a battalion of soldiers
a firing squad
headhunters
circling sharks
11. In “A Sound of Thunder,” the author shows how small acts affect the future by (1 point)
having Eckels forced to retrieve the bullets.
Eckels stepping on a butterfly and killing it.
Eckels freezing when it is time to shoot the dinosaur.
having Eckels travel back in time instead of going on an African safari.
Are You Smarter Than a Fly? Scientists Say Maybe Not.
Did you ever wonder why flies are so hard to swat? Scientists think they have the answer: brainpower. While
humans tend to think of insects like flies as small, unintelligent creatures, a fly’s brain is capable of seeing
and feeling danger. That brain may be no larger than a single poppy seed, but the fly is a far more
sophisticated creature than you might have thought.
To understand how a fly thinks, scientists used super-slow-motion video cameras to watch a fly react when
attacked. These high-speed cameras, capable of photographing mere fractions of a second, revealed that a fly
performs a nimble tap dance, moving its legs and body to push away from the oncoming threat. This routine,
accomplished in less than a tenth of a second, gives a fly a critical edge over the human swatter. In an instant,
a fly’s tiny brain can calculate the location of the flyswatter, come up with an escape plan, and hop out of the
way in the opposite direction. The single second it takes a human to swat is more than enough time for the
average fly to think, act, and dodge the attack.
Studies by scientists have found a fly’s brain can process information faster than nearly any living creature.
In addition, flies are more than just fast thinkers. They always plan and organize their movements and
prepare escape routes in case of danger. For example, if a swatter is swooping down in front of a fly, the fly
knows to move its middle legs forward and lean back, allowing it to raise and extend its legs and push off
backward. What is the result? The fly sneaks out from under the swatter and gets away. Once in the air, the
fly changes its flying style and speed to continue to evade a threat. When it lands again, it makes a whole
new set of plans for future flights.
Scientists believe this new understanding about fly thinking and behavior may also provide a better method
for squashing the pesky insect. Patience is important: would-be swatters should not aim for a fly’s present
location. Instead, knowing now that the fly will jump away from you, aim slightly in front of it so the swatter
captures the fly as it is fleeing, not where it was. A little human planning and preparation, researchers say,
can outwit a fly’s natural instincts. The process does not work for all insects, however, especially not bees.
But why, some scientists now wonder, would anyone want to squash such a magnificent creature? The
scientists hope their new findings will inspire humans to think about and appreciate the Earth’s tiniest
creatures.
12. Read this sentence from the passage.
But why, some scientists now wonder, would anyone want to squash such a magnificent creature?
Which sentence, if added right after this one, would best support the author’s point?
(1 point)
Of course, when a fly is bothering you, it is difficult to focus on the insect’s grace or
its intelligence.
After all, these insects move so gracefully, and they think with the sophistication of a
computer.
For example, imagine how you would feel if a monster thousands of times your size
tried to swat you.
By the way, the study of insects is known as “entomology,” which is easy to confuse
with “etymology” (the study or word origins).
13. In “Nethergrave” Jeremy is well known at school because (1 point)
he lives by himself.
he has friends from all over the country.
he kicked a goal for the rival soccer team.
he has the most advanced computer equipment.
14. Which line from “Nethergrave” best develops Jeremy’s character? (1 point)
“He was moving that soccer ball down the field and it appeared he might even kick a
goal.”
“I played in a soccer tournament at school, and I kicked the winning goal.”
“He stared, unblinking, until it seemed he was being sucked inside the vortex.”
“In gym they announced I’m gonna be the captain of the wrestling team.”
15. In which of the following pieces does the character’s motivation to visit another world change the
existing world? (1 point)
“Nolan Bushnell”
“A Sound of Thunder”
“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”
“All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace”
18. In “A Sound of Thunder,” Eckels’s character is most developed by (1 point)
exposition.
narration.
his actions.
others' dialogue about him.
