from An American Childhood

In the selection, how does the narrator finally get the microscope she wants?

• She uses the one at school

• She saves her money to buy it

• Her parents give it to her for Christmas

• Her father locates and purchases a used one

What is supposed to happen when the narrator of the selection adds water to the hay infusion?

• She should see enlarged grass

• She should see one-celled animals

• She should see transparent diatoms

• She should see long, iridescent crystals

When the narrator of the selection rushes upstairs to invite her parents to see the amoeba, what is their reaction? Choose 2 correct options.

• They ignore her

• They express happiness

• They decline to go see it

• They urge her to play outside

• They scold her for interrupting

Which sentence MOST CLEARLY expresses how the narrator feels toward her parents, as expressed in the text?

• She feels that they pushed her in a specific direction

• She feels that they freed her to be what she wanted to be

• She feels that they shared most of her desires and activities

• She feels that they misunderstood and discouraged her hobbies

In the text, the narrator first observes materials from her kit. Next, she observes "things at hand." Finally, she observes materials from outdoors. What are some examples of "things at hand" that the narrator observes during the winter? Choose 2 correct options.

• cork

• blood

• coffee

• volvox

• amoeba

In the text, what is the narrator's attitude toward microscopes?

• She thinks that they are essential

• She thinks that they are too expensive

• She thinks that they are just for children

• She thinks that they are unintersting to adults

In the selection, the narrator describes the materials that come with her microscope kit. She concludes, "It was years before I saw a recognizable, whole diatom. The kit's diatomaceous earth was a bust."

What does she mean?

• The diatomaceous earth sample in the microscope kit is missing

• She received the wrong diatomaceous earth materials with the microscope kit

• The diatomaceous earth sample in the microscope kit does not look as promised

• She does not understand how to use the microscope with the diatomaceous earth sample

In the text, the narrator learns that "you do what you do out of your private passion for the thing itself." What is another way to state this idea?

• People should keep what they care about mostly to themselves

• People should not expect to be able to control their likes and dislikes

• People should follow their interests without expecting other people to share them

• People should explore ideas in private before performing actions that affect others

Why must the narrator of the text wait a long time before she sees the "famous amoeba"?

• She is not sure where the amoeba might live

• It takes time to adjust the microscope to see an amoeba

• Local water is not yet warm enough for ameobas to survive

• Her parents have no interest in helping her find the amoeba

Which features MOST CLEARLY identify the selection as a reflective essay? Choose 2 correct options.

• It presents the writer's opinion about a scientific topic

• It includes no dialogue and very little description

• It expresses the writer's thoughts and feelings

• It shares an experience from the writer's life

• It uses a variety of technical terms