rskills® progress monitoring test 1b - richland parish...

Test 1b

rBook Flex II

NAME: DATE:

rSkills Test 1b, page

rSkills Progress Monitoring®

DIRECTIONS: This is a reading test. Follow the directions for each partof the test, and choose the best answer to each question.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

1

Sample .A The largest city in Wisconsin is Milwaukee. More than 600,000people live in Milwaukee. It is home to a busy shipping port onLake Michigan.What is this paragraph mostly about?

a busy shipping portmore than 600,000 peopleLake Michiganthe city of Milwaukee

Sample .B Which word best fits in both sentences?A train is coming down the _____.We tried to ______ a deer through the woods.

railtrackfollowline

See Answer Keyat end of test.

Go on to the next page to begin the test.TM ® & © Scholastic Inc. All rights reserved.

rBook Flex IIrSkills Test 1b, page 2

ComprehensionRead the following technology text. Then answer questions 1–5.

Cameras as Traffic CopsThey work around the clock, seven days a week. They don’t get paid extra

for night or weekend work. They don’t take coffee breaks. These red-lightcameras are placed at intersections that have traffic lights. They catch everydriver who runs through a red light. They also save lives.

More than 20% of car crashes in this country result from someone runninga red light. Every year these types of crashes cause hundreds of injuries anddeaths, and billions of dollars worth of damage.

In many cities, red-light cameras have been very effective. They oftenreduce crashes by 40% or more. The city of Seattle, Washington, found that in a10-month test of cameras at four intersections, only eight people were injured incrashes, compared with 15 injuries before the cameras were installed. In someplaces the red-light cameras improve people’s driving all over town, not justwhere the cameras are. Because of these results, red-light cameras are becomingmore common.

How They WorkRed-light cameras are mounted above traffic lights. When a car enters the

intersection after the light has turned red, the camera snaps a picture of the car’slicense plate. Later the police review the photos. They find the address connectedwith the license plate. Then, they mail the photo and a traffic ticket to the car’sowner. It’s hard to argue with the proof, so most people quietly pay the fine.

The money adds up. In its first year of using the cameras, Seattle collectedmore than $900,000 in fines. Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske agreed that thecameras have been successful in both reducing injuries and bringing in moreneeded funds to the city.

In two other cities—Oxnard, California, and Fairfax, Virginia—the numberof people driving through red lights dropped by about 40% in the first year afterred-light cameras were installed. In addition, there were fewer crashes throughoutOxnard, even though only 11 of the city’s 125 intersections had the cameras.

A Down Side?In other places, however, red-light cameras’ success record isn’t so clear.

Sometimes the rate of rear-end crashes goes up as much as 15%. This mayhappen because people brake suddenly to avoid getting a ticket, and the driverbehind is too close to stop.

Traffic authorities say the cameras help to prevent serious injuries, though.Rear-end crashes usually cause less harm than being hit from the side in a crashcaused by running a red light. Many communities are willing to live with theslight increase in rear-end crashes that might come with red-light cameras.

But other towns have different traffic problems. Washington, D.C., startedusing the cameras in 1999. Tickets for running red lights soon went down about60% at intersections with cameras. But in 2005, Dick Raub, a traffic consultant,determined that intersections with cameras were not performing any better thanintersections without them.

Even so, D.C.’s chief of police at the time, Charles Ramsey, thought thecameras were important. He thought there would be even more crashes withoutthem. He wanted to install them at every traffic light in the city. According toRamsey, the cameras reduced the number of traffic violations.

Like Washington, D.C., many communities see the cameras as a way toimprove public safety. A study in three Iowa towns showed clear benefits.Intersections with the cameras had 40% to 90% fewer crashes than those withoutthem. As long as cities can show these kinds of results, they will continue toinstall and use red-light cameras. Most cities work hard to make travel safer, andthese cameras help.

GO ONTM ® & © Scholastic Inc. All rights reserved.


They work around the clock, seven days a week. They don’t get paid extrafor night or weekend work. They don’t take coffee breaks. These red-lightcameras are placed at intersections that have traffic lights. They catch everydriver who runs through a red light. They also save lives.

More than 20% of car crashes in this country result from someone runninga red light. Every year these types of crashes cause hundreds of injuries anddeaths, and billions of dollars worth of damage.





In two other cities—Oxnard, California, and Fairfax, Virginia—the number of people driving through red lights dropped by about 40% in the first year afterred-light cameras were installed. In addition, there were fewer crashes throughoutOxnard, even though only 11 of the city’s 125 intersections had the cameras.



Traffic authorities say the cameras help to prevent serious injuries, though.Rear-end crashes usually cause less harm than being hit from the side in a crashcaused by running a red light. Many communities are willing to live with the slight increase in rear-end crashes that might come with red-light cameras.


Even so, D.C.’s chief of police at the time, Charles Ramsey, thought the cameras were important. He thought there would be even more crashes withoutthem. He wanted to install them at every traffic light in the city. According toRamsey, the cameras reduced the number of traffic violations.

Like Washington, D.C., many communities see the cameras as a way toimprove public safety. A study in three Iowa towns showed clear benefits.Intersections with the cameras had 40% to 90% fewer crashes than those withoutthem. As long as cities can show these kinds of results, they will continue toinstall and use red-light cameras. Most cities work hard to make travel safer, andthese cameras help.



They work around the clock, seven days a week. They don’t get paid extrafor night or weekend work. They don’t take coffee breaks. These red-lightcameras are placed at intersections that have traffic lights. They catch everydriver who runs through a red light. They also save lives.

More than 20% of car crashes in this country result from someone running a red light. Every year these types of crashes cause hundreds of injuries and deaths, and billions of dollars worth of damage.





In two other cities—Oxnard, California, and Fairfax, Virginia—the numberof people driving through red lights dropped by about 40% in the first year afterred-light cameras were installed. In addition, there were fewer crashes throughoutOxnard, even though only 11 of the city’s 125 intersections had the cameras.



Traffic authorities say the cameras help to prevent serious injuries, though.Rear-end crashes usually cause less harm than being hit from the side in a crashcaused by running a red light. Many communities are willing to live with theslight increase in rear-end crashes that might come with red-light cameras.


Even so, D.C.’s chief of police at the time, Charles Ramsey, thought thecameras were important. He thought there would be even more crashes withoutthem. He wanted to install them at every traffic light in the city. According toRamsey, the cameras reduced the number of traffic violations.

Like Washington, D.C., many communities see the cameras as a way to improve public safety. A study in three Iowa towns showed clear benefits.Intersections with the cameras had 40% to 90% fewer crashes than those withoutthem. As long as cities can show these kinds of results, they will continue toinstall and use red-light cameras. Most cities work hard to make travel safer, andthese cameras help.

1 This text is mostly about—.

money received by towns with red-light cameras.the use of red-light cameras to enforce traffic laws.how traffic lights work in American cities.reducing the number of traffic violations in big cities.



2. Police review photos taken by a red-light camera in order to obtain—the speed the car was traveling.a description of accidents at an intersection.the license plate number of the car.an image of the people riding in the car.

3. According to the text, which of these statements is true?Drivers in Washington, D.C., have more accidents than people in othercities.For the Seattle police, the best part of having red-light cameras is themoney they collect from fines.After a study showed clear benefits, Iowa towns installed cameras atmore intersections.Oxnard, California, had fewer crashes even at intersections withoutcameras.

4. According to the graph, what happened in Arlington and Fairfax City after red-light cameras were installed?

The number of rear-end crashes went up.There were more right-angle crashes.The total number of accidents went down.Fewer people suffered injuries from accidents.



5. Which detail best supports the idea that red-light cameras make travelsafer?

More than 20% of car crashes result from someone running a red light.In Seattle, injuries from car crashes decreased from 15 to 8 aftercameras were installed. When presented with photo evidence, most people pay their trafficfines.The Washington police chief wanted to install cameras at more intersections.



Read the following technology text. Then answer questions 6–10.

Eyes in the SkyHigh above the mountains on the border between Pakistan and

Afghanistan, a camera scans the ground below. It watches for enemy soldiers,terrorists, and vehicles moving through the area. This aerial camera is not beingrun by a human being, though, and there is no pilot inside the aircraft that iscarrying the camera. The plane is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), oftencalled a drone. It is flown remotely by a pilot sitting at a computer hundreds ofmiles away. Some drones are even programmed to operate independently. Theycan fly out on a mission, take pictures of a certain area, and return to the basewithout a pilot or an operator.

A Helpful Tool

UAV’s were first developed for military use in the 1960s during theVietnam War. The first drones were used to look for enemy soldiers and takepictures of enemy activities. In the past 50 years, technology has changed quite alot. UAV’s now come in many sizes, and they have many more uses. They cancarry powerful cameras, radar, and even weapons. In Afghanistan and Pakistan,drones armed with missiles or bombs have been used in many battles againstenemy soldiers.

In addition to military functions, UAV’s now serve other purposes. The greatest value of a UAV is that it can travel into areas that are too dangerous forpeople, and it can do things that people cannot do. For example, UAV’s can beused to detect dangerous radiation or poisonous gases in the air that would harmhumans. For scientific research, UAV’s can measure air pressure, temperature,and other conditions in dangerous situations, such as hurricanes.

One important use of UAV’s is for search and rescue missions. In 2008, forexample, some severe hurricanes struck the states of Louisiana and Texas. Manypeople were stranded in remote areas or trapped in places they could not escapewithout help. UAV’s called Predators were sent to the area to search for peoplewho needed help. Flying as high as 29,000 feet above sea level, these drones usedradar and special cameras to film the scenes far below. These special cameraswere able to “see” through fog, clouds, and rain, at night and during the day, tolocate people who needed to be rescued.

In some situations, UAV’s can also be used for transport. For example, aperson in a remote area, such as a fire lookout tower in the mountains, mightneed supplies. A UAV can carry a load of supplies to the lookout tower and dropthe package where it is needed.

Finally, UAV’s can be useful in some industries, such as oil production. Inplaces like Alaska or Russia, oil and gas pipelines stretch for hundreds of miles inplaces where there are no people. Pipelines need to be inspected every few weeksor so, and they sometimes need repairs. UAV’s can fly over the pipelines forinspection and see if any repairs are needed.

There are other pluses to using UAV’s. They can fly over land that is toodifficult to drive on. They can go much longer without refueling than helicopterscan: 30 hours compared to 2. Also, it is safer for pilots because they are not onboard.

Can They Do the Job?Despite their great value, UAV’s do have a few drawbacks. They have a

high accident rate. They don’t always work well in thick clouds or bad weather.They are also very expensive to operate. If a UAV crashes for some reason, it canbe a costly loss.

Also UAV’s cannot replace humans. Humans have powers of judgmentthat machines do not have. Humans can make decisions about what they find, andhumans still have to do those things that drones cannot do. For example, a UAVmight spot a break in an oil pipeline, but a person will still have to go there tomake the repair. Drones can provide valuable information, however, and they canserve many uses. As technology improves, UAV’s will keep improving, too, andthey will become more useful than ever.



High above the mountains on the border between Pakistan andAfghanistan, a camera scans the ground below. It watches for enemy soldiers,terrorists, and vehicles moving through the area. This aerial camera is not beingrun by a human being, though, and there is no pilot inside the aircraft that iscarrying the camera. The plane is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), oftencalled a drone. It is flown remotely by a pilot sitting at a computer hundreds ofmiles away. Some drones are even programmed to operate independently. Theycan fly out on a mission, take pictures of a certain area, and return to the basewithout a pilot or an operator.

A Helpful Tool


In addition to military functions, UAV’s now serve other purposes. Thegreatest value of a UAV is that it can travel into areas that are too dangerous forpeople, and it can do things that people cannot do. For example, UAV’s can beused to detect dangerous radiation or poisonous gases in the air that would harmhumans. For scientific research, UAV’s can measure air pressure, temperature,and other conditions in dangerous situations, such as hurricanes.




There are other pluses to using UAV’s. They can fly over land that is toodifficult to drive on. They can go much longer without refueling than helicopters can: 30 hours compared to 2. Also, it is safer for pilots because they are not on board.


high accident rate. They don’t always work well in thick clouds or bad weather.They are also very expensive to operate. If a UAV crashes for some reason, it can be a costly loss.

Also UAV’s cannot replace humans. Humans have powers of judgmentthat machines do not have. Humans can make decisions about what they find, andhumans still have to do those things that drones cannot do. For example, a UAVmight spot a break in an oil pipeline, but a person will still have to go there tomake the repair. Drones can provide valuable information, however, and they can serve many uses. As technology improves, UAV’s will keep improving, too, andthey will become more useful than ever.



High above the mountains on the border between Pakistan andAfghanistan, a camera scans the ground below. It watches for enemy soldiers,terrorists, and vehicles moving through the area. This aerial camera is not beingrun by a human being, though, and there is no pilot inside the aircraft that iscarrying the camera. The plane is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), oftencalled a drone. It is flown remotely by a pilot sitting at a computer hundreds ofmiles away. Some drones are even programmed to operate independently. Theycan fly out on a mission, take pictures of a certain area, and return to the basewithout a pilot or an operator.

A Helpful Tool


In addition to military functions, UAV’s now serve other purposes. Thegreatest value of a UAV is that it can travel into areas that are too dangerous forpeople, and it can do things that people cannot do. For example, UAV’s can beused to detect dangerous radiation or poisonous gases in the air that would harmhumans. For scientific research, UAV’s can measure air pressure, temperature,and other conditions in dangerous situations, such as hurricanes.




There are other pluses to using UAV’s. They can fly over land that is toodifficult to drive on. They can go much longer without refueling than helicopterscan: 30 hours compared to 2. Also, it is safer for pilots because they are not onboard.


high accident rate. They don’t always work well in thick clouds or bad weather.They are also very expensive to operate. If a UAV crashes for some reason, it canbe a costly loss.

Also UAV’s cannot replace humans. Humans have powers of judgmentthat machines do not have. Humans can make decisions about what they find, andhumans still have to do those things that drones cannot do. For example, a UAVmight spot a break in an oil pipeline, but a person will still have to go there tomake the repair. Drones can provide valuable information, however, and they can serve many uses. As technology improves, UAV’s will keep improving, too, andthey will become more useful than ever.

6 What is the main idea of this text?.

UAV’s have many uses, and they can provide valuable information.The U.S. military began using UAV’s in the 1960s in Vietnam.UAV operators are based many miles away from the aircraft.The Predator drone can fly as high as 29,000 feet at night or in the day.

7 Which is a benefit of using UAV’s instead of helicopters?.

They make less noise.They can carry more equipment.They fly closer to the ground.They can go longer without refueling.

8 In 2008, UAV’s were used in Louisiana and Texas for—.

checking pipelines.detecting poisonous gases.search and rescue missions.measuring air temperature.



9. Which detail best supports the idea that UAV’s cannot replace humans?Some UAV’s use heat sensors as well as cameras.Humans can make decisions about what they find.Some UAV’s can fly without a pilot or an operator.UAV’s are used to look for enemy soldiers.

10. The passage says that UAV’s are very expensive to—build.equip.operate.repair.



Vocabulary/Word StudyRead each question and decide which is the best answer. Fill in the circle next to the answer you have chosen.

11. Use this dictionary entry to answer the question.

meet [meet] verb 1. to come face to face with. 2. to join, connect, or touch.3. to get together by appointment. 4. to satisfy or fulfill. —noun 5. agathering of people or teams for a sports competition.

Which meaning of the word meet is used in the sentence below?Let’s meet at the pizza shop at 6:00 o’clock and then go to the dance.

meaning 2meaning 3meaning 4meaning 5



12. Use this dictionary entry to answer the question.

meet [meet] verb 1. to come face to face with. 2. to join, connect, or touch.3. to get together by appointment. 4. to satisfy or fulfill. —noun 5. agathering of people or teams for a sports competition.

Which meaning of the word meet is used in the sentence below?The principal announced, “Today’s track meet has been postponed.”


13. In which sentence does the word run have the same meaning as in thesentence below?

Petra wanted to be first to run the table saw.Senator Gonsalves decided to run for office again.The crowd roared when Cody hit his third home run.Can you run the copier while I take this phone call?Gisele can run a mile in seven minutes.

14. Which meaning best fits the word star as it is used in the sentence below?The sun is the closest star to Earth.

Polaris is a star in the northern sky.He’ll be a big star someday.She will star in the school play.Star your favorite film on this list.



15. Which word best fits in both sentences?The town hall keeps a _______ of all births.Cal Ripken holds the _______ for most consecutive games played in

baseball.filerecordlisttrophy

16. Choose the word that best fits in both sentences.Dad caught a _______ in the kitchen.Jenna sat down at the computer and clicked the _______.

mousethiefkeyboard



17. Use this part of a dictionary to answer the question.

rot [rot] verb to spoil or decay. — noun 1. the process of rotting. 2. adisease of plants or animals that causes breakdown of tissues.ro•ta•ry [roh-tuh-ree] adjective 1. designed to turn around an axis;rotating. 2. having parts that turn around an axis. — noun 3. a traffic circle. 4. a machine or device with turning movement or parts.


18. Use this part of a dictionary to answer the question.

ros•ter [ros-ter] noun a list of names for a team or other group. ros•y [roh-zee] adjective 1. reddish or deep pink in color. 2. promising.rot [rot] verb to spoil or decay. — noun 1. the process of rotting.

What does roster mean in the sentence below?Jeremy and Miguel were both on the roster for Saturday’s game.

a bright and cheerful placea list of namesa device with turning partsa disease of plants or animals



ConventionsRead each question and decide which is the best answer. Fill in the circle next to the answer you have chosen.

19. Which sentence has correct end punctuation?How long is that movie.Can you tell what’s wrong with my parrot.I know why she said that?Help yourself to some lemonade.

20. Which is a complete sentence?Do you know why I stopped you?Braked abruptly for the red light.Failing to come to a complete stop.If you don’t pay the fine.

21. Which sentence has correct end punctuation?Why haven’t you started work on your final report.That bird has long, beautiful feathers.Leon couldn’t imagine who was calling him so early?What a wonderful time we had at the park?

22. Which sentence has correct end punctuation?Where do fashion designers get such strange ideas!Did you see the model with the lace dress and camouflage vest.Who would want to wear such a weird combination?Give me jeans and a T-shirt any day?



23. Which is a sentence fragment?Marcus works with an animal rescue group.The group tries to find homes for cats and dogs.Also educates people about being responsible pet owners.Thousands of unwanted kittens are born every year.

24. Which is a complete sentence?First female governor, Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming.Elected in 1924 and served for two years.Later was appointed first female director of the U.S. Mint.Governor Ross died in 1977 at age 101.

25. Which is a sentence fragment?Two kids enjoying a lazy day at home.Volleyball practice is held every afternoon.Set the table for dinner, please.Next Tuesday there will be a full moon.


Write your answer in your own words on the lines below or on theanswer document. Use complete sentences.

Open Response


26 Review the text “Cameras as Traffic Cops.” What effects do red-lightcameras have on traffic in U.S. cities? Write one or two sentences to explain.

.


Write your answer in your own words on the lines below or on theanswer document. Use complete sentences.

Open Response


27 Review the text “Eyes in the Sky.” What can UAV’s do more effectively thanpeople can? Write two or three sentences to explain.

.


Writing Prompt


Read the prompt. Write your response below or on the answer document.If you need more space, continue writing on a separate paper.

STOP

28 Write an informational paragraph about how UAV’s might be used inbeneficial ways. Remember to

• state the topic and include a controlling idea,• include connecting and vivid details that support the main idea,• summarize the importance of the topic, and• use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.

.

TM ® & © Scholastic Inc. All rights reserved.

Writing Prompt


Read the prompt. Write your response below or on the answer document.If you need more space, continue writing on a separate paper.

STOP

.


Test 1b Answer KeySample Questions


A.B.

Comprehension1. Main Idea and Details2. Main Idea and Details3. Read for Detail4. Read for Detail5. Main Idea and Details6. Main Idea and Details7. Main Idea and Details8. Read for Detail9. Main Idea and Details

10. Read for Detail

Vocabulary/Word Study11. Using a Dictionary12. Using a Dictionary13. Multiple-Meaning Words14. Multiple-Meaning Words15. Multiple-Meaning Words16. Multiple-Meaning Words17. Using a Dictionary18. Using a Dictionary

Conventions19. Using End Punctuation20. Identifying Sentences and Fragments21. Using End Punctuation22. Using End Punctuation23. Identifying Sentences and Fragments24. Identifying Sentences and Fragments25. Identifying Sentences and Fragments


Test 1b Answer KeyOpen Response (sample answers):


26 . They make people slow down and drive more carefully. In manycities, they also reduce the number of serious accidents atintersections.(2 points: Analyze)

27 . UAV’s can fly over large areas that would take people a long time tocover. Their heat sensors can detect people who are hidden. UAV’scan go to places and do things that are dangerous for people, such asmonitoring hurricanes or detecting radiation.(4 points: Analyze)


28. Answers will vary. Use the rubrics from the SAM Portfolio tab to assess student responses.

Writing Prompt:

NAME: DATE:

Test 1b Answer Document

Multiple Choice Questions


1 .2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7 .8 .9 .

10 .11 .12 .13 .14 .15 .16 .17 .18 .19 .20 .21 .22 .23 .24 .25 .


NAME: DATE:


Open Response


26 .


NAME: DATE:


Open Response


27 .


NAME: DATE:


Writing Prompt


28 .


NAME: DATE:


Writing Prompt


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