The Real McCoy Elijah McCoy

Based on paragraphs 1 and 9, why do people still use the saying, “I want the real McCoy”?

• To remember the inventor that created so many wonderful inventions.

• To demonstrate that high-quality products are still important to the consumer

• To express how the railroad is important to today’s society and the world

• To determine whether the product was invented by Elijah McCoy

What can be inferred from the information in paragraph 2?

• Railroads were seen as a dangerous way to travel.

• Railroads were vital to the development of America.

• Railroads were a huge source of trouble for engineers.

• Railroads were a fun, new way to travel across America.

What does the author mean when he says that the North American West “was built by the railroads” in paragraph 2?

• There is a town called North American West that was built by a railroad company.

• Railroad companies resisted building railroads in certain places in the country.

• Population growth in the North American West was possible because railroads travel was possible.

• The most famous railroad company in the region was called North American West.

What does apprentice mean, as used in paragraph 3?

• Learn from more-experienced teachers

• Create new and important inventions

• Teach less-experienced learners

• Design parts for trains and cars

How does paragraph 5 contribute to the idea that McCoy saw a need for improvement in lubricating engine parts?

• It emphasizes the amount of work McCoy did.

• It details how McCoy created a new invention

• It explains why McCoy wanted to work for the railroad.

• It describes the problem that McCoy recognized

What inference can be made about Elijah McCoy’s second lubricator as compared to the first?

• It was safer for companies to use.

• It took less time to produce.

• It cost less money to produce.

• It allowed the train to keep moving.

What does the phrase “the real McCoy” mean, based on paragraph 9?

• The best-quality item

• The family business

• The first train engineers

• The engine lubrication

Which quote supports the idea that Elijah McCoy liked to share his talents with others?

• “When he returned to North America, he ended up in Michigan, at the home of Michigan Central Railroad.”

• “Although he was trained as an engineer, the best job he could get was a stoker, the worker who kept the fire burning on steam-powered locomotives.”

• “The railroad was pleased with McCoy’s work and encouraged him to improve his invention.”

• “He became a teacher, instructing others about the use of his lubricator and about the workings of engines.”

True or False: Mrs. Shick expects her students to annotate when reading a passage.

• True

• False