Olympic athletes spend hours training starting at an early age. Those who do make it to the Olympic Games often do
not win medals—and these are the top athletes of the world. Wilma Rudolph not only made it to the Olympics, she
won three gold medals.
Wilma Rudolph was born on June 23, 1940, in St. Bethlehem, Tennessee. She came from a very big family. She was
the 17th of 19 children in her family. The family moved to Clarksville, Tennessee, which is where Wilma grew up.
When Wilma was young, she had polio and scarlet fever. The polio left her without the use of one of her legs. She
needed to wear leg braces to walk. Eventually, she was able to walk with a special shoe. After about three years, she
didn't need the special shoe anymore.
In high school, Wilma played basketball and ran track. She broke all the state basketball records and won all her
track meets. Wilma went to Tennessee State University and started training for the Olympics. In July of 1960, Wilma
went to the Olympics in Rome, Italy. She won three gold medals and was called the "World's Fastest Woman." She was
later named female athlete of the year.
Wilma became a coach and an athletic consultant in Chicago, Illinois. She died in 1994 of a brain tumor. Wilma will
be remembered for her courage as a young child overcoming her illness, her athletic ability, and her dedication to
reaching her goals. To this day, Wilma's life continues to inspire people to reach their personal goals.
1. Which of the following phrases best describes Wilma Rudolph?
A.
easily discouraged
B.
extremely wealthy
C.
dissapointed to be a coach
D.
determined to excel
2. Which of the following words best describes Wilma Rudolph?
A. courageous
B. unhappy
C. unsuccessful
D. lazy
John put his arms and legs into his jumpsuit and zipped it up. He climbed aboard the airplane with the other
passengers and their instructor Zane. The small aircraft took off into the air, and John could feel the excitement inside
the cabin, with everyone chatting nervously as the aircraft ascended. This was his third time skydiving, and John felt
almost like a pro at this point. A few of the other passengers were doing this for the first time, however, and they asked
their skydive partners lots of questions. The first-timers were required to have a partner, who would be strapped to
their backs with a parachute.
John remembered his first time, several months ago. He was the youngest person in the group, but he was definitely
not scared. John had bungee jumped, gone scuba diving, and competed in motocross races. Skydiving was just another
way to achieve the adrenaline rush he craved.
As the airplane reached an altitude where the passengers could safely skydive, the girl sitting next to John leaned
toward him.
"Have you done this before?" she asked.
"Yup," he replied with a big grin. Just then, he heard the instructor shouting his name over the sound of the airplane
engines and the roaring wind. The cabin door was standing ajar, and Zane was waiting for him. John adjusted his
parachute, stepped up to the edge of the door, and jumped out into the wide-open atmosphere.
3. Based on the passage, which word best characterizes John?
A. Nervous
B. Calm
C. Reckless
D. Adventurous
First Game of the Season
by Courtney Goff
Brightly-colored leaves from the oak trees had begun to fall, and workers had spent most of the morning clearing
them from the field for the game. The cool September wind blew more leaves onto the ground making them harder to
clear.
Buses lined the curb on both sides of the stadium, snaking all the way back to the parking lot entrance. Each
school’s marching band unloaded their instruments and filed through the gates to take their place in the bleachers.
Thousands of excited students, wearing their team’s colors, rushed into the stadium and filled the stands. Cheerleaders
practiced their stunts on the sidelines of the field performing flips and flying high into the air.
In the locker room, the players were much more subdued. They stretched and dressed in their uniforms before
gathering around the coach. They knelt down and listened carefully to the coach’s last-minute pep talk. The players
left the locker room and headed down the hall blinking into the setting sun as they stepped out onto the field.
All the fans stood up at once to cheer for the teams as they ran out onto the field, and the cheerleaders leapt and
shouted to energize the crowd. Everyone anticipated the first game of the season each year, and now it was finally
here. Parents of the players sat in the front rows of the stadium cheering the loudest of all. Horns and drums from
each team’s marching band played loudly with their music vibrating across the field.
On the ground, the teams faced each other, shaking hands before the game began. They stared up toward the end of
the field, imagining the ball sailing through the goalposts. As the players prepared to get in their positions, a referee
approached the 50-yard line. He handed a football to the home team’s center, and it was time for kickoff.
4. Which details in the story show where the story takes place?
A. "buses" and "instruments"
B. "stadium" and "field"
C. "team" and "band"
D. "leaves" and "trees"
Mikkel loved dance music. He was familiar with all of the popular techno and hip-hop artists. Mikkel longed to be a
DJ. He had friends that owned their own speakers, stereo equipment, and turntables. Sometimes, he would go and help
them when they were hired to play music at events. He learned all of their tricks. Mikkel just wished that he could
afford his own equipment, so he could make money doing what he loved—playing music.
Mikkel looked through his belongings to see if he could sell anything. He had a skateboard and a bicycle that he
never used anymore. He also had an old guitar that he had never learned to play. He could probably get a couple
hundred bucks for these items, but it was not enough to buy DJ equipment. He needed a job, one that would not
interfere with school or his passion.
Mikkel thought about his skills and his interests. He wanted to get a job that would help him develop into a better
DJ. He checked the local music shop to see if the owners needed any part-time help, but they did not. Then, he gathered
his courage and called the local radio station to ask if there were any job opportunities there. The radio station did
not need his help either.
Mikkel told Spike, one of his DJ friends, about wanting to get his own equipment. Spike offered to pay Mikkel for
helping him set up and take down his equipment at events. Spike also told Mikkel that he would be willing to sell his
old equipment to him for a good price. That was the kind of break Mikkel needed. He knew that with the right
equipment he would be able to start his own DJ business. He felt very fortunate to have a friend like Spike.
5. What is the main conflict in the story?
A. The music store does not want Mikkel's help.
B. Mikkel cannot afford to buy DJ equipment.
C. Mikkel does not want to sell his belongings.
D. The local radio station will not hire Mikkel.
6. What best summarizes the plot of this passage?
A. Mikkel has a DJ friend called Spike. Spike is a great friend. He hires Mikkel to help
him set up and take down his DJ equipment. Spike also offers to sell Mikkel his old
equipment.
B. Mikkel sells all of his belongings. He still does not have enough money, so he tries to
find a job. The local music store does not hire him. The radio station also turns down
his help.
C. Mikkel loves dance music. He knows all of the popular techno and hip-hop music. He
watches his friends DJ at events. Mikkel is interested in becoming a DJ, too.
D. Mikkel wants to be a DJ. He tries to find a way to get enough money for his own DJ
equipment. A friend offers to pay him to help at DJ events and to sell him some equipment.
It was the year 3009. The door opened, and a whole new world welcomed us. I wondered what we would encounter.
The scout robots had searched to and fro and came back with reassuring reports. There were water, plants, and
animals. None of the life forms were found to be as intelligent as humans. It was a planet that was perfect for
habitation. My family was chosen to be in the first group of settlers. We were about to set foot on New Planet when
another spaceship landed. We watched as a door opened and tall mouse-like creatures, standing upright on their hind
legs, stepped out. Our scout robots flew into action and took scans of the creatures. They did not seem dangerous.
Then, the tallest mouseman said, “What are you humans doing here? We discovered this planet first, and we are going
to live here!” His voice sounded a little squeaky, and his long whiskers twitched now and then.
Captain Spirk came out to speak with the mouse people, “Now hear this King Rodent, we filed our paperwork with
the Office of Livable Planets. Everything is official. You’ll just have to find yourselves another place to live.”
“We both know how difficult that would be. There is no way we are leaving,” King Rodent squealed.
“Excuse me, Your Highness and Captain Spirk, isn’t this an enormous planet? Why can’t we all live here together in
peace? We could help each other out as we learn about this place. We could work together to protect ourselves from
other invaders,” I bravely suggested.
“You know, the kid is onto something there! This could be a new world with different intelligent species living
together in harmony. That could work! What do you say, Mousey?” Captain Spirk questioned King Rodent.
“Okay, Captain Smirk, it’s a deal as long as we divide it evenly. We won’t settle for less than half,” King Rodent
answered. The two leaders shook hands, and we all introduced ourselves to one another. That was only the beginning.
7. How does the setting contribute to the plot?
A. The setting illustrates real problems with space travel.
B. The setting educates the reader about outer space.
C. The setting builds the suspense and sense of adventure.
D. The setting helps the reader identify with the narrator.
8. How is the problem in the story resolved?
A. Scout robots scare away any harmful or dangerous life forms so that the humans can
live on New Planet.
B. Captain Spirk proves that the humans have the right to be on New Planet because he
has official paperwork.
C. King Rodent offers to give half of New Planet to the humans in exchange for
protection against invaders.
D. The narrator suggests that the humans and the mouse people can both live and
work together on New Planet.
9. Choose the correct option below that defines man verses man.
A. When a character develops an internal struggle between his thoughts and ideas.
B. When a character has a problem with outside forces like weather or land.
C. When a character has a disagrees with the values, laws, or beliefs of a group.
D. When a character has an argument or disagreement with another character.
10. Check the correct example below that defines Man vs Nature.
A. When a character develops an internal struggle between his thoughts and ideas.
B. When a character has a problem with outside forces like weather or land.
C. When a character has an argument or disagreement with another character.
D. When a character has a disagrees with the values, laws, or beliefs of a group.
Directions: Read the following excerpts and answer the questions underneath them.
Choose the best possible answer for the question. Fill in the answer on your bubble sheet.
DO NOT WRITE ON THE QUIZ 