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Grade 9

110.32.b.18.A 

Natalia wrote the following essay in response to a history assignment. Read Natalia’s paper and look for the corrections she should make. Then answer the questions that follow.

BUFFALO BILL'S WILD WEST SHOW 
(1) With his flowing hair, thick mustache, and long goatee, the rider was an impressive man. (2) Sitting high in the saddle on a white stallion, he made a grand entrance. (3) The horse reared, and the man waved his Stetson hat to the audience. (4) What a sight he was in his tall, polished boots, beaded gloves, and fringed jacket! (5) As he dismounted and bowed, the crowd roared its approval. (6) The spectators were cheering for “Buffalo Bill” Cody the ultimate showman and the host of the renowned Wild West Show.

(7) An adventurous life led William Frederick Cody to the stage. (8) Born in the Iowa Territory in 1846, he grew up on the prairie. (9) At age 14 he noticed an ad for a pony express rider. (10) The ad stated that the rider must be willing to risk death daily. (11) Cody landed the job and joined a team of brave young men who carried packages and mail across dangerous western terrain. (12) When the Civil War broke out, he rode as a Union scout and later in the cavalry. (13) At age 21 he hunted buffalo to provide meat for the Kansas Pacific Railroad construction crews. (14) In time, Cody was declared the most proficient buffalo hunter on the plains, eventually earning the nickname Buffalo Bill. (15) An author who wrote under the pen name Ned Buntline then made the character Buffalo Bill the hero of their novels.

(16) In 1883, Cody took his larger-than-life personality to the stage by putting together a spectacular show. (17) Part history lesson and part circus, the outdoor pageant reenacted scenes from Americas’ frontier. (18) There were dramatizations of stagecoach robberies, frontier battles, and buffalo hunts. (19) Cody cast some of the West’s most well-known figures. (20) For example, Sitting Bull, the famous Lakota Sioux chief, joined the show for a season. (21) Popular Texan cowboys Bill Pickett and Buck Taylor were also part of the troupe.

(22) Cody created some new stars, too. (23) In 1885 his extravaganza introduced a petite, young Ohio woman who was an expert sharpshooter. (24) Phoebe Ann Moses took the stage name Annie Oakley and soon became an audience favorite. (25) Oakley, who was nicknamed “Little Sure Shot,” toured the world with the cast. (26) An advocate for women’s rights, Buffalo Bill made sure that Oakley and the cast’s other cowgirls earned wages comparable to those of the cowboys. 

(27) Buffalo Bill became a symbol of the West, and his spectacular show became world famous. (28) It was a hit in Europe, in Canada, and across the United States. (29) In Texas alone, the show played in Abilene, Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, San Antonio, Waco, and 40 other cities and towns.

(30) When the Wild West Show disbanded just before World War I. (31) It was declared the most successful traveling show of all time. (32) Unfortunately, however, Cody had been a far better showman than businessman. (33) Before his death in 1917, he had lost almost all his money. (34) Although his fortune was gone, he continued to take great pride in his accomplishments. (35) It was reported that Buffalo Bill’s final words were “Let my show go on!”

Sabrina wrote the following personal essay in response to a class assignment. Read Sabrina's paper and look for the corrections she needs to make. Then answer the questions that follow.

LOOKING UP
(1) I can still remember the way my shabby tennis shoes looked as I stared down at them, dreading what was about to take place. (2) It was time for the weekly fifth-grade volleyball game, an inevitible scene of mental anguish for me. (3) It wasn't that I ever expected to be chosen first. (4) I knew I was clumsy and would never be the best player on any team. (5) But every week, I stared at my shoes and simply wished that I wouldn't be picked last. (6) And yet I was last almost every time. (7) No team wanted the girl who dropped the ball, tripped over her own feet, and misses the easy serves.

(8) Years later I realized how much those moments of rejection had affected me. (9) It hadn't been easy being the last one picked, the one the other team members "had" to take. (10) I began to expect the worst in every situation, repeatedly telling myself that I just wasn't good enough. (11) I basically grew up staring at my shoes.

(12) All that began to change during the summer after my freshman year in high school. (13) My mom's oldest sister Aunt Karen, needed some help at her real estate office and offered me a part-time job. (14) I had always looked up to Aunt Karen because she was successful and seemed to lead such a fun, exciting life. (15) Her engaging manner and warm, confident smile couldn't have been more different from the nervous, timid way I approached the world. (16) But that summer she taught me to look at things differently.

(17) Aunt Karen said that the secret to success comes from the inside, not the outside. (18) She described her own adolesence, and I was shocked to learn that her experience had been similar to mine. (19) Notably, she hadn't been good at sports, either! (20) Aunt Karen said she finally realized that what other people thought of her didn't matter nearly as much as what she thought of herself. (21) She told me that when she started speaking positively to herself and noticing her own good qualities, she stopped being so self-critical.

(22) So that summer I took her advice to heart. (23) I listened to what I was saying to myself and decided to focus more on the good. (24) For example, when I misfiled an important realty document. (25) I reminded myself of all the other documents I had filed correctly. (26) And when Aunt Karen showed me the messy supply closet, I assured myself that I would be great at organizing it. (27) Before long I had learned a valuable lesson. (28) Positive thinking actually works! (29) The more encouragement I gave myself, the better I felt about myself. (30) By the time school started that fall, I was much more confident. (31) I approached people around me with a totally different attitude. (32) My afterschool volleyball days were over, but when my Chemistry teacher announced that we should each find a lab partner, instead of looking down at my shoes, I looked up and smiled. (33) And do you know what happened? (34) A very nice girl immediately asked me to be her partner!

Nicole wrote the following paper in response to a class assignment. Read Nicole's paper and look for any corrections she should make. Then answer the questions that follow.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF PRINCESS
(1) Like many teenage girls, I had been anticipating my first homecoming dance since elementary school. (2) I had imagined my dress, my flowers, and, of course, my date, dressed in formal wear and ready to carry me off for an evening of dancing and fun. (3) The real-life experience turned out completely different from what I had pictured, although better in a strange sort of way. (4) As I watched friends find dates for homecoming, I was initially a little discouraged, it looked as though my first homecoming dance would be missing a key character. (5) It seemed that no one was inclined to ask me. (6) But I soon discovered that I wasn't the only kid in school without a date to homecoming. (7) I decided that I wasn't going to allow the situation to ruin my chance of enjoying a traditional High School experience.

(8) So several of my dateless friends and me banded together and decided to go as a big group. (9) My older sister, who's a hair stylist at a local salon, volunteered to help each girl with her hair. (10) She even rounded up a friend to do manicures and pedicures. (11) We girls had an awesome "spa day" with lot's of laughs but none of the pre-date jitters. (12) Before leaving for the evening, I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror. (13) I noticed a sparkle in my eyes, and I felt absolutely gorgeous.

(14) We met the male members of our group for a delicious dinner at a nice restaurant and then arrived at the dance just after it started. (15) We were soon on the dance floor-alone at times, in pairs at other times, and as one large group by the end. (16) When I had imagined going to the homecoming dance as a little girl, I had pictured a Cinderella night of dancing with Prince Charming. (17) The actual experience turned out to be a lot more fun than that. (18) I didn't have to stick with one specific person, I was free to mingle and dance with anyone I wanted to! (19) I probably could have figured out a way to bring a date to the dance, but now I'm glad I didn't.

(20) My first homecoming experience taught me an important life lesson. (21) I don't always have to do things in a conventional way. (22) I can find my own way to have an unforgettably good time.

Lily's teacher asked her to write about a time she learned a lesson from animals. Lily has written this paper, but before she submits her final copy, she would like you to proofread it. Read Lily's paper and think about the corrections she needs to make. Then answer the questions that follow.

THE SEAGULL AND THE CROW
(1) My Literature teacher explained that a fable is a story that teaches a lesson or moral and often uses animals as characters. (2) Last summer I witnessed an honest-to-goodness fable unfold before my eyes.

(3) As an end-of-summer treat, my parents had booked accommodations at a small hotel near the beach. (4) The weather wasn't as sunny or warm as we had hoped, so we spent most of our time in the hotel room. (5) Luckily, we had a great view of the ocean. (6) I was happy to relax indoors and watch the hardier beach-goers, the sea birds, and the surf. (7) When my parents and sister decided to go into town to shop one afternoon, I opted to stay in the room. (8) I'm glad I did because that's when the "fable" played out.

(9) Our fourth-floor room had a sliding glass door that opened onto a small balcony. (10) The sides below the balcony railing was enclosed in plexiglass to make the area safer for pets and young children. (11) The balcony was just large enough to hold a little round table and two chairs. (12) As I gazed outside, two coastal inhabitants arrived. (13) First a seagull and then a crow swooped onto the balcony to finish off the remainders of our breakfast bagels. (14) There were plenty of crumbs, so the birds shared the meal peacefully. (15) After a while, the crow seemed satisfied, took off, and flew out of sight. (16) The seagull, who was the much larger of the two, had room for more and stayed a bit longer before preparing to leave. (17) The gull's departure, however, did not go well! (18) The transparent plexiglass obviously had the bird confused. (19) It attempted one shallow takeoff
after another each time it banged itself against the glass. (20) The more the seagull failed, the harder it tried, finally knocking itself to the ground, which caused me to fear for its life! (21) I wasn't sure what to do, but I wasn't keen on the idea of sliding open the door and confronting a big, panicky gull.

(22) Then a black shape crossed the sky. (23) The crow had returned. (24) I didn't know if it was hungry again and had come back for more crumbs or if it had heard the distressed gull, but what happened next simply amazed me! (25) That crow landed on the floor of the deck and cawed as if to get the seagull's attention. (26) The dazed seagull took note. (27) The crow stared at the gull and then hopped from the floor onto a chair. (28) After just a second the seagull did the same. (29) The crow hopped onto the tabletop and then onto one of two lanterns sitting on the table. (30) The seagull followed suit. (31) Finally the crow took another hop, leading the gull to the balcony rail. (32) The birds perched on the rail together for just a moment and then flew away toward the sea.

(33) This is an absolutely true story and without a doubt one of the coolest things I've ever seen. (34) I just sat there for a while with my mouth hanging open. (35) There was no missing the message in what I had witnessed. (36) The moral of "The Seagull and the Crow" was clearly this no matter how dissimilar two creatures might be, they will have opportunities to help and support each other. (37) The image of that crow returning to rescue the floundering seagull is etched in my mind as a reminder of my responsibility to always lend a helping hand to others.

Gabrielle wrote this paper about a memorable experience she had on a trip with her family. Read Gabrielle's paper and think about the corrections she should make. When you finish reading, answer the questions that follow.

TOURING CENOTES
(1) My parents and I traveled to Mexico to visit my grandparents last summer, and we visited the cenotes (say-NO-tays), the natural swimming holes located on the Yucatán Peninsula. (2) The term "swimming hole" might make you think that cenotes are just average, everyday lakes, but cenotes are truly spectacular. (3) I had the most exhilarating experience of my life exploring these wonders of nature.

(4) Thousands of years old, the cenotes formed when limestone bedrock crumbled, creating sinkholes underneath. (5) The disintigration of limestone exposed secret underground pools of nearly pure water naturally filtered by the earth. (6) Though the ancient Mayans used the cenotes as water sources, people can now swim, snorkel, take photographs, and admire local trees and marine life, all through water as clear as liquid diamond. 

(7) In Cenote Azul, the first cenote we visited, my parents, my grandparents, and I swam through water that seemed too blue to be real. (8) Underneath us, meandering through the same turquoise pool, was schools of tropical fish. (9) I witnessed countless younger kids diving into the water from a small cliff, but I was hesitant to jump at first. (10) I finally worked up the courage, and my initial splash instantly put all my worries to rest, the experience was invigorating.

(11) A few days later, we went to Cenote Ponderosa. (12) We took easy strokes out to the sun-drenched pond, where we lazily floated while others snorkeled and took underwater photographs. (13) Being surrounded by a valley of trees made everything else in the world seem to disappear.

(14) Grutas de Loltún were definitely the most magnificent of all the cenotes, even though there was no swimming involved. (15) Grutas are caves, and the Grutas de Loltún are among the biggest caves on the entire peninsula. (16) Our guide, Carolina, walked us through a labyrinth of caverns, where we saw many drawings on the cave walls. (17) According to Carolina, the drawings were thousands of years old! (18) Just one glimpse of those drawings made me feel like I had stepped back in time to a forgotten era of history. (19) Just as spectacular were the tree roots growing into the caves' ceilings; it was wondrous to spy roots overhead instead of poking out of the ground. (20) The most amazing parts of Grutas de Loltún were the stalagmites and stalactites, which have actually grown together and fashioned themselves into columns. (21) Our group thought Carolina was joking when she claimed she could make them sing for us, but when she tapped them, we heard what sounded like the words "Lol" and "Tun"-the name of the caves! (22) I cannot imagine that a concert at Carnegie hall would have been any better.

(23) Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula is brimming with beauty, but the cenotes are by far the most amazing sites anyone can experience. (24) Cenotes are a one-of-a-kind opportunity to commune with nature in a way that is impossible anywhere else on Earth, and I would not hesitate to do it all again.

Florence has written this essay to encourage others to consider listening to music on vinyl records. Read Florence's essay and look for the corrections she needs to make. When you finish reading, answer the questions that follow.

OPEN YOUR EARS TO VINYL
(1) Decade's ago vinyl records provided music lovers with a way to enjoy recorded music. (2) Considered remnants of our parents' and grandparents' younger years, vinyl records are often thought to be old-fashioned compared to digital music. (3) However, vinyl is making a comeback for many good reasons. (4) Teens should have been giving this earlier form of music recording a chance and experience vinyl records for themselves.

(5) People should experience vinyl for the sound. (6) Although most people think CDs and digital downloads are superior, it turns out that vinyl is the all-star athlete of sound clarity. (7) The vinyl records of the past are not digital; they are analog. (8) For this reason, they capture the original sound of the music, whereas digitally recorded music is more like an estimate of the sounds. (9) Though it is difficult to believe, digital music is unable to truly depict every single sound along the sound wave. (10) The grooves in older vinyl records are responsible for this superiority because they represent the complete waveform of the original music, giving the listener a richer sound and a better listening experience.

(11) In addition, vinyl is not just about the music itself. (12) You might ask, "how can music be about something other than music?" (13) Vinyl is about the entire artistic experience, not just sticking earbuds in your ears. (14) Obviously, vinyl records are much larger than CDs and, unlike downloaded music, are actually something you can hold in your hands and look at. (15) Plastered with large gorgeous artwork, the cover of a vinyl record is something to be appreciated and admired. (16) Some records even come with liner notes filled with information about the artists and the recording sessions, posters, and lyric sheets. (17) All of these artistic additions make CDs and MP3s dull in comparison to their older sibling.

(18) Creating a vinyl record is a lot more difficult than creating a digital recording. (19) Nearly anyone can gain access to a computer or other digital device, which means that nearly anyone can make a recording. (20) However, only a select few can make vinyl records because these artists would need to locate and work with a vinyl presser (a company that can physically make the albums). (21) Also, the price of making and shipping the records can be steep. (22) Such a prolonged and expensive endeaver most likely would be undertaken only by someone who sees the value in this type of recording. (23) Few artists today choose to make this risky
investment, but if you love music, these are the artists you want to listen to.

(24) Vinyl may not be more popular than CDs and digital downloads, but it is definitely experiencing a resurgence. (25) In fact, almost 50% of today's vinyl buyers are ages 18 to 35. (26) So if you think vinyl records are the boring technology of the older generations, think again. (27) Open your ears to vinyl because its excellence will never go out of style.

Measures 1 skill from
Grade 9
ELAR (2009)
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)

Our brand new solo games combine with your quiz, on the same screen

Measures 1 skill fromGrade 9ELAR (2009)Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)

Our brand new solo games combine with your quiz, on the same screen

Measures 1 skill from
Grade 9
ELAR (2009)
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)