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Unit 4 Week 1 “Adaptive Cultures” Weekly Assessment
Unit 4 Week 1“Adaptive Cultures”
Weekly Assessment
A. The terraces were most likely used for farming crops, such as potatoes and maize.
B. For this reason, scientists cannot be sure what purpose the metropolis served.
C. The stones form buildings, stairs, and terraces around the mountain.
D. It fits right in with the natural rock outcroppings of the mountain.
1. What text evidence from the article supports the author’s point that Machu Picchu was built with its environment in mind?
F. amazingG. cityH. designed I. planned
2. Read this excerpt from the article.Nearly 600 years ago, they built an amazing metropolis on the slopes of the Andes Mountains. Called
Machu Picchu, for “Old Mountain,” this city was carefully planned and designed.
Which word in the excerpt helps the reader understand what metropolis means?
A. The Inca definitely farmed on Machu Picchu.
B. Machu Picchu has nothing more to tell scientists.
C. There is still much uncertainty about Machu Picchu.
D. Machu Picchu was the most beautiful Inca settlement.
3. With which statement would the author most likely agree?
F. family friendsG. nosy neighborsH. family members I. unwanted visitors
4. Read this excerpt from the article.A series of ladders allowed residents to move from level to level. To
keep out intruders, the residents simply removed the ladders.
What does intruders mean in the excerpt above?
A. They had difficulty protecting their homes.B. Farming was their main source of food.C. They did not need to work hard to build
their homes.D. They should have found better places to
build their homes.
5. With which statement about the Pueblo peoples would the author most likely agree?
F. open doorsG. huge stonesH. adobe bricks I. dividing walls
6. Read this excerpt from the article.Unlike Machu Picchu buildings and adobe pueblos, igloos are built without
partitions. Sometimes, a seal skin may be hung to make separate rooms for privacy.
What does partitions mean in the excerpt above?
A. is the same as that of the traditional Inuit.B. is less difficult than that of the traditional
Inuit.C. includes more problems than that of the
traditional Inuit.D. includes a different environment than that
of the traditional Inuit.
7. The author most likely believes that the life of the modern Inuit
F. businesslikeG. carefulH. hard-working I. well-planned
8. Read this excerpt from the article.The Incas, Pueblos peoples, and Inuit had to be industrious to build their
homes and secure food to eat. They kept very busy just doing the things they needed to in order to survive.
What does industrious mean in the excerpt above?
A. Simile – comparing the sun to a faceB. Metaphor – comparing the sun to a faceC. Idiom – to show that the environment can be
extremeD. Personification – to show that the
environment can be extreme
9. Read this excerpt from the article.We live where the sun shines nearly every day and where the sun does not
show its face for months at a time.
Which form of figurative language does the author use in the excerpt above?
F. Cultures develop and are shaped by their environments.
G. People do not have any relationship to their environment.
H. Cultures last longer in cold environments than in warm ones.
I. People cannot survive for very long in extreme environments.
10. What is the main idea of this article?
Unit 4 Week 1“North American Trickster Tales”
Weekly Assessment
A. the examples of lessons trickster tales can teach
B. the summary of a trickster tale featuring Brer Rabbit
C. the explanation of the two sides of trickster characters
D. the description of the different Native American tricksters
11. What evidence from the article supports the author’s point that trickster characters are more intelligent than their enemies?
F. attractiveG. braveH. old I. timid
12. Read this excerpt from the article.But like a coin, the trickster has two sides. For example, at some times the
trickster is a valiant figure. At other times, the trickster changes and acts like a coward.
What does valiant mean in the excerpt above?
A. The rabbit always wins in the end, often laughing at those he has tricked.
B. People who are specialists in storytelling have helped preserve these stories.
C. Trickster tales represent the liveliest means to pass along these cultural values.
D. This character has been given credit for creating the world and everything upon it.
13. Which sentence represents the author’s point of view?
F. bullyG. leaderH. teacher I. troublemaker
14. Read this excerpt from the article.But in other stories he is much more of a scoundrel. Far from
being helpful, he just makes mischief.
What does scoundrel mean in the excerpt above?
A. It is more important that written stories.B. It is a helpful method for preserving culture.C. It often introduces too many errors to be
worthwhile.D. It is never continued long enough to make a
difference.
15. How does the author most likely feel about oral tradition?
F. slowly improvedG. turned aroundH. become worse I. become better
16. Read this excerpt from the article.It seems like his luck has deteriorated. Suddenly, at the point
where there is no hope, Brer Rabbit triumphs by using his wits.
What does deteriorated mean in the excerpt above?
A. Trickster tales are valuable teaching tools.B. Trickster tales quickly grab the listener’s
attention.C. Trickster tales are hard for most people to
understand.D. Trickster tales have improved since they
were written down.
17. With which statement would the author most likely agree?
F. entertainmentG. happinessH. lessons I. worry
18. Read this excerpt from the article.Trickster tales provide valuable guidance and advice to the listeners.
They instruct us about basic parts of human nature.
What does guidance mean in the excerpt above?
A. hyperbole, using exaggeration to describe the rabbit
B. metaphor, comparing the rabbit to another object
C. personification, giving human qualities to the rabbit
D. symbolism, using the rabbit to represent something else
19. Read this excerpt from the article.The rabbit always wins in the end, often laughing at those he has
tricked. One story tells how he bets that he can turn Lion into a riding horse.
What type of figurative language is included in the excerpt above?
F. prove that trickster tales are worth reading.G. convince readers that the trickster is always
the same.H. explain that all trickster tales have the same
main character. I. show that different cultures have different
trickster characters.
20. The author includes details about the forms that tricksters can take to
Unit 4 Week 1“Adaptive Cultures” &“North American Trickster
Tales”Written Assessment
Weekly Assessment
Write a paragraph about the passage “Adaptive Cultures.” The paragraph must include the main idea of the passage with 3 details from the text supporting this main idea.
Write a paragraph about the passage “North American Trickster Tales.” The paragraph must include the main idea of the passage with 3 details from the text supporting this main idea.
Complete the Venn diagram given to you by your teacher comparing and contrasting the idea of culture presented in each passage. You must have at least 3 different ideas on each side of the Venn, and 2 similar ideas about culture in the center section.
Complete the following writing:
