Writing - Narrative
Following her dreams was not always easy for Marian Anderson. Think of
something that has been challenging for you or someone you know. Write the introductory paragraph to a story that tells about you or someone you know facing a challenge. Remember the characteristics of narrative writing as you write.
Use Mama Miti to answer questions 1-10.
Vocabulary
Directions: For numbers 11-15, choose the word that has about the same meaning as the underlined word.
There were ceremonies to honor the winners of the contests.
Word Study
Directions: Choose the word that has the same vowel sound as the underlined letters in the boldfaced word.
stew
Reading Comprehension
Directions: Read the selections. Then answer each question.
Marian Anderson
Marian Anderson was born in February 1897. She started singing when she was a child in Philadelphia. People listened to her performances, and Marian became a successful singer. Marian sang in cities across the country. She even sang overseas. Around the
world, people enjoyed her special voice.
In 1939, Marian was supposed to sing in Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. This was an important place for singers. But the people at Constitution Hall wouldn’t let Marian sing because she was African American. At that time in history, many places in the United States divided people by the color of their skin. People who were African Americans were treated poorly. They were unfairly banned from some of the places white people were allowed to go.
Many people were angry that Marian wasn’t allowed to sing at
Constitution Hall. One group worked together to set up a different place in Washington, D.C., for Marian to sing. They put together a free event on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Tens of thousands of people came. Millions more listened on the radio. The event was a huge success despite the unfair way Marian was treated.
In paragraph 3, what was the effect of the decision not to let Marian sing at Constitution Hall?
Directions: Read the selection and answer the question.
Georgia O’Keeffe
Georgia O’Keeffe is one of the most famous painters who ever lived. She was born in 1887 and grew up on a dairy farm. She loved art as a child, so her mother paid for art lessons. By the time she was twelve, Georgia knew she wanted to be an artist. She wanted to produce beautiful paintings. In 1905, she studied at the Art Institute of Chicago. She trained at the Arts Student League of New York City in 1907. She made drawings with charcoal. She painted pictures of tall buildings in New York City. O’Keeffe also painted huge flowers. She thought that if she painted them very large, people would see the same beauty she saw. Some of the flowers look like they come from a tropical island. Later, she made beautiful paintings of dramatic landforms in New Mexico. Many of her most popular paintings have been copied by machines. They have been made into calendars and posters. Georgia O’Keeffe painted thousands of pictures in her lifetime. One even sold for 44 million dollars! There is now a museum named after her. It shows many of her most famous paintings.
Look at paragraph 6 of the selection. How is the information in that paragraph organized to help show the author’s purpose?
The author includes paragraphs 3 and 4 most likely to show that Wangari -
Based on paragraph 15, what can the reader tell about Wangari?
What does the word lamenting mean in paragraph 32?
The author wrote this selection most likely to -
Read this sentence from paragraph 32.
And when a woman from her own village came, lamenting the water in her stream was too dirty to drink, Wangari told her to plant mukuyu.
The imagery in this sentence appeals to all of the following reader's senses except -
Read the diagram:
Problem:
Solution: Wangari told the woman to plant a muheregendi tree so the animals could feed from it.
Which sentence completes the diagram?
Which word is an antonym of offering in paragraph 38?
With which statement about Mama Miti would the author most likely agree?
What is the meaning of the word traditions as it is used in paragraph 3?
Which sentence best helps the reader understand that Mama Miti made a difference throughout the world?
The stories they passed down were part of the traditions of their country.
The doctor gave her medicine when she was sick.
They were lamenting the loss of their family pet.
Which word is a synonym for offering in the sentence below?
We are offering our services if they are needed.
juicy
tissue
fruit
The world that has the same vowel sound as the underlined letters in the word nephew is -
The author describes the events in sequential order mainly to —
Which statement best summarizes paragraph 3?
Write a one-paragraph summary of the selection “Marian Anderson.” Use
key details in your summary. Write your response on a separate sheet
of paper.
The author uses the phrase "by the time" in paragraph 1 to show that -
The author uses the word "later" in paragraph 4 to show that -
The author structures the first paragraph of the selection to —
By organizing the selection sequentially, the author is able to -