PSSA

flat =Quarter 1=

**"Geyser Watching is Hot Stuff"**
AR Code 1120



**"****Penguins Are Funny Birds** **"**
AR Code 1128



**"Pass the Chocolate"**
AR Code 1129



**"The Philharmonic Express"**
AR Code 1131



//Describe how Javon's feeling about classical music changes in the passage "Philharmonic Express."//
 * Prompt:**

**"Meeting of the Rails"**
AR Code 1122



There were many reasons who the transcontinental railroad was so difficult to complete. One of the reasons listed in the passage "Meeting of the Rails" was the traveling conditions. They had to "battle the snows of the Sierra Nevada mountains and the heat of the Nevada Desert." Another reason was the rough terrain. They faced many "dangers on the Great Plains and in the rugged canyons of the rocky Mountains." Finally, there were the living conditions. In the passage it states that "travel to the west was difficult at best, deadly at worst." As one can see, the completion of the first transcontinental railroad was challenging.
 * Example 1**

**"Earl the Elk's Excellent Adventure"**
AR Code 1124



In the passage "Earl the Elk's Excellent Adventure", Earl encounters different challenges. To begin with, Earl was hurt in a traffic accident. The passage states the "he was hit first by one car and then by another." This could have killed Earl. Also, "when Earl was startled by a car horn, he ran through several yards... dropped in on a backyard garage sale." It is possible that he could have been injured or even killed. Finally, "earl started living in some woods near a shopping center. People began to gather there to watch Earl. They often crowded him and sometimes they almost surrounded him." Earl probably is not used to being surrounded by lots of civilians. He could be a danger to others and other innocent people could be a danger to him. To conclude, the passage "Earl the Elk's Excellent Adventure" gives a good description of the numerous challenges Earl encountered.
 * Example 1:**

In the passage "Earl the Elk's Excellent Adventure", Earl faced many difficulties. First, when Earl was "spooked by a car horn and ran through several yards, leaping over fences" he could have hurt himself or a person. Next, when "Earl was hit by a car then hit by another and limped off into the woods", he could have died because he could not defend himself. Finally, "people often crowded Earl so experts knew that if he became frightened, he could hurt someone. because he could have kicked or ran into them. In conclusion, Earl faced many challenges.
 * Example 2**

**"Vending Machines in School"**
AR code 1137



Example 1 In the passage, "Vending Machines in School," the first student editorial is more convincing. Caffeine and sugar are not healthy for students as pointed out by this student. She also explains that instead of having soda and candy bar machines, schools should have real fruit juice. Instead of the sugary beverages, milk could be provided as an alternative. In addition, statistics were used to support healthier food options in school. Experts want children to limit their amount of fried foods, sugary snacks, and fast foods. As one can see, student 1 provided several compelling reasons to support her point of view and made a more convincing argument.

**"Anita Roddick - Founder The Body Shop"**
AR 1148



=Quarter 2=

**"Jackie Robinson - Justice at Last"**
AR 1139



//How does Jackie Robinson demonstrate that he is the right person to break the color barrier in the professional baseball? Cite three examples from the passage to support your answer.//
 * Prompt:**

In the passage "Jackie Robinson: Justice at Last" Jackie Robinson demonstrates that he is the right person to break the color barrier in professional baseball.During the 1940's, America was going through a transition phase in civil rights. Black people were no longer slaves, but they were not yet respected as equal citizens either. Jackie Robinson opened the eyes of many people regarding civil liberties.
 * Essay Example:**

To begin, Jackie Robinson has amazing athletic ability. This is important if one is trying to change people's mind about integrating the sport. He was daring on the bases, better with the glove, and has amazing bat control to hit the ball anywhere. "Slowly his teammates accepted him, realizing that he was the spark that made them a winning team."

In addition, Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers thought that was wrong that the major leagues were for white men only. He was the only team owner who believed blacks and whites should play together. However, "he knew the first black major leaguer would need much more than athletic ability." Jackie Robinson also brought his bravery to the game. Because he was trying to break the color barrier, he was not accepted by many on or off the field. Even though fans threatened to kill him, players tried to hurt him and teams threatened to strike, Robinson stayed brave. "No matter who insulted him, he never retaliated."

Equally important, Jackie Robinson was intelligent. He had a college education. "In the past, Robinson had always stood up for his rights." While he was proud of his race and background, he also understood "what joining the major leagues would mean to blacks." He was smart enough to resist fighting back and let his talent speak for him.

As one can see, Jackie Robinson was the right person to break the color barrier in the major leagues. His talent in the sport, bravery against prejudice and intelligence to understand the impact he was having were instrumental in his success. The major leagues were changed forever.

**"The Story of My Life"**
AR Code 1144

**"I Have a Dream"**
AR Code 1146

**"Midori"**
AR 1125

**"The Wounded Wolf"**
AR 1143



//Describe two details of the setting and explain how each detail contributes to the events in the passage.//
 * Prompt**


 * Example essay:**

In the passage "The Wounded Wolf", the setting contributes to the events. This story by Jean Craighead George takes place on "Toklat ridge, a massive spine of rock and ice". Roko, the protagonist, is an injured wolf that gets separated from his pack.

To begin, Roko and his pack are thin and hungry. It is "the season of starvation." The winter months have played a toll on the animals. There is not a lot of food this time of year. This is dangerous to Roko since he is injured. He may not have enough strength to heal without the proper nourishment. During any other season, this would not be as much of a concern.

In addition, Roko tried to signal his pack to let them know that he was hurt. The pack was not able to see him due to the winter winds that picks up "long shawls of snow and drapes them between young Roko and his pack." If the weather had been different on this day, the wolf pack would have been able to see Roko's signal and come to his rescue.

As one can see, the events in the story are influenced by the winter setting on Toklat Ridge.

**"Eleven"**
AR Code 1148

//In the short story, “Eleven”, by Sandra Cisneros, in what ways do Rachel’s reactions demonstrate her multiple “years” of her eleven year-old self? Write a one-page essay summarizing the ways that Rachel responds. Include textual evidence to support your interpretation of the age that her actions demonstrate.//
 * Prompt:**

Birthdays are usually occasions for joy, celebrated with presents and cake and acts of love. Each birthday marks the arrival of a new year in a person’s life. With the arrival of that special day, a person is an entire year older. In Sandra Cisneros’ short story “Eleven”, Rachel’s eleventh birthday is not a happy day, which gives her reason to think about what it means to turn eleven.
 * Example answer **

In the first paragraph of the story, Rachel reflects that “when you’re eleven, you’re also ten, and nine, and eight, and seven, and six, and five, and four, and three, and two, and one”. She compares all those years within a person to an onion, the rings inside a tree trunk, and wooden dolls that fit inside each other. Rachel’s variety of reactions to the fact that her teacher wrongly accuses her of being the owner of an ugly, red sweater demonstrate the multiple years existing within her eleven-year-old self.

When Mrs. Price first tells Rachel the sweater is hers, Rachel reacts with maturity beyond her years. She fights the younger ages trying to emerge by telling herself, “…today I am eleven, eleven. Mama is making a cake for me tonight, and when Papa comes home everybody will sing Happy birthday, happy birthday to you”. She is fighting childish reactions with an adult-like strategy of emotionally removing herself from a negative situation by focusing on positive thoughts. She can put up with the sweater because something wonderful awaits her at home.

With the ugly red sweater still on her desk, Rachel has difficulty continuing the more mature strategy of compartmentalization. She creates her own reality, imagining that she will throw the red sweater “over the schoolyard fence, or leave it hanging on a parking meter, or bunch it up into a little ball and toss it in the alley”. She is doing all she can to avoid an unpleasant situation, and avoidance is generally thought to be an immature response to a problem. When Mrs. Price makes Rachel wear the sweater, all attempts at maturity are lost. Rachel thinks, “I’m eleven and it’s my birthday today and I’m crying like I’m three in front of everybody. . . spit coming out of my mouth because I can’t stop the little animal noises from coming out of me”. Clearly, she recognizes that even though she is eleven, she’s responding like a three-year old.

At the end of the story, Rachel says “I’m eleven today. I’m eleven, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, and one”. She seems to have resigned herself to the reality of the experience, for she knows that we all carry with us the years that came before, sometimes reverting to the child within us.

**"Surfing Iowa"**
AR Code 1173



//State the theme or the author’s message. Describe at least two examples from the passage that express this theme or message.//
 * Prompt**


 * Example essay:**

A theme is a lesson the reader learns or the author's message from a story. In "Surfing Iowa," a strong theme is evident. Jeff learns that there is always a way to do things he enjoys when he finds out his has to relocate to a new state.

To begin, Jeff enjoys surfing. Randy, his best friend, and Jeff have "been surfing ever since they could lift surfboards. They would only come out of the water to eat and sleep". When he found out his was moving to Iowa, a landlocked state, he thought he may never get to participate in this activity again. In a conversation with Randy, Jeff said "I wish I could take the waves with me." Although Jeff did not understand what Randy meant when he responded "You can." he would soon enough.

Randy mailed him a skateboard that he forgot to take with him when he moved. A note w

** "Rosa Parks: Her True Story" **
AR Code 1151



//Tell about three of Rosa Parks’s character traits. Be sure to support your answer with details from the passage.//
 * Prompt**


 * Essay Example**

Rosa Parks was a woman deeply involved with civil rights issues. In the passage, "Rosa Parks: Her True Story," it is evident that Rosa is dedicated, brave, and determined. These character traits served her well when she worked to make this country better, more fair and more free.

To begin, Rosa was dedicated to her family. As a young girl, "Rosa spent much of her youth living on her grandparents’ farm" were she worked hard. She was willing to drop out of school at age 16 to help her family. This was most likely a difficult decision to make, but one that was necessary for the good of her family.

Equally important, Rosa was brave. It must have taken a lot of bravery to break the law in order to get others to address the unfair policies created by segregation. In a speech given in 1992, Rosa said, “The real reason of my not standing up was that I felt I had a right to be treated as any other passenger. We had endured that kind of treatment for too long.” During the 1950's, it was very courageous of Parks to stand up for what she believed in. In addition, Rosa was determined. She "felt deeply committed to the Civil Rights movement," She continued to fight segregation laws by not paying the $14 fine as a way to keep national focus on the civil rights issue. It would have been so much easier for her to just pay the fine instead of fighting for equal rights. Instead, she was determined to see it through to the end in order to achieve her goal. As one can see, Rosa Parks was dedicated, brave, and determined. Thanks to Mrs. Parks, "these kinds of prejudiced “laws” no longer exist." America is a better place because of her character traits.

"The Fosbury Flop"
AR Code 1153



//Identify at least one character traits Dick Fosbury possessed. Explain how this traits helped him become a successful high jumper. use at least two examples from the passage to support your response.//
 * Prompt**

In the passage "The Fosbury Flop," Dick Fosbury possessed the character trait of persistence, which helped him become a successful high jumper. To begin, Fosbury could clear the high jump bar using the traditional style of jumping so he created his own style. His coach tried to "convince Fosbury to go back to the standard way of jumping." Fosbury did not listen. He know his way was a better way of jumping, and he showed persistence by still doing it his way. Additionally, During the Olympic games, Fosburg had trouble clearing the bar during an event. Fosbury "missed his first two attempts, ... and will great surge of strength, he did it." Fosbury knew it was great, and he stuck with it until the end. It takes a great deal of persistence to achieve success, especially when others disagree. To conclude, Dick Fosbury possessed the trait of persistence, which helped him become a successful high jumper.
 * Example essay**

In the passage "The Fosbury Flop", Dick Fosbury possessed determination as a character trait.. While high school Dick was determined to clear the high bar. Determination helped Dick to become a successful high jumper because if he had no determination he would have never pushed himself enough to clear the 5 foot 10 bar or make it into the Summer Olympics. One example from the story that proves he is determined is "Fosbury worked hard at his high jumping and began to life weights to increase his strength." Another example that proves he is determined is when he says "I just thought about floating over the bar." If Dick Fosbury did not possess the quality of determination he would have never made it past the high bar or won the summer Olympic games.
 * Example essay:**

**"The Pizzeria"**
AR Code 1152

[[file:the pizzeria.pdf]]
//Explain the main conflict in the passage and how it is resolved. Use at least two examples from the passage to support your explanation.//
 * Prompt**

In the passage "The Pizzeria," the main conflict is that the boy wants a job in the pizzeria, but is not confident he will get it. For example, the boy peers through the window, probably to see if there were other people in the pizzeria before he enters.He is glad it is not busy as he thinks "it would be harder if other kids were around" to apply for the job. The boy asks the owner about the Help Wanted sign. After a lengthy discussion about the pizza business, the owner tosses the boy a towel so he can start right away. This type of internal conflict is referred to man vs self. The conflict is resolved when the owner of the pizzeria hires the boy,
 * Example essay**

=Quarter 3=

"The Bracelet"
AR Code 1155

Read to learn how a young girl learns an important lesson when she is forced to move to an internment camp during World War II.

There was not an essay associated with this story.

"Number the Stars"


//Tell how Annemarie feels about the German soldiers in her country. Use two examples from the passage to support your answer//.
 * Prompt:**

In the passage "Number the Stars," Annemarie has strong feelings about the German soldiers in her country.
 * Example Essay:**

To begin, German soldiers occupy the country of Denmark where Annemarie and Ellen live. The girls fear the soldiers because they carry guns and are not friendly. This is indirectly shown when Annemarie ran into two soldiers while racing Ellen on the way home from school. The sight of the soldiers made "her heart skip a beat". This indirectly shows fear. Direct evidence can be found in the story after the soldier harshly shouted "Halte!". The passage states. "The German word was as familiar as it was frightening."

In addition, the author shows Annemarie's fear by describing the soldier's appearance through her eyes. The word choices in the sentence, "That meant two helmets, two sets of cold eyes glaring at her, and four tall shiny boots planted firmly on the sidewalk, blocking her path to home.", are strong and indicate a feeling of fright.

As one can see, strong feelings of fear are created by the presence of the German soldiers in Denmark for Annemarie.

**Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry**
AR Code



**"Blazing Rice Fields"**
AR 1121



**"Casey at the Bat"**
AR Code 1145

**"Autumntime"**
Describe one way the setting of "Autumntime" is similar to cities of today. Describe two ways the setting is different from cities of today. Use details from the passage to support your response.
 * Prompt:**

Cities are an important part of American culture. The setting is "Autumntime" is similar to modern cities in one way, and yet different in other ways. Although each city has its own personality, they do have some things in common.
 * Example essay:**

The setting of "Autumntime" is similar to all cities today in that they both have subway and train stations. The characters in the story caught the train to go to Brooklyn. Today, we catch subway's and trains to go anywhere in the world.

The tan cities are different because they use elevator busses. They caught the elevator buss to the fourth level to catch on the train. In order for us to go on different levels of buildings we use elevators, escalators, or steps. Also, they aren't to familiar with real trees. For example, the narrator said that it would be his first time ever seeing a real tree. Most the people they live around has fake trees. We have real trees everywhere we go not to many are fake.

example essay
The experience of Hans in "Eyewitness History: Children of War" and Jewish children Renee and Leon in "Children in the Shadows" are very similar. To begin, they all had to lie to survive. Hans said in his interview "If you are caught telling anybody that it rains, the government will put you in jail." This is a metaphor that if they reveal their opinion on the Nazis, they will be arrested. Additionally, Renee says that everybody tell her "Quiet, and never tell anyone you are Jewish" This is another example of how she had to lie in order to survive. If she announced to everyone that she was Jewish, the Nazis would take her away. To conclude, the experience of Hans and Renee during World War 2 were very much alike. -Anthony Eckert


 * Example Essay 2**

In the passages Eyewitness to History: Children of War" and "Children of the Shadows" there was one major theme that was similar during the holocaust; they had to lie to stay alive. To begin, Hans, one of Hitler's child spies, said it was brutal working under Hitler. He sais "If you are caught telling anybody it rains you will be put in jail." What he means is that if you tell anybody Hitler's plans, you will get taken away or killed. Equally important, Renee and Leon, Jewish survivors of the Holocaust, also had to lie to stay alive. Leon had said "he had to pretend he was a Christian, change his name and learn a new language." Renee was taught that Jewish was a bad word because if she said it the people hiding her and herself could be taken away to camps of even killed. So one can see, life during the holocaust was not easy for either sides of the war. However they had one major thing in common. They had to lie to survive. -Lily Fetterman

=Quarter 4=