Question 1

What do the details in paragraph 3 reveal about SwiftBot?

Accepted Answer

He has been taught to perform certain actions.

Answer

He is learning to use his voice to communicate.

Answer

He has been able to play basketball since he was created.

Answer

He is able to teach other robots how to play basketball.

Question 2

Read this sentence from paragraph 4.

I couldn't wait to see what he'd do next.

How does this sentence develop the narrator's viewpoint?

Accepted Answer

It shows that the narrator does not know which action SwiftBot will perform.

Answer

It shows that the narrator is interested in creating a team of basketball-playing robots.

Answer

It shows that the narrator believes SwiftBot is unable to perform at the expected level.

Answer

It shows that the narrator is unaware of what SwiftBot is programmed to do.

Question 3

What does the phrase "eyes wide" as used in paragraph 6 reveal about the narrator?

Accepted Answer

He is impressed by SwiftBot's ability.

Answer

He is concerned the ball will hit him.

Answer

He is confused by SwiftBot's action.

Answer

He is disappointed he is unable to stop the ball.

Question 4

In paragraph 9, why does the narrator say, “I put a bit of backspin on the ball as it left my fingers, wishing for the hundredth time that I could engineer a way for SwiftBot to do the same”?

Accepted Answer

The narrator would like to give SwiftBot as many human-like abilities as possible.

Answer

The narrator regrets the limited effort that originally went into SwiftBot’s design.

Answer

The narrator realizes that SwiftBot requires many more hours of programming.

Answer

The narrator is questioning SwiftBot’s ability to compete with humans.

Question 5

As used in paragraph 11, what does the word “tracked” suggest about the narrator?

Accepted Answer

He is paying close attention.

Answer

He believes he will win the game.

Answer

He has doubts about his basketball skills.

Answer

He is clumsy in his movements.

Question 6

Which sentence reveals the difficulty the narrator has in teaching SwiftBot to play a sport?

Accepted Answer

“I was tired of hammering out the dents in his outer casing.” (paragraph 7)

Answer

“Inside his lightweight, carbon-fiber exterior was an array of integrated circuits, servos, optical sensors, wires, and batteries.” (paragraph 1)

Answer

“He dribbled the ball against the floor, keeping it close to his body for better control.” (paragraph 3)

Answer

“His arms dropped to his sides and he came to a halt.” (paragraph 14)

Question 7

Which sentence best supports a theme of machines having advantages over humans?

Accepted Answer

“SwiftBot didn’t have to worry about getting dehydrated, but I did.” (paragraph 15)

Answer

“His silver-metallic body was about my height, roughly five feet ten inches, and mimicked your basic humanoid design: two arms, two legs, one head, and so on.” (paragraph 1)

Answer

“He landed easily back onto the floor, the springs in his feet doubling as shock absorbers.” (paragraph 7)

Answer

“Leather smacked against a carbon-fiber palm as SwiftBot batted the ball back at me.” (paragraph 10)

Question 8

Which sentence states a central idea of the section “The Mother of Invention”?

Accepted Answer

Corvids have a special way of thinking that helps them survive.

Answer

Animals that are scavengers help to clean our ecosystems.

Answer

Ravens identify food then learn how to get it.

Answer

Corvids can survive among humans all around the world.

Question 9

What does the phrase “behavioral flexibility” mean as it is used in paragraph 6?

Accepted Answer

ability to solve new problems

Answer

ability to travel to different places

Answer

ability to learn different ways of moving

Answer

ability to squeeze into small spaces

Question 10

Which statement represents an important distinction the author makes between corvids and blue whales in the section “Big Brains”?

Accepted Answer

When comparing brain size to body size, a corvid’s brain-to-body ratio is greater than a blue whale’s.

Answer

Corvids are more intelligent than blue whales because they are very large birds.

Answer

Blue whales should be smarter than they are because they are so much larger than corvids.

Answer

A blue whale’s brain, which can weigh over 16 pounds, is much larger than a corvid’s brain.

Question 11

Which sentence from the article best supports the claim in paragraph 2?

Accepted Answer

“The raven has to think, be patient, and wait for an opportunity to sneak in and steal food from the hungry wolves.” (paragraph 4)

Answer

“As scavengers, they help clean ecosystems by consuming what others don’t want.” (paragraph 3)

Answer

“Animal intelligence largely depends on a rule that scientists call the ‘brain-to-body ratio.’ ” (paragraph 8)

Answer

“The same rule of convergent evolution can be applied to the similarities between the human brain and the corvid brain.” (paragraph 13)

Question 12

“Necessity is the mother of invention” is a very old proverb. It means that when we need something, we use our intelligence to invent ways to get it. Which detail from the article shows that this can apply to corvids?

Accepted Answer

“A scavenger must first identify a food source and then problem-solve to figure out how to obtain that food—without getting into trouble.” (paragraph 4)

Answer

“. . . animals with larger brains compared to the rest of their bodies are generally more intelligent.” (paragraph 8)

Answer

“But animals from both groups seem to approach problems in the same manner and remember information in much the same ways.” (paragraph 13)

Answer

“. . . understanding the corvid brain may actually tell us about the intelligence of alien life forms.” (paragraph 14)

Question 13

What effect does the phrase “daring us to scale it” in paragraph 1 have on the story?

Accepted Answer

It suggests that the new land poses a great challenge for the immigrants.

Answer

It suggests that the narrator will successfully adjust to the unfamiliar environment.

Answer

It suggests that the immigrants will have to physically climb beyond where the train can reach.

Answer

It suggests that there will be fighting between the immigrants and the other inhabitants.

Question 14

Which sentence best shows that Ichiro comes to believe that moving to the new land will result in a positive change to his life?

Accepted Answer

“The boy spoke in a language I could not understand, and yet, I was sure from that moment on that I would soon understand everything.” (paragraph 9)

Answer

“I felt an indescribable disgust and joy all at once urging me to join the boy in his chase, scurrying after the slippery pig and running toward that great wall of chickens.” (paragraph 8)

Answer

“I looked up at cages teetering above to see the face of the pig’s young owner, a mixture of relief and gratitude and comedy glowing in his features.” (paragraph 8)

Answer

“Over the years, I have thought from time to time that I had caught a glimpse of that very boy again, but of course, it would never be the same boy.” (paragraph 9)

Question 15

How do the actions of the piglet's young owner in paragraphs 8 and 9 affect the plot?

Accepted Answer

They make the narrator feel hopeful that he will be able to adjust in a new country.

Answer

They cause the narrator to believe that his purpose in this new land is to help others.

Answer

They cause the narrator to have to choose between his old culture and a new one in Brazil.

Answer

They make the narrator feel disappointed with the new surroundings when he arrives in Brazil.

Question 16

What is the effect of the author's use of the verbs "stumbled," "clutched," and "lumbered" in paragraph 3?

Accepted Answer

These verbs show that the family is moving with difficulty from the ship to the land.

Answer

These verbs suggest how much baggage the family has brought along on the trip.

Answer

These verbs demonstrate the variety of reactions the family members have to Brazil.

Answer

These verbs indicate the excitement the family feels at arriving at their destination.

Question 17

Some researchers believe that humans are more likely to remember pleasant and positive experiences than negative ones. Which statement best reflects this idea in the story?

Accepted Answer

Ichiro has a stronger emotional reaction to helping a stranger catch a piglet than to the difficulties he has when arriving in Brazil.

Answer

Ichiro remembers not feeling seasick while on the boat, but he becomes nauseous when the train stops at the marketplace in Brazil.

Answer

Ichiro can more accurately describe the experience of seeing the vendors in the marketplace than he can the experience of helping the boy catch a piglet.

Answer

Ichiro is very affected by the young boy that he meets upon leaving the train, and so he makes an intentional effort to meet with the boy several times over the years.

Question 18

How do Ichiro and his father see their arrival in Brazil differently?

Accepted Answer

Ichiro is focused on the immediate difficulties, while his father sees Brazil as better than expected.

Answer

Ichiro does not understand why they left Japan, while his father knows of their reasons.

Answer

Ichiro sees the need to help others, while his father is focused on achieving his own goals.

Answer

Ichiro is eager to explore Brazil, while his father struggles with adjusting to the new country.

Question 19

How does the final paragraph contribute to a central idea in the story?

Accepted Answer

It shows that the pleasant memories of significant life events often become stronger than the negative details.

Answer

It reveals that seeing someone after a long time apart causes both people to remember the good times they shared together.

Answer

It demonstrates how older people often realize that past struggles were worth the difficulty when they result in new friendships.

Answer

It illustrates that memories can fade unless efforts are made to stay connected with those who shared those experiences.

Question 20

What is the meaning of the word “intact” as used in paragraph 3?

Accepted Answer

perfectly preserved

Answer

completely finished

Answer

in a shady place

Answer

in a delicate condition

Question 21

How do the events in paragraphs 1 and 2 relate to the information in paragraph 7?

Accepted Answer

Paragraph 7 gives historical context for the discovery in paragraphs 1 and 2.

Answer

Paragraph 7 describes the ancestors of the cowboys in paragraphs 1 and 2.

Answer

Paragraph 7 provides additional details about the land in paragraphs 1 and 2.

Answer

Paragraph 7 shows a different culture than that in paragraphs 1 and 2.

Question 22

As used in paragraph 7, what does the word “adept” suggest about the Ancestral Puebloans?

Accepted Answer

They have a range of skills necessary for their survival.

Answer

They think architecture is more important than farming.

Answer

Farming the land takes up a majority of their time.

Answer

Being physically strong is one of their most valuable traits.

Question 23

How do the details in paragraphs 8 through 10 help develop a central idea of the article?

Accepted Answer

They describe the progress made by the Ancestral Puebloans in architecture.

Answer

They illustrate how the unpredictable weather affected the ability to build homes.

Answer

They explain why the Ancestral Puebloans were forced to leave their territory.

Answer

They show how little effort was put into the early housing structures.

Question 24

Which sentence best shows the author’s viewpoint?

Accepted Answer

“For about 700 years, Mesa Verde was a thriving community of many thousands of Native American people now referred to as Ancestral Puebloans.” (paragraph 7)

Answer

“Wetherill and Mason had discovered a large cliff dwelling that had been abandoned hundreds of years ago by ancient Pueblo people.” (paragraph 3)

Answer

“Builders filled in the spaces where the stone bricks fit together with smaller stones, mud, and wood pieces.” (paragraph 4)

Answer

“We do know that these people settled the area that is now the home of the modern Pueblo tribes, including the Hopi, Zuni, Acoma, and Laguna.” (paragraph 11)

Question 25

Which detail best expresses a central idea of the section “A National Park”?

Accepted Answer

“. . . the U.S. government would own, protect, and preserve Mesa Verde and all of its treasures.” (paragraph 16)

Answer

“Over the next 15 months, the Wetherill family found and explored 182 different cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde.” (paragraph 14)

Answer

“Many looters and treasure seekers began visiting the area, too.” (paragraph 15)

Answer

“. . . more than 600,000 visitors enjoy the amazing sites at Mesa Verde National Park each year.” (paragraph 17)

Question 26

How does the author develop a connection between the cowboys and the Pueblo cliff dwelling?

Accepted Answer

by recounting the cowboys’ journey in order to introduce the setting

Answer

by detailing the path to the site to show the difficulty of getting there

Answer

by describing the weather to emphasize the unpredictability of the environment

Answer

by explaining the cowboys’ skills to compare them to the ancient people

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