PARCC Grade 9 ELA Practice Test Questions

Questions 1-10 refer to the following article:

Global warming and the depletion of natural resources are constant threats to the future of our planet. All people have a responsibility to be proactive participants in the fight to save Earth by working now to conserve resources for later. Participation begins with our everyday choices. From what you buy to what you do to how much you use, your decisions affect the planet and everyone around you. Now is the time to take action. When choosing what to buy, look for sustainable products made from renewable or recycled resources. The packaging of the products you buy is just as important as the products themselves. Is the item minimally packaged in a recycled container? How did the product reach the store? Locally grown food and other products manufactured within your community are the best choices. The fewer miles a product traveled to reach you, the fewer resources it required.

You can continue to make a difference for the planet in how you use what you bought and the resources you have available. Remember the locally grown food you purchased? Don’t pile it on your plate at dinner. Food that remains on your plate is a wasted resource, and you can always go back for seconds. You should try to be aware of your consumption of water and energy. Turn off the water when you brush your teeth, and limit your showers to five minutes. Turn off the lights, and don’t leave appliances or chargers plugged in when not in use.

Together, we can use less, waste less, recycle more, and make the right choices. It may be the only chance we have.

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1. What is the author’s primary purpose in writing this article?

1. The author’s purpose is to scare people.
2. The author’s purpose is to warn people.
3. The author’s purpose is to inspire people.
4. The author’s purpose is to inform people.

This question has two parts. Answer Part A, then answer Part B.

2. Part A: How does the author make a connection between the second and third paragraphs?

1. The author indicates he will now make suggestions for how to use what you bought. 
2. The author indicates he will continue to give more examples of what you should buy.
3. The author indicates he will make suggestions for how to keep from buying more items.
4. The author indicates he will make suggestions for how to tell other people what to buy.

Part B: What specific item is used as an example in paragraph 2 and 3?

1. Water
2. Food
3. Toys 
4. Driving

3. What is the main idea of this article?

1. People should use less water and energy.
2. People should make responsible choices in what they purchase and how they use their available resources. 
3. People are quickly destroying the earth, and there is no way to stop the destruction.
4. People should organize everyone they know to join the fight to save the environment.

4. Which organizational pattern did the author use?

1. Comparison and contrast
2. Chronological order
3. Cause and effect
4. Problem/solution

5. What does the author say is the place to begin saving our planet?

1. The place to begin is with getting rid of products that are not earth friendly.
2. The place to begin is with using less water when we take a shower.
3. The place to begin is with the choices we make every day. 
4. The place to begin is with buying locally-grown food.

This question has two parts. Answer Part A, then answer Part B.

6. Part A: What does the author imply will happen if people do not follow his suggestions?

1. The author implies we will run out of resources in the next 10 years.
2. The author implies water and energy prices will rise sharply in the near future.
3. The author implies global warming and the depletion of natural resources will continue. 
4. The author implies local farmers will lose their farms.

Part B: Which sentence supports your answer from Part A?

1. Food that remains on your plate is a wasted resource, and you can always go back for seconds.
2. From what you buy to what you do to how much you use, your decisions affect the planet and everyone around you. 
3. Turn off the water when you brush your teeth, and limit your showers to five minutes.
4. Global warming and the depletion of natural resources are constant threats to the future of our planet.

7. You are working with a group to compile further research on what people can do to help the environment. Your teacher has asked your group to present a broad overview of the topic. Which of the following would be the best choice for dividing the topic among the individuals in your group?

1. Products that can be recycled, products that cannot be recycled, and products that should not be recycled.
2. Products that can be recycled, products that consume less energy, and products that use recycled packaging.
3. Products that can be recycled, hybrid cars, and water conservation.
4. Products that can be recycled, products that consume less energy, and accomplishing everyday tasks using environmentally friendly practices.

8. “When choosing what to buy, look for sustainable products made from renewable or recycled resources.”

What does the word “sustainable” mean in the context of this selection?

1. Able to be maintained or kept in existence
2. Produced locally
3. Chosen for specific characteristics
4. Manufactured using an energy efficient process

This question has two parts. Answer Part A, then answer Part B.

9. Part A: “You should try to be aware of your consumption of water and energy.” What does the word “consumption” mean in the context of this selection?

1. Using the greatest amount
2. Illness of the lungs
3. Using the least amount 
4. Depletion of goods

Part B: Based on your answer in Part A, give a sentence from the paragraph that supports your answer.

__________________________________________________________________ 
__________________________________________________________________ 
__________________________________________________________________ 

10. The author makes a general suggestion to the reader: “You should try to be aware of your consumption of water and energy.”
Which of the following is one way the author specifies that this suggestion be carried out?

1. Food that remains on your plate is a wasted resource, and you can always go back for a second helping.
2. Locally grown food and other products manufactured within your community are the best choices. 
3. Turn off the lights, and don’t leave appliances or chargers plugged in when not in use.
4. Participation begins with our everyday choices.

Answers

1. D: Various parts of the article are intended to scare (choice A), warn (choice B), and inspire (choice C) people, but the primary purpose of the article is to offer practical advice about what products people should buy and how to use their available resources to make responsible decisions for the future of our planet.

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2. Part A: A: The author begins the third paragraph with, “You can continue to make a difference for the planet in how you use what you bought and the resources you have available.” This sentence makes the connection between the second paragraph which deals with what people should buy and the third paragraph which makes suggestions for how to use what they have.

Part B: B: In paragraph 2 he mentions “Locally grown food and other products,” and in paragraph 3 he mentions “Remember the locally grown food you purchased?”

3. B: The author does suggest that people should use less water and energy (choice A), but these are only two suggestions among many and not the main idea of the article. The article does not say that people are destroying the earth (choice C) or make a suggestion that people organize their acquaintances (choice D).

4. D: The author presents the problems of global warming and the rapid depletion of the planet’s natural resources and offers several practical suggestions for how to stop global warming and use remaining resources judiciously.

5. C: The author makes suggestions to use less water (choice B) and buy locally grown food (choice D), but they are not suggested as the place to begin saving the planet. The author does not suggest getting rid of products that are not earth friendly (choice A). The author states: “Participation begins with our everyday choices.”

6. Part A: C: The author does not mention running out of resources in a specific time period (choice A), the cost of water and energy (choice B), or the possibility of hardship for local farmers (choice D).

Part B: D: The sentence that best shows that the author is implying that global warming and the depletion of natural resources will continue is, “Global warming and the depletion of natural resources are constant threats to the future of our planet.”

7. D: Choice D gives the broadest interpretation of the topic. Choice A focuses solely on recycling; choice B focuses on the choice of products to be purchased; and choice C focuses on recycling, one type of energy-saving product (hybrid cars), and ways to conserve one resource (water).

8. A: “When choosing what to buy, look for sustainable products made from renewable or recycled resources.” The context of this sentence indicates that sustainable means renewable or able to be used again.

9. Part A: D: As the passage states: “You should try to be aware of your consumption of water and energy. Turn off the water when you brush your teeth, and limit your showers to five minutes. Turn off the lights, and don’t leave appliances or chargers plugged in when not in use.” The contexts of these sentences indicate that consumption means the depletion of goods (e.g., water and energy).

Part B: Any of the sentences above that give context to what the word “consumption” mean are acceptable answers.

10. C: Of the choices available, this is the only sentence that offers specific ideas for carrying out the author’s suggestion to the reader of limiting consumption of energy.