like a perfect day. On the big screen, driving fast, sporty,
or collectible cars is a status symbol that has been etched into our consciousness. And on TV, it appears to
be our right to drive big, gas-guzzling cars outfitted with all the comforts of home. Pollution hovers over us
like a black cloud, both literally and figuratively; the price of gas is high, and gas is becoming more scarce
around the world. In this country where the automobile is a symbol of freedom, of movement, and where
we leap into the car to drive two blocks to the store, it sounds almost traitorous to say it, but it's time for
people to cut back on the use of cars.
Pollution has haunted us for decades, and it is still very much with us today. According to the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), transportation produced twenty-seven percent of the total US
greenhouse gas emissions in 2013, which makes it the second-largest contributor. In 2011, on-road mobile
vehicles and nonroad mobile sources, such as aircraft, boats, snowmobiles, and lawn mowers, comprised
eighty-four percent of US carbon monoxide production. Carbon monoxide is especially dangerous for those
with respiratory and heart problems because it reduces the delivery of oxygen within the body. However, it
also creates problems among healthy people, causing headaches, vision problems, and a reduced ability to
work. As individuals, we cannot always change our world, but we can each make the effort to use a car
less. (And if we use other "nonroad mobile sources" such as boats, lawn mowers, and snowmobiles, we can
also use those less.) By curtailing our individual consumption of gasoline and output of toxic greenhouse
gases, each of us can make a difference.
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Toxic air pollutants, some of which are created by gas-powered engines, create a host of problems. They
can cause serious illness and birth defects, and they have a negative impact on the environment. Some air
pollutants, such as mercury, can accumulate on soil and surface waters. From the surface, they can be taken
into the systems of plants and animals that we eventually consume. Mercury is toxic and can cause a
number of problems in the human body, especially in the brain. The EPA and state governments have
attempted to reduce emissions by limiting tailpipe emissions and reformulating gas, and they are optimistic
that by 2020, emissions can be eight to twelve percent of what they were in 2005. However, we have more
and more cars on the road each year, so by 2020 we will have more cars producing pollutants. Although the
government has made a worthy effort to cut pollution, it is not enough.
Many complain that cutting back on the time we spend operating our cars is impossible because we must
have them in order to go to work, to school, and to see family and friends. In many towns, driving a car is
the only option, but it doesn't have to be that way. Some cities already have public transportation systems,
and people could make better use of them. Carpools or ride-sharing programs would also cut down on
usage. Driving a car that is more fuel efficient, or uses an alternative fuel source such as ethanol or
electricity, would decrease pollution. Where it is feasible, more people could walk or bike to work. No
matter what alternative transportation options are available, we could all make more efficient use of our
cars by combining trips, doing away with driving for pleasure, and walking, biking, or using foot-powered
scooters when possible.
Doing without cars offers several benefits. The fact that we need more exercise and less weight is scarcely
a news flash. Taking advantage of cutting back on the use of cars and walking or biking would not only
help in the fight against pollution but also help us lose weight and become more fit. "Walking school
buses" have gained popularity around the country. With an adult "driver" at the front of the queue and
another adult at the back, the children form the body of the "bus," and together they all walk to school.
Studies show that active children are likely to become active adults, so we could soon be a healthier nation.
We have many more cars and commercial vehicles than we had thirty years ago. We have serious pollution
problems that are changing our climate. We have a population whose health is in question because of lack
of exercise. Now is the time to take the matter in hand and make ourselves part of the solution. Instead of
sitting back and complaining about the situation, each of us needs to take the initiative. We can decide to
use our own cars less; we can buy green vehicles; we can walk or bike instead of taking the car. We are the
people who have created the problem, and we are the only ones who can solve it by changing our driving
habits today.
7. What does the word feasible mean as it is used in this sentence?
"Where it is feasible, more people could walk or bike to work." (paragraph 4)
A.
acceptable
B.
practical
C.
conditional
D.
enjoyable
8. Which sentence best explains why people need to cut back on their use of automobiles?
A.
"We have a population whose health is in question because of lack of exercise." (paragraph 6)
B.
"No matter what alternative transportation options are available, we could all make more efficient use of
our cars by combining trips, doing away with driving for pleasure, and walking, biking, or using footpowered scooters when possible." (paragraph 4)
C.
"We have many more cars and commercial vehicles than we had thirty years ago." (paragraph 6)
D.
"According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), transportation produced twenty-seven percent
of the total US greenhouse gas emissions in 2013, which makes it the second-largest contributor."
(paragraph 2)
9. Which is one danger of a pollutant like mercury?
A.
It creates breathing problems.
B.
It can appear in our food.
C.
It can cause serious headaches.
D.
It reduces tailpipe emissions.
10. Which is one effect of carbon monoxide?
A.
increased weight
B.
reduced exercise
C.
vision problems
D.
vehicle emissions
11. What does the word curtailing mean as it is used in this sentence?
"By curtailing our individual consumption of gasoline and output of toxic greenhouse gases, each of us can make a
difference." (paragraph 2)
A.
maintaining
B.
reducing
C.
observing
D.
increasing
12. Read this sentence from paragraph 6.
"Instead of sitting back and complaining about the situation, each of us needs to take the initiative."
A person who "takes the initiative" is one who —
A.
makes the first move.
B.
gives orders to others.
C.
copies the actions of others.
D.
waits for guidance.
Read the following passage and answer questions 13 through 14.
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The Encounter
by M. Kendall Hunt
Benjamin walked into the kitchen, blanched, and backed out of it, keeping his eyes carefully averted. He
had forgotten that his two older brothers had been home alone for the past month. Both were college
students, home for the summer to earn some extra money. "And to destroy our way of life," Benjamin
added silently. He, his mother, and younger sister had arrived home from their grandmother's very late last
night, a day earlier than they were expected, and he was the first one to see the state of the kitchen. He
knew his mother would have a coronary when she saw it, and he momentarily relished the thought that
she'd make them pay dearly for the destruction. But he had to get going so he turned his thoughts to
breakfast.
Although he didn't want to, he forced himself to walk back into the room. He had to eat something before
leaving for his new job at the community recreation center where he would be giving swimming lessons to
elementary school students. Finding anything edible would be the trick. He grimaced when his feet stuck to
the floor as he started toward the refrigerator. Devon and Damon must have spilled a whole jar of honey
and cleaned it up in their usual haphazard manner, leaving a healthy coating that had now attracted a layer
of dirt and a sprinkling of potato chips. He wondered if they had left for work early, hoping to be out of the
house before Mom saw the mess they had made. He allowed himself a brief grin as he pictured them trying
to offer her an acceptable explanation for the devastation of her kitchen. It looked like the aftermath of a
party thrown by a horde of eight-year-olds.
Every available surface was covered with dirty dishes, plastic wrappers, and frozen food cartons, and two
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scorched pans were soaking in the sink. A black banana peel was draped casually across an empty cereal
box. Taking a single breath was enough to inform Benjamin that the trash had lingered too long in the
kitchen, and the stovetop gave ample evidence of cooking experiments gone wrong.
Benjamin braced himself before opening the refrigerator door, but the sight and scent of its interior still
sent him reeling. A closer investigation revealed a drawer filled with decaying salad greens, probably those
that their mother had purchased and placed there a month ago. Two or three dishes held remnants of earlier
dinners; much earlier, judging by their frosting of mold. Finally, Benjamin unearthed a jar of grape jelly
from the back of the refrigerator.
He knew it would be too much to expect to find a slice of fresh bread, so he inspected the cabinet shelf that
customarily held crackers. Instead of two or three boxes, he found one plastic wrapper containing two
diminutive crackers. He had determined that he would have peanut butter and jelly on crackers, but when
he opened the peanut butter jar, he discovered that was empty. In fact, it was so empty that its interior
looked almost polished. Sighing, he returned the jelly to the refrigerator and resigned himself to a breakfast
of two crackers.
From upstairs he could hear the clattering of feet hurrying down the hallway. "Devon and Damon trying to
make a break for it," he thought, shaking his head. They would have been wiser to leave at dawn. As they
started down the stairs, their mother's voice rose over the noise of their departure, calling to them to wait
and have breakfast with her.
"Can't, Mom! We're already late!" called Devon, and they resumed their hurried escape, bursting into the
kitchen and heading for the back door. They were not quick enough, however. They had opened the door
and gotten partway across the patio when their mother's voice stopped them in their tracks. Even though the
morning was already hot, her words had an arctic chill.
"Come in here, gentlemen," she called in a deceptively gentle tone. "We need to talk." They walked slowly
back into the kitchen, heads down, shoulders slumped. Benjamin grinned and settled onto the one clean
chair he could find. He didn't want to miss a moment of their encounter.
13. Which is a theme of the passage?
A.
Procrastination is never a good thing.
B.
Children cannot outsmart their parents.
C.
Cleanliness is an important personality trait.
D.
It is unwise to enjoy the discomfort of others.
14. What does Devon and Damon's interaction with their mother show?
A.
They obey her commands.
B.
She is amused by their behavior.
C.
She enjoys their company.
D.
They expect her to be understanding.
15. Choose the sentence that correctly uses a semicolon.
A.
Manuel decided not to try out for the baseball team; he just didn't enjoy the game very much.
B.
The rain clouds gathered over the beach and blocked the sun; and we packed up and went home.
C.
Lost my car keys; I can't find them anywhere.
D.
Treon went to the park; but his friends weren't there.