FSA Practice Reading Test – Part II

Directions: Do your best. Do not write on my paper. Write everything on the answer sheet.

Listen to the audio clip “In Search of Moon Trees” and the passage “What on Earth are Moon Trees?” before answering 18 – 24.

Passage 1: In Search of Moon Trees

This audio clip describes what happened to the “Moon Tree” seeds after the return of the Apollo 14 mission. Alan Shepard and Ed Mitchell were astronauts on the mission. Stan Krugman was the U.S. Forest Service research director who chose the seeds that traveled to the moon.

Passage 2: What on Earth are Moon Trees?

by Elaine M. Marconi

(1)Anything having to do with the moon is still an unfolding mystery. And “Moon Trees” are part of that lunar mystique.

(2)Are there actually trees on the moon? Not really . . . but tree seeds flown into space by NASA astronaut Stuart Roosa on the Apollo 14 mission in 1971, now grow strong and tall out of the Earth’s soil.

(3)It all began after Roosa was selected to pilot the Apollo 14 command module. As a former smoke jumper with the U.S. Forest Service, he was contacted by then chief of the Forest Service, Ed Cliff, and asked if he would be willing to take tree seeds into space.

(4)As his way of paying tribute to the Forest Service, Roosa agreed and packed hundreds of seeds from redwood, loblolly pine, sycamore, Douglas fir and sweet gum trees into his personal travel kit. Roosa and his seeds orbited the moon 34 times while stationed in the command module “Kitty Hawk.”

(5)Scientists were curious to know if the seeds, after their journey into the microgravity of space, would sprout and look the same as Earth-grown trees. In the early 70s there were very few experiments done in space.

(6)Unfortunately, after returning to Earth the seed canister burst open during the decontamination process* and all the different species of seeds, not only were mixed together, but thought to be no longer useful and able to germinate.

(7)After being shipped to the Forest Service labs, it was found that most of the seeds did survive and ultimately were planted.

(8)After 20 years of growing side-by-side with their Earth-bound equivalent as controls, no one could tell the difference.

(9)The seedlings, now known as Moon Trees, were planted across the United States and throughout the world. Many were planted as part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration in 1976 and grow at national landmarks, such as the White House, Independence Square in Philadelphia, state capitols and university campuses.

(10)There also was a “Moon Tree 1976” planting ceremony at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 25 during the center’s Bicentennial Expo on Science and Technology. That tree still thrives at the center.

(11)Second-generation trees, called “half-moon” trees, have been planted from seeds or cuttings from an original Moon Tree and are thriving as well.

(12)Roosa passed away in December of 1994, but the Moon Trees continue to flourish—a tribute to our first visits to the moon and a memorial to Roosa.

(13)A moon sycamore graces Roosa’s grave at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

* decontamination process: the procedure through which astronauts (and some objects) were cleansed of any potentially harmful material they may have carried back from space

18. Which sentence from Passage 2 supports the inference that Stuart Rosa had a positive experience with the U.S. Forest Service?

a. It all began after Roosa was selected to pilot the Apollo 14 command module.

b. As a former smoke jumper with the U.S. Forest Service, he was contacted by then chief of the Forest Service, Ed Cliff, and asked if he would be willing to take tree seeds into space.

c. As his way of paying tribute to the Forest Service, Roosa agreed and packed hundreds of seeds from redwood, loblolly pine, sycamore, Douglas fir and sweet gum trees into his personal travel kid.

d. Roosa and his seeds orbited the moon 34 times while stationed in the command module “Kitty Hawk.”

19. (Part A) How does Passage 2 introduce the importance of the “Moon Trees?”

a. By discussing the challenges faced by the scientists after returning

b. By listing the types of seeds that were chosen for this experiment

c. By presenting how rare experiments in space were at the time

d. By describing the process of getting the seeds into space

(Part B) Which paragraph from Passage 2 supports the answer to Part A?

a. Paragraph 4

b. Paragraph 5

c. Paragraph 6

d. Paragraph 7

20. Read the following sentence from Passage 2.

“After 20 years of growing side-by-side with their Earth-bound equivalent as controls, no one could tell the difference.” (paragraph 8)

What does the word equivalent suggest about the two groups of trees?

a. They were mixed together.

b. They had similar characteristics.

c. They were both experimented on.

d. They came from the same collection of seeds.

21. Read the following sentence from Passage 2.

“Are there actually trees on the moon?” (paragraph 2)

How does this sentence help develop the author’s explanation of “Moon Trees”?

a. It introduces the definition of the trees.

b. It shows where the trees originally grew.

c. It describes the experiments that were done with trees.

d. It gives an example of trees that were included in experiments.

22. (Part A) What perspective is shared by the speaker of Passage 1 and the author of Passage 2?

a. Scientific experiments can be hard to predict.

b. The “Moon Trees” were significant to the public.

c. It is important for scientists to conduct more experiments in space.

d. The U.S. Forest Service did not keep track of the locations of the “Moon Trees”.

(Part B) Choose the sentence from Passage 2 that supports the answer to Part A.

a. “After being shipped to the Forest Service labs, it was found that most of the seeds did survive and were ultimately planted.”

b. “After 20 years of growing side-by-side with their Earth-bound equivalent as controls, no one could tell the difference.”

c. “The seedlings, now known as Moon Trees, were planted across the United States and throughout the world…”

23. How does Passage 1 help develop the ideas in Passage 2?

a. By explaining where the “Moon Trees” came from

b. By giving details about the growth of the “Moon Trees”

c. By giving biographical information about the astronauts on Apollo 14

d. By describing how the U.S. Forest Service kept records of its experiments

24. Which two sentences from Passage 2 support the claim that “Moon Trees” are part of what makes the moon mysterious?

a. “Roosa and his seeds orbited the moon 34 times while stationed in the command module ‘Kitty Hawk.’” (paragraph 4)

b. “Scientists were curious to know if the seeds, after their journey into the microgravity of space, would sprout and look the same as Earth-grown trees.” (paragraph 5)

c. “In the early 70s there were very few experiments done in space.” (paragraph 5)

d. “After being shipped to the Forest Service labs, it was found that most of the seeds did survive and ultimately were planted.” (paragraph 7)

e. “Many were planted as part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration in 1976 and grow at national landmarks, such as the White House, Independence Square in Philadelphia, state capitols and university campuses.” (paragraph 9)

For the following questions, choose the correct word or phrase to fill in each blank in the passage from the options given for questions 25 - 28. For each blank, write down the letter in front of the correct answer.

When people see a bird land on a branch or telephone wire, they may not think about where that bird is going. Birds are some of the most well-traveled species on Earth. Some (25.)_____________ [(A) migretory (B) migritory (C) migrotory (D) migratory] birds, like the painted bunting, travel as little as a few hundred miles per year. Others, like the Arctic tern, travel up to 22,000 miles annually.

Birds do not make these long and tiring journeys just to avoid cold weather. They travel for food, which can be hard to find in winter. Some birds even fly to another hemisphere to make sure they’ll have enough to eat. Most do not return north until the spring or summer, when (26) ________________ [(A) food is (B) winter is (C) that is (D) it is] much more abundant. That is when there are new caterpillars, insects, and tree blossoms to eat.

Birds may fly different distances and at a variety of speeds. The red knot spends spring and summer in northern (27) ____________________ [(A) Canada, where its breeding grounds are located (B) Canada where its breeding grounds are located, (C) Canada, where its breeding grounds are located, (D) Canada where its breeding grounds are located] and winters as far south as the tip of South America. It is a short bird and can fly up to 60 miles an hour. The (28) ____________________ [(A) wood thrush, a type of songbird (B) wood thrush, a type of songbird, (C) wood thrush a type of songbird (D) wood thrush a type of songbird,] travels from Central America to the Mid-Atlantic States, such as Maryland and Virginia. Songbirds fly at a speed of about 10 – 30 miles per hour.

Read the passage from the book A Single Shard about people who make pottery. Then answer the questions.

A Single Shard

By Linda Sue Park

29. (Part A) What is the meaning of arid as used in the first paragraph of the passage?

a. Cold

b. Long

c. Dry

d. Rotten

(Part B) Which phrase from the first paragraph supports the answer to Part A?

a. “Breakfast that morning was a feast…”

b. “…produced yet another surprise…”

c. “No flesh remained…”

d. “…the two friends cracked them open…”

30. (Part A) How does the phrase curves like those of a flower petal in paragraph 10 of the passage contribute to the story?

a. It explains the primary purpose of the pottery Min makes.

b. It shows that Min bases his pottery designs on nature.

c. It indicates that Min’s pottery is bright and colorful.

d. It illustrates the delicate beauty of Min’s pottery.

(Part B) Which evidence from the passage supports the answer to Part A? Select two answers.

a. “…perfect symmetry.” (paragraph 8)

b. “…spinning slowed.” (paragraph 8)

c. “…the graceful shape…” (paragraph 9)

d. “….gray-green color of celadon…” (paragraph 14)

e. “….the breeze and the view of the mountains.” (paragraph 16)

f. “A new shape for a teapot…” (paragraph 17)

31. (Part A) Which statement about the passage describes how Min responds to the process of pottery making?

a. Min is in awe of pottery making.

b. Min is pleased and entertained by pottery making.

c. Min is dedicated to perfection during pottery making.

d. Min is excited by the work involved in pottery making.

(Part B) Which sentence supports the answer to Part A?

a. “He was there now, his gray head bent over the wheel, chanting his wordless song.” (paragraph 5)

b. “He crossed his arms and leaned back a little, as if to see the vase from a distance.” (paragraph 9)

c. “Turning the wheel slowly with his knee, he inspected the graceful shape for invisible faults.” (paragraph 9)

d. “He took a length of twine and slipped it deftly under the vase to release it from the wheel, then placed the vase carefully on a tray to dry.” (paragraph 11)

Read the poem “Turn, Turn, My Wheel.” Then answer the questions.

Turn, Turn, My Wheel

By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Turn, turn, my wheel!  Turn round and roundWithout a pause, without a sound:  So spins the flying world away!This clay, well mixed with marl and sand,(5) Follows the motion of my hand;Far some must follow, and some command,  Though all are made of clay!

Thus sang the Potter at his taskBeneath the blossoming hawthorn-tree,(10) While o'er his features, like a mask,The quilted sunshine and leaf-shadeMoved, as the boughs above him swayed,And clothed him, till he seemed to beA figure woven in tapestry,(15) So sumptuously was he arrayedIn that magnificent attireOf sable tissue flaked with fire.Like a magician he appeared,A conjurer without book or beard;(20) And while he plied his magic art--For it was magical to me--I stood in silence and apart,And wondered more and more to seeThat shapeless, lifeless mass of clay(25) Rise up to meet the master's hand,And now contract and now expand,And even his slightest touch obey.

32. (Part A) How does the poet use personification in “Turn, Turn, My Wheel”?

a. The poet gives the tree human qualities to show that it respects and wants to protect the potter.

b. The poet gives the potter’s wheel human qualities to show how it turns smoothly in order to please the potter.

c. The poet gives the potter’s clothing human qualities to show how it responds to the potter’s energetic movement.

d. The poet gives the clay human qualities to show that it is compliant with the potter’s demands.

(Part B) Which two lines from the poem support the answer to Part A?

a. “Without a pause, without a sound.” (line 2)

b. “Follows the motion of my hand,” (line 5)

c. “The quilted sunshine and leaf-shade” (line 11)

d. “A figure woven in tapestry,” (line 14)

e. “In that magnificent attire” (line 16)

f. “And even his slightest touch obey.” (line 27)

33. (Part A) In line 22 of the poem, the speaker stands in silence and apart as the potter creates his work. Why is the speaker silent?

a. The speaker is in awe of the potter’s power and skill.

b. The speaker is frightened of the potter’s magical powers.

c. The speaker dislikes the final product.

d. The speaker wants to ask a question but is nervous.

(Part B) Which line from the poem helps explain the speaker’s response in Part A?

a. “Of sable tissue flaked with fire.” (line 17)

b. “For it was magical to me –“ (line 21)

c. “That shapeless, lifeless mass of clay” (line 24)

d. “And now contract and now expand” (line 26)

34. (Part A) How does the first stanza (lines 1 – 7) of the poem contribute to the development of its theme?

a. It demonstrates how happy the potter is to be outdoors.

b. It explains why the potter prefers the kind of clay he is using.

c. It shows that the potter knows he can control the clay.

d. It suggests that the potter wants to work as quickly and efficiently as possible.

(Part B) Which lines from the poem also support the answer to Part A? Select two answers.

a. “Beneath the blossoming hawthorn-tree,” (line 9)

b. “The quilted sunshine and leaf-shade” (line 11)

c. “Like a magician he appeared,” (line 18)

d. “That shapeless, lifeless mass of clay” (line 24)

e. “Rise up to meet the master’s hand,” (line 25)

f. “And even his slightest touch obey.” (line 27)

35. You have read two texts about people who make pottery. Think about how the narrator in the passage from A Single Shard and the speaker in “Turn, Turn, My Wheel” respond to the potters in each text. Write a short response that compares and contrasts how the narrator and the speaker view the potters in the passage and the poem.

Be sure to cite specific details and examples from both texts to support your response.