📚 RL/RI.9-10.1 Mastery Packet

🌪️ Passage 1: Hurricanes and Human Impact (Informational)

Hurricanes are powerful tropical storms defined by high winds, heavy rain, and swirling low-pressure systems. These storms develop over warm ocean waters, gaining strength as they absorb heat and moisture from the surface.

As they approach land, hurricanes can lead to widespread destruction: flooding, structural damage, and power outages are common. Meteorologists and emergency workers work to forecast storms early, but the unpredictable nature of hurricane paths makes this difficult.

Climate change is also complicating matters. Warmer ocean temperatures are linked to stronger, longer-lasting hurricanes. As a result, many coastal cities are reevaluating building codes and emergency plans to adapt to increasingly extreme weather.

What is the central idea of the passage “Hurricanes and Human Impact”?

• Hurricanes are most dangerous after landfall

• Climate change causes flooding and damage

• Hurricanes are destructive and becoming more intense due to climate change

• Most cities are well prepared for hurricanes

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

🌪️ Passage 1: Hurricanes and Human Impact (Informational)

Hurricanes are powerful tropical storms defined by high winds, heavy rain, and swirling low-pressure systems. These storms develop over warm ocean waters, gaining strength as they absorb heat and moisture from the surface.

As they approach land, hurricanes can lead to widespread destruction: flooding, structural damage, and power outages are common. Meteorologists and emergency workers work to forecast storms early, but the unpredictable nature of hurricane paths makes this difficult.

Climate change is also complicating matters. Warmer ocean temperatures are linked to stronger, longer-lasting hurricanes. As a result, many coastal cities are reevaluating building codes and emergency plans to adapt to increasingly extreme weather.

Which sentence from the passage “Hurricanes and Human Impact” best supports the idea that climate change is intensifying hurricanes?

• “Meteorologists and emergency workers work to forecast storms early…”

• “Hurricanes are powerful tropical storms defined by high winds…”

• “Climate change is also complicating matters.”

• “These storms develop over warm ocean waters…”

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

🌪️ Passage 1: Hurricanes and Human Impact (Informational)

Hurricanes are powerful tropical storms defined by high winds, heavy rain, and swirling low-pressure systems. These storms develop over warm ocean waters, gaining strength as they absorb heat and moisture from the surface.

As they approach land, hurricanes can lead to widespread destruction: flooding, structural damage, and power outages are common. Meteorologists and emergency workers work to forecast storms early, but the unpredictable nature of hurricane paths makes this difficult.

Climate change is also complicating matters. Warmer ocean temperatures are linked to stronger, longer-lasting hurricanes. As a result, many coastal cities are reevaluating building codes and emergency plans to adapt to increasingly extreme weather.

According to the passage, what makes hurricanes especially difficult to prepare for? Support your answer with one detail from the text.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.7

CCSS.RI.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.7

🏠 Passage 2: The Latchkey (Fiction)

Elena paused at the gate, key in hand. The lock had always stuck, but today it turned easily. She stepped back. Her backpack shifted against her spine.

The yard looked undisturbed—grass the same, porch light still blinking lazily in daylight. But the key… the key turned too easily.

She swallowed hard.

“Mom?” she called, not too loudly.

No answer.

One foot on the porch step, she adjusted the weight of her bag, listening for the usual bark of the neighbor’s dog. Nothing. The silence was wrong.

Still, she opened the door.

What can we infer about Elena’s state of mind in the passage “The Latchkey”?

• She is impatient and angry

• She is confused but relaxed

• She is suspicious and uneasy

• She is excited to be home

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RI.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

🏠 Passage 2: The Latchkey (Fiction)

Elena paused at the gate, key in hand. The lock had always stuck, but today it turned easily. She stepped back. Her backpack shifted against her spine.

The yard looked undisturbed—grass the same, porch light still blinking lazily in daylight. But the key… the key turned too easily.

She swallowed hard.

“Mom?” she called, not too loudly.

No answer.

One foot on the porch step, she adjusted the weight of her bag, listening for the usual bark of the neighbor’s dog. Nothing. The silence was wrong.

Still, she opened the door.

Which line best supports the idea that Elena feels uneasy in “The Latchkey”?

• “She stepped back. Her backpack shifted…”

• “The yard looked undisturbed.”

• “Still, she opened the door.”

• “She called, not too loudly.”

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RI.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

🏠 Passage 2: The Latchkey (Fiction)

Elena paused at the gate, key in hand. The lock had always stuck, but today it turned easily. She stepped back. Her backpack shifted against her spine.

The yard looked undisturbed—grass the same, porch light still blinking lazily in daylight. But the key… the key turned too easily.

She swallowed hard.

“Mom?” she called, not too loudly.

No answer.

One foot on the porch step, she adjusted the weight of her bag, listening for the usual bark of the neighbor’s dog. Nothing. The silence was wrong.

Still, she opened the door.

How does the author use small physical details to build suspense in this passage? Use at least one quote from the text.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

📱 Passage 3: Digital Nightmares (Informational)

In a recent study, researchers found that students who use screens in the hour before bed report higher levels of anxiety and fatigue the next morning. The study surveyed over 800 teenagers across five states and tracked their sleep quality using wearable monitors.

The results showed that even just 30 minutes of pre-sleep screen time—especially scrolling on social media—was associated with delayed REM sleep, which plays a vital role in memory and emotional regulation.

Although the researchers acknowledged other factors at play, such as stress and school workload, they emphasized screen habits as a key contributor to poor sleep in adolescents.

What is the central idea of the passage “Digital Nightmares”?

• Students are more tired now than in the past

• Pre-bedtime screen use negatively affects teen sleep quality

• REM sleep is the most important type of sleep

• Social media is more harmful than video games

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

📱 Passage 3: Digital Nightmares (Informational)

In a recent study, researchers found that students who use screens in the hour before bed report higher levels of anxiety and fatigue the next morning. The study surveyed over 800 teenagers across five states and tracked their sleep quality using wearable monitors.

The results showed that even just 30 minutes of pre-sleep screen time—especially scrolling on social media—was associated with delayed REM sleep, which plays a vital role in memory and emotional regulation.

Although the researchers acknowledged other factors at play, such as stress and school workload, they emphasized screen habits as a key contributor to poor sleep in adolescents.

Which line best explains why screen use harms sleep in “Digital Nightmares”?

• “The study surveyed over 800 teenagers…”

• “Other factors include stress and school workload…”

• “30 minutes of pre-sleep screen time…was associated with delayed REM sleep.”

• “Wearable monitors tracked sleep quality.”

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

📱 Passage 3: Digital Nightmares (Informational)

In a recent study, researchers found that students who use screens in the hour before bed report higher levels of anxiety and fatigue the next morning. The study surveyed over 800 teenagers across five states and tracked their sleep quality using wearable monitors.

The results showed that even just 30 minutes of pre-sleep screen time—especially scrolling on social media—was associated with delayed REM sleep, which plays a vital role in memory and emotional regulation.

Although the researchers acknowledged other factors at play, such as stress and school workload, they emphasized screen habits as a key contributor to poor sleep in adolescents.

What detail in the passage helps explain why screen use before sleep is harmful? Support your answer with evidence.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

🧪 Passage 4: The Chemistry Test (Fiction)

Jordan stared at the clock. Twenty-three minutes left. He hadn’t even flipped the test over yet.

He could feel the scratchy silence of the room like lint on his skin. Everyone else was already writing. Even Alex, who never studied. Jordan’s pencil sat unsharpened on his desk, mocking him.

Mrs. Langford glanced up from her grading, her eyes skimming the room like radar. Jordan looked down, pretending to read.

He picked up the pencil.

It snapped in half.

What can we infer about Jordan’s emotional state in “The Chemistry Test”?

• He is calm but tired

• He is angry with his teacher

• He is anxious and overwhelmed

• He is distracted by other students

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RI.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2