Making Artificial Limbs

As explained in “7-Year-Old Girl Gets New Hand from 3-D Printer,” what is a prosthetic limb?

• an arm or leg with damaged tissue, muscle, or bone

• a high-tech invention that makes body parts

• anything made on a 3-D printer

• an artificial body part

According to “7-Year-Old Girl Gets New Hand from 3-D Printer,” which features of Faith’s hand most make it a “breakthrough” invention? Choose two options.

• its cost

• its color

• its weight

• its sensors

• its lifelike look

One section of “7-Year-Old Girl Gets New Hand from 3-D Printer” is about Faith’s “compartment syndrome.” What does this section explain?

• why Faith likes 3-D printing

• why Faith needed a new hand

• what Faith can do with her new hand

• how Faith’s prosthetic limb was constructed

Read this excerpt from “7-Year-Old Girl Gets New Hand from 3-D Printer.” Pay special attention to the underlined word.

The oldest of three children, Faith had compartment syndrome when her position during childbirth cut off the flow of blood to her left forearm. The issue damaged tissue, muscle and bone. After nine months of trying to save the limb, doctors determined they had to amputate just below the elbow.

What does the context suggest is the most likely meaning of forearm?

• the part of the arm from shoulder to wrist

• the part of the arm from wrist to knuckles

• the part of the arm from fingertips to wrist

• the part of the arm from elbow to wrist

What does the context suggest is the most likely meaning of bulky in this excerpt from “7-Year-Old Girl Gets New Hand from 3-D Printer”?

She had tried a couple more traditional—and more expensive—prosthetics over the year. She found them bulky, heavy and hard to use.

• large and awkward to handle

• hesitant or uncertain

• smooth and slippery

• sharply angled

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B.

Part A What does the context suggest is the most likely meaning of manipulates in this excerpt from “7-Year-Old Girl Gets New Hand from 3-D Printer”?

Faith manipulates her hand without sensors. Instead, as she demonstrated after the bike ride, she moves her upper arm back and forth. That in turn opens and closes its blue and pink fingers.

• trims

• operates

• identifies

• assembles

Part A Answer: operates

Part B Which words from the context best support the answer to Part A?

• after the bike ride

• demonstrated; in turn

• sensors; upper arm; fingers

• moves; back and forth; opens and closes

Which evidence from “7-Year-Old Girl Gets New Hand from 3-D Printer” best supports the author’s comment that Faith’s prosthetic makes certain tasks “immediately easy”?

• Faith may outgrow her hand in a few months.

• Faith jumps on her bike and pedals away.

• Faith is followed around by TV cameras.

• Faith has a stuffed plush toy with her.

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B.

Part A In “7-Year-Old Girl Gets New Hand from 3-D Printer,” what is the main reason that Faith’s parents chose Build It Workspace instead of E-Nable?

• Build It Workspace was used to building prosthetic limbs.

• E-Nable could not do the work they wanted right away.

• Build It Workspace is run by a friend of theirs.

• E-Nable had never made a prosthetic hand.

Part A Answer: E-Nable could not do the work they wanted right away.

Part B Which of these quotations from “7-Year-Old Girl Gets New Hand from 3-D Printer” best supports the answer to Part A?

• When Faith outgrows it [the 3-D printed hand] in six months or a year, a replacement can be made just as cheaply and easily.

• Her parents were working with the nonprofit group E-Nable to get her a 3-D printed hand. But the technology is so new there’s a waiting list, her mother said.

• [Build It Workspace] was founded less than a year ago by mechanical engineer Mark Lengsfeld.

• So [Lengsfeld] used E-Nable’s open-source technology and called in Cal State, Dominguez Hills’ experts for guidance.