1. Dave’s Ride & A Passing Score

2. Dave’s Ride 1A1As he pedaled around the curve at the 20- mile mark, Dave reached his arm up to wipe the beads of sweat off his forehead. He couldn’t believe he had only ridden 20 miles so far. That meant he had 30 left to go. Thirty miles! His legs were already so sore that he couldn’t imagine pedaling another mile, let alone 30. His body wanted to stop right then and there; however, he wouldn’t receive the money he had pledge unless he complete the entire 50-mile ride.

3. 2 The pledge money– Dave had been so buy thinking about how much he didn’t want to keep riding, he had forgotten why he was riding in the first place. He hadn’t gone out for a 50-mile bike ride just for fun. He and the other riders were raising money for a children’s charity. For the past month, Dave had spent long hours trying to gain pledges from his friends, his relatives, his neighbors, and his classmates.

4. In the end, he had succeeded in raising over $500.00. If he quit riding now, all his work would be for nothing, an the charity would never see that money. As much as he wanted to give up, he couldn’t let the donors or the charity down. 3 A surge of energy flowed through Dave’s body. He stopped slouching and resumed a proper riding position. The wind buzzed in his ears as he gradually regained speed until he reached a good, steady pace.

5. The hill ahead of him didn’t seem as imposing, and he realized that his legs weren’t nearly as tired as he had thought. He looked at the other riders next to him and found the same look of determination on everyone’s face. The 21-mile mark approached in the distance, and as Dave fixed his thoughts on finishing, he imagined other riders looking at him and seeing that same expression.

6. A Passing Score 4 “I’m never going to learn this stuff!” Taryn wailed, slamming shut her math book. “it’s completely impossible! I’m going to fail this test.” 5 “Taryn,” her father said, “you’re making progress. I think you can do this, but you have to stop whining and concentrate. If you can’t do that, then it’s not worth your time or mine to keep working on this.” Taryn’s decision was made. She grabbed her coat and went to meet her friends at the mall.

7. 6 As they walked through their favorite stores at the mall, Taryn’s friends chatted and laughed, but Taryn found herself unable to join in. She couldn’t help thinking that her dad was disappointed in her. The more she thought about it, the more she realized she was disappointed in herself as well. It wasn’t like her to get up and quit.

8. Her friends began to talk about going to see a movie. Before they even asked her, Taryn knew what she needed to do. She was not going to be watching the movie with her friends. Instead, she was going to go home an study until she knew enough to get a passing score on the test.

9. 7 “I’m sorry, you guys,” Taryn told her friends as they parted ways at the door, “but I need to do this.” She hurried home to find her dad in the living room, reading the paper. “Dad?” she said quietly. He looked up and gave her a knowing smile. “I’m ready to try again.”

10. 6. Why did the author choose to couple Dave’s story with Taryn’s story in “Dave’s Ride & A Passing Score”? A. Both characters are faced with external positive reinforcement. ** B. Both characters are faced with external conflict. ** C. Both characters are faced with internal doubt. ** D. Both characters are faced with the same external problem. **

11. Text Evidence

12. A. Dave doesn’t receive positive reinforcement from anyone. Choice A is incorrect. Press here * to go to choices.*

13. B. Dave’s conflict is not external. He faces internal doubt; he is not sure if he is going to be able to finish the race. Choice B is incorrect. Press here * to go to choices.*

14. C. Both Dave and Taryn experience internal doubt. Dave doubts that he will be able to complete the 50-mile race. Taryn doubts that she will understand her math book well enough to receive a passing score on her test. Choice C is correct. Press here * to go to the next question.*

15. D. Dave and Taryn don’t have the same problem. Dave faces a difficult bike race, while Taryn is having trouble studying for a math test. Choice D is incorrect. Press here * to go to choices.*

16. 7. How does Dave differ from Taryn? A. Dave never quits; Taryn gives up for a short time. ** B. Taryn never quits; Dave gives up for a short time. ** C. Dave is better at math than Taryn. ** D. Dave can’t finish the race; Taryn is in better shape than he is. **

17. Text Evidence

18. A. Dave thinks about quitting, but he never actually quits. Although Taryn finishes her studying, she does take a break. Choice A is correct. Press here * to go to the next question.*

19. B. This is the opposite of what happened. Choice B. is incorrect. Press here * to go to choices.*

20. C. There is no evidence in the story to support this answer. Choice C in incorrect. Press here * to go to choices.*

21. D. While Taryn may be in better shape than Dave, there is no evidence in the story to support this answer. Choice D. is incorrect. Press here * to go to choices.*

22. 8. How does the conflict faced by Dave compare with the conflict faced by Taryn? A. Taryn faces both internal and external conflict. ** B. Dave faces both internal and external conflict. ** C. Taryn only faces internal conflict. ** D. Dave only faces external conflict. **

23. Text Evidence

24. A. Taryn has an internal conflict in that she doesn’t know if she will ever understand math. She also has external conflict with her father. Her father gets frustrated with her poor attitude and tells her he gives up until she’s ready to study. Dave has only an internal conflict. Choice A. is correct. Press here * to go to the next question.*

25. B. Dave has an internal conflict, but he never has a problem with anyone other than himself. Choice B is incorrect. Press here * to go to choices.*

26. C. Taryn has an internal conflict, but she also has a conflict with her father, which is external. Choice C is incorrect. Press here * to go to choices.*

27. D. Dave’s conflict is internal, not external. Choice D. is incorrect. Press here * to go to choices.*

28. 9.Read the following sentence from the selection titled “A Passing Score”. He looked up and have her a knowing smile. What does the phrase knowing smile mean? A. An intelligent grin. ** B. A compassionate expression. ** C. A stupid facial expression. ** D. A sly grin. **

29. Text Evidence

30. A. This is the literal definition of the phrase, but the phrase is used figuratively. Choice A is incorrect. Press here * to go to choices.*

31. B. The phrase is used to describe a compassionate smile given when one person can relate to a situation another person is experiencing. Choice B is correct. Press here * to go to the next question.*

32. C. This is not the correct definition of the phrase. Choice C is incorrect. Press here * to go to choices.*

33. D. This is not the correct definition of the phrase. Choice D is incorrect. Press here * to go to choices.*

34. 10. Overall, what kind of relationship do Taryn and her father have? A. contemptuous. ** B. tense. ** C. fake. ** D. understanding. **

35. Text Evidence

36. A. Contempt is when someone looks down on someone else or thinks someone is unworthy. Taryn’s father does not think that Taryn is unworthy. Choice A is incorrect. Press here * to go to choices.*

37. B. While things may have seemed tense at the beginning, their relationship as a whole is not tense. Choice B is incorrect. Press here * to go to choices.*

38. C. There is no evidence to support the idea that Taryn and her father act fake toward each other. Choice C is incorrect. Press here * to go to choices.*

39. D. Taryn’s father shows compassion when Taryn comes home to attempt her math again. This shows that they have an understanding relationship. Choice D is correct.