ACAP Grade 8 ELA
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Last updated about 1 year ago
15 questions
Public Bicycle Systems
City Council Member Editorial
The city council recently heard a proposal requesting the implementation of a public âbikes for rentâ program. The details of the program have yet to be specified. The general principle, however, is that the city will provide bicycles at designated locations throughout downtown. People will be able to rent a bike for a small fee. They can then âcheck inâ or return the bike later at the same or another location. Proponents of the program believe that the program will make downtown travel and parking more convenient and that it will cut down on noise and air pollutionâmaking our city a more environmentally friendly place. While I am all for environmental friendliness and improved traffic flow, I must vote against such a program at this time.
First and foremost is the expense. The city must buy the bicycles and locks. Even with discounts provided by local bike shops, this requires a substantial investment that the city just canât afford. Special bike racks also need to be installed at designated locations throughout the city. The bike racks themselves require a great expense in materials and setup. Tracking systemsâwhich include electronic locks and magnetic striped âsmartâ cardsâcan be quite expensive to install.
In addition, there are insurance and bicycle replacement costs. Theft and vandalism are common problems with many bike rental programs. Anti-theft devices and onboard computers can be installed to help cut down on these issues. In addition to covering theft and vandalism, insurance must also cover liability for possible injury or accident. However, implementing these is very expensive and will require monitoringâan additional cost.
Yearly maintenance costs will also need to be considered. All bikes need to be tuned up, oiled, and washed on a regular basis. Chains break, tires go flat, and brakes wear down. Maintenance costs must be figured into the programâs budget.
Aside from costs, accidents are always a concern. Our city has very few designated bike lanes. Therefore, cars and bikes will be sharing the roads in an already congested city. Accidents will be unavoidable, especially during peak travel times, such as rush hour. Accidents can have serious consequences; even a minor accident can tie up downtown streets for an hour or more, take up the valuable time of police officers, and add to the stress of people wanting to get to work or back home.
Bike programs in other cities do not have good track records. Several cities have tried to implement them with good intentions and failed because of excessive expenses. Seattle, Washington, is ranked the fifth-friendliest city for bikes in the United States by Bicycling magazine. Despite this, however, the city put a stop to its bike-share program. A number of factors played a role in the halt of the program, but it is no surprise that lack of funding was a leading reason. If the fifth-friendliest city for bikes in the United States couldn't find success with this program, how can our city expect to succeed?
Our city is looking for ways to cut expenses in the annual budget. It cannot afford to take on such a major financial commitment. Where can we possibly find funding for such a program? How can we ask taxpayers to fund an expensive experiment? I agree that we need to make our city easily accessible and increase its environmental friendliness, but not at the expense of the taxpayer or of other city programs.
Student Editorial
Our city council has been discussing the possibility of supplying bicycles for public use. I believe the students at our school should support this idea. Making bicycles easily accessible to rent at different locations around the city is a very sensible idea.
To begin with, using bicycles would cut down on the number of cars on the road, which would help the environment. The environmental damage caused by automobile pollution has been well publicized. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency advocates the use of bicycles as a way to reduce the pollution caused by vehicles and engines. This pollution not only causes harm to the environment but also contributes to human health problems.
According to the Washington State Department of Ecology, toxic air pollutants from automobile emissions are known to cause or are suspected to cause a number of health problems and serious illnesses. The pollutants can be inhaled directly or be carried by small particles into the lungs.
Using bikes in place of cars would do more than cut down on health hazards. It would also improve the health of those who participate in the program. For most, riding a bike frequently would generally improve an individualâs health. People would feel energized, and this in turn could create a more positive community environment.
A public bicycle system would also help both individuals and the city save money. When cars are not used as often, money is saved on gas. Some people may even be able to give up their cars completely, using the public bikes and other forms of public transportation instead. Costs from car repairs and insurance would also be saved. The city would save money because fewer parking spaces would be needed for cars. A bicycle parking space certainly takes up less room than one for a car. Providing enough parking spaces for cars along streets and in parking structures is much more expensive than providing parking for bicycles.
Bike sharing has successfully been implemented in more than 100 cities across the United States. Even in cities like Seattle, Washington, where the bike program was discontinued, community support never wavered. Although Seattle discontinued its bike program, which I am sure it could resurrect again with better planning, the program never lacked sponsorship from the community and businesses. Alaska Airlines committed to sponsoring the Seattle bike program with $1,000 per bike for 5 years. This comes out to roughly $500,000 per year. Additional sponsors also quickly signed up to support the program. However, due to a lack of planning and promotion, the program could not take off as intended.
We will not face the same situation if the proper planning and promotion are put in place here. We have several large local companies that would likely be interested in sponsoring the program. Additionally, visitors to our city would enjoy having a bike system available to them because there are a number of places they could visit, such as the historic part of town, the zoo, and the art museumâall of which are fairly close together. Advertising the cityâs public bike system could also be a good way to attract visitors and bring money into the city.
The city council should most certainly vote in favor of establishing a public bike system. That is the only responsible decisionâa decision that considers our environment, our city, and our citizens. I encourage all the students at our school to e-mail a city council member to make our views known and to ask our parents to do the same.
Required
1
How does the city council member acknowledge the opposing side of the argument regarding the proposal for a public bicycle system?
How does the city council member acknowledge the opposing side of the argument regarding the proposal for a public bicycle system?
Required
1
Read the summary of âStudent Editorial.â
A public bicycle system would be a good idea for many reasons. Air quality, and therefore individual health, would improve because of reduced pollution by automobiles. Businesses in the city would likely want to help provide funding for the bike-sharing program. Visitors to the city could use the bikes, and people may even be attracted to visit the city because of the program.
Choose a key detail that is missing from the summary.
Read the summary of âStudent Editorial.â
A public bicycle system would be a good idea for many reasons. Air quality, and therefore individual health, would improve because of reduced pollution by automobiles. Businesses in the city would likely want to help provide funding for the bike-sharing program. Visitors to the city could use the bikes, and people may even be attracted to visit the city because of the program.
Choose a key detail that is missing from the summary.
Required
1
Read the claim from âStudent Editorial".
Making bicycles easily accessible to rent at different locations around the city is a very sensible idea.
Which sentence from the passage best supports the claim?
Read the claim from âStudent Editorial".
Making bicycles easily accessible to rent at different locations around the city is a very sensible idea.
Which sentence from the passage best supports the claim?
Required
1
Read the paragraph from âStudent Editorial.â
Bike sharing has successfully been implemented in mare than 100 cities across the United States. Even in cities like Seattle, Washington, where the bike program was discontinued, community support never wavered. Although Seattle discontinued its bike program, which I am sure it could resurrect again with better planning, the program never lacked sponsorship from the community and businesses. Alaska Airlines committed to sponsoring the Seattle bike program with $1,000 per bike for 5 years. This comes out to roughly $500,000 per year. Additional sponsors also quickly signed up to support the program. However, due to a lack of planning and promotion, the program could not take off as intended.
What impact does the information in the paragraph have on the claim that a bike-sharing program should be implemented?
Read the paragraph from âStudent Editorial.â
Bike sharing has successfully been implemented in mare than 100 cities across the United States. Even in cities like Seattle, Washington, where the bike program was discontinued, community support never wavered. Although Seattle discontinued its bike program, which I am sure it could resurrect again with better planning, the program never lacked sponsorship from the community and businesses. Alaska Airlines committed to sponsoring the Seattle bike program with $1,000 per bike for 5 years. This comes out to roughly $500,000 per year. Additional sponsors also quickly signed up to support the program. However, due to a lack of planning and promotion, the program could not take off as intended.
What impact does the information in the paragraph have on the claim that a bike-sharing program should be implemented?
Required
4
In the passages, the city council member and the student each have a strong opinion concerning the topic of bike sharing. Write an essay analyzing the similarities in opinion of the city council member and the student. Use evidence from both passages to support your answer.
In the passages, the city council member and the student each have a strong opinion concerning the topic of bike sharing. Write an essay analyzing the similarities in opinion of the city council member and the student. Use evidence from both passages to support your answer.
Required
1
A student is writing an editorial for a school newspaper. Read a paragraph from the editorial.
All football players at our school should be required to have their last names on their jerseys in addition to their uniform numbers. Our players recently voted to put their nicknames on their uniforms instead of their last names. But since our school does not distribute programs for our home games, spectators must now identify all the players by just a number and a nickname. ____________, the fans who support our team should be able to determine who each player is without having to memorize dozens of nicknames.
Which word or phrase best clarifies the relationship between the sentences?
A student is writing an editorial for a school newspaper. Read a paragraph from the editorial.
All football players at our school should be required to have their last names on their jerseys in addition to their uniform numbers. Our players recently voted to put their nicknames on their uniforms instead of their last names. But since our school does not distribute programs for our home games, spectators must now identify all the players by just a number and a nickname. ____________, the fans who support our team should be able to determine who each player is without having to memorize dozens of nicknames.
Which word or phrase best clarifies the relationship between the sentences?
Required
2
A student is writing an informative essay on the history of tea. Read the paragraphs from the student's essay.
1Legend has it that tea drinking began in 2737 BCE when Chinese emperor Shen Nung drank water that had been accidentally boiled with the leaves from a Camellia sinensis tree. 2However, it was not until the 17th century that tea was regularly consumed in the West, where women in England perceived the drink as more refined than coffee. 3The first shop to sell tea in England opened in 1657. 4The British East India Company soon developed into a powerhouse in the tea trade, contributing to the wealth of the British Empire while also adding land to its territories. 5The Tea Act, which imposed heavy taxes on tea, really got the colonists in America all worked up. 6Tensions led to colonists protesting "high taxation without representation" by dumping tea into Boston Harbor, an event known as the Boston Tea Party.
7While the history of tea is long and sometimes filled with controversy, today, many enjoy a cup as a way to relax. 8In fact, tea consumption is second only to water in popularity in the United States. 9We can give a shout-out to America for its contributions to the evolution of tea drinking. 10For instance, in the early 20th century, the tea bag was developed in America, and in 1904, iced tea originated at the World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri.
Which two sentences include words or phrases that are inconsistent with the formal style of the student's essay?
A student is writing an informative essay on the history of tea. Read the paragraphs from the student's essay.
1Legend has it that tea drinking began in 2737 BCE when Chinese emperor Shen Nung drank water that had been accidentally boiled with the leaves from a Camellia sinensis tree. 2However, it was not until the 17th century that tea was regularly consumed in the West, where women in England perceived the drink as more refined than coffee. 3The first shop to sell tea in England opened in 1657. 4The British East India Company soon developed into a powerhouse in the tea trade, contributing to the wealth of the British Empire while also adding land to its territories. 5The Tea Act, which imposed heavy taxes on tea, really got the colonists in America all worked up. 6Tensions led to colonists protesting "high taxation without representation" by dumping tea into Boston Harbor, an event known as the Boston Tea Party.
7While the history of tea is long and sometimes filled with controversy, today, many enjoy a cup as a way to relax. 8In fact, tea consumption is second only to water in popularity in the United States. 9We can give a shout-out to America for its contributions to the evolution of tea drinking. 10For instance, in the early 20th century, the tea bag was developed in America, and in 1904, iced tea originated at the World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri.
Which two sentences include words or phrases that are inconsistent with the formal style of the student's essay?
Required
2
A student is writing a personal narrative about riding a roller coaster for the first time. Read the paragraph. Then, choose the two sentences in the narrative that best convey the sense of dread the student feels before riding the roller coaster.
A student is writing a personal narrative about riding a roller coaster for the first time. Read the paragraph. Then, choose the two sentences in the narrative that best convey the sense of dread the student feels before riding the roller coaster.
People say the only way to overcome your fears is to face them, but I was not so sure. My heart raced as I stood staring up at the sinister-looking labyrinth of looping metal. Glancing down at my little brother, I considered suggesting another ride on the train, but a promise was a promise. I could not disappoint my brother, who had been counting down the days until our trip to the local theme park and his long-anticipated ride on the Light of Doom roller coaster.
"Hurry up before the line gets any longer," Shawn whined. "If we run, we may be able to ride it twice before lunch."
The park had been open for only one hour, but the lines were quickly growing with eager thrill seekers waiting to be funneled through the turnstiles. I wiped my sweaty palms on my shorts, grabbed my brother's hand, and mumbled, "All right. Let's get this over with." Little did I know that I was about to find a new favorite pastime.
Required
2
A student is researching the benefits of exercise. Read the paragraph from a credible source the student has found.
Exercise has many physical benefits for teens. Regular daily exercise helps strengthen muscles, including the heart. With exercise, the heart improves its ability to pump oxygen to all parts of the body. Exercise can also help build strong bones. Specifically, weight-bearing exercise, such as running, walking, and dancing, increases bone mass by making the body work against gravity.
Which questions might the student ask to learn about the emotional benefits of exercise? Choose two answers.
A student is researching the benefits of exercise. Read the paragraph from a credible source the student has found.
Exercise has many physical benefits for teens. Regular daily exercise helps strengthen muscles, including the heart. With exercise, the heart improves its ability to pump oxygen to all parts of the body. Exercise can also help build strong bones. Specifically, weight-bearing exercise, such as running, walking, and dancing, increases bone mass by making the body work against gravity.
Which questions might the student ask to learn about the emotional benefits of exercise? Choose two answers.
Required
1
A student is preparing the works cited page for a research paper. Read the citation style being used for a magazine article. Author. "Title of Article." Title of Magazine, Day Month Year, Pages.
Which magazine article citation is written in the correct style?
A student is preparing the works cited page for a research paper. Read the citation style being used for a magazine article. Author. "Title of Article." Title of Magazine, Day Month Year, Pages.
Which magazine article citation is written in the correct style?
Required
2
Read the paragraph.
Select the two verbs that are in the imperative mood.
Read the paragraph.
Select the two verbs that are in the imperative mood.
Be on time, and bring your coat. That was the message Tara had received from her aunt. There was nothing unclear about it. Luckily, Tara was running on time. She also had remembered to throw her coat in the back of the car even though it was the middle of summer. If she were running late, she would be panicking about what to do.
Required
1
Which sentence contains punctuation to indicate omitted words?
Which sentence contains punctuation to indicate omitted words?
Required
2
Read the paragraph. Choose the two underlined words in the paragraph that are misspelled.
Read the paragraph. Choose the two underlined words in the paragraph that are misspelled.
Jamie wanted to buy a new dresser for her bedroom, but she wasn't sure if there was enough clearance to get one through the doorway. She loved efficency, so she carefully measured the doorway before she purchased a dresser. However, she didn't take into account the fluorescent light that hung in the hallway. As Jamie and her friends started to manuver the new dresser toward the bedroom, they discovered that they needed a minimum of three more inches of space in the hallway. After careful consideration, they made a unanimous decision to take down the hallway light and try again.
Required
1
Read the sentence.
At the meeting, the teachers realized they would need to consolidate their math teams so they would have enough people to participate in the competition on Saturday morning.
What does the word consolidate mean as it is used in the sentence?
Read the sentence.
At the meeting, the teachers realized they would need to consolidate their math teams so they would have enough people to participate in the competition on Saturday morning.
What does the word consolidate mean as it is used in the sentence?
Required
1
Read the paragraph from a student's narrative.
While biking home from school yesterday, I saw my friend Maria walking on the sidewalk. I hopped off my bike to walk with her. We came to the small park between our houses, and Maria suggested we sit for a while in the sun. I leaned my bike against a tree, but as soon as I turned around, it fell over. Maria made a face of mock pity and said, "I guess your bike was just too tired." Then I doubled over laughing.
What does the sentence "I guess your bike was just too tired" add to the narrative?
Read the paragraph from a student's narrative.
While biking home from school yesterday, I saw my friend Maria walking on the sidewalk. I hopped off my bike to walk with her. We came to the small park between our houses, and Maria suggested we sit for a while in the sun. I leaned my bike against a tree, but as soon as I turned around, it fell over. Maria made a face of mock pity and said, "I guess your bike was just too tired." Then I doubled over laughing.
What does the sentence "I guess your bike was just too tired" add to the narrative?