7th Grade Reading TAKS Release 2004

A theme throughout this story is —
1. memories of the past
2. curiosity about the unknown
3. fear of the future
4. the beauty of outer space
Why does the author describe Earth as “a sapphire gleaming on a velvet carpet”?
1. To show how far the space station is from Earth
2. To explain why Kalmara’s parents have been in space so long
3. To describe why humans need special equipment to live in space
4. To show how beautiful the Earth looks to Kalmara
Kalmara’s questions about the wind help the reader understand —
1. why Kalmara doesn’t want to live in Texas
2. how Kalmara feels at the end of the story
3. why Kalmara’s mother doesn’t want to talk about Earth
4. how the wind on Saturn is different from the wind on Earth
Why is Kalmara’s mother looking forward to eating a fresh apple?
1. Apples are the only fruit available.
2. She hasn’t had fresh fruit in a long time.
3. Apples were the only fruit grown on the ship.
4. She is hungry after the long trip.
Kalmara feels left out of conversations her parents have about Earth because —
1. she doesn’t want to leave her home on the space station
2. she has spent her whole life living in space
3. she is tired of listening to her parents complain about space
4. she thinks the stories that they tell her are probably not true
Why does Kalmara find it hard to fall asleep?
1. The spaceship is making too much noise.
2. She is homesick for the space station.
3. Her parents have made her angry.
4. She can’t stop thinking about the next day.
Why is Kalmara so fascinated by wind?She has watched videos of it blowing down buildings.
1. She has watched videos of it blowing down buildings.
2. She has studied about it at school.
3. She has heard fairy tales about what wind feels like.
4. She has never felt wind before.
Read the dictionary entry below for the word galley.

Which definition represents the meaning of galley in paragraph 18?
1. Definition 1
2. Definition 2
3. Definition 3
4. Definition 4
In paragraphs 21 through 23, the author creates a mood of —
1. fear
2. relief
3. anticipation
4. pride
Which sentence from the story supports the idea that there are probably other teenagers on the space station?
1. What I had seen only in photographs and videos, they had experienced firsthand.
2. In school my friends and I had studied about Texas and many other places.
3. Usually I felt left out of these conversations, but now I listened closely.
4. It was the only home I had ever known.
Why doesn’t Kalmara complain about space food as her father does?
1. She doesn’t like to eat eggs anyway.
2. She knows she will soon eat fresh food.
3. She doesn’t feel very hungry that day.
4. She has never eaten anything but space food.
What does the word disembark mean in paragraph 17?
1. To be together again
2. To get off a ship or vessel
3. To correct a problem
4. To not feel sick
Look at this diagram of information from the story.

Which idea belongs in the empty box at the top?
1. Things Kalmara sees from the space shuttle
2. What Kalmara will miss about the space station
3. What Kalmara’s parents miss about Earth
4. Things Kalmara wants to experience on Earth
Why does the author compare Canaima National Park to the state of Maryland?
1. To give readers a better idea of the size of the reserve
2. To show readers where the national park is located
3. To give readers an example of another famous waterfall park
4. To explain to readers how much the park resembles areas in the United States
In paragraph 3, the narrator almost expects to see a dinosaur run out of the thick forest because —
1. the narrator has been warned that dangerous animals had been spotted
2. Ramón has mentioned that several species once lived near Angel Falls
3. the jungle looks like Earth probably did millions of years ago
4. the narrator can hear the sounds of some large animals below the trees
In paragraph 15, which words does the author use to create a mood of amazement?
1. the mist and the roar
2. settling into a wide, deep pool
3. tried to grasp the tremendous size and power
4. the rocky face of the mountain
Some people believe that Auyán-tepuí is haunted because —
1. it has violent storms and strange cloud formations
2. it is surrounded by a thick jungle of vegetation
3. it remained hidden from the outside world until 1935
4. it is impossible to see the bottom of Angel Falls
Which sentence from the selection supports the idea that the area around Angel Falls makes the Pemón nervous?
1. Flying over the thick vegetation, I felt as if we were entering a jungle that time had overlooked.
2. As the distant rumble of the falls became a dull roar, our guides nosed the boats onto the muddy bank.
3. The air grew heavy, and our guides fell quiet and watchful, speaking only in hushed, solemn tones.
4. When the river narrowed, the guides stopped the engines and began to paddle through the still, tea-colored water.
This selection is mainly about —
1. the thick vegetation that grows in the area near Angel Falls
2. the Pemón’s feelings about the Mountain of Evil
3. the narrator’s trip to see the highest waterfall in the world
4. the naming of Angel Falls by Jimmy Angel
From the narrator’s reaction to Angel Falls, the reader can conclude that —
1. the narrator begins to appreciate the wonder the Pemón feel toward the falls
2. the narrator understands why it took so long for the falls to be discovered
3. the narrator wants to explore the unknown parts of Auyán-tepuí
4. the narrator is anxious to return home, even though he appreciates the falls
The reader can conclude the Pemón guides are —
1. familiar with the river’s rough waters
2. not used to navigating through the rain
3. afraid of the noises they hear in the jungle
4. not used to showing tourists through this remote area
Which of the following best describes the overall organization of this selection?
1. The author compares Angel Falls to the other great waterfalls of the world.
2. The author describes a trip to Angel Falls from the beginning to the end.
3. The author relates an opinion and provides details to support it.
4. The author explains the events that led to the formation of Angel Falls.
Use “Florence Nightingale: The Lady of the Lamp” to answer questions

In paragraph 4, what does the word vocation mean?
1. Type of medicine
2. Occupation or calling
3. Place of learning
4. A new vaccine
Use “Florence Nightingale: The Lady of the Lamp” to answer questions

Why does the author include additional information about Nightingale at the end of the article?
1. To show readers that Nightingale was an important person
2. To explain to readers why the people of Britain were so grateful
3. To inform readers that Nightingale continued to work for better health care
4. To let readers know that the soldiers of Britain were never neglected again
Use “Florence Nightingale: The Lady of the Lamp” to answer questions

Which sentence from the article supports the idea that Nightingale’s actions changed how people thought of nurses?
1. Outraged citizens demanded action.
2. Not all her changes pleased her employers, but Nightingale persisted.
3. Grateful citizens in London eagerly awaited her return.
4. However, she also saw the poverty, sickness, and hardship of Europe’s common citizens.
Use “Florence Nightingale: The Lady of the Lamp” to answer questions

Read this chart of information from this article.

Which idea belongs in the empty circle?
1. Improvements Nightingale made at a London hospital
2. Improvements the British secretary of war wanted made
3. Reasons Nightingale decided to become a nurse
4. Problems the soldiers faced in the Turkish hospital
Use “Florence Nightingale: The Lady of the Lamp” to answer questions

By using the word swarming in paragraph 7, the author helps the reader understand that the insects and rats were —
1. small
2. annoying
3. scary
4. abundant
Use “Help on Horseback: Mary Breckinridge and the Frontier Nursing Service” to answer question

Why does the author start this article by telling about a man who injured his leg?
1. To warn readers how easily wounds can become infected
2. To explain why the main character washed the man’s leg
3. To prove that Breckinridge was smarter than most doctors
4. To capture the reader’s attention and introduce the main character
Use “Help on Horseback: Mary Breckinridge and the Frontier Nursing Service” to answer question

Why did Breckinridge choose to start the Frontier Nursing Service in Leslie County, Kentucky?
1. She knew the area badly needed health care.
2. A good hospital was located in a nearby town.
3. There were no nursing schools in Kentucky.
4. She wanted to expand the county’s small clinic.
Use “Help on Horseback: Mary Breckinridge and the Frontier Nursing Service” to answer question

How does the author organize paragraphs 3 through 6?
1. The author compares health care in Leslie County before and after Breckinridge started the Frontier Nursing Service.
2. The author relates some important events in Breckinridge’s career in the order in which they occurred.
3. The author explains the problems faced by the people of Leslie County and the solutions that Breckinridge put in place.
4. The author describes the various duties performed by Breckinridge and the other nurses of the Frontier Nursing Service.
Use “Help on Horseback: Mary Breckinridge and the Frontier Nursing Service” to answer question

What is paragraph 3 mainly about?
1. The time Breckinridge spent living in the palace of Czar Nicholas II
2. The cause of the death of Breckinridge’s children
3. The death of Breckinridge’s husband two years after their marriage
4. The happy childhood and tragic early adult years of Breckinridge
Use “Help on Horseback: Mary Breckinridge and the Frontier Nursing Service” to answer question

In paragraphs 1 and 2, the author’s tone is —
1. urgent
2. fearful
3. relaxed
4. hopeless
Use “Help on Horseback: Mary Breckinridge and the Frontier Nursing Service” to answer question

Why did Breckinridge hope to save the man’s leg?
1. The man wouldn’t be able to work with only one leg.
2. She knew the horse doctor wasn’t coming.
3. The man was a good friend of hers.
4. She didn’t think he would survive an operation.
Use “Florence Nightingale: The Lady of the Lamp” and “Help on Horseback: Mary Breckinridge and the Frontier Nursing Service” to answer question

The main purpose of these articles is to —
1. persuade readers to consider a career in nursing
2. explain to readers why nurses are so important during times of war
3. show readers how nursing has changed over the years
4. give readers information about two women who made a difference
Use “Florence Nightingale: The Lady of the Lamp” and “Help on Horseback: Mary Breckinridge and the Frontier Nursing Service” to answer question

One similarity between Nightingale and Breckinridge was that both —
1. became nurses over the objections of their families
2. experienced personal tragedy that led them to become nurses
3. started programs to help mothers and children
4. were pioneers in the field of medicine
How does Héctor solve the main problem in this story?
1. He decides to help his father by delivering his father’s notes.
2. He decides to give up soccer to concentrate on school.
3. He persuades his father to help him clean the garage.
4. He promises his teacher that he will never forget his book again.
Why does Mrs. Domínguez call Dr. Santos?
1. To tell him that Héctor has a test the next week
2. To tell him that she won’t be in class that day
3. To tell him about a problem she is having with Héctor
4. To tell him about the notes that he has forgotten
Why is Héctor in such a hurry to get the notes to his father?
1. His father will need the notes for his class.
2. He doesn’t want his father to be fired.
3. He thinks he might still be able to make it to soccer practice.
4. He doesn’t want his father to be angry at him for being late.
In paragraph 10, what does the word feasible mean?
1. Believable
2. Incredible
3. Available
4. Possible
Why does Héctor have trouble remembering his math book?
1. His father often forgets to remind him to bring his book to school.
2. He is busy trying to help his father get the notes he needs to teach his class.
3. His mind is on other things that are more important to him.
4. He is worried about how long it will take for him to clean the garage.
Héctor thinks that his Saturday is ruined because he has to —
1. spend two hours at soccer practice
2. ride a bus to the college to take his father his notes
3. study all day for the test he has to take
4. spend most of the day cleaning his family’s garage
What can the reader conclude about Héctor?
1. He has ridden the bus to the college in the past.
2. He enjoys taking the bus.
3. He has a test in Mrs. Domínguez’s class next week.
4. He goes to soccer practice only on Saturdays.
Which of these is the best summary of this story?
1. When Héctor gets in trouble at school, his father tells him to clean the family’s garage. Héctor knows it will take most of the day. He wishes it were a school day so he wouldn’t have to do the work.
2. Dr. Santos gets upset at his son Héctor for not taking his math book to class. Later Héctor notices that his father has forgotten some important notes. Although he is a little upset with his father, he decides to take the notes to him.
3. Dr. Santos teaches chemistry at a nearby community college. One day he forgets the notes he needs for a class review. His son Héctor knows that Dr. Santos won’t have time to drive back for the notes.
4. Héctor takes a bus to the college where his father teaches. When he gets there, he can’t remember what room his father’s class is in. Then he hears his father’s voice coming from a nearby room on the second floor.
Which sentence from this story supports the idea that Héctor dreads cleaning the garage?
1. “Well, after practice today I want you to clean the garage.”
2. “I guess you’ll have some help in that garage today.”
3. He had been expecting the call all morning.
4. This morning, however, he almost wished he were going to school, too.
Why does Héctor decide to take the notes to his father instead of going to soccer practice?
1. He thinks his father doesn’t want him to play soccer anymore.
2. He knows that his father needs the notes for an important review.
3. He thinks it’s a good excuse to get out of cleaning the garage.
4. He sees that he doesn’t have enough time to make it to practice.
Why are paragraphs 9 and 10 important to this story?
1. They introduce the main problem.
2. They establish the setting.
3. They introduce the characters.
4. They explain the solution.
Look at the diagram of information from the story.

What belongs in the empty box?
1. Dr. Santos is upset with Héctor.
2. Héctor misses his soccer practice.
3. Dr. Santos forgets his notes for his class.
4. Héctor rushes to catch the bus.
Why doesn’t Héctor eat much of his breakfast?
1. He doesn’t really like posole very much.
2. He is afraid he will miss the bus.
3. He is upset that he has to clean the garage.
4. He knows his teacher is going to call his father.

7th Grade Reading TAKS Release 2004

Quiz