Analyzing Textual Evidence and Central Ideas

Which of the following is the best textual evidence to support the idea that Tommy felt nervous about the upcoming game?

• "Tommy’s palms were sweating, and his stomach was in knots."

• "He looked at his teammates, but his mind kept drifting back to the pressure of winning."

• "His coach gave him a pat on the back and told him to relax."

• "Tommy was determined to give it his all."

How does the author support the claim that Tommy felt nervous?

•  The author describes Tommy looking at his teammates.

• The author mentions Tommy’s sweating palms and nervous stomach.

• The author talks about Tommy’s determination to succeed.

• The author mentions his coach telling him to relax.

Which detail from the text best supports the idea that Tommy was unsure about the game?

• "His coach gave him a pat on the back."

•  "He was determined to give it his all."

•  "He couldn’t shake the nervousness that seemed to weigh him down."

• "His stomach was in knots."
  

What is the central idea of the passage about endangered species?

• Endangered species are disappearing because of human actions, but there is hope for their recovery.

•  People are not concerned about endangered species anymore.
  

• The increase in endangered species is unrelated to human behavior.

• Humans should focus on other issues, not endangered species.

Which statement best reflects the central idea of the passage about protecting the environment?

• Efforts to save the environment are unimportant because the problems are too big.
  

•  Small actions to reduce pollution and conserve habitats can make a big difference.
  

• Animals do not need to be saved; humans are the only important species.

•  People are only responsible for protecting the plants, not animals.

What is the main focus of the passage about endangered species?

• The causes and consequences of species extinction
  

• A list of endangered species and how to find them
  

• The history of how species have become extinct
  

• The importance of protecting endangered species in the future
  

How does the author connect Lena’s struggles with the overall theme of perseverance?

•  Lena’s struggles show that it’s okay to quit when things get tough.
  

•  Lena’s struggles teach the importance of pushing through challenges to improve.
  

• • Lena never makes mistakes, which helps her succeed.
    
    

•  Lena doesn’t struggle at all during her learning process.

Which connection does the author make between Lena’s emotions and her progress on the violin?

• •  Lena feels frustrated and quits playing the violin.
    
    

• Lena’s frustration leads her to push harder and improve in the long run.
  

•  Lena gives up on her lessons because they are too difficult.
  

•  Lena finds success immediately without any struggle.
  

How does the author connect Lena’s teacher’s encouragement to the theme of learning from mistakes?

• The teacher tells Lena to stop practicing because she is not good at it.
  

•  The teacher teaches Lena to embrace her mistakes and learn from them.
  

•  The teacher tells Lena she will never improve and should give up.
  

• •  The teacher only praises Lena’s success, not her mistakes.
    
    

In the sentence “The market was frigid, with an icy breeze cutting through the air,” what does “frigid” mean?

• Extremely warm

• Very cold

• Mild and comfortable

• Wet and rainy