Ready Reading Lesson 9: Summarizing Literary Texts

p. 159 Q 1.

Which sentence best summarizes how Jason reacts after the crawler crashes?

• A. He gives in to the urge to panic.

• B. He deals with the situation as best he can.

• C. He imagines what it will be like to be a hero.

• D. He goes looking for his backpack.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is B. It summarizes Jason's thoughts and actions after the accident.

A is incorrect because Jason does not panic.

C is incorrect because Jason does not spend time imagining himself as a hero.

D is an action Jason takes, but it is only one part of his overall reaction, which is to deal with the situation as best as he can.

p. 159 Q 2.

Select three sentences that should be included in a summary of paragraphs 1 though 9 of the story.

• A, C, and G

• B, D, and E

• D, F, and G

• B, E, and G

• C, E, and F

Answer explanation

The correct choices are B, E, and G. These sentences state key details about the characters, setting, problem, and events.

A describes Jason's friendship with Bindor. This is an important idea in the story, but it doesn't need to be included in a summary of paragraphs 1-9.

C, D, and F describe less important details about the events.

p. 159 Q. 3.

Which of these best explains why Jason's emergency it is a key detail?

• A. It contains a bottle of Centini air.

• B. Jason complains about carrying it.

• C. It gives Jason a place to store items.

• D. Jason uses it to save Mr. Dama's life.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is D. The emergency kit is a key detail because it contains the air that lets Jason save Mr. Dama's life. Without the kit, the story would have ended very differently.

A is incorrect because, although it is true that the kit contains a bottle of Centini air, this statement by itself does not explain why the kit is a key detail.

B is incorrect because, although Jason thinks, "I'll never gripe about carrying it again," he is grateful for the kit during the events of the story.

C. is incorrect because, although it is true that the kit gives Jason a place to store items, this statement does not explain why the kit is a key detail.

p. 160 Q. 4 part A.

I heard the sound that brought fear into the heart of every colonist - the whistle of atmosphere leaking from an enviro-suit.

What does the word atmosphere mean as it is used in the sentence?

• A. gas

• B. water

• C. sound

• D. protection

Answer explanation

The correct choice is A. The atmosphere is the gas leaking from Mr. Dama's suit.

B is incorrect because what Jason hears is a "whistle," and water does not whistle.

C is incorrect because the whistle, not the atmosphere itself, is the sound.

D is incorrect because, while the suit provides protections, it is not "protection" that is leaking from the suit.

p. 160 Q. 4 Part B

Which detail from the story provides the best clue for the meaning of the word atmosphere?

• A. "The storm slammed into our two-passenger sand crawler, the howling wind buffeting us so viciously we nearly tipped over."

• B. "Sand and rocks battered the vehicle as the wind roared in 100-mile-per-hour gusts..."

• C. "I searched the jumbled mess until I found my backpack, and I pulled out the emergency kit I take everywhere."

• D. "A search of the cabin yielded a spare bottle of Centini air, and I topped off his tank."

Answer explanation

The correct choice is D. The spare bottle contains Centini air, which is a type of gas, and Jason uses it to replace the atmosphere leaking from Mr. Dama's suit.

A and B are incorrect because the "wind" mentioned in both refers to the atmosphere outside of the sand crawler, not the atmosphere leaking from Mr. Dama's suit.

C is incorrect because, although the emergency it has a container of the atmosphere Mr. Dama needs to survive, this sentence does not provide that information.

p. 160 Q. 5

Which statement best summarizes the main idea of the text?

• A. New experiences sometimes bring danger.

• B. It is important to take care of the people you care for.

• C. People from very different backgrounds can be friends.

• D. In an emergency, stay calm and think before taking action.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is D. The entire story illustrates how Jason had to stay calm and think so that Mr. Dama would not die.

A, B, and C are incorrect because they are minor ideas that appear only in isolated parts of the story.