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Reading and Written Composition

Directions
Read the two selections and the viewing and representing piece. Then answer the questions that follow.

 

 

 

Use "Brian's Return" to answer questions 1-13.

1 During the first night described in the selection, Brian’s camp is visited by —
     
A a tornado
B beavers
C mosquitos
D a bear
 
7 The author develops the selection primarily through —
  
A wilderness descriptions
B flashbacks to Brian's earlier trip
C Brian's thoughts and actions
D sections from Brian's journal
 

 

2 The word deluge in paragraph 19 means a —
 
F drought
G mistake
H flood
J trickle
8 In paragraph 16, Paulsen introduces the fact that there are no mailboxes in order to —
  
F suggest that Brian isn’t serious about corresponding with his friend
G prove that Brian doesn’t really know where he is
H point out how important it is for Brian to write in his journal
J emphasize that Brian is camping in an isolated wilderness area
 

 

3 What is paragraph 41 primarily about?
  
A Brian is able to find enough dry wood to start a fire.
B Native Americans used birch bark to construct canoes.
C The wound in his leg makes it difficult for Brian to walk.
D It usually takes only one match for Brian to start a campfire.
9 In paragraph 8, Paulsen uses a simile to convey the —
  
A appreciation that Brian feels for the landscape
B idea that Brian wants to be an artist
C difficulty of canoeing across a lake
D loneliness that Brian feels as he travels
 

 

4 Which word from paragraph 8 helps the reader understand the meaning of the word diorama?
  
F painting
G private
H sheltered
J canopy
10 Which of the following lines in the selection best expresses a theme of the story?
  
F All that day he felt as if he were in a painting, a beautiful private diorama.
G Later he would wonder at this bit of foresight.
H The next day was a repair day both for the equipment and for himself.
J And finally, no matter what he thought would happen, nature would do what it wanted to do.
   
5 In paragraphs 26 through 32, Brian’s thoughts indicate that he is —
 
A proud of himself
B calm in a crisis
C fearful of drowning
D unusually clumsy
11 What can the reader conclude about Brian from his reaction to the bear’s visit in paragraphs 2 through 4?
  
A His lack of fear shows how comfortable he feels in the wild.
B He will stop hanging his packs in the trees.
C He realizes that sleeping so soundly is dangerous.
D Being alone in the wild makes him feel depressed.
   
6 Why does the author use repetition in paragraph 20?
 
F To imitate the sounds of the storm
G To slow down the pace of the story
H To emphasize that the storm is getting stronger
J To illustrate how wet and miserable Brian is
12 The author uses a single sentence in paragraph 13 to —
  
F describe the violence of the storm
G explain Brian's choice of a campsite
H change the selection's point of view
J emphasize the suddenness of the storm
   
 
13 In paragraph 38, why does Brian decide to crawl under the canoe?
  
A The strong wind might blow away the canoe.
B The canoe will protect Brian from lightening strikes.
C He likes the way the rain sounds when it hits the canoe.
D The canoe acts as shelter during the storm.

Use "On Willow Creek" to answer questions 14-23.

14 Read the following dictionary entry.
 
stir \ 'ster\ v 1. to move slightly 2. to urge onward 3. to raise a topic for notice or debate 4. to mix, dissolve, or make by continued circular motion
 
Which definition best matches the meaning of the word stirred as it is used in paragraph 5 of the essay?
  
F Definition 1
G Definition 2
H Definition 3
J Definition 4
19 Why does the author insert extra space between paragraphs 5 and 6?
  
A  To introduce a new location
B  To write about a different theme
C  To tell a story about his father
D To indicate the passage of time
 

 

15 Paragraphs 11 and 12 are mainly about the —
 
A inability of the geese to land
B thickness of the fog
C bravery of a single goose
D location of the creek
20 One of Bass's concerns is that —
  
F the forces of nature will destroy the creek’s wildlife
G he has become too wild and untamed
H others do not appreciate the necessity of the wild
J the humans in the cabin will frighten away wildlife
 
16 How do the fish react when Bass shines his flashlight into the water?
 
F They pay no attention to him.
G They swim away under the icy surface.
H The move beneath a submerged log.
J They are paralyzed by the light.
21 The author uses the phrase "glide of faith" in paragraph 12 to indicate that the geese —
   
A would be taking a risk in trying to land in the fog
B are unaware that the lights are beneath them
C are only about a hundred feet above the creek
D can use sounds to guide them to a safe landing
 
17 Which of these is the best summary of the essay?
  
A As a boy Rick Bass visits Willow Creek on a cold winter night. He observes some small fish swimming beneath the ice of the frozen edges of the creek. He must return to the cabin before he fully understands what has happened.
B On a wintry night Rick Bass sees fish swimming beneath the ice in Willow Creek. On another winter night years later, he hears the honking of geese lost in heavy fog. The two experiences help him understand his deep connection to the wild.
C When he was young, Rick Bass had to collect water from an ice-covered creek. Several years pass before he visits the hill country camp again. On that visit Bass tries to help some geese land on a foggy night.
D On a visit to Willow Creek, Rick Bass hears geese honking as they circle his cabin. His father explains that the geese have lost their way in the fog. Bass begins to understand the power of nature.
22 The reader can conclude that Bass's father joins his son outside the cabin because —
  
F it is too smoky inside the cabin
G he is worried about his son
H he hears the honking of the geese
J the view from the porch is lovely
 

 

18 Paragraphs 3 through 5 of the essay show that as a boy Bass —
  
F liked to disturb the fish
G took a long time to finish his chores
H was curious about nature
J refused to listen to his parents
23 In this essay, Bass supports his thesis with —
  
A a comparison of animal and human behaviors
B examples from his personal experiences with nature
C a list of animals that have become extinct
D generalizations about civilized life

Use "Brian's Return" and "On Willow Creek" to answer questions 24 and 25.

24 Unlike the author of "On Willow Creek," Brian is —
  
F interested in the habits of fish
G prepared to spend time in the wild
H all by himself in the wilderness
J visited by an animal at night
25 Which element has the greatest impact on the events described in “Brian’s Return” and “On Willow Creek”?
   
A Weather
B Animals
C Plants
D People

Use the visual representation to answer questions 26—28.

26 Why are the drawings of the plants an essential part of the chart?
  
F They aid in identifying the plants.
G They made the chart more appealing.
H They show how similar the plants are.
J They indicate how the plants can be used.
28 The primary purpose of this chart is to —
  
F tell readers how to make a refreshing drink from sumac berries
G warn readers of the danger of collecting plants in the wild
H teach readers how to identify and prepare five edible plants
J encourage readers to gather all their food from the wild
 

 

27 Which of the edible plants featured in the chart can be used like vegetables?
  
A Mullein and prickly pear cactus
B Sumac and cattail
C Dandelion and prickly pear cactus
D Dandelion and mullein
 

Directions
Answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. These questions will not be scored as part of the interactive online versions of the released TAKS tests.

1.  What is one conflict that Brian faces in “Brian’s Return”? Explain your answer and support it with evidence from the selection.

2. Why are the memories of Willow Creek important to Rick Bass? Support your answer with evidence from the selection.

3.   How is the power of nature an important theme in both “Brian’s Return” and “On Willow Creek”? Support your answer with evidence from both selections.

Written Composition
Write an essay explaining how your surroundings can affect your life.

Revising and Editing

Directions
Read the following passages and mark your answers. Remember that you are NOT permitted to use dictionaries or other reference materials on this section of the test.

29 What is the most effective way to rewrite sentence 2?
  
F Instead, being a person who has astounded the entire world with his talent and bravery.
G Instead, he is a person who has astounded the entire world with his talent and bravery.
H Instead, he is a person. Who has astounded the entire world with his talent and bravery.
J Instead, a person who has astounded the entire world, he has his talent and bravery.
34 What change, if any, should be made in sentence 12?
  
A Change is to was
B Change highest-ranking to high-ranking
C Insert a comma after cyclist
D Make no change
   
30 What is the most effective way to improve the organization of the second paragraph (sentences 3—11)?
  
A Move sentence 5 to the beginning of the paragraph
B Switch sentences 7 and 9
C Delete sentence 9
D Delete sentence 11
35 What change, if any, should be made in sentence 16?
 
F Change he to they
G Insert a comma after surgeries
H Change aggressive to aggresive
J Make no change
   
31 What change, if any, should be made in sentence 4?
 
F Change won to wins
G Change iron kids bread triathlon to Iron Kids Bread Triathlon
H Delete he was after years
J Make no change
36 What change should be made in sentence 18?
  
A Change officially to officialy
B Insert a comma after cancer
C Change their to his
D Insert it was after Criterium
   
32 What is the most effective way to rewrite sentence 8?
   
A A year later he won an impressive 10 cycling titles and included 1993 World Champion and U.S. PRO Champion.
B A year later winning an impressive 10 cycling titles that included 1993 World Champion and U.S. PRO Champion.
C A year later he won an impressive 10 cycling titles. Including 1993 World Champion and U.S. PRO Champion.
D A year later he won an impressive 10 cycling titles, including 1993 World Champion and U.S. PRO Champion.
37 What change, if any, should be made in sentence 19?
 
F Change bigger to biggest
G Delete the comma after sports
H Change has won to was winning
J Make no change
   
33 Ben wants to add the following sentence in the third paragraph (sentences 12–17).
 
That same year, however, he faced the toughest challenge of his life.
 
Where should this sentence be inserted?
 
F At the beginning of the paragraph
G After sentence 13
H After sentence 14
J At the end of the paragraph
38 What change, if any, should be made in sentence 22?
   
A Change lifes to life's
B Delete the comma after courage
C Change the world to them
D Make no change

39 What is the most effective way to combine sentences 2 and 3?
 
F Mrs. Dermitt was my drama teacher, which had been looking for someone to play a spunky young woman named Nadine in a comedy set in the 1950s.
G Mrs. Dermitt, my drama teacher, had been looking for someone to play a spunky young woman named Nadine in a comedy set in the 1950s.
H Mrs. Dermitt was my drama teacher, she had been looking for someone to play a spunky young woman named Nadine in a comedy set in the 1950s.
J Mrs. Dermitt, who was my drama teacher and had been looking for someone to play a spunky young woman named Nadine, was in a comedy set in the 1950s.
44 What transition should be added to the beginning of sentence 13?
  
A First
B Before that
C In contrast,
D In fact,
 

 

40 What change, if any, should be made in sentence 6?
  
A Change hadn't been chosen to hasn't been chose
B Insert a comma after onstage
C Change success to sucess
D Make no change
45 What is the most effective way to improve the organization of the fifth paragraph (sentences 15—22)?
  
F Move sentence 17 to the beginning of the paragraph
G Delete sentence 17
H Delete sentence 20
J Move sentence 21 to follow sentence 15
 

 

41 What change, if any, should be made in sentence 10?
 
F Change hers to her
G Change the semicolon to a comma
H Insert quotation marks after the period
J Make no change
46 What change, if any, should be made in sentence l6?
 
A Change there to their
B Delete the comma after lines
C Change the second were to was
D Make no change
   
42 What change, if any, should be made in sentence 11?
  
A Change Preperation to Preparation
B Insert which after play
C Change moved to moving
D Make no change
47 The meaning of sentence 22 can be clarified by changing They to —
 
F The actors
G The play
H We
J The audience
   
43 What change, if any, should be made in sentence 12?
  
F Delete the comma after crew
G Change she to they
H Change learning to learn
J Make no change
48 What is the most effective way to combine sentences 30 and 31?
  
A I was terribly disappointed, of course, and incredibly grateful to have missed my chance in the spotlight and to have such a good friend.
B Of course, being terribly disappointed to have missed my chance in the spotlight, but incredibly grateful to have such a good friend.
C Of course, I was terribly disappointed to have missed my chance in the spotlight, but I was incredibly grateful to have such a good friend.
D I was terribly disappointed to have missed my chance in the spotlight, of course, I was incredibly grateful to have such a good friend.

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