Unit 4 Test Study Guide

Our Unit 4 test will be broken into two smaller parts. The first part of this test will be on Thursday, March 23 rd . The second part of this test will be during the week before Spring Break. I will send home the exact date of the second part of the assessment closer to that date. Below is a description of what students are expected to know for each part of the test. The attached pages are the Part 1 portion of the study guide for the unit test. This study guide is a homework assignment and will replace students’ weekly reading packet for this week.

Part 1: Students should be able to: 1. Identify the main/central idea and supporting details of a multi-paragraph nonfiction text 2. Use the main/central idea and supporting details to summarize multi-paragraph nonfiction texts 3. Use paragraph-level context clues to determine the meaning of words and phrases

Part 2: Students should be able to: 1. State and explain the author’s purpose in nonfiction text (persuade/convince, inform, explain, and entertain) 2. State and explain the author’s perspective on a given topic (what the author thinks about the topic) 3. State and explain their perspective on a given topic (what they think about the topic) 4. Explain how their perspective is the same/different from the author’s perspective on a given topic Name: ______Unit 4 Test (Part 1) Study Guide Directions: Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. Remember to read the text carefully. Feel free to underline and annotate any information in the text that may help you answer the questions. A South Carolina Hero

On the morning of January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger lifted off from a launch pad in Florida. There were seven crewmembers on board. At first, it looked like a successful lift-off. Seventy-three seconds into the launch, there was a terrible disaster. Challenger broke apart. Experts say cold weather played an important part in the disaster. According to an official report, the overnight temperature in the area had been 26 degrees. A simple rubber gasket between two parts of the rocket had frozen overnight. The gasket should have sealed a joint so no gases could leak. The cold caused the gasket not to work as it should. All seven crewmembers were killed. Ronald McNair was one of the astronauts on board Challenger that day. McNair grew up in the small town of Lake City, South Carolina. When he was nine years old, he went to the library to check out books. He was told the books were for “whites only.” He would not leave the library without the books. The police were called. The police officer told the librarian to just give him the books. McNair played four sports in high school. He also played both the clarinet and saxophone. He had the highest grades in the entire senior class. When he went to college, he had planned to study music. A counselor urged him to make a career in science. He changed his focus to physics. A few years after graduation, McNair applied for the space program. He was accepted and trained as a mission specialist. He was the second African-American to fly in space. His first Challenger mission was in 1984. On this mission, he was photographed playing his saxophone in zero gravity. January 28, 1986 was to be his second Challenger mission. Ron McNair was 35 years old at the time of the Challenger tragedy. He had a wife and two children. He is remembered as a person who pushed and went beyond limits set for him by others. Today, there is a Dr. Ronald E. McNair Life History Center. The center is in the old public library. It is the same library that refused to let a nine year old African-American boy check out books. Now it is a museum to honor and remember Ronald McNair.

"Whether or not you reach your goals in life depends entirely on how well you prepare for them and how badly you want them. You're eagles! Stretch your wings and fly to the sky." — Ronald E. McNair 1. Using paragraph level context, what is the BEST choice for the meaning of the word launch in paragraph 1 of A South Carolina Hero?

a. to throw something forward in a forceful way b. to put a boat or ship on the water c. to send or shoot something such as a rocket into the air or outer space d. to load into a computer’s memory and run

2. Using paragraph level context, what is the BEST choice for the meaning of the word gasket in paragraph 2 of A South Carolina Hero?

a. a piece of rubber or some other material that is used to make a tight seal in a joint b. a thin, flat ring that is made of metal or plastic and is used to make something fit tightly or to prevent rubbing c. a container usually made by weaving together long thin pieces of material d. a device that is used to remove something unwanted from a liquid or gas that passes through it

3. Using paragraph level context, what is the BEST choice for the meaning of the word mission in paragraph 5 of A South Carolina Hero?

a. a place or building where religious work is done b. a flight by an aircraft or spacecraft to perform a specific task c. being sent for some duty or purpose d. a group of people sent to perform a service or activity

4. What is the central idea of the text?

a. As a child, Ronald McNair was not allowed to check out books from a library because it was considered “whites only.” b. On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger broke apart and all seven crewmembers were killed. c. Ronald McNair played many sports and musical instruments throughout high school and college. d. The life or Ronald McNair, an astronaut from South Carolina, who died during the Challenger disaster

5. Which of the following details does not support the central idea?

a. There were seven crewmembers who were killed in the Challenger disaster, including Ronald McNair. b. Ronald McNair successfully completed his first Challenger mission in 1984 and was the second African-American to fly in space. c. Experts say cold weather played an important part in the Challenger disaster. d. McNair applied to the space program a few years after he graduated from college. 6. Summarize the passage, A South Carolina Hero, in your own words, using key details that support the central idea.

______

Use the checklist below to make sure you included all required parts of your summary:

____ Detailed central/main idea sentence (Example: “The central idea of the text is how St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in Ireland today.” Instead of “The central idea is St. Patrick’s Day.”) ____ At least 2 supporting details ____ Explanation of all supporting details (What the detail means and how it relates to the central idea) ____ Conclusion sentence (Restate the central/main idea)