Dust Bowl Paired Texts

Directions: Read both Passage 1 and Passage 2 before answering the questions below. Be sure to refer back to the passages to help you answer the questions.

1

Read this sentence from paragraph 3 in Passage 1.
"Yet the wall of flying soil that struck on April 14 was particularly awesome in its size and intensity."
What does wall of flying soil mean as it is used in Passage 1?

A. a barrier built to protect the farms from wind

B. a powerful storm of dust that arrived all at once

C. a great eruption of sand that lifted animals into the air

D. a layer of dirt that prevented rain from reaching crops

1

Read this sentence from Passage 1.
"From 1932 through 1940, powerful storms of dust ravaged the farming and grazing lands throughout the area of the Great Plains known as the dust bowl." (paragraph 4)
How does Passage 2 further develop this idea?

A. It focuses on the way the storms brought families together.

B. It suggests an alternate but more accurate view of the storm.

C. It shows that the storms were not as damaging as people believed.

D. It illustrates how difficult life was for the families who chose to brave the storms.

1

Select three sentences that belong in a summary of Passage 2.

The dust storm threatens the family's farm.

The daughter is in bed when the storm arrives.

The dust storm causes the air temperature to drop.

The daughter watches the dust cover everything.

The mother and daughter try to block the windows.

The family struggles to defend the farm from the dust storm.

1

Read this stanza from Passage 2.
I sensed it before I knew it was coming.
I heard it,
10 smelled it,
tasted it.
Dust.
How does the structure of this stanza reflect its meaning?

A. The long line followed by the short ones slows the pace of the poem.

B. The short stanza reflects the amount of dust that will arrive.

C. The short lines illustrate the sense of suspense.

D. The commas show the speaker's uncertainty.

1

Read these lines from Passage 2.
"It wasn't until the dust turned toward the house,
like a fired locomotive,
and I fled," (lines 25-27)
What does the phrase like a fired locomotive mean as used in these lines?

A. The wind was loud and hot.

B. The wind was at full speed and dangerous.

C. The trains in the area were causing the storms.

D. The house was in danger of being knocked down.

This next question has two parts. First, answer Part A (#6) and then answer Part B (#7).

1

Part A
How are the people in the two passages portrayed similarly?

A. They are thankful for small miracles.

B. They make a plan to solve the dust crisis.

C. They remain strong in the face of challenges.

D. They are fearful of the difficulties they may encounter.

1

Part B
Select two quotations, one from each passage, that illustrate the answer in Part A.

"...farmers began to use more efficient machinery to carve out even greater fields." (Passage 1, paragraph 5)

"Yet people kept a sense of humor."

(Passage 1, paragraph 9)

"The situation was reversed largely due to government actions."

(Passage 1, paragraph 10)

"Ma told me to / cover the beds, / push the scatter rugs agains the doors,"

(Passage 2, lines 36-38)

"until the temperature dropped so low, / it brought the snow."

(Passage 2, lines 49-50)

"but he didn't cry. / And neither did Ma."

(Passage 2, lines 68-69)

Dust Bowl Paired Texts

Read this sentence from paragraph 3 in Passage 1."Yet the wall of flying soil that struck on April 14 was particularly awesome in its size and intensity."What does wall of flying soil mean as it is used in Passage 1?

Read this sentence from Passage 1. "From 1932 through 1940, powerful storms of dust ravaged the farming and grazing lands throughout the area of the Great Plains known as the dust bowl." (paragraph 4)How does Passage 2 further develop this idea?

Select three sentences that belong in a summary of Passage 2.

Read this stanza from Passage 2. I sensed it before I knew it was coming. I heard it,10 smelled it, tasted it. Dust.How does the structure of this stanza reflect its meaning?

Read these lines from Passage 2. "It wasn't until the dust turned toward the house,like a fired locomotive,and I fled," (lines 25-27)What does the phrase like a fired locomotive mean as used in these lines?

Part AHow are the people in the two passages portrayed similarly?

Part BSelect two quotations, one from each passage, that illustrate the answer in Part A.

Read this sentence from paragraph 3 in Passage 1."Yet the wall of flying soil that struck on April 14 was particularly awesome in its size and intensity."What does wall of flying soil mean as it is used in Passage 1?

Read this sentence from Passage 1. "From 1932 through 1940, powerful storms of dust ravaged the farming and grazing lands throughout the area of the Great Plains known as the dust bowl." (paragraph 4)How does Passage 2 further develop this idea?

Select three sentences that belong in a summary of Passage 2.

Read this stanza from Passage 2. I sensed it before I knew it was coming. I heard it,10 smelled it, tasted it. Dust.How does the structure of this stanza reflect its meaning?

Read these lines from Passage 2. "It wasn't until the dust turned toward the house,like a fired locomotive,and I fled," (lines 25-27)What does the phrase like a fired locomotive mean as used in these lines?

Part AHow are the people in the two passages portrayed similarly?

Part BSelect two quotations, one from each passage, that illustrate the answer in Part A.

Read this sentence from paragraph 3 in Passage 1.
"Yet the wall of flying soil that struck on April 14 was particularly awesome in its size and intensity."
What does wall of flying soil mean as it is used in Passage 1?

Read this sentence from Passage 1.
"From 1932 through 1940, powerful storms of dust ravaged the farming and grazing lands throughout the area of the Great Plains known as the dust bowl." (paragraph 4)
How does Passage 2 further develop this idea?

Read this stanza from Passage 2.
I sensed it before I knew it was coming.
I heard it,
10 smelled it,
tasted it.
Dust.
How does the structure of this stanza reflect its meaning?

Read these lines from Passage 2.
"It wasn't until the dust turned toward the house,
like a fired locomotive,
and I fled," (lines 25-27)
What does the phrase like a fired locomotive mean as used in these lines?

Part A
How are the people in the two passages portrayed similarly?

Part B
Select two quotations, one from each passage, that illustrate the answer in Part A.

Read this sentence from paragraph 3 in Passage 1.
"Yet the wall of flying soil that struck on April 14 was particularly awesome in its size and intensity."
What does wall of flying soil mean as it is used in Passage 1?

Read this sentence from Passage 1.
"From 1932 through 1940, powerful storms of dust ravaged the farming and grazing lands throughout the area of the Great Plains known as the dust bowl." (paragraph 4)
How does Passage 2 further develop this idea?

Read this stanza from Passage 2.
I sensed it before I knew it was coming.
I heard it,
10 smelled it,
tasted it.
Dust.
How does the structure of this stanza reflect its meaning?

Read these lines from Passage 2.
"It wasn't until the dust turned toward the house,
like a fired locomotive,
and I fled," (lines 25-27)
What does the phrase like a fired locomotive mean as used in these lines?

Part A
How are the people in the two passages portrayed similarly?

Part B
Select two quotations, one from each passage, that illustrate the answer in Part A.