10. In “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” what does
Walter face in his final fantasy? (1
point)
a battalion of soldiers
a firing
squad
headhunters
circling sharks
11. In “A Sound of Thunder,” the
author shows how small acts affect the future by (1 point)
having Eckels forced to retrieve
the bullets.
Eckels stepping on a butterfly
and killing it.
Eckels freezing when it is time
to shoot the dinosaur.
having Eckels travel back in time
instead of going on an African safari.
Are You Smarter Than a Fly?
Scientists Say Maybe Not.
Did you ever wonder why flies are
so hard to swat? Scientists think they have the answer: brainpower. While
humans tend to think of insects
like flies as small, unintelligent creatures, a fly’s brain is capable of
seeing
and feeling danger. That brain
may be no larger than a single poppy seed, but the fly is a far more
sophisticated creature than you
might have thought.
To understand how a fly thinks,
scientists used super-slow-motion video cameras to watch a fly react when
attacked. These high-speed
cameras, capable of photographing mere fractions of a second, revealed that a
fly
performs a nimble tap dance,
moving its legs and body to push away from the oncoming threat. This routine,
accomplished in less than a tenth
of a second, gives a fly a critical edge over the human swatter. In an instant,
a fly’s tiny brain can calculate
the location of the flyswatter, come up with an escape plan, and hop out of the
way in the opposite direction.
The single second it takes a human to swat is more than enough time for the
average fly to think, act, and
dodge the attack.
Studies by scientists have found
a fly’s brain can process information faster than nearly any living creature.
In addition, flies are more than
just fast thinkers. They always plan and organize their movements and
prepare escape routes in case of
danger. For example, if a swatter is swooping down in front of a fly, the fly
knows to move its middle legs
forward and lean back, allowing it to raise and extend its legs and push off
backward. What is the result? The
fly sneaks out from under the swatter and gets away. Once in the air, the
fly changes its flying style and
speed to continue to evade a threat. When it lands again, it makes a whole
new set of plans for future
flights.
Scientists believe this new
understanding about fly thinking and behavior may also provide a better method
for squashing the pesky insect.
Patience is important: would-be swatters should not aim for a fly’s present
location. Instead, knowing now
that the fly will jump away from you, aim slightly in front of it so the
swatter
captures the fly as it is
fleeing, not where it was. A little human planning and preparation, researchers
say,
can outwit a fly’s natural
instincts. The process does not work for all insects, however, especially not
bees.
But why, some scientists now
wonder, would anyone want to squash such a magnificent creature? The
scientists hope their new
findings will inspire humans to think about and appreciate the Earth’s tiniest
creatures.
12. Read this sentence from the
passage.
But why, some scientists now wonder, would anyone
want to squash such a magnificent creature?
Which sentence, if added right
after this one, would best support the author’s point?
(1 point)
Of course, when a fly is
bothering you, it is difficult to focus on the insect’s grace or
its intelligence.
After all, these insects move so
gracefully, and they think with the sophistication of a
computer.
For example, imagine how you
would feel if a monster thousands of times your size
tried to swat you.
By the way, the study of insects
is known as “entomology,” which is easy to confuse
with “etymology” (the study or
word origins).
13. In “Nethergrave” Jeremy is
well known at school because (1 point)
he lives by himself.
he has friends from all over the
country.
he kicked a goal for the rival
soccer team.
he has the most advanced computer
equipment.
14. Which line from “Nethergrave”
best develops Jeremy’s character? (1 point)
“He was moving that soccer ball
down the field and it appeared he might even kick a
goal.”
“I played in a soccer tournament
at school, and I kicked the winning goal.”
“He stared, unblinking, until it
seemed he was being sucked inside the vortex.”
“In gym they announced I’m gonna
be the captain of the wrestling team.”
15. In which of the following
pieces does the character’s motivation to visit another world change the
existing world? (1 point)
“Nolan Bushnell”
“A Sound of Thunder”
“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”
“All Watched Over by Machines of
Loving Grace” 18. In “A Sound of Thunder,”
Eckels’s character is most developed by (1 point)
exposition.
narration.
his actions.
others' dialogue about him.
