RI 6.4

Among the things that the Internet has changed is the newspaper. Fifteen years ago, traditional newspapers could be found on most people's desks. Who knew that the popularity of broadsheets like the New York Times was about to flatline?

Fifteen years ago, those broadsheets did not have to compete with countless free Internet news sources. Even if there were such sources, readers probably wouldn't have used them. They had grown used to getting information from their daily newspapers.

The same cannot be said for those who've entered the workforce in the last fifteen years. They have grown used to getting information from the Internet. Those who do read newspapers rarely read the broadsheets that their parents favor. They are more likely to pick up a free alternative newspaper in a coffee shop than pay for a daily newspaper. A daily newspaper seems practically prehistoric.

However, alternative newspapers have gained and lost popularity for as long as there have been newspapers. Some newspaper publishers see the current popularity of nontraditional news sources as part of the same trend. Others see the popularity of nontraditional news sources as the end of broadsheets. Both sides will discuss their ideas this week in Chicago. There, they will convene at a meeting for newspaper publishers.

Read the following sentence from the passage.

Who knew that the popularity of broadsheets like the New York Times was about to flatline?

What does the word broadsheets mean?

• advertisements

• newspapers

• pamphlets

• classifieds

Save the Planet

Over the past few years, the depletion¹ of the ozone layer has become a major concern. The ozone layer is a belt of ozone gas that is situated above the troposphere—a layer in our atmosphere. The ozone layer is very useful as it acts as a barrier between the Earth and the Sun. It stops the Sun's harmful ultraviolet B (UVB) rays from reaching the Earth. One of the primary reasons for the continuous ozone depletion is the excessive use of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gases. Chlorofluorocarbon gases are usually used in air conditioners, refrigerators, and various sprays used by companies that produce pesticides. The chemical elements from these gases react with the oxygen in the atmosphere and rip the ozone molecules apart. This creates holes in the ozone layer, which let the Sun's harmful UVB rays reach the surface of the Earth. These UVB rays affect humans and their health, causing various skin diseases. Along with human life, the UVB rays also affect the environment and other living organisms. Even the soil loses its minerals and becomes arid. If the ozone depletion is not checked, many animals and plants might be on the brink of dying out completely.

1. reduce to a great extent

In the passage, what is the meaning of the word brink?

• tip

• center

• line

• rate

Save the Planet

Over the past few years, the depletion¹ of the ozone layer has become a major concern. The ozone layer is a belt of ozone gas that is situated above the troposphere—a layer in our atmosphere. The ozone layer is very useful as it acts as a barrier between the Earth and the Sun. It stops the Sun's harmful ultraviolet B (UVB) rays from reaching the Earth. One of the primary reasons for the continuous ozone depletion is the excessive use of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gases. Chlorofluorocarbon gases are usually used in air conditioners, refrigerators, and various sprays used by companies that produce pesticides. The chemical elements from these gases react with the oxygen in the atmosphere and rip the ozone molecules apart. This creates holes in the ozone layer, which let the Sun's harmful UVB rays reach the surface of the Earth. These UVB rays affect humans and their health, causing various skin diseases. Along with human life, the UVB rays also affect the environment and other living organisms. Even the soil loses its minerals and becomes arid. If the ozone depletion is not checked, many animals and plants might be on the brink of dying out completely.

1. reduce to a great extent

In the passage, what is the meaning of the word barrier?

• a connecting bridge

• a cleaning filter

• a measuring tool

• a blocking fence

The video game was supposed to be a diversion. I was just going to play for a few minutes. You know, waste a little time. Instead, I played for hours. When I say "hours," I’m not just exaggerating the amount of time I spent playing. I spent so much time playing it that, over my Thanksgiving break, I slept only four hours and missed Thanksgiving dinner. I did, however, beat the game. When it was over, my accomplishment had earned me little more than a headache and a bad case of insomnia. I felt foolish, so I immediately started playing another game.

Read the following sentence from the passage.

The video game was supposed to be a diversion.

What does the word diversion mean?

• lifestyle

• disguise

• distraction

• contest

Among the things that the Internet has changed is the newspaper. Fifteen years ago, traditional newspapers could be found on most people's desks. Who knew that the popularity of broadsheets like the New York Times was about to flatline?

Fifteen years ago, those broadsheets did not have to compete with countless free Internet news sources. Even if there were such sources, readers probably wouldn't have used them. They had grown used to getting information from their daily newspapers.

The same cannot be said for those who've entered the workforce in the last fifteen years. They have grown used to getting information from the Internet. Those who do read newspapers rarely read the broadsheets that their parents favor. They are more likely to pick up a free alternative newspaper in a coffee shop than pay for a daily newspaper. A daily newspaper seems practically prehistoric.

However, alternative newspapers have gained and lost popularity for as long as there have been newspapers. Some newspaper publishers see the current popularity of nontraditional news sources as part of the same trend. Others see the popularity of nontraditional news sources as the end of broadsheets. Both sides will discuss their ideas this week in Chicago. There, they will convene at a meeting for newspaper publishers.

Read the following sentence from the passage.

Who knew that the popularity of broadsheets like the New York Times was about to flatline?

What does the word flatline mean?

• to grow

• to move forward

• to start over

• to end

Imagine a place where it rains every day. Tall trees loom above you. Branches form a green ceiling high in the sky. Plants, vines, and brightly colored flowers fill every inch of space. You are in a Costa Rican tropical rain forest. Rain forests fringe the low lying areas of the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. Costa Rica lies close to the equator, which means that temperatures stay warm—around 80 degrees—all year.

Using context clues in the passage, what is the meaning of loom?

• to appear large and overwhelming

• a group of branches and vines

• to be green and brown

• to form a protective barrier

Built toward the end of the sixteenth century, Globe was the most popular theater of the time. William Shakespeare's association with the Globe Theater added to its popularity. It was just as well that this huge theater could accommodate the multitudes because the use of special effects attracted many curious people, both young and old.

What is the meaning of the word multitudes in the passage?

• large number of things

• limited number of things

• limited number of people

• large number of people

Rainbows are conspicuous because of their brilliant colors, which are clearly visible in the direction opposite the sun. Have you ever wondered why colorful rainbows appear in the sky? Rainbows are formed when sunlight shines on droplets of rain, and the droplets reflect the light. The angle at which the sunlight passes through a droplet determines the color it reflects. Since each droplet reflects only one color, many droplets are needed to form a rainbow.

Using its context, select the best definition of conspicuous.

• easily noticeable

• extremely small

• dreary

• uneven

adapted from Studies of Trees

by Jacob Joshua Levison

Identifying Trees

Most people attempt to recognize trees by their leaf characteristics. In almost every tree, there is some trait that marks its individuality and separates it from other trees.

Pines

Pines belong to the coniferous class of trees; that is, trees that bear cones. Pines can be identified from the other coniferous trees by their leaves, which are in the form of needles two inches or more in length. These needles keep green throughout the entire year. This is characteristic of all coniferous trees, except the larch and cypress, which shed their leaves in winter. These trees form an important class of timber trees and look beautiful when planted in groups.

Types of Pines

The pine needles are arranged in clusters. Each species has a certain number of needles in the cluster. The white pine has five needles in each cluster, while the pitch pine has three, and the Scotch pine has two. The Austrian pine also has two needles in each cluster, but it differs in size compared to the Scotch pine.

White Pine

The white pine is a tall tree and is the stateliest of the evergreens. The five needles in each cluster of the white pine are bluish-green, slender, and about four inches in length. At a distance, the tree can be identified by the right angles which the branches form from the main trunk. No other pine shows this character.

How does the author's use of the word stateliest impact the reader?

• It helps the reader imagine how grand and regal the white pine tree looks.

• It represents the variety of pine trees.

• It asks the reader to compare the white pine tree with other coniferous trees.

• It demonstrates the popularity of pine trees.

Save the Planet

Over the past few years, the depletion¹ of the ozone layer has become a major concern. The ozone layer is a belt of ozone gas that is situated above the troposphere—a layer in our atmosphere. The ozone layer is very useful as it acts as a barrier between the Earth and the Sun. It stops the Sun's harmful ultraviolet B (UVB) rays from reaching the Earth. One of the primary reasons for the continuous ozone depletion is the excessive use of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gases. Chlorofluorocarbon gases are usually used in air conditioners, refrigerators, and various sprays used by companies that produce pesticides. The chemical elements from these gases react with the oxygen in the atmosphere and rip the ozone molecules apart. This creates holes in the ozone layer, which let the Sun's harmful UVB rays reach the surface of the Earth. These UVB rays affect humans and their health, causing various skin diseases. Along with human life, the UVB rays also affect the environment and other living organisms. Even the soil loses its minerals and becomes arid. If the ozone depletion is not checked, many animals and plants might be on the brink of dying out completely.

1. reduce to a great extent

In the passage, what is the meaning of the word environment?

• countries

• towns

• surroundings

• forests